[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REPORT CONCERNING THE RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOLS TO THE NORTH 
 ATLANTIC TREATY OF 1949 ON THE ACCESSION OF POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE 
           CZECH REPUBLIC--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT--PM 129

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

To the Senate of the United States:
  I am gratified that the United States Senate has given its advice and 
consent to the ratification of the Protocols to the North Atlantic 
Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech 
Republic.
  The Senate's decisive vote was a milestone on the road to an 
undivided, democratic and peaceful Europe. The message this vote sends 
is clear: American support for NATO is firm, our leadership on both 
sides of the Atlantic is strong, and there is a solid bipartisan 
foundation for an active U.S. role in transatlantic security.
  I thank Majority Leader Lott, Minority Leader Daschle, Senators Helms 
and Biden, Senator Roth and the members of the NATO Observer Group, and 
the many others who have devoted so much time and energy to this 
historic effort. The continuous dialogue and consultation between the 
Administration and the Congress on this issue was a model of bipartisan 
partnership. I am committed to ensuring that this partnership continues 
and deepens as we proceed toward NATO'S 50th anniversary summit next 
year in Washington.
  The resolution of ratification that the Senate has adopted contains 
provisions addressing a broad range of issues of interest and concern, 
and I will implement the conditions it contains. As I have indicated 
following approval of earlier treaties, I will of course do so without 
prejudice to my authorities as President under the Constitution, 
including my authorities with respect to the conduct of foreign policy. 
I note in this connection that conditions in a resolution of advice and 
consent cannot alter the allocations of authority and responsibility 
under the Constitution.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, May 21, 1998.

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