[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 81 (Friday, June 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED 
    STATES AND NATO AND EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SLOVENIA'S 
                           ACCESSION TO NATO

  Mr. COVERDELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to 
the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 591, S. Con. Res. 117.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 117) commending the 
     Republic of Slovenia for its partnership with the United 
     States and NATO, and expressing the sense of Congress that 
     Slovenia's accession to NATO would enhance NATO's security, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. COVERDELL. I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to this resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Con. Res. 117) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 117

       Whereas on June 25, 1991, the Republic of Slovenia declared 
     its independence;
       Whereas on December 23, 1991, the Parliament of the 
     Republic of Slovenia adopted the State's new constitution 
     based on the values of human rights, market economy, rule of 
     law, and democracy;
       Whereas on April 7, 1992, the United States formally 
     recognized the Republic of Slovenia;
       Whereas, since its independence, Slovenia has demonstrated 
     an excellent record on human rights;
       Whereas Slovenia has developed a successful and growing 
     market economy and enjoys the highest per capita gross 
     domestic product in Central and Eastern Europe;
       Whereas the European Union has recognized Slovenia's 
     economic prosperity and the strength of its democracy by 
     initiating accession negotiations with Slovenia as well as by 
     putting into effect Slovenia's Association Agreement with the 
     European Union;
       Whereas Slovenia has demonstrated its commitment to bring 
     peace, security, stability, democracy, and economic 
     prosperity to Southeastern Europe through its membership in 
     NATO's Partnership for Peace, the Central European 
     Initiative, the Central European Free Trade Association 
     (CEFTA), and the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe;
       Whereas Slovenia has been an active contributor to peace 
     support operations around the world, including the NATO 
     Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, NATO's Kosovo 
     Force, and United Nations peacekeeping operations in Cyprus 
     and Lebanon;
       Whereas Slovenia made invaluable contributions to NATO's 
     Operation ALLIED FORCE by providing NATO access and use of 
     its airspace and ground transportation systems and by 
     assisting the NATO efforts to provide Albania humanitarian 
     relief during the air campaign against Yugoslavia;
       Whereas Slovenia has contributed financial and humanitarian 
     aid to the assistance effort in Kosovo, including refuge for 
     more than 3500 people who had fled the region as a 
     consequence of the violence that occurred in Kosovo;
       Whereas Slovenia promotes regional cooperation through its 
     contributions to the Trilateral Multinational Land Force, a 
     multinational brigade established with Italy and Hungary;
       Whereas Slovenia, a leader in the effort to remove land 
     mines from the war-torn regions of the former Republic of 
     Yugoslavia, established the highly effective International 
     Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance; and
       Whereas the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996, 
     passed by the Senate on July 25, 1996, identified Slovenia, 
     along with Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, as being 
     among the NATO applicant states most prepared for the burdens 
     and responsibilities of NATO membership: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That (a) it is the policy of the United States 
     to--
       (1) support the integration of the Republic of Slovenia 
     into transatlantic and European political, economic, and 
     security institutions, including the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization and the European Union; and
       (2) continue and further reinforce the partnership between 
     the United States and Slovenia, particularly their joint 
     efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to all of 
     Europe.
       (b) It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Republic of Slovenia is to be commended for--
       (A) its commitment to democratic principles, human rights, 
     and rule of law;
       (B) its transition from a communist, centrally planned 
     economic system to a thriving free market economy; and
       (C) its partnership with the United States and NATO during 
     the recent conflicts that have undermined peace and stability 
     in Southeastern Europe; and
       (2) the accession of the Republic of Slovenia to full 
     membership in transatlantic and European institutions would 
     be an important step toward a Europe that is undivided, whole 
     and free.




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