[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4981-S4982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution (S. Res. 263) 
congratulating the Republic of Croatia on the 10th anniversary of its 
recognition by the United States, which had been reported from the 
Committee on Foreign Relations with an amendment.
  [Omit the parts in black brackets and insert the parts printed in 
italic.]

                              S. Res. 263

       Whereas the United States recognized the Republic of 
     Croatia on April 7, 1992, acknowledging the decision of the 
     Croatian people to live in an independent, democratic, and 
     sovereign country;
       Whereas, during the 10 years since the recognition, the 
     people of Croatia have overcome the legacy of the autocratic 
     Tudjman government and persevered in building a democratic 
     society, based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, 
     and a free market economy, as shown by the democratic 
     parliamentary and presidential elections held in January and 
     February 2000;
       Whereas the people and Government of the Republic of 
     Croatia share the democratic values of the international 
     community and the responsibility to uphold them, actively 
     promoting democratic values in international organizations;
       Whereas Croatia, cooperating on the basis of partnership 
     and solidarity, participates in the Vilnius Group, which is 
     committed to the common values of security and democratic 
     stability through future North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     membership;
       Whereas Croatia is a reliable friend and ally of the United 
     States, actively contributing to the stabilization of South 
     Central Europe; and
       Whereas Croatia immediately positioned itself within the 
     antiterrorism coalition of nations, sharing the common 
     interests and values of the free and democratic world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       [(1) commends the Republic of Croatia for the significant 
     progress it has made during the past decade, and encourages 
     its democratic orientation and further strengthening of 
     respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the free 
     market;
       [(2) supports the Republic of Croatia's aspirations to 
     become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO), welcomes its commitment to the reforms required for 
     NATO membership, acknowledges the importance of its continued 
     commitment to those reforms, and recommends its acceptance 
     into the Membership Action Plan at the NATO Ministerial in 
     Reykjavik, Iceland in May 2002;
       [(3) encourages Croatia's continued contributions in 
     bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to the region of 
     South Central Europe, including continuing its cooperation 
     with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former 
     Yugoslavia; and
       [(4) recognizes the important role of the Croatian-American 
     community in supporting the strengthening of bilateral 
     relations between the United States and the Republic of 
     Croatia.]
       (1) commends the Republic of Croatia for the significant 
     progress it has made during the past decade, and encourages 
     its democratic orientation and further strengthening of 
     respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the free 
     market;
       (2) supports the aspirations of the Republic of Croatia to 
     become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO), welcomes its commitment to the reforms required for 
     NATO membership, acknowledges the importance of its continued 
     commitment to those reforms, and congratulates it on its 
     acceptance into the Membership Action Plan at the NATO 
     Ministerial in Reykjavik, Iceland;
       (3) encourages Croatia's continued contributions in 
     bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to the region of 
     South Central Europe, including continuing its cooperation 
     with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former 
     Yugoslavia; and
       (4) recognizes the important role of the Croatian-American 
     community in supporting the strengthening of bilateral 
     relations between the United States and the Republic of 
     Croatia.

  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 263), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 263

       Whereas the United States recognized the Republic of 
     Croatia on April 7, 1992, acknowledging the decision of the 
     Croatian people to live in an independent, democratic, and 
     sovereign country;
       Whereas, during the 10 years since the recognition, the 
     people of Croatia have overcome the legacy of the autocratic 
     Tudjman government and persevered in building a democratic 
     society, based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, 
     and a free market economy, as shown by the democratic 
     parliamentary and presidential elections held in January and 
     February 2000;
       Whereas the people and Government of the Republic of 
     Croatia share the democratic values of the international 
     community and the responsibility to uphold them, actively 
     promoting democratic values in international organizations;
       Whereas Croatia, cooperating on the basis of partnership 
     and solidarity, participates in the Vilnius Group, which is 
     committed to the common values of security and democratic 
     stability through future North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     membership;
       Whereas Croatia is a reliable friend and ally of the United 
     States, actively contributing to the stabilization of South 
     Central Europe; and
       Whereas Croatia immediately positioned itself within the 
     antiterrorism coalition of nations, sharing the common 
     interests and values of the free and democratic world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Republic of Croatia for the significant 
     progress it has made during the past decade, and encourages 
     its democratic orientation and further strengthening of 
     respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the free 
     market;
       (2) supports the aspirations of the Republic of Croatia to 
     become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO), welcomes its commitment to the reforms required for 
     NATO membership, acknowledges the importance of its continued 
     commitment to those reforms, and congratulates it on its 
     acceptance into the Membership Action Plan at the NATO 
     Ministerial in Reykjavik, Iceland;
       (3) encourages Croatia's continued contributions in 
     bringing peace, stability, and

[[Page S4982]]

     prosperity to the region of South Central Europe, including 
     continuing its cooperation with the International Criminal 
     Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; and
       (4) recognizes the important role of the Croatian-American 
     community in supporting the strengthening of bilateral 
     relations between the United States and the Republic of 
     Croatia.

                          ____________________