[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11757-H11759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMENDING THE SIGNING OF THE UNITED STATES-ADRIATIC CHARTER

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 209) 
commending the signing of the United States-Adriatic Charter, a charter 
of partnership among the United States, Albania, Croatia, and 
Macedonia.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Senate amendments:
     (1)Page 3, line 4, after ``and'' the second time it appears 
     insert: The Former Yugoslav Republic of

     (2)Page 3, line 8, after ``and'' insert: The Former Yugoslav 
     Republic of

     (3)Page 3, line 14, after ``and'' insert: The Former Yugoslav 
     Republic of

     (4)Page 3, line 16, after ``and'' insert: The Former Yugoslav 
     Republic of

       Amend the preamble as follows:
     (5)Page 1, unnumbered line 6, after ``and'' insert: The 
     Former Yugoslav Republic of

     (6)Page 2, unnumbered line 4, after ``and'' insert: The 
     Former Yugoslav Republic of

     (7)Page 2, unnumbered line 11, strike out all after 
     ``Powell,'' down to an including ``Minister'' in unumbered 
     line 13 and insert: Albania Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, 
     Croatia Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, and The Former 
     Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Foreign Minister

     (8)Page 2, unnumbered line 15, after ``and'' the first time 
     it appears insert: The Former Yugoslav Republic of

     (9)Page 2, unnumbered line 29, strike out all after 
     ``Whereas'' over to an including ``Macedonia'' in unumbered 
     line 2 on page 3 and insert: 75 special forces troops of 
     Albania were sent to Iraq as part of the coalition forces 
     during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 29 special forces troops of 
     The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were sent to Iraq 
     as part of the postwar stabilization force, and Albania, 
     Croatia, and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

         Amend the title so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution 
     commending the signing of the United States-Adriatic Charter, 
     a charter of partnership among the United States, Albania, 
     Croatia, and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The resolution before the House expresses the support of the Congress 
for the Adriatic Charter. The charter was signed on May 2 in the 
Albanian capital of Tirana by Secretary of State Powell and the foreign 
ministers of Albania, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia, the three currently remaining NATO aspirant countries which 
have not yet been accepted for NATO membership.
  The resolution, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel), is virtually identical to the one that was agreed to 
in this Chamber on June 23 by a 381 to 1 vote. When the Senate passed 
this concurrent resolution in July, it made a minor change in the name 
of one of the countries being recognized, changing the word 
``Macedonia,'' which was used in the Adriatic Charter itself, to 
``Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,'' which is the name by which 
this country is internationally recognized by most countries.
  The Adriatic Charter pledges the United States to support efforts by 
Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to join Euro-Atlantic institutions like 
NATO and the European Union.
  In this agreement, the three aspirant nations commit themselves to 
accelerate their democratic reforms, protect human rights, implement 
market-oriented economic policies, and enhance their mutual 
cooperation. Also very importantly, under the Adriatic Charter, the 
United States and these three countries pledge to consult whenever the 
security of one of them is threatened. For their part, the aspirant 
countries promise to continue defense reforms and to undertake steps to 
enhance border security so they can contribute to regional stability.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member urges the House to agree to this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, Mr. Speaker, I 
want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the gentleman 
from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Wexler) for their leadership on this important resolution and the 
gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for moving it forward so 
expeditiously.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution celebrates cooperation and forward 
thinking among the nations of the Balkans, a region that just a few 
years ago was engulfed in bloody ethnic violence and strife. The United 
States has an enduring interest in the independence, territorial 
integrity, and security of Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia. We must

[[Page H11758]]

make every effort to support their full integration into the community 
of democratic Euro-Atlantic states.
  The Adriatic Charter affirms the commitment of Albania, Croatia, and 
Macedonia to the values and principles of NATO and to joining the 
alliance at the earliest possible time. Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia 
have taken positive steps to advance their integration into Europe and 
have already contributed to European security and to the peace and 
security of southeast Europe through the resolution of conflicts in the 
region. Croatia has announced its intention to join the European Union 
and is moving steadily in that direction. Albania has been making 
important progress in its transition to democracy and as a candidate 
for NATO membership. Both Macedonia and Croatia are also candidates for 
NATO membership, and all three nations are fully committed to the 
Membership Action Plan agreed upon by NATO.
  Mr. Speaker, the Adriatic Charter is a milestone in this region, 
where very recently people were skeptical about the fate of democracy 
and human rights. Many argue that the American emphasis upon democracy 
in the region was misplaced and that our Nation's efforts would fail. 
We proved the skeptics wrong.
  If the Speaker will allow a personal word, it was not too many years 
ago that my wife and I were the first American officials to visit 
Albania, at the time still a communist dictatorship; and the head of 
Albania asked me to carry a letter to our President asking for the 
reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the United 
States of America. I did so and the rest is history.
  Mr. Speaker, I again commend all of my colleagues who have worked so 
hard on this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), who has played such a pivotal role 
in bringing peace and democracy to this whole region.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from 
California for his kind words, and I thank him as always for his help 
on matters such as these. We all look to him for guidance. I want to 
thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), as well, for really 
being with me every step of the way in bringing this to fruition and 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler), as well, for working with me 
on this.
  I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 209, which commends the signing of 
the U.S.-Adriatic Charter. As the author of H. Con. Res. 209, I am 
honored that the Senate has passed this measure and the House is now 
considering this important resolution for final passage.
  On May 2, 2003, the U.S.-Adriatic Charter was signed in Tirana, 
Albania, by Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Foreign Ministers 
of Albania, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As 
Secretary Powell noted when he signed the document, it is remarkable 
that the agreement was signed in Albania, a country once known only for 
its isolation and distance from Western principles.
  I can say, Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Albanian Issues Caucus 
in this Congress, I am absolutely delighted that Albania and the United 
States continue to work closely together and look at this charter as an 
important step in bringing Albania and the United States even closer 
together. Today, Tirana is a capital filled with energy as it continues 
its opening to Europe. Macedonia and Croatia have seen similar changes 
as well.
  Mr. Speaker, as NATO has expanded through other countries of Europe, 
several Balkan nations in South Central Europe were excluded. They just 
were not ready for membership at that time. Today, three of those 
nations, Albania, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia, are now moving to make the needed changes in reforms so that 
they can join the North Atlantic structures including NATO. I have long 
been a strong supporter of Albanian membership in NATO.
  The U.S.-Adriatic Charter embodies a commitment by Albania, Croatia, 
and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the values and 
principles of NATO and a declaration of their intent to join NATO as 
soon as they meet alliance standards. I certainly support all of their 
efforts to advance toward NATO membership, and having Secretary Powell 
sign the charter puts the United States firmly in support of their 
efforts to join NATO when they are ready, and as far as I am concerned, 
sooner rather than later.
  By passing this resolution today, as amended in the Senate, and it is 
a House resolution, Congress adds its voice by ``urging NATO to invite 
Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to join NATO as soon as these countries 
demonstrate the ability to assume the responsibilities of NATO 
membership.''
  H. Con. Res. 209 also welcomes and supports the aspirations of 
Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to join the European Union at the 
earliest opportunity and recognizes that the three countries are making 
important strides to bring their economic, military, and political 
institutions into conformance with the standards of NATO and other 
Euro-Atlantic institutions. Finally, our resolution also commends 
Secretary Powell for his strong personal support of the resolution, as 
demonstrated by his travel to the region to sign the document.
  Mr. Speaker, as a sponsor of H. Con. Res. 209, I think this is an 
appropriate forum to publicly thank Albania and the Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia for sending forces to fight alongside our troops 
in Afghanistan. It is my hope that Albania, one of only three European 
countries to send ground troops to fight in the war, would be high on 
the Defense Department's list when it considers the realignment of, and 
new bases for, American forces around the world. I have often thought 
that Albania is a perfect country for the United States to put new 
bases into.
  Finally, again I would like to thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Bereuter), chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, and his staff for 
the cooperation and support as we drafted this concurrent resolution, 
H. Con. Res. 209. I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Wexler), the ranking member of the subcommittee, for his support; and 
the Senate for its adoption of the measure; the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde), our chairman; and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos), our ranking member. All played important roles, and I strongly 
support this resolution and urge my colleagues to also support it.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I have just a couple of concluding remarks. I would begin by first 
thanking the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for his 
initiative in introducing this legislation in the first place and for 
working with us to ensure its final action here today.
  During the past several weeks, I have had the occasion to have 
Foreign Ministry leaders of these three countries in my office. No 
doubt that has happened with a number of us, and I must say that the 
progress that they are making is very dramatic. And in part that 
progress is driven by the fact that both the European Union and NATO 
have formal and informal criteria for membership, and it is pushing 
them along to make some of the important changes that mean we are going 
to have peace and stability, economic progress, civilian control of the 
military, transparency in military budgets, and so on. Those kinds of 
things that are extremely important.

                              {time}  1600

  Most importantly, to move these countries along towards a rule of law 
and towards democratic institutions.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I think we can take some pleasure in their 
accomplishments and continue to urge them to make all the efforts 
necessary for membership, because I certainly want to see these three 
countries become members of the European Union, and especially NATO, as 
soon as possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House

[[Page H11759]]

suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the concurrent 
resolution, H. Con. Res. 209.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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