[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNITION OF NATO ENLARGEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 2004

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the upcoming 
enlargement of NATO when Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, 
Slovakia and Slovenia are added as official members of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization.
  Each of these nations, formerly part of the Soviet bloc, has emerged 
from their long struggle towards freedom as examples of the good that 
can come from people working together towards a common goal--in this 
case democracy and individual freedom.
  As one of the co-chairs of the Baltic Caucus and a fourth generation 
Lithuanian, I can personally attest to the efforts and personal 
sacrifices that the people of these nations have been making for many 
decades now. Their determination to rid themselves and their countries 
of communist and dictatorial rule is a humbling lesson for those of us 
who have never known life without freedom.
  We should welcome their commitment to freedom and provide them with 
the support they need to help insure that these growing democracies 
will flourish and become role models for other nations yearning for the 
same. Adding these nations to NATO is an extremely important step 
forward in our efforts to promote freedom and in our efforts against 
worldwide terrorism.
  Already, many of these nations have made tremendous contributions to 
our efforts to stabilize Iraq and have a lasting impact in bringing 
peace to the Middle East. Clearly, these are nations that recognize the 
world beyond their own borders.
  I am extremely proud to welcome Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia into NATO. I especially want to 
congratulate the many citizens and patriots in these nations and across 
the world who have struggled to get us to this historic moment. Your 
efforts will make a difference for generations to come.

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