[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WELCOMING THE ACCESSION OF BULGARIA, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, 
     ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, AND SLOVENIA TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY 
                              ORGANIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 30, 2004

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome the 
accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, 
and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This is a truly 
historic occasion which transforms the strategic map of Europe, and 
strengthens the Atlantic Alliance.
  In my first term in Congress, I cosponsored H. R. 4210, the NATO 
Participation Act of 1994. I believed then, as I continue to believe 
now, that NATO should be inclusive to all European nations that share 
our belief in democracy and the rule of law. Therefore, I am delighted 
to welcome the new member states to NATO.
  NATO was established in 1949 for the purpose of countering the threat 
of Communist expansion. While that threat is now securely in the 
history books, the world has been forced to face new, and different 
dangers. Throughout the myriad of changes in international relations 
since NATO was first founded, the salience of a strong alliance among 
friendly nations remains.
  As is necessary with all longstanding organizations, NATO is changing 
with the times. It remains the world's most powerful regional defense 
alliance precisely because of its ability to adapt to new conditions. 
NATO continues to safeguard its member states through political and 
military means. However, over the past 15 years, the Organization has 
come to play a growing role in peacekeeping and crisis management.
  Originally, NATO consisted of 12 member countries. Over the years the 
Organization has expanded twice. Once in 1952, to include Greece and 
Turkey, and a second time in 1955 to include West Germany. The 
simultaneous accession of seven states is the largest expansion in the 
history of the Organization. I, for one, hope that it will not take 
another 50 years before we see another round of NATO expansion.
  The accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, 
Slovakia, and Slovenia to NATO cements the increasingly strong 
relationship between the United States and those countries. The 
strengthening of the Atlantic Alliance is of benefit to all parties. 
Moreover, Congress looks forward to the opportunity to work closely 
together with the new countries for shared goals.

  As the Vice-President of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, I have followed closely 
the progress of the new NATO member states. In the past, I have had the 
pleasure of visiting Romania and Slovakia. Later this month, I plan to 
visit the Baltic region and learn more about our newest alliance 
partners.
  In conclusion, let me again state my wholehearted support for H. Res. 
558, welcoming the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization. I reiterate my hope that we will soon have occasion to 
celebrate the accession of more states into the Atlantic Alliance.

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