[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14402-S14403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the 
consideration of S. Res. 342, which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 342) recognizing the Republic of 
     Croatia for its progress in strengthening democratic 
     institutions, respect for human rights, and the rule of law 
     and recommending the integration of Croatia into the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 342) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 342

       Whereas the United States recognized the Republic of 
     Croatia on April 7, 1992, acknowledging the decision of the 
     people of Croatia to live in an independent, democratic, and 
     sovereign country;
       Whereas since achieving their independence, the people of 
     Croatia have dedicated themselves to building a functioning 
     democratic society, based on the rule of law, respect for 
     human rights, and a free market economy;
       Whereas Croatia has made progress in judicial reform and 
     has adopted a judicial reform strategy;
       Whereas Croatia has demonstrated a desire to protect 
     minority rights and promote a viable multiethnic society;
       Whereas, in 2002, Croatia adopted the Constitutional Law on 
     the Rights of National Minorities, ensuring the 
     representation of minorities in the Parliament of Croatia and 
     the establishment of the councils of national minorities;
       Whereas the Government of Croatia has concluded specific 
     bilateral agreements on the protection of minority rights 
     with Hungary, Italy, and Serbia and Montenegro and has 
     concluded an agreement on cooperation with representatives of 
     the Independent Democratic Serb Party in the Parliament of 
     Croatia;
       Whereas three prominent members of the Parliament of 
     Croatia, Ratko Gajica, Milorad Pupovac, and Vojislav 
     Stanimirovic, who represent the Serb minority, sent a letter 
     to the Assistant to the President for National Security 
     Affairs, Stephen Hadley, expressing their support for the 
     Prime Minister of Croatia, Ivo Sanader, and for Croatia's 
     path toward membership in the European Union and in the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization (``NATO'');
       Whereas Croatia has shown dedication to advancing the 
     return, reconstruction, and restitution of property in 
     Croatia;
       Whereas Croatia has proven to be a reliable partner of the 
     United States in seeking the stabilization of the region;
       Whereas Croatia participated in the Iraq International 
     Conference held in Brussels on June 22, 2005, and offered to 
     train and educate nationals of Iraq at universities in 
     Croatia;
       Whereas Croatia is taking part in the training of Iraqi 
     security forces at the International Training Center in 
     Jordan and has offered to train additional security personnel 
     for Iraq in Croatia;
       Whereas Croatia has been a partner in the war against 
     terrorism, sent troops to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led 
     International Security Assistance Force in support of the war 
     against terrorism in 2002, and has provided civilians to 
     staff the Provincial Reconstruction Team under the leadership 
     of NATO in Fayzabad;
       Whereas, during July 2005, Croatia adopted a decision to 
     triple its military presence in the International Security 
     Assistance Force;
       Whereas Croatia has endorsed and is participating in the 
     Proliferation Security Initiative with like-minded nations 
     across the world to prevent the flow of weapons of mass 
     destruction, missile systems, and related material;
       Whereas, on June 1, 2005, Croatia was the fourth nation to 
     sign the Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding 
     Agreement with the United States to prevent the maritime 
     transfer of dangerous shipments of weapons or other illicit 
     materials to keep such weapons and materials out of the hands 
     of dangerous actors and terrorists;
       Whereas, since Croatia has become an independent country, 
     the United States has shown support for Croatia in many ways, 
     including by providing Croatia with economic and military 
     assistance that has contributed significantly to the progress 
     and continued success occurring in Croatia;
       Whereas the United States has encouraged Croatia's 
     transformation and the future membership of Croatia in NATO;
       Whereas a whole and free Europe cannot be fully achieved 
     without the integration into NATO of all countries that share 
     the common values of democracy, the rule of law, and respect 
     for human rights;
       Whereas the Membership Action Plan developed for NATO, 
     which was launched in April 1999, is a program of assistance 
     that provides both goals and a roadmap for countries aspiring 
     to membership in NATO;
       Whereas Croatia was invited into the Membership Action Plan 
     in May 2002 and has made substantial progress toward the 
     achievement of the reforms required for receiving an 
     invitation to start accession talks with NATO;
       Whereas the United States, Croatia, Albania, and Macedonia 
     are signatories to the United States-Adriatic Charter for 
     Partnership, which promotes Euro-Atlantic integration and 
     commits the signatory nations to the values and principles of 
     NATO and to membership in NATO at the earliest possible time;

[[Page S14403]]

       Whereas Croatia supports regional cooperation as a means of 
     bringing stability to Europe, particularly Southeast Europe, 
     and has cooperated with the countries that neighbor Croatia 
     to promote such stability, including providing technical and 
     other assistance to countries that seek membership in the 
     European Union;
       Whereas, on October 3, 2005, the European Union decided to 
     open accession negotiations with Croatia based on the 
     assessment of the European Union's Council of Ministers that 
     Croatia met the political and economic criteria for candidacy 
     in the European Union, including that Croatia was fully 
     cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
     former Yugoslavia;
       Whereas the cooperation between the Government of Croatia 
     and the Tribunal improved significantly under Prime Minister 
     Ivo Sanader;
       Whereas, since November 2003, Croatia has handed over to 
     the Tribunal eleven individuals indicted for war crimes;
       Whereas the cooperation of the Government of Croatia with 
     the Tribunal assisted in the arrest of Ante Gotovina on 
     December 8, 2005, in Spain and his transfer to the Tribunal 
     on December 10, 2005;
       Whereas the success of the Government of Croatia in 
     bringing war criminals to justice demonstrates the commitment 
     of the Government to move Croatia toward a brighter future of 
     peace, stability, and prosperity for its people; and
       Whereas Croatia shares the common interests and values of 
     the free and democratic world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) since the Republic of Croatia became an independent 
     country, the Government and people of Croatia have made 
     significant progress in strengthening democratic 
     institutions, respect for human rights, and the rule of law 
     in Croatia;
       (2) Croatia's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (``NATO'') would contribute to stability in 
     Southeast Europe;
       (3) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) the Government and people of Croatia should be 
     commended for their progress on protecting minority rights in 
     Croatia, progress toward achieving the political, economic, 
     military, and other requirements of NATO's Membership Action 
     Plan, contribution to the International Security Assistance 
     Force and the war against terrorism, and for their 
     constructive participation the Proliferation Security 
     Initiative and in the United States-Adriatic Charter;
       (B) the Government of Croatia should be commended for its 
     cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
     former Yugoslavia which led to the apprehension and transfer 
     of several individuals indicted for war crimes, including 
     Ante Gotovina, to the Tribunal;
       (C) the Government of Croatia should continue its 
     cooperation with the Tribunal;
       (D) the Government of Croatia should continue and 
     strengthen its role as a partner on nonproliferation and its 
     support in the war against terrorism and in Iraq;
       (E) the Government of Croatia should continue its efforts 
     to implement defense reforms; and
       (F) the Government of the United States should continue and 
     increase its defense and security cooperation with the 
     Government of Croatia, including through education, training, 
     and technical cooperation, to assist Croatia in the reform 
     process and in fulfilling its requirements for membership in 
     NATO; and
       (4) upon complete satisfaction of the criteria for NATO 
     membership, in accordance with NATO's guidelines, Croatia 
     should be invited to be a full member of NATO at the earliest 
     possible date.

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