[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 16 (Thursday, January 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S550-S551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 439--EXPRESSING THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE SENATE FOR 
   THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION TO ENTER INTO A MEMBERSHIP 
                  ACTION PLAN WITH GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 439

       Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO) to mutual defense has made 
     possible the democratic transformation of Central and Eastern 
     Europe and Eurasia;
       Whereas NATO members can and should play a critical role in 
     addressing the security challenges of the post-Cold War era 
     in creating the stable environment needed for emerging 
     democracies in Europe and Eurasia;
       Whereas lasting stability and security in Europe and 
     Eurasia require the military, economic, and political 
     integration of emerging democracies into existing European 
     structures;
       Whereas, in an era of threats from terrorism and the 
     proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, NATO is 
     increasingly contributing to security in the face of global 
     security challenges for the protection and interests of its 
     member states;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia and the Government of 
     Ukraine have each expressed a desire to join the Euro-
     Atlantic community, and Georgia and Ukraine are working 
     closely with NATO and its members to meet criteria for 
     eventual NATO membership;
       Whereas, at the NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministerial 
     meeting in Vilnius in April 2005, NATO and Ukraine launched 
     an Intensified Dialogue on membership between the Alliance 
     and Ukraine;
       Whereas, following a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in 
     New York on September 21, 2006, NATO Secretary General Jaap 
     de Hoop Scheffer announced the launching of an Intensified 
     Dialogue on membership between NATO and Georgia;
       Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by the heads of 
     state and government participating in the meeting of the 
     North Atlantic Council in November 2006, reaffirms that 
     NATO's door remains open to new members and that NATO will 
     continue to review the process for new membership, stating 
     ``We reaffirm that the Alliance will continue with Georgia 
     and Ukraine its Intensified Dialogues which cover the full 
     range of political, military, financial, and security issues 
     relating to those countries' aspirations to membership, 
     without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision. We 
     reaffirm the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive 
     Partnership, which has its 10th anniversary next year and 
     welcome the progress that has been made in the framework of 
     our Intensified Dialogue. We appreciate Ukraine's substantial 
     contributions to our common security, including through 
     participation in NATO-led operations and efforts to promote 
     regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine to continue to 
     contribute to regional security. We are determined to 
     continue to assist, through practical cooperation, in the 
     implementation of far-reaching reform efforts, notably in the 
     fields of national security, defense, reform of the defense-
     industrial sector and fighting corruption. We welcome the 
     commencement of an Intensified Dialogue with Georgia as well 
     as Georgia's contribution to international peacekeeping and 
     security operations. We will continue to engage actively with 
     Georgia in support of its reform process. We encourage 
     Georgia to continue progress on political, economic and 
     military reforms, including strengthening judicial reform, as 
     well as the peaceful resolution of outstanding conflicts on 
     its territory. We reaffirm that it is of great importance 
     that all parties in the region should engage constructively 
     to promote regional peace and stability.'';
       Whereas, in January 2008, Ukraine forwarded to NATO 
     Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by 
     President Victor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, 
     and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseny Yatensyuk, requesting that 
     NATO integrate Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan;
       Whereas, in January 2008, Georgia held a referendum on NATO 
     and 76.22 percent of the votes supported membership;
       Whereas participation in a Membership Action Plan does not 
     guarantee future membership in the NATO Alliance; and
       Whereas NATO membership requires significant national and 
     international commitments and sacrifices and is not possible 
     without the support of the populations of the NATO member 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Senate--
       (A) reaffirms its previous expressions of support for 
     continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) to include qualified candidates; and
       (B) supports the commitment to further enlargement of NATO 
     to include democratic governments that are able and willing 
     to meet the responsibilities of membership;
       (2) the expansion of NATO contributes to NATO's continued 
     effectiveness and relevance;
       (3) Georgia and Ukraine are strong allies that have made 
     important progress in the areas of defense, democratic, and 
     human rights reform;
       (4) a stronger, deeper relationship among the Government of 
     Georgia, the Government of Ukraine, and NATO will be mutually 
     beneficial to those countries and to NATO member States; and
       (5) the United States should take the lead in supporting 
     the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to Georgia and 
     Ukraine as soon as possible.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the NATO 
Membership Action Plan Endorsement Act of 2008. This resolution is 
intended to express strong Senate support for Administration leadership 
in ensuring that NATO extends Membership Action Plan, MAP, status to 
Georgia and Ukraine as soon as possible.
  NATO has a long track record of support for continued enlargement of 
NATO to democracies that are able and willing to meet the 
responsibilities of membership. The leaders of Georgia and Ukraine have 
clearly stated their desire to join NATO and both have made remarkable 
progress towards meeting NATO standards.

[[Page S551]]

  The Membership Action Plan was launched in April 1999 to assist 
countries in preparations for possible NATO membership by providing 
advice, assistance, and practical support on all aspects of membership 
requirements. NATO has identified four main categories of cooperation 
and assistance through MAP. First, NATO assists in the development of a 
national program that covers political, economic, defense, resource 
security, and legal requirements for membership. Second, NATO experts 
provide focused and candid feedback and political and technical advice 
to the governments. Third, NATO provides an organizational structure to 
assist in the coordination of defense and security assistance received 
from NATO member states and other allies. Fourth, NATO provides 
assistance in the construction of an individual approach to defense 
planning to include force, personnel, and capability reforms.
  MAP implementation is no longer simply an activity that focuses on 
military and security issues. Inter-ministerial meetings engage other 
governmental departments in a coordinated and systematic approach with 
the goal of government-wide reform and progress. These goals include 
settling international, ethnic or external territorial disputes by 
peaceful means; demonstrating a commitment to the rule of law and human 
rights; and promoting stability and prosperity through economic reform, 
social equality, and environmental responsibility. Each participant is 
free to choose the elements of MAP best suited to their own national 
priorities and circumstances. In other words, if approved at the NATO 
summit at Bucharest, Romania in April, Tbilisi and Kyiv will set their 
own objectives, targets, and work schedules.
  Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has been evolving to meet the new 
security needs of the 21st century. In this era, the threats to NATO 
members are transnational and far from its geographic borders. NATO's 
viability as an effective defense and security alliance depends on 
flexible, creative leadership, as well as the willingness of members to 
improve capabilities and address common threats.
  If NATO is to continue to be the preeminent security Alliance and 
serve the defense interests of its membership, it must continue to 
evolve and that evolution must include enlargement. Potential NATO 
membership motivates emerging democracies to make important advances in 
areas such as the rule of law and civil society. A closer relationship 
with NATO will promote these values and contribute to our mutual 
security.
  Three years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to invite 7 
countries to join NATO. Today, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia are making significant contributions to 
NATO and are among our closest allies in the global war on terrorism. 
It is time again for the U.S. to take the lead in urging its allies to 
recognize the important efforts underway in Georgia and Ukraine, and to 
offer MAP to both countries this spring.
  Both countries have significant amounts of work to accomplish before 
they can be offered NATO membership. Let me be clear, MAP participation 
does not guarantee future membership, nor does it consist of simply a 
checklist for aspiring NATO members to fulfill. It is a guide, not an 
endorsement to NATO membership.
  I am confident that Presidents Saakashvilli and Yushchenko understand 
that NATO membership will not be possible without the support of their 
respective electorates. In Georgia the issue was put to a referendum 
earlier this month and 76.22 percent of voters supported NATO 
membership. Ukrainian leaders have identified the need for a national 
referendum on this important issue in the future. Alliance membership 
requires commitment and sacrifice that must have the support of the 
local population if they are to be successfully implemented.
  Last week, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven Pifer, outlined 
in the International Herald Tribune several compelling arguments for 
extending MAP to Ukraine. He said, in part: ``Granting Ukraine a MAP at 
the Bucharest summit . . . would enhance European security and 
stability . . . [N]one of the arguments against the measure stand up to 
scrutiny . . . Ukraine has made as much progress on democratic, 
economic, and military reform as Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and 
Albania when they received MAPs in 1999 . . . Kyiv has demonstrated 
that it has serious military capabilities and the political will to use 
them. In recent years, the Ukrainian military has provided the alliance 
with strategic airlifts; participated, often side-by-side with NATO 
troops, in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and elsewhere; and 
made a significant contribution to coalition ground forces in Iraq 
during 2004-05. Ukraine would be a net contributor to Euro-Atlantic 
security.''
  Mr. President, I ask that my colleagues support this important 
resolution. It sends a strong message to the administration, our NATO 
allies, as well as to the people of Georgia and Ukraine that we are 
prepared to work closely with each to contribute to the strengthening 
of peace and security in Europe and Eurasia.

                          ____________________