[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 53 (Friday, April 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GEORGIA AND UKRAINE NATO MEMBERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2008

  Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, which expresses the sense of Congress that Ukraine and 
Georgia should enter the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) as soon as 
possible. I visited Ukraine just two weeks ago, and the visit was an 
opportunity to witness the country at a unique time. Many will say that 
it is a country divided, but I believe it is simply a country 
experiencing the growing pains of blossoming democracy. The process has 
often been ugly and chaotic--like democracy itself. But Ukrainians are 
committed to democracy and to a place in Europe. They want a modern 
country that plays a constructive role in the international community.
  But while they are universally committed to achieving a place in 
Europe, the Ukrainian people are still deeply ambivalent on the issue 
of NATO because they have not yet had the opportunity for an open 
discussion, or education on the matter free from propaganda. The issue 
has successfully been cast by its detractors as one of antagonism 
toward the East. This is, of course, utterly false.
  The MAP process is critical because it presents an opportunity to 
allow all factions of Ukrainian society to get a complete picture of 
what NATO membership means. Of course Ukraine should not join NATO 
until the country stands as one on the issue. But it will never reach 
consensus without education and honest debate. That's what MAP is all 
about, and why it is so important for Ukraine to begin that process at 
the upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania.
  We all want to see Ukraine in NATO one day. We want to see Ukraine 
solidify its democratic tradition, strengthen its institutions, 
modernize its defense systems, grow its economy and play an important 
and constructive role in both the West and the East. The name 
``Ukraine'' itself means ``borderland.'' It has the opportunity to be a 
bridge between Europe and Asia, and NATO can only be strengthened by 
such a key player. But NATO membership cannot be undertaken 
prematurely, and the time will never be right without the work that is 
done via the MAP process.
  Georgia still has a long way to go as well before it is ready for 
NATO membership. But its people are committed to beginning down this 
path, and we should not deny them the opportunity to formally begin the 
process at Bucharest. Like Ukraine, Georgia experienced a democratic 
``color'' revolution, and has since had to deal with the great 
challenges of implementing the goals and ideals of that revolution. 
They have also experienced growing pains, and have learned that the 
day-to-day work of building a democracy is not easy. But the Georgian 
people remain utterly committed to this work. They are working to 
ensure that critical institutions, including defense and security 
institutions, are strong, transparent and democratically governed.
  Both Georgia and Ukraine must solidify their gains and begin the MAP 
process. The road to NATO membership is often long and challenging, and 
no one would benefit--not the U.S., not NATO, nor the region--from 
delaying the start of this process.

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