[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 63 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 523--EXPRESSING THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE SENATE FOR 
   THE DECLARATION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION AT THE 
 BUCHAREST SUMMIT THAT UKRAINE AND GEORGIA WILL BECOME MEMBERS OF THE 
                                ALLIANCE

  Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, and Mr. 
McCain) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 523

       Whereas, prior to the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, the 
     Government of Georgia and the Government of Ukraine each 
     expressed the desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO), have committed their countries to 
     programs of reforms consistent with membership in the Euro-
     Atlantic community, and have worked consistently for 
     membership in NATO; and
       Whereas, in April 2008 at the Bucharest Summit, the 
     assembled leaders of NATO issued the following statement: 
     ``NATO welcomes Ukraine's and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic 
     aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that 
     these countries will become members of NATO. Both nations 
     have made valuable contributions to Alliance operations. We 
     welcome the democratic reforms in Ukraine and Georgia and 
     look forward to free and fair parliamentary elections in 
     Georgia in May. MAP is the next step for Ukraine and Georgia 
     on their direct way to membership. Today we make clear that 
     we support these countries' applications for MAP. Therefore 
     we will now begin a period of intensive engagement with both 
     at a high political level to address the questions still 
     outstanding pertaining to their MAP applications. We have 
     asked Foreign Ministers to make a first assessment of 
     progress at their December 2008 meeting. Foreign Ministers 
     have the authority to decide on the MAP applications of 
     Ukraine and Georgia.'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the declaration of the Bucharest Summit, which 
     stated that Ukraine and Georgia will become members of NATO;
       (2) reiterates its support for the commitment to further 
     enlargement of NATO to include democratic governments that 
     are able and willing to meet the responsibilities of 
     membership; and
       (3) urges the foreign ministers of NATO member states at 
     their meeting in December 2008 to consider favorably the 
     applications of the governments of Ukraine and Georgia for 
     Membership Action Plans.

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