[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR ALBANIA AND CROATIA

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, the NATO Alliance is now considering its 
third round of post-Cold War enlargement. This will be the smallest of 
the rounds, with only two countries to consider compared to three in 
1999 and seven in 2004. It should also be easiest, since the 
development of Membership Actions Plans allow NATO significantly more 
preinvitation interaction with aspirants today than took place in 
earlier rounds. Albania and Croatia were formally invited at the April 
NATO Summit in Bucharest, Romania. Macedonia did not receive an 
invitation because of its lingering name dispute with Greece, and 
several European allies were unwilling to go forward with Membership 
Action Plans for Georgia and Ukraine.
  In March of this year, the Helsinki Commission, which I cochair, held 
a hearing on the prospects for NATO enlargement which included 
testimony from expert analysts and contributions from the embassies of 
these five countries. We have also had hearings on the matter in the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee which included administration views. 
It is important for the Senate to act on these protocols quickly so 
that ratification by all NATO countries can be completed in a timely 
matter.
  Turning to the records of the two aspirants, Albania has made 
tremendous strides since 1991, and the country is solidly committed to 
Euro-Atlantic integration. This is demonstrated by its contribution to 
numerous peace operations around the world. There are concerns about 
organized crime and official corruption in Albania, but I believe the 
country is well aware of these concerns and is continuing to undertake 
efforts to address them. The country is also aware of the need for 
further electoral reform before parliamentary elections next June.
  Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Dan Fried credibly 
asserted before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that ``countries 
continue reforms rather than abandon them, when they join the 
alliance,'' and this particularly applies to Albania given its ongoing 
EU aspirations. In that spirit, I want to express my support for 
Albania's NATO membership, which will strengthen the alliance as well 
as the prospects for further reform in Albania.
  Croatia is clearly ready for NATO membership. Its democratic 
credentials are very strong. Recovering from the violent breakup of 
Yugoslavia, the country essentially shed its extreme nationalist 
leanings in 2000 and has been in rapid transition ever since. Croatia 
is also preparing for EU membership, boosting reform efforts, and it 
has become an increasingly active and helpful player in world affairs. 
I therefore want to express my strong support for Croatia's NATO 
membership as well.

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