[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        60TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATO

  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 41, S. Res. 20.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 20) celebrating the 60th anniversary 
     of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements 
relating to this measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 20) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 20

       Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will 
     celebrate its 60th anniversary at a summit to be held on 
     April 4, 2009, in Kehl, Germany, and Strasbourg, France;
       Whereas this summit will be held along the border of France 
     and Germany to commemorate the historic post-war 
     reconciliation in Europe that NATO has done so much to 
     facilitate;
       Whereas for 60 years, NATO has served as the preeminent 
     organization to defend the territory of its member states 
     against all external security threats;
       Whereas the security of the United States is inseparably 
     linked to the peace and stability of the European continent 
     by the participation of the United States in NATO;
       Whereas the security of the United States has been 
     significantly enhanced by the integration of security and 
     military structures in the United States and Europe achieved 
     by NATO;
       Whereas NATO continues to promote a Europe that is whole, 
     undivided, free, and at peace;
       Whereas NATO continues to support an open-door policy of 
     admitting states that can contribute to the promotion and 
     protection of freedom, democracy, stability, and peace 
     throughout Europe;
       Whereas, since the end of the Cold War, NATO has continued 
     to redefine and transform itself and to take on new missions, 
     in order to ensure that each NATO member state can defend 
     itself against emerging threats such as terrorism, the spread 
     of weapons of mass destruction, instability caused by failed 
     states, cyber attacks, piracy, and threats to global energy 
     security;
       Whereas NATO continues to help stabilize the Balkans 
     through the deployment of troops to Kosovo;
       Whereas NATO has deployed naval assets to the Gulf of Aden 
     to address the growing threat of piracy in the region and to 
     help protect the delivery of United Nations food assistance 
     to Somalia;
       Whereas after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United 
     States, article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, signed at 
     Washington April 4, 1949 (TIAS 1964), was invoked for the 
     first time in the history of the organization, and NATO 
     deployed 50,000 troops from all 26 NATO member states to 
     Afghanistan to respond to a dangerous insurgency and 
     terrorist threat and to help re-build a shattered country;
       Whereas the challenges that continue to be posed by the 
     resurgence of the Taliban and the illicit drug trade in 
     Afghanistan highlight the need for a sustained and 
     strengthened NATO presence in Afghanistan;
       Whereas NATO continues to enhance the security of Europe 
     and the world by strengthening partnerships with countries 
     around the world; and
       Whereas Congress continues to support NATO, the leadership 
     role of the United States Government in European security 
     affairs, and the continued enlargement of NATO: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization;
       (2) reaffirms that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     is strong, enduring, and oriented for the challenges of the 
     future; and
       (3) expresses appreciation for--
       (A) the steadfast partnership between the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization and the United States Government; and
       (B) the work of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to 
     ensure peace, security, and stability in Europe and 
     throughout the world.

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