[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNITION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MONTENEGRO'S INDEPENDENCE

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                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 2016

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Montenegro on 
the tenth anniversary of their independence, which will occur on 
Saturday, May 21.
   Ten years ago this week, voters in Montenegro went to the polls in a 
referendum which posed the question, ``Do you want Montenegro to be an 
independent state?'' When the dust settled in the evening of May 21, 
2006, 55.5 percent of voters chose to peacefully dissolve the union 
with Serbia.
   Shortly thereafter, all five members of the United Nations Security 
Council recognized the newest country in the world. In a region marked 
by bullets and bombs, this was the beginning of a praiseworthy chapter 
in regional and trans-Atlantic history.
   In addition, I am very pleased that this proud nation is on a path 
to become the newest member of NATO. Its inclusion in NATO will 
strengthen regional and trans-Atlantic security, and sends a strong 
message of strength to friend and foe alike.
   Given that countries much larger than Montenegro often dominate our 
foreign policy, it is easy to overlook the importance of ten years of 
U.S.-Montenegro relations.
   U.S. government assistance to Montenegro has aimed to help the 
country advance toward Euro-Atlantic integration, increase its ability 
to fight organized crime and corruption, strengthen its civil society 
and democratic structures, and provide stability in the fragile 
Balkans.
   Meanwhile, American business leaders likewise play a vital role. For 
example, the Stratex Group is the largest American investor in 
Montenegro. The CEO was one of the first Jewish families to flee the 
scourge of Soviet Communism settling in our great country. Today, his 
company is working alongside our Embassy and recently just hosted 
airmen from the Air War College. Only two places in Montenegro fly the 
American flag: the U.S. Embassy and the Stratex properties.
   Beyond strengthening our formal diplomatic alliance, my colleagues 
here in Congress must endeavor to creatively promote business and 
cultural diplomacy--in Montenegro and around the world. We must 
encourage our diplomats to have a greater appreciation for American 
investments in emerging democracies.
   I believe that with a full commitment to rule of law, transparency 
and an independent judiciary, Montenegro will achieve its stated goal 
of further attracting American investors and, in the process, 
strengthen the trans-Atlantic community.
   With the focus of Congress, I am confident Montenegrin government 
leaders will fully commit to prioritizing these critical reforms and 
educating a new generation about conducting corruption-free business in 
the 21st century. As Chairman of the Montenegro Caucus, I will continue 
to support Montenegro, and I will continue to support a stable, secure 
Europe based on collective self-defense, free trade and economic 
freedom, the rule of law, and democracy.

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