[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5586-S5587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 602--SUPPORTING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER 
   TSIPRAS OF GREECE AND PRIME MINISTER ZAEV OF MACEDONIA TO RESOLVE 
                    LONGSTANDING BILATERAL DISPUTES

  Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, Mr. 
Markey, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Risch) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 602

       Whereas, on June 17, 2018, Prime Minister of Greece Alexis 
     Tsipras and Prime Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev signed an 
     agreement to officially change the constitutional name of the 
     ``Republic of Macedonia'' to the ``Republic of North 
     Macedonia'' and end a 27-year-long dispute;
       Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the United States Department of 
     State congratulated Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev and 
     welcomed their historic agreement to resolve the name 
     dispute;

[[Page S5587]]

       Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the European Union's High 
     Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, and 
     the European Union's Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes 
     Hahn, issued a joint statement wholeheartedly congratulating 
     Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev, their teams, and the people 
     of the two countries, and further reaffirming that the 
     European Union perspective of the Western Balkans remains the 
     most stabilizing force for the region;
       Whereas, on June 12, 2018, NATO Secretary General Jens 
     Stoltenberg stated, ``This historic agreement is testament to 
     many years of patient diplomacy, and to the willingness of 
     these two leaders to solve a dispute which has affected the 
     region for too long.'';
       Whereas the agreement paves the way for Macedonia to begin 
     accession talks to join NATO and the European Union;
       Whereas, on July 5, 2018, Macedonia's parliament ratified 
     the agreement to rename the country as the ``Republic of 
     North Macedonia,'' and under the terms of the agreement the 
     Government of Macedonia may hold a public referendum and 
     shall pass a constitutional amendment to rename the country, 
     and the parliament of Greece must vote on ratification of the 
     agreement;
       Whereas Russia consistently seeks to undermine agreements 
     that enhance European cohesion, broaden the NATO alliance, or 
     strengthen transatlantic partnerships;
       Whereas the Governments of both Greece and Macedonia have 
     accused Russia of meddling in their domestic affairs to 
     undermine the name agreement, including by organizing public 
     protests and deepening ties with nationalist organizations;
       Whereas, on July 11, 2018, the Government of Greece 
     announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats and barred 
     the entry of two additional Russian diplomats due to their 
     involvement in funding public protests to undermine the name 
     deal;
       Whereas Greece is a longstanding NATO member and valued 
     United States ally, contributing 2.6 percent of its gross 
     domestic product (GDP) to defense and hosting United States 
     Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay;
       Whereas Macedonia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 
     1995, joined NATO's Membership Action Plan in 1999, and is 
     one of the largest per-capita troop contributors to the NATO-
     led mission in Afghanistan;
       Whereas, on July 11, 2018, NATO allies formally invited 
     Macedonia to begin accession talks to join the alliance under 
     the name ``Republic of North Macedonia''; and
       Whereas, on July 19, 2018, Macedonia's parliament 
     unanimously adopted a declaration supporting the country's 
     bid to join NATO: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes the agreement between Greece and the Republic 
     of Macedonia to resolve the name dispute and to strengthen 
     bilateral relations for the benefit of both countries;
       (2) congratulates Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran 
     Zaev, Foreign Ministers Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov, 
     their teams, and the people of both countries for this 
     historic achievement;
       (3) affirms that stability in southeastern Europe is an 
     important United States national security interest;
       (4) condemns efforts by the Government of the Russian 
     Federation to undermine the agreement and supports United 
     States assistance to authorities in Athens and Skopje to 
     counter malign Russian influence;
       (5) urges Macedonia to continue implementing important 
     reforms as it seeks to join NATO and the European Union, 
     including those related to protecting freedom of expression, 
     strengthening the rule of law, and fighting corruption; and
       (6) encourages the United States Department of Commerce, 
     Department of State, and other relevant agencies to support 
     United States companies interested in investing in 
     southeastern Europe.

                          ____________________