[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7820-7821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       SUPPORT FOR NATO EXPANSION

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, on March 26, NATO signed the Protocols 
on the Accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, 
Slovenia, and Romania. This is an important

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step toward the full membership in NATO for these countries. Soon, the 
Senate will debate whether to approve admission for these seven new and 
vibrant democracies. These countries have thrown off the shackles of 
communism. They are pressing forward, and I am confident their 
admission to NATO will only make that great alliance stronger and more 
robust.
  The enlargement process presents a historic opportunity for NATO to 
strengthen security and peace, as well as a significant step toward 
fulfilling the vision of a Europe whole and free. The new members have 
proved willing and capable of adding value to NATO's missions, and they 
strongly reinforce the importance of a trans-Atlantic link.
  The aspirant members have long contributed to NATO and allied 
missions, and they will bolster similar NATO and allied operations in 
the future. They have provided logistical support and troops in combat 
or peace support missions in Western Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq. 
Romania, for example, currently has over 1,300 troops engaged in allied 
missions, including a combat battalion that carries out operations 
shoulder to shoulder with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and a NBC unit in 
Iraq. Additionally, the Romanian Government will shelter up to 1,500 
war refugees from Iraq if needed. Romania and Bulgaria are currently 
providing host nation support at the Black Sea airbase and seaport 
bases. Moreover, Slovakia and the Baltic countries have provided 
peacekeeping troops, air surveillance support, as well as NBC 
specialists.
  I look forward to the debate in the U.S. Senate on ratification of 
the protocols for NATO expansion. NATO expansion will prove beneficial 
to those countries seeking entrance to NATO and the those countries 
already in the alliance.

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