[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF TREATIES--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 108-4

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask 
unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the 
following treaty transmitted to the Senate on April 10, 2003, by the 
President of the United States:
  Protocols of the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, on Accession of 
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, 
Treaty Document No. 108-4.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as 
having been read the first time; that it be referred, with accompanying 
papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be 
printed; and that the President's message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on 
the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, 
Slovakia, and Slovenia. These protocols were opened for signature at 
Brussels on March 26, 2003, and signed that day on behalf of the United 
States and the other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty. I request 
the advice and consent of the Senate to the ratification of these 
documents. I also transmit for the information of the Senate a report 
submitted to me by the Secretary of State regarding this matter.
  The end of communism and the consolidation freedom and democracy in 
Central and Eastern Europe have been among the great developments of 
human history. NATO played a vital role in defending freedom and 
promoting this peaceful change for over 50 years. I am pleased that, 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, these new democracies can 
soon join us as members of this great Alliance.
  As the threats to the Alliance have changed, NATO itself has adapted 
to face them. At the Prague Summit in November 2002, I joined the 
leaders of NATO not only in inviting these nations to join us as 
members, but also in calling for a transformation of NATO's military 
capabilities and structures to meet the threats of the 21st century. 
NATO is proceeding with that agenda. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, 
Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia are already making real 
contributions to the common security of the NATO Allies, including the 
United States, and I ask the Senate to join me in advancing the cause 
of freedom and strengthening NATO by providing its prompt advice and 
consent to these Protocols of Accession. My Administration stands ready 
to assist you as best we can in your deliberations.
George Bush.

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