[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23619-23620]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


         ACCESSION OF ALBANIA AND CROATIA TO THE NATO ALLIANCE

  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I welcome last week's vote in the Senate 
ratifying the protocols on the accession of Albania and Croatia to the 
NATO Alliance. The membership of these two countries will strengthen 
the Alliance, contribute to the stability of the Balkans, and reinforce 
democracy in the region. Less than 15 years after NATO sent 
peacekeeping troops to the Balkans to halt a bloody war, it is a 
tribute to these nations' commitment to reforms that we are today one 
step

[[Page 23620]]

closer to extending our Alliance and solidifying the peace. Albania and 
Croatia will strengthen the Alliance by providing more capability to 
help meet NATO's broader security missions. All NATO member states 
should be encouraged to ratify the accession agreement for Albania and 
Croatia so that they can formally join the Alliance at NATO's 60th 
anniversary summit next April.

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