[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2320]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING STRONG SUPPORT OF SENATE FOR NATO TO ENTER INTO A MEMBERSHIP 
                  ACTION PLAN WITH GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 574, S. Res. 439.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 439) expressing the strong support of 
     the Senate for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to 
     enter into a Membership Action Plan with Georgia and Ukraine.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 439) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 439

       Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO) to mutual defense has made 
     possible the democratic transformation of Central and Eastern 
     Europe and Eurasia;
       Whereas NATO members can and should play a critical role in 
     addressing the security challenges of the post-Cold War era 
     in creating the stable environment needed for emerging 
     democracies in Europe and Eurasia;
       Whereas lasting stability and security in Europe and 
     Eurasia require the military, economic, and political 
     integration of emerging democracies into existing European 
     structures;
       Whereas, in an era of threats from terrorism and the 
     proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, NATO is 
     increasingly contributing to security in the face of global 
     security challenges for the protection and interests of its 
     member states;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia and the Government of 
     Ukraine have each expressed a desire to join the Euro-
     Atlantic community, and Georgia and Ukraine are working 
     closely with NATO and its members to meet criteria for 
     eventual NATO membership;
       Whereas, at the NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministerial 
     meeting in Vilnius in April 2005, NATO and Ukraine launched 
     an Intensified Dialogue on membership between the Alliance 
     and Ukraine;
       Whereas, following a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in 
     New York on September 21, 2006, NATO Secretary General Jaap 
     de Hoop Scheffer announced the launching of an Intensified 
     Dialogue on membership between NATO and Georgia;
       Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by the heads of 
     state and government participating in the meeting of the 
     North Atlantic Council in November 2006, reaffirms that 
     NATO's door remains open to new members and that NATO will 
     continue to review the process for new membership, stating 
     ``We reaffirm that the Alliance will continue with Georgia 
     and Ukraine its Intensified Dialogues which cover the full 
     range of political, military, financial, and security issues 
     relating to those countries' aspirations to membership, 
     without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision. We 
     reaffirm the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive 
     Partnership, which has its 10th anniversary next year and 
     welcome the progress that has been made in the framework of 
     our Intensified Dialogue. We appreciate Ukraine's substantial 
     contributions to our common security, including through 
     participation in NATO-led operations and efforts to promote 
     regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine to continue to 
     contribute to regional security. We are determined to 
     continue to assist, through practical cooperation, in the 
     implementation of far-reaching reform efforts, notably in the 
     fields of national security, defense, reform of the defense-
     industrial sector and fighting corruption. We welcome the 
     commencement of an Intensified Dialogue with Georgia as well 
     as Georgia's contribution to international peacekeeping and 
     security operations. We will continue to engage actively with 
     Georgia in support of its reform process. We encourage 
     Georgia to continue progress on political, economic and 
     military reforms, including strengthening judicial reform, as 
     well as the peaceful resolution of outstanding conflicts on 
     its territory. We reaffirm that it is of great importance 
     that all parties in the region should engage constructively 
     to promote regional peace and stability.'';
       Whereas, in January 2008, Ukraine forwarded to NATO 
     Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by 
     President Victor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, 
     and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseny Yatensyuk, requesting that 
     NATO integrate Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan;
       Whereas, in January 2008, Georgia held a referendum on NATO 
     and 76.22 percent of the votes supported membership;
       Whereas participation in a Membership Action Plan does not 
     guarantee future membership in the NATO Alliance; and
       Whereas NATO membership requires significant national and 
     international commitments and sacrifices and is not possible 
     without the support of the populations of the NATO member 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Senate--
       (A) reaffirms its previous expressions of support for 
     continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) to include qualified candidates; and
       (B) supports the commitment to further enlargement of NATO 
     to include democratic governments that are able and willing 
     to meet the responsibilities of membership;
       (2) the expansion of NATO contributes to NATO's continued 
     effectiveness and relevance;
       (3) Georgia and Ukraine are strong allies that have made 
     important progress in the areas of defense, democratic, and 
     human rights reform;
       (4) a stronger, deeper relationship among the Government of 
     Georgia, the Government of Ukraine, and NATO will be mutually 
     beneficial to those countries and to NATO member States; and
       (5) the United States should take the lead in supporting 
     the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to Georgia and 
     Ukraine as soon as possible.

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