[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10054-10055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 114-12

  Mr. ROUNDS. 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 June 28, 2016, by the President of 
the United States: Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the 
Accession of Montenegro, Treaty Document No. 114-12. I further ask 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, for Senate advice and consent to ratification, 
the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of 
Montenegro. This Protocol was signed in Brussels on May 19, 2016, on 
behalf of the United States and the other Parties to the North Atlantic 
Treaty. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is an 
overview of the Protocol by the Department of State. Full ratification 
of the Protocol by the United States and our allies will allow 
Montenegro to become a Party to the North Atlantic Treaty and a member 
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
  Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which outlines NATO's Open 
Door policy, is part of the doctrinal foundation of the Alliance. 
Montenegro's accession to NATO will demonstrate to

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other countries in the Balkans and beyond that NATO's door remains open 
to nations that undertake the reforms necessary to meet NATO's 
requirements and contribute to the security of the Alliance, and is yet 
another milestone in advancing the EuroAtlantic integration of the 
Balkans. I am pleased that, with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
and the ratifications of this Protocol by our NATO allies, Montenegro 
can soon join us as a member of this great Alliance.
  I ask the Senate to continue working with me in advancing a Europe 
whole, free, and at peace by providing its prompt advice and consent to 
ratification for this Protocol of Accession. My Administration stands 
ready to brief and assist you in your deliberations.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, June 28, 2016.

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