    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 3, 1997]
    [Page 1126]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on the
    Partnership For Peace Initiative
    September 3, 1997

    Dear __________:
        In accordance with section 514(a) of Public Law 103-236 (22 U.S.C.
    1928(a)), I am submitting to you this report on implementation of the
    Partnership for Peace (PFP) initiative.
        The recent NATO Summit in Madrid highlighted the tremendous success
    of the Partnership for Peace and the important role PFP plays as a
    permanent security structure for the undivided Europe of the 21st
    century. On the second day of the Summit, 27 Partner Heads of State and
    Government met with their NATO counterparts under the auspices of the
    new Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. This meeting, the first of its
    kind, underscored the strength of the cooperative relationship NATO has
    built with the Partners in the 3-\1/2\ years since the creation of PFP.
        The Partnership for Peace has been instrumental in helping countries
    prepare for NATO membership. At the same time, it has also been a
    critical tool in helping all the countries of Central and Eastern
    Europe, regardless of their desire to join NATO, to build stronger ties
    with the Alliance and develop closer cooperative relationships with all
    their neighbors. As you will see from the attached report, NATO and its
    Partners have made impressive progress in broadening and deepening the
    Partnership over the past year. With the creation of the Euro-Atlantic
    Partnership Council and the implementation of enhancements to the PFP
    program, Allies and Partners together will help bring about our shared
    goal of a Euro-Atlantic community that is safe, secure, and united by
    common values and common understanding.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Jesse Helms, chairman, and Joseph
    R. Biden, Jr., ranking member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations;
    and Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman, and Lee H. Hamilton, ranking member,
    House Committee on International Relations.