    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [May 21, 1998]
    [Page 821]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 821]]

    Message to the Congress Reporting Certifications Required by the
    Ratification Resolution for the Protocols of Accession to NATO for
    Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic
    May 21, 1998

    To the Congress of the United States:
        In accordance with the resolution of advice and consent to the
    ratification of the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on
    the Accession of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, adopted by the
    Senate of the United States on April 30, 1998, I hereby certify to the
    Senate that:
            In connection with Condition (2), (i) the inclusion of Poland,
            Hungary, and the Czech Republic in NATO will not have the effect
            of increasing the overall percentage share of the United States
            in the common budgets of NATO; (ii) the United States is under
            no commitment to subsidize the national expenses necessary for
            Poland, Hungary, or the Czech Republic to meet its NATO
            commitments; and (iii) the inclusion of Poland, Hungary, and the
            Czech Republic in NATO does not detract from the ability of the
            United States to meet or to fund its military requirements
            outside the North Atlantic area; and
            In connection with Condition (3), (A) the NATO-Russia Founding
            Act and the Permanent Joint Council do not provide the Russian
            Federation with a veto over NATO policy; (B) the NATO-Russia
            Founding Act and the Permanent Joint Council do not provide the
            Russian Federation any role in the North Atlantic Council or
            NATO decision-making including (i) any decision NATO makes on an
            internal matter; or (ii) the manner in which NATO organizes
            itself, conducts its business, or plans, prepares for, or
            conducts any mission that affects one or more of its members,
            such as collective defense, as stated under Article V of the
            North Atlantic Treaty; and (C) in discussions in the Permanent
            Joint Council (i) the Permanent Joint Council will not be a
            forum in which NATO's basic strategy, doctrine, or readiness is
            negotiated with the Russian Federation, and NATO will not use
            the Permanent Joint Council as a substitute for formal arms
            control negotiations such as the adaptation of the Treaty on
            Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, done at Paris on November
            19, 1990; (ii) any discussion with the Russian Federation of
            NATO doctrine will be for explanatory, not decision-making
            purposes; (iii) any explanation described in the preceding
            clause will not extend to a level of detail that could in any
            way compromise the effectiveness of NATO's military forces, and
            any such explanation will be offered only after NATO has first
            set its policies on issues affecting internal matters; (iv) NATO
            will not discuss any agenda item with the Russian Federation
            prior to agreeing to a NATO position within the North Atlantic
            Council on that agenda item; and (v) the Permanent Joint Council
            will not be used to make any decision on NATO doctrine,
            strategy, or readiness.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    May 21, 1998.