    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 25, 2003]
    [Pages 296-297]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on North Atlantic
    Treaty Organization Enlargement
    March 25, 2003

    Dear Mr. Chairman:
        On August 26, 2002, I submitted a report ``regarding each country
    being actively considered for NATO membership.'' That report was
    prepared pursuant to section 3(2)(E)(i) of the Resolution of
    Ratification to the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on
    the Accession of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, adopted on
    April 30, 1998.
        As you know, on November 22, 2002, I joined the other leaders of
    NATO in inviting Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,
    Slovakia, and Slovenia to become members of NATO. I am firmly convinced
    that the membership of these nations will advance the cause of freedom,
    and make NATO stronger for the future.
        Section 3(2)(E)(ii) of the 1998 Resolution of Ratification requires
    classified and unclassified updates to the report submitted on August
    26, 2002. As stated in that Resolution, ``Prior to the signing of any
    protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of any country,
    the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
    report, in classified and unclassified forms:
           (I)   updating the information contained in the report required
                under clause (i) with respect to that country; and
          (II)   including an analysis of that country's ability to meet the
                full range of the financial burdens of NATO membership, and
                the likely impact upon the military effectiveness of NATO of
                the country invited for accession talks, if the country were
                to be admitted to NATO.''
        I am hereby providing this updated report, as prepared by my
    Administration. In doing so, I note with appreciation the continued and
    strong bipartisan support that the Congress has shown on the issue of
    NATO enlargement.

    [[Page 297]]

             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Richard G. Lugar, chairman, Senate
    Committee on Foreign Relations; John W. Warner, chairman, Senate
    Committee on Armed Services; Ted Stevens, chairman, Senate Committee on
    Appropriations; Henry J. Hyde, chairman, House Committee on
    International Relations; Duncan Hunter, chairman, House Committee on
    Armed Services; and C.W. Bill Young, chairman, House Committee on
    Appropriations. This letter was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on March 26.