[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.