    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [February 25, 2004]
    [Pages 269-270]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Reporting a Certification Regarding NATO Invitees
    Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia
    February 25, 2004

    To the Senate of the United States:
        Consistent with Condition (l)(A) of the resolution of advice and
    consent to the ratification of the Protocols to the North Atlantic
    Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
    Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, adopted by the United States Senate on
    May 8, 2003, and based on the recommendation of the Department of State,
    I hereby certify to the Senate that:

        (i) the inclusion of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,
            Slovakia, and Slovenia in NATO will not have the effect of
            increasing the overall percentage share of the United States in
            the common budgets of NATO; and (ii) the inclusion of Bulgaria,
            Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia in
            NATO does not detract from the ability of the United States

    [[Page 270]]

            to meet or to fund its military requirements outside the North
            Atlantic area.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     February 25, 2004.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 26.