    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 28, 2008]
    [Pages 442-443]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on North Atlantic
    Treaty Organization Enlargement
    March 28, 2008

    Dear Mr. Chairman:
        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, I am
    pleased to submit the enclosed report on the Future Enlargement of NATO.
        In doing so, I note with appreciation the continued and strong
    bipartisan support that the Congress has shown on the issue of NATO's
    next round of enlargement.
        The report provides the following information for each of the three
    current NATO aspirants:

       (I)  An evaluation of how each country will further the principles of
             the North Atlantic Treaty and contribute to the security of the
             North Atlantic area;
      (II)  An evaluation of the eligibility of each country for membership
             based on the principles and criteria identified by NATO and the
             United States, including the military readiness of each
             country;
     (III)  An explanation of how an invitation to each country would affect
             the national security interests of the United States;
      (IV)  An up-to-date United States Government analysis of the common-
             funded military requirements and costs associated with
             integrating each country into NATO and an analysis of the
             shares of those costs to be borne by NATO members, including
             the United States; and
       (V)  A preliminary analysis of the implications for the United States
             defense budget and other United States budgets of integrating
             each country into NATO.

        The report is classified due to the nature of the information it
    contains assessing aspirants' capabilities and contributions.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Robert C. Byrd, chairman, Senate
    Committee on Appropriations; Carl Levin, chairman, Senate Committee on
    Armed Services; Joseph R. Biden, Jr., chairman, Senate Committee on
    Foreign Relations; David R. Obey, chairman, House Committee on
    Appropriations; Isaac N. Skelton, IV, chairman, House Committee on Armed
    Services; and Howard L. Berman,

    [[Page 443]]

    chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This letter was released
    by the Office of the Press Secretary on April 1.