    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [June 20, 2008]
    [Pages 858-859]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on North Atlantic
    Treaty Organization Enlargement
    June 20, 2008

    Dear Mr. Chairman:
        Pursuant to section 3(2)(E)(ii) 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.
        In doing so, I reiterate with appreciation the bipartisan support
    that the Congress has shown for NATO's next round of enlargement.
        As provided in the Resolution, for each of the two current NATO
    invitees (Albania and Croatia) as well as for Macedonia (in the event an
    invitation is issued by the Alliance before the signing of accession
    protocols), the enclosed report includes:

    [[Page 859]]

           (I)   updated information contained in the report required under
                clause (i) with respect to that country; and
          (II)   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.
        This report is in both classified and unclassified forms, as
    provided in the Resolution.
             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, chairman, House Committee on Foreign
    Affairs.