[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.