[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 409 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 409
Supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to the Republic of
Georgia and Ukraine at the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Foreign Ministers in December 2008.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 9, 2008
Mr. Shimkus (for himself and Mr. Tanner) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to the Republic of
Georgia and Ukraine at the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Foreign Ministers in December 2008.
Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) to mutual defense has made the democratic transformation of
Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia possible;
Whereas NATO members can and should play a critical role in addressing the
security challenges of the post-Cold War era in creating the stable
environment needed for emerging democracies in Europe and Eurasia;
Whereas the Government of the Republic of Georgia and the Government of Ukraine
have each expressed a desire to join the Euro-Atlantic community, and
Georgia and Ukraine are working closely with NATO and its members to
meet criteria for NATO membership;
Whereas, on April 3, 2008, the heads of state and government participating in
the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Bucharest stated that
``NATO welcomes Ukraine's and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations for
membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become
members of NATO. Both nations have made valuable contributions to
Alliance operations. We welcome the democratic reforms in Ukraine and
Georgia and look forward to free and fair parliamentary elections in
Georgia in May. [A Membership Action Plan (MAP)] is the next step for
Ukraine and Georgia on their direct way to membership. Today we make
clear that we support these countries' applications for MAP.''
Whereas at the NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministerial meeting in Vilnius in
April 2005, NATO and Ukraine launched an Intensified Dialogue on
membership between the Alliance and Ukraine;
Whereas following a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in New York on September
21, 2006, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced the
launching of an Intensified Dialogue on membership between NATO and
Georgia;
Whereas the Riga Summit Declaration, issued by the heads of state and government
participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in November
2006, reaffirms that NATO's door remains open to new members and that
NATO will continue to review the process for new membership, stating
``We reaffirm that the Alliance will continue with Georgia and Ukraine
its Intensified Dialogues which cover the full range of political,
military, financial, and security issues relating to those countries'
aspirations to membership, without prejudice to any eventual Alliance
decision.'';
Whereas in January 2008, Ukraine forwarded to NATO Secretary General Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by President Victor Yushchenko, Prime
Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk,
requesting that NATO integrate Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan;
Whereas in January 2008, Georgia held a referendum on NATO and 76.2 percent of
the votes supported membership;
Whereas in February 2008, Georgia forwarded to NATO Secretary General Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer a letter, signed by President Mikhail Saakashvili,
requesting that NATO integrate Georgia into the Membership Action Plan;
Whereas both Georgia and the Ukraine have been steadfast partners in the War on
Terror with troops serving as part of the Multi-national Force--Iraq;
Whereas, on August 10, 2008, Georgian troops withdrew from Iraq to defend their
own borders;
Whereas, on August 13, 2008, President George W. Bush stated, ``The United
States of America stands with the democratically elected government of
Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Georgia be respected.'';
Whereas United States support for the approval of Membership Action Plans for
Georgia and Ukraine demonstrates support for the development of
democratic institutions in those countries, the process of defense
reform and respect for human rights;
Whereas NATO membership requires significant national and international
commitments and sacrifices and is not possible without the support of
the populations of the NATO member states;
Whereas a period of intensive engagement will begin with Georgia and Ukraine at
a high political level to address the questions still outstanding
pertaining to their Membership Action Plan applications; and
Whereas NATO Foreign Ministers have the authority to decide on the Membership
Action Plan applications of Georgia and Ukraine and have been asked to
make a first assessment of progress at their December 2008 meeting: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That--
(1) Congress--
(A) reaffirms its previous expressions of support
for continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) to include qualified candidates;
and
(B) supports the commitment to further enlargement
of NATO to include democratic governments that are able
and willing to meet the responsibilities of membership;
and
(2) it is the sense of Congress that--
(A) the expansion of NATO contributes to NATO's
continued effectiveness and relevance;
(B) the Republic of Georgia and Ukraine are strong
allies that have made important progress in the areas
of defense, democratic, and human rights reform;
(C) a stronger, deeper relationship among the
Government of Georgia, the Government of Ukraine, and
NATO will be mutually beneficial to those countries and
to NATO member states; and
(D) the United States should take the lead in
supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to
Georgia and Ukraine at the meeting of the NATO Foreign
Ministers in December 2008.
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