Washington, DC (Moldova.ORG) — On November 16, 2006, The U.S. Congress Bill "NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006" was passed in the Senate by unanimous consent. Its purpose is to endorse further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to facilitate the timely admission of Albania, Croatia, Georgia, and Macedonia to NATO. The bill now goes on to be voted on in the House of Representatives. The House could act during its shortened session in December before its Christmas recess, if not, the bill would have to be reintroduced in the next Congress, in January.

Moldova concluded its Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with the alliance. The President of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Voronin stated recently that his country has no plans to join NATO, due to Moldova’s constitutional neutrality. But its neutral status has been of no use for Moldova to convince Russia to withdraw its troops and munitions from Moldova. Moldova’s leaders hope their country could become an European Union member without NATO membership which is highly unlikely. Thus, Moldova loses another opportunity of joining Euro-Atlantic structures along with its neighbors.

Senator Richard G. Lugar, joined by Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. from Delaware, Senator William H. Frist from Tennessee, Senator John McCain from Arizona, and Senator Gordon H. Smith from Oregon, introduced the bill to the Senate. Each of these countries has stated its desire to join NATO and are pursuing to meet the specified requirements for membership.

In Senator Lugar’s words “eventual NATO membership for these four countries would be a success for Europe, NATO, and the United States by continuing to extend the zone of peace and security". In a statement Sen. Lugar said: "If NATO is to continue to be the preeminent security alliance and serve the defense interests of its membership, it must continue to evolve and that evolution must include enlargement."

Lugar also said Washington should urge NATO members, who will meet in a summit in Riga, on November 28-29, to consider offering alliance admission to Albania, Croatia, Georgia and Macedonia. The four countries hope to receive a clear signal to join NATO in the Latvian capital. Albania, Croatia and Macedonia have participated since 2002 in NATO’s Membership Action Plan, which expedites the candidate country’s way on the path to NATO. Georgia is not a member of the plan but has expressed the desire to join NATO and has been working to build its forces to support its candidacy.

The U.S. Congress act includes nearly 20 million dollars in new security-related assistance for the four countries, including $10 million for Georgia.

Sources from Senate said there is readiness to consider Ukraine’s entrance into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as well. Moldova is not viewed as ready to follow the suit until there are serious discussions in Chisinau on reviewing the country’s neutrality status.

——————————————————————————
TEXT OF THE U.S. SENATE BILL S 4014ES
Nov. 16, 2006

NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006
(Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate)

S 4014 ES
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4014
——————————————————————————–

AN ACT
To endorse further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and to facilitate the timely admission of Albania, Croatia, Georgia, and Macedonia to NATO, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006′.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The sustained commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to mutual defense has made possible the democratic transformation of Central and Eastern Europe. Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 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 those emerging democracies in Europe.

(2) Lasting stability and security in Europe requires the military, economic, and political integration of emerging democracies into existing European structures.

(3) In an era of threats from terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is increasingly contributing to security in the face of global security challenges for the protection and interests of its member states.

(4) In the NATO Participation Act of 1994 (title II of Public Law 103-447; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress declared that `full and active participants in the Partnership for Peace in a position to further the principles of the North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area should be invited to become full NATO members in accordance with Article 10 of such Treaty at an early date…’.

(5) In the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (title VI of section 101(c) of title I of division A of Public Law 104-208; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress called for the prompt admission of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and declared that `in order to promote economic stability and security in Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine…the process of enlarging NATO to include emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe should not be limited to consideration of admitting Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia as full members of the NATO Alliance’.

(6) In the European Security Act of 1998 (title XXVII of division G of Public Law 105-277; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress declared that `Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic should not be the last emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe invited to join NATO’ and that `Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria…would make an outstanding contribution to furthering the goals of NATO and enhancing stability, freedom, and peace in Europe should they become NATO members [and] upon complete satisfaction of all relevant criteria should be invited to become full NATO members at the earliest possible date’.

(7) In the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-187; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress endorsed `…the vision of further enlargement of the NATO Alliance articulated by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2001, and by former President William J. Clinton on October 22, 1996′.

(8) At the Madrid Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in July 1997, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic were invited to join the Alliance, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state and government issued a declaration stating `[t]he alliance expects to extend further invitations in coming years to nations willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership…[n]o European democratic country whose admission would fulfill the objectives of the [North Atlantic] Treaty will be excluded from consideration’.

(9) At the Washington Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in April 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state and government issued a communique declaring `[w]e pledge that NATO will continue to welcome new members in a position to further the principles of the [North Atlantic] Treaty and contribute to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area…[t]he three new members will not be the last…[n]o European democratic country whose admission would fulfill the objectives of the Treaty will be excluded from consideration, regardless of its geographic location…’.

(10) In May 2000 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the foreign ministers of Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia issued a statement (later joined by Croatia) declaring that–

(A) their countries will cooperate in jointly seeking membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the next round of enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
(B) the realization of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by one or more of these countries would be a success for all; and
(C) eventual membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for all of these countries would be a success for Europe and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

(11) On June 15, 2001, in a speech in Warsaw, Poland, President George W. Bush stated `[a]ll of Europe’s new democracies, from the Baltic to the Black Sea and all that lie between, should have the same chance for security and freedom–and the same chance to join the institutions of Europe–as Europe’s old democracies have…I believe in NATO membership for all of Europe’s democracies that seek it and are ready to share the responsibilities that NATO brings…[a]s we plan to enlarge NATO, no nation should be used as a pawn in the agenda of others…[w]e will not trade away the fate of free European peoples…[n]o more Munichs…[n]o more Yaltas…[a]s we plan the Prague Summit, we should not calculate how little we can get away with, but how much we can do to advance the cause of freedom’.

(12) On October 22, 1996, in a speech in Detroit, Michigan, former President William J. Clinton stated `NATO’s doors will not close behind its first new members…NATO should remain open to all of Europe’s emerging democracies who are ready to shoulder the responsibilities of membership…[n]o nation will be automatically excluded…[n]o country outside NATO will have a veto…[a] gray zone of insecurity must not reemerge in Europe’.

(13) At the Prague Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in November 2002, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia were invited to join the Alliance in the second round of enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since the end of the Cold War, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state and government issued a declaration stating `NATO’s door will remain open to European democracies willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, in accordance with Article 10 of the Washington Treaty’.

(14) On May 8, 2003, the United States Senate unanimously approved the Resolution of Ratification to Accompany Treaty Document No. 108-4, Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on Accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, inviting Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

(15) At the Istanbul Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in June 2004, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state and government issued a communique reaffirming that NATO’s door remains open to new members, declaring `[w]e celebrate the success of NATO’s Open Door Policy, and reaffirm tody that our seven new members will not be the last. The door to membership remains open. We welcome the progress made by Albania, Croatia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) in implementing their Annual National Programmes under the Membership Action Plan, and encourage them to continue pursuing the reforms necessary to progress toward NATO membership. We also commend their contribution to regional stability and cooperation. We want all three countries to succeed and will continue to assist them in their reform efforts. NATO will continue to assess each country’s candidacy individually, based on the progress made towards reform goals pursued through the Membership Action Plan, which will remain the vehicle to keep the readiness of each aspirant for membership under review. We direct that NATO Foreign Ministers keep the enlargement process, including the implementation of the Membership Action Plan, under continual review and report to us. We will review at the next Summit progress by aspirants towards membership based on that report’.

(16) Georgia has stated its desire to join the Euro-Atlantic community, and in particular, is seeking to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Georgia is working closely with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its members to meet criteria for eventual membership in NATO.

(17) At a press conference with President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia in Washington, D.C. on July 5, 2006, President George W. Bush stated that `… I believe that NATO would benefit with Georgia being a member of NATO, and I think Georgia would benefit. And there’s a way forward through the Membership Action Plan…And I’m a believer in the expansion of NATO. I think it’s in the world’s interest that we expand NATO’.

(18) 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 the Alliance and Georgia.

(19) Contingent upon their continued implementation of democratic, defense, and economic reform, and their willingness and ability to meet the responsibilities of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Congress calls for the timely admission of Albania, Croatia, Georgia, and Macedonia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to promote security and stability in Europe.

(20) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state and government will hold a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in Riga, Latvia, in November 2006.

SEC. 3. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

Congress–
(1) reaffirms its previous expressions of support for continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization contained in the NATO Participation Act of 1994, the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996, the European Security Act of 1998, and the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002;

(2) supports the commitment to further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to include European democracies that are able and willing to meet the responsibilities of Membership, as expressed by the Alliance in its Madrid Summit Declaration of 1997, its Washington Summit Communique of 1999, its Prague Summit Declaration of 2002, and its Istanbul Summit Communique of 2004; and
(3) endorses the vision of further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization articulated by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2001, and by former President William J. Clinton on October 22, 1996, and urges our allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to work with the United States to realize a role for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in promoting global security, including continued support for enlargement to include qualified candidate states, specifically by entering into a Membership Action Plan with Georgia and recognizing the progress toward meeting the responsibilities and obligations of NATO membership by Albania, Croatia, Georgia, and Macedonia at the NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia.

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF ALBANIA, CROATIA, GEORGIA, AND MACEDONIA AS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE NATO PARTICIPATION ACT OF 1994.

(a) Designation-
(1) ALBANIA- The Republic of Albania is designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994 (title II of Public Law 103-447; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d)(1) of such Act.

(2) CROATIA- The Republic of Croatia is designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994, and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d)(1) of such Act.

(3) GEORGIA- Georgia is designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994, and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d)(1) of such Act.

(4) MACEDONIA- The Republic of Macedonia is designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994, and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d)(1) of such Act.

(b) Rule of Construction- The designation of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia, Georgia, and the Republic of Macedonia pursuant to subsection (a) as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994–

(1) is in addition to the designation of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia pursuant to section 606 of the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (title VI of section 101(c) of title I of division A of Public Law 104-208; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), the designation of Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria pursuant to section 2703(b) of the European Security Act of 1998 (title XXVII of division G of Public Law 105-277; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), and the designation of Slovakia pursuant to section 4(a) of the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-187; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note) as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994; and

(2) shall not preclude the designation by the President of other countries pursuant to section 203(d)(2) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994 as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of such Act.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTRIES DESIGNATED UNDER THE NATO PARTICIPATION ACT OF 1994.

Of the amounts made available for fiscal year 2007 under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763)–
(1) $3,200,000 is authorized to be available on a grant basis for the Republic of Albania;
(2) $3,000,000 is authorized to be available on a grant basis for the Republic of Croatia;
(3) $10,000,000 is authorized to be available on a grant basis for Georgia; and
(4) $3,600,000 is authorized to be available on a grant basis for the Republic of Macedonia.

SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

Congress affirms that it stands ready to consider, and if all applicable criteria are satisfied, to support efforts by Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, should Ukraine decide that is wishes to pursue membership in the Alliance.

Passed the Senate November 16, 2006.

Attest:
Secretary.
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4014

END