SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ENLARGEMENT OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION.

SEC. 1224. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ENLARGEMENT OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. (a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) met on July 8 and 9, 1997, in Madrid, Spain, and issued invitations to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to begin accession talks to join NATO. (2) Congress has expressed its support for the process of NATO enlargement by approving the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (title VI of the matter enacted in section 101(c) of division A of Public Law 104–208; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note). (3) The United States has supported the position that the process of enlarging NATO will continue after the first round of invitations in July 1997. (4) Romania and Slovenia are to be commended for their progress toward political and economic reform and appear to be striving to meet the guidelines for prospective membership in NATO. (5) In furthering the purpose and objective of NATO in promoting stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area, NATO should invite Romania and Slovenia to accession negotiations to become NATO members as expeditiously as possible upon the satisfaction of all relevant membership criteria and consistent with NATO security objectives. (b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that North Atlantic Treaty Organization should be commended— (1) for having committed to review the process of enlarging the Organization in 1999; and (2) for singling out the positive developments toward democracy and rule of law in Romania and Slovenia.