Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

   S. Res. 439
   Whereas the sustained commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) to mutual defense has made possible the democratic
transformation of Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia;

   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 lasting stability and security in Europe and Eurasia require the
military, economic, and political integration of emerging democracies into
existing European structures;

   Whereas, in an era of threats from terrorism and the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction, NATO is increasingly contributing to security
in the face of global security challenges for the protection and interests
of its member states;

   Whereas the Government 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
eventual NATO membership;

   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. We reaffirm
the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership, which has its
10th anniversary next year and welcome the progress that has been made in
the framework of our Intensified Dialogue.

We appreciate Ukraine's substantial contributions to our common security,
including through participation in NATO-led operations and efforts to
promote regional cooperation. We encourage Ukraine to continue to contribute
to regional security.

We are determined to continue to assist, through practical cooperation, in
the implementation of far-reaching reform efforts, notably in the fields of
national security, defense, reform of the defense-industrial sector and
fighting corruption. We welcome the commencement of an Intensified Dialogue
with Georgia as well as Georgia's contribution to international peacekeeping
and security operations.

We will continue to engage actively with Georgia in support of its reform
process. We encourage Georgia to continue progress on political, economic
and military reforms, including strengthening judicial reform, as well as
the peaceful resolution of outstanding conflicts on its territory. We
reaffirm that it is of great importance that all parties in the region
should engage constructively to promote regional peace and stability.'';

   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 Arseny Yatensyuk,
requesting that NATO integrate Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan;

   Whereas, in January 2008, Georgia held a referendum on NATO and 76.22
percent of the votes supported membership;

   Whereas participation in a Membership Action Plan does not guarantee
future membership in the NATO Alliance; and

   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: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
    (1) the Senate--
    (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;
    (2) the expansion of NATO contributes to NATO's continued effectiveness
and relevance;
    (3) Georgia and Ukraine are strong allies that have made important
progress in the areas of defense, democratic, and human rights reform;
    (4) 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
    (5) the United States should take the lead in supporting the awarding of
a Membership Action Plan to Georgia and Ukraine as soon as possible.

   Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the NATO Membership
Action Plan Endorsement Act of 2008. This resolution is intended to express
strong Senate support for Administration leadership in ensuring that NATO
extends Membership Action Plan, MAP, status to Georgia and Ukraine as soon
as possible.

   NATO has a long track record of support for continued enlargement of NATO
to democracies that are able and willing to meet the responsibilities of
membership. The leaders of Georgia and Ukraine have clearly stated their
desire to join NATO and both have made remarkable progress towards meeting
NATO standards.

The Membership Action Plan was launched in April 1999 to assist countries in
preparations for possible NATO membership by providing advice, assistance,
and practical support on all aspects of membership requirements. NATO has
identified four main categories of cooperation and assistance through MAP.
First, NATO assists in the development of a national program that covers
political, economic, defense, resource security, and legal requirements for
membership.

Second, NATO experts provide focused and candid feedback and political and
technical advice to the governments. Third, NATO provides an organizational
structure to assist in the coordination of defense and security assistance
received from NATO member states and other allies. Fourth, NATO provides
assistance in the construction of an individual approach to defense planning
to include force, personnel, and capability reforms.

   MAP implementation is no longer simply an activity that focuses on
military and security issues. Inter-ministerial meetings engage other
governmental departments in a coordinated and systematic approach with the
goal of government-wide reform and progress.

These goals include settling international, ethnic or external territorial
disputes by peaceful means; demonstrating a commitment to the rule of law
and human rights; and promoting stability and prosperity through economic
reform, social equality, and environmental responsibility. Each participant
is free to choose the elements of MAP best suited to their own national
priorities and circumstances. In other words, if approved at the NATO summit
at Bucharest, Romania in April, Tbilisi and Kyiv will set their own
objectives, targets, and work schedules.

   Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has been evolving to meet the new
security needs of the 21st century. In this era, the threats to NATO members
are transnational and far from its geographic borders. NATO's viability as
an effective defense and security alliance depends on flexible, creative
leadership, as well as the willingness of members to improve capabilities
and address common threats.

   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. Potential NATO membership motivates
emerging democracies to make important advances in areas such as the rule of
law and civil society. A closer relationship with NATO will promote these
values and contribute to our mutual security.

   Three years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to invite 7 countries
to join NATO. Today, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,
Slovakia, and Slovenia are making significant contributions to NATO and are
among our closest allies in the global war on terrorism. It is time again
for the U.S. to take the lead in urging its allies to recognize the
important efforts underway in Georgia and Ukraine, and to offer MAP to both
countries this spring.

   Both countries have significant amounts of work to accomplish before they
can be offered NATO membership. Let me be clear, MAP participation does not
guarantee future membership, nor does it consist of simply a checklist for
aspiring NATO members to fulfill. It is a guide, not an endorsement to NATO
membership.

   I am confident that Presidents Saakashvilli and Yushchenko understand
that NATO membership will not be possible without the support of their
respective electorates. In Georgia the issue was put to a referendum earlier
this month and 76.22 percent of voters supported NATO membership. Ukrainian
leaders have identified the need for a national referendum on this important
issue in the future. Alliance membership requires commitment and sacrifice
that must have the support of the local population if they are to be
successfully implemented.

   Last week, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven Pifer, outlined in
the International Herald Tribune several compelling arguments for extending
MAP to Ukraine. He said, in part: ``Granting Ukraine a MAP at the Bucharest
summit ..... would enhance European security and stability ..... [N]one of
the arguments against the measure stand up to scrutiny ..... Ukraine has
made as much progress on democratic, economic, and military reform as
Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Albania when they received MAPs in 1999
..... Kyiv has demonstrated that it has serious military capabilities and
the political will to use them. In recent years, the Ukrainian military has
provided the alliance with strategic airlifts; participated, often
side-by-side with NATO troops, in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and
elsewhere; and made a significant contribution to coalition ground forces in
Iraq during 2004-05. Ukraine would be a net contributor to Euro-Atlantic
security.''

   Mr. President, I ask that my colleagues support this important
resolution. It sends a strong message to the administration, our NATO
allies, as well as to the people of Georgia and Ukraine that we are prepared
to work closely with each to contribute to the strengthening of peace and
security in Europe and Eurasia.