U.S. Congress Adopts Resolution Supporting Croatia’s Efforts to Join NATO 

Washington, March 31- The House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution calling on the leaders of NATO member-countries to agree on discussing the entry of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia in the alliance not later than 2007, at a NATO summit in Istanbul on 28 and 29 June this year.

The resolution also welcomes March 29^th admission of seven new members, former countries of the East European bloc, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, and expresses support to the remaining candidates for NATO membership: Croatia, Albania and Macedonia.

Resolution 558, moved by Congressman Doug Bereuter, recommends that the heads of state or government of NATO member-countries, who will convene in Istanbul this June, should agree on considering the process of  enlargement, including membership candidacies of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, at a summit to be held not later than 2007.

The text also says that the three countries are the remaining countries covered by the Membership Action Plan (MAP), and that they have signed the U.S.-Adriatic Charter confirming their commitment to the values and principles of the alliance, as well as their wish to contribute to peace and security in south-eastern Europe.

Croatia is specifically mentioned in the resolution's preamble which says that the new Croatian government has demonstrated commitment to the implementation of reforms and fulfillment of conditions for integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions, including reforms in the defense sector, as well as that Zagreb has contributed troops to the NATO-led international peace mission in Afghanistan.