Military

While each of the seven countries invited at the Prague Summit shares these broad accomplishments, I would like to comment briefly on the specific contributions and reform efforts that each invitee has made to demonstrate its readiness to join NATO. I would note that the President's Report to Congress on NATO enlargement, submitted in March, contains a more detailed analysis of each country.

Bulgaria - All segments of Bulgarian political opinion strongly support NATO membership (including all four parties represented in Parliament). Bulgaria has also given strong support for the disarmament of Iraq. On November 7, the National Assembly approved the Government's decision to support coalition action against Iraq. Bulgarian support includes: over-flight rights and the transit of U.S. and coalition forces; basing for up to 18 U.S. aircraft at Sarafovo Airport near Burgas; and the offer to deploy Bulgarian nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) defense units (up to 150 personnel) to the theater of operations. Bulgaria was an important partner of the United States in dealing with Iraq in the United Nations Security Council. Bulgaria also contributed to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), including hosting a deployment of six US KC-135 transport aircraft and 200 support personnel at Burgas, the first stationing of foreign forces in Bulgaria since WWII. Bulgaria has also provided personnel for SFOR and KFOR and donated arms and ammunition to the Afghan National Army. The Government has agreed on a minimum level of defense expenditures as a proportion of GDP, projected at higher than 2.8% in 2003 and 2004.

Since the fall of Communism, Bulgaria has demonstrated its commitment to democracy by holding free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. Basic civil liberties are guaranteed by the Constitution. Bulgarians pride themselves on tolerance, and no extremist group enjoys significant support, either inside or outside the political system. Bulgaria has made material progress on the return of private and communal property. Macro-economically, Bulgaria remains committed to the path of reforms laid out by the IMF and EU, even in the face of growing public dissatisfaction with low living standards.

Estonia - The former Prime Minister stated publicly on March 18 that Estonia is ready to contribute to post-conflict stabilization and security operations in Iraq. The new government, sworn in on April 10, has stressed continuity in foreign policy. Estonia presently contributes 100 troops to the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo -- KFOR -- on a six-month rotation. A 21-man military police contingent is also deployed to KFOR. Estonia has provided two explosive detection dog teams to Afghanistan to assist with airport security, and offered overflight and landing rights in support of OEF. It has also deployed an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team with ISAF.

Estonia is a fully functioning democracy with a successful market-oriented economy (GDP grew by an estimated 5.7% in 2002). The Government has committed to spending at least 2% of GDP annually on defense. Estonia is working actively to integrate its Russian-speaking minority by eliminating language requirements for electoral candidates and promoting naturalization. Estonia is also taking concrete steps to deal with the past, completing its restitution process entirely and emphasizing the work of its independent Historical Commission. In January, Estonia observed its first national Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust.

Latvia - The Latvian parliament passed a bill on March 19 to allow Latvian troops to take part in operations in Iraq. Latvia has deployed eight military medical personnel to ISAF, and participates in a six-month rotation, every 18 months, of some 100 personnel as part of KFOR (previously in SFOR). It also maintains a medical and military police team with the British and an EOD team with the Netherlands in KFOR. The government is committed to spending a minimum of 2% of GDP on defense through 2008.

Latvia has also undertaken significant political and economic reforms. Following parliamentary elections in October 2002, a new government was formed headed by Prime Minister Einars Repse that has demonstrated a firm commitment to combating corruption. A newly created Anti- Corruption Bureau is working to investigate and prosecute corruption allegations within government. In addition, the new government has accelerated efforts to integrate Latvia's minorities. Since 1995, 58,145 Russian-minority residents have become naturalized citizens. The Government has reduced fees and adopted other practical measures to ease the naturalization process. Property restitution is also a great success story and is nearly complete. The Government promotes Holocaust education and public awareness, and commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day on July 4.

Lithuania - On March 17, the Lithuanian government reaffirmed the February 5 "Vilnius-l0" statement supporting the U.S. position. Lithuania has deployed logistical and military medical support to the coalition in Iraq, and has offered to provide humanitarian aid. Thirty-seven Special Forces soldiers support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; four military physicians support ISAF in Kabul. Airspace and airfields are on standing offer. Contributions in the Balkans include a six-month rotation every 18 months of 100 personnel with the Danish contingent in KFOR (previously in SFOR) and a platoon of about 30 servicemen with the Polish-Ukrainian contingent in KFOR. In addition, in March the Lithuanian parliament approved sending military physicians with a Czech and Slovak battalion to Kosovo, and contributing to EU-led operations in Macedonia. The Government is committed to spending a minimum of 2% of GDP on defense.

The Government has taken steps to strengthen its legal and institutional framework for combating corruption. It has successfully cracked down on corruption by customs and tax inspectors. We have also seen a genuine and exemplary commitment to address the injustices of the past. The Government has returned hundreds of religious scrolls to Jewish community groups, instituted a Holocaust education program, announced plans to restore parts of the Jewish Quarter in Vilnius' Old Town, and consistently been one of the most active members of the 15-country International Task Force on Holocaust Education. A joint Government-Jewish community committee is working on an amendment to the property restitution law to allow communal property restitution.

In Romania, public support for NATO membership stands at approximately 80%. A staunch supporter of the war on terrorism and the effort to disarm Iraq, Romania granted blanket overflight, basing and transit rights to coalition forces for operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The Black Sea port of Constanta and Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase have accommodated U.S. troops en route to the Persian Gulf. Romania also has deployed an NBC defense unit to support Iraq operations. Romania has provided robust support of OEF, self-deploying a 400-man infantry battalion to Kandahar, Afghanistan and a military police platoon to the ISAF mission in Kabul. The Romanian defense budget is projected at 2.38% of GDP in 2003 - 05.

The Romanian government continues efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, improve living standards, and create a society based on respect for the rule of law. Romania has a free press, five major political parties, and an established record of consistently free and fair elections. To improve transparency, the Government has drafted legislation to compel the disclosure of public figures' assets, limit their ability to influence business decisions, make political party financing more transparent, and increase the openness of the government decision-making process. While Romania still has much to do in the matter of restitution, it has passed new laws (to replace the former ad hoc decrees) and is adjudicating thousands of claims. Economic growth resumed in 2000 after a three-year recession, with increases in GDP growth of 5.3% in 2001 and 4.5% in 2002. Decreases in unemployment and inflation represent encouraging developments.

Slovakia has also demonstrated its readiness and commitment to supporting U.S. national security interests by contributing to the global war on terrorism, operations in the Balkans/Afghanistan, and in Iraq. Contributions include sending 100 soldiers to Kosovo, an engineering unit to Kabul, and on February 26 a 75-person NBC defense unit to Kuwait. Slovak military reform is on course. Parliament is committed to joining NATO (the ratification of Slovakia's accession to NATO passed by a 124-11 vote) and has earmarked 2% of its budget for defense spending.

In September, Prime Minister Dzurinda's government was re-elected, firmly cementing Slovakia's democratic reforms. Former authoritarian Prime Minister Meciar's party HZDS has all but collapsed. Although economic reforms have been painful, with unemployment currently at around 18%, the Slovaks nonetheless have moved forward with privatization and financial reform, and their efforts are beginning to bear fruit. Slovakia has engaged actively with its Jewish community and with U.S. NGO's to settle outstanding restitution claims. The OECD has projected a 4% economic growth rate, the highest in the region, for FY 2003.

Slovenia - In addition to offering facilities, overflight permission, and intelligence support to the War Against Terrorism, Slovenia provided demining and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, donated arms and ammunition to the Afghan National Army Training Program, and is helping train Afghan police. Slovenia also deployed a motorized infantry company to Bosnia in January 2003, adding to troops and equipment already sent to SFOR and KFOR. Slovenia shows good progress in increasing interoperability and reforming its military, emphasizing deployable and sustainable reaction forces. It will end conscription next year and plans to have a fully professional force by 2008. Defense spending is rising steadily; the Government has committed to spending two percent of GDP by 2008.

Slovenia has a stable, multi-party, democratic political system, characterized by regular elections, a free press, an independent judiciary, and an excellent human rights record. Slovenia has a free market economy, an impressive record of sustained, broad-based growth, and a per capita GDP approaching 72% of the EU average. There is near-uniform support in Parliament for NATO membership, and 66% of participants in a referendum on March 23 voted in favor of joining NATO.

Mr. Chairman, the record of contributions and accomplishments by the seven invitee countries is impressive. But just as no Ally is perfect, the same is true of the invitees. Issues such as corruption, gray arms sales, treatment of minorities, protection of classified information, property restitution, and defense reform require the continued close attention of the leaders of the seven invited countries.

Our intensive dialogue over the past several months has convinced us, however, that each of the invitees recognizes that continued reform measures serve their own self-interest and that they will continue their reforms even after they are admitted into NATO.

This commitment to an ongoing process of reform was reaffirmed on March 26 in Brussels when Allies signed the Accession Protocols at NATO headquarters. Each of the invitees' Foreign Ministers provided detailed lists of further political, economic, military, resource, security and legal reforms with their own aggressive timetables.

We and our NATO allies will help them meet their commitments, with our continued moral support and in some cases, such as dealing with corruption, gray arms sales, and protecting classified information, with technical assistance. The systematic and formal review process that NATO provides will also ensure continued progress on agreed reforms.

Mr. Chairman, this morning, Secretary Powell appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to make the Administration's case for quick action by the Senate to provide its advice and consent to ratification of the Protocols on enlargement. Expeditious action will demonstrate to our current Allies and our new Allies our commitment to a larger, stronger, more capable NATO, even during a period of transatlantic differences. It will show our commitment to the vision of a Europe, whole, free, and at peace, that President Bush put forward in his speech in Warsaw in June 2002.

Even beyond bringing these seven countries into the Alliance, the door to NATO must remain open. Our vision remains, as President Bush has said, that "all of Europe's 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".

We support the continuing pursuit of membership by Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, and we view their partnership in joining with us in creating the "Adriatic Charter," which will be signed by Secretary Powell and three foreign ministers here soon, as a positive step in promoting and enhancing cooperation.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to share several brief anecdotes, which underscore why NATO is important and why this enlargement is important.

Last fall, after the President decided that the United States would support the seven invitees, the State Department sent instructions to our Ambassadors to deliver the good news to the governments.

There were, in each of the seven capitals, moments of joy, humor, and poignancy. In one capital, after our ambassador had finished reading his instructions, a senior official, savoring the moment, asked the ambassador to read his instructions again, and then a third time. In another capital, the foreign minister, who had anxiously received our Ambassador and then suddenly realized the historic importance of the news he had just received, exclaimed, "And I forget to put my jacket on!"

And, then there was the comment by one foreign minister, a comment that deeply touched many us who joined the Foreign Service well before anyone could imagine the end of the Cold War. After being told of the President's decision, the foreign minister said: "This is the end of the old Soviet borders, and even the borders in the minds of our people."

Even in these difficult times, Mr. Chairman, it is easy for us as Americans to take for granted what NATO means. But in the enthusiasm of our seven new allies, in their dedication to our shared goals, in their contributions to our mutual security, and in the hard work on reform that they have already done and that they will do in the future, our new allies have reminded us of why NATO is so important. It is an enduring community of democracies; it is the essential transatlantic link; it is a guarantor of peace and stability. For these seven nations, it is the fulfillment of fifty years of hope and aspiration.

Mr. Chairman, thank for you allowing me this time. I would be happy to answer your questions and hear your comments.