U.S. Senate Backs Adriatic 3 countries’ NATO Membership

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 – The U.S. Senate passed a bill on November 16 calling for “the timely admission” of Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Georgia to NATO, and also authorized security assistance for these countries in Fiscal Year 2007. Dick Lugar, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who sponsored the NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006, said that it is time for the United States to take the lead in urging its allies to bring new members into the Alliance. Georgia is currently in a so-called Intensified Dialogue with NATO and is hoping to progress soon to a Membership Action Plan. “Unfortunately, Georgia has not yet been granted a Membership Action Plan but nevertheless has made remarkable progress. This legislation will provide important incentives and assistance to the countries to continue the implementation of democratic, defense, and economic reforms,” Senator Lugar said.