PUBLIC LAW 104-208—SEPT. 30, 1996 110 STAT. 3009 -178 (1) during any fiscal year under the NATO Participation Act of 1994 with respect to countries eligible for assistance under that Act; or (2) during fiscal year 1997 under any Act to carry out the Warsaw Initiative. SEC. 609. EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES. (a) PRIORITY DELIVERY. —Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the delivery of excess defense articles under the authority of section 203(c)(1) and (2) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994 and section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall be given priority to the maximum extent feasible over the delivery of such excess defense articles to all other countries except those countries referred to in section 541 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995 (Public Law 103-306; 108 Stat. 1640). (b) COOPERATIVE REGIONAL PEACEKEEPING INITIATIVES. —The Congress encourages the President to provide excess defense articles and other appropriate assistance to cooperative regional peacekeeping initiatives involving emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe that have expressed an interest in joining NATO in order to enhance their ability to contribute to European peace and security and international peacekeeping efforts. SEC. 610. MODERNIZATION OF DEFENSE CAPABILITY. The Congress endorses efforts by the United States to modernize the defense capability of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and any other countries designated by the President pursuant to section 203(d) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994, by exploring with such countries options for the sale or lease to such countries of weapons systems compatible with those used by NATO members, including air defense systems, advanced fighter aircraft, and telecommunications infrastructure. SEC. 611. TERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY. (a) TERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY. — The eligibility of a country designated pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of section 606 or pursuant to section 203(d) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994 may be terminated upon a determination by the President that such country does not meet the criteria set forth in section 203(d)(3) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994. (b) NOTIFICATION.— At least 15 days before terminating the eligibility of any country pursuant to subsection (a), the President shall notify the congressional committees specified in section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under that section. SEC. 612. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE NATO PARTICIPATION ACT. The NATO Participation Act of 1994 (title II of Public Law 103-447; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note) is amended in sections 203(a), 203(d)(1), and 203(d)(2) by striking "countries emerging from communist domination" each place it appears and inserting "emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe".
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