PUBLIC LAW 104-208—SEPT. 30, 1996 110 STAT. 3009-176 and responsibilities of NATO membership, including the obligation set forth in Article 10 of the Washington Treaty that new members be able to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area; and (5) to work to define a constructive and cooperative political and security relationship between an enlarged NATO and the Russian Federation. SEC. 604. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING FURTHER ENLARGE- MENT OF NATO. It is the sense of the Congress that in order to promote economic stability and security in Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine— (1) the United States should continue and expand its support for the full and active participation of these countries in activities appropriate for qualifying for NATO membership; (2) the United States Government should use all diplomatic means available to press the European Union to admit as soon as possible any country which qualifies for membership; (3) the United States Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should continue and expand their support for military exercises and peacekeeping initiatives between and among these nations, nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Russia; and (4) the process of enlarging NATO to include emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe should not be limited to consideration of admitting Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia as full members of the NATO Alliance. SEC. 605. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING ESTONIA, LATVIA AND UTHUANIA. In view of the forcible incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania into the Soviet Union in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the refusal of the United States and other countries to recognize that incorporation for over 50 years, it is the sense of the Congress that— "" (1) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have valid historical security concerns that must be taken into account by the United States; and (2) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should not be disadvantaged in seeking to join NATO by virtue of their forcible incorporation into the Soviet Union. SEC. 606. DESIGNATION OF COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR NATO ENLARGE- MENT ASSISTANCE. (a) IN GENERAL. —The following countries are designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994 and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d)(1) of such Act: Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. (b) DESIGNATION OF SLOVENIA.— Effective 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, Slovenia is designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994, and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d) of such Act, unless the President certifies to Congress prior to such effective date that Slovenia fails to meet the criteria under section 203(d)(3) of such Act.
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