Senators Voinovich, Shaheen Applaud NATO Bosnia Decision

Press Release

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, and George V. Voinovich (R-OH), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, today applauded NATO's decision to launch a Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would advance the Alliance's commitment to the Balkans and strengthen Bosnia's reform process. The Senators called for Bosnia's inclusion in NATO in an op-ed published in Wall Street Journal Europe on March 15. And last week, Shaheen chaired a hearing, in which Voinovich participated, on the challenges still facing the region.

"I have long believed that the integration of all Southeast European states into NATO and the European Union is the surest guarantor of sustained regional security, stability and economic prosperity," Senator Voinovich said. "Yesterday's decision at the NATO Ministerial in Tallinn is a strong signal to the people of Bosnia that their future is in Europe. I pray that the people of Bosnia will continue on a pro-Western, democratic path, and that Bosnia's leaders have the courage to make the difficult decisions on constitutional reform so that Bosnia can stay on that path."

"NATO's decision demonstrates the Euro-Atlantic commitment to bringing Bosnia into the fold and will help complete the vision of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. Granting membership to Bosnia will strengthen the Alliance, further unite Europe, and ensure that Southeast Europe is united and completes its unfinished business," said Shaheen. "It is now in the hands of Bosnia's leaders to rise above their past differences and make the necessary reforms to complete the MAP process. I am encouraged by the significant progress on reforms they have made in recent months."

As a former five-year member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Voinovich played a key role in the expansion of NATO membership to include Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. He joined President Bush in 2002 on an official U.S. delegation trip to the NATO summit in Prague where membership was formally extended. He continues that fight today, to ensure the door to NATO remains open for all of the captive nations.
Shaheen also welcomed Bosnia's recent decision to send troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, which she said showed the country's commitment to reinforcing NATO's goals for security in the country.

In February, Shaheen and Voinovich traveled to the Balkans to consult with the countries' leaders and regional allies on security, political, and economic cooperation.

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