Political Quotes

“I rise today to support the modifications to the amendment by the Senator from Colorado, the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996. Mr. President, my principal modification is straightforward: it adds the Republic of Slovenia to the current list of three countries that Congress finds as having made significant progress toward achieving the stated NATO membership criteria and are therefore eligible for additional assistance described in the bill. Mr. President, Slovenia should join Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary on this list for the following reasons: First, Slovenia's progress in meeting the NATO membership criteria has been second to none, and probably the very best in Central Europe. Second, Slovenia would provide the essential land-bridge linking current NATO member Italy and likely future NATO member Hungary. Third, Slovenia is the only country in the area that has recently proven its military tenacity and, hence, its ability to contribute to the security of NATO, having successfully defeated the invasion attempt of the Yugoslav National Army in 1991.”