III
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 483
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 15, 2010
Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
April 21, 2010
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Congratulating the Republic of Serbia’s application for European Union membership and recognizing Serbia’s active efforts to integrate into Europe and the global community.
Whereas the United States has been a strong supporter of the European Union (EU);
Whereas the year 2010 marks a full decade of efforts of the Government of Serbia to reintegrate into Europe and the global community;
Whereas, on November 30, 2009, the EU decided that the
citizens of Serbia will be able to travel without visa to the Schengen
area
permitting the greater integration of Serbia into Europe;
Whereas a democratically elected Government of Serbia has committed to resolving regional disagreements through diplomacy and the tenets of international law;
Whereas, on April 29, 2008, the EU and Serbia signed a
Stabilization and Association Agreement, which considered the EU’s
readiness to integrate Serbia to the fullest extent into the political and
economic mainstream of Europe and its status as a potential candidate for EU
membership
;
Whereas, on June 21, 2003, the EU stated in the Summit
Declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit at Thessaloniki that the
future of the Balkans is within the EU
and that the countries of the
Western Balkans’ “rapprochement with the EU will go hand in hand with the
development of regional co-operation”;
Whereas the United States Government has supported the diplomatic efforts of the Government of Serbia to reintegrate into the global community, including a visit by Vice President Joseph Biden in May 2009; and
Whereas the United States Government has long viewed the EU as a source of stabilization, security, and prosperity for all of Europe and the world: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
applauds the people of Serbia for furthering their commitment to democracy, free markets, tolerance, nondiscrimination, and the rule of law;
urges the European Council to adopt in a timely manner a clear position on Serbia’s qualifications as a candidate country;
welcomes the decision of the democratically elected Government of Serbia to join the NATO Partnership for Peace Program in 2006;
recognizes the cooperation of the Government of Serbia with the United States Government on issues such as democratization, anti-drug trafficking, anti-terrorism, human rights, regional cooperation, and trade;
strongly urges the Government of Serbia to intensify efforts to capture and transfer at-large indictees Goran Hadzic and Ratko Mladic to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and otherwise to fully cooperate with the Tribunal; and
encourages the European Union to also remain actively engaged with all countries in the Western Balkans regarding their aspirations for European integration.