PUBLIC LAW 105-85 —NOV. 18, 1997 111 STAT. 1939 complete and detailed descriptions and estimates of the amounts provided in that budget for the costs of NATO enlargement. SEC. 1224. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ENLARGEMENT OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. (a) FINDINGS. —Congress makes the following findings: (1) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) met on July 8 and 9, 1997, in Madrid, Spain, and issued invitations to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to begin accession talks to join NATO. (2) Congress has expressed its support for the process of NATO enlargement by approving the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (title VI of the matter enacted in section 101(c) of division A of Public Law 104-208; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note). (3) The United States has supported the position that the process of enlarging NATO will continue after the first round of invitations in July 1997. (4) Romania and Slovenia are to be commended for their Erogress toward political and economic reform and appear to e striving to meet the guidelines for prospective membership in NATO. (5) In furthering the purpose and objective of NATO in promoting stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area, NATO should invite Romania and Slovenia to accession negotiations to become NATO members as expeditiously as possible upon the satisfaction of all relevant membership criteria and consistent with NATO security objectives. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—I t is the sense of Congress that North Atlantic Treaty Organization should be commended— (1) for having committed to review the process of enlarging the Organization in 1999; and (2) for singling out the positive developments toward democracy and rule of law in Romania and Slovenia. SEC. 1225. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO LEVEL OF UNITED STATES MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION. (a) FINDINGS.— Congress finds the following: (1) The stability of the Asia-Pacific region is a matter of vital national interest affecting the well-being of all Americans. (2) The nations of the Pacific Rim collectively represent the United States largest trading partner and are expected to account for almost one-third of the world's economic activity by the start of the next century. (3) The increased reliance by the United States on trade and Middle East oil sources has reinforced United States security interests in the Southeast Asia shipping lanes through the South China Sea and the key straits of Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Makassar. (4) The South China Sea is an important area for United States Navy ships passing from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. (5) Maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is an important interest of the United States. (6) The threats of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the emerging nationalism amidst long-standing ethnic
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