The law was adopted without amendments last night and the 2007 budget also envisages military aid to those countries, including USD3 million for Croatia, 3.2 million for Albania, 3.6 million for Macedonia and 10 million for Georgia.
The law says it is aimed at supporting continued NATO enlargement to European democracies which are capable and willing to meet the responsibilities of membership.
The law says the upcoming NATO summit in Riga should acknowledge the progress Croatia, Macedonia and Albania have made in meeting the responsibilities and obligations of membership, and recommends the Membership Action Plan for Georgia.
If NATO wants to remain the biggest alliance for the security and defence of its members, it must constantly develop, and this development goes through enlargement, said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, a Republican who moved the law, which was sponsored by another 13 senators from both parties.
Potential NATO membership significantly contributes to progress in the rule of law and development of civil society in new democracies, he said.
Lugar recalled that three years ago the Senate unanimously supported the accession of seven East European countries to NATO, saying they were among the closest US allies in the global war on terror. It is time the US took the initiative again and asked its allies to accept new members to NATO, he said.