From the U.S. Senate:  Resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the NATO summit to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 20 through 21, 2012. . . .

Whereas NATO has been the cornerstone of transatlantic security cooperation and an enduring instrument for promoting stability in Europe and throughout the world for over 60 years;

Whereas the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, is an opportunity to enhance and more deeply entrench those principles, which continue to bind the alliance together and guide our efforts today; . . .

Whereas the Chicago Summit will mark a critical turning point for NATO and a chance to focus on current operations, future capabilities, and the relationship between NATO and partners around the world;

Whereas the Chicago Summit will be the first NATO summit held in the United States since the 50th anniversary summit was held in Washington, District of Columbia, in 1999 and the first NATO summit held outside of Washington, District of Columbia;

Whereas NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, ‘‘Chicago is a city built upon diversity, and on determination. Those are values that underpin NATO too.’’; . . .

Whereas the contributions of generations of immigrants have made the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois what they are today and the ancestral homelands of the immigrants now contribute to making NATO the organization it is today: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate— (1) recognizes the service of the brave men and women who have served to safeguard the freedom and security of the United States and the whole of the transatlantic alliance;

(2) honors the sacrifices of United States personnel, allies of the North American Treaty Organization (referred to in this resolution as ‘‘NATO’’), and partners in Afghanistan;

(3) remembers the 63 years NATO has served to ensure peace, security, and stability in Europe and throughout the world;

(4) reaffirms that NATO, through the new Strategic Concept, is oriented for the changing international security environment and the challenges of the future;

(5) urges all NATO members to take concrete steps to implement the Strategic Concept and to uti1lize the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, to address current NATO operations, future capabilities and burden-sharing issues, and the relationship between NATO and partners around the world;

(6) conveys appreciation for the steadfast partnership between NATO and the United States; and

(7) expresses support for the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago.

Excerpts from Senate Resolution 395: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the NATO summit to be held in Chicago, Illinois from May 20 through 21, 2012.  (photo: Reuters)

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