17 September 1998
(Report sent to Congress, as required by law) (340) Washington -- The White House sent to Congress September 17 a report on implementation of the Partnership for Peace (PFP), noting that "the PFP has been a critical tool in helping all the Partners, regardless of their desire to join NATO, to build stronger ties with the Alliance and develop closer cooperative relationships with all their neighbors." Following is the text of President Clinton's transmittal letter: (Begin text) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Cincinnati, Ohio) September 17, 1998 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE CHAIRMEN AND RANKING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS September 17, 1998 In accordance with section 514(a) of Public Law 103-236 (22 U.S.C. 1928(a)), I am submitting to you this report on implementation of the Partnership for Peace (PFP). As noted in last year's report to the Congress, the PFP has been a critical tool in helping all the Partners, regardless of their desire to join NATO, to build stronger ties with the Alliance and develop closer cooperative relationships with all their neighbors. As you will see from the attached report, NATO Allies and Partners have managed to create a fundamentally different Partnership through the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and PFP enhancements. The EAPC and the PFP have provided means for incorporating partners into NATO's operation in Bosnia, assisting Macedonia in developing its armed forces, and by building cooperation and confidence among Partners in Southeastern Europe, which has both insulated them from the Kosovo crisis and enabled them to help NATO deal with Kosovo's destabilizing effects. Enhancements to the PFP, which are nearly fully implemented, provide a solid foundation for closer NATO-Partner collaboration and a mechanism for Partners to develop the interoperability with NATO that will be necessary for future NATO-led Allied/Partners missions. Sincerely, (/signed/) WILLIAM J. CLINTON (End text)