March 27, 2007 - 19:05 AMT
U.S. Congress approved bill on supporting Georgia and Ukraine's membership to NATO
The bill on supporting Georgia and Ukraine's membership to NATO has been sent to U.S. President George Bush for confirmation. This document titled "Law for strengthening freedom in the NATO framework" was approved by House representatives of the American Congress in its final shape. Particularly, the document supposes assignment of financial means from the U.S. budget in he framework of preparing these countries for NATO membership. The bill has been sent to the President after it was approved in its final shape by the conciliatory committee. The bill was unanimously approved by House representatives in its first reading March 6, and the Senate approved practically the similar text on March 15.

The preamble of the document says that it is aimed at "supporting further enlargement of NATO and assistance of timely acceptance of new members into the organization". It indicates that further preservation of stability and security in Europe demands military, economic and political integration of arising democracies into existing European structures".

In this respect Georgia, Ukraine, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are mentioned in the document.

It supposes assignment of financial aid to the above-mentioned countries for strengthening their security. The text of the bill does not indicate the sum of money due to be assigned, but earlier some representatives of the Bush administration used to say that Georgia could receive $10 million, Macedonia $3.6 million, Albania $3.2 million and Croatia $3 million, ITAR-TASS reports.