Congressman Elton Gallegly
Serving the 24th Congressional District encompasses most of Ventura County and inland Santa Barbara County.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate late Thursday approved the accession of Albania and Croatia to NATO membership.

Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), who is a longtime advocate of Albanian and Croatian NATO membership, called the action a major step towards Balkan stability.

The United States is the third country to ratify Albania’s and Croatia’s entry into NATO. Once all 26 NATO countries take action, Albania and Croatia will become full members. Gallegly urged the other nations to act quickly so Albania and Croatia can be admitted at NATO’s 60th anniversary summit next April.

Gallegly, a senior member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a resolution recommending Croatia integration into NATO when he chaired the Europe Subcommittee in 2005, which passed unanimously in the House that year. This year, Gallegly introduced House Resolution 1266, which congratulates Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession talks with NATO and expresses strong support for the timely completion of the accession process.

The resolution also recognizes the historic nature of this achievement and the comprehensive military, political and economic reforms undertaken by the Albanian and Croatian governments. The House approved the resolution on July 30.

After its passage, Gallegly contacted his Senate colleagues to urge them to promptly move legislation through the Senate ratifying Albania’s and Croatia’s entry into NATO.

“I could not be more pleased with the Senate action,” Gallegly said. “Croatia and Albania have worked for years on comprehensive military, political and economic reforms. They are now ready to make important contributions to NATO and help bring stability to the Balkans, a region that has seen more than its share of wars and ethnic violence in the past several decades.

“I now urge our other NATO allies to approve Croatia’s and Albania’s membership in the alliance prior to the NATO summit in April.”