FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
November 16, 2005
Contact:  Rachel Kleinman
(202) 225-3772
 

Ross, Boozman Reach Out to European Allies at NATO Meetings in Denmark
 
(Washington, D.C.)  U.S. Representatives Mike Ross (AR-04) and John Boozman (AR-03) returned late yesterday from attending the annual Fall North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Session in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Boozman and Ross joined thirteen other House of Representative members and discussed with America’s allies how to transform the organization to meet the threat of global terrorism.  Boozman and Ross were honored to be a part of the small congressional delegation appointed to represent Arkansas and the United States at the NATO PA Fall Assembly in Denmark.  

Boozman, Ross and their colleagues discussed a wide array of issues with their counterparts from the legislative bodies of the twenty-six member NATO countries and twenty-two observing countries during the meetings including global terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, NATO relations with China and the unrest in France.  Members of the Congressional Delegation met directly with the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Victoria Nuland, and were addressed by Denmark’s Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.   

“The meetings focused on the challenge NATO faces in transitioning into an alliance that is very mobile and has rapid decision-making authority to address the current threat of terrorism and radical Islam.  The world is a much different place since the time the organization was created and the NATO alliance needs to reflect that,” said Boozman.  “First and foremost though, NATO must be prepared to deal with a crisis.  So we spent a great deal of time reflecting on the lessons learned from the unrest in France and how we can help other member countries with large muslim populations avoid a similar crisis.”  


“In this post 9-11 era, our world has changed, our enemy has changed, and our approach must also change,” said Ross.  “Now, more than ever, it is essential for freedom loving countries to join together and be unified in their continuing fight for freedom and democracy throughout the world.  NATO is well positioned to confront the rapid spread and threat of terrorism head-on and to address future terrorist threats.  Meetings of the NATO PA are an important tool for the twenty-six member nations to come together and recommit themselves in the battle against global threats.”

Boozman and Ross are members of the NATO PA, which is an inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from the twenty-six member countries of NATO and twenty-two associate countries.  NATO PA has been meeting since 1955 to build support for the NATO Alliance within the national legislatures and to provide recommendations to the Secretary General of NATO and the North Atlantic Council.  Many of the reforms in NATO have first come from the Assembly.  It also provides a way for legislators in member countries to stay informed about changes in NATO and about military reforms in the twenty-two associate countries. 

Boozman has been a member of NATO PA since 2003 when Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) appointed him to be a U.S. delegate to the organization.  Ross, nominated by Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and appointed to NATO PA by Speaker Hastert in March, was attending his second meeting of the organization.

For more information on the North American Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly, please visit http://www.nato-pa.int.


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