Calls upon the President to issue a proclamation: (1) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (2) reasserting the U.S. commitment to full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act; and (3) urging all participating countries to abide by their Helsinki obligations.
Calls upon the President to convey to all Helsinki signatories that respect for human rights, democratic principles, and economic liberty continue to be vital elements in promoting a new era of democracy, peace, and unity in the region covered by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 19 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 19
Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th
anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 17, 2005
Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Smith, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Dodd, Mr.
Feingold, and Mrs. Clinton) introduced the following joint resolution;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th
anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.
Whereas August 1, 2005, is the 30th anniversary of the Final Act of the
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), renamed the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January
1995 (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the ``Helsinki Final
Act'');
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act was the first international agreement to accord
human rights the status of a fundamental principle in regulating
international relations;
Whereas, during the Communist era, members of nongovernmental organizations,
such as the Helsinki Monitoring Groups in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania,
Georgia, and Armenia and similar groups in Czechoslovakia and Poland,
sacrificed their personal freedom and even their lives in their
courageous and vocal support for the principles enshrined in the
Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the Helsinki Final Act by
creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor
and encourage compliance with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the participating States
in the OSCE (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the
``participating States'') declared that ``[h]uman rights and fundamental
freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, are inalienable and are
guaranteed by law'' and that ``[t]heir protection and promotion is the
first responsibility of government'';
Whereas, in the 1991 Document of the Moscow Meeting of the Conference on the
Human Dimension of the CSCE, the participating States ``categorically
and irrevocably declare[d] that the commitments undertaken in the field
of the human dimension of the CSCE are matters of direct and legitimate
concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the
internal affairs of the State concerned'';
Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the participating States
committed themselves ``to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as
the only system of government of our nations'';
Whereas the pro-democracy revolution in Serbia in 2000, the Rose Revolution in
Georgia in 2003, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004, and the
popular revolution in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 demonstrate the primacy of
popular sovereignty and the importance of OSCE commitments on free and
fair elections;
Whereas the OSCE and the participating States have undertaken a series of
measures aimed at combating anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and
discrimination and should report on related progress during the OSCE
Conference on anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance in
Cordoba, Spain, in June 2005;
Whereas the 1999 Istanbul OSCE Charter for European Security and the November
19, 1999, Istanbul Summit Declaration note the particular challenges of
ending violence against women and children as well as sexual
exploitation and all forms of trafficking in human beings, and commit
the participating States to strengthen efforts to combat corruption,
eradicate torture, and end discrimination against Roma;
Whereas the main challenge facing the participating States remains the
implementation of the principles and commitments contained in the
Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE documents adopted on the basis of
consensus;
Whereas the participating States have recognized that economic liberty, social
justice, and environmental responsibility are indispensable to
prosperity;
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to promoting economic
reforms through enhanced transparency for economic activity, with the
aim of advancing the principles of market economies;
Whereas the participating States have stressed the importance of respect for the
rule of law and vigorous efforts to fight organized crime and
corruption, which constitute a great threat to economic reform and
prosperity;
Whereas OSCE has expanded the scope and substance of its efforts, undertaking a
variety of preventive diplomacy initiatives designed to prevent, manage,
and resolve conflict within and among the participating States;
Whereas the politico-military aspects of security remain vital to the interests
of the participating States and constitute a core element of OSCE's
concept of comprehensive security;
Whereas the OSCE has played an increasingly active role in civilian police-
related activities, including training, as an integral part of OSCE's
efforts in conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict
rehabilitation; and
Whereas the participating States bear primary responsibility for raising
awareness of violations of commitments contained in the Helsinki Final
Act and other OSCE documents: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress calls upon the
President--
(1) to issue a proclamation--
(A) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the signing
of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and
Cooperation in Europe;
(B) reasserting the commitment of the United States
to full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act;
(C) urging all participating States to abide by
their obligations under the Helsinki Final Act; and
(D) encouraging the people of the United States to
join the President and Congress in observance of this
anniversary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities; and
(2) to convey to all signatories of the Helsinki Final Act
that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
democratic principles, economic liberty, and the implementation
of related commitments continue to be vital elements in
promoting a new era of democracy, peace, and unity in the
region covered by the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5366-5367)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9200-9201)
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9200-9201)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7655-7658)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S.J. Res. 19.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7659-7660)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 393 - 1 (Roll no. 455).(text: CR H7655)
Roll Call #455 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 393 - 1 (Roll no. 455). (text: CR H7655)
Roll Call #455 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House Amendment to Senate Preamble.