(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Supports the people of Belarus as they face the dictatorship of President Lukashenko, and notes that Belarus' integration into the Western community will suffer delay so long as President Lukashenko prevents the development of a democratic political system.
Urges the government of Belarus to ensure a free and transparent 2006 presidential election in accordance with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) standards.
Encourages the international community, including the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to continue supporting democracy in Belarus, and thanks the governments and people of neighboring countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia for continuing to promote democracy and human rights in Belarus.
Expresses the Senate's belief that tyranny in Belarus will not forever endure and that the people of Belarus will one day enjoy the benefits of democracy and human rights.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 401 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 401
Urging the Republic of Belarus to conduct planned presidential
elections March 19, 2006, in a free, fair, and transparent manner and
with respect for human rights.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 13, 2006
Mr. McCain (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Biden, Mr.
Brownback, Mr. McConnell, and Mr. Sununu) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Urging the Republic of Belarus to conduct planned presidential
elections March 19, 2006, in a free, fair, and transparent manner and
with respect for human rights.
Whereas the Government of Belarus has accepted numerous specific commitments
governing the conduct of elections as a participating State of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), including
provisions of the 1990 Copenhagen Document;
Whereas the Belarus parliamentary elections of 2000 failed to meet international
standards;
Whereas the Belarus presidential elections of 2001 failed to meet international
standards;
Whereas the local elections in Belarus in 2003 failed to meet international
standards;
Whereas the Belarus parliamentary elections of 2004 failed to meet international
standards;
Whereas the 2004 vote on the constitutional referendum in Belarus failed to meet
international standards;
Whereas Belarus is scheduled to conduct presidential elections on March 19,
2006;
Whereas President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has placed tight controls on
the press, jailed opposition party members, violently disrupted
protests, conducted surveillance of opposition candidates, and been
implicated in the disappearance of at least 3 opposition members and a
journalist;
Whereas, on March 2, 2006, opposition candidate Alexander Kazulin and 20 of his
supporters were beaten and detained;
Whereas the campaign of Alexander Milinkevich, the main opposition candidate,
has been subject to repeated government harassment and bureaucratic
obstacles to open campaigning; and
Whereas the intimidation and arrest of opposition parties and candidates,
including the reported March 8, 2006, arrest of Vincuk Viachorka and 5
other members of Alexander Milinkevich's campaign team, represents a
deliberate assault on the democratic process and sends a clear signal
that government officials in Belarus are not committed to holding free
and fair elections: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the people of Belarus as they face the
dictatorship of President Lukashenko;
(2) notes that the integration of Belarus into the Western
community of nations will suffer delay so long as President
Lukashenko prevents the development of a democratic political
system;
(3) urges the Government of Belarus to ensure a free, fair,
and fully transparent 2006 presidential election, in accordance
with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) standards, including unobstructed access to all aspects
of the election process by the OSCE Office of Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), opposition parties, and
nongovernmental organizations;
(4) encourages the international community, including the
Council of Europe and the OSCE, to continue supporting
democracy in Belarus, and thanks the governments and people of
neighboring countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia for
continuing to promote democracy and human rights in Belarus;
and
(5) expresses its belief that tyranny in Belarus will not
forever endure and that the people of Belarus will one day
enjoy the benefits of democracy and human rights at home.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2049-2050; text as passed Senate: CR S2050; text of measure as introduced: CR S2043)
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2049-2050; text as passed Senate: CR S2050; text of measure as introduced: CR S2043)
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