Commends the people and Government of Ukraine for their commitment to democracy and their determination to end the political crisis in that country in a peaceful and democratic manner.
Congratulates: (1) the people and Government of Ukraine for ensuring a free and fair runoff presidential election; and (2) Viktor Yushchenko on his election as President of Ukraine.
Applauds the Ukrainian presidential candidates, the European Union and other European representatives, and the U.S. Government for the role they played in helping to peacefully resolve the crisis.
Acknowledges and welcomes the strong U.S.-Ukraine relationship, and expresses support for the efforts of the Ukrainian people and the new Government of Ukraine to establish democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.
Pledges congressional assistance to the democratic system in Ukraine, the creation of a market economy in Ukraine, the reaffirmation of Ukraine's independence and territorial sovereignty, and Ukraine's full integration into the international community of democracies.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 16 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 16
Congratulating the people of Ukraine for conducting a democratic,
transparent, and fair runoff presidential election on December 26,
2004, and congratulating Viktor Yushchenko on his election as President
of Ukraine and his commitment to democracy and reform.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 6, 2005
Mr. Hyde (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr.
Burton of Indiana, Mr. Wexler, and Ms. Kaptur) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Congratulating the people of Ukraine for conducting a democratic,
transparent, and fair runoff presidential election on December 26,
2004, and congratulating Viktor Yushchenko on his election as President
of Ukraine and his commitment to democracy and reform.
Whereas the establishment of a democratic, transparent, and fair election
process for the 2004 presidential election in Ukraine and of a genuinely
democratic political system have been prerequisites for that country's
full integration into the international community of democracies;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has accepted numerous specific commitments
governing the conduct of elections as a participating State of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
Whereas the election of Ukraine's next president was seen as an unambiguous test
of the extent of the Ukrainian authorities' commitment to implement
these standards and build a democratic society based on free elections
and the rule of law;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires government and public
authorities to ensure that candidates and political parties enjoy equal
treatment before the law and that government resources are not employed
to the advantage of individual candidates or political parties;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires the full transparency of
laws and regulations governing elections, multiparty representation on
election commissions, and unobstructed access by candidates, political
parties, and domestic and international observers to all election
procedures, including voting and vote-counting in all areas of the
country;
Whereas efforts by national and local officials and others acting at the behest
of such officials to impose obstacles to free assembly, free speech, and
a free and fair political campaign took place throughout Ukraine during
the entire 2004 presidential election campaign without condemnation or
remedial action by the Government of Ukraine;
Whereas on October 31, 2004, Ukraine held the first round of its presidential
election and on November 21, 2004, Ukraine held a runoff presidential
election between the two leading candidates, Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovich and opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko;
Whereas a consensus of Ukrainian and international election observers determined
that the runoff election did not meet international standards for
democratic elections, and these observers specifically declared that
state resources were abused in support of Viktor Yanukovich, and that
illegal voting by absentee ballot, multiple voting, assaults on
electoral observers and journalists, and the use of counterfeit ballots
were widespread;
Whereas following the runoff presidential election on November 21, 2004, tens of
thousands of Ukrainian citizens engaged in peaceful demonstrations in
Kiev and elsewhere to protest the unfair election and the declaration by
the Ukrainian Central Election Commission that Viktor Yanukovich had won
a majority of the votes;
Whereas the Ukrainian Supreme Court blocked the publication of the official
runoff election results thus preventing the inauguration of the next
president of Ukraine until the Supreme Court examined the reports of
voter fraud;
Whereas on November 27, 2004, the Parliament of Ukraine passed a resolution
declaring that there were violations of law during the runoff
presidential election on November 21, 2004;
Whereas on December 1, 2004, the Parliament of Ukraine passed a no confidence
motion regarding the government of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich;
Whereas European mediators and current Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma began
discussions on December 1, 2004, to attempt to work out a resolution to
the standoff between the supporters of both presidential candidates;
Whereas on December 3, 2004, the Ukrainian Supreme Court ruled that the runoff
presidential election on November 21, 2004, was invalid and ordered a
new presidential election to take place on December 26, 2004;
Whereas on December 8, 2004, the Parliament of Ukraine passed laws to reform the
Ukrainian electoral process, including to reform the Ukrainian Central
Election Commission, and to close loopholes for fraud in preparation for
a new presidential election;
Whereas on December 26, 2004, the people of Ukraine again went to the polls to
elect the next president of Ukraine in what the consensus of domestic
and international observers declared as a more democratic, transparent,
and fair election process with fewer problems than the previous two
rounds;
Whereas on December 28, 2004, the election victory of opposition leader Viktor
Yushchenko was certified by the Ukrainian Central Election Commission;
and
Whereas the runoff presidential election on December 26, 2004, signifies a
turning point for Ukraine which offers new hope and opportunity to the
people of Ukraine: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) commends the people and Government of Ukraine for their
commitment to democracy and their determination to end the
political crisis in that country in a peaceful and democratic
manner;
(2) congratulates the people and Government of Ukraine for
ensuring a free and fair runoff presidential election which
represents the true choice of the Ukrainian people;
(3) congratulates Viktor Yushchenko on his election as
President of Ukraine;
(4) applauds the Ukrainian presidential candidates, the
European Union and other European representatives, and the
United States Government for the role they played in helping to
find a peaceful resolution of the crisis;
(5) acknowledges and welcomes the strong relationship
formed between the United States and Ukraine and expresses its
strong and continuing support for the efforts of the Ukrainian
people and the new Government of Ukraine to establish a full
democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights; and
(6) pledges its assistance to the strengthening of a fully
free and open democratic system in Ukraine, the creation of a
prosperous free market economy in Ukraine, the reaffirmation of
Ukraine's independence and territorial sovereignty, and
Ukraine's full integration into the international community of
democracies.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Mr. Hyde moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H145-149)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 16.
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 H171)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 1 (Roll no. 8).(text: CR H145)
Roll Call #8 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 1 (Roll no. 8). (text: CR H145)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate.