IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 37

Commending the people and the Governments of the Hashemite Kingdom 

of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State 

of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic 

of Yemen for their political and economic liberalization efforts and expressing hope that progress will continue and that the efforts of these 

countries will serve as a model for other Arab countries. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 6, 2005

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself and Mr. ACKERMAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION

Commending the people and the Governments of the 

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, 

the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State 

of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of 

Yemen for their political and economic liberalization efforts and expressing hope that progress will continue 

and that the efforts of these countries will serve as 

a model for other Arab countries.

Whereas the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of 

Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, 

the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen are taking steps towards political and 

economic liberalization; 
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•HRES 37 IH 

Whereas progress toward democracy and pluralism is promoted and supported by both the leaders and populations 

of these countries; 

Whereas these countries have also been expanding economic 

ties with the United States through Trade and Investment Framework Agreements and Free Trade Agreements that promote economic modernization and transparency; 

Whereas, in June 2003, after a two-year suspension of Parliament, Jordan held parliamentary elections; 

Whereas the parliamentary elections were the first elections 

to be held during the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah 

II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and they were 

conducted in an orderly and transparent manner; 

Whereas municipal elections for the Jordanian capital city of 

Amman were held in July 2003, and other local councils’ 

elections were held in September 2003; 

Whereas Jordan has placed great emphasis in recent years on 

the rights of women to vote and run for public office, ensuring that six seats in the Jordanian House of Deputies 

are reserved for female candidates over and above any 

seats freely won in the elections; 

Whereas in a speech to the Jordanian parliament in December 2003, King Abdullah II called for ‘‘radical changes’’ 

designed to turn Jordan into a ‘‘modern, democratic 

country’’, and announced five goals: 

(1) increasing integrity and transparency in governance; 

(2) increasing participation of young people and 

women in the political process; 

(3) promoting a culture of democracy; 
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(4) establishing an independent judiciary and independent media; and 

(5) involving the private sector in business development and social reform;

Whereas the Government of Jordan recently created the Ministry of Political Development and Parliamentary Affairs, 

with the goal of promoting democracy through building 

and strengthening democratic institutions in Jordan, including the parliament and the judicial system, as well as 

the legislative and regulatory frameworks in which they 

operate; 

Whereas the National Center for Human Rights was established in 2002 by King Abdullah II, but it now operates 

as an autonomous entity promoting human rights as an 

integral part of political reform efforts under way in Jordan; 

Whereas an independent Higher Media Council has been created, independent administrative bodies, such as the 

Board of Directors of the Radio and Television Corporation, have been formed, the Government of Jordan has 

sold its shares in the daily newspapers, and laws have 

been passed to allow private television and radio stations 

to operate in Jordan; 

Whereas Jordan and the United States signed a Free Trade 

Agreement that went into effect in December 2001; 

Whereas in an April 2002 address at a meeting held with the 

Speaker of the House of Representatives and other 

House Members, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King 

of Morocco, stated that he is committed to the ‘‘promotion of human rights, a better distribution of wealth, 

the perfecting of women’s integration in our society, the 
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consolidation of democracy and the enlargement of regions’ powers’’; 

Whereas at a 2003 international parliamentary conference in 

New Delhi, the Speaker of the Moroccan Chamber of 

Representatives said that democratic culture is the best 

shield against extremism, hatred, and confrontation, and 

is also the best means to ensure social change within 

peace, security, and stability in the same society and in 

the world at large; 

Whereas the September 2002 election for the 325-seat Chamber of Representatives, the lower house chosen by universal suffrage, was deemed the first free, fair, and 

transparent election ever held in Morocco and a milestone 

on the path of democratization; 

Whereas, in the September 2002 election, the election of 35 

women legislators (30 to reserved seats) established an 

important precedent; 

Whereas in January 2004, both houses of the parliament 

unanimously approved legislation that established full 

equality between men and women in Morocco, and set an 

equal minimum age of marriage, established equal prerogative to initiate divorce, and, in general, ensured better protection of the rights of women and children; 

Whereas, in January 2003, King Mohammed VI formally inaugurated the Equity and Reconciliation Commission to 

ensure the protection of basic human rights for all Moroccans and to provide compensation to victims of past 

human rights violations; 

Whereas Morocco’s outspoken press, vibrant civil society, and 

recently reformed family code are among the region’s 

bright spots in terms of human rights; 
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Whereas, on September 14, 2004, the United States and Morocco signed a Free Trade Agreement; 

Whereas the Government of Bahrain is demonstrating its 

commitment to acquiring the consent of the people it governs by nurturing a democratic political culture; 

Whereas, in February 2002, the people of Bahrain accepted, 

by referendum, a ‘‘National Action Charter’’ that established procedures for the election of a 40-member national assembly; 

Whereas, in 2002, Bahrain extended full suffrage to women, 

and women then voted and ran for office in the subsequent parliamentary and municipal elections; 

Whereas Bahrain conducted parliamentary elections in October 2002, the first since 1973, and municipal elections 

were conducted in May 2002, the first since 1957; 

Whereas the Government of Bahrain has announced that it 

would accept the legalization of political parties, which 

would potentially make Bahrain the first Gulf country to 

allow them; 

Whereas His Majesty Hamad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, 

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has released political 

prisoners and allowed exiles to return, has abolished 

emergency laws and courts, and has eased restrictions on 

freedom of expression and freedom of association; 

Whereas the Government of Bahrain has allowed the establishment of dozens of advocacy associations but, in September 2004, the Government ordered the closure of the 

Bahrain Center for Human Rights, following the arrest 

of the organization’s vice-president, Abd al-Hadi alKhawaja, after he publicly criticized the prime minister; 
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Whereas, in May 2004, Bahrain concluded negotiations with 

the United States for the establishment of a Free Trade 

Agreement; 

Whereas, in 1963, Kuwait became the first Gulf country to 

hold elections; 

Whereas Kuwait revived its elected National Assembly in October 1992 after six years of suspension or occupation; 

Whereas Kuwait’s National Assembly allows those with the 

right to vote, through their elected representatives, to 

force the resignation of government ministers and overturn government decrees; 

Whereas, in July 2003, Kuwait held parliamentary elections 

that were largely free and fair with the next elections 

scheduled to be held in 2007; 

Whereas, in 2004, His Highness Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad Al 

Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait separated the offices 

of Prime Minister and Crown Prince in an effort to establish greater political accountability; 

Whereas, in May 2004, the Government of Kuwait embarked 

on a renewed effort to extend voting rights to women, 

which had previously been blocked by the Parliament; 

Whereas, in February 2004, Kuwait and the United States 

signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement; 

Whereas, in late 1998, His Highness Sheikh Haman Bin 

Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, announced 

that a constitution would be drafted providing for an 

elected National Assembly to replace the appointed 35-

member Consultative Council in place since independence 

in 1971; 
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Whereas, in March 1999, women for the first time participated in Qatar’s elections for a municipal affairs council, 

and thus Qatar became the first country in the Gulf to 

extend suffrage to women; 

Whereas, in 2002, countrywide municipal elections were held 

in Qatar and women participated fully; 

Whereas, in 2003, Qatar approved a new constitution by referendum which ensures freedom of political expression, 

freedom of association, and freedom of religion, and included the establishment of a 45-member parliament 

(with 30 members to be elected and 15 members to be 

appointed by the Amir of Qatar); 

Whereas, on June 8, 2004, the Amir of Qatar announced 

that the new constitution will come into effect on June 

8, 2005, and country-wide parliamentary elections will be 

held later that year; 

Whereas, in June 2004, Qatar hosted a gathering of more 

than 100 civil society activists, professors, journalists, 

and political party members from across the region that 

produced ‘‘The Doha Declaration for Democracy and Reform’’, which demands that all Arab countries adopt 

modern, democratic constitutions, hold free, fair and regular elections, place limits on executive power, guarantee 

freedom of association and freedom of expression, permit 

the full participation of women in political life, and end 

extra-judicial procedures, emergency laws, and torture; 

Whereas, in March 2004, Qatar and the United States signed 

a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement; 

Whereas, in September 2000, Oman held the first direct elections to its 83-seat Consultative Council; 
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Whereas, in November 2002, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin 

Said, Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman, announced the 

extension of voting rights to all citizens over 21 years of 

age, beginning with the October 2003 parliamentary elections; 

Whereas women voted in the 2003 parliamentary elections 

and two female representatives were elected to the Majlis 

al-Shura; 

Whereas, in September 1999, Sultan Qaboos appointed a female ambassador for the first time, and in March 2003, 

he named a woman to the rank of minister; 

Whereas, on July 7, 2004, the United States and Oman 

signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement; 

Whereas the Government of the Republic of Yemen, in economic terms the least developed country on the Arabian 

peninsula and largely lacking natural resources, is making an important effort to support political, educational, 

and economic reform; 

Whereas, in January 2004, in a speech to the Sana’a InterGovernmental Regional conference, His Excellency Ali 

Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, 

stated ‘‘Democracy is the choice of the modern age for 

all peoples of the world . . . It is the way to achieve security, stability, development and better future for our 

countries . . . Human rights are tightly connected to democracy and the state of law and order.’’; 

Whereas, in April 2003, elections described as ‘‘mostly free 

and fair’’ were held for Yemen’s House of Representatives; 

Whereas President Saleh has aggressively recruited women 

into most areas of the government and supports the in-
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clusion of women in the public sphere, with women having been elected to parliament positions and to the cabinet; 

Whereas the Government of Yemen has continued a longterm program of judicial reform, with Yemen’s Minister 

of Justice and other jurists participating actively in the 

Arab Judicial Reform project of the Middle East Partnership Initiative; 

Whereas the Government of Yemen is working with the 

World Bank on the Basic Education Development Project 

to help improve the quality of education and ensure universal access to education; 

Whereas, in February 2004, the Government of Yemen and 

the United States signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement; 

Whereas despite the need for further progress toward political and economic openness in the Hashemite Kingdom of 

Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen, other countries in the region should take steps to follow their example and initiate concrete reforms; 

Whereas the Department of State report entitled ‘‘Supporting 

Human Rights and Democracy: The United States 

Record 2003–2004’’ states: ‘‘Despite . . . promising steps 

toward greater political participation and respect for fundamental freedoms in some Middle Eastern countries, the 

overall trends in the region are cause for concern.’’; 

Whereas the Department of State report further states: ‘‘The 

United States continues in its private and public diplomacy efforts to support political reform, economic growth 
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and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms 

in the Middle East. To reinforce our diplomatic efforts, 

the United States has also begun to sponsor programs 

that strengthen the role of independent journalists and 

trade unions, increase respect and safeguards for the rule 

of law, strengthen public participation in the political 

process, improve the status of women and promote a regional dialogue on democracy for members of NGOs and 

governments.’’; 

Whereas, in 2002, the Middle East Partnership Initiative was 

created to encourage reforms in Arab countries by 

strengthening Arab civil society, encouraging micro-enterprise, expanding political participation, and promoting 

the rights of women; 

Whereas, in 2003, President George W. Bush proposed the 

creation within a decade of a United States–Middle East 

Free Trade Area, by working with countries in the Middle East in graduated steps to increase trade and investment with the United States and the world economy and 

to assist those countries in implementing domestic reforms, instituting the rule of law, protecting private property rights, and creating a foundation for economic 

growth and prosperity; 

Whereas, in June 2004, at the G–8 Summit meeting in Sea 

Island, Georgia, Western and Arab officials participated 

in the unveiling of the ‘‘Broader Middle East and North 

Africa Initiative’’, a multilateral development and reform 

plan aimed at fostering economic and political liberalization; 

Whereas United States policy, as articulated by President 

Bush, is to pursue a ‘‘forward strategy of freedom’’ to 

promote democracy throughout the Middle East; 
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Whereas the 9/11 Commission Report stated that the United 

States must engage in the struggle of ideas, that ‘‘a comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter terrorism should include economic policies that encourage development, more 

open societies, and opportunities for people to improve 

the lives of their families . . .’’, and that ‘‘It is among 

the large majority of Arabs and Muslims that we must 

encourage reform, freedom, democracy, and opportunity 

. . .’’; and 

Whereas congressional–parliamentary discussions can help 

promote understanding between the United States and 

Arab and Muslim countries engaged in genuine political 

and economic reforms and provide a mechanism for communication and cooperation on issues of mutual interest 

and concern: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends the peoples and the Governments 

3 of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom 

4 of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of 

5 Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, 

6 and the Republic of Yemen for their progress toward 

7 political and economic liberalization; 

8 (2) expresses its hope that progress toward de9 mocratization in Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain, Kuwait, 

10 Qatar, Oman, and Yemen will continue to thrive and 

11 that the efforts of these countries will serve as a 

12 model for other Arab countries; 
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1 (3) reaffirms the friendship that exists between 

2 the people of the United States and the peoples of 

3 Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, 

4 and Yemen; 

5 (4) offers to assist these countries in their fu6 ture challenges of reform so that democracy and 

7 freedom are able to prosper and flourish; and 

8 (5) supports enhancing congressional–par9 liamentary exchanges with Arab and Muslim coun10 tries.

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