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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1442 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1442

Supporting and congratulating the people of Serbia on the formation of 
                      a new coalition government.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 16, 2008

Mr. Burton of Indiana (for himself, Ms. Bean, Mr. Chabot, and Mr. Davis 
of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Supporting and congratulating the people of Serbia on the formation of 
                      a new coalition government.

Whereas the United States has enduring national interests in the peace and 
        security of southeastern Europe, and in the greater integration of the 
        region into the Euro-Atlantic community of democratic, well-governed 
        states;
Whereas Serbia is a vital component of the full integration of the Balkan 
        region, and a stable and democratic Serbia is a linchpin of the whole 
        region;
Whereas the people of Serbia won their freedom and once again established 
        democratic rule in October 2000 by taking to the streets and forcing the 
        removal of then-President Slobodan Milosevic;
Whereas the people of Serbia have since continuously elected pro-European and 
        pro-Western forces to lead their country in 7 parliamentary and 
        presidential elections;
Whereas on February 3, 2008, the people of Serbia reelected President Boris 
        Tadic to lead their country;
Whereas on May 11, 2008, the people of Serbia held successful parliamentary 
        elections, in which pro-Western parties won a majority of the seats;
Whereas Serbian leaders have been working together to form a coalition 
        government since Serbia's May 11, 2008, national election;
Whereas on July 8, 2008, members of the Serbian Parliament formed a new 
        coalition government, who made Serbia's accession into the European 
        Union a priority, installing significant progress toward the European 
        Union's plan to stabilize and integrate the Balkan region;
Whereas Serbia's cabinet aims to develop and maintain positive and productive 
        relations with the United States and other countries throughout the 
        world;
Whereas the new coalition cabinet was approved in a strong majority vote of 127-
        27;
Whereas the new coalition government is the most pro-European Union and stable 
        government the country has had since the ousting of Slobodan Milosevic 8 
        years ago;
Whereas Serbia has enacted several military and defense reforms to strengthen 
        ties to its Western allies, including--

    (1) signing a Status of Forces Agreement with the United States 
Government to facilitate Serbia's participation in joint military exercises 
and training on September 7, 2006;

    (2) engaging in participation in the National Guard State Partnership 
Program with the Ohio National Guard on September 8, 2006; and

    (3) being granted accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) Partnership for Peace program, along with its neighbors, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and Montenegro, initiating formal cooperation between NATO and 
Serbia on December 14, 2006;

Whereas all parties of the coalition government have endorsed the same ``five 
        pillars'' of policy--European Union membership, cooperation with The 
        Hague tribunal, Kosovo, social and economic reforms, and fighting crime 
        and corruption; and
Whereas Serbia's aspiration to become a full member of the European Union is a 
        clearly-declared commitment of every party in this coalition: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the productive efforts made by the Serbian 
        leaders to form a fair and effective coalition government;
            (2) encourages continued fostering of pro-western, pro-
        European Union cooperation; and
            (3) supports increased defense and security cooperation, 
        the establishment of durable economic ties, and stronger 
        relationships among academic institutions between the United 
        States and Serbia as the Balkan country continues to work 
        toward integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.
                                 <all>
```