IV 

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 thenPresident Slobodan Milosevic; 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 1442 IH 

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; 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 1442 IH 

(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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the productive efforts made by the 

3 Serbian leaders to form a fair and effective coalition 

4 government; 

5 (2) encourages continued fostering of pro-west6 ern, pro-European Union cooperation; and 

7 (3) supports increased defense and security co8 operation, the establishment of durable economic 

9 ties, and stronger relationships among academic in10 stitutions between the United States and Serbia as 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
4 

•HRES 1442 IH 

1 the Balkan country continues to work toward inte2 gration into the Euro-Atlantic community. 

Æ 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS