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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 713 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 713

Congratulating the Ukrainian people for the holding of free, fair, open 
  and transparent parliamentary elections on September 30, 2007, in a 
    peaceful manner consistent with Ukraine's democratic values and 
 national interest, in keeping with its commitments as a participating 
   State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2007

  Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. 
  Smith of New Jersey, Ms. Solis, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Aderholt, Ms. 
Kaptur, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Payne, 
 and Mr. Pitts) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Congratulating the Ukrainian people for the holding of free, fair, open 
  and transparent parliamentary elections on September 30, 2007, in a 
    peaceful manner consistent with Ukraine's democratic values and 
 national interest, in keeping with its commitments as a participating 
   State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Whereas the International Election Observation Mission led by the Organization 
        for Security and Cooperation in Europe (``OSCE''), led by 
        parliamentarians of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, declared the 
        September 30 2007 pre-term parliamentary elections in Ukraine were 
        conducted mostly in line with OSCE commitments and other international 
        standards for democratic elections and in an open and competitive 
        environment;
Whereas voting was conducted in an orderly and transparent manner and 
        International Election Observation Mission observers assessed the voting 
        process as good or very good in 98 percent of the nearly 3,000 polling 
        stations visited, notwithstanding some shortcomings, notably with 
        respect to the quality of voter lists;
Whereas the vote count was assessed as good or very good in 94 percent of the 
        International Election Observation Mission reports;
Whereas the Ukrainian people, most spectacularly during the Orange Revolution of 
        2004, demonstrated their ability to resolve political differences 
        through nonviolent protest and in a manner consistent with democratic 
        principles;
Whereas, despite the real democratic gains made by the Ukrainian people since 
        the Orange Revolution, serious political disputes between President 
        Victor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich, rooted in weak 
        constitutional delineations of their powers, resulted in a political 
        crisis earlier this year;
Whereas after weeks of tense standoff, agreement was reached on May 27, 2007 
        among the President, Prime Minister and parliamentary chairman 
        stipulating new parliamentary elections for September 30;
Whereas the United States Congressional delegation to the 16th annual session of 
        the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Kyiv received assurances from 
        President Yushchenko and other prominent Ukrainian officials that 
        Ukraine would not backtrack on the path to political reform and good 
        governance; and
Whereas the United States Congress has consistently demonstrated strong 
        bipartisan support for an independent, democratic Ukraine: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the people of Ukraine for holding free, 
        fair, open and transparent parliamentary elections on September 
        30, 2007, in a peaceful manner consistent with Ukraine's 
        democratic values and national interest, in keeping OSCE 
        standards on democratic elections;
            (2) welcomes the strong relationship formed between the 
        United States and Ukraine since the restoration of Ukraine's 
        independence in 1991 and especially following the 2004 Orange 
        Revolution;
            (3) expresses strong and continuing support for the efforts 
        of the Ukrainian people to build upon the democratic gains of 
        the Orange Revolution by strengthening respect for human rights 
        and the rule of law, including an independent judiciary;
            (4) recognizes that the consolidation of democracy and the 
        rule of law, and combating corruption, in Ukraine will further 
        strengthen its independence and sovereignty, enhancing 
        Ukraine's aspirations for full integration with the West and 
        serving as a positive role model for other post-Soviet 
        countries;
            (5) calls for the timely formation of a government that 
        reflects the will of Ukrainian voters and advances political 
        stability and democratic development, with a special focus on 
        the constitutional framework, in order to address the important 
        issues facing Ukraine; and
            (6) pledges its continued assistance to the further 
        development of a free and transparent democratic system in 
        Ukraine based on the rule of law, a free market economy and 
        consolidation of Ukraine's security and sovereignty.
                                 <all>
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