IV 

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 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
2 

•HRES 713 IH 

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 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
3 

•HRES 713 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) congratulates the people of Ukraine for 

3 holding free, fair, open and transparent parliamen4 tary elections on September 30, 2007, in a peaceful 

5 manner consistent with Ukraine’s democratic values 

6 and national interest, in keeping OSCE standards 

7 on democratic elections; 

8 (2) welcomes the strong relationship formed be9 tween the United States and Ukraine since the res10 toration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991 and es11 pecially following the 2004 Orange Revolution; 

12 (3) expresses strong and continuing support for 

13 the efforts of the Ukrainian people to build upon the 

14 democratic gains of the Orange Revolution by 

15 strengthening respect for human rights and the rule 

16 of law, including an independent judiciary; 

17 (4) recognizes that the consolidation of democ18 racy and the rule of law, and combating corruption, 

19 in Ukraine will further strengthen its independence 

20 and sovereignty, enhancing Ukraine’s aspirations for 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
4 

•HRES 713 IH 

1 full integration with the West and serving as a posi2 tive role model for other post-Soviet countries; 

3 (5) calls for the timely formation of a govern4 ment that reflects the will of Ukrainian voters and 

5 advances political stability and democratic develop6 ment, with a special focus on the constitutional 

7 framework, in order to address the important issues 

8 facing Ukraine; and 

9 (6) pledges its continued assistance to the fur10 ther development of a free and transparent demo11 cratic system in Ukraine based on the rule of law, 

12 a free market economy and consolidation of 

13 Ukraine’s security and sovereignty. 

Æ 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS