III

Calendar No. 199

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 112

Condemning the most recent outbreak of violence in the Republic of Congo

and recognizing the threat such violence poses to the prospects for

a stable democratic form of government in that country.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 31, 1997

Mr. ASHCROFT (for himself and Mr. FEINGOLD) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

OCTOBER 8, 1997

Reported by Mr. HELMS, without amendment

RESOLUTION

Condemning the most recent outbreak of violence in the

Republic of Congo and recognizing the threat such violence poses to the prospects for a stable democratic form

of government in that country.

Whereas the Republic of Congo began to take significant

steps after 1989 to implement a democratic form of government, including the convening of a national conference

in 1991 and the adoption of a multiparty constitution in

1992;

Whereas the Republic of Congo held its first free and fair

democratic elections in 1992, in which Pascal Lissouba
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SRES 112 RS

won the presidency with 61 percent of the vote, defeating

the former military ruler Denis Sassou-Nguesso in the

first round of voting and current Brazzaville Mayor Bernard Kolelas in the second;

Whereas the Republic of Congo has endured violent threats

to its nascent democracy since 1993, including factional

fighting between the country’s leading political figures

which has taken thousands of lives;

Whereas fighting in the Republic of Congo is preventing the

country from holding its scheduled elections and has endangered the lives of its citizens and foreign nationals residing in the country; and

Whereas the preservation of democracy in the Republic of

Congo and the peaceful transfer of power through national elections are critically important for the future of

freedom in the Republic of Congo and all of Central Africa: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate of the United States—

2 (1) condemns violent attempts to overthrow the

3 freely elected Government of the Republic of Congo

4 and encourages all parties involved in the conflict to

5 reach a lasting cease-fire;

6 (2) calls on all private militia to disband to end

7 the continuing threat to peace and stability in the

8 Republic of Congo;

9 (3) reaffirms its support for constitutional gov10 ernment, the rule of law, human rights, and demo11 cratic processes in the Republic of Congo and calls
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SRES 112 RS

1 upon regional African leaders to support the preser2 vation of a democratic political system in the coun3 try;

4 (4) declares that the removal of the democrat5 ically elected Government of the Republic of Congo

6 by other than democratic means would severely re7 strict the bilateral relationship between the United

8 States and the Republic of Congo, including the sus9 pension of most bilateral assistance from the United

10 States to the Republic of Congo; and

11 (5) encourages the United States Government

12 to state publicly its strong support for a democratic

13 government in the Republic of Congo and the peace14 ful transfer of power in that country.
Calendar No. 199

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 112

RESOLUTION

Condemning the most recent outbreak of violence in

democratic form of government in that country.such violence poses to the prospects for a stablethe Republic of Congo and recognizing the threat

OCTOBER 8, 1997

Reported without amendment