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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 511 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 511

Congratulating the people and Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
  on the eleventh anniversary of the independence of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and praising longstanding and growing friendship between the 
                     United States and Kazakhstan.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 16, 2002

  Mr. Towns submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition 
  to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Congratulating the people and Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
  on the eleventh anniversary of the independence of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and praising longstanding and growing friendship between the 
                     United States and Kazakhstan.

Whereas on December 16, 2002, the people of the Republic of Kazakhstan will 
        celebrate 11 years of independence and on December 25, 2002, the United 
        States and Kazakhstan will mark the 11th anniversary of diplomatic 
        relations between the two countries;
Whereas since the first days of its independence, Kazakhstan chose a course of 
        construction of a stable and peaceful state, voluntarily disarmed the 
        world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal and joined the Strategic Arms 
        Reduction Treaty (START), and became an example of responsible national 
        approach in the sphere of nonproliferation;
Whereas Kazakhstan, together with the United States within the framework of the 
        Nunn-Lugar ``Cooperative Threat Reduction'' program aimed at complete 
        elimination of nuclear infrastructure, successfully conducted Operation 
        Sapphire on transferring 600 kg of highly enriched uranium from the 
        territory of Kazakhstan;
Whereas in 1991 immediately after independence, Kazakhstan closed and sealed the 
        world's second largest nuclear test site, after Nevada, in 
        Semipalatinsk, which had been inherited from the former Soviet Union, 
        where nuclear tests had been conducted for more than 40 years causing 
        huge damage not only to the environment but to the population of 
        Kazakhstan;
Whereas Kazakhstan in a short period of time has managed to overthrow 
        totalitarian shackles and become a civil, dynamically developing 
        society, in which public and private institutions are stronger, 
        effective democratic mechanisms have been put in place, the rule of law 
        is established, and basic human rights are respected;
Whereas due to the traditional tolerance of the people of Kazakhstan and the 
        strong support of the Government of Kazakhstan, conflict and bloodshed 
        common to that volatile region has not taken place in Kazakhstan where 
        citizens of more than 100 ethnic groups enjoy equal rights and 
        opportunities and peacefully coexist;
Whereas Kazakhstan is confidently moving toward integration with the world 
        economic system by establishing all conditions for developing a 
        civilized market economy;
Whereas the United States Government, recognizing the economic progress of 
        Kazakhstan, granted to Kazakhstan ``market economy status'', the first 
        such designation of any country in the Commonwealth of Independent 
        States;
Whereas the sustainable development of the banking and financial sector, 
        advanced tax and pension systems, reforms in the municipal sector, and 
        introduction of international bookkeeping standards in Kazakhstan 
        allowed the United States to enter into an agreement with Kazakhstan 
        (commonly referred to as the ``Houston Initiative'') aimed at 
        maintaining and developing relations between small and medium sized 
        businesses in the two countries;
Whereas the application of chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 
        (commonly referred to as the ``Jackson-Vanik amendment'') to Kazakhstan 
        prevents Kazakhstan from achieving permanent normal trade relations 
        status with the United States;
Whereas United States businesses actively participating in the development of 
        one of the world's largest energy deposits in Kazakhstan consider 
        Kazakhstan to be an alternative and reliable source of energy resources;
Whereas the Government of Kazakhstan has implemented President Nursultan 
        Nazarbayev's initiative to convene the Conference on Interaction and 
        Confidence Building Measures in Asia--an efficient security mechanism 
        for Asia that has been praised by the world community and is a key 
        factor in maintaining global and regional security;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, President Nazarbayev, on behalf of the people 
        of Kazakhstan, has been providing unconditional and firm support in the 
        ongoing allied campaign in Afghanistan by allowing coalition forces to 
        use the air space of Kazakhstan and the largest airport in Almaty, 
        Kazakhstan;
Whereas on the first anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, an unprecedented 
        week-long campaign called ``Children of Kazakhstan for the World without 
        Terror'' in support of the American people took place in Kazakhstan 
        during which Kazakhstan school children wrote letters of support and 
        solidarity to their American friends;
Whereas an independent and democratic Kazakhstan is the cornerstone of peace, 
        stability, and prosperity in the vitally important region of Central 
        Asia;
Whereas the increasing significance of Kazakhstan to United States foreign 
        policy has resulted in the creation of the Silk Road Caucus in Congress 
        designed to further involve the United States in the region, and in 
        particular, with Kazakhstan; and
Whereas Kazakhstan is an important friend and strategic ally of the United 
        States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) congratulates the people and Government of the Republic 
        of Kazakhstan on the 11th anniversary of the independence of 
        Kazakhstan and the establishment of diplomatic relations with 
        the United States;
            (2) expresses gratitude for the support and assistance of 
        the people of Kazakhstan in the antiterrorist campaign of the 
        United States and coalition of other countries;
            (3) applauds the wise decision of Kazakhstan's leadership 
        to renounce the deployment of its inherited nuclear weapons and 
        to thus make the world a safer place;
            (4) calls upon the President to expand assistance for 
        environmental rehabilitation programs in Semipalatinsk and the 
        Aral Sea region;
            (5) calls upon the Government of Kazakhstan to further 
        carry out democratic reforms;
            (6) congratulates Kazakhstan for its achievements in 
        economic development;
            (7) welcomes the agreement with Kazakhstan (commonly 
        referred to as the ``Houston Initiative'') aimed at maintaining 
        and developing relations between small and medium sized 
        businesses in the two countries and believes in the importance 
        of annual increases in spending to support this initiative;
            (8) recognizes the need to terminate the application of 
        chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (the ``Jackson-
        Vanik amendment'') and provide permanent normal trade relations 
        status to Kazakhstan;
            (9) praises President Nursultan Nazarbayev's initiative to 
        convene the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building 
        Measures in Asia, which furthers the role of Kazakhstan in 
        ensuring regional security;
            (10) calls upon the President to expand programs of 
        cultural and educational exchanges with the Central Asian 
        countries, particularly Kazakhstan, in order to ensure better 
        understanding of American values by their peoples and to 
        prevent the appearance of anti-American sentiments in the 
        region; and
            (11) urges further strengthening of strategically important 
        relations between Kazakhstan and the United States on all other 
        issues of importance between the two countries.
                                 <all>
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