IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 54

Recognizing the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Belarus, expressing concern over the Belarusan Government’s

infringement on freedom of the press in direct violation of the Helsinki

Accords and the Constitution of Belarus, and expressing concern about

the proposed union between Russia and Belarus.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 21, 1997

Mr. PALLONE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Belarus, expressing concern over

the Belarusan Government’s infringement on freedom of

the press in direct violation of the Helsinki Accords

and the Constitution of Belarus, and expressing concern

about the proposed union between Russia and Belarus.

Whereas the seedlings of an independent and democratic Republic of Belarus, for which generations of Belarusan patriots had fought and died, are now in danger of being

swept away as a result of the policies of Belarusan President Alaksandr Lukashenka and the efforts of Russian

nationalist leaders to reunite the newly independent

states of the former Soviet Union;
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Whereas on March 25, 1918, the members of the Council of

the Belarusan Democratic Republic liberated their country from the harsh and oppressive czarist rule;

Whereas representatives of the United Councils of the First

Belarusan Congress, meeting in Miensk (Minsk) on

March 25, 1918, issued a proclamation of independence

of the Belarusan National Republic (BNR), adopted a

national flag with 3 horizontal stripes of white, red, and

white, and subsequently received widespread international

recognition;

Whereas the armed forces of the BNR gallantly defended

their independence and were brutally crushed by the armies of Soviet Russia in November 1920 in the Slucak

region;

Whereas in 1921 Belarus was divided between Soviet Russia

and Poland in accordance with the Treaty of Riga;

Whereas in 1994, the Government of Belarus democratically

adopted its Constitution, however, President

Lukashenka’s actions during November 1996 ushered in

a de facto 1-man dictatorship;

Whereas the new Constitution allows President Lukashenka

to dissolve Parliament, veto its decisions, hire and fire

heads of key political that include the Central Bank, Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Court;

Whereas on March 14, 1997, the Department of State issued

a statement that calls on the Lukashenka regime to exercise restraint during upcoming political demonstrations

recognizing Constitution Day and to observe the international human rights agreements to which it is a party;

Whereas the United States recently reviewed its relations

with Belarus and adopted a policy of ‘‘selective engage-
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•HCON 54 IH

ment’’ because President Lukashenka’s refusal to implement economic and political reform and his government’s

flagrant violations of human rights have forced the United States to limit its possibilities for engagement with

Belarus;

Whereas the United States will increase contact with nongovernmental organizations and the independent media

sources in Belarus and encourage democratic reforms in

Belarus;

Whereas although the current Government of Belarus

purports to accept dissent, it is time for President

Lukashenka’s regime to prove its commitment to this

pledge;

Whereas the Government of Belarus continues to jeopardize

fundamental human rights and democratic tenets;

Whereas Belarus has yet to comply with its commitments to

international financial organizations;

Whereas in March 1996 the Russian Duma voted to declare

void the 1991 agreement dissolving the Soviet Union; and

Whereas the Government of President Lukashenka has monopolized the mass media, undermined the constitutional

foundation for the separation of powers, suppressed the

freedom of the press, defamed the national culture, narrowed the educational basis for patriotic upbringing of

youth, maligned the Belarusan language, and undercut

the ground for all-Belarusan unity: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—
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1 (1) the House of Representatives recognizes the

2 anniversary of the declaration of the independent

3 Republic of Belarus;

4 (2) the United States press the Government of

5 President Lukashenka to abide by the provisions of

6 the Helsinki Accords and the Constitution of the Re7 public of Belarus and guarantee freedom of the

8 press, allow for the flowering of Belarusan culture,

9 and enforce the separation of powers; and

10 (3) the Congress join with the people of Belarus

11 and Belarusans throughout the world in defending

12 the statehood and democracy of Belarus, sustaining

13 the country’s Constitution, and preventing the loss

14 by Belarus of its hard-won nationhood and its op15 portunity to survive as an equal and full-fledged

16 member state among the sovereign nations of the

17 world.

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