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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 182 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 182

Recognizing the democratic accomplishments of the people of Albania and 
expressing the hope that the parliamentary elections on June 28, 2009, 
  maintain and improve the transparency and fairness of democracy in 
                                Albania.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 10, 2009

   Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
    Lieberman, Mr. DeMint, and Mr. Kaufman) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                             June 16, 2009

                Reported by Mr. Kerry without amendment

                             June 19, 2009

                        Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the democratic accomplishments of the people of Albania and 
expressing the hope that the parliamentary elections on June 28, 2009, 
  maintain and improve the transparency and fairness of democracy in 
                                Albania.

Whereas the people of Albania have made extraordinary progress from 
        authoritarian government and a closed market to a democratic government 
        and market economy in less than two decades;
Whereas the Republic of Albania, with the advice and consent of this Senate and 
        the governments of the other member countries, was officially admitted 
        to full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on April 2, 
        2009;
Whereas the Thessaloniki Declaration of 2003 confirmed that the countries of the 
        Western Balkans are eligible for accession to the European Union once 
        they have fulfilled the requirements for membership; and
Whereas the Government of Albania has accepted numerous specific commitments 
        governing the conduct of elections as a participating state in the 
        Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) urges the Government of Albania to fulfill the 
        commitments it has made to the OSCE with respect to the conduct 
        of its upcoming elections, and to ensure that those elections 
        are free and fair;
            (2) urges the Government of Albania to expedite the 
        implementation of its voter identification card program to 
        minimize the possibility of disenfranchisement and provide as 
        many cards as possible to eligible voters prior to the 
        election;
            (3) commends the positive step taken by the Government of 
        Albania to reduce the cost of the voter ID card significantly 
        and avoid charges of a poll tax; and
            (4) expresses its hope that credible democratic elections 
        in Albania will contribute to a strong and stable government 
        responsive to the wishes of the people of Albania and 
        strengthen Albania's standing within NATO and European 
        institutions.
                                 <all>
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