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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 56 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 56

   Urging the Government of Moldova to ensure a fair and democratic 
   election process for the parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 25, 2009

Mr. Lugar submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Urging the Government of Moldova to ensure a fair and democratic 
   election process for the parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009.

Whereas Senate Resolution 60, 110th Congress, agreed to February 17, 2005, 
        expressed the support of the Senate for democratic reform in Moldova and 
        urged the Government of Moldova to ensure a democratic and fair election 
        process for the parliamentary elections on March 6, 2005, by ensuring 
        ``unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to print, radio, 
        television, and Internet media on a nondiscriminatory basis'' and ``the 
        right of opposition candidates and workers to engage in campaigning free 
        of harassment, discrimination, and intimidation'';
Whereas the Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic 
        Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-
        operation in Europe (OSCE) found that, while the parliamentary elections 
        in 2005 generally complied with most of the OSCE commitments and other 
        international standards, ``they fell short of some that are central to a 
        genuinely competitive election process'', in particular ``campaign 
        conditions and access to media'', confirming the ``negative trends 
        already noted in the 2003 local elections'';
Whereas the Election Observation Mission found that the local elections held in 
        June 2007 in Moldova were generally well administered but ``fell short 
        of a number of OSCE commitments central to a competitive electoral 
        process'', in particular by not fully respecting ``the right of citizens 
        to seek public office and equitable media access'';
Whereas Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working to advance 
        the expansion of freedom, again in 2008 designated the political 
        environment of Moldova as only ``partly free'';
Whereas political liberties and civil rights are key indicators of eligibility 
        for support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an entity of the 
        United States Government, which is now considering a sizeable grant for 
        the economic and political development of Moldova; and
Whereas recent actions by entities of the Government of Moldova raise serious 
        questions about the readiness of the Government of Moldova to break free 
        from the unfortunate patterns established in the elections in 2003, 
        2005, and 2007 and to create the campaign conditions and access to media 
        required for truly free and fair elections: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the strong, mutually beneficial relationship 
        that exists between the United States Government and the 
        Government of Moldova;
            (2) recognizes that the development of a genuinely 
        democratic political system in Moldova is a precondition for 
        the full integration of Moldova into the Western community of 
        nations and the provision of assistance necessary to attain 
        such integration;
            (3) urges the Government of Moldova to meet its commitments 
        to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, 
        especially in respect to the conduct of elections, by 
        guaranteeing--
                    (A) unimpeded access by all parties and candidates 
                to public print, radio, television, and Internet media 
                on a nondiscriminatory basis;
                    (B) the ability of independent media to cover 
                campaigns on an unrestricted basis;
                    (C) the right of opposition candidates and workers 
                to engage in campaigning free of harassment, 
                discrimination, and intimidation; and
                    (D) adequate means for citizens of Moldova residing 
                abroad to cast their ballots; and
            (4) in light of the steps taken by the Government of 
        Moldova, pledges the continued support of the United States 
        Government for the establishment in Moldova of a fully free and 
        democratic system, the creation of a prosperous market economy, 
        and the assumption by Moldova of its rightful place as a full 
        and equal member of the Western community of democracies.
                                 <all>
```