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support for Taiwan’s relatively more meritorious ap-
plication for membership in the World Trade Orga-
nization.
(7) It is in the economic interest of United
States consumers and exporters for Taiwan to com-
plete the requirements for accession to the World
Trade Organization at the earliest possible moment.
(b) CONGRESSIONAL STATEMENT.—The Congress fa-
vors public support by officials of the Department of State
for the accession of Taiwan to the World Trade Organiza-
tion.
SEC. 1723. REPORTS AND POLICY CONCERNING HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN LAOS.
Within 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Sate shall report to the appropriate congres-
sional committees on the allegations of persecution and
abuse of the Hmong and Laotian refugees who have re-
turned to Laos. The report shall include:
(1) A full investigation, including full docu-
mentation of individual cases of persecution, of the
Lao Government’s treatment of Hmong and Laotian
refugees who have returned to Laos.
(2) The steps the State Department will take to
continue to monitor any systematic human rights
violations by the Government of Laos.
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(3) The actions which the State Department
will take to ensure the cessation of human rights
violations.
SEC. 1724. REPORT ON BORDER CLOSURES OR ECONOMIC
OR COMMERCIAL BLOCKADES AFFECTING IN
THE INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER
SOVIET UNION.
(a) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act the President
shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a report
on any border closure or use of an economic or com-
mercial blockade by or against any independent state
of the former Soviet Union against any other coun-
try.
(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Such report shall
contain a description of the extent to which such a
closure or blockade restricts, directly or indirectly,
the transport or delivery of United States humani-
tarian assistance, and whether such closure or block-
ade is considered to restrict, directly or indirectly,
the transport or delivery of such assistance for pur-
poses of section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2379).
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(b) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘independent states of
the former Soviet Union’’ has the meaning given such
term in section 3 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging
Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of
1992 (22 U.S.C. 5801).
SEC. 1725. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE
NAGORNO-KARABAGH CONFLICT.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that—
(1) the United States shouls take a greater
leadership role in working for a negotiated settle-
ment of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict;
(2) the Secretary of State should consider the
participation of the United States as a co-chair of
the OSCE’s Minsk Group a priority of the Depart-
ment of State; and
(3) the United States reaffirms its neutrality in
the conflict.
(b) CONGRESSIONAL STATEMENT.—The Congress
urges the President of the United States and the Sec-
retary of State to encourage direct talks between the par-
ties to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.
SEC. 1726. CRISIS IN ALBANIA.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
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(1) During March 1997 United States Armed
Forces personnel evacuated approximately 500
Americans from Albania.
(2) No Americans were injured in the evacu-
ation.
(3) The military operation was at times risky
and dangerous, with helicopters of the United States
Armed Forces occasionally receiving fire.
(4) Several United States diplomats, including
Ambassador Marissa Lino, remained in Tirana dur-
ing these unsettled and perilous times.
(5) The evacuation is the result of a rebellion
in Albania which followed the collapse of several pyr-
amid investment schemes.
(6) Hundreds of thousands of Albanian citizens
lost large portions of their life savings in the pyra-
mid investment schemes.
(7) Hundreds of Albanians have been killed
since the crisis began.
(8) The almost complete collapse of central gov-
ernmental authority left Albania in a state of near-
anarchy.
(9) Many weapons depots were raided by the
general population of Albania and many small arms
were taken by the citizenry.
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(10) The proliferation of weapons in Albania
has made the situation very dangerous.
(11) On March 9, 1997, Albania’s political par-
ties agreed to a nine-point agreement on political
reconciliation.
(12) Under the nine-point agreement, President
Sali Berisha, a member of the ruling Democratic
Party, appointed a broadly based unity government,
led by an opposition socialist, former mayor of
Gjirokaster Bashkim Fino.
(13) Under the nine-point agreement, President
Berisha and opposition parties have agreed to hold
general elections by June 1997.
(14) More than 5,500 multinational troops, led
by Italy, have entered Albania in order to stabilize
the nation and to create a safe security environment
for the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
(b) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—The Congress de-
clares the following:
(1) United States Armed Forces personnel are
to be commended for the evacuation operations in
Albania.
(2) United States diplomats are to be com-
mended for their service in Albania during these
dangerous times.
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(3) The nine-point agreement of March 9,
1997, among all Albanian political parties represents
a key step toward lifting Albania out of the current
crisis.
(4) Albania’s new multiparty leadership is
strongly urged to implement in good faith the terms
of the nine-point agreement of March 9, 1997, and
to do all possible to reinspire the trust of the Alba-
nian people.
(5) The Albanian people are strongly urged to
afford their new government an opportunity to gov-
ern by laying down weapons and making any
changes to the government through peaceful means,
particularly the upcoming elections.
(6) The United States should support the new
Albanian Government as it attempts to reestablish
calm and achieve political reconciliation and should
urge the new government to guarantee human
rights, free and fair elections, and freedom of ex-
pression.
(7) The United States must remain closely en-
gaged in the diplomatic efforts to ease Albania’s cri-
sis and should strongly support similar efforts by
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in