325 
(2) provide assistance to the government of So-
malia and nongovernmental organizations, including 
Somali-led nongovernmental organizations, and par-
ticularly women’s groups, as appropriate; 
(3) support efforts to establish democratic civil 
authorities and institutions in Somalia that reflect 
local and traditional structures, built on the rule of 
law and respect for human rights, and strengthen the 
security sector; and 
(4) support reconciliation efforts in Somalia in 
order to ensure lasting peace. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the President, acting through the Secretary of State, 
should develop a comprehensive policy in coordination with 
the international community and the government of Soma-
lia that aligns humanitarian, development, economic, polit-
ical, counterterrorism, anti-piracy, and regional strategies 
in order to bring about peace and stability in Somalia and 
the region. 
Subtitle B—Sense of Congress 
Provisions 
SEC. 1121. PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
IN BELARUS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Despite some modest improvements, notably 
the release of political prisoners, the Belarusian Gov-
ernment’s human rights and democracy record re-
mains poor as governmental authorities continue to 
commit frequent serious abuses. 
(2) Since 1996, President Alexander Lukashenka 
has consolidated his power over all institutions and 
undermined the rule of law through authoritarian 
means. 
(3) Belarus restricts civil liberties, including 
freedoms of press, speech, assembly, association, and 
religion. Nongovernmental organizations and political 
parties are subject to harassment, fines, prosecution, 
and closure. The Belarusian Government maintains a 
virtual monopoly over the country’s information 
space. 
(b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to— 
(1) support the aspirations of the people of 
Belarus for democracy, human rights, and the rule of 
law; 
(2) support the aspirations of the people of 
Belarus to preserve the independence and sovereignty 
of their country; 
(3) seek and support the growth of democratic 
movements and institutions in Belarus as well the de-
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velopment of a democratic political culture and civil 
society; 
(4) seek and support the growth of an open mar-
ket economy in Belarus through the development of 
entrepreneurship and protection of property rights; 
and 
(5) remain open to re-evaluating United States 
policy toward Belarus, including existing sanctions, 
as warranted by demonstrable democratic and human 
rights progress made by the Belarusian Government. 
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) the United States should furnish assistance 
to Belarus to the support democratic processes in that 
country, including— 
(A) expanding and facilitating the develop-
ment of independent print, radio, television, and 
internet broadcasting to and within Belarus; 
(B) aiding the development of civil society 
through assistance to nongovernmental organiza-
tions promoting democracy and supporting 
human rights, including youth groups, entre-
preneurs, and independent trade unions; 
(C) supporting the work of human rights 
defenders; 
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328 
(D) enhancing the development of demo-
cratic political parties; 
(E) assisting the promotion of free, fair, 
and transparent electoral processes; 
(F) enhancing international exchanges, in-
cluding youth and student exchanges, as well as 
advanced professional training programs for 
leaders and members of the democratic forces in 
skill areas central to the development of civil so-
ciety; and 
(G) supporting educational initiatives such 
as the European Humanities University, a 
Belarusian university in exile based in Vilnius, 
Lithuania; and 
(2) the United States should support radio, tele-
vision, and internet broadcasting to the people of 
Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus, including 
broadcasting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 
European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat. 
SEC. 1122. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE HUMANITARIAN 
SITUATION IN SRI LANKA. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka must 
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abide by their commitments to respect human life and 
cease offensive operations; 
(2) the United States Government remains deep-
ly concerned about the current danger to civilian lives 
and the dire humanitarian situation created by the 
fighting in the Mullaittivu area in Sri Lanka; 
(3) the United States should call upon the Gov-
ernment and military of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to 
allow a humanitarian pause sufficient for the tens of 
thousands of civilians in the conflict area to escape 
the fighting; 
(4) both sides must respect the right of free move-
ment of those civilian men, women and children 
trapped by the fighting; 
(5) the LTTE must immediately allow civilians 
to depart; 
(6) the LTTE should then lay down their arms 
to a neutral third party; 
(7) the Government of Sri Lanka should allow 
the United Nations High Commission for Refugees 
(UNHCR) and the International Committee of the 
Red Cross (ICRC) access to all sites where newly ar-
rived displaced persons are being registered or being 
provided shelter, as well as to implement established 
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