IV
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 429
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the
participation of the extremist FPO in the Government of Austria.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 1, 2000
Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. SMITH of New
Jersey, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. WEINER, Mr. HORN, Mr.
HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr.
ABERCROMBIE, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr.
PORTER, Mr. EVANS, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. TIERNEY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr.
MCGOVERN, and Mrs. JONES of Ohio) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives con-
cerning the participation of the extremist FPO in the
Government of Austria.
Whereas the extremist, racist, and xenophobic FPO has en-
tered into a coalition agreement and is participating in
the new Government of Austria;
Whereas the long-time-leader of the FPO, Joerg Haider,
praised Adolf Hitler’s ‘‘sound employment policy’’ and
called Waffen SS veterans ‘‘decent people with character
who stuck to their belief through the strongest
headwinds’’;
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Whereas Joerg Haider and his party in the recent election
campaign decried the ‘‘over-foreignization’’ of Austria,
which was an expression that was coined and used by
Nazi leaders;
Whereas at a time when the European Union, the United
States, and other nations are working actively to discour-
age ethnic hatred in the republics of the former Yugo-
slavia and elsewhere, the FPO shamelessly appealed to
racist sentiment and based its political campaign on rac-
ism and xenophobia;
Whereas in the past Joerg Haider and his party have ex-
pressed fundamental disagreement with the principles of
freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights, which
are the foundation of a modern, democratic, open, and
tolerant Europe and which Austria, as a member of the
European Union, is committed by treaty to uphold; and
Whereas the inclusion of the FPO in the Austrian governing
coalition serves to legitimize and encourage the extreme
right in other countries of Europe: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the right of the Austrian people
to express their political views through a democratic
election, but also reaffirms the right and the obliga-
tion of the United States House of Representatives
to express its opposition to the anti-democratic, rac-
ist and xenophobic views that have been expressed
by Joerg Haider and other leaders of the FPO, and,
because of these publicly expressed views, to state its
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opposition to the party’s participation in the Aus-
trian Government;
(2) 
condemns 
the 
insulting, 
racist, 
and
xenophobic statements which have been made over
many years by Joerg Haider, the long-time leader of
the FPO, and by other leaders of the party;
(3) expresses profound regret and dismay that
the FPO will play a major role in the new Govern-
ment of Austria;
(4) commends the leaders of the European
Union, the fourteen other member states of the Eu-
ropean Union, Canada, Norway, and other countries
which have expressed their serious concerns regard-
ing the participation of the FPO in the Government
of Austria;
(5) calls upon the President, the Secretary of
State, and other officials and agencies of the United
States Government to emphasize to Austrian Gov-
ernment officials our concern about the inclusion of
any party in the Government of Austria, including
the FPO, that has been associated with xenophobic,
racist policies, and statements supportive of Nazi-era
programs;
(6) urges Members of Congress to use any meetings
with ministers and other political leaders of the Govern-
HRES 429 IH
ment of Austria to express concern for Austria’s continued
adherence to democratic standards and full respect for
human rights;
(7) calls upon the Secretary of State to continue to
scrutinize the policies of the new Government of Austria
and to be prepared to take additional measures if cir-
cumstances so warrant; and
(8) directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy
of this resolution to the Secretary of State with the re-
quest that it be forwarded to the President of Austria.
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