H. Res. 652
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 22, 2004.
Whereas the establishment of a democratic, transparent, and
fair election process for the 2004 parliamentary elections
in the Republic of Belarus and of a genuinely democratic
political system are prerequisites for that country’s inte-
gration into the Western community of nations;
Whereas the Government of Belarus has accepted numerous
specific commitments governing the conduct of elections
as a participating State of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including provisions
of the Copenhagen Document;
Whereas the election in the fall of 2004 of Belarus’s next
parliament will provide an unambiguous test of the extent
of the Belarusian authorities’ commitment to implement
these standards and build a democratic society based on
free elections and the rule of law;
Whereas previous parliamentary elections in Belarus have not
fully met international standards;
Whereas it is the duty of government and public authorities
at all levels to act in a manner consistent with all laws
and regulations governing election procedures and to en-
sure free and fair elections throughout the entire country,
•HRES 652 EH
including preventing activities aimed at undermining the
free exercise of political rights;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires a period
of political campaigning conducted in an environment in
which neither administrative action nor violence, intimi-
dation, or detention hinder the parties, political associa-
tions, and the candidates from presenting their views and
qualifications to the citizenry, including organizing sup-
porters, conducting public meetings and events through-
out the country, and enjoying unimpeded access to tele-
vision, radio, print, and Internet media on a non-dis-
criminatory basis;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires that citi-
zens be guaranteed the right and effective opportunity to
exercise their civil and political rights, including the right
to vote free from intimidation, threats of political retribu-
tion, or other forms of coercion by national or local au-
thorities or others;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires the full
transparency of laws and regulations governing elections,
multiparty representation on election commissions, and
unobstructed access by candidates, political parties, and
domestic and international observers to all election proce-
dures, including voting and vote-counting in all areas of
the country;
Whereas control and manipulation of the media by national
and local officials and others acting at their behest could
raise grave concerns regarding the commitment of the
Belarusian authorities to free and fair elections;
Whereas efforts by national and local officials and others act-
ing at their behest to impose obstacles to free assembly,
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free speech, and a free and fair political campaign could
call into question the fairness of the upcoming elections;
and
Whereas the arrest or intimidation of opposition political par-
ties and candidates such as the leader of the United Civic
Party and others involved with the opposition including
those associated with the Coalition Five Plus represents
a deliberate assault on the democratic process: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) looks forward to the development of cordial rela-
tions between the United States and the Republic of
Belarus;
(2) emphasizes that a precondition for the integra-
tion of Belarus into the Western community of nations
is its establishment of a genuinely democratic political
system;
(3) expresses its strong and continuing support for
the efforts of the Belarusian people to establish a full
democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights
in Belarus;
(4) urges the Government of Belarus to guarantee
freedom of association and assembly, including the right
of candidates, members of political parties, and others to
freely assemble, to organize and conduct public events,
and to exercise these and other rights free from intimi-