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stability and economic success of a future Europe
freed from the shackles of communism.
(2) The Central and Eastern European coun-
tries, particularly Hungary, Poland, the Czech Re-
public, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithua-
nia, and Estonia, are in the midst of dramatic re-
forms to transform their centrally planned economies
into free market economies and to join the Western
community.
(3) It is in the long-term interest of the United
States to encourage and assist the transformation of
Central and Eastern Europe into a free market econ-
omy, which is the solid foundation of democracy, and
will contribute to regional stability and greatly in-
creased opportunities for commerce with the United
States.
(4) Trade with the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe accounts for less than one percent of
total United States trade.
(5) The presence of a market with more than
140,000,000 people, with a growing appetite for
consumer goods and services and badly in need of
modern technology and management, should be an
important market for United States exports and in-
vestments.
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(6) The United States has concluded agreements
granting most-favored-nation status to most of the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the
Congress that the President should take steps to promote
more open, fair, and free trade between the United States
and the countries of Central Europe, including Poland,
Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia, Romania, and Slovenia, including—
(1) developing closer commercial contacts;
(2) the mutual elimination of tariff and non-
tariff discriminatory barriers in trade with these
countries;
(3) exploring the possibility of framework agree-
ments that would lead to a free trade agreement;
(4) negotiating bilateral investment treaties;
(5) stimulating increased United States exports
and investments to the region;
(6) obtaining further liberalization of investment
regulations and protection against nationalization in
these foreign countries; and
(7) establishing fair and expeditious dispute set-
tlement procedures.
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LIMITATION ON FOREIGN SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY
SEC. 589. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1605(a)(7) of
title 28, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(7) in which money damages are sought against
a foreign state for personal injury or death caused by
an act of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabo-
tage, hostage taking, or the provision of material sup-
port or resources (as defined in section 2339A of title
18) for such an act, if—
‘‘(A) such act or provision of material sup-
port was engaged in by an official, employee, or
agent of such foreign state while acting within
the scope of his or her office, employment, or
agency;
‘‘(B) the foreign state against whom the
claim was brought—
‘‘(i) was designated as a state sponsor
of terrorism under section 6(j) of the Export
Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C.
App. 2405(j)) or section 620A of the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2371) at the time the act occurred or was
later so designated as a result of such act;
or
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‘‘(ii) had no treaty of extradition with
the United States at the time the act oc-
curred and no adequate and available rem-
edies exist either in such state or in the
place in which the act occurred;
‘‘(C) the claimant has afforded the foreign
state a reasonable opportunity to arbitrate the
claim in accordance with accepted international
rules of arbitration; and
‘‘(D) the claimant or victim was a national
of the United States (as that term is defined in
section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act) when the act upon which the claim
is based occurred.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to actions brought in
United States courts on or after the date of enactment of
this Act.
SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CROATIA
SEC. 590. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the fol-
lowing findings:
(1) Croatia has politically and financially con-
tributed to the NATO peacekeeping operations in
Bosnia;
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(2) The economic stability and security of Cro-
atia is important to the stability of South Central
Europe; and
(3) Croatia is in the process of joining the Part-
nership for Peace.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the Sense of Congress
that:
(1) Croatia should be recognized and commended
for its contributions to NATO and the various peace-
keeping efforts in Bosnia;
(2) The United States should support the active
participation of Croatia in activities appropriate for
qualifying for NATO membership, provided Croatia
continues to adhere fully to the Dayton Peace Accords
and continues to make progress toward establishing
democratic institutions, a free market, and the rule of
law.
ROMANIA’S PROGRESS TOWARD NATO MEMBERSHIP
SEC. 591. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the fol-
lowing findings:
(1) Romania emerged from years of brutal Com-
munist dictatorship in 1989 and approved a new
Constitution and elected a Parliament by 1991, lay-
ing the foundation for a modern parliamentary de-
mocracy charged with guaranteeing fundamental
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human rights, freedom of expression, and respect for
private property;
(2) Local elections, parliamentary elections, and
presidential elections have been held in Romania,
with 1996 marking the second nationwide presi-
dential elections under the new Constitution;
(3) Romania was the first former Eastern bloc
country to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace pro-
gram and has hosted Partnership for Peace military
exercises on its soil;
(4) Romania is the second largest country in
terms of size and population in Central Europe and
as such is strategically significant;
(5) Romania formally applied for NATO mem-
bership in April of 1996 and has begun an individ-
ualized dialogue with NATO on its membership ap-
plication; and
(6) Romania has contributed to the peace and
reconstruction efforts in Bosnia by participating in
the Implementation Force (IFOR).
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—Therefore, it is the
sense of the Congress that:
(1) Romania is making significant progress to-
ward establishing democratic institutions, a free mar-