•HCON 165 IH
ment in the Slovak Republic which has shown its
commitment to economic reforms through economic
austerity measures approved in May 1999, increased
foreign investments through privatization of markets
that were formerly state controlled, and discipline in
government and currency policies.
(3) The Government of the Slovak Republic
formed after the elections of September 1998 has re-
newed efforts to ensure the proper treatment of its
citizens, regardless of ethnic background, including
those of ethnic Hungarian background through the
placement of three ethnic Hungarians in the cabinet
of the Government (including the Deputy Premier
for Human and Minority Rights), and through the
passage of the Minority Language Use Act on July
10, 1999, in accordance with European Union guide-
lines, which will take effect on September 1, 1999,
to protect the rights of all citizens.
(4) The Government of the Slovak Republic has
made Slovakia’s integration into pan-European and
trans-Atlantic institutions, including the European
Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), the highest foreign policy priority, and
through active participation with the Visegrad Four,
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the Slovak Republic has undertaken efforts to pro-
mote stability in the region.
(5) The Government of the Slovak Republic has
stated its continuing support for the mission of
NATO in supporting democratization and stability
across Europe, and the Government demonstrated
its commitment to these principles by fully cooper-
ating with NATO during the recent conflict in
Kosovo, allowing NATO full access to Slovak air-
space, highways, and railways.
(6) The Slovak Republic subsequently provided
military engineers to assist the peacekeeping force of
NATO in Kosovo (KFOR), approved a $2,000,000
humanitarian aid package for Kosovo, and housed
over 100 refugees from the conflict.
(7) The Government of the Slovak Republic has
continually worked to retain civilian control of its
military through participation with NATO forces
and has been an active participant in the Partner-
ship-for-Peace program.
(8) The Slovak Republic has provided military
personnel for participation in and support of multi-
national peacekeeping operations such as the United
Nations operations in Rwanda and Liberia.
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SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC.
It is the policy of the United States—
(1) to promote the development in the Slovak
Republic of a market-based economy and a demo-
cratic government that respects the rights of all of
its citizens, regardless of ethnic background; and
(2) to support the eventual integration of the
Slovak Republic into pan-European and trans-Atlan-
tic economic and security institutions.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Government of the Slovak Republic
formed after the elections of September 1998 is to
be commended—
(A) for its efforts to address the issue of
proper treatment of its citizens, regardless of
ethnic background, particularly those of ethnic
Hungarian background;
(B) for its efforts to improve the economic
situation in the Slovak Republic and for its ef-
forts to accelerate the privatization of state-
owned enterprises in a fair and transparent
process; and
(C) for its support for the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) in the recent con-
flict in Kosovo;
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(2) the Government of the Slovak Republic
should continue to implement programs that may
qualify the Slovak Republic for entrance into the
European Union and NATO and is to be com-
mended for its continued support of the NATO ef-
fort to ensure stability and democratization across
Europe; and
(3) the United States should support efforts for
the eventual integration of the Slovak Republic into
pan-European and trans-Atlantic institutions and
should view such integration as an important factor
in consolidating democratic government and eco-
nomic stability in the Slovak Republic.
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