IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 54
Recognizing the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Re-
public of Belarus, expressing concern over the Belarusan Government’s
infringement on freedom of the press in direct violation of the Helsinki
Accords and the Constitution of Belarus, and expressing concern about
the proposed union between Russia and Belarus.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 21, 1997
Mr. PALLONE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the anniversary of the proclamation of independ-
ence of the Republic of Belarus, expressing concern over
the Belarusan Government’s infringement on freedom of
the press in direct violation of the Helsinki Accords
and the Constitution of Belarus, and expressing concern
about the proposed union between Russia and Belarus.
Whereas the seedlings of an independent and democratic Re-
public of Belarus, for which generations of Belarusan pa-
triots had fought and died, are now in danger of being
swept away as a result of the policies of Belarusan Presi-
dent Alaksandr Lukashenka and the efforts of Russian
nationalist leaders to reunite the newly independent
states of the former Soviet Union;
•HCON 54 IH
Whereas on March 25, 1918, the members of the Council of
the Belarusan Democratic Republic liberated their coun-
try from the harsh and oppressive czarist rule;
Whereas representatives of the United Councils of the First
Belarusan Congress, meeting in Miensk (Minsk) on
March 25, 1918, issued a proclamation of independence
of the Belarusan National Republic (BNR), adopted a
national flag with 3 horizontal stripes of white, red, and
white, and subsequently received widespread international
recognition;
Whereas the armed forces of the BNR gallantly defended
their independence and were brutally crushed by the ar-
mies of Soviet Russia in November 1920 in the Slucak
region;
Whereas in 1921 Belarus was divided between Soviet Russia
and Poland in accordance with the Treaty of Riga;
Whereas in 1994, the Government of Belarus democratically
adopted 
its 
Constitution, 
however, 
President
Lukashenka’s actions during November 1996 ushered in
a de facto 1-man dictatorship;
Whereas the new Constitution allows President Lukashenka
to dissolve Parliament, veto its decisions, hire and fire
heads of key political that include the Central Bank, Su-
preme Court, and the Constitutional Court;
Whereas on March 14, 1997, the Department of State issued
a statement that calls on the Lukashenka regime to exer-
cise restraint during upcoming political demonstrations
recognizing Constitution Day and to observe the inter-
national human rights agreements to which it is a party;
Whereas the United States recently reviewed its relations
with Belarus and adopted a policy of ‘‘selective engage-
•HCON 54 IH
ment’’ because President Lukashenka’s refusal to imple-
ment economic and political reform and his government’s
flagrant violations of human rights have forced the Unit-
ed States to limit its possibilities for engagement with
Belarus;
Whereas the United States will increase contact with non-
governmental organizations and the independent media
sources in Belarus and encourage democratic reforms in
Belarus;
Whereas although the current Government of Belarus
purports to accept dissent, it is time for President
Lukashenka’s regime to prove its commitment to this
pledge;
Whereas the Government of Belarus continues to jeopardize
fundamental human rights and democratic tenets;
Whereas Belarus has yet to comply with its commitments to
international financial organizations;
Whereas in March 1996 the Russian Duma voted to declare
void the 1991 agreement dissolving the Soviet Union; and
Whereas the Government of President Lukashenka has mo-
nopolized the mass media, undermined the constitutional
foundation for the separation of powers, suppressed the
freedom of the press, defamed the national culture, nar-
rowed the educational basis for patriotic upbringing of
youth, maligned the Belarusan language, and undercut
the ground for all-Belarusan unity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That—
•HCON 54 IH
(1) the House of Representatives recognizes the
anniversary of the declaration of the independent
Republic of Belarus;
(2) the United States press the Government of
President Lukashenka to abide by the provisions of
the Helsinki Accords and the Constitution of the Re-
public of Belarus and guarantee freedom of the
press, allow for the flowering of Belarusan culture,
and enforce the separation of powers; and
(3) the Congress join with the people of Belarus
and Belarusans throughout the world in defending
the statehood and democracy of Belarus, sustaining
the country’s Constitution, and preventing the loss
by Belarus of its hard-won nationhood and its op-
portunity to survive as an equal and full-fledged
member state among the sovereign nations of the
world.
Æ