IA
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. J. RES. 100
Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 25th
anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 8, 2000
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. HOYER, Mr. WOLF, Mr. CARDIN,
Mr. SALMON, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. FORBES, and Mr.
PITTS) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on International Relations
JOINT RESOLUTION
Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation
recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.
Whereas August 1, 2000, is the 25th anniversary of the
Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation
in Europe (CSCE), renamed the Organization for Secu-
rity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 1995
(in this joint resolution referred to as the ‘‘Helsinki Final
Act’’);
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act, for the first time in the his-
tory of international agreements, accorded human rights
the status of a fundamental principle in regulating inter-
national relations;
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Whereas during the Communist era, members of nongovern-
mental organizations, such as the Helsinki Monitoring
Groups in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia, and Ar-
menia and similar groups in Czechoslovakia and Poland,
sacrificed their personal freedom and even their lives in
their courageous and vocal support for the principles en-
shrined in the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas the United States Congress contributed to advanc-
ing the aims of the Helsinki Final Act by creating the
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to
monitor and encourage compliance with provisions of the
Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the
participating states declared, ‘‘Human rights and funda-
mental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings,
are inalienable and are guaranteed by law. Their protec-
tion and promotion is the first responsibility of govern-
ment’’;
Whereas in the 1991 Document of the Moscow Meeting of
the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE,
the participating states ‘‘categorically and irrevocably
declare[d] that the commitments undertaken in the field
of the human dimension of the CSCE are matters of di-
rect and legitimate concern to all participating States
and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of
the State concerned’’;
Whereas in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the
participating states committed themselves ‘‘to build, con-
solidate and strengthen democracy as the only system of
government of our nations’’;
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Whereas the 1999 Istanbul Charter for European Security
and Istanbul Summit Declaration note the particular
challenges of ending violence against women and children
as well as sexual exploitation and all forms of trafficking
in human beings, strengthening efforts to combat corrup-
tion, eradicating torture, reinforcing efforts to end dis-
crimination against Roma and Sinti, and promoting de-
mocracy and respect for human rights in Serbia;
Whereas the main challenge facing the participating states
remains the implementation of the principles and com-
mitments contained in the Helsinki Final Act and other
OSCE documents adopted on the basis of consensus;
Whereas the participating states have recognized that eco-
nomic liberty, social justice, and environmental responsi-
bility are indispensable for prosperity;
Whereas the participating states have committed themselves
to promote economic reforms through enhanced trans-
parency for economic activity with the aim of advancing
the principles of market economies;
Whereas the participating states have stressed the impor-
tance of respect for the rule of law and of vigorous ef-
forts to fight organized crime and corruption, which con-
stitute a great threat to economic reform and prosperity;
Whereas OSCE has expanded the scope and substance of its
efforts, undertaking a variety of preventive diplomacy ini-
tiatives designed to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict
within and among the participating states;
Whereas the politico-military aspects of security remain vital
to the interests of the participating states and constitute
a core element of OSCE’s concept of comprehensive secu-
rity;
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Whereas the OSCE has played an increasingly active role in
civilian police-related activities, including training, as an
integral part of OSCE’s efforts in conflict prevention, cri-
sis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation; and
Whereas the participating states bear primary responsibility
for raising violations of the Helsinki Final Act and other
OSCE documents: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Congress calls upon the President to—
(1) issue a proclamation—
(A) recognizing the 25th anniversary of the
signing of the Final Act of the Conference on
Security and Cooperation in Europe;
(B) reasserting the commitment of the
United States to full implementation of the
Helsinki Final Act;
(C) urging all signatory states to abide by
their obligations under the Helsinki Final Act;
and
(D) encouraging the people of the United
States to join the President and the Congress
in observance of this anniversary with appro-
priate programs, ceremonies, and activities; and
(2) convey to all signatory states of the Hel-
sinki Final Act that respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, eco-
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nomic liberty, and the implementation of related
commitments continue to be vital elements in pro-
moting a new era of democracy, peace, and unity in
the region covered by the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe.
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