A resolution calling on President George W. Bush and other leaders attending the 2006 Group of Eight (G-8) Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, to engage in a frank dialogue with the President of Russia concerning actions of the Government of the Russian Federation that appear inconsistent with the Group's objectives of protecting global security, economic stability, and democracy, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-sres-530
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2006-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Antisemitism
Bush (George W.) Administration
Caucasus
Central Asia
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Democracy
Europe
Foreign leaders
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
International agencies
International broadcasting
Journalism
Negotiations
Nongovernmental organizations
President and foreign policy
Racism
Radio broadcasting
Regionalism (International organization)
Religion
Russia
Science, Technology, Communications
Summit diplomacy
Treaties

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-14
text: 
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) in order to preserve the integrity of the G-8 as a forum of the leading industrialized democracies of the world, President George W. Bush and other heads of state attending the G-8 Summit should engage Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin in a dialogue about the anti-democratic behavior of the government of the Russian Federation; (2) the United States and other democratic countries should reaffirm their support for civic and non-governmental organizations working to promote democracy and the rule of law in Russia; (3) the government of the Russian Federation should take action to ensure that it guarantees the full range of civil and political rights to its citizens, as it is obligated to do under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (4) consistent with its obligations under the International Covenant, the government of the Russian Federation should take steps to cease its interference with foreign news organizations, including the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; (5) the government of the Russian Federation should take action to combat rising racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia in Russian society; and (6) the United States and countries of the G-8 should reaffirm their support for new democracies on the borders of Russia and, where applicable, expedite their integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions to provide a bulwark for democracy in eastern Europe and the Caucuses. 

action_date: 2006-07-14
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) in order to preserve the integrity of the G-8 as a forum of the leading industrialized democracies of the world, President George W. Bush and other heads of state attending the G-8 Summit should engage Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin in a dialogue about the anti-democratic behavior of the government of the Russian Federation; (2) the United States and other democratic countries should reaffirm their support for civic and non-governmental organizations working to promote democracy and the rule of law in Russia; (3) the government of the Russian Federation should take action to ensure that it guarantees the full range of civil and political rights to its citizens, as it is obligated to do under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (4) consistent with its obligations under the International Covenant, the government of the Russian Federation should take steps to cease its interference with foreign news organizations, including the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; (5) the government of the Russian Federation should take action to combat rising racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia in Russian society; and (6) the United States and countries of the G-8 should reaffirm their support for new democracies on the borders of Russia and, where applicable, expedite their integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions to provide a bulwark for democracy in eastern Europe and the Caucuses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-14
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7563-7564; text: CR S7563-7564; text of measure as introduced: CR S7562)
action_date: 2006-07-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7563-7564; text: CR S7563-7564; text of measure as introduced: CR S7562)
action_date: 2006-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate