Mr. ENGEL. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me, first of all, say that I intend to support this resolution. I met with Mr. Tadic here in Washington and was very impressed with his ability and his statement to work to resolve problems in the area and, of course, in the election. Although we never get involved in other nations' elections, I think many of us were happy to see that the voice of moderation in that election prevailed. However, there are many open sores. One in particular is the whole situation of the future of Kosovo. As you know, Kosovo, for many years, was an autonomous region in the former Yugoslavia. And since 1999, when Milosevic tried to ethnic cleanse the entire region of Albania, Kosovo has really been governed by the international community. I just want to say that I think that the future of Kosovo ought to be determined—I have said it many times before-by self-determination, to what the people of Kosovo really want. And I think that the leadership in Belgrade needs to move on and understand that Kosovo will not, in terms of a final status, be a part of Serbia. Based on 1999 and the ethnic cleansing, there is no way that the vast majority of Albanians in Kosovo would ever agree to be governed by Belgrade again. Having said that, however, I believe it is very important that the Serbs and other ethnic minorities in Kosovo be given due rights and be protected. I am opposed to violence no matter where it comes from in the region. On October 23rd, in just a few weeks, Kosovo is having national elections. And my resolution provides simply: "In the eighth clause of the preamble, insert at the end before the semicolon the following 'and the Kosovar Serbs are encourage to do the same by voting in the elections in Kosovo to be held on October 23, 2004'." While I believe that the Serbs and all ethnic minorities in Kosovo need to be protected, and I abhor any kind of violence and have said that many, many times in many, many different communities. I do think that all people who live in Kosovo ought to participate in the election. Only then can you really have a true democracy and minority rights and move one step closer to self-determination in Kosovo. So that is what my amendment does. It simply urges the Kosovar Serbs to vote in the elections on October 23rd. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mrs. DAVIS. Thank you, Mr. Engel. Are there any other Members who wish to be heard on the amendment? If not, the question is on the amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute. All those in favor say, "Aye." Opposed, "No." The amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute is adopted. Are there any other amendments? The Chair will now entertain a motion that the resolution be reported favorably to the Full Committee as amended. The question occurs on the motion to report the resolution H. Res. 726 as amended favorably. All in favor say "Aye." All opposed "No." The motion is approved, and the bill is reported favorably. Without objection, the bill will be reported favorably to the Full Committee in the form of a single amendment in the nature of a substitute incorporating the amendments adopted here today. Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments. Pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, H. Con. Res. 412, for purposes of markup. Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point. [H. Con. Res. 412 follows:] Mr. WHITFIELD (for himself, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, and Mr. WEXLER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Relating to the reunification of Cyprus. Whereas a peaceful, just, and lasting solution to the reunification of Cyprus has been a longstanding policy goal of the United States; Whereas the United Nations-sponsored "Annan Plan" recently submitted to referenda in Cyprus represented a historic opportunity to reunify Cyprus; Whereas in separate referenda held on April 24, 2004, 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots voted to support the United Nations-sponsored plan but 75 percent of Greek Cypriots voted to reject the plan; and Whereas notwithstanding the outcome of the referenda, Greek Cypriots will enter the European Union on May 1, 2004: Now, therefore, be it 1 2 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 2 concurring), That Congress— 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2 23 (1) commends United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, United Nations Special Advisor on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Ambassador Thomas Weston, the State Department's Cyprus Coordinator, for their tireless and creative efforts on behalf of a solution to the reunification of Cyprus; (2) expresses its admiration for the bold and courageous leadership shown by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to help move the United Nations-sponsored "Annan Plan" forward in a positive manner; (3) lauds the commitment to peace of Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis of Greece who sup ported the United Nations-sponsored plan despite the opposition of the Greek Cypriot leadership; (4) congratulates the Turkish Cypriots for their historic landslide vote in favor of the United Nations-sponsored plan and requests the Turkish Cypriots not to abandon all hope of a united Cyprus or eventual membership in the European Union; and •HCON 412 IH |