AMENDMENT TO H.R. 3244 OFFERED BY MR. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY On page 6, line 19, immediately following section 18, insert the following new section (and re-number the remaining sections accordingly): (19) One of the founding documents of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of all people. It states that "all men are created equal" and "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." The right to be free from slavery and involuntary servitude is among those unalienable rights. Acknowledging this fact, the United States outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865, recognizing them as evil institutions that must be abolished. Current practices of sexual slavery and trafficking of women and children are similarly abhorrent to the principles upon which our country was founded. 106TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 165 Expressing United States policy toward the Slovak Republic. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 29, 1999 Mr. MICA (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. KNOLLENBURG, and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing United States policy toward the Slovak Republic. 1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 2 concurring), 3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 The Congress finds the following: (1) Elections held in May 1999 brought the first ever popularly elected President of the Slovak Republic to office and demonstrated the commitment of the Slovak people to full economic reforms, democratic government, and western ideals. (2) The parliamentary elections held in September 1998 brought to office a coalition govern 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 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 renewed 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 guidelines, 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 24 through active participation with the Visegrad Four, 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 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 cooperating with NATO during the recent conflict in Kosovo, allowing NATO full access to Slovak airspace, 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 Partnership-for-Peace program. (8) The Slovak Republic has provided military personnel for participation in and support of multinational peacekeeping operations such as the United 24 Nations operations in Rwanda and Liberia. 4 1 SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 It is the policy of the United States (1) to promote the development in the Slovak Republic of a market-based economy and a democratic 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-Atlantic economic and security institutions. 10 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 efforts to accelerate the privatization of stateowned enterprises in a fair and transparent process; and (C) for its support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the recent conflict in Kosovo; |