[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 302 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 302

   Urging the President to promote political stability in Tajikistan 
 through efforts to encourage political resolution of the conflict and 
  respect for human rights and through the provision of humanitarian 
   assistance and, subject to certain conditions, economic assistance


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 1994

 Mr. Andrews of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Gilman) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Urging the President to promote political stability in Tajikistan 
 through efforts to encourage political resolution of the conflict and 
  respect for human rights and through the provision of humanitarian 
  assistance and, subject to certain conditions, economic assistance.

Whereas the conflict in Tajikistan between the government and opposition forces 
        has caused the death of tens of thousands of persons and has displaced 
        500,000 persons, one-tenth of the country's 5,400,000 people;
Whereas the conflict has been characterized on all sides by gross human rights 
        violations, abuses, and brutalities, including the murders of children, 
        pregnant women, and babies, widespread use of torture, and summary 
        executions;
Whereas the current violence has the potential to cause conflict along ethnic 
        lines between Tajiks and Uzbeks throughout the region;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council has called upon all parties to reach 
        a political solution and seek national reconciliation;
Whereas the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe has established a 
        mission in Tajikistan to seek ways to revolve the conflict;
Whereas through the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the 
        United Nations to Tajikistan, negotiations are now being conducted;
Whereas elections have been scheduled by the Government of Tajikistan for 
        November 6, 1994;
Whereas the success of a truly representative government will assist with the 
        development of a peaceful and stable Central Asia and beyond;
Whereas the United States has successfully responded to urgent needs for food 
        and other humanitarian assistance in the past;
Whereas food access rather than availability will be a critical problem facing 
        Tajikistan for the foreseeable future;
Whereas there remain significant shortages of necessary building materials, 
        wheat, cooking oil, soap, and shoes;
Whereas lack of fuel nationwide will delay food shipments to Gorno Badakshan, 
        creating severe food shortages in that region, and has the potential to 
        cripple the economy;
Whereas economic assistance can sometimes be given through nongovernmental 
        organizations, in the form of microdevelopment projects, thus supporting 
        the economy from the bottom up;
Whereas continued support for the present of the United Nations and other 
        international organizations and for microdevelopment projects could 
        encourage the peaceful return and reintegration of refugees and 
        displaced Tajiks; and
Whereas any unconditional economic assistance for the central government in 
        Dushanbe, by any party, amounts to a failure to take advantage of 
        political leverage to support national reconciliation and human rights: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
    (a) That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) while the Congress welcomes steps taken by the 
        Government of Tajikistan toward the holding of open elections, 
        it expresses its concerns that nomination, registration, and 
        voting procedures are inadequate to ensure that such elections 
        will be free and fair; and
            (2) any peacekeeping activities in Tajikistan should be 
        conducted in full conformity with United Nations and 
        international peacekeeping norms and practices.
    (b) That it is the further sense of the Congress that the 
President--
            (1) should support existing efforts at national 
        reconciliation in Tajikistan, including--
                    (A) those of the Conference on Security and 
                Cooperation in Europe, and
                    (B) the current diplomatic initiatives, through the 
                office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of 
                the United Nations to Tajikistan;
            (2) should seek, through his good offices, to obtain full 
        respect by the Government of Tajikistan for basic freedoms and 
        internationally recognized human rights, including full 
        implementation of Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe commitments;
            (3) should maintain support for humanitarian assistance to 
        the people of Tajikistan, including assistance for refugees, 
        internally displaced persons, and returnees, with an eye for 
        encouraging self-sufficiency in as many sectors as possible;
            (4) should urge the international community to make similar 
        commitments;
            (5) should seek to ensure that a substantial portion of 
        assistance provided to Tajikistan is channeled through 
        nongovernmental organizations; and
            (6) should seek to ensure that economic assistance is 
        provided directly to the Government of Tajikistan only if it is 
        making significant progress in--
                    (A) protecting and facilitating the activities of 
                human rights groups, including their monitoring of 
                human rights abuses by or upon any party and the 
                training of local human rights organizations;
                    (B) promoting democratic development, including 
                free and fair elections;
                    (C) participating in and otherwise facilitating 
                conflict resolution efforts;
                    (D) terminating interference in the non-violent 
                activities of the political opposition;
                    (E) allowing the International Committee of the Red 
                Cross to visit prisoners in accordance with its 
                mandate, which includes private interviews with 
                prisoners;
                    (F) participating in and otherwise facilitating the 
                compilation of a list of all those who have been 
                extrajudicially executed or have disappeared; and
                    (G) facilitating the protection and reintegration 
                of returnees.
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