[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 217 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 217

  Concerning human and political rights of the Bosniac people of the 
      Sanjak region of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/
                              Montenegro).


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 1996

 Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Porter, Mr. Lantos, Ms. Molinari, and Mr. 
    Engel) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Concerning human and political rights of the Bosniac people of the 
      Sanjak region of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/
                              Montenegro).

Whereas the situation in the Sanjak region of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 
        (Serbia/Montenegro) could not be addressed in the Dayton Peace Accords 
        leaving the Bosniac people, who are the Muslim population in the region, 
        subject to continuing harassment and repression;
Whereas major international human rights organizations, the United States 
        Department of State, the United Nations, and the Organization for 
        Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have documented extensive 
        human rights abuses perpetrated against the Bosniac people of the 
        Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro);
Whereas an April 1993 report by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe referred to the situation in the Sanjak region as ``an example of 
        how a relatively content, ethnically mixed society can be torn apart by 
        its proximity to war, both geographically and socially'';
Whereas the United States pursues a policy known as the ``outer wall of 
        sanctions'' intended to urge the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/
        Montenegro) to make progress on successor state issues;
Whereas the ``outer wall of sanctions'' policy specifically addresses concerns 
        about Kosova, but does not address the equally destabilizing situation 
        in the Sanjak region;
Whereas over 17,000 Bosniac people have been subjected to harsh military-police 
        treatment and physically terrorized;
Whereas the Bosniac people have been expelled in large numbers from their jobs 
        with state-owned companies, producing widespread economic and 
        humanitarian hardship; and
Whereas large numbers of Bosniac people have been forced to migrate out of fear 
        for their lives, and have witnessed the destruction of their homes, 
        possessions and institutions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the United States should continue its leadership role 
        within the international community in seeking a solution to the 
        problems of the ethnic groups of the Federal Republic of 
        Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), without which there cannot be 
        permanent peace in the Balkans;
            (2) the United States should continue to maintain its 
        opposition to the lifting of the ``outer wall of sanctions'' 
        against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) 
        until the situation of the Bosniac people of the Sanjak region, 
        along with that of other ethnic groups of the Federal Republic 
        of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), is substantially improved;
            (3) the United States should raise the issue of human 
        rights violations in the Sanjak region with the Federal 
        Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) at every opportunity 
        and press for full respect for the human rights and fundamental 
        freedoms of the people of the Sanjak region in keeping with 
        international law;
            (4) the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 
        (Serbia/Montenegro) should restore political freedom in the 
        Sanjak region, end persecution of political leaders, and 
        guarantee the safe return of those Bosniac people forced to 
        leave the region; and
            (5) the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) 
        should permit the return of a permanent mission of the 
        Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the 
        Sanjak region to monitor and report on developments in the 
        region, including human rights and economic development, and to 
        help establish the necessary conditions for observing 
        elections.
                                 <all>