[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 237 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 237

Voicing concern about the serious limitations on human rights and civil 
 liberties in Belarus, including lack of compliance with Organization 
 for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments, and urging 
the President to take these into consideration in his determination of 
             most-favored-nation (MFN) status for Belarus.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 1998

Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Porter, 
     Mr. Hoyer, and Mr. Markey) submitted the following concurrent 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
 Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Voicing concern about the serious limitations on human rights and civil 
 liberties in Belarus, including lack of compliance with Organization 
 for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments, and urging 
the President to take these into consideration in his determination of 
             most-favored-nation (MFN) status for Belarus.

Whereas the Republic of Belarus, a country of 10,000,000 people, is a 
        participating state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe (OSCE);
Whereas the human rights record of Belarus has steadily deteriorated since 
        President Alyaksandr Lukashenka took office in 1994, reversing nearly 
        all the advances in human rights and democratization of the post-Soviet 
        period;
Whereas President Lukashenka has steadily amassed excessive executive powers and 
        has eroded the legislative and judicial constitutional checks on his 
        power;
Whereas the November 1996 referendum, which President Lukashenka used to give 
        himself sweeping powers over parliament and the judiciary, was in 
        contradiction with provisions of the 1994 constitution and cannot be 
        considered as legitimate;
Whereas the Belarusian Supreme Soviet, elected in 1995 under the 1994 democratic 
        constitution, remains the only rightful parliament in Belarus;
Whereas following the November 1996 referendum, President Lukashenka disbanded 
        the Supreme Soviet, formed the National Assembly subordinate to his 
        rule, and has used it to ratify his own increasingly repressive decrees;
Whereas the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE recognizes the Belarusian Supreme 
        Soviet as the legitimate parliament of Belarus;
Whereas the ``separation of powers'' established by the 1994 constitution, and 
        in conformity with principles observed in democracies around the world, 
        has virtually ceased to exist in Belarus, and President Lukashenka has 
        increasingly resorted to rule by decree;
Whereas the Constitutional Court has been brought entirely under the control of 
        President Lukashenka and independence of the judiciary is not guaranteed 
        in Belarus;
Whereas the Belarusian Government continues to violate its OSCE human dimension 
        commitments, especially in freedoms of expression, association and 
        assembly, and media;
Whereas freedoms of expression and media continue to be severely restricted, 
        including the subordination of some major media organizations to the 
        President Lukashenka's administration, the jailing of reporters, and the 
        closing of newspapers and independent radio stations;
Whereas in November 1997, the Belarusian-language Svaboda, the largest 
        independent newspaper in Belarus, was closed down by the government;
Whereas the government of President Lukashenka is attempting to squelch all 
        expressions of opposition to the regime, and individuals who criticize 
        the president or government are harassed, intimidated, or arrested;
Whereas nongovernmental organizations in Belarus have been intimidated and 
        harassed through the use of tax audits and exorbitant rent increases;
Whereas the Belarusian Soros Foundation, which since 1993 has donated some 
        $13,000,000 to educational, humanitarian, cultural, and media projects 
        in Belarus, was forced to close its office in Miensk in September 1997 
        as a result of the Belarusian Government's orchestrated campaign of 
        harassment;
Whereas restrictions on freedom of assembly dramatically increased in Belarus in 
        1996 and early 1997;
Whereas police have without justification broken up opposition demonstrations, 
        and often resorting to violence, have arrested protesters and 
        bystanders;
Whereas the Government of Belarus agreed on September 18, 1997, to establish an 
        OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, whose task is to assist 
        the Belarusian authorities in promoting democratic institutions and in 
        complying with other OSCE commitments, and to monitor and report on this 
        process;
Whereas on December 18, 1997, the Government of Belarus signed a Memorandum of 
        Understanding with the OSCE on the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group 
        enabling it to begin its work;
Whereas the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group can make a valuable contribution 
        in assisting the Government of Belarus in improving its human rights 
        record, thus reducing its isolation from the international community; 
        and
Whereas Belarus enjoys most-favored-nation (MFN) status under the annual waiver 
        of the Jackson-Vanik amendment of the Trade Act of 1974: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) voices its concern about the current and serious 
        limitations on human rights and civil liberties in Belarus;
            (2) calls upon the Government of Belarus to follow the 
        principles embodied in the 1994 constitution, both in practice 
        and intent;
            (3) calls upon the Government of Belarus to abide by its 
        commitments under the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent 
        agreements of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe (OSCE) and other international commitments;
            (4) urges the Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to 
        restore the rights of the Supreme Soviet;
            (5) urges the President of the United States, the Secretary 
        of State, the United States Embassy in Miensk, the United 
        States mission to the United Nations, and the United States 
        mission to the OSCE to utilize every appropriate opportunity, 
        privately and publicly, to encourage the Government of Belarus 
        to respect its international human rights commitments, 
        including OSCE principles and norms;
            (6) supports the development of independent nongovernmental 
        organizations in Belarus dedicated to promoting democracy and 
        respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms;
            (7) welcomes the work of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring 
        Group in assisting in the development of democratic 
        institutions in Belarus and encourages the Government of 
        Belarus to cooperate fully with the OSCE Advisory and 
        Monitoring Group; and
            (8) urges the President to take into consideration the 
        human rights record of Belarus in his determination of most-
        favored-nation (MFN) status for Belarus and, if sufficient 
        improvements are not undertaken, urges that the President not 
        renew the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (most-
        favored-nation treatment) to the products of the Republic of 
        Belarus.
                                 <all>