[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 518 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      October 13, 1998.
Whereas Gabon is a heavily forested and oil-rich country on central Africa's 
        west coast;
Whereas Gabon gained independence from France in 1960;
Whereas the Government of Gabon is involved in ongoing efforts to mediate 
        regional conflicts;
Whereas Gabon is scheduled to hold national elections in December 1998 for the 
        purpose of electing a President;
Whereas Gabon was subject to single-party rule until 1990;
Whereas the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) and the Africa 
        America Institute (AAI) served as observers during the organization of 
        the 1993 Presidential and legislative elections in Gabon and found 
        widespread electoral irregularities;
Whereas the Government of Gabon is a signatory to the ``Paris Accords'' of 1994, 
        approved by national referendum in July 1995, which provides for a state 
        of law guaranteeing basic individual freedoms and the organization of 
        free and fair elections under a new independent national election 
        commission;
Whereas the people of Gabon have demonstrated their support for the democratic 
        process through the formation of numerous political parties since 1990 
        and their strong participation in prior elections; and
Whereas it is in the interest of the United States to promote political and 
        economic freedom in Africa and throughout the world: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and commends the Government of Gabon's ongoing 
        efforts to resolve central African conflicts;
            (2) recognizes and commends those Gabonese who have demonstrated 
        their love for free and fair elections;
            (3) commends the Gabonese Government for inviting IFES to perform a 
        pre-election assessment study;
            (4) calls on the Gabonese Government--
                    (A) to take further measures to help ensure a credible 
                election and to ensure that the election commission remains 
                independent and impartial; and
                    (B) to further welcome IFES, the National Democratic 
                Institute, the International Republican Institute, or other 
                appropriate international nongovernmental organizations to aid 
                the organization and oversight of, the December 1998 
                Presidential election in Gabon, in an effort to ensure that 
                these elections in Gabon are free and fair;
            (5) urges the Government of Gabon to take all necessary and lawful 
        steps toward conducting free and fair elections;
            (6) calls on the international community to join the United States 
        in offering their assistance toward conducting free and fair elections 
        in Gabon;
            (7) urges the United States Government to continue to provide 
        support directly and through appropriate nongovernmental organizations 
        to aid the organization of free and fair elections in Gabon; and
            (8) urges the United States Government and the international 
        community to continue to encourage the Government of Gabon to ensure a 
        lasting and committed transition to democracy.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.