[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 165 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 165


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 17, 1999

                                Received

                           November 19, 1999

             Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Expressing United States policy toward the Slovak Republic.

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    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 government 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 through active participation with the Visegrad 
        Four, the Slovak Republic has undertaken efforts to promote 
        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 Nations operations in Rwanda and 
        Liberia.

SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC.

    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.

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 state-owned 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;
            (2) the Government of the Slovak Republic should continue 
        to implement programs that may qualify the Slovak Republic for 
        entrance into the European Union and NATO and is to be 
        commended for its continued support of the NATO effort to 
        ensure stability and democratization across Europe; and
            (3) the United States should support efforts for the 
        eventual integration of the Slovak Republic into pan-European 
        and trans-Atlantic institutions and should view such 
        integration as an important factor in consolidating democratic 
        government and economic stability in the Slovak Republic.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 16, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.