[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 170 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 170

    Expressing United States policy toward the Republic of Bulgaria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 2, 1999

     Mr. Gilman (for himself and Mr. Mica) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing United States policy toward the Republic of Bulgaria.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Elections held in April 1997 in the Republic of 
        Bulgaria brought to office a government committed to full 
        economic reforms, discipline in government budgetary and 
        currency policies, increased foreign, direct investment in 
        Bulgaria, and energetic efforts to combat corrupt and criminal 
        activities that had undermined previous economic reforms.
            (2) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has worked 
        to ensure the proper treatment of its citizens, regardless of 
        ethnic background, including those of ethnic Turkish 
        background, many of whom were subjected to forced assimilation 
        campaigns and deportation under the former communist regime in 
        Bulgaria.
            (3) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has made 
        Bulgaria's integration into pan-European and trans-Atlantic 
        institutions, including the European Union and the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the highest priority of 
        its foreign policy, and has undertaken efforts to promote 
        stability in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
            (4) The economy of the Republic of Bulgaria has suffered 
        considerable decline due to the disruption of important markets 
        caused by the break-up of the former, Soviet-dominated 
        ``COMECON'' economic and trade organization, the application of 
        international sanctions on Iraq, and the failure of the 
        Government of the Republic of Bulgaria to confront widespread 
        corrupt activities prior to the elections of April 1997 that 
        resulted in the theft of large sums from both government and 
        industry and that bankrupted many Bulgarian banks.
            (5) The economy of the Republic of Bulgaria has suffered as 
        well from the imposition of international sanctions on 
        neighboring Serbia and continues to suffer from the conflict in 
        that country, which has disrupted commerce throughout the 
        region of southeastern Europe.
            (6) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has recently 
        taken steps to finalize bilateral agreements with the 
        neighboring Republic of Macedonia, recognized by the United 
        States as the ``Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'', 
        overcoming a long-standing dispute over the language to be used 
        in those agreements.
            (7) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has 
        undertaken to reform Bulgaria's armed forces, adopting a 
        military doctrine to that effect in March 1999.
            (8) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has stated 
        its continuing support for the mission of NATO in supporting 
        democratization and stability across Europe.
            (9) As a result of the conflict in Serbia with regard to 
        the region of Kosovo, the Republic of Bulgaria has accepted 
        several thousand refugees from the conflict.

SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA.

    It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to promote the development in the Republic of Bulgaria 
        of a market-based economy and a democratic government that 
        respects the rights of all of its citizens, regardless of 
        ethnic background;
            (2) to support the territorial integrity of the Republic of 
        Bulgaria;
            (3) to insist that the territorial integrity of the 
        Republic of Bulgaria be respected by neighboring countries and 
        by all political movements within and outside Bulgaria; and
            (4) to support the integration of the Republic of Bulgaria 
        into pan-European and trans-Atlantic economic and security 
        institutions.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria is to be 
        commended for its efforts to ensure proper treatment of all of 
        its citizens, regardless of ethnic background, particularly 
        those of ethnic Turkish background;
            (2) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria is to be 
        commended--
                    (A) for its efforts to accelerate the privatization 
                of state-owned enterprises in a fair and transparent 
                process;
                    (B) for its establishment of a currency board to 
                ensure the value of the Bulgarian currency; and
                    (C) for its efforts to combat corrupt and criminal 
                activities that undermine reforms and the viability of 
                Bulgaria's government and industry;
            (3) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria should 
        continue to implement programs that may qualify Bulgaria for 
        entrance into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) and is to be commended for its continuing 
        support of the NATO effort to ensure stability and 
        democratization across Europe;
            (4) the Republic of Bulgaria is suffering the adverse 
        economic impact of the disruption of commerce in southeastern 
        Europe and an influx of refugees caused by the conflict in 
        neighboring Serbia;
            (5) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria should 
        ensure the expeditious ratification of all bilateral treaties 
        that have been negotiated with the neighboring Government of 
        the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;
            (6) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria should 
        undertake steps to immediately halt any illicit transfer of 
        arms and military equipment that may occur in Bulgaria or may 
        cross Bulgarian territory;
            (7) the Republic of Bulgaria should play a central role in 
        any effort by NATO to create a joint peacekeeping military unit 
        involving personnel from throughout the countries of 
        southeastern Europe or in the creation of facilities in support 
        of such a peacekeeping unit; and
            (8) the United States should join other official creditors 
        of the Republic of Bulgaria in providing Bulgaria with relief 
        from such official debt through rescheduling and, where 
        appropriate, forgiveness.
                                 <all>