[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 37 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 37


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 24, 1999

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Concerning anti-Semitic statements made by members of the Duma of the 
                          Russian Federation.

Whereas the world has seen in the 20th century the disastrous results of ethnic, 
        religious, and racial intolerance;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation is on record, through 
        obligations freely accepted as a participating state of the Organization 
        on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as pledging to ``clearly 
        and equivocally condemn totalitarianism, racial and ethnic hatred, anti-
        Semitism, xenophobia and discrimination against anyone * * *'';
Whereas at two public rallies in October 1998, Communist Party member of the 
        Duma, Albert Makashov, blamed ``the Yids'' for Russia's current 
        problems;
Whereas in November 1998, attempts by members of the Russian Duma to formally 
        censure Albert Makashov were blocked by members of the Communist Party;
Whereas in December 1998, the chairman of the Duma Security Committee and 
        Communist Party member, Viktor Ilyukhin, blamed President Yeltsin's 
        ``Jewish entourage'' for alleged ``genocide against the Russian 
        people'';
Whereas in response to the public outcry over the above-noted anti-Semitic 
        statements, Communist Party chairman Gennadi Zyuganov claimed in 
        December 1998 that such statements were a result of ``confusion'' 
        between Zionism and ``the Jewish question''; and
Whereas during the Soviet era, the Communist Party leadership regularly used 
        ``anti-Zionist campaigns'' as an excuse to persecute and discriminate 
        against Jews in the Soviet Union: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) condemns anti-Semitic statements made by members of the 
        Russian Duma;
            (2) commends actions taken by members of the Russian Duma 
        to condemn anti-Semitic statements made by Duma members;
            (3) commends President Yeltsin and other members of the 
        Russian Government for condemning anti-Semitic statements made 
        by Duma members; and
            (4) reiterates its firm belief that peace and justice 
        cannot be achieved as long as governments and legislatures 
        promote policies based upon anti-Semitism, racism, and 
        xenophobia.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 23, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.