[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 425 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 425

 Expressing the sense of the Congress that the continued participation 
of the Russian Federation in the Group of Eight must be conditioned on 
  Russia's own voluntary acceptance of and adherence to the norms and 
                        standards of democracy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 12, 2000

Mr. Lantos  (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, and Mr. 
   Berman) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
         referred to the Committee on International Relations.

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress that the continued participation 
of the Russian Federation in the Group of Eight must be conditioned on 
  Russia's own voluntary acceptance of and adherence to the norms and 
                        standards of democracy.

Whereas in 1991 and subsequent years the leaders of the Group of Seven (``G7''), 
        the forum of the heads of state or heads of government of the major 
        free-market economies of the world which meet annually in a summit 
        meeting, invited Russia to a post-summit dialogue, and in 1998 the 
        leaders of the Group of Seven formally invited Russia to participate in 
        an annual gathering that thereafter became known as the Group of Eight 
        (``G8''), although the Group of Seven have continued to hold informal 
        summit meetings and ministerial meetings that do not include Russia;
Whereas the invitation to President Yeltsin of Russia to participate in these 
        annual summits was in recognition of his commitment to democratization 
        and economic liberalization, despite the fact that the Russian economy 
        has been weak and its commitment to democratic principles has been 
        uncertain;
Whereas those countries which are members of the Group of Seven are pluralistic 
        democratic societies with democratic political institutions and 
        practices, and they have committed themselves to the observance of 
        universally recognized standards of human rights, respect for individual 
        liberties and democratic political practices;
Whereas a free news media and freedom of speech are fundamental to the 
        functioning of a democratic society and essential for the protection of 
        individual liberties, and such freedoms can exist only in an environment 
        that is free of state control of the news media, that is free of any 
        form of state censorship or official coercion of any kind, and that is 
        protected and guaranteed by the rule of law;
Whereas the Russian Federation has engaged in a series of government actions 
        that are hostile and threatening to privately-owned, independently 
        operated media enterprises, particularly those new outlets that have 
        been critical of government policies and government actions; and
Whereas the continued participation of the Russian Federation in the Group of 
        Eight must be conditioned on Russia's own voluntary acceptance of and 
        adherence to the norms and standards of democracy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the participation of the 
Russian Federation in the Group of Eight must be linked to the Russian 
Federation's adherence to the norms and standards of democracy, 
including--
            (1) the existence of a free, unfettered press that fosters 
        the development of an independent media and the free exchange 
        of ideas and views, including opportunities for private 
        ownership of media enterprises, the right of people to receive 
        news without government interference and harassment, and the 
        freedom of journalists to publish opinions and news reports 
        without fear of censorship or punishment;
            (2) the freedom of all religious groups freely to practice 
        their faith in Russia, without undue government interference on 
        the rights and the peaceful activities of such religious 
        organizations;
            (3) equal treatment and respect for the human rights and 
        the right to own private property of all citizens of the 
        Russian Federation;
            (4) initiation of genuine negotiations for a just and 
        peaceful resolution of the conflict in Chechnya, including a 
        full investigation of the conflict and bringing to justice 
        those individuals, civilian or military, who in a court of law 
        are found to be guilty of violating human rights;
            (5) respect for the rule of law and improvement of civil 
        and legal institutions to implement and defend these rights; 
        and
            (6) reform of the judicial system to prevent the arbitrary 
        detention of citizens and provide for a speedy trial and equal 
        access to the judicial system.
    The President and the Secretary of State are requested to convey to 
appropriate officials of the Government of the Russian Federation, 
including the President, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of 
Foreign Affairs, this expression of the views of the Congress.
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