[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1064 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1064
To authorize a coordinated program to promote the development of
democracy in Serbia and Montenegro.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 1999
Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Hoyer, Mr.
Porter, Mr. Engel, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Ms. Slaughter, Mr.
Rohrabacher, and Mr. Moran of Virginia) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize a coordinated program to promote the development of
democracy in Serbia and Montenegro.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Serbia and Montenegro Democracy Act
of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In multi-party elections held in the Republic of Serbia
in 1990, 1992, 1996 and 1997, international observers found
considerable evidence of election fraud and the manipulation of
state-run media, allowing the ruling Socialist Party of Serbia
led by Slobodan Milosevic to maintain power.
(2) On many occasions, and specifically in 1991, 1996 and
1997, the Serbian authorities demonstrated a clear willingness
to intimidate and use force against citizens of Serbia who were
peacefully exercising their rights by protesting publicly
against the undemocratic practices of the regime.
(3) Beginning in 1991, the Serbian Government formed by the
Socialist Party of Serbia sought to enhance its power and
counter democratic pressures by fomenting extreme nationalism
and instigating conflict within the former Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, which, by the time peace was restored
in 1995, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, the
torture and rape of tens of thousands and the forced
displacement of nearly 3,000,000 people.
(4) In 1992, the republics of Serbia and Montenegro
asserted the establishment of a new ``Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia'', the government and institutions of which have
been dominated by those holding power in Serbia and their
political allies in Montenegro, enabling Serbian President
Slobodan Milosevic to become the President of the new Yugoslav
state in 1997, when his final term as President of Serbia
ended.
(5) In 1997 and 1998, forces within the ruling Democratic
Socialist Party of Montenegro which supported the building of
democratic institutions separated from those allied with the
ruling party in Serbia, cooperated with opposition parties,
including those representing minority communities, and
succeeded, despite threats and intimidation on the part of
Serbian officials, in holding elections reflective of the will
of the citizens of Montenegro and bringing increased openness
and tolerance in Montenegrin society.
(6) In 1998, conflict in the area resumed with an assault
by Yugoslav military and Serbian police and security forces on
innocent civilians in Kosovo which have resulted in more than
1,000 people dead or missing and the forced displacement of
tens of thousands before a tentative ceasefire was reached
which has been threatened by further atrocities in 1999.
(7) The ethnically Albanian majority of the population of
Kosovo has established its own political, medical, education
and media institutions in reaction to the illegal revocation in
1990 of Kosovo's autonomy as a province in the former Socialist
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the subsequent years of
repression of the people living in Kosovo.
(8) In 1998, new, draconian laws on information and higher
education placed further restrictions on the independent media
and academic freedom in Serbia.
(9) The chronology of events in Serbia and Montenegro since
1990 indicate a clear and close relationship between the
instigation of conflict and the denial of democratic
development.
SEC. 3. POLICY TOWARD SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO.
It is the policy of the United States to promote the development of
democracy in Serbia and Montenegro and to support those who are
committed to the building of democratic institutions, defending human
rights, promoting rule of law, and fostering tolerance in society.
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS IN SERBIA AND
MONTENEGRO.
(a) Assistance.--In carrying out the Support for East European
Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989, the President shall provide the following
assistance to support democratic efforts in Serbia and Montenegro
(excluding Kosovo):
(1) Open media.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to improve
infrastructure and programming, to provide advice,
technical support and education, and to help provide
legal protection.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(2) Nongovernmental organizations.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to train, to develop
regional networks, to encourage multiethnic focus on
issues of common concern, and to help provide legal
protection.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(3) Independent labor unions.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to promote membership,
to facilitate contacts and cooperation with labor
unions elsewhere in Europe, and to help provide legal
protection.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(4) Education.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to assist independent
education networks, to help provide support for those
fired for political reasons, and to develop improved
teaching materials on democracy and civic
responsibilities.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(5) Judiciary.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to train judges on
international judicial standards, to support a trial
monitoring program, and to help provide support of
those fired for political reasons.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(6) Political parties and coalitions.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to expand training in
grassroots organization, to develop coalition-building
and campaign skills, and to develop party leadership
below the state or republic level.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $7,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(7) Local governance.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to provide support to
democratically-oriented local governments to provide
services, to establish local economic development
plans, and to increase the transparency and
accountability of decision-making.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(8) Election administration.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to train election
officials in transparent election procedures, to
provide tamper-resistant electoral supplies, and to
develop sound registration and voting procedures.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(9) Youth organizations.--
(A) In general.--Assistance to promote student
organizations and to develop and provide for study
programs in Europe and the United States.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000 to carry out subparagraph (A).
(b) Administration of Assistance.--Assistance described in
subsection (a) shall be provided to institutions, nongovernmental
organizations, and persons that are eligible organizations designated
in accordance with section 5, by the President, acting through
appropriate Federal agencies and the National Endowment for Democracy,
based on a determination by the President of the potential
effectiveness of the agency or entity in providing the assistance.
SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY AND DESIGNATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Eligibility.--An institution, nongovernmental organization, or
person shall be eligible for designation under subsection (b) if such
institution, nongovernmental organization, or person--
(1) clearly advocates democratic principles in its programs
(if a nongovernmental entity) or in the implementation of its
policies (if governmental entity);
(2) has membership which does not discriminate on the basis
of ethnicity and is open to dialogue across state and republic
lines; and
(3) has no known direct involvement in, nor open support
for, atrocities associated with the conflict in the former
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or any of the
independent states which have emerged therefrom, since 1991.
(b) Designation.--The President shall designate 1 or more
institutions, nongovernmental organizations, or persons that meet the
requirements of subsection (a) as eligible to receive assistance under
this Act.
SEC. 6. DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL CONTACTS RELATING TO SERBIA AND
MONTENEGRO.
(a) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that
political contacts between United States officials and those who, in an
official or unofficial capacity, represent a genuine desire for
democratic governance in Serbia and Montenegro and designated in
accordance with section 5, should be developed through regular and well
publicized meetings.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State $350,000 for fiscal year 2000
for a voluntary contribution to the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly--
(1) to facilitate contacts by those who, in an official or
unofficial capacity, represent a genuine desire for democratic
governance in Serbia and Montenegro and designated in
accordance with section 5, with their counterparts in other
countries; and
(2) to encourage the development of a multilateral effort
to promote democracy in Serbia and Montenegro.
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