[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 429 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 429

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the 
    participation of the extremist FPO in the Government of Austria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 1, 2000

 Mr. Lantos (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Gejdenson, Mr. Smith of New 
 Jersey, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Horn, Mr. Hastings 
 of Florida, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Abercrombie, 
Mr. Pallone, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Porter, Mr. Evans, Mr. 
Waxman, Mr. Tierney, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. McGovern, and Mrs. Jones of Ohio) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the 
    participation of the extremist FPO in the Government of Austria.

Whereas the extremist, racist, and xenophobic FPO has entered into a coalition 
        agreement and is participating in the new Government of Austria;
Whereas the long-time-leader of the FPO, Joerg Haider, praised Adolf Hitler's 
        ``sound employment policy'' and called Waffen SS veterans ``decent 
        people with character who stuck to their belief through the strongest 
        headwinds'';
Whereas Joerg Haider and his party in the recent election campaign decried the 
        ``over-foreignization'' of Austria, which was an expression that was 
        coined and used by Nazi leaders;
Whereas at a time when the European Union, the United States, and other nations 
        are working actively to discourage ethnic hatred in the republics of the 
        former Yugoslavia and elsewhere, the FPO shamelessly appealed to racist 
        sentiment and based its political campaign on racism and xenophobia;
Whereas in the past Joerg Haider and his party have expressed fundamental 
        disagreement with the principles of freedom, democracy, and respect for 
        human rights, which are the foundation of a modern, democratic, open, 
        and tolerant Europe and which Austria, as a member of the European 
        Union, is committed by treaty to uphold; and
Whereas the inclusion of the FPO in the Austrian governing coalition serves to 
        legitimize and encourage the extreme right in other countries of Europe: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the right of the Austrian people to express 
        their political views through a democratic election, but also 
        reaffirms the right and the obligation of the United States 
        House of Representatives to express its opposition to the anti-
        democratic, racist and xenophobic views that have been 
        expressed by Joerg Haider and other leaders of the FPO, and, 
        because of these publicly expressed views, to state its 
        opposition to the party's participation in the Austrian 
        Government;
            (2) condemns the insulting, racist, and xenophobic 
        statements which have been made over many years by Joerg 
        Haider, the long-time leader of the FPO, and by other leaders 
        of the party;
            (3) expresses profound regret and dismay that the FPO will 
        play a major role in the new Government of Austria;
            (4) commends the leaders of the European Union, the 
        fourteen other member states of the European Union, Canada, 
        Norway, and other countries which have expressed their serious 
        concerns regarding the participation of the FPO in the 
        Government of Austria;
            (5) calls upon the President, the Secretary of State, and 
        other officials and agencies of the United States Government to 
        emphasize to Austrian Government officials our concern about 
        the inclusion of any party in the Government of Austria, 
        including the FPO, that has been associated with xenophobic, 
        racist policies, and statements supportive of Nazi-era 
        programs;
    (6) urges Members of Congress to use any meetings with ministers 
and other political leaders of the Government of Austria to express 
concern for Austria's continued adherence to democratic standards and 
full respect for human rights;
    (7) calls upon the Secretary of State to continue to scrutinize the 
policies of the new Government of Austria and to be prepared to take 
additional measures if circumstances so warrant; and
    (8) directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of this 
resolution to the Secretary of State with the request that it be 
forwarded to the President of Austria.
                                 <all>