[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 43 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
S. J. RES. 43


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2000

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

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                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of Congress that the President of the United 
    States should encourage free and fair elections and respect for 
                           democracy in Peru.

Whereas presidential and congressional elections are scheduled to occur in Peru 
        on April 9, 2000;
Whereas independent election monitors, including the Organization of American 
        States, the National Democratic Institute, and the Carter Center, have 
        expressed grave doubts about the fairness of the electoral process due 
        to the Peruvian Government's control of key official electoral agencies, 
        systematic restrictions on freedom of the press, manipulation of the 
        judicial processes to stifle independent reporting on radio, television, 
        and newspaper outlets, and harassment and intimidation of opposition 
        politicians, which have greatly limited the ability of opposing 
        candidates to campaign freely; and
Whereas the absence of free and fair elections in Peru would constitute a major 
        setback for the Peruvian people and for democracy in the hemisphere, 
        could result in instability in Peru, and could jeopardize United States 
        antinarcotics objectives in Peru and the region: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That it is the sense of 
Congress that the President of the United States should promptly convey 
to the President of Peru that if the April 9, 2000, elections are not 
deemed by the international community to have been free and fair, the 
United States will review and modify as appropriate its political, 
economic, and military relations with Peru, and will work with other 
democracies in this hemisphere and elsewhere toward a restoration of 
democracy in Peru.

            Passed the Senate April 7, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.