[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 272 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 403
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 272
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the success of the Varela
Project's collection of 10,000 certified signatures in support of a
national referendum and the delivery of these signatures to the Cuban
National Assembly.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2002
Mr. Nelson of Florida (for himself, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Torricelli)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations
May 29, 2002
Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of May 22, 2002,
by Mr. Biden, with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the success of the Varela
Project's collection of 10,000 certified signatures in support of a
national referendum and the delivery of these signatures to the Cuban
National Assembly.
<DELETED>Whereas Article 88 of the Cuban Constitution states that the Cuban
National Assembly should schedule a national referendum if it receives
the verified signatures of 10,000 legal voters;
Whereas on May 10, 2002, a group of Cuban citizens led by Oswaldo Paya delivered
11,020 verified signatures to the Cuban National Assembly in support of
a referendum;
Whereas Mr. Paya's petition drive is inspired by the 19th-century priest and
Cuban independence hero, Padre Felix Varela, and is known as the Varela
Project;
Whereas the Varela Project seeks a referendum on civil liberties, including
freedom of speech, amnesty for political prisoners, support for private
business, a new electoral law, and a general election;
Whereas the Varela Project is supported by 140 opposition organizations in Cuba
and has received no money or support from foreign citizens or foreign
governments;
Whereas the Varela Project is the largest petition drive in Cuban history;
Whereas the Varela Project seeks amnesty for all of those who have been
detained, sanctioned, or jailed for political motives and who have not
participated in acts directly threatening the lives of others;
Whereas the Varela Project seeks to guarantee citizens the right to form private
businesses, to carry out economic activities that could be productive
and of service, and to establish contracts between workers and
businesses for the development of these businesses in fair and just
conditions so that no one may obtain profits by exploiting the work of
others;
Whereas the Varela Project is a step in moving Cuba toward achieving
international standards for human rights;
Whereas the goal of United States policy in Cuba is to promote a peaceful
transition to democracy through an active policy of supporting the
forces of change on the island; and
Whereas the Varela Project is engaged in the promotion of a peaceful transition
to democracy in Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
</DELETED>Whereas Article 88 of the Cuban Constitution provides for Cuban
citizens to submit legislative proposals to the Cuban National Assembly
for its consideration;
Whereas on May 10, 2002, a group of Cuban citizens led by Oswaldo Paya delivered
11,020 verified signatures to the Cuban National Assembly in support of
a referendum;
Whereas Mr. Paya's petition drive is inspired by the 19th-century priest and
Cuban independence hero, Padre Felix Varela, and is known as the Varela
Project;
Whereas the Varela Project seeks a referendum on civil liberties, including
freedom of speech, amnesty for political prisoners, support for private
business, a new electoral law, and a general election;
Whereas the Varela Project is supported by 140 opposition organizations in Cuba
and has received no money or support from foreign citizens or foreign
governments;
Whereas the Varela Project is the largest petition drive in Cuban history;
Whereas the Varela Project is a step in moving Cuba toward achieving
international standards for human rights;
Whereas the goal of United States policy in Cuba is to promote a peaceful
transition to democracy; and
Whereas the Varela Project is engaged in the promotion of a peaceful transition
to democracy in Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, <DELETED>That the Senate--
<DELETED> (1) supports the constitutional right of the
citizens of Cuba who have signed the Varela Project to petition
the Cuban National Assembly for a referendum;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) calls on the Cuban government to accept the
Varela Project petition and, in accordance with its obligation
under Article 88 of the Cuban Constitution, to hold a
referendum on civil liberties, including freedom of speech, an
amnesty for political prisoners, support for private business,
a new electoral law, and a general election;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) praises the bravery of Oswaldo Paya and his
colleagues in collecting 11,020 verified signatures in support
of the Varela Project;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) calls on the Cuban government to provide its
citizens with internationally accepted standards for civil and
human rights, and the opportunity to vote in free and fair
elections;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) urges the President and his representatives to
take all appropriate steps to support the Varela Project and
any future efforts by the Cuban people to assert their
constitutional right to petition the National Assembly in
support of a referendum; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) urges the President to pursue an action-
oriented policy of directly assisting the Cuban people and
independent organizations to strengthen the forces of change
and to improve human rights in Cuba.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy
of this resolution to the President.</DELETED>
That the Senate--
(1) supports the constitutional right of the citizens of
Cuba who have signed the Varela Project to petition the Cuban
National Assembly for a referendum;
(2) calls on the Cuban National Assembly to give serious
consideration to the Varela Project petition in accordance with
Article 88 of the Cuban Constitution and to the holding of a
referendum on civil liberties, including freedom of speech, an
amnesty for political prisoners, support for private business,
a new electoral law, and a general election;
(3) praises the bravery of Oswaldo Paya and his colleagues
in collecting 11,020 verified signatures in support of the
Varela Project;
(4) calls on the Cuban government to provide its citizens
with internationally accepted standards for civil and human
rights, and the opportunity to vote in free and fair elections;
and
(5) urges the President to support the right of the
citizens of Cuba who have signed the Varela Project to petition
the Cuban National Assembly for a referendum and the peaceful
transition to democracy.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the President.
Calendar No. 403
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 272
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the success of the Varela
Project's collection of 10,000 certified signatures in support of a
national referendum and the delivery of these signatures to the Cuban
National Assembly.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 29, 2002
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble