[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 283 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 283

 Recognizing the successful completion of democratic elections in the 
                         Republic of Colombia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 12, 2002

 Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. DeWine, Mr. McCain, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. 
 Miller, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Warner, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Cochran, 
Mr. Helms, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Reid, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Lugar, 
  Mr. Brownback, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Sessions) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the successful completion of democratic elections in the 
                         Republic of Colombia.

Whereas on May 26, 2002, the Republic of Colombia successfully completed 
        democratic multiparty elections for President and Vice President;
Whereas these elections were deemed by international and domestic observers, 
        including the United Nations and the Organization of American States, to 
        be free, fair, and a legitimate nonviolent expression of the will of the 
        people of the Republic of Colombia;
Whereas the United States has consistently supported the efforts of the people 
        of the Republic of Colombia to strengthen and continue their democracy;
Whereas the Senate notes the courage of the millions of citizens of the Republic 
        of Colombia that turned out to vote in order to freely and directly 
        express their opinion; and
Whereas these open, fair, and democratic elections of the new President and Vice 
        President of the Republic of Colombia, and the speedy posting of 
        election results, should be broadly commended: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the government and the people of the 
        Republic of Colombia for the successful completion of 
        democratic elections held on May 26, 2002, for President and 
        Vice President;
            (2) congratulates President-elect Alvaro Uribe Velez and 
        Vice President-elect Francisco Santos Calderon on their recent 
        victory and their continuing strong commitment to democracy, 
        national reconciliation, and reconstruction;
            (3) congratulates Colombian President Andres Pastrana, who 
        has been a strong ally of the United States, a long-standing 
        supporter of peace process negotiations, and a builder of 
        national unity in the Republic of Colombia, for his personal 
        commitment to democracy;
            (4) commends all Colombian citizens and political parties 
        for their efforts to work together to take risks for democracy 
        and to willfully pursue national reconciliation in order to 
        cement a lasting peace and to strengthen democratic traditions 
        in the Republic of Colombia;
            (5) supports Colombian attempts to--
                    (A) ensure democracy, national reconciliation, and 
                economic prosperity;
                    (B) support human rights and rule of law; and
                    (C) abide by all the essential elements of 
                representative democracy as enshrined in the Inter-
                American Democratic Charter, Organization of American 
                States, and United Nations principles;
            (6) encourages the government and people of the Republic of 
        Colombia to continue their struggle against the evils of 
        narcotics and all forms of terrorism;
            (7) encourages the government of the Republic of Colombia 
        to continue to promote--
                    (A) the professionalism of the Colombian Armed 
                Forces and Colombian National Police; and
                    (B) judicial and legal reforms; and
            (8) reaffirms that the United States is unequivocally 
        committed to encouraging and supporting democracy, human 
        rights, rule of law, and peaceful development in the Republic 
        of Colombia and throughout the Americas.
                                 <all>