[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 22 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 22


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 12, 2003

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
            Honoring Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel.

Whereas Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, is widely respected 
        throughout the world as a proponent of democratic principles;
Whereas Vaclav Havel's superb skills as a playwright and essayist helped promote 
        democracy in Eastern Europe during the Cold War;
Whereas the plays of Vaclav Havel were instrumental in bringing international 
        attention to the struggle for democracy in Czechoslovakia;
Whereas Vaclav Havel was imprisoned three times for his efforts to promote 
        democratic thought and reforms in communist Czechoslovakia, yet 
        maintained his convictions throughout;
Whereas Vaclav Havel was a cofounder of the human rights organization Charter 77 
        and the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Prosecuted;
Whereas Vaclav Havel, as leader of the Civic Forum movement, was a key figure in 
        the 1989 bloodless overthrow of the Czechoslovakian communist government 
        known as the Velvet Revolution;
Whereas following the Velvet Revolution, Vaclav Havel was elected by the people 
        as President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in 1990, and 
        following a peaceful split forming two separate states, elected 
        President of the Czech Republic in 1993;
Whereas under the leadership of Vaclav Havel, the Czech Republic has been an 
        important and valued member of the world community;
Whereas under the leadership of Vaclav Havel, the Czech Republic became a member 
        of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on March 12, 1999;
Whereas during Vaclav Havel's time in office, the economy of the Czech Republic 
        has become one of the most developed in Eastern Europe;
Whereas today, the Czech Republic is a valuable ally of the United States in the 
        war against terrorism;
Whereas Vaclav Havel has been praised as one of the world's great democratic 
        leaders and has been awarded many international prizes recognizing his 
        commitment to peace and democratic principles; and
Whereas Vaclav Havel will step down as President of the Czech Republic on 
        February 2, 2003: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) honors the life-long commitment of Czech Republic 
        President Vaclav Havel to human rights and democracy;
            (2) recognizes the exceptional achievements of Vaclav Havel 
        as playwright and president; and
            (3) congratulates Vaclav Havel for his outstanding service 
        to the people of the Czech Republic.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 11, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.