[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 587 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 587

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
                 recent outbreak of violence in Kosovo.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 30, 2004

   Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Pitts, Mr. 
    Hastings of Florida, and Mr. Aderholt) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
                 recent outbreak of violence in Kosovo.

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) successfully intervened in 
        1999 to stop the continued, brutal repression of the Albanian population 
        of Kosovo by the regime of Slobodan Milosevic;
Whereas NATO has subsequently led a multinational peace operation in Kosovo, 
        known as KFOR, while the United Nations has deployed an international 
        civilian police force to enhance peace and security;
Whereas the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has 
        deployed a mission to help develop democratic institutions, including a 
        professional and multiethnic Kosovo Police Service, and encourage 
        respect for human rights;
Whereas the United States and the international community as a whole have called 
        for all parties to respect the terms of United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1244 (June 10, 1999) as the basis for progress in Kosovo;
Whereas the United Nations has developed benchmarks in Kosovo, progress in the 
        achievement of which would include increased respect for human rights 
        and adherence to the rule of law;
Whereas ethnic communities comprising the population of Kosovo, including an 
        Albanian majority and Serb, Romani, and several other minority 
        communities, have yet to reconcile their differences despite efforts by 
        the international community and several nongovernmental organizations;
Whereas the OSCE has issued several reports critical of the respect shown in 
        Kosovo for the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Whereas ethnic tensions remain high in Kosovo due to the lack of freedom of 
        movement, the inability of displaced persons to return to their homes, 
        and sporadic and recurring attacks on individuals, their property, and 
        particularly their places of worship;
Whereas separate and tragic incidents in Kosovo led to a massive outbreak of 
        violence on March 17, 2004, which has left dozens dead, hundreds 
        wounded, and thousands more displaced;
Whereas Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo have often been targeted for 
        attack, and in recent days several additional churches and monasteries 
        have been severely damaged or destroyed;
Whereas mosques in Serbia have also been attacked, damaged, or destroyed, in 
        apparent retaliation for the violence taking place against minority 
        populations in Kosovo;
Whereas this violence in Kosovo threatens the dialogue which has just been 
        established on issues of common concern, such as resolving the cases of 
        missing persons from the earlier conflict; and
Whereas it should be beneath the dignity of any individual who was persecuted or 
        otherwise suffered under the repressive regime of Slobodan Milosevic to 
        violate the human rights of others, to support the persecution or 
        repression of those belonging to other ethnic groups, or to encourage or 
        participate in their ethnic cleansing: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the outbreak of violence in Kosovo deserves the 
        strongest condemnation by the United States and the 
        international community, and all sides should refrain from 
        encouraging or engaging in any further violence;
            (2) the attacks on places of worship in Kosovo and in 
        various Serbian cities should be viewed as especially 
        reprehensible;
            (3) those who can be identified as responsible for acts of 
        violence should be brought to justice;
            (4) the elected leaders of Kosovo have a primary 
        responsibility to take action to stop any continuing violence, 
        to prevent future violence, and to encourage ethnic 
        reconciliation and respect for the rights of persons belonging 
        to minorities in Kosovo;
            (5) the presence of additional military forces in the NATO-
        led multinational peace operation in Kosovo, known as KFOR, as 
        decided by NATO with the support of the United States on March 
        18, 2004, is warranted and welcomed;
            (6) the international community should take necessary 
        measures to protect people and property facing the threat of 
        violence in Kosovo;
            (7) dialogue on issues of common concern in Kosovo, 
        including the resolution of missing persons cases, should 
        continue;
            (8) the benchmarks established by the United Nations 
        parallel the democratic standards established and encouraged by 
        participating states of the Organization for Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
            (9) the United States and the international community as a 
        whole should maintain an active and effective presence in 
        Kosovo not only until violence subsides but until there is 
        significant progress in meeting the benchmarks established by 
        the United Nations, including the return of displaced persons 
        and greater freedom of movement for all persons throughout 
        Kosovo; and
            (10) authorities in Serbia should maintain efforts to 
        protect people and property vulnerable to retaliatory violence.
                                 <all>