[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 726 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 726

   Congratulating the people of Serbia and government of Serbia for 
 conducting a democratic, free and fair presidential election and for 
 reaffirming Serbia's commitment to peace, democracy, and the rule of 
                                  law.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 19, 2004

 Mr. Bereuter (for himself, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Wexler, and Mr. Burton of 
Indiana) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Congratulating the people of Serbia and government of Serbia for 
 conducting a democratic, free and fair presidential election and for 
 reaffirming Serbia's commitment to peace, democracy, and the rule of 
                                  law.

Whereas the democratic revolution in Serbia on October 5, 2000, resulted in the 
        overthrow of President Slobodan Milosevic;
Whereas the Prime Minister of Serbia, Zoran Djindjic, a leader of the Democratic 
        Party, was assassinated in March 2003, threatening Serbia's democratic 
        reforms;
Whereas Mr. Boris Tadic, a close friend and colleague of Mr. Djindjic, was 
        elected President of Serbia on June 27, 2004, by a majority of Serbian 
        voters who chose his path of reform and opportunity over radicalism, 
        isolation, and conflict;
Whereas, as Minister of Defense of the Government of Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. 
        Tadic demonstrated courage, composure, dignity, and wisdom during the 
        outbreak of ethnic violence in Kosovo between March 17-19, 2004, by not 
        deploying Serbian military forces in reaction to the violence and by 
        working with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Kosovo Force 
        (KFOR) to resolve the crisis;
Whereas, as Minister of Defense of the Government of Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. 
        Tadic achieved significant reforms of the Serbian military and security 
        organizations;
Whereas the 2004 presidential election in Serbia signifies a turning point for 
        Serbia and offers hope and opportunity to the Serbian people;
Whereas President Tadic has affirmed that full cooperation with the 
        International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is a 
        pre-condition for Serbia's political and economic integration with the 
        West; and
Whereas Serbia and the Serbian people remain committed to democratic reforms and 
        the path toward regional cooperation and integration into Europe and 
        Euro-Atlantic institutions, including the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU): Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the people of Serbia and the government of 
        Serbia for conducting a democratic, free and fair presidential 
        election;
            (2) supports continued democratic reforms in Serbia and 
        urges President Tadic and Prime Minister Kostunica to continue 
        the reform processes begun in October 2000; and
            (3) recognizes the importance of strengthening regional 
        stability and democracy in the Balkans and encourages and 
        supports the integration of Serbia and Montenegro into Euro-
        Atlantic institutions.
                                 <all>