[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 155 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 155

  Urging the Government of the Republic of Albania to ensure that the 
 parliamentary elections to be held on July 3, 2005, are conducted in 
  accordance with international standards for free and fair elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2005

   Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Engel) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Urging the Government of the Republic of Albania to ensure that the 
 parliamentary elections to be held on July 3, 2005, are conducted in 
  accordance with international standards for free and fair elections.

Whereas the United States maintains strong and friendly relations with the 
        Republic of Albania and appreciates the ongoing support of the people of 
        Albania;
Whereas the President of Albania has called for elections to Albania's 
        parliament, known as the People's Assembly, to be held on July 3, 2005;
Whereas Albania is one of 55 participating States in the Organization for 
        Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), all of which have adopted the 
        1990 Copenhagen Document containing specific commitments relating to the 
        conduct of elections;
Whereas these commitments, which encourage transparency, balance, and 
        impartiality in an election process, have become the standard by which 
        observers determine whether elections have been conducted freely and 
        fairly;
Whereas, though improvements over time have been noted, the five multiparty 
        parliamentary elections held in Albania between 1991 and 2001, as well 
        as elections for local offices held between and after those years, fell 
        short of the standards in the Copenhagen Document to varying degrees, 
        according to OSCE and other observers;
Whereas with OSCE and other international assistance, the Government of Albania 
        has improved the country's electoral and legal framework and enhanced 
        the capacity to conduct free and fair elections;
Whereas subsequent to the calling of elections, Albania's political parties have 
        accepted a code of conduct regarding their campaign activities, 
        undertaking to act in accordance with the law, to refrain from inciting 
        violence or hatred in the election campaign, and to be transparent in 
        disclosing campaign funding; and
Whereas meeting the standards in the Copenhagen Document for free and fair 
        elections is absolutely essential to Albania's desired integration into 
        European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, including full membership in 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as to Albania's 
        progress in addressing official corruption and combatting organized 
        crime: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) welcomes the opportunity for the Republic of Albania to 
        demonstrate its willingness and preparedness to take the next 
        steps in European and Euro-Atlantic integration by holding 
        parliamentary elections on July 3, 2005, that meet the 
        Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 
        standards for free and fair elections as defined in the 1990 
        Copenhagen Document;
            (2) firmly believes that the citizens of Albania, like all 
        people, should be able to choose their own representatives in 
        parliament and government in free and fair elections, and to 
        hold these representatives accountable through elections at 
        reasonable intervals;
            (3) supports commitments by Albanian political parties to 
        adhere to a basic code of conduct for campaigning and urges 
        such parties and all election officials in Albania to adhere to 
        laws relating to the elections, and to conduct their activities 
        in an impartial and transparent manner, by allowing 
        international and domestic observers to have unobstructed 
        access to all aspects of the election process, including public 
        campaign events, candidates, news media, voting, and post-
        election tabulation of results and processing of election 
        challenges and complaints;
            (4) supports assistance by the United States to help the 
        people of Albania establish a fully free and open democratic 
        system, a prosperous free market economy, and its rightful 
        place in European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, including the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and
            (5) encourages the President to communicate to the 
        Government of Albania, to all political parties and candidates, 
        and to the people of Albania the high importance attached by 
        the Government of the United States to this parliamentary 
        election as a central factor in determining the future 
        relationship between the United States and Albania.
                                 <all>