[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 266 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 266

 Expressing the sense of Congress that Cote d'Ivoire be encouraged and 
   supported by the United States in its efforts to hold democratic 
                   elections in the very near future.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 7, 2005

  Mr. Towns submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress that Cote d'Ivoire be encouraged and 
   supported by the United States in its efforts to hold democratic 
                   elections in the very near future.

Whereas a fundamental tenet of America's foreign policy is to promote democracy 
        throughout the world;
Whereas in his inaugural address earlier this year President Bush pledged to 
        ``seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions 
        in every nation and culture'';
Whereas today, the United States has an opportunity--an obligation--to affirm 
        democracy and democratic principles in another country, Cote d'Ivoire;
Whereas this strong U.S. ally is facing calls by Secretary-General Annan to 
        postpone indefinitely its presidential election;
Whereas Cote d'Ivoire today is hampered by a brutal campaign of fear and 
        intimidation being carried out by anti-government rebel forces. These 
        forces have consistently flouted demands by the United Nations to 
        disarm, and postponing the election would mean a great victory for these 
        forces;
Whereas the rebel behavior stands in stark contrast to that of President Laurent 
        Gbagbo, a committed democrat and U.S. ally. President Gbagbo has been 
        certified by South African president Thabo Mbeki as having met every 
        term of the peace accord that was agreed to this past April;
Whereas since September 19, 2002 the northern half of the country has been held 
        by a well-armed, self-appointed rebel movement that has been elevated to 
        a political status that was not achieved through the ballot box;
Whereas, in contrast, from the beginning, since October 28, 2002, President 
        Laurent Gbagbo, a democratically elected president, has met with and 
        negotiated with all interested parties, including those in the rebel 
        movement;
Whereas, over the past two years, President Gbagbo has acceded to every 
        compromise asked of him by the international mediators in the crisis, 
        granting amnesties, implementing cease-fires, appointing rebel 
        representatives to a cabinet of national unity, and most recently--at 
        the prompting of the African Union's mediator, South Africa's President 
        Thabo Mbeki--amending the Ivorian constitution in line with rebel 
        demands on presidential eligibility so as to remove their last stated 
        excuse for pursuing the path of violence;
Whereas it is time for the international community to acknowledge the failure of 
        the peace process, and take steps to end the violations of the peace 
        undertakings; and
Whereas the issues in Cote d'Ivoire have implications throughout the world. 
        Democratic leaders, in the model of President Gbagbo, need to know that 
        democracy will be supported when it is under siege. Similarly, terrorist 
        and rebel forces--regardless of country--need to know they will be 
        resisted: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress, along with the Bush Administration, reject this call for 
postponement of the elections and that the United States commit the 
resources that are necessary to ensure the country can hold its 
elections on the earliest possible date.
                                 <all>