[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 172 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 172

Expressing the condemnation of the House of Representatives on the one 
year anniversary of ethnic violence in Kosovo that occurred on March 17 
and 18, 2004, and expressing condolences to the families of individuals 
                      who were killed or injured.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2005

  Mr. Burton of Indiana (for himself, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. 
Franks of Arizona, Mr. Chabot, and Ms. Watson) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the condemnation of the House of Representatives on the one 
year anniversary of ethnic violence in Kosovo that occurred on March 17 
and 18, 2004, and expressing condolences to the families of individuals 
                      who were killed or injured.

Whereas ethnic violence erupted in Kosovo on March 17, 2004, involving over 
        50,000 individuals in at least 30 separate incidents, which claimed the 
        lives of 19 civilians and injured over 900 persons, including 
        international peacekeepers and members of the clergy, and displaced more 
        than 4,000 persons, mainly Serbs, from their homes;
Whereas according to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, ethnic violence 
        resulted in the destruction or serious damage of more than 900 houses 
        and 150 vehicles belonging to Kosovar Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, and other 
        minorities;
Whereas ethnic violence was directed toward the centers of cultural and 
        religious life of Kosovo's minority communities, resulting in the 
        desecration of approximately 36 churches and monasteries, many centuries 
        old;
Whereas the ethnic violence and destruction only subsided after the intervention 
        of particular members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-
        led peacekeeping force (KFOR);
Whereas a stable, secure, and functioning multi-ethnic society is in the best 
        interest of all people in Kosovo, the Balkans, the broader region of 
        Southeast Europe, and the world; and
Whereas it is essential that the political leaders in Kosovo and Serbia and 
        Montenegro support efforts to establish an environment in which all 
        people have the freedom of movement and the ability to live free from 
        fear and persecution: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses condemnation of ethnic violence which 
        occurred in Kosovo on March 17 and 18, 2004;
            (2) expresses its deep condolences to the families of 
        individuals who were killed or injured in last year's violence;
            (3) condemns the use of ethnic violence as a form of 
        terrorism to achieve political ends; and
            (4) encourages all political leaders in Kosovo and Serbia 
        and Montenegro to renounce the use of violence and proceed with 
        efforts to establish a secure, peaceful, multiethnic, and 
        stable society which protects the rights of all people and 
        those internally displaced, who have the right to return to 
        their homes and villages.
                                 <all>