[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 37 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 37

 Commending the people and the Governments of the Hashemite Kingdom of 
 Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of 
Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of 
   Yemen for their political and economic liberalization efforts and 
  expressing hope that progress will continue and that the efforts of 
    these countries will serve as a model for other Arab countries.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2005

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself and Mr. Ackerman) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the people and the Governments of the Hashemite Kingdom of 
 Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of 
Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of 
   Yemen for their political and economic liberalization efforts and 
  expressing hope that progress will continue and that the efforts of 
    these countries will serve as a model for other Arab countries.

Whereas the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of 
        Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, 
        and the Republic of Yemen are taking steps towards political and 
        economic liberalization;
Whereas progress toward democracy and pluralism is promoted and supported by 
        both the leaders and populations of these countries;
Whereas these countries have also been expanding economic ties with the United 
        States through Trade and Investment Framework Agreements and Free Trade 
        Agreements that promote economic modernization and transparency;
Whereas, in June 2003, after a two-year suspension of Parliament, Jordan held 
        parliamentary elections;
Whereas the parliamentary elections were the first elections to be held during 
        the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of 
        Jordan, and they were conducted in an orderly and transparent manner;
Whereas municipal elections for the Jordanian capital city of Amman were held in 
        July 2003, and other local councils' elections were held in September 
        2003;
Whereas Jordan has placed great emphasis in recent years on the rights of women 
        to vote and run for public office, ensuring that six seats in the 
        Jordanian House of Deputies are reserved for female candidates over and 
        above any seats freely won in the elections;
Whereas in a speech to the Jordanian parliament in December 2003, King Abdullah 
        II called for ``radical changes'' designed to turn Jordan into a 
        ``modern, democratic country'', and announced five goals:

    (1) increasing integrity and transparency in governance;

    (2) increasing participation of young people and women in the political 
process;

    (3) promoting a culture of democracy;

    (4) establishing an independent judiciary and independent media; and

    (5) involving the private sector in business development and social 
reform;

Whereas the Government of Jordan recently created the Ministry of Political 
        Development and Parliamentary Affairs, with the goal of promoting 
        democracy through building and strengthening democratic institutions in 
        Jordan, including the parliament and the judicial system, as well as the 
        legislative and regulatory frameworks in which they operate;
Whereas the National Center for Human Rights was established in 2002 by King 
        Abdullah II, but it now operates as an autonomous entity promoting human 
        rights as an integral part of political reform efforts under way in 
        Jordan;
Whereas an independent Higher Media Council has been created, independent 
        administrative bodies, such as the Board of Directors of the Radio and 
        Television Corporation, have been formed, the Government of Jordan has 
        sold its shares in the daily newspapers, and laws have been passed to 
        allow private television and radio stations to operate in Jordan;
Whereas Jordan and the United States signed a Free Trade Agreement that went 
        into effect in December 2001;
Whereas in an April 2002 address at a meeting held with the Speaker of the House 
        of Representatives and other House Members, His Majesty King Mohammed 
        VI, King of Morocco, stated that he is committed to the ``promotion of 
        human rights, a better distribution of wealth, the perfecting of women's 
        integration in our society, the consolidation of democracy and the 
        enlargement of regions' powers'';
Whereas at a 2003 international parliamentary conference in New Delhi, the 
        Speaker of the Moroccan Chamber of Representatives said that democratic 
        culture is the best shield against extremism, hatred, and confrontation, 
        and is also the best means to ensure social change within peace, 
        security, and stability in the same society and in the world at large;
Whereas the September 2002 election for the 325-seat Chamber of Representatives, 
        the lower house chosen by universal suffrage, was deemed the first free, 
        fair, and transparent election ever held in Morocco and a milestone on 
        the path of democratization;
Whereas, in the September 2002 election, the election of 35 women legislators 
        (30 to reserved seats) established an important precedent;
Whereas in January 2004, both houses of the parliament unanimously approved 
        legislation that established full equality between men and women in 
        Morocco, and set an equal minimum age of marriage, established equal 
        prerogative to initiate divorce, and, in general, ensured better 
        protection of the rights of women and children;
Whereas, in January 2003, King Mohammed VI formally inaugurated the Equity and 
        Reconciliation Commission to ensure the protection of basic human rights 
        for all Moroccans and to provide compensation to victims of past human 
        rights violations;
Whereas Morocco's outspoken press, vibrant civil society, and recently reformed 
        family code are among the region's bright spots in terms of human 
        rights;
Whereas, on September 14, 2004, the United States and Morocco signed a Free 
        Trade Agreement;
Whereas the Government of Bahrain is demonstrating its commitment to acquiring 
        the consent of the people it governs by nurturing a democratic political 
        culture;
Whereas, in February 2002, the people of Bahrain accepted, by referendum, a 
        ``National Action Charter'' that established procedures for the election 
        of a 40-member national assembly;
Whereas, in 2002, Bahrain extended full suffrage to women, and women then voted 
        and ran for office in the subsequent parliamentary and municipal 
        elections;
Whereas Bahrain conducted parliamentary elections in October 2002, the first 
        since 1973, and municipal elections were conducted in May 2002, the 
        first since 1957;
Whereas the Government of Bahrain has announced that it would accept the 
        legalization of political parties, which would potentially make Bahrain 
        the first Gulf country to allow them;
Whereas His Majesty Hamad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of 
        Bahrain, has released political prisoners and allowed exiles to return, 
        has abolished emergency laws and courts, and has eased restrictions on 
        freedom of expression and freedom of association;
Whereas the Government of Bahrain has allowed the establishment of dozens of 
        advocacy associations but, in September 2004, the Government ordered the 
        closure of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, following the arrest of 
        the organization's vice-president, Abd al-Hadi al-Khawaja, after he 
        publicly criticized the prime minister;
Whereas, in May 2004, Bahrain concluded negotiations with the United States for 
        the establishment of a Free Trade Agreement;
Whereas, in 1963, Kuwait became the first Gulf country to hold elections;
Whereas Kuwait revived its elected National Assembly in October 1992 after six 
        years of suspension or occupation;
Whereas Kuwait's National Assembly allows those with the right to vote, through 
        their elected representatives, to force the resignation of government 
        ministers and overturn government decrees;
Whereas, in July 2003, Kuwait held parliamentary elections that were largely 
        free and fair with the next elections scheduled to be held in 2007;
Whereas, in 2004, His Highness Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad Al Sabah, Amir of the State 
        of Kuwait separated the offices of Prime Minister and Crown Prince in an 
        effort to establish greater political accountability;
Whereas, in May 2004, the Government of Kuwait embarked on a renewed effort to 
        extend voting rights to women, which had previously been blocked by the 
        Parliament;
Whereas, in February 2004, Kuwait and the United States signed a Trade and 
        Investment Framework Agreement;
Whereas, in late 1998, His Highness Sheikh Haman Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of 
        the State of Qatar, announced that a constitution would be drafted 
        providing for an elected National Assembly to replace the appointed 35-
        member Consultative Council in place since independence in 1971;
Whereas, in March 1999, women for the first time participated in Qatar's 
        elections for a municipal affairs council, and thus Qatar became the 
        first country in the Gulf to extend suffrage to women;
Whereas, in 2002, countrywide municipal elections were held in Qatar and women 
        participated fully;
Whereas, in 2003, Qatar approved a new constitution by referendum which ensures 
        freedom of political expression, freedom of association, and freedom of 
        religion, and included the establishment of a 45-member parliament (with 
        30 members to be elected and 15 members to be appointed by the Amir of 
        Qatar);
Whereas, on June 8, 2004, the Amir of Qatar announced that the new constitution 
        will come into effect on June 8, 2005, and country-wide parliamentary 
        elections will be held later that year;
Whereas, in June 2004, Qatar hosted a gathering of more than 100 civil society 
        activists, professors, journalists, and political party members from 
        across the region that produced ``The Doha Declaration for Democracy and 
        Reform'', which demands that all Arab countries adopt modern, democratic 
        constitutions, hold free, fair and regular elections, place limits on 
        executive power, guarantee freedom of association and freedom of 
        expression, permit the full participation of women in political life, 
        and end extra-judicial procedures, emergency laws, and torture;
Whereas, in March 2004, Qatar and the United States signed a Trade and 
        Investment Framework Agreement;
Whereas, in September 2000, Oman held the first direct elections to its 83-seat 
        Consultative Council;
Whereas, in November 2002, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of the 
        Sultanate of Oman, announced the extension of voting rights to all 
        citizens over 21 years of age, beginning with the October 2003 
        parliamentary elections;
Whereas women voted in the 2003 parliamentary elections and two female 
        representatives were elected to the Majlis al-Shura;
Whereas, in September 1999, Sultan Qaboos appointed a female ambassador for the 
        first time, and in March 2003, he named a woman to the rank of minister;
Whereas, on July 7, 2004, the United States and Oman signed a Trade and 
        Investment Framework Agreement;
Whereas the Government of the Republic of Yemen, in economic terms the least 
        developed country on the Arabian peninsula and largely lacking natural 
        resources, is making an important effort to support political, 
        educational, and economic reform;
Whereas, in January 2004, in a speech to the Sana'a Inter-Governmental Regional 
        conference, His Excellency Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic 
        of Yemen, stated ``Democracy is the choice of the modern age for all 
        peoples of the world . . . It is the way to achieve security, stability, 
        development and better future for our countries . . . Human rights are 
        tightly connected to democracy and the state of law and order.'';
Whereas, in April 2003, elections described as ``mostly free and fair'' were 
        held for Yemen's House of Representatives;
Whereas President Saleh has aggressively recruited women into most areas of the 
        government and supports the inclusion of women in the public sphere, 
        with women having been elected to parliament positions and to the 
        cabinet;
Whereas the Government of Yemen has continued a long-term program of judicial 
        reform, with Yemen's Minister of Justice and other jurists participating 
        actively in the Arab Judicial Reform project of the Middle East 
        Partnership Initiative;
Whereas the Government of Yemen is working with the World Bank on the Basic 
        Education Development Project to help improve the quality of education 
        and ensure universal access to education;
Whereas, in February 2004, the Government of Yemen and the United States signed 
        a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement;
Whereas despite the need for further progress toward political and economic 
        openness in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the 
        Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the 
        Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen, other countries in the 
        region should take steps to follow their example and initiate concrete 
        reforms;
Whereas the Department of State report entitled ``Supporting Human Rights and 
        Democracy: The United States Record 2003-2004'' states: ``Despite . . . 
        promising steps toward greater political participation and respect for 
        fundamental freedoms in some Middle Eastern countries, the overall 
        trends in the region are cause for concern.'';
Whereas the Department of State report further states: ``The United States 
        continues in its private and public diplomacy efforts to support 
        political reform, economic growth and respect for human rights and 
        fundamental freedoms in the Middle East. To reinforce our diplomatic 
        efforts, the United States has also begun to sponsor programs that 
        strengthen the role of independent journalists and trade unions, 
        increase respect and safeguards for the rule of law, strengthen public 
        participation in the political process, improve the status of women and 
        promote a regional dialogue on democracy for members of NGOs and 
        governments.'';
Whereas, in 2002, the Middle East Partnership Initiative was created to 
        encourage reforms in Arab countries by strengthening Arab civil society, 
        encouraging micro-enterprise, expanding political participation, and 
        promoting the rights of women;
Whereas, in 2003, President George W. Bush proposed the creation within a decade 
        of a United States-Middle East Free Trade Area, by working with 
        countries in the Middle East in graduated steps to increase trade and 
        investment with the United States and the world economy and to assist 
        those countries in implementing domestic reforms, instituting the rule 
        of law, protecting private property rights, and creating a foundation 
        for economic growth and prosperity;
Whereas, in June 2004, at the G-8 Summit meeting in Sea Island, Georgia, Western 
        and Arab officials participated in the unveiling of the ``Broader Middle 
        East and North Africa Initiative'', a multilateral development and 
        reform plan aimed at fostering economic and political liberalization;
Whereas United States policy, as articulated by President Bush, is to pursue a 
        ``forward strategy of freedom'' to promote democracy throughout the 
        Middle East;
Whereas the 9/11 Commission Report stated that the United States must engage in 
        the struggle of ideas, that ``a comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter 
        terrorism should include economic policies that encourage development, 
        more open societies, and opportunities for people to improve the lives 
        of their families . . .'', and that ``It is among the large majority of 
        Arabs and Muslims that we must encourage reform, freedom, democracy, and 
        opportunity . . .''; and
Whereas congressional-parliamentary discussions can help promote understanding 
        between the United States and Arab and Muslim countries engaged in 
        genuine political and economic reforms and provide a mechanism for 
        communication and cooperation on issues of mutual interest and concern: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the peoples and the Governments of the 
        Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the 
        Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, 
        the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen for their 
        progress toward political and economic liberalization;
            (2) expresses its hope that progress toward democratization 
        in Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Yemen 
        will continue to thrive and that the efforts of these countries 
        will serve as a model for other Arab countries;
            (3) reaffirms the friendship that exists between the people 
        of the United States and the peoples of Jordan, Morocco, 
        Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Yemen;
            (4) offers to assist these countries in their future 
        challenges of reform so that democracy and freedom are able to 
        prosper and flourish; and
            (5) supports enhancing congressional-parliamentary 
        exchanges with Arab and Muslim countries.
                                 <all>