[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 19 Referred in House (RFH)]


109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 19


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2005

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th 
                 anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.

Whereas August 1, 2005, is the 30th anniversary of the Final Act of the 
        Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), renamed the 
        Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 
        1995 (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the ``Helsinki Final 
        Act'');
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act was the first international agreement to accord 
        human rights the status of a fundamental principle in regulating 
        international relations;
Whereas, during the Communist era, members of nongovernmental organizations, 
        such as the Helsinki Monitoring Groups in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, 
        Georgia, and Armenia and similar groups in Czechoslovakia and Poland, 
        sacrificed their personal freedom and even their lives in their 
        courageous and vocal support for the principles enshrined in the 
        Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the Helsinki Final Act by 
        creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor 
        and encourage compliance with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the participating States 
        in the OSCE (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the 
        ``participating States'') declared that ``[h]uman rights and fundamental 
        freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, are inalienable and are 
        guaranteed by law'' and that ``[t]heir protection and promotion is the 
        first responsibility of government'';

Whereas, in the 1991 Document of the Moscow Meeting of the Conference on the 
        Human Dimension of the CSCE, the participating States ``categorically 
        and irrevocably declare[d] that the commitments undertaken in the field 
        of the human dimension of the CSCE are matters of direct and legitimate 
        concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the 
        internal affairs of the State concerned'';
Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the participating States 
        committed themselves ``to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as 
        the only system of government of our nations'';
Whereas the pro-democracy revolution in Serbia in 2000, the Rose Revolution in 
        Georgia in 2003, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004, and the 
        popular revolution in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 demonstrate the primacy of 
        popular sovereignty and the importance of OSCE commitments on free and 
        fair elections;
Whereas the OSCE and the participating States have undertaken a series of 
        measures aimed at combating anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and 
        discrimination and should report on related progress during the OSCE 
        Conference on anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance in 
        Cordoba, Spain, in June 2005;
Whereas the 1999 Istanbul OSCE Charter for European Security and the November 
        19, 1999, Istanbul Summit Declaration note the particular challenges of 
        ending violence against women and children as well as sexual 
        exploitation and all forms of trafficking in human beings, and commit 
        the participating States to strengthen efforts to combat corruption, 
        eradicate torture, and end discrimination against Roma;
Whereas the main challenge facing the participating States remains the 
        implementation of the principles and commitments contained in the 
        Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE documents adopted on the basis of 
        consensus;
Whereas the participating States have recognized that economic liberty, social 
        justice, and environmental responsibility are indispensable to 
        prosperity;
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to promoting economic 
        reforms through enhanced transparency for economic activity, with the 
        aim of advancing the principles of market economies;
Whereas the participating States have stressed the importance of respect for the 
        rule of law and vigorous efforts to fight organized crime and 
        corruption, which constitute a great threat to economic reform and 
        prosperity;
Whereas OSCE has expanded the scope and substance of its efforts, undertaking a 
        variety of preventive diplomacy initiatives designed to prevent, manage, 
        and resolve conflict within and among the participating States;
Whereas the politico-military aspects of security remain vital to the interests 
        of the participating States and constitute a core element of OSCE's 
        concept of comprehensive security;
Whereas the OSCE has played an increasingly active role in civilian police-
        related activities, including training, as an integral part of OSCE's 
        efforts in conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict 
        rehabilitation; and
Whereas the participating States bear primary responsibility for raising 
        awareness of violations of commitments contained in the Helsinki Final 
        Act and other OSCE documents: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress calls upon the 
President--
            (1) to issue a proclamation--
                    (A) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the signing 
                of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and 
                Cooperation in Europe;
                    (B) reasserting the commitment of the United States 
                to full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act;
                    (C) urging all participating States to abide by 
                their obligations under the Helsinki Final Act; and
                    (D) encouraging the people of the United States to 
                join the President and Congress in observance of this 
                anniversary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
                activities; and
            (2) to convey to all signatories of the Helsinki Final Act 
        that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
        democratic principles, economic liberty, and the implementation 
        of related commitments continue to be vital elements in 
        promoting a new era of democracy, peace, and unity in the 
        region covered by the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
        in Europe.

            Passed the Senate July 27, 2005.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.