[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 111 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 111

 Urging the United States to increase its efforts to ensure democratic 
                     reform in the Kyrgyz Republic.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 15, 2005

Mr. Lugar submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging the United States to increase its efforts to ensure democratic 
                     reform in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Whereas on August 31, 1991, the Kyrgyz Republic declared independence from the 
        Soviet Union;
Whereas the Kyrgyz Republic was ruled by President Askar Akayev from October 
        1991 to April 2005;
Whereas the Kyrgyz Republic held a first round of parliamentary elections on 
        February 27, 2005;
Whereas the United States Government recognized several areas of improvement in 
        the parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic, including 
        competitive elections and the active participation of civil society, but 
        it noted the elections fell short of the commitments of the Kyrgyz 
        Republic to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
        (OSCE) and other international entities to fully meet the accepted 
        criteria for democratic elections;
Whereas nation-wide demonstrations sparked by the flawed parliamentary elections 
        in the Kyrgyz Republic led to the departure of President Akayev and the 
        collapse of his government on March 22, 2005;
Whereas Askar Akayev officially resigned as President of the Kyrgyz Republic on 
        April 4, 2005;
Whereas the Kyrgyz people, through their actions, have created an opportunity 
        for a democratic and stable future for the Kyrgyz Republic;
Whereas the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic can earn the confidence of 
        the Kyrgyz people and the international community by abiding by its 
        commitment to hold free and fair presidential elections on July 10, 
        2005, and by ensuring that the members of the new parliament in the 
        Kyrgyz Republic represent the choice of the Kyrgyz people;
Whereas the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic can move towards resolving 
        the political crisis in the Kyrgyz Republic in a way that confirms the 
        will of the Kyrgyz people by working closely with its immediate 
        neighbors and with the OSCE;
Whereas the United States strongly supports efforts by the OSCE to work with the 
        Kyrgyz people to strengthen democratic institutions in the Kyrgyz 
        Republic, which will provide the foundation for political stability in 
        the Kyrgyz Republic;
Whereas the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic value a good relationship;
Whereas the United States provides humanitarian assistance, nonlethal military 
        assistance, and assistance to support economic and political reforms as 
        part of the democratic transition process in the Kyrgyz Republic; and
Whereas security in the Kyrgyz Republic remains a top concern of the United 
        States due to its strong support of the United States in the global war 
        on terrorism: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes the official resignation of Askar Akayev as 
        President of the Kyrgyz Republic;
            (2) acknowledges and welcomes the close relationship formed 
        between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic since it 
        declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991;
            (3) supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
        integrity of the Kyrgyz Republic;
            (4) urges the continuation of strong support for democratic 
        reform, including respect for the rule of law and human rights, 
        in the Kyrgyz Republic;
            (5) urges the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic to 
        move swiftly toward the democratic government ratified by the 
        Kyrgyz people by holding free, fair, and transparent 
        presidential elections on July 10, 2005, and by ensuring that 
        the new parliament in the Kyrgyz Republic represents the choice 
        of the Kyrgyz people; and
            (6) urges the people of the Kyrgyz Republic to take 
        advantage of the readiness of the Organization for Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to expand its assistance in 
        preparing for free and fair presidential elections in the 
        Kyrgyz Republic as the foundation of political legitimacy and 
        stability in the Kyrgyz Republic.
                                 <all>