[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 60 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 60

 Supporting democratic reform in Moldova and urging the Government of 
Moldova to ensure a democratic and fair election process for the March 
                   6, 2005, parliamentary elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 17, 2005

   Mr. McCain (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Biden) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting democratic reform in Moldova and urging the Government of 
Moldova to ensure a democratic and fair election process for the March 
                   6, 2005, parliamentary elections.

Whereas, on August 27, 1991, Moldova declared independence from the Soviet 
        Union;
Whereas parliaments were elected in Moldova in free and fair multiparty 
        elections during 1990, 1994, and 1998;
Whereas international observers stated that the May 2003 local elections for 
        mayors and regional councilors, despite scattered reports of 
        irregularities, were generally consistent with international election 
        standards;
Whereas Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working to advance 
        the expansion of political and economic freedom, has designated 
        Moldova's political environment as ``partly free'' and, using a scale of 
        1 to 7 (with 1 being the most free), assigned a rating of 3 for 
        political rights in Moldova and 4 for civil liberties in Moldova;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires a period of political 
        campaigning conducted in an environment in which administrative action, 
        violence, intimidation, or detention do not hinder the parties, 
        political associations, and candidates from presenting their views and 
        qualifications to potential voters;
Whereas, in a genuinely democratic election, parties and candidates are free to 
        organize supporters and conduct public meetings and events;
Whereas ensuring that parties and candidates enjoy unimpeded access to 
        television, radio, print, and Internet media on a nondiscriminatory 
        basis is fundamental to a free, fair, and democratic election;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires that citizens be guaranteed 
        the right and effective opportunity to exercise their civil and 
        political rights, including the right to vote and to seek and acquire 
        information upon which to make an informed vote in a manner that is free 
        from intimidation, undue influence, attempts at vote buying, threats of 
        political retribution, or other forms of coercion by national or local 
        authorities or others;
Whereas Moldova is scheduled to conduct parliamentary elections on March 6, 
        2005;
Whereas reports indicate that national and local officials in Moldova are 
        increasing their control and manipulation of the media as the election 
        date approaches;
Whereas there have been widespread reports of harassment of opposition 
        candidates and workers by the police in Moldova;
Whereas other reports indicate that intimidation of independent civil society 
        monitoring groups by authorities in Moldova is occurring on an 
        increasingly frequent basis;
Whereas such actions are inconsistent with Moldova's history of the holding of 
        free and fair elections and raise grave concerns regarding the 
        commitment of the authorities in Moldova to conducting free and fair 
        elections;
Whereas the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 6, 2005 will provide a 
        test of the extent to which the Government of Moldova is committed to 
        democracy, free elections, and the rule of law; and
Whereas the holding of truly free and fair elections in Moldova, including a 
        free and democratic campaign preceding an election, are vital to 
        improving the relationship between Moldova and the United States and to 
        the United States providing support for resolution of the Transnistria 
        conflict and for the provision of assistance to Moldova through the 
        Millennium Challenge Account: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) acknowledges and welcomes the strong relationship 
        formed between the United States and Moldova since Moldova 
        declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991;
            (2) recognizes that a precondition for the full integration 
        of Moldova into the Western community of nations is the 
        establishment of a genuinely democratic political system in 
        Moldova;
            (3) supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
        integrity of Moldova;
            (4) encourages all political parties in Moldova to offer 
        genuine solutions to the serious problems that face Moldova, 
        including human trafficking, corruption, unemployment, and 
        territorial issues;
            (5) expresses its strong and continuing support for the 
        efforts of the people of Moldova to establish full democracy, 
        including the rule of law and respect for human rights;
            (6) urges the Government of Moldova to meet its commitments 
        to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
        (OSCE) for the holding of democratic elections;
            (7) urges the Government of Moldova to ensure--
                    (A) the full transparency of election procedures 
                before, during, and after the parliamentary elections 
                scheduled to be held on March 6, 2005;
                    (B) the right to vote for all citizens of Moldova;
                    (C) unimpeded access by all parties and candidates 
                to print, radio, television, and Internet media on a 
                nondiscriminatory basis; and
                    (D) the right of opposition candidates and workers 
                to engage in campaigning free of harassment, 
                discrimination, and intimidation; and
            (8) pledges its enduring support and assistance to the 
        people of Moldova for the establishment of a fully free and 
        open democratic system that is free from coercion, the creation 
        of a prosperous free market economy, the establishment of a 
        secure independence, and Moldova's assumption of its rightful 
        place as a full and equal member of the Western community of 
        democracies.
                                 <all>