[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1198 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1198

   Commending the people of the Montenegro on holding free and fair 
  presidential elections on April 6, 2008, the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization's decision at the Bucharest Summit to invite Montenegro to 
   enter into an Intensified Dialogue, and the reforms and progress 
    undertaken by Montenegro since its declaration of independence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 14, 2008

   Mr. Gallegly (for himself and Mr. Wexler) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Commending the people of the Montenegro on holding free and fair 
  presidential elections on April 6, 2008, the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization's decision at the Bucharest Summit to invite Montenegro to 
   enter into an Intensified Dialogue, and the reforms and progress 
    undertaken by Montenegro since its declaration of independence.

Whereas the election of the President of Montenegro was held on April 6, 2008;
Whereas this was the first presidential election since Montenegro gained its 
        independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006;
Whereas the incumbent, President Filip Vujanovic, was re-elected in a free and 
        fair election and in accordance with international standards;
Whereas the conduct of these elections provide further evidence that the people 
        of Montenegro are building a democratic society based on free elections, 
        human rights, and the rule of law;
Whereas Montenegro is one of 56 participating states in the Organization for 
        Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), all of which have adopted the 
        1990 Copenhagen Document containing specific commitments relating to the 
        conduct of elections;
Whereas the OSCE-led International Observation Mission deemed the election to be 
        basically in accordance with the 1990 Copenhagen Document and respected 
        the fundamental and civil rights, such as freedom of expression and 
        assembly, allowing voters to make informed choices;
Whereas democratic elections are instrumental in furthering Montenegro's 
        integration into the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO);
Whereas Montenegro was invited to join NATO's Partnership for Peace program on 
        November 30, 2006, and has successfully cooperated with NATO on 
        democratic, institutional, and defense reforms;
Whereas at the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, from April 2-4, 2008, 
        Montenegro was invited to begin an Intensified Dialogue with NATO, 
        representing an important step towards full membership;
Whereas Montenegro, as part of its Intensified Dialogue with NATO, has committed 
        to improving its cooperation with NATO on the full range of political, 
        military, financial, and security issues relating to its aspirations for 
        membership;
Whereas the people of Montenegro in a popular referendum on May 21, 2006, voted 
        to support the sovereign independence of Montenegro from the State Union 
        of Serbia and Montenegro by a margin of 55.5 percent in favor of 
        independence with over 86 percent of eligible voters participating in 
        the referendum;
Whereas, in accordance with the expressed will of a majority of the people of 
        Montenegro, on June 3, 2006, the Parliament of Montenegro declared the 
        independence of Montenegro, declaring that Montenegro is a 
        ``multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious society . . . based on 
        the rule of law and market economy'';
Whereas since gaining its independence, Montenegro has undertaken a series of 
        political, economic, and military reforms;
Whereas earlier this year the Council of Europe commended Montenegro on its new 
        constitution which was approved by more than two-thirds of the members 
        of the Parliament of Montenegro on October 19, 2007;
Whereas, on March 15, 2007, in recognition of the important reforms achieved by 
        Montenegro in the area of human rights, political reform, and economic 
        reform, the European Union initialed a Stabilization and Association 
        Agreement with Montenegro;
Whereas, on October 15, 2007, the European Union and Montenegro signed the 
        Stabilization and Association Agreement after it was approved by all 27 
        EU Member States, thereby furthering Montenegro's prospects for full 
        membership in the EU; and
Whereas the United States and Montenegro enjoy close bi-lateral relationship 
        based on common values and interests: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the people and the Government of Montenegro 
        for the free and fair manner in which the presidential election 
        on April 6, 2008, was conducted and acknowledges the broad 
        participation of the citizens of Montenegro in that important 
        vote;
            (2) fully supports the decision by the North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization (NATO) to initiate an Intensified Dialogue 
        with Montenegro and congratulates Montenegro for this important 
        step towards becoming a member of NATO;
            (3) congratulates Montenegro for the important political 
        and economic reforms undertaken since its independence;
            (4) commends Montenegro's willingness and preparedness to 
        contribute to regional and global security; and
            (5) acknowledges and welcomes the close bilateral 
        relationship between the United States and Montenegro and urges 
        the people and the Government of Montenegro to continue to 
        embrace the principles of democratic government and to take 
        actions that will encourage respect for human rights, adherence 
        to the rule of law, the development of a free market economy, 
        and the growth of a free and open society.
                                 <all>