[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 212 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 212


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2009

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of Congress on the occasion of the 20th 
     anniversary of historic events in Central and Eastern Europe, 
 particularly the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and reaffirming 
 the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and 
              the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.

Whereas, on September 3, 1918, the United States Government recognized the 
        Czecho-Slovak National Council as the official Government of 
        Czechoslovakia;
Whereas, on October 28, 1918, the peoples of the present day Czech Republic and 
        the present day Slovak Republic proclaimed their independence in the 
        common state of the Republic of Czechoslovakia;
Whereas between 1939 and 1945, Nazi Germany annexed part of Bohemia, set up a 
        fascist ``protectorate'' in the rest of Bohemia and in Moravia, and 
        installed a puppet fascist government in Slovakia;
Whereas, on November 17, 1939, in response to widespread student demonstrations, 
        Czech institutions of higher learning were closed by the Nazis, many 
        students were taken to concentration camps, and 9 representatives of the 
        student movement were executed;
Whereas the Moscow-directed Communists took over the Government of 
        Czechoslovakia in February 1948;
Whereas troops from Warsaw Pact countries invaded Czechoslovakia in August 1968, 
        ousted the reformist leadership of Alexander Dubcek, and restored a 
        hard-line communist regime;
Whereas, on November 17, 1989, the brutal break up of a student demonstration 
        commemorating the 50th anniversary of the execution of Czech student 
        leaders and the closure of universities by the Nazis triggered the 
        explosion of mass discontent that launched the Velvet Revolution, which 
        was characterized by reliance on nonviolence and open public discourse;
Whereas the peoples of Czechoslovakia overthrew 40 years of totalitarian 
        communist rule in order to rebuild a democratic society;
Whereas, since November 17, 1989, the people of the Slovak Republic and the 
        Czech Republic have established vibrant, pluralistic, democratic 
        political systems based upon freedom of speech, a free press, free and 
        fair open elections, the rule of law, and other democratic principles 
        and practices;
Whereas the people of the United States, the Slovak Republic, and the Czech 
        Republic have maintained a special relationship based on shared 
        democratic values, common interests, and the strong bonds of friendship, 
        mutual respect, and close cooperation; and
Whereas the people of the United States have an affinity with the peoples of the 
        Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic and regard them as trusted and 
        important partners and allies: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the 20th anniversary of the historic events 
        in Central and Eastern Europe that brought about the collapse 
        of the communist regimes and the fall of the Iron Curtain;
            (2) commemorates, with the Slovak Republic and the Czech 
        Republic, the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in 
        Czechoslovakia, which underscores the significance and value of 
        reclaimed freedom and the dignity of individual citizens;
            (3) commends the peoples of the Slovak Republic and the 
        Czech Republic for their remarkable achievements over the past 
        20 years in building free, democratic, and prosperous 
        societies;
            (4) appreciates the contribution of the Slovak Republic and 
        the Czech Republic as members of the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization and the European Union to the promotion and 
        defense of common values of freedom, democracy, and liberty 
        around the world;
            (5) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and close cooperation 
        that have existed between the United States and the Slovak 
        Republic and the Czech Republic; and
            (6) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes to 
        the people of the Slovak Republic and the people of the Czech 
        Republic for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful future.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 19, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.