[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 316 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 316

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Tunisia's peaceful Jasmine 
                              Revolution.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 8, 2011

 Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Kerry) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Tunisia's peaceful Jasmine 
                              Revolution.

Whereas, on January 14, 2011, a peaceful mass protest movement in Tunisia 
        successfully brought to an end the authoritarian rule of President Zine 
        el-Abidine Ben Ali;
Whereas Tunisia's peaceful ``Jasmine Revolution'' was the first of several 
        movements throughout the Middle East and North Africa and inspired 
        democracy and human rights activists throughout the region and around 
        the world;
Whereas Tunisia, in the wake of Ben Ali's resignation, began a transition to 
        democracy that has been broadly inclusive, consensus-based, and 
        civilian-led;
Whereas, on October 23, 2011, Tunisia conducted the first competitive, multi-
        party democratic election of the Arab Spring, which involved dozens of 
        political parties and hundreds of independent candidates competing for a 
        217-member National Constituent Assembly;
Whereas more than 50 percent of all eligible voters and nearly 90 percent of 
        registered voters participated in the October 23 election;
Whereas Tunisia's Independent Electoral Commission welcomed and accredited a 
        robust domestic and international election observer presence, including 
        3 independent delegations from the United States;
Whereas election observers have broadly praised the October 23 election as free, 
        fair, and consistent with international standards;
Whereas roughly 25 percent of the seat in the National Constituent Assembly were 
        won by women;
Whereas the newly-elected National Constituent Assembly is tasked with drafting 
        a new constitution to guide Tunisia's transition towards a 
        representative democracy that reflects the aspirations of the Tunisian 
        people;
Whereas the Jasmine Revolution was largely a reaction to long-accumulated 
        economic grievances, ongoing high unemployment and poor economic 
        conditions sustain the potential to drive future political 
        protestations;
Whereas the United States and Tunisia have enjoyed friendly relations for more 
        than 200 years; and
Whereas the United States was among the first countries to recognize Tunisian 
        independence in 1956: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the people of Tunisia for holding, on 
        October 23, 2011, the first competitive, multi-party democratic 
        elections since the outbreak of popular revolutions throughout 
        the Middle East and North Africa in 2011;
            (2) commends the Tunisian independent electoral commission 
        for--
                    (A) successfully conducting a free, fair, 
                transparent, and credible election on October 23, 2011; 
                and
                    (B) welcoming independent international and 
                domestic election observers and granting them 
                unrestricted access to polling and counting stations;
            (3) congratulates all newly-elected members, and the 
        parties with which they are affiliated, of the National 
        Democratic Constituent Assembly;
            (4) affirms the national interest of the United States in a 
        successful and irreversible transition to democracy in Tunisia, 
        including--
                    (A) respect for the rule of law;
                    (B) independent media;
                    (C) a vibrant civil society; and
                    (D) universal rights and freedoms, including equal 
                rights for all citizens, freedom of speech, and human 
                rights;
            (5) affirms the national interest of the United States in 
        Tunisia's economic prosperity and development, including 
        through increased foreign direct investment, tourism, 
        entrepreneurship, technical cooperation, and strengthened trade 
        ties;
            (6) urges increased United States engagement and 
        cooperation with the Tunisian government and people, 
        including--
                    (A) Tunisia's democratic institutions;
                    (B) civil society;
                    (C) schools and universities;
                    (D) independent media; and
                    (E) the private sector; and
            (7) reaffirms the unwavering friendship between the people 
        of the United States and the people of Tunisia.
                                 <all>