[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 447 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 447

  Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of 
      Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of 
                         intimidation and fear.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2013

Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Royce, Mr. Levin, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Keating, 
and Mr. Gerlach) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of 
      Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of 
                         intimidation and fear.

Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine is in the national 
        interest of the United States;
Whereas closer relations with the European Union (EU) through the signing of an 
        Association Agreement will promote democratic values, good governance, 
        and economic opportunity in Ukraine;
Whereas millions of Ukrainian citizens support closer relations with Europe and 
        the signing of an Association Agreement;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration with Europe a 
        national priority and has made significant progress toward meeting the 
        requirements for the Association Agreement;
Whereas Ukraine has the sovereign right to enter into voluntary partnerships of 
        its choosing, in keeping with its interests;
Whereas Ukraine's closer relations with the EU do not threaten any other 
        country, and will benefit both Ukraine and its neighbors;
Whereas on November 21, 2013, following several months of intense outside 
        pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly suspended 
        negotiations on the Association Agreement one week before it was due to 
        be signed at the EU's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania;
Whereas this reversal of stated government policy precipitated demonstrations by 
        hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities 
        throughout the country;
Whereas the demonstrators have been overwhelmingly peaceful and have sought to 
        exercise their constitutional rights to freely assemble and express 
        their opposition to President Yanukovych's decision, as well as their 
        support for greater government accountability and closer relations with 
        Europe;
Whereas on November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed peaceful demonstrators 
        in Kyiv's Independence Square, resulting in many injuries and the arrest 
        of several dozen individuals;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, police raided 3 opposition media outlets and the 
        headquarters of an opposition party;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, despite President Yanukovych's statement the 
        previous day that he would engage in talks with the opposition, police 
        attempted to forcibly evict peaceful protesters from central locations 
        in Kyiv; and
Whereas United States, European, and other leaders, as well as 3 former 
        presidents of Ukraine, have urged restraint and warned against the use 
        of violence against peaceful protesters, and have called for dialogue 
        with the opposition to resolve the current political and economic 
        crisis: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) greatly values the warm and close relationship the 
        United States has established with Ukraine since that country 
        regained its independence in 1991;
            (2) supports the democratic and European aspirations of the 
        people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future 
        free of intimidation and fear;
            (3) calls on the United States and the European Union to 
        continue to work together to support a peaceful resolution to 
        the crisis, and to continue to support the desire of millions 
        of Ukrainian citizens for closer relations with Europe through 
        the signing of an Association Agreement, as well as for a 
        democratic future;
            (4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition 
        parties, and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint 
        and avoid confrontation, and calls on the Government of Ukraine 
        to live up to its international obligations and respect and 
        uphold the democratic rights of its citizens, including the 
        freedom of assembly and expression, as well as the freedom of 
        the press;
            (5) calls on the Government of Ukraine to bring to justice 
        those responsible for violence against peaceful protesters, and 
        to release and drop criminal charges against those detained for 
        exercising their democratic rights;
            (6) urges the United States and the European Union to 
        continue to make clear to Ukraine's leaders that those who 
        authorize or engage in violence against peaceful protesters 
        will be held personally accountable;
            (7) states that in the event of further violence by 
        government authorities against peaceful protesters, the United 
        States House of Representatives may consider targeted sanctions 
        against those who authorize or engage in this use of force; and
            (8) urges all parties to engage in constructive, sustained 
        dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine's 
        current political and economic crisis.
                                 <all>