[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 319 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 319
Expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of President
Yanukovych's decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the
European Union.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 12 (legislative day, December 11), 2013
Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Risch,
Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Cruz) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
December 18, 2013
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
January 7, 2014
Considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of President
Yanukovych's decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the
European Union.
Whereas, according to a poll conducted in November 2013, a majority of the
people of Ukraine supported signing a historic trade and political
agreement with the European Union;
Whereas a closer association between Ukraine and the European Union has been
supported by Ukrainian civil society, business leaders, and politicians
across the political spectrum and would bring lasting political,
democratic, and economic benefits to the people of Ukraine;
Whereas Ukraine successfully passed much of the legislation required to conform
to European Union standards for signing an Association Agreement;
Whereas, on September 22, 2012, and November 18, 2013, the Senate unanimously
passed resolutions calling for a demonstrable end to selective justice
in Ukraine and expressing its belief that Ukraine's future lies with
stronger ties to Europe, the United States, and others in the community
of democracies;
Whereas the experience of countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and
Estonia provides a positive example of increased economic opportunity,
enhanced personal freedom, and good governance. which can also be
realized by Ukraine;
Whereas the Government and people of Ukraine have the sovereign right to choose
their own foreign policy and economic course, and no other country has
the right to determine their political and economic orientation, nor
decide which alliances and trade agreements they can join;
Whereas, on November 21, 2013, President Viktor Yanukovych suspended Ukraine's
preparations for signing the Association Agreement one week before a
critical European Union Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania;
Whereas the abrupt reversal on the eve of the summit following Russian economic
coercion and to protect the narrow interests of some officials and
individuals in Ukraine prompted hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians all
across the country, especially young people and students, to protest the
decision and stand in support of furthering Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic
integration;
Whereas international nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations provide
essential care to needy Ukrainians, yet face direct threats and
challenges to their existence and administrative and regulatory
impediments, including challenges to operating with the tax-exempt
status necessary to maximize the use of funds on the ground and threats
to the fabric of civil society vital to democracy in Ukraine;
Whereas, on November 30, 2013, at Independence Square in Kyiv, special division
police dispersed a peaceful demonstration of students and civil society
activists who were calling on President Yanukovych to sign the
Association Agreement;
Whereas approximately 35 individuals were detained or arrested, and dozens were
hospitalized, some with severe injuries;
Whereas, on December 9, 2013, raids were conducted on three opposition media
outlets and the headquarters of one opposition party;
Whereas, on December 11, 2013, Ukrainian authorities conducted an overnight
police operation in an attempt to forcefully take control of
Independence Square, but were resisted by brave Ukrainians who filled
the square and rebuffed the police action;
Whereas all three former Presidents of Ukraine have underscored the need to
refrain from violence and the importance of engaging in a dialogue with
the opposition; and
Whereas Ukraine faces an impending economic crisis that can only be solved with
long-term economic reforms: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) stands with the people of Ukraine and supports their
sovereign right to chart an independent and democratic future
for their country;
(2) urges leaders in the United States and the European
Union to continue working together actively to support a
peaceful and democratic resolution to the current crisis that
moves Ukraine toward a future in the Euro-Atlantic community
and a long-term solution to Ukraine's economic crisis;
(3) encourages demonstrators and members of the opposition
and civil society in Ukraine to continue avoiding the use of
violence and engage in a dialogue of national reconciliation;
(4) urges all political parties to refrain from hate speech
or actions of an anti-Semitic or other character which further
divide the Ukrainian people when they need to be united;
(5) calls on the Government of Ukraine to refrain from
further use of force or acts of violence against peaceful
protestors, and to respect the internationally recognized human
rights of the Ukrainian people, especially the freedoms of
speech and assembly;
(6) condemns the decision by Ukrainian authorities to use
violence against peaceful demonstrators on November 30,
December 1, and December 11, 2013, and calls for those
responsible to be swiftly brought to justice and all detained
nonviolent demonstrators to be immediately released; and
(7) notes that in the event of further state violence
against peaceful protestors, the President and Congress should
consider whether to apply targeted sanctions, including visa
bans and asset freezes, against individuals responsible for
ordering or carrying out the violence.
<all>