[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5155-S5156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10--RELATIVE TO EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE

  Mr. BROWN (for himself and Mr. Simon) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance:

                            S. Con. Res. 10

       Whereas the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, 
     including Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, 
     Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania, 
     are important to the long-term stability and economic success 
     of a future Europe freed from the shackles of communism;
       Whereas the Central and Eastern European countries, 
     particularly Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and 
     Slovakia, are in the midst of dramatic reforms to transform 
     their centrally planned economies into free market economies 
     and to join the Western community;
       Whereas it is in the long-term interest of the United 
     States to encourage and assist the transformation of Central 
     and Eastern Europe into a free market economy, which is the 
     solid foundation of democracy, and will contribute to 
     regional stability and greatly increased opportunities for 
     commerce with the United States;
       [[Page S5156]] Whereas trade with these countries accounts 
     for less than one percent of total United States trade;
       Whereas the presence of a market with more than 140,000,000 
     people, with a growing appetite for consumer goods and 
     services and badly in need of modern technology and 
     management, should be an important market for United States 
     exports and investments; and
       Whereas the United States has concluded agreements granting 
     most-favored-nation status to most of the countries of 
     Central and Eastern Europe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     President should take steps to negotiate international 
     agreements for free trade between the United States and the 
     countries of Central Europe, including Poland, Hungary, the 
     Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and 
     Slovenia, and should take vigorous actions to lay the 
     groundwork for such an agreement, including--
       (1) developing closer commercial contacts;
       (2) eliminating tariff and nontariff discriminatory 
     barriers in United States trade with these countries;
       (3) developing framework agreements that chart a course 
     toward a free trade agreement;
       (4) establishing bilateral investment treaties;
       (5) stimulating increased United States exports and 
     investments to the region;
       (6) obtaining further liberalization of investment 
     regulations and protection against nationalization in these 
     foreign countries; and
       (7) establishing fair and expeditious dispute settlement 
     procedures.
     

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