[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 92 (Thursday, June 26, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H4816-H4817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA
SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 29, 1997
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 105) expressing the sense of
the Congress relating to the elections in Albania scheduled for June
29, 1997, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
Mr. TRAFICANT. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I do not
plan to object, but I would like to yield now to the distinguished
chairman for an explanation.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
At this time, Mr. Speaker, as Albanian democracy is at a crossroads,
our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Albania struggling to
safeguard the progress they have made toward democracy and a market-
based economy.
The Albanian people have suffered enormous hardships throughout this
century. We have always been hopeful that, having expelled their former
Communist overlords, the way would be open for Albania's citizens to
enjoy the true benefits of economic and political progress.
The events that unfolded late last year with the insolvency and the
collapse of several major investment houses came as a deep
disappointment. The violence that erupted earlier this year was a true
shock to most Members of the Congress, including myself. Those forces
or individuals who seek to reap profit or political gain from the
unrest are to be condemned, and they should have no place in Albania's
future.
[[Page H4817]]
Mr. Speaker, it is now time for us to support Albania and to make
certain that the Albanians can resurrect their civil society under
legitimate governmental authority. A decisive event will be taking
place in the national parliamentary elections that were scheduled for
this Sunday, June 29.
Those elections must be held under strict conditions that ensure the
results are perceived as a legitimate expression of the political
voices of the Albanian people. The process must be open, must be free
and fair, so all political viewpoints have the opportunity to be heard,
and the Albanian people can exercise their own judgment as to which
political choices they need to make.
Whatever the outcome, as long as the election meets these standards,
the parties in Albania must respect the results. A large number of
international election monitors will be present, and I trust that they
will be able to report favorably on the elections.
Mr. Speaker, we have a duty to continue to give all practical support
to the Albanian people, who have demonstrated their good will toward
our people and toward our own Government.
Accordingly, I urge our Members to unanimously support this important
resolution. Our Committee on International Relations considered it just
yesterday, and adopted a resolution asking that it be considered on
suspension, but the leadership, realizing the time-sensitive nature of
this issue, has been good enough to schedule it under unanimous-consent
procedures.
Finally, I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr.
Hamilton] for his cooperation in moving this resolution to the floor in
time to have this statement recorded prior to the elections. I also
want to thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], the sponsor of
this resolution, for his efforts on this behalf, and more broadly, for
his efforts on behalf of the Albanian democracy and the Albanian
people.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman. I thank all
for giving this opportunity.
In March 1991, Albania held free elections for the first time in 45
years. Now that fragile democracy has been threatened. The Communists
have threatened not to honor the outcome of this election unless they
themselves are successful. This resolution states the United States of
America and our Congress support free and open elections in Albania,
and urges all the parties to respect the decision of the will of the
people in that collective vote.
This would not be possible without the help of the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Gilman], and he has certainly helped the cause of freedom
around the world.
There is one last thing before I close. Albania could possibly become
another Bosnia. This is an important issue that we undertake. I urge
the Members to support it.
Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentlewoman from New York.
Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening simply to concur with
the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations.
We have in Albania a situation where there is a nation emerging from a
long darkness into the full-fledged sunshine of democracy. I feel that
we in Congress need to do all that we can to support and encourage this
nation.
I strongly stand behind the distinguished gentleman from Ohio [Mr.
Traficant] and the distinguished chairman of the Committee on
International Relations, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
I thank the gentleman very much for yielding.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for
her comments.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here on behalf of
the movement of freedom and democracy in Albania. Speaker Pjeter
Arbnori has fought hard and struggled for that opportunity. The people
of Albania will have that opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution and I withdraw my reservation
of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:
H. Con. Res. 105
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) the elections in Albania scheduled for June 29, 1997,
should be free and open; and
(2) all political parties of Albania should honor the
results of such elections.
The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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