[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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