[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2334-S2335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 14--CONGRATULATING THE STATE OF QATAR AND 
  ITS CITIZENS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND WOMEN'S 
                                SUFFRAGE

  Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. 
Thomas, Mr. Torricelli, and Mr. Grams) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 14

       Whereas His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, 
     the Emir of Qatar, issued a decree creating a central 
     municipal council, the first of its kind in Qatar;
       Whereas on March 8, 1999, the people of Qatar will 
     participate in direct elections for a central municipal 
     council;
       Whereas the central municipal council has been structured 
     to have members from 29 election districts serving 4-year 
     terms;
       Whereas Qatari women have been granted the right to 
     participate in this historic first municipal election, both 
     as candidates and voters;
       Whereas this election demonstrates the strength and 
     diversity of Qatar's commitment to democratic expression;
       Whereas the United States highly values democracy and 
     women's rights;
       Whereas March 8 is recognized as International Women's Day, 
     and is an occasion to assess the progress of the advancement 
     of women and girls throughout the world; and
       Whereas this historic event of democratic elections and 
     women's suffrage in Qatar should be honored: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) commends His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-
     Thani, the Emir of Qatar, for his leadership and commitment 
     to suffrage and the principles of democracy;
       (2) congratulates the citizens of Qatar as they celebrate 
     the historic election for a central municipal council; and
       (3) reaffirms that the United States is strongly committed 
     to encouraging the suffrage of women, democratic ideals, and

[[Page S2335]]

     peaceful development throughout the Middle East.

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit a concurrent 
resolution congratulating the State of Qatar and its citizens for their 
commitment to democratic ideals and women's suffrage on the occasion of 
Qatar's historic elections of a central municipal council on March 8, 
1999.
  By holding these elections, Qatar becomes only the second Gulf Arab 
state to have an elected house, and the first to allow women the vote 
and the right to take part in the municipal polls. These elections are 
a very promising step towards the establishment of democracy.
  As a country which stands firmly committed to democratic ideals, 
including the suffrage of women, the United States should applaud this 
bold move by His Highness, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Emir 
of Qatar for issuing the decree to create the central municipal council 
and for making this major step towards democracy possible.
  This resolution commends the Emir of Qatar for his leadership and 
commitment to suffrage and the principles of democracy; congratulates 
the citizens of Qatar as they celebrate the historic election for a 
central municipal council; and reaffirms that the United States is 
strongly committed to encouraging the suffrage of women, democratic 
ideals, and peaceful development throughout the Middle East.
  I urge my colleagues to support this initiatives.

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