[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 111 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1717-E1718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORT FOR BULGARIA, H. CON. RES. 170

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 170 outlines our 
United States foreign policy towards Bulgaria, notes the objectives of 
our new, post-Cold War relationship with Bulgaria, and points out some 
of the positive changes now underway in Bulgaria.
  Since elections held in April 1997, the government of Bulgaria has 
committed itself to making progress on badly-needed economic reforms, 
fair treatment of all of Bulgaria's citizens, including those from its 
large ethnic Turkish minority, and Bulgaria's eventual integration into 
the pan-European and trans-Atlantic community.
  However, despite Bulgaria's economic reforms, democratization, and 
progressive foreign policy, the breakup of the Soviet-dominated 
``COMECON'' economic organization, the failure of the previous 
Bulgarian government to adequately address corrupt activities, and the 
imposition of international sanctions on neighboring Serbia and nearby 
Iraq during most of this decade have placed serious burdens on the 
Bulgarian economy.
  I believe it is important that the United States recognize and 
commend Bulgaria's efforts to make progress in the midst of its current 
economic difficulties. House Concurrent Resolution 170 does that and 
makes it clear that the United States also supports Bulgaria's eventual 
integration into pan-European and trans-Atlantic economic and security 
institutions.
  Bulgaria is working hard to overcome the legacy of four decades of 
communist rule and to assume its proper place in the trans-Atlantic 
community of states. Accordingly, I strongly encourage my colleagues to 
support House Concurrent Resolution 170, which I believe to be a 
recognition of our new relationship with this important country. I 
submit the text of H. Con. Res. 170 to be inserted at this point in the 
Record.

                            H. Con. Res. 170

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) Elections held in April 1997 in the Republic of 
     Bulgaria brought to office a government committed to full 
     economic reforms, discipline in government budgetary and 
     currency policies, increased foreign, direct investment in 
     Bulgaria, and energetic efforts to combat corrupt and 
     criminal activities that had undermined previous economic 
     reforms.
       (2) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has worked 
     to ensure the proper treatment of its citizens, regardless of 
     ethnic background, including those of ethnic Turkish 
     background, many of whom were subjected to forced 
     assimilation campaigns and deportation under the former 
     communist regime in Bulgaria.
       (3) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has made 
     Bulgaria's integration into pan-European and trans-Atlantic 
     institutions, including the European Union and the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the highest priority of 
     its foreign policy, and has undertaken efforts to promote 
     stability in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
       (4) The economy of the Republic of Bulgaria has suffered 
     considerable decline due to the disruption of important 
     markets caused by the break-up of the former, Soviet-
     dominated ``COMECON'' economic and trade organization, the 
     application of international sanctions on Iraq, and the 
     failure of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria to 
     confront widespread corrupt activities prior to the elections 
     of April 1997 that resulted in the theft of large sums from 
     both government and industry and that bankrupted many 
     Bulgarian banks.
       (5) The economy of the Republic of Bulgaria has suffered as 
     well from the imposition of international sanctions on 
     neighboring Serbia and continues to suffer from the conflict 
     in that country, which has disrupted commerce throughout the 
     region of southeastern Europe.
       (6) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has recently 
     taken steps to finalize bilateral agreements with the 
     neighboring Republic of Macedonia, recognized by the United 
     States as the ``Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'', 
     overcoming long-standing dispute over the language to be used 
     in those agreements.
       (7) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has 
     undertaken to reform Bulgaria`s armed forces, adopting a 
     military doctrine to that effect in March 1999.
       (8) The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has stated 
     its continuing support for the mission of NATO in supporting 
     democratization and stability across Europe.
       (9) As a result of the conflict in Serbia with regard to 
     the region of Kosovo, the Republic of Bulgaria has accepted 
     several thousand refugees from the conflict.

     SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA.

       It is the policy of the United States--
       (1) to promote the development in the Republic of Bulgaria 
     of a market-based economy and a democratic government that 
     respects the rights of all of its citizens, regardless of 
     ethnic background;
       (2) to support the territorial integrity of the Republic of 
     Bulgaria;
       (3) to insist that the territorial integrity of the 
     Republic of Bulgaria be respected by neighboring countries 
     and by all political movements within and outside Bulgaria; 
     and
       (4) to support the integration of the Republic of Bulgaria 
     into pan-European and trans-Atlantic economic and security 
     institutions.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria is to be 
     commended for its efforts to ensure proper treatment of all 
     of its citizens, regardless of ethnic background, 
     particularly those of ethnic Turkish background;
       (2) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria is to be 
     commended--
       (A) for its efforts to accelerate the privatization of 
     state-owned enterprises in a fair and transparent process;
       (B) for its establishment of a currency board to ensure the 
     value of the Bulgarian currency; and
       (C) for its efforts to combat corrupt and criminal 
     activities that undermine reforms and the viability of 
     Bulgaria's government and industry;
       (3) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria should 
     continue to implement programs that may qualify Bulgaria for 
     entrance into the European Union and the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO) and is to be commended for its 
     continuing support of the NATO effort to ensure stability and 
     democratization across Europe;
       (4) the Republic of Bulgaria is suffering the adverse 
     economic impact of the disruption of

[[Page E1718]]

     commerce in southeastern Europe and an influx of refugees 
     caused by the conflict in neighboring Serbia;
       (5) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria should 
     ensure the expedition ratification of all bilateral treaties 
     that have been negotiated with the neighboring Government of 
     the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;
       (6) the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria should 
     undertake steps to immediately halt any illicit transfer of 
     arms and military equipment that may occur in Bulgaria or may 
     cross Bulgarian territory;
       (7) the Republic of Bulgaria should play a central role in 
     any effort by the NATO to create a joint peacekeeping 
     military unit involving personnel from throughout the 
     countries of southeastern Europe or in the creation of 
     facilities in support of such a peacekeeping unit; and
       (8) the United States should join other official creditors 
     of the Republic of Bulgaria in providing Bulgaria with relief 
     from such official debt through rescheduling and, where 
     appropriate, forgiveness.

     

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