[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 111 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1718-E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORT FOR ROMANIA, H. CON. RES. 169

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 169 outlines our 
United States foreign policy towards Romania, recognizes the strides 
Romania has taken in economic and political reforms since the end of 
the cold war, recognizes the steps Romania has taken to improve 
relations with its neighbors and to prepare itself for eventual 
integration into the pan-European and trans-Atlantic communities, and 
urges Romania forward in its reforms, despite its current economic 
difficulties.
  Mr. Speaker, although Romania had taken reform-oriented steps early 
in this decade, the elections of November 1996, the first since 1937 
that led to a peaceful transfer of power under a democratic system, 
provided a fresh opportunity to push reforms forward. These reforms 
undertaken in the midst of economic hardship made worse by corruption, 
criminal activities, and the disruptions in commerce in southeast 
Europe caused by international sanctions and military actions against 
neighboring Serbia, have a long way to go.
  I believe, however, that it is important to encourage Romania to 
continue with its reforms. I also believe that it should be our policy 
to support Romania's eventual integration into pan-European and trans-
Atlantic economic and security institutions. In this regard, I note 
that Romania was the very first country to join NATO's ``Partnership 
for Peace'' program and that it has spent most of this decade working 
to reform its military and adopt procedures for its military forces 
that are compatible with those of the NATO alliance.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 169, an important statement of United States 
support for Romania, for its program of reforms, and for its eventual 
integration into the trans-Atlantic community. I submit that the text 
of H. Con. Res. 169 be inserted at this point in the Record.

                            H. Con. Res. 169

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) Romania has negotiated, agreed to, and ratified an 
     important bilateral treaty with the neighboring Republic of 
     Hungary that recognizes the borders of those two countries 
     and provides for the protection of the civil liberties of 
     citizens who are members of national minorities.
       (2) Romania has negotiated, agreed to, and ratified an 
     important bilateral treaty with neighboring Ukraine that 
     recognizes the borders of those two countries.
       (3) The November 1996 electoral change in the Government of 
     Romania was the first such change under a democratic 
     political system in Romania since 1937.
       (4) Romania was the first country to join the ``Partnership 
     for Peace'' program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO), in January 1994, has since become an active 
     participant in that program, is a member of NATO's Euro-
     Atlantic Partnership Council, and has stated its strong 
     interest in admission into NATO and into the European Union.
       (5) The Government of Romania has worked to ensure civilian 
     control over its armed forces and has begun to implement 
     military reform through force reductions, reorganization of 
     officer ranks, and adoption of NATO-compatible procedures.
       (6) Romania has provided military personnel for 
     participation in and support of multinational peacekeeping 
     operations.
       (7) The Government of Romania has stated its continuing 
     support for the mission of NATO in supporting democratization 
     and stability across Europe.

     SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD ROMANIA.

       It is the policy of the United States--
       (1) to promote the development in Romania 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 Romania and to 
     insist that the territorial integrity of Romania be respected 
     by all neighboring countries and by all political movements 
     within and outside Romania; and
       (3) to support the integration of Romania into pan-European 
     and trans-Atlantic economic and security institutions.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the United States should support efforts by Romania to 
     integrate into pan-European and trans-Atlantic institutions 
     and should view such integration as an important factor in 
     consolidating democratic government in Romania;
       (2) Romania is to be commended for its work to achieve 
     bilateral treaties with the Republic of Hungary and Ukraine 
     and the Government of Romania should now work expeditiously 
     to negotiate, agree to, and ratify a bilateral treaty with 
     the neighboring Republic of Moldova that recognizes the 
     borders of those two countries;
       (3) the Government of Romania should accelerate necessary 
     economic reforms, particularly privatization of state-owned 
     enterprises under a fair and transparent process

[[Page E1719]]

     and privatization of the agricultural sector to include 
     privatization of land and of major agri-business enterprises;
       (4) the Government of Romania should, in a concrete manner, 
     address corrupt and criminal activities at all levels;
       (5) the United States should undertake to assist Romania to 
     address the costs of disruptions in commerce in southeastern 
     Europe caused by the conflict in neighboring Serbia; and
       (6) the United States should join other official creditors 
     of Romania in providing Romania with relief from such 
     official debt through rescheduling and, where appropriate, 
     forgiveness.

     

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