[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5461-S5462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 283--RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 
            DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. DeWine, Mr. McCain, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. 
Miller, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Warner, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Cochran, 
Mr. Helms, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Reid, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Lugar, 
Mr. Brownback, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Sessions) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 283

       Whereas on May 26, 2002, the Republic of Colombia 
     successfully completed democratic multiparty elections for 
     President and Vice President;
       Whereas these elections were deemed by international and 
     domestic observers, including the United Nations and the 
     Organization of American States, to be free, fair, and a 
     legitimate nonviolent expression of the will of the people of 
     the Republic of Colombia;
       Whereas the United States has consistently supported the 
     efforts of the people of the Republic of Colombia to 
     strengthen and continue their democracy;
       Whereas the Senate notes the courage of the millions of 
     citizens of the Republic of Colombia that turned out to vote 
     in order to freely and directly express their opinion; and
       Whereas these open, fair, and democratic elections of the 
     new President and Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, 
     and the speedy posting of election results, should be broadly 
     commended: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the government and the people of the 
     Republic of Colombia for the successful completion of 
     democratic elections held on May 26, 2002, for President and 
     Vice President;
       (2) congratulates President-elect Alvaro Uribe Velez and 
     Vice President-elect Francisco Santos Calderon on their 
     recent victory and their continuing strong commitment to 
     democracy, national reconciliation, and reconstruction;
       (3) congratulates Colombian President Andres Pastrana, who 
     has been a strong ally of the United States, a long-standing 
     supporter of peace process negotiations, and a builder of 
     national unity in the Republic of Colombia, for his personal 
     commitment to democracy;
       (4) commends all Colombian citizens and political parties 
     for their efforts to work together to take risks for 
     democracy and to willfully pursue national reconciliation in 
     order to cement a lasting peace and to strengthen democratic 
     traditions in the Republic of Colombia;
       (5) supports Colombian attempts to--
       (A) ensure democracy, national reconciliation, and economic 
     prosperity;
       (B) support human rights and rule of law; and
       (C) abide by all the essential elements of representative 
     democracy as enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic 
     Charter, Organization of American States, and United Nations 
     principles;
       (6) encourages the government and people of the Republic of 
     Colombia to continue their struggle against the evils of 
     narcotics and all forms of terrorism;
       (7) encourages the government of the Republic of Colombia 
     to continue to promote--
       (A) the professionalism of the Colombian Armed Forces and 
     Colombian National Police; and
       (B) judicial and legal reforms; and
       (8) reaffirms that the United States is unequivocally 
     committed to encouraging and supporting democracy, human 
     rights, rule of law, and peaceful development in the Republic 
     of Colombia and throughout the Americas.

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise, along with 21 of my colleagues, to 
submit a resolution commending the country and the people of Colombia 
on continuing the tradition of democracy, with a plurality freely and 
fairly voting for President-elect Alvaro Uribe Velez and Vice 
President-elect Francisco Santos Calderon on May 26, 2002.
  In Colombia, the evil hand of terror and suffering and fear and death 
has been an everyday reality for too long. In 2000, over 44 percent of 
the worldwide incidents of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and 
United States interests were in the country of Colombia. These attacks 
pose a threat to Colombia, the stability of Latin America, the security 
of the Western Hemisphere, and the direct and indirect security of many 
United States citizens, businesses, and interests.
  Yet, despite the constant threat and reality of violence in Colombia, 
the

[[Page S5462]]

citizens and government of Colombia carried out democratic elections, 
deemed by international standards to be free, fair and the express will 
of the Colombian people. As Latin America's oldest democracy, the 
legacy of leaders elected by the people continues.
  We desire to work closely with both President-elect Uribe and Vice 
President-elect Santos to reach our common goals of continued 
democracy, stability, peace, and the elimination of drugs, terrorism 
and corruption from our countries and our hemisphere.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution and the 
great democracy of Colombia.

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