[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ELECTIONS IN MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the people of Macedonia and Montenegro 
will participate in parliamentary elections-on September 15 and October 
6, respectively. Given recent history in that region, the successful 
conduct of these polls is in the security interests of both the United 
States and all of southeastern Europe.
  Free and fair elections in Macedonia could serve as the beginnings of 
a new chapter for that country. It was only last year that ethnic 
grievances in Macedonia turned violent, resulting in deaths, 
casualties, and thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees. 
While on the mend, successful elections could prove to be a critical 
milestone for both the people of Macedonia and the international 
community.
  A major challenge for the Government of Macedonia and all political 
parties is to earn the trust and confidence of the electorate before 
the first ballots are cast. Let me be clear: there is no room for 
election chicanery and violence.
  The Government of Macedonia should be aware that the Foreign 
Operations Subcommittee, on which I serve as ranking member, increased 
fiscal year 2003 funding provided to the Assistance for Eastern Europe 
and Baltic States, SEED, account. The subcommittee has suggested that 
additional funds be provided to Macedonia--over and above the 
administration's request, but our continued support will be gauged by 
the successful conduct of the September polls.
  In Montenegro, I am troubled by Parliament's recent amendments to the 
election and public information laws, and the method by which these 
changes were made. In the past, Parliament utilized a process of 
consensus and agreement when deliberating election-related issues, 
which helped create a democratic and stable framework for contentious 
polls. Last month, the majority coalition in Parliament disregarded 
past practices and the technical advice of the international community 
and muscled through changes to the laws. Such heavy-handedness 
undoubtedly sours the preelection environment, and raise suspicions and 
political tensions.
  The amendments to the laws are equally troubling, particularly for 
the ethnic-Albanian community whose reserved seats in Parliament were 
reduced from five to four. The majority coalition in Parliament 
empowered themselves to appoint members to national and local election 
commissions, permitting total and partisan control over the electoral 
process. Further, changes to the laws prohibit pollwatchers to question 
or challenge officials on the conduct of the poll on election day, and 
private media is banned from accepting paid advertising from political 
parties.
  Let me close by strongly encouraging the State Department, along with 
the OSCE, to take appropriate actions to ensure free and fair elections 
in Montenegro. I will continue to closely follow developments in that 
region, as well as the reports and updates issued by the International 
Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute.

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