[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9653-S9655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE ONGOING WORK OF THE 
          ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of 
S. Con. Res. 110, and the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 110) expressing the 
     sense of Congress in support of the ongoing work of the 
     Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 
     combating anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, discrimination, 
     intolerance, and related violence.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Madam President, I applaud the leadership for taking up 
S. Con. Res. 110, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress in 
support of the ongoing work of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, in combating anti-Semitism, racism, 
xenophobia, discrimination, intolerance, and related violence.
  The Helsinki Commission, which I co-chair, has been on the forefront 
of efforts to combat anti-Semitism throughout the 55 participating 
States that comprise the OSCE. Commission initiatives have been aimed 
at urging all OSCE countries to take real action, to ensure that the 
issue of anti-Semitism is not swept under the rug or disguised in 
misleading euphemisms like ``hooliganism.'' The latent, yet persistent, 
problem of anti-Semitism is one that cannot be ignored, but rather must 
be met head on, with the full force and weight of elected leaders and 
Government officials publicly denouncing acts of anti-Semitism and 
related violence.
  For this reason, I am pleased the U.S. Senate today will be on record 
in our fight against anti-Semitism and speak to this pernicious 
problem. I want to highlight one portion of the resolution that calls 
for the Bulgarian Chairman-in-Office and the incoming Slovenian CiO to 
``consider appointing'' an individual to the post of a ``personal 
envoy.'' This high profile position would help ensure ``sustained 
attention with respect to fulfilling OSCE commitments on the reporting 
of anti-Semitic crimes.'' The need for this position was made clear in 
a recent report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and 
Human Rights.
  At the end of June the OSCE'S Office for Democratic Institutions and 
Human Right's ODIHR reported that only 20 of 55 participating States 
had responded to the four requests for submissions issued by ODIHR 
between January 28 and May 28. Canada and Slovakia have since made 
submissions. Each participating State has been asked to forward to 
ODIHR information concerning legislation and statistics about anti-
Semitic crimes and hate crimes, as agreed to under the Maastricht 
Ministerial Council Decision and the Permanent Council Decision 
highlighted in the Berlin Declaration.
  Mr. President I ask unanimous consent that a summary of the responses 
from participating States, dated June 21, 2004 be printed in the Record 
following this statement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. CAMPBELL. As actions speak louder than words, the poor compliance 
indicates a lack the political will by some to make fighting anti-
Semitism and intolerance a high priority. Therefore, a personal envoy 
could work to encourage participating States to honor their commitments 
and to forward the information to ODIHR for compilation, raising these 
concerns at the highest level. I consequently urge Bulgaria and 
Slovenia, along with all other participating States, will support 
efforts to create a personal envoy of the OSCE Chairman in Office on 
anti-Semitism. I note that the current OSCE Chair, Foreign Minister 
Solomon Passy is in Washington this week for consultations and I urge 
him to appoint such a representative before the end of Bulgaria's 
chairmanship.
  As Secretary of State Powell stated at the Berlin Conference, ``We 
must send the clear message far and wide that anti-Semitism is always 
wrong and it is always dangerous. We must send the clear message that 
anti-Semitic hate crimes are exactly that: crimes, and that these 
crimes will be aggressively prosecuted.'' Senate passage of S. Con. 
Res. 110 will bolster the ongoing work of the OSCE in confronting and 
combating anti-Semitism.

                                                                        Exhibit 1
                                                      PARTICIPATING STATE RESPONSES TO NOTE VERBALE
                                                                 [As of 21st June 2004]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                          Nomination of
                                                                                                                                            authority
                                                                                                                          National       responsible for
                      Participating State                        Responded to NV     Statistics        Legislation       initiatives     collection and
                                                                                                                                          provision of
                                                                                                                                              info
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albania.......................................................              Yes                 X               Yes                 X                 X
Andorra.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Armenia.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Austria.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Azerbaijan....................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Belarus.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Belgium.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Bosnia and Herzegovina........................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Bulgaria......................................................              Yes                 X               Yes               Yes                 X
Canada........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Croatia.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Cyprus........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X

[[Page S9654]]

 
Czech Republic................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Denmark.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Estonia.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Finland.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
France........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Georgia.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Germany.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Greece........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Holy See......................................................              Yes                 X                 X               Yes               Yes
Hungary.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Iceland.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Ireland.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Italy.........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Kazakhstan....................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Kyrgyzstan....................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Latvia........................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes
Liechtenstein.................................................              Yes                 X               Yes               Yes                 X
Lithuania.....................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Luxembourg....................................................              Yes                 X               Yes               Yes                 X
Malta.........................................................              Yes                 X               Yes                 X                 X
Moldova.......................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes                 X                 X
Monaco........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Netherlands...................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Norway........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Poland........................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Portugal......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Romania.......................................................              Yes                 X               Yes               Yes                 X
Russian Federation............................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
San Marino....................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Serbia and Montenegro.........................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Slovak Republic...............................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Slovenia......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Spain.........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Sweden........................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes
Switzerland...................................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes
Tajikistan....................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.........................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Turkey........................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Turkmenistan..................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
Ukraine.......................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland..........                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
United States of America......................................              Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes                 X
Uzbekistan....................................................                X                 X                 X                 X                 X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendments at the desk be agreed to, the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, the 
motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements 
relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendments (Nos. 3677 and 3678) were agreed to, as follows:


                           amendment no. 3677

          (Purpose: to propose a substitute to the resolution)

       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:
     That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States Government and Congress should 
     unequivocally condemn acts of anti-Semitism and intolerance 
     whenever and wherever they occur;
       (2) officials and elected leaders of all Organization for 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) participating 
     states, including all OSCE Mediterranean Partner for 
     Cooperation countries, should also unequivocally condemn acts 
     of anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination 
     whenever and wherever they occur;
       (3) the participating states of the OSCE should be 
     commended for supporting the Berlin Declaration and for 
     working to bring increased attention to incidents of anti-
     Semitism and intolerance in the OSCE region;
       (4) the United States Government, including Members of 
     Congress, recognizing that the fundamental job of combating 
     anti-Semitism and intolerance falls to governments, should 
     work with other OSCE participating states and their 
     parliaments to encourage the full compliance with OSCE 
     commitments and, if necessary, urge the creation of legal 
     mechanisms to combat and track acts of anti-Semitism and 
     intolerance;
       (5) all participating states, including the United States, 
     should forward their respective laws and data on incidents of 
     anti-Semitism and other hate crimes to the OSCE Office for 
     Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) for 
     compilation and provide adequate resources for the completion 
     of its duties;
       (6) the United States should encourage the Bulgarian 
     Chairman-in-Office, in consultation with the incoming 
     Slovenian Chairman-in-Office, to consider appointing a high 
     level ``personal envoy'' to ensure sustained attention with 
     respect to fulfilling OSCE commitments on the reporting of 
     anti-Semitic crimes;
       (7) the United States should urge OSCE participating states 
     to support the January 2000 Declaration of the Stockholm 
     International Forum on the Holocaust, and the work of the 
     Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust 
     Education, Remembrance and Research, in developing effective 
     methodologies to teach the lessons of the Holocaust; and
       (8) all OSCE participating states should renew and 
     revitalize efforts to implement their existing commitments to 
     fight anti-Semitism and intolerance, and keep sharp focus on 
     these issues as part of the usual work of the OSCE Permanent 
     Council, the Human Dimension Implementation Review Meeting, 
     the Ministerial Council and summits.


                           amendment no. 3678

           (Purpose: To propose a substitute to the preamble)

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas anti-Semitism is a unique evil and an affront to 
     human rights that must be unequivocally condemned, and a 
     phenomenon that, when left unchecked, has led to violence 
     against members of the Jewish community and Jewish 
     institutions;
       Whereas racism, xenophobia, and discrimination are also 
     pernicious ills that erode the dignity of the individual and 
     undermine the achievement and preservation of stable 
     democratic societies;
       Whereas to be effective in combating these phenomena, 
     governments must respond to related violence while seeking to 
     address the underlying sources of anti-Semitism, racism, 
     xenophobia, discrimination, intolerance, and related violence 
     through public denouncements by elected leaders, vigorous law 
     enforcement, and education;
       Whereas all Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe (OSCE) participating states must confront acts of 
     anti-Semitism and intolerance, and must deal effectively with 
     acts of violence against Jews and Jewish cultural sites, as 
     well as against ethnic and religious minority groups, in 
     keeping with their OSCE commitments;
       Whereas education is critical in overcoming intolerance and 
     it is essential that those responsible for formulating 
     education policy recognize the importance of teaching about 
     the Holocaust and intolerance as a tool to fight anti-
     Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination among young 
     people;
       Whereas ensuring proper training of law enforcement 
     officers and military forces is vital in keeping alive the 
     memory of the

[[Page S9655]]

     Holocaust and to the importance of understanding and 
     responding to incidents of anti-Semitism and intolerance;
       Whereas OSCE participating states have repeatedly committed 
     to condemn anti-Semitism and intolerance, foremost in the 
     historic 1990 Copenhagen Concluding Document that, for the 
     first time, declared ``participating [s]tates clearly and 
     unequivocally condemn totalitarianism, racial and ethnic 
     hatred, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and discrimination against 
     anyone,'' and stated their intent to ``take effective 
     measures . . . to provide protection against any acts that 
     constitute incitement to violence against persons or groups 
     based on national, racial, ethnic or religious 
     discrimination, hostility or hatred, including anti-
     Semitism'';
       Whereas the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has demonstrated 
     leadership by unanimously passing resolutions at its annual 
     sessions in 2002 and 2003 that condemn anti-Semitism, racial 
     and ethnic hatred, xenophobia, and discrimination and call 
     upon participating states to speak out against these acts and 
     to ensure aggressive law enforcement by local and national 
     authorities;
       Whereas the 2002 Porto OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 
     committed participating states to ``take strong public 
     positions against hate speech and other manifestations of 
     aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism, xenophobia, anti-
     Semitism and violent extremism,'' specifically condemned the 
     ``recent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the OSCE area, 
     recognizing the role that the existence of anti-Semitism has 
     played throughout history as a major threat to freedom,'' and 
     urged for the ``convening of separately designated human 
     dimension events on issues addressed in this decision, 
     including on the topics of anti-Semitism, discrimination and 
     racism and xenophobia'';
       Whereas the 2003 OSCE Vienna conferences on anti-Semitism 
     and racism, xenophobia, and discrimination were 
     groundbreaking, as the OSCE and its participating states met 
     to discuss ways to combat these destructive forces;
       Whereas the 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council approved 
     follow-up OSCE conferences on anti-Semitism and on racism, 
     xenophobia and discrimination, and encouraged ``all 
     participating [s]tates to collect and keep records on 
     reliable information and statistics on hate crimes, including 
     on forms of violent manifestations of racism, xenophobia, 
     discrimination, and anti-Semitism,'' as well as to inform the 
     OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights 
     (ODIHR) ``about existing legislation regarding crimes fueled 
     by intolerance and discrimination'';
       Whereas at the 2004 OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism, 
     hosted in the German capital, the Bulgarian Chairman-in-
     Office issued the ``Berlin Declaration'' which stated 
     unambiguously that ``international developments or political 
     issues, including those in Israel or elsewhere in the Middle 
     East, never justify anti-Semitism'';
       Whereas the Berlin Declaration advances the process of 
     monitoring of anti-Semitic crimes and hate crimes, as all 
     OSCE participating states committed to ``collect and 
     maintain'' statistics about these incidents and to forward 
     that information to the ODIHR for compilation;
       Whereas during the closing conference plenary, the German 
     Foreign Minister and others highlighted the need to ensure 
     all participating states follow through with their 
     commitments and initiate efforts to track anti-Semitic crimes 
     and hate crimes; and
       Whereas the Government of Spain announced its willingness 
     to organize and hold the next OSCE Conference on Anti-
     Semitism in Cordoba, Spain, in the event the OSCE Ministerial 
     Council decides to hold another conference on anti-Semitism
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 110), as amended, was agreed 
to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
  (The concurrent resolution will be printed in a future edition of the 
Record.)

                          ____________________