[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 45 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3759-S3760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ENSURING DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN THE KURDISH REPUBLIC

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 111 which was submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 111) urging the United States to 
     increase its efforts to ensure democratic reform in the 
     Kurdish Republic.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, this resolution urges the United States to 
increase its efforts to ensure democratic reform in the Kyrgyz 
Republic.
  The Kyrgyz Republic has held two rounds of parliamentary elections, 
the first on February 27 the second on March 13. While both election 
rounds showed progress toward the goal of a free, fair, and transparent 
election process, the elections fell short of the Kyrgyz Republic's 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's OSCE and 
international commitments to fully meet the accepted criteria for 
democratic elections.
  Violations included instances of vote buying, questionable 
disqualification of candidates and interference with the media.
  Inspired by the recent revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, the people 
of the Kyrgyz Republic rose against their corrupt government to demand 
respect for their democratic rights. Nationwide demonstrations sparked 
by the flawed parliamentary elections led to the departure of President 
Askar Akayev on March 22. The opposition moved quickly to consolidate 
control and established an interim government. On April 4, President 
Akayev officially resigned. But the situation remains fluid. The 
outcome in the Kyrgyz Republic is critically important for its future, 
and for people living in the Central Asia region, who hope for a 
democratic future.
  The United States and the Kyrgyz Republic have formed a close 
relationship since it declared independence from the Soviet Union in 
1991. The United States has provided humanitarian assistance, nonlethal 
military assistance, and assistance to support economic and political 
reforms. The Kyrgyz Republic also hosts a U.S. military base that 
provides crucial support to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
  However, while the Kyrgyz Republic has advanced quickly in the area 
of democratic reform since 1991, it has experienced setbacks in recent 
years. I urge the United States in my resolution to continue its strong 
support for democratic reform in the Kyrgyz Republic, including respect 
for the rule of law and human rights.
  I also call upon the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic to 
move swiftly toward democratic government ratified by the Kyrgyz people 
by holding free, fair, and transparent presidential elections on July 
10, and by ensuring that the new parliament represents the choice of 
the Kyrgyz people. The United States must provide strong leadership in 
countries where democracy is still taking root.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 111) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 111

       Whereas on August 31, 1991, the Kyrgyz Republic declared 
     independence from the Soviet Union;
       Whereas the Kyrgyz Republic was ruled by President Askar 
     Akayev from October 1991 to April 2005;
       Whereas the Kyrgyz Republic held a first round of 
     parliamentary elections on February 27, 2005;
       Whereas the United States Government recognized several 
     areas of improvement in the parliamentary elections in the 
     Kyrgyz Republic, including competitive elections and the 
     active participation of civil society, but it noted the 
     elections fell short of the commitments of the Kyrgyz 
     Republic to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe (OSCE) and other international entities to fully meet 
     the accepted criteria for democratic elections;
       Whereas nation-wide demonstrations sparked by the flawed 
     parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic led to the 
     departure of President Akayev and the collapse of his 
     government on March 22, 2005;
       Whereas Askar Akayev officially resigned as President of 
     the Kyrgyz Republic on April 4, 2005;
       Whereas the Kyrgyz people, through their actions, have 
     created an opportunity for a democratic and stable future for 
     the Kyrgyz Republic;
       Whereas the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic can 
     earn the confidence of the Kyrgyz people and the 
     international community by abiding by its commitment to hold 
     free and fair presidential elections on July 10, 2005, and by 
     ensuring that the members of the new parliament in the Kyrgyz 
     Republic represent the choice of the Kyrgyz people;
       Whereas the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic can 
     move towards resolving the political crisis in the Kyrgyz 
     Republic in a way that confirms the will of the Kyrgyz people 
     by working closely with its immediate neighbors and with the 
     OSCE;
       Whereas the United States strongly supports efforts by the 
     OSCE to work with the

[[Page S3760]]

     Kyrgyz people to strengthen democratic institutions in the 
     Kyrgyz Republic, which will provide the foundation for 
     political stability in the Kyrgyz Republic;
       Whereas the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic value a 
     good relationship;
       Whereas the United States provides humanitarian assistance, 
     nonlethal military assistance, and assistance to support 
     economic and political reforms as part of the democratic 
     transition process in the Kyrgyz Republic; and
       Whereas security in the Kyrgyz Republic remains a top 
     concern of the United States due to its strong support of the 
     United States in the global war on terrorism: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes the official resignation of Askar Akayev as 
     President of the Kyrgyz Republic;
       (2) acknowledges and welcomes the close relationship formed 
     between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic since it 
     declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 
     1991;
       (3) supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
     integrity of the Kyrgyz Republic;
       (4) urges the continuation of strong support for democratic 
     reform, including respect for the rule of law and human 
     rights, in the Kyrgyz Republic;
       (5) urges the interim government in the Kyrgyz Republic to 
     move swiftly toward the democratic government ratified by the 
     Kyrgyz people by holding free, fair, and transparent 
     presidential elections on July 10, 2005, and by ensuring that 
     the new parliament in the Kyrgyz Republic represents the 
     choice of the Kyrgyz people; and
       (6) urges the people of the Kyrgyz Republic to take 
     advantage of the readiness of the Organization for Security 
     and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to expand its assistance in 
     preparing for free and fair presidential elections in the 
     Kyrgyz Republic as the foundation of political legitimacy and 
     stability in the Kyrgyz Republic.

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