[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HISTORIC HAVANA MEETING OF ASSEMBLY TO PROMOTE THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN 
                                  CUBA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Foreign 
Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration, and the 
Senate now proceed to S. Res. 140.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 140) expressing support for the 
     historic meeting in Havana of the Assembly to Promote the 
     Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, as well as to all 
     those courageous individuals who continue to advance liberty 
     and democracy for the Cuban people.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be 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. 140) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 140

       Whereas on May 20, 1902, the Republic of Cuba obtained its 
     independence;
       Whereas in the spirit of Jose Marti, many of the future 
     leaders of a free Cuba have called for a meeting of the 
     Assembly of the Civil Society in Cuba, an organization that 
     consists of over 360 dissident and civil society groups in 
     Cuba;
       Whereas, on May 20, 2005, the Assembly to Promote the Civil 
     Society in Cuba seeks to convene a historic meeting in Havana 
     on the 103rd anniversary of Cuban Independence; and
       Whereas the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba 
     will focus on bringing democracy and liberty to the island of 
     Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) extends its support and solidarity to the participants 
     of the historic meeting, in Havana, of the Assembly to 
     Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005;
       (2) urges the international community to support the 
     Assembly and its mission to bring democracy and human rights 
     to Cuba;
       (3) encourages the international community to oppose any 
     attempts by the Cuban government to repress, punish, or 
     intimidate the organizers and participants of the Assembly; 
     and
       (4) shares the pro-democracy ideals of the Assembly to 
     Promote the Civil Society in Cuba and believes that the 
     Assembly and its mission will advance freedom and democracy 
     for the people of Cuba.

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