[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING HIS EXCELLENCY HAMID KARZAI, THE PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. BURNS. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to 
consideration of S. Res. 152, which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 152) welcoming His Excellency Hamid 
     Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, and expressing support 
     for a strong enduring strategic partnership between the 
     United States and Afghanistan.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BURNS. 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. 152) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follow:

                              S. Res. 152

       Whereas Afghanistan has suffered the ravages of war, 
     foreign occupation, and oppression;
       Whereas following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
     2001, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom, 
     which helped to establish an environment in which the people 
     of Afghanistan are building the foundations for a democratic 
     government;
       Whereas, on January 4, 2004, the Constitutional Loya Jirga 
     of Afghanistan adopted a constitution that provides for equal 
     rights for full participation of women, mandates full 
     compliance with international norms for human and civil 
     rights, establishes procedures for free and fair elections, 
     creates a system of checks and balances between the 
     executive, legislative, and judicial branches, encourages a 
     free market economy and private enterprise, and obligates the 
     state to prevent terrorist activity and the production and 
     trafficking of narcotics;
       Whereas, on October 9, 2004, approximately 8,400,000 
     Afghans, including nearly 3,500,000 women, voted in 
     Afghanistan's first direct Presidential election at the 
     national level, demonstrating commitment to democracy, 
     courage in the face of threats of violence, and a deep sense 
     of civic responsibility;
       Whereas, on December 7, 2004, Hamid Karzai took the oath of 
     office as the first democratically elected President in the 
     history of Afghanistan;
       Whereas nationwide parliamentary elections are planned in 
     Afghanistan for September 2005, further demonstrating the 
     Afghan people's will to live in a democratic state, and the 
     commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to democratic 
     norms;
       Whereas the Government of Afghanistan is committed to 
     halting the cultivation and trafficking of narcotics and has 
     pursued, in cooperation with the United States and its 
     allies, a wide range of counter-narcotics initiatives;
       Whereas the United States and the international community 
     are working to assist Afghanistan's counter-narcotics 
     campaign by supporting programs to provide alternative 
     livelihoods for farmers, sustainable economic development, 
     and capable Afghan security forces; and
       Whereas, on March 17, 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza 
     Rice said of Afghanistan ``this country was once a source of 
     terrorism; it is now a steadfast fighter against terrorism. 
     There could be no better story than the story of Afghanistan 
     in the last several years and there can be no better story 
     than the story of American and Afghan friendship. It is a 
     story of cooperation and friendship that will continue. We 
     have a long-term commitment to this country'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes, as an honored guest and valued friend of the 
     United States, President Hamid Karzai on the occasion of his 
     visit to the United States as the first democratically 
     elected President of Afghanistan scheduled for May 21 through 
     25, 2005;
       (2) supports a democratic, stable, and prosperous 
     Afghanistan as essential to the security of the United 
     States; and
       (3) supports a strong and enduring strategic partnership 
     between the United States and Afghanistan as a primary 
     objective of both countries to advance their shared vision of 
     peace, freedom, security and broad-based economic development 
     in Afghanistan, the broader South Asia region, and throughout 
     the world.

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