[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 141 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S11954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign 
Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
320, and that the Senate then proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 320) recognizing the achievements of 
     the people of Ukraine in pursuit of freedom and democracy, 
     and expressing the hope that the parliamentary elections on 
     September 30, 2007, preserve and extend these gains and 
     provide for a stable and representative government.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements relating thereto 
be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 320) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 320

       Whereas the people of Ukraine have overcome financial and 
     political hardships to achieve a democratic system in which 
     decisions have been reached without violence and through free 
     and fair elections;
       Whereas Ukraine has already conducted elections considered 
     free, fair, and consistent with the principles of the 
     Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 2 
     previous occasions;
       Whereas the people of Ukraine deserve an elected and 
     representative government that can work together and pass 
     legislation to improve the quality of life for all 
     Ukrainians; and
       Whereas the people of Ukraine have successfully established 
     a growing free press, an increasingly independent judiciary, 
     and a respect for human rights and the rule of law, which 
     enhance freedom, stability, and prosperity: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) acknowledges the cooperation and friendship between the 
     people of the United States and the people of Ukraine since 
     the restoration of Ukraine's independence in 1991 and the 
     natural affections of the millions of Americans whose 
     ancestors emigrated from Ukraine;
       (2) expresses the admiration of the American people for the 
     ongoing success of the Ukranian people at removing violence 
     from politics, for which Ukrainians should be proud, in 
     particular the free and fair presidential elections of 
     December 26, 2004, and the parliamentary elections of March 
     26, 2006;
       (3) encourages the people of Ukraine to maintain the 
     democratic successes of the Orange Revolution of 2004, and 
     expresses the hope that the leaders of Ukraine will conduct 
     the September 30, 2007, elections in keeping with the 
     standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe (OSCE), of which both the United States and Ukraine 
     are participating states;
       (4) urges the leaders and parties of Ukraine to overcome 
     past differences and work together constructively to enhance 
     the economic and political stability of the country that the 
     people of Ukraine deserve; and
       (5) pledges the continued assistance of the United States 
     to the continued progress and further development of a free 
     and representative democratic government in Ukraine based on 
     the rule of law and the principle of human rights.

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