[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2488-S2489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 56--URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF MOLDOVA TO ENSURE A FAIR 
  AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTION PROCESS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ON 
                             APRIL 5, 2009

  Mr. LUGAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 56

       Whereas Senate Resolution 60, 110th Congress, agreed to 
     February 17, 2005, expressed the support of the Senate for 
     democratic reform in Moldova and urged the Government of 
     Moldova to ensure a democratic and fair election process for 
     the parliamentary elections on March 6, 2005, by ensuring 
     ``unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to print, 
     radio, television, and Internet media on a nondiscriminatory 
     basis'' and

[[Page S2489]]

     ``the right of opposition candidates and workers to engage in 
     campaigning free of harassment, discrimination, and 
     intimidation'';
       Whereas the Election Observation Mission of the Office for 
     Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization 
     for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) found that, 
     while the parliamentary elections in 2005 generally complied 
     with most of the OSCE commitments and other international 
     standards, ``they fell short of some that are central to a 
     genuinely competitive election process'', in particular 
     ``campaign conditions and access to media'', confirming the 
     ``negative trends already noted in the 2003 local 
     elections'';
       Whereas the Election Observation Mission found that the 
     local elections held in June 2007 in Moldova were generally 
     well administered but ``fell short of a number of OSCE 
     commitments central to a competitive electoral process,'' in 
     particular by not fully respecting ``the right of citizens to 
     seek public office and equitable media access'';
       Whereas Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan 
     organization working to advance the expansion of freedom, 
     again in 2008 designated the political environment of Moldova 
     as only ``partly free'';
       Whereas political liberties and civil rights are key 
     indicators of eligibility for support from the Millennium 
     Challenge Corporation, an entity of the United States 
     Government, which is now considering a sizeable grant for the 
     economic and political development of Moldova; and
       Whereas recent actions by entities of the Government of 
     Moldova raise serious questions about the readiness of the 
     Government of Moldova to break free from the unfortunate 
     patterns established in the elections in 2003, 2005, and 2007 
     and to create the campaign conditions and access to media 
     required for truly free and fair elections: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the strong, mutually beneficial relationship 
     that exists between the United States Government and the 
     Government of Moldova;
       (2) recognizes that the development of a genuinely 
     democratic political system in Moldova is a precondition for 
     the full integration of Moldova into the Western community of 
     nations and the provision of assistance necessary to attain 
     such integration;
       (3) urges the Government of Moldova to meet its commitments 
     to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, 
     especially in respect to the conduct of elections, by 
     guaranteeing--
       (A) unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to 
     public print, radio, television, and Internet media on a 
     nondiscriminatory basis;
       (B) the ability of independent media to cover campaigns on 
     an unrestricted basis;
       (C) the right of opposition candidates and workers to 
     engage in campaigning free of harassment, discrimination, and 
     intimidation; and
       (D) adequate means for citizens of Moldova residing abroad 
     to cast their ballots; and
       (4) in light of the steps taken by the Government of 
     Moldova, pledges the continued support of the United States 
     Government for the establishment in Moldova of a fully free 
     and democratic system, the creation of a prosperous market 
     economy, and the assumption by Moldova of its rightful place 
     as a full and equal member of the Western community of 
     democracies.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today I submit a resolution urging the 
Government of Moldova to ensure a fair and democratic election process 
for the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009.
  Since independence in 1991, Moldova has made notable progress in 
establishing a democratic political system and a free market economy. 
However, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, 
has reported that recent rounds of parliamentary elections have fallen 
short on a number of international election standards.
  In 2005, the Senate passed a Resolution expressing our support for 
democratic reform in Moldova and urging the Government of Moldova to 
ensure unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to all media 
outlets in the run-up to the 2005 parliamentary elections. While the 
OSCE found that the 2005 elections generally complied with 
international standards, it found that ``campaign conditions and access 
to media'' fell short of these standards. The OSCE reported similar 
circumstances following the 2007 parliamentary elections, including a 
lack of ``equitable media access'' among the candidates.
  This Resolution re-affirms the United States Senate's support for 
political reform and fair democratic processes with our partners in 
Moldova. It urges the Government of Moldova to recognize the importance 
of guaranteeing all election candidates equitable access to media 
outlets in Moldova for the April 2009 elections. This will be an 
important consideration for receiving a Compact from the Millennium 
Challenge Corporation and for Moldova's full integration as a member of 
the Western community of democracies.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

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