[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4227-S4228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  URGING GOVERNMENT OF MOLDOVA TO ENSURE A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION PROCESS

  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 42, S. Res. 56.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 56) urging the Government of Moldova 
     to ensure a fair and democratic election process for the 
     parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements 
relating to this measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 56) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               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 ``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)

[[Page S4228]]

     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.

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