[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S8065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 683--RECOGNIZING THE RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 
 PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF MOLDOVA AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR FREE AND 
        TRANSPARENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ON NOVEMBER 28, 2010

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mrs. Hagan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 683

       Whereas, since independence 19 years ago, the people of 
     Moldova have made extraordinary progress in transitioning 
     from authoritarian government and a closed market to a 
     democratic government and market economy;
       Whereas, for 19 years, the constitution of Moldova has 
     guaranteed its citizens freedom to emigrate confirmed by 
     years of successive Presidential waivers concerning the 
     Jackson-Vanik amendment;
       Whereas, on January 12, 2010, the Government of Moldova 
     initiated negotiations with the European Union on an 
     Association Agreement between the European Union and the 
     Republic of Moldova, an important step towards European Union 
     accession;
       Whereas, in order to comply with the criteria of the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Government of 
     Moldova implemented far-reaching legal reforms to curb 
     corruption, introduce budgetary transparency, and strengthen 
     the capacity of civil society and the media, resulting in the 
     successful conclusion of negotiations and the signing of an 
     MCC Compact on January 22, 2010;
       Whereas the Government of Moldova initiated a visa dialogue 
     between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union aiming 
     at visa liberalization on June 15, 2010;
       Whereas, on August 26, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary 
     Clinton praised progress in Moldova in ``advancing 
     transparent governance, human rights, and economic reform'';
       Whereas, on October 20, 2010, Reporters Without Borders 
     reported an improvement in the freedom of press in Moldova, 
     with Moldova rising from the 114th position in 2009 to the 
     75th position in 2010;
       Whereas, in November 2010, the Government of Moldova 
     concluded a treaty with Romania important to the assertion of 
     its sovereignty and its future development;
       Whereas Assistant Secretary of State for European and 
     Eurasian Affairs Philip H. Gordon noted in testimony before 
     the Subcommittee on Europe of the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives on June 16, 2009, 
     ``We will continue to work for a negotiated settlement of the 
     separatist conflict in the Transnistria region that provides 
     for a whole and democratic Moldova and the withdrawal of 
     Russian forces.''; and
       Whereas the Republic of Moldova has made commitments to the 
     Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to 
     conduct elections according to international standards: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the development of an enduring democratic 
     political system and free market economy in Moldova and a 
     parliamentary election process on November 28, 2010, that 
     comports with international standards of fairness and 
     transparency;
       (2) recognizes that the commitment of the Government of 
     Moldova to economic and political reforms since 2009 has 
     resulted in tangible progress towards integration into 
     European institutions;
       (3) acknowledges that continued reform and commitment to a 
     free and fair election process will remain necessary for 
     Moldova's full integration into the Western community of 
     nations;
       (4) notes that continued reforms in Moldova could provide 
     for an additional basis for the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik 
     trade restrictions;
       (5) encourages ongoing negotiations between the European 
     Union and the Republic of Moldova concerning visa 
     liberalization and an Association Agreement;
       (6) urges fulfillment by the Government of Moldova of 
     commitments it has made to the OSCE with respect to the free 
     and fair conduct of its upcoming parliamentary elections; and
       (7) expresses the belief that the free and fair conduct of 
     parliamentary elections in Moldova will contribute to a 
     strong and stable government that is responsive to the vital 
     needs of its people.

                          ____________________