[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S8776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 319--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE IN 
  LIGHT OF PRESIDENT YANUKOVYCH'S DECISION NOT TO SIGN AN ASSOCIATION 
                   AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION

  Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mrs. Shaheen, and 
Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 319

       Whereas, according to a poll conducted in November 2013, a 
     majority of the people of Ukraine supported signing an 
     historic trade and political agreement with the European 
     Union;
       Whereas a closer association between Ukraine and the 
     European Union has been supported by Ukrainian civil society, 
     business leaders, and politicians across the political 
     spectrum and would bring lasting political, democratic, and 
     economic benefits to the people of Ukraine;
       Whereas Ukraine successfully passed much of the legislation 
     required to conform to European Union standards for signing 
     an Association Agreement;
       Whereas, on September 22, 2012, and November 18, 2013, the 
     Senate unanimously passed resolutions calling for a 
     demonstrable end to selective justice in Ukraine and 
     expressing its belief that Ukraine's future lies with 
     stronger ties to Europe, the United States, and others in the 
     community of democracies;
       Whereas the experience of countries such as Poland, 
     Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia provides a positive example of 
     increased economic opportunity, enhanced personal freedom, 
     and good governance. which can also be realized by Ukraine;
       Whereas the Government and people of Ukraine have the 
     sovereign right to choose their own foreign policy and 
     economic course, and no other country has the right to 
     determine their political and economic orientation, nor 
     decide which alliances and trade agreements they can join;
       Whereas, on November 21, 2013, President Viktor Yanukovych 
     suspended Ukraine's preparations for signing the Association 
     Agreement one week before a critical European Union Summit in 
     Vilnius, Lithuania;
       Whereas the abrupt reversal on the eve of the summit 
     following Russian economic coercion and to protect the narrow 
     interests of some officials and individuals in Ukraine 
     prompted hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians all across the 
     country, especially young people and students, to protest the 
     decision and stand in support of furthering Ukraine's Euro-
     Atlantic integration;
       Whereas international nonprofit and nongovernmental 
     organizations provide essential care to needy Ukrainians, yet 
     face direct threats and challenges to their existence and 
     administrative and regulatory impediments, including 
     challenges to operating with the tax-exempt status necessary 
     to maximize the use of funds on the ground and threats to the 
     fabric of civil society vital to democracy in Ukraine;
       Whereas, on November 30, 2013, at Independence Square in 
     Kyiv, special division police dispersed a peaceful 
     demonstration of students and civil society activists who 
     were calling on President Yanukovych to sign the Association 
     Agreement;
       Whereas approximately 35 individuals were detained or 
     arrested, and dozens were hospitalized, some with severe 
     injuries;
       Whereas, on December 9, 2013, raids were conducted on three 
     opposition media outlets and the headquarters of one 
     opposition party;
       Whereas, on December 11, 2013, Ukrainian authorities 
     conducted an overnight police operation in an attempt to 
     forcefully take control of Independence Square, but were 
     resisted by brave Ukrainians who filled the square and 
     rebuffed the police action;
       Whereas all three former Presidents of Ukraine have 
     underscored the need to refrain from violence and the 
     importance of engaging in a dialogue with the opposition; and
       Whereas Ukraine faces an impending economic crisis that can 
     only be solved with long term economic reforms: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) stands with the people of Ukraine and supports their 
     sovereign right to chart an independent and democratic future 
     for their country;
       (2) urges leaders in the United States and the European 
     Union to continue working together actively to support a 
     peaceful and democratic resolution to the current crisis that 
     moves Ukraine toward a future in the Euro-Atlantic community 
     and a long-term solution to Ukraine's economic crisis;
       (3) encourages demonstrators and members of the opposition 
     and civil society in Ukraine to continue avoiding the use of 
     violence and engage in a dialogue of national reconciliation;
       (4) urges all political parties to refrain from hate speech 
     or actions of an anti-Semitic or other character which 
     further divide the Ukrainian people when they need to be 
     united;
       (5) calls on the Government of Ukraine to refrain from 
     further use of force or acts of violence against peaceful 
     protestors, and to respect the internationally-recognized 
     human rights of the Ukrainian people, especially the freedoms 
     of speech and assembly;
       (6) condemns the decision by Ukrainian authorities to use 
     violence against peaceful demonstrators on November 30, 
     December 1, and December 11, 2013, and calls for those 
     responsible to be swiftly brought to justice and all detained 
     nonviolent demonstrators to be immediately released; and
       (7) notes that in the event of further state violence 
     against peaceful protestors, the President and Congress 
     should consider whether to apply targeted sanctions, 
     including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals 
     responsible for ordering or carrying out the violence.

                          ____________________