[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S82-S83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Mr. REED. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 274, S. Res.
319.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 319) expressing support for the
Ukrainian people in light of President Yanukovych's decision
not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union.
[[Page S83]]
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. REED. Madam President, I further ask unanimous consent that the
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no
intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 319) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 319
Whereas, according to a poll conducted in November 2013, a
majority of the people of Ukraine supported signing a
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.
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