[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 118 (Friday, July 25, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6836-H6837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE WITH RESPECT TO MOLDOVA
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 562) expressing the sense of
the House of Representatives with respect to enhanced relations with
the Republic of Moldova and support for Moldova's territorial
integrity, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 562
Whereas the United States has enjoyed good relations with
the Republic of Moldova since the Republic of Moldova's
independence in 1991;
Whereas since the Republic of Moldova's independence, the
United States has provided financial assistance to support
the people of Moldova's efforts to build a prosperous
European democracy;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Moldova
further strengthened their partnership through the launching
of a Strategic Dialogue on March 3, 2014;
Whereas the Republic of Moldova is due to sign an
Association Agreement containing comprehensive free trade
provisions with the European Union on June 27, 2014;
Whereas the United States Government supports the
democratic aspirations of the people of the Republic of
Moldova and their expressed desire to deepen their
association with the European Union;
Whereas in a judgment in 2004, the European Court of Human
Rights found that Transnistria was set up with the support of
the Russian Federation and considered it ``under the
effective authority or at least decisive influence of
Russia'';
Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and on that
basis participates as an observer in the ``5+2'' negotiations
to find a comprehensive settlement that will provide a
special status for the separatist region of Transnistria
within Moldova;
Whereas the leaders of the Transnistrian region of the
Republic of Moldova requested to postpone the ``5+2'' round
of talks scheduled to take place in April 2014;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation banned the
import of Moldovan wine in 2013 and has threatened to ban
Moldovan agricultural products, curtail the supply of energy
resources to Moldova, and impose stricter labor migration
policies on the people of Moldova;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation maintains
a contingent of Russian troops and a stockpile of Russian
military equipment and ammunition within the Moldovan region
of Transnistria;
Whereas the Government of Russia has been actively issuing
Russian passports to the residents of the Transnistria
region;
Whereas the Council of Europe, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Government of
Moldova have called upon the Government of the Russian
Federation to remove its troops from the territory of the
Republic of Moldova;
Whereas authorities in the Republic of Moldova's
Transnistria region have restricted access to the region by
OSCE Mission to Moldova monitors, preventing the Mission from
providing impartial reporting on the security situation in
the region;
Whereas the House of Representatives and the Senate both
passed by an overwhelming majority, and the President signed
into law, S. 2183, providing for a United States
international broadcasting programming surge to counter
misinformation from Russian-supported news outlets and
ensuring that Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and
Moldova have access to independent news and information; and
Whereas Moldova has been a valued and reliable partner in
promoting global security by participating in U.N.
peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and
Georgia: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to
support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Moldova and the inviolability of
its borders by other nation-states;
(2) supports the Strategic Dialogue as a means to
strengthen relations between the Republic of Moldova and the
United States and enhance the democratic, economic, rule of
law, and security reforms already being implemented by the
Republic of Moldova;
(3) encourages the President and the Department of State to
enhance United States cooperation with the Government of
Moldova and civil society organizations and focus assistance
on justice sector reform, anti-corruption efforts,
strengthening democratic institutions, domestic energy
development, diversification of energy supplies and energy
efficiency, as well as promoting trade and investment
opportunities;
(4) encourages the President to expedite the implementation
of Public Law 113-96, especially for populations in Ukraine
and Moldova;
(5) affirms the Republic of Moldova's sovereign right to
determine its own partnerships free of external coercion and
pressure, and affirms Moldova's right to associate with the
European Union or any regional organization;
(6) calls upon the Government of Russia to fulfill its
commitments made at the OSCE's Istanbul summit in 1999 and to
withdraw its military forces and munitions from within the
internationally recognized territory of the Republic of
Moldova;
(7) calls upon the Government of Russia to refrain from
economic threats and pressure against Moldova and to cease
any and all actions that support separatist movements on the
territory of Moldova;
(8) supports constructive engagement and confidence-
building measures between the Government of Moldova and the
authorities in the Transnistria region in order to secure a
peaceful resolution to the conflict;
(9) supports efforts to resolve the Transnistria issue
through a comprehensive settlement that affirms Moldova's
sovereignty and territorial integrity, while providing a
special status for the Transnistrian region within Moldova;
(10) urges officials in the Transnistrian region to allow
OSCE Mission to Moldova monitors unrestricted access to the
region;
(11) urges all parties to refrain from unilateral actions
that may undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution,
as well as the agreements already reached, and encourages
leaders of the Transnistrian region to resume negotiations
toward a political settlement; and
(12) affirms that lasting stability and security in Europe
is a key priority for the United States and that these can
only be achieved if the territorial integrity and sovereignty
of all European countries is respected.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I have an amendment to the text at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to
support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Moldova and the inviolability of
its borders by other nation-states;
(2) supports the Strategic Dialogue as a means to
strengthen relations between the Republic of Moldova and the
United States and enhance the democratic, economic, rule of
law, and security reforms already being implemented by the
Republic of Moldova;
(3) encourages the President and the Department of State to
enhance United States cooperation with the Government of
Moldova and civil society organizations and focus assistance
on justice sector reform, anti-corruption efforts,
strengthening democratic institutions, domestic energy
development, diversification of energy supplies and energy
efficiency, as well as promoting trade and investment
opportunities;
(4) encourages the President to expedite the implementation
of Public Law 113-96, especially for populations in Ukraine
and Moldova;
(5) affirms the Republic of Moldova's sovereign right to
determine its own partnerships free of external coercion and
pressure, and affirms Moldova's right to associate with the
European Union or any regional organization;
(6) calls upon the Government of Russia to fulfill its
commitments made at the OSCE's Istanbul summit in 1999 and to
withdraw its military forces and munitions from within the
internationally recognized territory of the Republic of
Moldova;
(7) calls upon the Government of Russia to refrain from
economic threats and pressure against Moldova and to cease
any and all actions that support separatist movements on the
territory of Moldova;
(8) supports constructive engagement and confidence-
building measures between the Government of Moldova and the
authorities in the Transnistria region in order to secure a
peaceful resolution to the conflict;
(9) supports efforts to resolve the Transnistria issue
through a comprehensive
[[Page H6837]]
settlement that affirms Moldova's sovereignty and territorial
integrity, while providing a special status for the
Transnistrian region within Moldova;
(10) urges officials in the Transnistrian region to allow
OSCE Mission to Moldova monitors unrestricted access to the
region;
(11) urges all parties to refrain from unilateral actions
that may undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution,
as well as the agreements already reached, and encourages
leaders of the Transnistrian region to resume negotiations
toward a political settlement; and
(12) affirms that lasting stability and security in Europe
is a key priority for the United States and that these can
only be achieved if the territorial integrity and sovereignty
of all European countries is respected.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that the reading of the text be dispensed with.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the
preamble at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike the preamble and insert the following:
Whereas the United States has enjoyed good relations with
the Republic of Moldova since the Republic of Moldova's
independence in 1991;
Whereas since the Republic of Moldova's independence, the
United States has provided financial assistance to support
the people of Moldova's efforts to build a prosperous
European democracy;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Moldova
further strengthened their partnership through the launching
of a Strategic Dialogue on March 3, 2014;
Whereas the Republic of Moldova is due to sign an
Association Agreement containing comprehensive free trade
provisions with the European Union on June 27, 2014;
Whereas the United States Government supports the
democratic aspirations of the people of the Republic of
Moldova and their expressed desire to deepen their
association with the European Union;
Whereas in a judgment in 2004, the European Court of Human
Rights found that Transnistria was set up with the support of
the Russian Federation and considered it ``under the
effective authority or at least decisive influence of
Russia'';
Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and on that
basis participates as an observer in the ``5+2'' negotiations
to find a comprehensive settlement that will provide a
special status for the separatist region of Transnistria
within Moldova;
Whereas the leaders of the Transnistrian region of the
Republic of Moldova requested to postpone the ``5+2'' round
of talks scheduled to take place in April 2014;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation banned the
import of Moldovan wine in 2013 and has threatened to ban
Moldovan agricultural products, curtail the supply of energy
resources to Moldova, and impose stricter labor migration
policies on the people of Moldova;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation maintains
a contingent of Russian troops and a stockpile of Russian
military equipment and ammunition within the Moldovan region
of Transnistria;
Whereas the Government of Russia has been actively issuing
Russian passports to the residents of the Transnistria
region;
Whereas the Council of Europe, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Government of
Moldova have called upon the Government of the Russian
Federation to remove its troops from the territory of the
Republic of Moldova;
Whereas authorities in the Republic of Moldova's
Transnistria region have restricted access to the region by
OSCE Mission to Moldova monitors, preventing the Mission from
providing impartial reporting on the security situation in
the region;
Whereas the House of Representatives and the Senate both
passed by an overwhelming majority, and the President signed
into law, S. 2183, providing for a United States
international broadcasting programming surge to counter
misinformation from Russian-supported news outlets and
ensuring that Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and
Moldova have access to independent news and information; and
Whereas Moldova has been a valued and reliable partner in
promoting global security by participating in U.N.
peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and
Georgia: Now, therefore, be it
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that the reading of the preamble text be dispensed
with.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________