[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5232-5233]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 73--CONGRATULATING THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF 
  EL SALVADOR ON SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

  Mr. DeWINE (for himself, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Graham, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. 
Robb) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations.

                               S. Res. 73

       Whereas on March 7, 1999, the Republic of El Salvador 
     successfully completed its second democratic multiparty 
     elections for President and Vice President since the signing 
     of the 1992 peace accords;
       Whereas these elections were deemed by international and 
     domestic observers to be free and fair and a legitimate 
     nonviolent expression of the will of the people of the 
     Republic of El Salvador;
       Whereas the United States has consistently supported the 
     efforts of the people of El Salvador to consolidate their 
     democracy and to implement the provisions of the 1992 peace 
     accords;
       Whereas these elections demonstrate the strength and 
     diversity of El Salvador's democratic expression and promote 
     confidence that all political parties can work cooperatively 
     at every level of government; and
       Whereas these open, fair, and democratic elections of the 
     new President and Vice President should be broadly commended: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Government and the people of the 
     Republic of El Salvador for the successful completion of 
     democratic multiparty elections held on March 7, 1999, for 
     President and Vice President;
       (2) congratulates President-elect Francisco Guillermo 
     Flores Perez and Vice President-elect Carlos Quintanilla 
     Schmidt on their recent victory and their continued strong 
     commitment to democracy, national reconciliation, and 
     reconstruction;
       (3) congratulates El Salvadoran President Armando Calderon 
     Sol for his personal commitment to democracy, which has 
     helped in the building of national unity in the Republic of 
     El Salvador;
       (4) commends all Salvadoran citizens and political parties 
     for their efforts to work together to take risks for 
     democracy and to willfully pursue national reconciliation in 
     order to cement a lasting peace and to strengthen democratic 
     traditions in El Salvador;
       (5) supports Salvadoran attempts to continue their 
     cooperation in order to ensure democracy, national 
     reconciliation, and economic prosperity; and
       (6) reaffirms that the United States is unequivocally 
     committed to encouraging democracy and peaceful development 
     throughout Central America.

 Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
on El Salvador along with Senators Coverdell, Graham and Dodd. This 
resolution congratulates the government and the people of El Salvador 
on successfully completing free and democratic elections on March 7, 
1999.
  On March 7, 1999 the Republic of El Salvador successfully completed 
its second democratic multiparty election since the signing of the 
peace accords in 1992. These elections, like the legislative elections 
in 1997 and the Presidential elections in 1994, were deemed free and 
fair by domestic and international observers. Moreover, the elections 
were conducted in an environment of peace, where all parties contested 
for the right to govern in a spirited political campaign.
  This resolution today commends the government of El Salvador and most 
importantly the people of the country, who thought their participation 
in the political process have demonstrated the strength and diversity 
of El Salvador's democratic expression. It also congratulates Mr. 
Francisco Flores, President-elect, and Vice President-elect, Mr. Carlos 
Quintanilla-Schmidt for their electoral victory and for their 
commitment to democracy and to the continued progress of El Salvador.
  This election further consolidates El Salvador's dramatic 
transformation in the seven short years since the signing of the peace 
accords. Today, El Salvador has moved from a country

[[Page 5233]]

racked by civil war into a stable multiparty democracy. The country has 
attained a balance of power among the Executive, Judicial and 
Legislative Branches. It has enacted measures to guarantee the full 
respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and has adopted 
policies that strengthen municipal governments and provide much-needed 
social services to local communities.
  The country has also undergone an equally dramatic economic 
transformation. Its economy, which suffered decades of decline, has 
become one of the fastest growing economies in the region. For the past 
eight years, the GDP in El Salvador has averaged 5.3 percent. 
Inflation, which averaged above 20 percent prior to 1992, now tops at 
1.5 percent. El Salvador's privatization program is one of the most 
successful in the region. Moreover, it is considered today one of the 
best sovereign credit risks in Latin America.
  All of these accomplishments are testament to the will of the 
Salvadoran people to put their past behind them and focus on creating a 
future of social stability and economic prosperity. It is also a 
testament to the political leadership of the Salvadoran government. 
When President Calderon Sol took office five years ago, he had the 
responsibility to assure full compliance with the peace accords, as 
well as keep the economy of El Salvador on the path of economic reform. 
He deserves today to be applauded by this body of Congress for his 
accomplishments and for leading his country successfully into the 21st 
century.
  El Salvador's dramatic transformation is not unlike the changes that 
have taken place across Central America. Today marks the first time in 
the history of the region that all of Central America is at peace, 
implementing free market reforms and led by Democratic governments. For 
those of us who were in Congress during the 1980s, we know what a 
remarkable feat this is and how significant it is that we can today, in 
a bipartisan fashion, applaud the consolidation of democracy in El 
Salvador.
  We should not take the strides that the region has taken for granted. 
The devastation brought by Hurricane Mitch has dealt a severe blow to 
the fortunes of the region. History has shown that natural disasters 
can be the breeding grounds for civil and political unrest and the 
erosion of civil liberties. I urge my colleagues to support the 
emergency aid package to the region that is currently on the Senate 
floor for debate. In addition, IO ask that we also pass the CBI 
enhancement bill so that these countries also have the opportunity to 
help themselves.
  Mr. President, I congratulate and commend the people of El Salvador 
for continuing to move forward in a way that will bring our hemisphere 
together--and increase the likelihood that for all of us, the 21st 
century will be a time of peace, freedom, and prosperity.

                          ____________________