[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6280-6282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING EL SALVADOR ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF FREE AND 
                          DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 110) congratulating the Government and the 
people of the Republic of El Salvador on successfully completing free 
and democratic elections on March 7, 1999.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 110

       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 by the House of Representatives, That the House--
       (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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page 6281]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H. Res. 110.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

                              {time}  1130

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read the statement of 
the chairman of the Committee on International Relations regarding this 
bill.
  ``The chairman of our Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), introduced this resolution 
congratulating the Salvadoran people on their most recent free 
elections. I am pleased to see such a positive, bipartisan expression 
of support for El Salvador. On March 23, the Senate agreed to a similar 
measure, Senate Resolution 73, which enjoyed strong bipartisan support.
  ``It is fitting that we should congratulate the president-elect of 
this country, Guillermo Flores, and vice president-elect Carlos 
Quintanilla on their electoral victory. The Farabundo Marti National 
Liberation Front and its candidates, who secured 29 percent of the 
vote, were also present. The transformation of the FMLN into a 
political party competing for power in open democratic elections is one 
of El Salvador's key achievements.
  ``It is equally fitting, Mr. Speaker, that we should recognize 
outgoing President Armando Calderon Sol. President Calderon Sol's quiet 
leadership has continued El Salvador's successful implementation of the 
1992 peace agreement. Faced with the trials of Hurricane Mitch and an 
economic downturn, he has ably led El Salvador in binding the wounds of 
more than a decade of civil conflict. Moreover, President Calderon Sol 
will certainly be remembered for his achievements in privatizing state-
owned enterprises, including the historic privatization of El 
Salvador's pension system.
  ``I urge my colleagues,'' the gentleman from New York says, ``to 
unanimously support H. Res. 110.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 110 which 
congratulates the government and the people of El Salvador on the 
successful completion of its second free and democratic election since 
the signing of the 1992 peace accords. I strongly commend the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Ackerman), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Menendez) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) for bringing 
it forward.
  It is appropriate to call attention to the democratic process in El 
Salvador. Just a decade ago, the situation in El Salvador and all 
throughout Central America was much different than what we see today. 
Groups on all sides have dropped arms, formed political parties and 
given the people a fair and just voice. We are right to pause today and 
commend El Salvador for the stunning transition in the past decade and 
their successful completion of transparent free and fair elections in 
which everyone can participate.
  Now, this is not to say that all of the problems that led to the 
violence of the 1980s are resolved. There is still much need for 
improvement in El Salvador. Turnout was much lower at this election 
than in the last several in the country, less than 50 percent, because 
people had a difficult time getting to the polls or actually voting 
once they arrived at the polls due to disorganization. Many low-income 
and poor Salvadorans are also questioning whether democracy works for 
them because inequality and poverty still dominate. It is the role, 
then, of President-Elect Flores to lead the way in generating more 
opportunity for Salvadorans so that the benefits of democracy and the 
motivation to go to the polls is felt by all citizens. We, the United 
States, need to maintain our commitment to the people of El Salvador.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley).
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the people of 
El Salvador on their recent election. Since the signing of the peace 
accords ended their brutal civil war in 1992, Salvadorans have made 
great strides toward true democracy, reaching lasting peace, and 
creating a better life for all Salvadorans.
  I am very glad to stand here today and talk about elections and 
democracy in El Salvador--instead of civil war and death squads. When I 
first visited El Salvador in the 1980s, political parties only knew how 
to resolve their problems through war.
  Now, instead of firing bullets at one another, political parties 
argue their differences in the National Assembly, build coalitions with 
one another, and work together in their common interests.
  This election is yet another tremendous accomplishment. I would like 
to congratulate new President Francisco Flores on his election victory, 
and congratulate the Salvadoran people for holding a free and fair 
election. Each election, since the signing of their Peace Accords, has 
been more open and free--and the recent Presidential election continued 
in that pattern.
  Of course I don't want to paint too rosy a picture here. Many serious 
problems in El Salvador continue to exist. Crime is at record levels, 
the tremendous poverty that existed before the war remains alarmingly 
high, and the judicial system continues to stumble.
  Even as we talk about a successful election in El Salvador today, a 
great deal can be accomplished in that area as well. Better 
organization, a method of precinct voting, and the establishment of a 
new election registry are necessary election reforms that must be 
accomplished.
  I challenge the Salvadoran people and their government to work hard 
to achieve these reforms, erase the poverty and inequality that exists, 
and continue to work together for the better of the country.
  And I believe we should be there to help. I know President Flores has 
many difficult challenges ahead, and I look forward to working with him 
to do what I can to help Salvadorans continue to move forward. With 
that in mind, I also challenge this country--the United States--to 
temember our role in El Salvador.
  As we congratulate Salvadorans on yet another step toward democracy, 
I believe it is also time we acknowledge some of our errors in the 
past, and make a stronger commitment to assisting all Salvadoran people 
in their effort to reach those democratic goals.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Western Hemisphere 
Subcommittee, I rise in support of H. Res. 110, a bill which 
congratulates El Salvador on its recent Presidential elections.
  On Sunday, March 7, the people of El Salvador went to the voting 
polls to choose a new President and Vice-President. This election 
marked the second successful Presidential election and third general 
election since the signing of the 1992 Peace Accords which ended 12 
years of brutal civil war in that small country.
  H. Res. 110, introduced by myself and several members of the 
Subcommittee, congratulates the government and the people of El 
Salvador for completing this successful multiparty election which was 
deemed to be free and fair by an international observer group which 
included a member of my Subcommittee staff.
  This election, in which every registered political party received 
votes, represented a clear expression of the will of the people of El 
Salvador; reaffirmed the success of the Peace Accords; and demonstrated 
the strength and diversity of the democratic process in El Salvador.
  Since 1994, current President Armando Calderon Sol has worked 
tirelessly to ensure that the peace accords have been properly 
implemented and that El Salvador progressed both politically and 
economically out of the post-war era.
  For that effort, and for the continued cooperation of the opposition 
FMLN leadership, El Salvador should be commended.
  Now, President-elect Francisco Flores will lead a new government into 
the new century and I am confident he will continue the progress made 
thus far in national reconciliation and reconstruction.
  We wish him well.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe the people of El Salvador have made great 
strides over the past

[[Page 6282]]

seven years. This election serves to validate a key element of that 
progress and reaffirms their strong commitment to the democratic 
process.
  I urge passage of this bill.
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 110, a resolution congratulating the Government and the 
people of the Republic of El Salvador on successfully completing free 
and democratic elections. On March 7, 1999, El Salvador held free and 
fair elections for president and vice-president. I would like to take 
this time to personally congratulate President-elect Francisco 
Guillermo Flores Perez and Vice President-elect Carlos Quintilla 
Schmidt on their recent victory and their continued commitment to 
democracy. This election was yet another milestone in the normalization 
of the democratic process in El Salvador, and I wish to commend this 
nation for its efforts.
  El Salvador has come a long way since the 1980's, when the nation was 
in the midst of a terrible civil war. Many of you will recall that the 
war cost the lives of tens of thousands of Salvadorans and left the 
country in shambles. Now, the Salvadorans have replaced bullets with 
ballots. It was the strong leadership and guidance, coupled with 
courage, demonstrated by former President Alfredo Cristiani that 
rescued the country and paved the way for El Salvador's future. His 
successor, President Armando Calderon Sol, elected in a free and fair 
contest, held the same commitment to democracy and kept this nation 
moving forward. The stark contrast between war-torn El Salvador and the 
El Salvador of today is a tribute to its people and its leaders.
  In a time where peace and unity are not always the goal of the 
majority, I believe Americans must continue to show support for our 
Salvadoran neighbors and their continued progress through this long and 
fragile process of democratization. I hope you will join me in 
congratulating El Salvador on this latest and most remarkable 
accomplishment.
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, as one of the original six 
cosponsors, I come to the floor in strong support of House Resolution 
110. I wish to congratulate the Salvadoran people and President-elect 
Francisco Guillermo Florez Perez and Vice President-elect Carlos 
Quintanilla Schmidt on the free and fair conduct of the Presidential 
elections of March 7, 1999.
  Since the signing of the 1992 peace accords, the Republic of El 
Salvador has conducted two democratic elections for President and Vice 
President. The peaceful and orderly manner in which these elections 
have been carried out, with the participation of ten parties 
representing the entire political spectrum, is proof of El Salvador's 
commitment to democracy, national reconciliation and reconstruction. 
Specifically, it demonstrates their ability to implement the provisions 
of the 1992 peace accords.
  The United States must continue to support the efforts of the people 
of El Salvador to ensure political stability and the strengthening of 
the democratic process.
  This progress however is being threatened in the wake of Hurricane 
Mitch. It is paramount that the United States take the lead in helping 
the region recover from the devastation of the hurricane. If it does 
not, we risk the unraveling of a fragile democracy and a return to the 
political instability that the region experienced for decades and 
threatened our national interests.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution congratulating the people and government of El Salvador on 
the free and democratic elections held last month.
  The people of El Salvador know that the transition to democracy is 
rarely easy. However, in only a few short years, El Salvador has made 
great progress. Both international and domestic observers agree that 
the recent multiparty Presidential and Vice Presidential elections were 
free and fair.
  These elections showed the strength and diversity of El Salvador's 
new democracy. They showed that political parties can engage in the 
type of substantive, peaceful debate that would have been unheard of 
only a few years ago.
  But the demands of democracy do not stop with free elections. El 
Salvador has shown a commitment to democratic ideals by embracing a 
free press, freedom of religion, and freedom of association. Because 
there is no government in the world today that couldn't benefit from 
improvement, I encourage the people and government of El Salvador to 
seize upon their recent success and work toward improving their new 
democracy and the rule of law.
  Mr. Speaker, dozens of nations are at a crossroads today. Because 
democracies are not always neat and tidy, many will be tempted to take 
the easy path. But the easy path leads toward authoritarianism and 
inevitably to exploitation. The path toward democracy is sometimes 
difficult and it is often unsightly. But El Salvador's success stands 
out as an example of what can be accomplished by choosing the path 
toward democracy.
  Today we congratulate those who have made democracy possible in El 
Salvador.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 
110.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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