[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         YUGOSLAV ELECTIONS AND THE SERBIA DEMOCRATIZATION ACT

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, it is clear that a fair vote count in this 
weekend's elections will result in victory for the candidate of the 
opposition forces. Mr. Vojislav Kostunica. The people of Yugoslavia 
clearly have voted for democratic change, and the time has come for 
Yugoslavia's brutal dictator, Slobodan Milosevic, to have the decency 
to accept the will of his people and leave office peacefully.
  Not surprisingly, Milosevic has indicated he intends to do no such 
thing. I fully expect him to do everything in his power to steal this 
election to enable him to remain in power.
  In order to support the majority of Serbs who voted for peace and 
democracy, I urge my colleagues to support the Serbia Democratization 
Act--legislation that I introduced more than 18 months ago--designed to 
undermine the murderous Milosevic regime and thereby support democratic 
change in Serbia.
  The Serbia Democratization Act calls for the United States to 
identify and give aid to the democratic forces in Serbia opposing 
Milosevic's tyranny, including independent media and non-governmental 
organizations in Serbia. And it makes clear that unless and until there 
is a democratic government in Yugoslavia, the United States will 
maintain the sanctions that we have in place today.
  When the Serbian people finally gain the government in Belgrade that 
they voted for this weekend--a government based on freedom, democracy 
and rule of law--I will lead an effort in Congress to ensure that the 
United States provides them with substantial support to assist their 
nation's democratic transition. I am hopeful that day will come soon.
  I also commend the important role played by Montenegro in this 
weekend's elections. The decision by the vast majority of Montenegrins 
to boycott this election indicates the level of support in that 
republic for the course of democratic, free-market reforms proposed by 
President Djukanovic.
  Montenegro deserves the support of the United States, and can serve 
as an example to the people of Serbia regarding the benefits they could 
enjoy in a post-Milosevic era.

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