[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 23915]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      REESTABLISHMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further 
consideration of S. Con. Res. 150, and the Senate then proceed to its 
immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 150) relating to the 
     reestablishment of representative government in Afghanistan.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 
that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion 
to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to 
the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Con. Res. 150) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 150

       Whereas Afghanistan has existed as a sovereign nation since 
     1747, maintaining its independence, neutrality, and dignity;
       Whereas Afghanistan had maintained its own decisionmaking 
     through a traditional process called a ``Loya Jirgah'', or 
     Grand Assembly, by selecting, respecting, and following the 
     decisions of their leaders;
       Whereas recently warlords, factional leaders, and foreign 
     regimes have laid siege to Afghanistan, leaving the landscape 
     littered with landmines, making the most fundamental 
     activities dangerous;
       Whereas in recent years, and especially since the Taliban 
     came to power in 1996, Afghanistan has become a haven for 
     terrorist activity, has produced most of the world's opium 
     supply, and has become infamous for its human rights abuses, 
     particularly abuses against women and children;
       Whereas the former King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir 
     Shah, ruled the country peacefully for 40 years, and after 
     years in exile retains his popularity and support; and
       Whereas former King Mohammed Zahir Shah plans to convene an 
     emergency ``Loya Jirgah'' to reestablish a stable government, 
     with no desire to regain power or reestablish a monarchy, and 
     the Department of State supports such ongoing efforts: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the United States--
       (1) supports the democratic efforts that respect the human 
     and political rights of all ethnic and religious groups in 
     Afghanistan, including the effort to establish a ``Loya 
     Jirgah'' process that would lead to the people of Afghanistan 
     determining their own destiny through a democratic process 
     and free and fair elections; and
       (2) supports the continuing efforts of former King Mohammed 
     Zahir Shah and other responsible parties searching for peace 
     to convene a Loya Jirgah--
       (A) to reestablish a representative government in 
     Afghanistan that respects the rights of all ethnic groups, 
     including the right to govern their own affairs through 
     inclusive institution building and a democratic process;
       (B) to bring freedom, peace, and stability to Afghanistan; 
     and
       (C) to end terrorist activities, illicit drug production, 
     and human rights abuses in Afghanistan.

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