[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9352-9353]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                COMMEMORATING FREE ELECTIONS IN CROATIA

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, today I rise with my colleagues, Senators 
Feingold, Hutchinson, Abraham, and Lieberman, to introduce a resolution 
congratulating the people of Croatia on their successful parliamentary 
and presidential elections, the peaceful transition of power, and new 
initiatives for reform. In addition to congratulating the people of 
Croatia, the resolution solidifies U.S. support for their progress and 
encourages Croatian participation in the NATO Partnership for Peace 
program. One day, I hope that we will be expressing our support for 
Croatia, and other nations with similar democratic inclination, in NATO 
itself.
  Mr. President, the Balkan nations that are embracing democracy must 
be supported at every opportunity available because the government 
could so easily have taken the other path. The leaders of Croatia could 
have chosen to repress popular involvement and other fundamental rights 
of democracy, but instead they have chosen the harder but correct path 
of working through discourse, debate, and democracy. Because we have 
also been through these trials as a nation, it is my hope that the 
American people will watch closely the progress of the Croatian people 
and will support their path to freedom, stability, and peace.
  The most important benefit to come out of this election will 
hopefully be the resolution of Croatia's domestic difficulties. Through 
the successful election, the Croatian people have taken the reins of 
control. In addition to the power instilled by this self-determination, 
the Croatian people are hopefully now spurred to take up the mission of 
reform that might further improve their government. Among the stated 
goals of President Mesic are the reintroduction of Serbian refugees to 
the homes they left behind, reform of the privatization system that has 
faced serious corruption allegations, and support for the International 
Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. These improvements would 
certainly go far to legitimize the new Administration in the view of 
the international community but more importantly, in the eyes of the 
Croatian people. President Mesic's continued efforts on these fronts 
will show its people that their new government takes seriously the need 
for honesty and accountability.
  As the government wins the support of its people, I am also 
encouraged by the efforts of the new Administration to get involved 
with the European community. In such a volatile region, a nation 
uniting the many groups will be the key to fostering a stable political 
and economic atmosphere. Part of the victory of democracy in Croatia 
has been the new spirit of regional harmony that I hope will spread to 
its neighbors. Peace in the Balkan nations will only come with honest 
attempts to live with difference, and Croatia will be a leader in the 
efforts for peace there.
  In addition to better conditions in the Balkans, democracy will 
encourage

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the involvement of other foreign nations. Just two weeks ago, Croatian 
President Stipe Mesic met with French President Jacques Chirac to 
discuss an agreement on stabilization and association, as well as the 
Croatian entrance to the NATO Partnership for Peace program. The 
resolution I am supporting today suggests U.S. support for the addition 
of Croatia in the partnership, and I am happy to inform my colleagues 
that the nations of NATO have announced that Croatia will become a full 
member of the Partnership for Peace program today. This is truly a 
great accomplishment, and it affirms the commitment of all NATO allies 
to help Croatia in its chosen path.
  In addition to my appreciation for the democratic and international 
progress of the Croatian people, I would also like to take this 
opportunity to thank the work of the Croatian American Association in 
bringing this subject to my attention and to the attention of the 
American people. The Croatian American community has worked tirelessly 
to create bonds of friendship between our two nations, and I hope that 
as Croatia becomes more democratic and involved in worldwide political 
affairs that we, as Americans, will continue to support them.
  Mr. President, I hope that this resolution will be an additional bond 
between two nations that democratic tenets have already joined.

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