[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21049]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              ENSURING FAIR AND FREE ELECTIONS IN BELARUS

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, in October, we will have fair and free 
elections in Afghanistan. Ten million Afghans are registered to vote, 
one-half being women. When they go to the polls. There will be threats, 
intimidation and violence, but the Afghans will go.
  Compare that to other elections in October held in the European 
country of Belarus. Candidates have been intimidated, but the people 
will still go to the polls. The problem is, the dictator will count the 
votes and the ballots.
  If the international community can help ensure fair and free 
elections in Afghanistan and Iraq, surely they can help enforce fair 
and free elections in the Nation of Belarus. I call upon them to do so, 
and I hope they will ensure fair and free elections in Belarus.

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