[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19563-19566]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CALLING UPON THE PRESIDENT TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 30TH 
                 ANNIVERSARY OF THE HELSINKI FINAL ACT

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 19) calling upon the 
President to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th anniversary of 
the Helsinki Final Act, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 19

       Whereas August 1, 2005, is the 30th anniversary of the 
     Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe (CSCE), renamed the Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 1995 (hereafter in 
     this resolution referred to as the ``Helsinki Final Act'');
       Whereas the Helsinki Final Act established a new framework 
     for relations among countries in Europe and the North 
     Atlantic region that recognized that respect for human rights 
     is a fundamental principle in regulating international 
     relations;
       Whereas, during the Communist era, members of 
     nongovernmental organizations, such as the Helsinki 
     Monitoring Groups in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia, and 
     Armenia and similar groups in Czechoslovakia and Poland, 
     sacrificed their personal freedom and even their lives in 
     their courageous and vocal support for the principles 
     enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act;
       Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the 
     Helsinki Final Act by creating the Commission on Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe to monitor and encourage compliance 
     with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;
       Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the 
     participating States in the OSCE (hereafter in this 
     resolution referred to as the ``participating States'') 
     declared that ``[h]uman rights and fundamental freedoms are 
     the birthright of all human beings, are inalienable and are 
     guaranteed by law'' and that ``[t]heir protection and 
     promotion is the first responsibility of government'';
       Whereas, in the 1991 Document of the Moscow Meeting of the 
     Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE, the 
     participating States ``categorically and irrevocably 
     declare[d] that the commitments undertaken in the field of 
     the human dimension of the CSCE are matters of direct and 
     legitimate concern to all participating States and do not 
     belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State 
     concerned'';
       Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the 
     participating States committed themselves ``to build, 
     consolidate and strengthen democracy as the only system of 
     government of our nations'';
       Whereas the pro-democracy revolution in Serbia in 2000, the 
     Rose Revolution in Georgia in 2003, the Orange Revolution in 
     Ukraine in 2004, and the popular revolution in Kyrgyzstan in 
     2005 demonstrate the primacy of popular sovereignty and the 
     importance of OSCE commitments on free and fair elections;
       Whereas the OSCE and the participating States have 
     undertaken a series of measures aimed at combating anti-
     Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination and should 
     report on related progress during the OSCE Conference on 
     anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance in Cordoba, 
     Spain, in June 2005;
       Whereas the 1999 Istanbul OSCE Charter for European 
     Security and the November 19, 1999, Istanbul Summit 
     Declaration note the particular challenges of ending violence 
     against women and children as well as sexual exploitation and 
     all forms of trafficking in human beings, and commit the 
     participating States to strengthen efforts to combat 
     corruption, eradicate torture, and end discrimination against 
     Roma;
       Whereas the main challenge facing the participating States 
     remains the implementation of the principles and commitments 
     contained in the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE documents 
     adopted on the basis of consensus;
       Whereas the participating States have recognized that 
     economic liberty, social justice, and environmental 
     responsibility are indispensable to prosperity;
       Whereas the participating States have committed themselves 
     to promoting economic reforms through enhanced transparency 
     for economic activity, with the aim of advancing the 
     principles of market economies;
       Whereas the participating States have stressed the 
     importance of respect for the rule of law and vigorous 
     efforts to fight organized crime and corruption, which 
     constitute a great threat to economic reform and prosperity;
       Whereas OSCE has expanded the scope and substance of its 
     efforts, undertaking a variety of preventive diplomacy 
     initiatives designed to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict 
     within and among the participating States;
       Whereas the politico-military aspects of security remain 
     vital to the interests of the participating States and 
     constitute a core element of OSCE's concept of comprehensive 
     security;
       Whereas the OSCE has played an increasingly active role in 
     civilian police-related activities, including training, as an 
     integral part of OSCE's efforts in conflict prevention, 
     crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation; and
       Whereas the participating States bear primary 
     responsibility for raising awareness of violations of 
     commitments contained in the Helsinki Final Act and other 
     OSCE documents: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress 
     calls upon the President--
       (1) to issue a proclamation--
       (A) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 
     Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe;
       (B) reasserting the commitment of the United States to full 
     implementation of the Helsinki Final Act;
       (C) urging all participating States to abide by their 
     obligations under the Helsinki Final Act; and
       (D) encouraging the people of the United States to join the 
     President and Congress in observance of this anniversary with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; and
       (2) to convey to all signatories of the Helsinki Final Act 
     that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
     democratic principles, economic liberty, and the 
     implementation of related commitments continue to be vital 
     elements in promoting a new era of democracy, peace, and 
     unity in the region covered by the Organization for Security 
     and Cooperation in Europe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Chandler) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S.J. Res. 19.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of Senate Joint 
Resolution 19, as amended, calling on the President to issue a 
proclamation in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the signing of 
the Helsinki Final Act.
  The resolution urges the 55 states of North America, Europe and 
Eurasia which comprise the Organization For Security and Cooperation in 
Europe to abide by their obligations under the

[[Page 19564]]

Helsinki Final Act. The Congress further calls on the President to 
reiterate the United States' agreement that respect for human rights 
and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and economic liberty 
are vital elements in promoting a new era of democracy, peace and unity 
in this region of the world.
  For all of the history that we make here, Mr. Speaker, it is not too 
often that we in this body have the opportunity to celebrate and honor 
an event that has so conspicuously marked such a turning point in human 
affairs. Too often the history of international relations is one of 
false starts and missed opportunities. The victories, when they do 
happen, are more often ones of prevention, disasters averted or crises 
ended. Or if not that, then the results are realized too far into the 
future to be judged with any clarity. This is not the case with the 
Helsinki Final Act signed on August 1, 1975.
  With that historic event, what we saw was a recognition not just by 
the United States or even the West, but even in Eastern Europe and the 
Soviet Union, that human rights are the pivot, the linchpin of true 
security and peace in the world. What the Helsinki Final Act asserted 
and what subsequent history has taught beyond any reasonable doubt is 
this: The way governments treat their people is the concern not just of 
those governments but of all the nations and peoples of the world. In 
essence, security and human dignity and human rights are one and 
indivisible.
  Indeed, it is in the fall of the Communist regimes in Europe that we 
have seen the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and the process 
that the act inaugurated, unleashed forces of good and of hope. The 
document spoke truth to power and empowered millions to rise up and 
demand democracy and fundamental freedoms, especially religious 
freedom. Many became Helsinki monitors in dictatorships, in places like 
Czechoslovakia where members of Charter 77 risked their lives and often 
went to prison in demanding that their dictatorship allow them 
fundamental freedoms.
  We saw it in places like Perm 35, a horrible gulag that the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and I visited back in the 1980s, where men 
were actively clamoring for their rights. For instance Mikhail 
Kazachkov, a physcist by training imprisoned for his dissident 
activites, took the Helsinki Final Act and, even at risk of cruel 
retribution, would speak up and demand his freedoms and those of his 
fellow inmates.
  Recently, the United States Helsinki Commission of which I am the Co-
chair hosted an event commemorating the 30th anniversary. We had Dr. 
Henry Kissinger as our principal speaker. Dr. Kissinger, as many will 
know and recall, was Secretary of State in that period, and he pointed 
out how rough the world was at the time, how close we were to 
superpower conflict between ourselves and the Soviet Union. The 
arsenals were brimming over with nuclear weapons that unfortunately 
seemed to be at the ready.
  Dr. Kissinger pointed out that the Helsinki Final Act was not popular 
at the time. Many thought it was a concession to the Soviet Union, that 
somehow they would make propaganda, and they would reap tremendous 
benefits from it. People had serious misgivings about what the Helsinki 
Final Act would actually do. The United States signed onto the Final 
Act and, of the three baskets, we emphasized the human rights dimension 
and promoted it and promoted it and promoted it, much to the chagrin of 
leaders in the Kremlin, as well as those who were part of the Warsaw 
Pact.
  In reality, Dr. Kissinger noted the Helsinki process served as a 
catalyst to ``promote change in the political situation and also to 
change the human rights situation.'' He said, ``I can think of nothing 
that the Soviet Union got out of this, except that their position in 
Eastern Europe and their position along the dividing line in Germany 
was undermined.''
  Whenever we met with Soviet authorities or Polish leaders or any 
leaders of those occupied countries, we always had lists of political 
prisoners and of religious prisoners. We always based our inquiries on 
the fact that all of these nations were voluntary signatories to the 
Helsinki Final Act. This was a matter of international concern. These 
were not simply American values, these were universally recognized and 
agreed to values.
  Mr. Speaker, let me also say that the Helsinki process continues. We 
need to continue fighting. We are now fighting to try to stem the rise 
of anti-Semitism, that ugly specter of hate toward Jews throughout the 
countries that make up the OSCE, including the United States. We are 
working to combat racism and xenophobic behavior. We are now working 
very hard, and have been since the 1990s, to combat this hideous form 
of slavery known as human trafficking, especially for prostitution 
where women are turned into chattel and into commodities and their 
lives destroyed.
  We are also working on a number of other human rights issues within 
the Helsinki process, trying to get the Central Asian countries to 
realize that they have commitments that need to be abided by. Mr. 
Speaker, this is not a document that we only look back on. This is a 
living document that we work to implement as we go forward.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the hallmarks of the Helsinki Final Act is our 
ability to use it to promote democracy and elections. No organization 
does a better job than the OSCE monitors when it comes to elections. 
When the commitments have been implemented, political parties have had 
the opportunity for free and fair elections. When emphasis is given to 
the conduct of free elections, we have witnessed some amazing changes, 
including Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution, Ukraine's Orange Revolution, 
Georgia's Rose Revolution and Serbia's Democratic Revolution. These 
events in the last 5 years alone testify to the power of the principles 
inscribed in the Helsinki Final Act and the other OSCE documents that 
followed on.
  Some participating States, however, most notably Belarus, Russia, 
Turk-
menistan and Uzbekistan, seem determined to not live up to their 
commitments. These remain some of the areas of concern that our 
Helsinki Commission works on on a daily basis.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, having served as a member of the Helsinki 
Commission since my second term in 1983, I believe the U.S. must hold 
vigorously to the values that have inspired fundamental and democratic 
change in much of the OSCE region. As I said a moment ago, our work is 
not done. Much needs to be done going forward. I know we will do it. We 
will use this now famous document, the Helsinki Final Act, as our 
inspiration going forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this Senate 
Joint Resolution 19, as amended, and Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1975, in an effort to reduce the risks of war between 
the North Atlantic Alliance and the Warsaw Pact, the countries of the 
North Atlantic community and Eastern and Central Europe could agree on 
a common set of principles on peaceful relations and decent treatment 
of their citizens.
  As the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) so passionately and so 
eloquently said, it was a true watershed in human history. At the time, 
I am sure that the leaders of the Soviet Union thought that they had 
achieved much, such as the de facto recognition of a divided Germany, 
and given little. What, after all, they thought, is the danger of a few 
words about freedom on a piece of paper? Thirty years later, it is 
clear what was wrought by these words.
  The principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms empowered the 
dissidents of Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Czechoslovakia, 
Poland and others to establish Helsinki monitoring or similar groups to 
try to push their governments to live up to the commitments of the 
Helsinki Final Act.
  Indeed, many of those dissidents lost their personal freedom and 
sometimes even their lives in their courageous and vocal support for 
these principles. And the Helsinki Final Act is not merely an artifact 
of history, not merely an artifact of history. The Organization for

[[Page 19565]]

Security and Cooperation in Europe, the successor to the conference 
that drafted the act, continues to promote freedom and human rights 
throughout Europe, including the newly independent States of the former 
Soviet Union.
  Just in the last year, the OSCE through its Offices for Democratic 
Institutions and Human Rights has supported civil society in Belarus; 
sent election observers to Kyrgyzstan as it makes efforts to transition 
to an authoritarian regime; provided training on human rights 
monitoring to groups in the Caucasus; and assisted countries throughout 
the region in stopping the scourge of modern day slavery, the 
trafficking in persons.
  Later this year, OSCE will make efforts to have a successful free and 
fair parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, a critical country to our 
efforts in Afghanistan and a country that is seeking to throw off the 
communist bonds of its past.
  The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe does not stop 
in Europe.

                              {time}  1500

  It is helping the countries of Africa and other regions in their 
efforts at democratization.
  Indeed, many have talked about a Helsinki Final Act for the Middle 
East to bring the value of the accords to the people of those 
countries. Some have argued for a democracy charter for the countries 
of the Arab League, similar to the charter adopted by the Organization 
of American States.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope the administration is seriously taking the 
lessons of the Helsinki process to heart as it moves forward with its 
efforts to promote democracy and pluralism through the broader Middle 
East and North Africa Initiative.
  I strongly support this legislation, and may we strike more blows for 
basic human rights in the world.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S.J. Res. 19, 
which recognizes the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. The 
President issued a proclamation on August 1, 2005 which celebrated this 
important anniversary.
  I am privileged to serve as the Ranking Member of the Helsinki 
Commission, formally known as the U.S. Commission on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe. The Commission encourages compliance with the 
Helsinki Final Act by the 55 nations of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is the largest regional 
security organization in the world.
  The United States has actively participated in the Helsinki process 
since its inception 30 years ago. Today we acknowledge and celebrate 
that participation. This resolution recalls the importance of the 
Helsinki process in promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of 
law within the OSCE. The Helsinki process consists of three ``baskets'' 
of rights which are essential to security: political, economic, and 
human rights.
  Our Commission is unusual in that it is an independent Federal agency 
which has both the legislative and executive branches working together 
side by side. I have greatly appreciated this opportunity to work as 
equal partners in the Helsinki process, which I think has frankly 
increased our effectiveness on a number of issues within the OSCE 
region.
  I have enjoyed working with our colleagues on the International 
Relations Committee, Mr. Hyde and Mr. Lantos, as well as with my 
Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Chris Smith and Chairman Sam Brownback 
from the Senate.
  Our work on the Helsinki Commission is bipartisan, and I do not think 
I can ever recall a moment in my entire service on this Commission 
where we have had a partisan difference. Our bipartisan record has led 
to numerous accomplishments on critical issues in the OSCE. The OSCE is 
perhaps best known for leading election monitoring missions to insure 
free and fair elections in emerging democracies in Europe and Eurasia.
  The Helsinki process allowed many Jews to leave the former Soviet 
Union. Today the Helsinki process has taken the lead in fighting the 
growing scourge of anti-Semitism in Europe, culminating in an 
unprecedented conference on anti-Semitism and the issuance of the 
Berlin Declaration, which adopts a number of concrete commitments for 
States to fight anti-Semitism.
  I am also privileged to serve as the Chairman of the economic 
committee of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the OSCE, which has 
focused on anti-corruption measures and the promotion of small 
businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities. I commend 
the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Hastings, for his excellent leadership 
of the OSCE PA as the first American to serve as President of this 
organization.
  Earlier this year Chairman Smith and I visited Ukraine to meet with 
the new democratic government. Many of the former Soviet republics are 
still struggling today with their transition to a democratic form of 
government, and the OSCE plays an integral role in assisting these 
governments in establishing the rule of law.
  Many challenges remain for the Helsinki process, but today we 
celebrate its rich legacy and record of accomplishments. I look forward 
to using the Helsinki process as we confront the new political, 
economic, and human rights challenges of the 21st century.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S.J. Res. 19, a 
joint resolution calling upon the President to issue a proclamation 
recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. As a 
Commissioner of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE), I am pleased to continue to work with my fellow commissioners 
in Congress, the Administration and our counterparts in the other 54 
member nations.
  The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had 
its origin in the early 1950s when the Soviet Union first proposed the 
creation of an all-European security conference. However it wasn't 
until November 1972 when representatives from the original 35 nations 
met for nearly three years to work out the arrangements. On August 1, 
1975, the leaders of the original 35 participating States gathered in 
Helsinki and signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe.
  Also known as the Helsinki Accords, the Final Act is a binding 
agreement consisting of three main sections, known as Baskets, 
regarding political, economic and human rights.
  Since 1975, the number of countries signing the Helsinki Accords has 
expanded to 55, reflecting changes such as the breakup of the Soviet 
Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Institutionalization of the 
Conference in the early 1990s led to its transformation to the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, effective January 
1995.
  The Helsinki Final Act and the process it began provided an important 
backdrop against which President Ronald Reagan, standing in front of 
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, could boldly declare, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear 
down this wall.'' This began the process of systemic change, eventually 
leading to the release of hundreds of cases of political prisoners and 
prisoners of conscience as well as the reunification of tens of 
thousands of families.
  In a step designed to preserve the unity of the Helsinki process, 
each country that joined the OSCE after 1975 submitted a letter in 
which the accepted in their entirety all commitments and 
responsibilities contained in the Helsinki Final Act, and all 
subsequent documents adopted prior to their membership. To underscore 
this continuity, the leaders of each of these countries signed the 
actual original 1975 Final Act document.
  I have been particularly interested in working with former Chairman 
Smith and now with Chairman Brownback on human rights and religious 
freedom. There remains a great deal of work to do on these matters 
throughout the OSCE member countries. I look forward to continuing to 
work with the OSCE members and their outstanding staff.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this Joint Resolution 
calling on President Bush to issue a proclamation recognizing the 30th 
anniversary of the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly known as the Helsinki 
Agreement.
  The Helsinki Final Act--which was signed on August 1, 1975--was the 
first international agreement to accord human rights the status of a 
fundamental principle in regulating international relations, and has 
been widely credited with helping to expose human rights violations in 
the former Soviet bloc.
  In fact, I firmly believe that the political process set in motion by 
the signing of the Helsinki Final Act laid the groundwork for the 
forces that consumed the former Soviet empire.
  In 1975, many of the Final Act signatory states viewed the language 
of the act dealing with human rights and the obligation that each state 
had toward its own citizens, as well as those of other states, as 
essentially meaningless window dressing. Their objective was to secure 
a framework in which their international political position and the 
then-existing map of Europe would be adjudged a fait accompli.
  They were proved wrong. The Helsinki process, which provided a forum 
and international

[[Page 19566]]

backing for Refuseniks and others fighting behind the Iron Curtain for 
fundamental freedoms and human rights--led inevitably to the collapse 
of Soviet communism.
  Today, we celebrate the freedom yielded by our steadfast commitment 
to the Helsinki process and by our demand that the former Soviet bloc 
countries adhere to and implement the human rights standards enshrined 
by the accords.
  The fall of the Berlin Wall transformed the world and demonstrated 
without reservation that respect for the dignity of all individuals is 
fundamental to democracy.
  As we reflect on this 30th anniversary, we understand that the 
countries and peoples of the region are still in transition and will be 
for decades to come. Great strides have been made by many former 
communist countries in building democratic societies and market 
economies.
  But in my view, Mr. Speaker, it is critical that the United States 
remain engaged with the peoples and governments of Europe and the 
countries that emerged from the former Soviet Union, especially Russia.
  We must remain committed to a Europe whole, free, democratic and at 
peace. It is in our strategic and national interest to do so. And by 
doing so, we honor the memory of all those who sacrificed so much to 
hold high the banner of freedom.
  Finally, let me note that this Joint Resolution reasserts the 
commitment of the United States to fully implement of the Helsinki Act; 
urges all participating states to abide by their obligations under the 
Act; and encourages Americans to join the President and Congress in 
observing this 30th anniversary.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important Resolution.
  Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for speaking 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of our time as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 19, 
as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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