[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EGYPT AND MOLDOVA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to make two brief comments 
regarding Egypt and Moldova.
  On Egypt, the jury is still out on whether or not the recent 
presidential election is a meaningful step toward greater democracy in 
that country. To be sure, there was plenty wrong with the poll which 
few Egyptians were permitted to access and no international monitors 
were allowed to observe. President Mubarak's victory was unsurprising. 
It is important to encourage President Mubarak to appreciate that 
progress in Egypt, whether relating to freedom, economic development, 
or Radio Sawa broadcasts, must be judged not by words but by concrete 
actions. The Egyptian people deserve no less, particularly with 
legislative elections on the horizon later this year.
  On Moldova, I am pleased that the Senate State, Foreign Operations 
and Related Programs Subcommittee provided an additional $3 million 
above the Fiscal Year 2006 budget request for that country, a mark 
worthy of defending in conference. Credible elections in March 
demonstrated that the country's political leaders are interested in 
European integration and increased political and economic reforms. I 
encourage that country to implement proposed reforms relating to the 
independence of the judiciary and media, transparency in parliamentary 
proceedings, participation in elections, local self-government, 
legislative oversight of the executive, and protection of human and 
civil rights. Such action will demonstrate the seriousness of Moldova's 
intentions and strengthen its partnerships with the United States and 
Europe.
  I look forward to continued democratic progress in Egypt and Moldova.

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