[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 182--RECOGNIZING THE DEMOCRATIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 
 THE PEOPLE OF ALBANIA AND EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT THE PARLIAMENTARY 
 ELECTIONS ON JUNE 28, 2009, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE TRANSPARENCY AND 
                    FAIRNESS OF DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Lieberman, and Mr. DeMint) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 182

       Whereas the people of Albania have made extraordinary 
     progress from authoritarian government and a closed market to 
     a democratic government and market economy in less than two 
     decades;
       Whereas the Republic of Albania, with the advice and 
     consent of this Senate and the governments of the other 
     member countries, was officially admitted to full membership 
     in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on April 2, 2009;
       Whereas the Thessaloniki Declaration of 2003 confirmed that 
     the countries of the Western Balkans are eligible for 
     accession to the European Union once they have fulfilled the 
     requirements for membership; and
       Whereas the Government of Albania has accepted numerous 
     specific commitments governing the conduct of elections as a 
     participating State in the Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) urges the Government of Albania to fulfill the 
     commitments it has made to the OSCE with respect to the 
     conduct of its upcoming elections, and to ensure that those 
     elections are free and fair;
       (2) urges the Government of Albania to expedite the 
     implementation of its voter identification card program to 
     minimize the possibility of disenfranchisement and provide as 
     many cards as possible to eligible voters prior to the 
     election;
       (3) commends the positive step taken by the Government of 
     Albania to reduce the cost of the voter ID card significantly 
     and avoid charges of a poll tax; and
       (4) expresses its hope that credible democratic elections 
     in Albania will contribute to a strong and stable government 
     responsive to the wishes of the people of Albania and 
     strengthen Albania's standing within NATO and European 
     institutions.

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