[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2642-2643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT PROGRESS MADE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 
                   DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN UKRAINE

  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign 
Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
422 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 422) recognizing the important 
     progress made by the people of Ukraine in the establishment 
     of democratic institutions following the presidential run-off 
     election on February 7, 2010.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 422) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 422

       Whereas adherence by Ukraine to democratic, transparent, 
     and fair election standards has been necessary for full 
     integration into the democratic community;
       Whereas steps undertaken by Ukraine in recent years, 
     including reform of election laws and regulations, the 
     development of a pluralistic and independent press, and the 
     establishment of public institutions that respect human 
     rights and the rule of law, have enhanced Ukraine's progress 
     toward democracy and prosperity;
       Whereas the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe (OSCE) concluded that ``most OSCE and Council of 
     Europe commitments were met'' with regard to the conduct of 
     the run-off presidential election on February 7, 2010;
       Whereas international monitoring groups concluded that 
     prior elections in Ukraine on January 17, 2010, and in 2007, 
     2006, and 2004, were also generally in accordance with 
     international election norms;
       Whereas the United States has closely supported the people 
     of Ukraine in their efforts to pursue a free and democratic 
     future since the declaration of their independence in 1991;

[[Page 2643]]

       Whereas the NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2007 (Public 
     Law 110-17; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), signed into law by 
     President George W. Bush on April 9, 2007, recognized the 
     progress made by Ukraine toward meeting the responsibilities 
     and obligations for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) and designated Ukraine as eligible to 
     receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994 
     (title II of Public Law 103-447; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note);
       Whereas Ukraine has made steps toward integration within 
     European institutions through a joint European Union-Ukraine 
     Action Plan, as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy; 
     and
       Whereas the United States-Ukraine Strategic Partnership 
     Commission was inaugurated by Secretary of State Hillary 
     Clinton and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko on 
     December 9, 2009: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the important progress made by the people of 
     Ukraine in establishing democratic institutions and carrying 
     out peaceful elections on January 17 and February 7, 2010;
       (2) supports ongoing progress by Ukraine in addressing 
     remaining challenges in the electoral processes as identified 
     by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
     and other international election monitoring entities;
       (3) encourages all parties to respect the independence and 
     territorial sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as the full 
     integration of Ukraine into the international democratic 
     community;
       (4) pledges further support for the development of a fully 
     free and open democratic system, as well as a transparent 
     free market economy, in Ukraine; and
       (5) reaffirms its commitment to engage the Government of 
     Ukraine in further development of bilateral cooperation 
     through the United States-Ukraine Strategic Partnership 
     Commission.

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