[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16879-16880]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 316--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
                 TUNISIA'S PEACEFUL JASMINE REVOLUTION

  Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Kerry) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 316

       Whereas on January 14, 2011, a peaceful mass protest 
     movement in Tunisia successfully brought to an end the 
     authoritarian rule of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali;
       Whereas Tunisia's peaceful ``Jasmine Revolution'' was the 
     first of several movements throughout the Middle East and 
     North Africa and inspired democracy and human rights 
     activists throughout the region and around the world;
       Whereas Tunisia, in the wake of Ben Ali's resignation, 
     began a transition to democracy that has been broadly 
     inclusive, consensus-based, and civilian-led;
       Whereas on October 23, 2011, Tunisia conducted the first 
     competitive, multi-party democratic election of the Arab 
     Spring, which involved dozens of political parties and 
     hundreds of independent candidates competing for a 217-member 
     National Constituent Assembly;
       Whereas more than 50 percent of all eligible voters and 
     nearly 90 percent of registered voters participated in the 
     October 23 election;
       Whereas Tunisia's Independent Electoral Commission welcomed 
     and accredited a robust domestic and international election 
     observer presence, including 3 independent delegations from 
     the United States;
       Whereas election observers have broadly praised the October 
     23 election as free, fair, and consistent with international 
     standards;
       Whereas roughly 25 percent of the seat in the National 
     Constituent Assembly were won by women;
       Whereas the newly-elected National Constituent Assembly is 
     tasked with drafting a new constitution to guide Tunisia's 
     transition towards a representative democracy that reflects 
     the aspirations of the Tunisian people;
       Whereas the Jasmine Revolution was largely a reaction to 
     long-accumulated economic grievances, ongoing high 
     unemployment and poor economic conditions sustain the 
     potential to drive future political protestations;
       Whereas the United States and Tunisia have enjoyed friendly 
     relations for more than 200 years; and
       Whereas the United States was among the first countries to 
     recognize Tunisian independence in 1956:
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the people of Tunisia for holding, on 
     October 23, 2011, the first competitive, multi-party 
     democratic elections since the outbreak of popular 
     revolutions throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 
     2011;
       (2) commends the Tunisian independent electoral commission 
     for--
       (A) successfully conducting a free, fair, transparent, and 
     credible election on October 23, 2011; and

[[Page 16880]]

       (B) welcoming independent international and domestic 
     election observers and granting them unrestricted access to 
     polling and counting stations;
       (3) congratulates all newly-elected members, and the 
     parties with which they are affiliated, of the National 
     Democratic Constituent Assembly;
       (4) affirms the national interest of the United States in a 
     successful and irreversible transition to democracy in 
     Tunisia, including--
       (A) respect for the rule of law;
       (B) independent media;
       (C) a vibrant civil society; and
       (D) universal rights and freedoms, including equal rights 
     for all citizens, freedom of speech, and human rights;
       (5) affirms the national interest of the United States in 
     Tunisia's economic prosperity and development, including 
     through increased foreign direct investment, tourism, 
     entrepreneurship, technical cooperation, and strengthened 
     trade ties;
       (6) urges increased United States engagement and 
     cooperation with the Tunisian government and people, 
     including--
       (A) Tunisia's democratic institutions;
       (B) civil society;
       (C) schools and universities;
       (D) independent media; and
       (E) the private sector; and
       (7) reaffirms the unwavering friendship between the people 
     of the United States and the people of Tunisia.

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