[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5561-5562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 411--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT 
TO THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

  Mr. INHOFE (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Kirk, Mr. 
Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. Chambliss, and Mr. Rubio) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 411

       Whereas, since 1992, the Republic of Moldova has been 
     recognized by the international community and the United 
     Nations;
       Whereas, on March 3, 2014, the United States Government 
     ``reaffirmed the United States' strong support for Moldovan 
     sovereignty and territorial integrity within its 
     internationally recognized borders'';
       Whereas the annexation of Crimea and violation of Ukrainian 
     territorial integrity by the Russian Federation on the false 
     premise

[[Page 5562]]

     of defending Russians and Russian speakers abroad violates 
     the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has 
     threatened to use its supply of energy resources as a means 
     of intimidation in order to influence the Government of 
     Moldova;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has been 
     actively issuing Russian passports to the residents of 
     Transnistria;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation maintains 
     a contingent of Russian troops and a stockpile of Russian 
     military equipment and ammunition within the Moldovan 
     territory of Transnistria;
       Whereas the Council of Europe, the Organization for 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Government of 
     Moldova have called upon the Government of the Russian 
     Federation to remove its troops from the territory of 
     Moldova;
       Whereas, at the 1999 Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, the Russian 
     Federation committed to complete withdrawal of its military 
     forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova;
       Whereas Moldova has been a participant in NATO's 
     Partnership for Peace Program and has deployed military 
     personnel in support of the NATO-led mission in Kosovo; and
       Whereas the stability and economic vitality of the Eastern 
     European region is in the national interest of the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to 
     support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
     integrity of the Republic of Moldova and the inviolability of 
     its borders;
       (2) calls upon the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     take steps to remove its military forces and materiel from 
     within the internationally recognized territory of the 
     Republic of Moldova;
       (3) supports constructive engagement and confidence-
     building measures between the Government of Moldova and the 
     authorities in Transnistria in order to secure a peaceful 
     resolution to the conflict;
       (4) expresses its belief that finding a lasting resolution 
     to the Transnistria issue can only be accomplished by 
     ensuring the freedom of the Government and the people of 
     Moldova to determine their own future without external 
     pressure or coercion;
       (5) urges the President to consider increasing security and 
     intelligence cooperation with the Government of Moldova; and
       (6) affirms that lasting stability in Europe is a key 
     priority for the United States and that it can only be 
     achieved if the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all 
     parties is respected.

                          ____________________