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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hc58ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 58

   Urging the President of Ukraine to support democratic ideals, the 
    rights of free speech, and free assembly for Ukrainian citizens.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2001

 Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Urging the President of Ukraine to support democratic ideals, the 
    rights of free speech, and free assembly for Ukrainian citizens.

Whereas in 1991, Ukraine became an independent, democratic country;
Whereas Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has met with Members of the United 
        States Congress, and committed to follow the rule of law, maintain the 
        freedom of the press and assembly, and to use restraint in the use of 
        force;
Whereas the United States and Ukraine have established a strategic partnership, 
        encouraging economic, political, military, and social cooperation 
        between the two nations;
Whereas the United States has given Ukraine more than $2,000,000,000 in foreign 
        assistance;
Whereas recent political developments have given rise to concerns from Ukrainian 
        citizens about the Ukrainian Government and its possible participation 
        in illegal acts;
Whereas an alleged example of this illegal conduct is the September 16, 2000, 
        disappearance and murder of Georhiy Gongadze, editor of an Internet 
        newspaper critical of the Ukrainian Government;
Whereas Members of the United States Congress have repeatedly offered, with 
        representatives of friendly international organizations, to help conduct 
        a thorough and impartial investigation of such illegal acts to help 
        restore public confidence in the rule of law in Ukraine; and
Whereas Ukrainian citizens gathered in Kyiv to protest and exercise their rights 
        under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to 
        freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) expresses the hope that the Ukrainian Government will 
        resolve the investigation of the disappearance and murder of 
        Georhiy Gongadze in a serious, transparent manner that will 
        maintain confidence in its credibility;
            (2) urges the Ukrainian Government to have a genuine 
        dialogue with the opposition; and
            (3) encourages the use of constitutional, democratic means 
        to resolve the current crises in a manner consistent with 
        Ukraine's commitments to the Organization for Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including the right to peaceful 
        protest.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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