Senate Resolution 60-Supporting Democratic Reform in Moldova and Urging the Government of Moldova to Ensure a Democratic and Fair Election Process

SENATE RESOLUTION 60--SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN MOLDOVA AND URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF MOLDOVA TO ENSURE A DEMOCRATIC AND FAIR ELECTION PROCESS FOR THE MARCH 6, 2005, PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS -- (Senate - February 17, 2005)

Mr. MCCAIN (for himself, Mr. LUGAR, and Mr. BIDEN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 60

Whereas, on August 27, 1991, Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union;

Whereas parliaments were elected in Moldova in free and fair multiparty elections during 1990, 1994, and 1998;

Whereas international observers stated that the May 2003 local elections for mayors and regional councilors, despite scattered reports of irregularities, were generally consistent with international election standards;

Whereas Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working to advance the expansion of political and economic freedom, has designated Moldova's political environment as ``partly free'' and, using a scale of 1 to 7 (with 1 being the most free), assigned a rating of 3 for political rights in Moldova and 4 for civil liberties in Moldova;

Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires a period of political campaigning conducted in an environment in which administrative action, violence, intimidation, or detention do not hinder the parties, political associations, and candidates from presenting their views and qualifications to potential voters;

Whereas, in a genuinely democratic election, parties and candidates are free to organize supporters and conduct public meetings and events;

Whereas ensuring that parties and candidates enjoy unimpeded access to television, radio, print, and Internet media on a nondiscriminatory basis is fundamental to a free, fair, and democratic election;

Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires that citizens be guaranteed the right and effective opportunity to exercise their civil and political rights, including the right to vote and to seek and acquire information upon which to make an informed vote in a manner that is free from intimidation, undue influence, attempts at vote buying, threats of political retribution, or other forms of coercion by national or local authorities or others;

Whereas Moldova is scheduled to conduct parliamentary elections on March 6, 2005;

Whereas reports indicate that national and local officials in Moldova are increasing their control and manipulation of the media as the election date approaches;

Whereas there have been widespread reports of harassment of opposition candidates and workers by the police in Moldova;

Whereas other reports indicate that intimidation of independent civil society monitoring groups by authorities in Moldova is occurring on an increasingly frequent basis;

Whereas such actions are inconsistent with Moldova's history of the holding of free and fair elections and raise grave concerns regarding the commitment of the authorities in Moldova to conducting free and fair elections;

Whereas the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 6, 2005 will provide a test of the extent to which the Government of Moldova is committed to democracy, free elections, and the rule of law; and

Whereas the holding of truly free and fair elections in Moldova, including a free and democratic campaign preceding an election, are vital to improving the relationship between Moldova and the United States and to the United States providing support for resolution of the Transnistria conflict and for the provision of assistance to Moldova through the Millennium Challenge Account: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) acknowledges and welcomes the strong relationship formed between the United States and Moldova since Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991;

(2) recognizes that a precondition for the full integration of Moldova into the Western community of nations is the establishment of a genuinely democratic political system in Moldova;

(3) supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Moldova;

(4) encourages all political parties in Moldova to offer genuine solutions to the serious problems that face Moldova, including human trafficking, corruption, unemployment, and territorial issues;

(5) expresses its strong and continuing support for the efforts of the people of Moldova to establish full democracy, including the rule of law and respect for human rights;

(6) urges the Government of Moldova to meet its commitments to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the holding of democratic elections;

(7) urges the Government of Moldova to ensure--

(A) the full transparency of election procedures before, during, and after the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on March 6, 2005;

(B) the right to vote for all citizens of Moldova;

(C) unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to print, radio, television, and Internet media on a nondiscriminatory basis; and

(D) the right of opposition candidates and workers to engage in campaigning free of harassment, discrimination, and intimidation; and

(8) pledges its enduring support and assistance to the people of Moldova for the establishment of a fully free and open democratic system that is free from coercion, the creation of a prosperous free market economy, the establishment of a secure independence, and Moldova's assumption of its rightful place as a full and equal member of the Western community of democracies.

http://thomas.loc.gov