[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 155 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 155
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 28, 2005
Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Urging the Government of the Republic of Albania to ensure that the
parliamentary elections to be held on July 3, 2005, are conducted in
accordance with international standards for free and fair elections.
Whereas the United States maintains strong and friendly relations with the
Republic of Albania and appreciates the ongoing support of the people of
Albania;
Whereas the President of Albania has called for elections to Albania's
parliament, known as the People's Assembly, to be held on July 3, 2005;
Whereas Albania is one of 55 participating States in the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), all of which have adopted the
1990 Copenhagen Document containing specific commitments relating to the
conduct of elections;
Whereas these commitments, which encourage transparency, balance, and
impartiality in an election process, have become the standard by which
observers determine whether elections have been conducted freely and
fairly;
Whereas, though improvements over time have been noted, the five multiparty
parliamentary elections held in Albania between 1991 and 2001, as well
as elections for local offices held between and after those years, fell
short of the standards in the Copenhagen Document to varying degrees,
according to OSCE and other observers;
Whereas with OSCE and other international assistance, the Government of Albania
has improved the country's electoral and legal framework and enhanced
the capacity to conduct free and fair elections;
Whereas subsequent to the calling of elections, Albania's political parties have
accepted a code of conduct regarding their campaign activities,
undertaking to act in accordance with the law, to refrain from inciting
violence or hatred in the election campaign, and to be transparent in
disclosing campaign funding; and
Whereas meeting the standards in the Copenhagen Document for free and fair
elections is absolutely essential to Albania's desired integration into
European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, including full membership in
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as to Albania's
progress in addressing official corruption and combatting organized
crime: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) welcomes the opportunity for the Republic of Albania to
demonstrate its willingness and preparedness to take the next
steps in European and Euro-Atlantic integration by holding
parliamentary elections on July 3, 2005, that meet the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
standards for free and fair elections as defined in the 1990
Copenhagen Document;
(2) firmly believes that the citizens of Albania, like all
people, should be able to choose their own representatives in
parliament and government in free and fair elections, and to
hold these representatives accountable through elections at
reasonable intervals;
(3) supports commitments by Albanian political parties to
adhere to a basic code of conduct for campaigning and urges
such parties and all election officials in Albania to adhere to
laws relating to the elections, and to conduct their activities
in an impartial and transparent manner, by allowing
international and domestic observers to have unobstructed
access to all aspects of the election process, including public
campaign events, candidates, news media, voting, and post-
election tabulation of results and processing of election
challenges and complaints;
(4) supports assistance by the United States to help the
people of Albania establish a fully free and open democratic
system, a prosperous free market economy, and its rightful
place in European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, including the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and
(5) encourages the President to communicate to the
Government of Albania, to all political parties and candidates,
and to the people of Albania the high importance attached by
the Government of the United States to this parliamentary
election as a central factor in determining the future
relationship between the United States and Albania.
Passed the House of Representatives June 27, 2005.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.