HCON 169 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. CON. RES. 169
Expressing United States policy toward Romania 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 2, 1999

Mr. GILMAN (for himself and Mr. MICA) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing United States policy toward Romania 

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

        (1) Romania has negotiated, agreed to, and ratified an important bilateral treaty with the neighboring Republic of Hungary that recognizes the borders  of those two countries and provides for the protection of the civil liberties of citizens who are members of national minorities.

        (2) Romania has negotiated, agreed to, and ratified an important  bilateral treaty with neighboring Ukraine that recognizes the borders of those two countries.

        (3) The November 1996 electoral change in the Government of Romania was the first such change under a democratic political system in Romania since 1937.

        (4) Romania was the first country to join the `Partnership for Peace' program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in January 1994, has since become an active participant in that program, is a member of NATO's  Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, and has stated its strong interest in admission into NATO and into the European Union.

        (5) The Government of Romania has worked to ensure civilian control over its armed forces and has begun to implement military reform through force reductions, reorganization of officer ranks, and adoption of NATO-compatible procedures.

        (6) Romania has provided military personnel for participation in and support of multinational peacekeeping operations.

        (7) The Government of Romania has stated its continuing support for the mission of NATO in supporting democratization and stability across Europe.


SEC. 2. POLICY TOWARD ROMANIA .

It is the policy of the United States--

        (1) to promote the development in Romania of a market-based economy and a democratic government that respects the rights of all of its citizens, regardless of ethnic background;

        (2) to support the territorial integrity of Romania and to insist  that the territorial integrity of Romania be respected by all neighboring countries and by all political movements within and outside Romania ; and

        (3) to support the integration of Romania into pan-European and trans-Atlantic economic and security institutions.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

It is the sense of the Congress that--

        (1) the United States should support efforts by Romania to integrate  into pan-European and trans-Atlantic institutions and should view such  integration as an important factor in consolidating democratic government in Romania; 

        (2) Romania is to be commended for its work to achieve bilateral treaties with the Republic of Hungary and Ukraine and the Government of Romania should now work expeditiously to negotiate, agree to, and ratify a bilateral treaty with the neighboring Republic of Moldova that recognizes the borders of those two countries;

        (3) the Government of Romania should accelerate necessary economic reforms, particularly privatization of state-owned enterprises under a fair and transparent process and privatization of the agricultural sector to include privatization of land and of major agri-business enterprises;

        (4) the Government of Romania should, in a concrete manner, address corrupt and criminal activities at all levels;

        (5) the United States should undertake to assist Romania to address the costs of disruptions in commerce in southeastern Europe caused by the conflict in neighboring Serbia; and

        (6) the United States should join other official creditors of Romania in providing Romania with relief from such official debt through rescheduling and, where appropriate, forgiveness.