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“SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC AND EUROPEAN ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H1693-H1697 on Feb. 10, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC AND EUROPEAN ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF
UKRAINE
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 447) supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 447
Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine is in the national interest of the United States;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration with Europe a national priority and has made significant progress toward meeting the requirements for an Association Agreement;
Whereas on November 21, 2013, following several months of intense outside pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly suspended negotiations on the Association Agreement one week before it was due to be signed at the European Union's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania;
Whereas this reversal of stated government policy precipitated demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities throughout the country;
Whereas the demonstrators have been overwhelmingly peaceful and have sought to exercise their constitutional rights to freely assemble and express their opposition to President Yanukovych's decision;
Whereas the demonstrators have consistently expressed their support for democracy, human rights, greater government accountability, and the rule of law, as well as for closer relations with Europe;
Whereas on November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv's Independence Square, resulting in many injuries and the arrest of several dozen individuals;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, police raided 3 opposition media outlets and the headquarters of an opposition party;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, despite President Yanukovych's statement the previous day that he would engage in talks with the opposition, police attempted to forcibly evict peaceful protesters from central locations in Kyiv;
Whereas several journalists, including from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and civic activists supporting the demonstrators have been brutally attacked;
Whereas on January 16, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament passed, and President Yanukovych signed, legislation which severely limits the right of peaceful protest, constrains freedom of speech and the independent media, and unduly restricts civil society organizations;
Whereas the passage of these undemocratic measures and President Yanukovych's refusal to engage in substantive dialogue with opposition leaders precipitated several days of violence and resulted in several deaths and hundreds of injuries, as well as numerous allegations of police brutality; and
Whereas in the face of spreading demonstrations, Ukrainian Government representatives and opposition leaders have entered into negotiations which on January 28, 2014, resulted in the resignation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet and the repeal of most of the anti-democratic laws from January 16, 2014: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) greatly values the warm and close relationship the United States has established with Ukraine since that country regained its independence in 1991;
(2) supports the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear;
(3) calls on the United States and the European Union to continue to work together to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis, and to continue to support the desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for democracy, human rights, government accountability, and the rule of law, and closer relations with Europe;
(4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition parties, and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid confrontation, and calls on the Government of Ukraine to live up to its international obligations and respect and uphold the democratic rights of its citizens, including the freedom of assembly and expression, as well as the freedom of the press;
(5) condemns all acts of violence and calls on the Government of Ukraine to bring to justice those responsible for violence and brutality against peaceful protesters, and to release and drop any criminal charges against those detained for peacefully exercising their democratic rights;
(6) welcomes the repeal by the Ukrainian parliament of most of the anti-democratic measures adopted on January 16, 2014, and urges President Yanukovych to continue to engage in substantive talks with opposition leaders to address the legitimate grievances of the opposition, and to take additional steps to de-escalate tensions;
(7) urges the United States and the European Union to continue to make clear to Ukraine's leaders that those who authorize or engage in violence against peaceful protesters will be held personally accountable;
(8) supports the measures taken by the Department of State to revoke the visas of several Ukrainians linked to the violence, and encourages the Administration to consider additional targeted sanctions against those who authorize or engage in the use of force; and
(9) urges all parties to engage in constructive, sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine's current political and economic crisis.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and introduce extraneous materials on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would like to thank my good friend and distinguished colleague, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, for introducing this bipartisan resolution supporting the democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people.
It is a timely appeal to the Government of Ukraine to stand down and to avoid all further violence, to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid confrontation. It calls on the government to bring to justice those responsible for violence against peaceful protesters and to release and drop any criminal charges against those detained for peacefully exercising their democratic rights.
At this point, the government's crackdown has led to the deaths of at least four protesters--perhaps more--and throughout Ukraine to numerous beatings, arrests, detentions, abductions--including some from hospitals-- the harassment of activists, journalists, medics, lawyers, and pro-
democracy NGOs.
On the Kyiv Maidan alone, or Independence Square, more than 1,800 individuals, mostly protesters but also some riot police, have been injured. Thirty-six persons are confirmed missing, 49 people remain in detention, and 26 are under house arrest. At least 30 medics working to aid the injured on the Maidan have been attacked.
Also, 136 journalists have been attacked on the Maidan, including investigative journalist Tetyana Chornovol, brutally beaten on Christmas Day, and who investigators, rather incredibly, claimed was a victim of road rage.
One of the most outrageous examples has been the case of activist Dmitry Bulatov, who was abducted for 8 days before being left in a forest outside of Kyiv, during which time he was tortured by his captors who tried to force him to say he was an American spy.
The heroism, Madam Speaker, of the Ukrainian people persistently demonstrating, struggling, and risking themselves for justice and dignity is deeply inspiring. The witness of so many clergy on the Maidan is a powerful reminder of the spiritual values that are at stake.
Just last Thursday, I had the high honor and privilege of meeting in my office with Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. These brave and holy religious leaders are deeply concerned for the faithful--and for the whole Ukrainian nation--and alarmed about the potential for even worse violence, perhaps even civil conflict.
Patriarch Filaret said recently:
I appeal to both the power and opposition to stop violence and to come to the negotiating table. All of you are responsible before God for your earthly doings.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis called for an end to the violence, and said:
I am close to Ukraine in prayer and, in particular, to those who have lost their lives in recent days and to their families. I hope that a constructive dialogue between the institutions and civil society can take place, that any resort to violence is avoided, and that the spirit of peace and a search for common ground is in the hearts of all.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York expressed strong support for antigovernment protesters in Ukraine. Writing on his blog, he summarized the conflict as ``government thugs relishing the chance to bludgeon and harass the hundreds of thousands of patriotic Ukrainians,'' and described the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as ``a church that has been starved, jackbooted, imprisoned, tortured, persecuted, and martyred by Hitler, Stalin, and company.''
That said, Madam Speaker, I do want to note that there is a paradox here. I know there are many outstanding people working in and for the Ukrainian Government who love their country and have its best interest at heart. Last year, for example, I met many times with Ukrainian ministers, high-level officials, and the ambassador, including meetings in Kyiv. This was because, in 2013, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kozhara chaired the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and made the fight against human trafficking a top priority for the organization.
In June, it held a high-level conference in Kyiv to investigate and promulgate best practices and ways that the 57 OSCE countries can better coordinate antitrafficking efforts, including through training transportation and hospitality industry employees in victim identification. The Kyiv call to action was serious and successful. I know because I was there. And what came out of that was a new OSCE plan of action to combat human trafficking.
Madam Speaker, I want to point out that this resolution does not take any position on whether Ukraine should sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. That is a decision for the Ukrainians to make themselves.
At the committee markup, we decided to make that point clear, and the message should be clear. This is not about politics; this is about human rights. Congress is supporting the Ukrainian people in their defense of universal human values and not inserting itself into the question of what Ukraine does vis-a-vis the European Union.
Madam Speaker, the Ukrainian people have endured horrific suffering over the course of the last century, and this is what gives their peaceful resistance on the Maidan such power.
Two world wars were fought on their soil. In the 1930s, as we all know, Stalin inflicted a genocidal famine on them, which resulted in the death of millions of men, women, and children, to say nothing of 70 years as a captive nation in the Soviet Union.
In the 1980s, many of us in this Chamber, and on the Helsinki Commission especially, spoke out on behalf of Ukrainian human rights activists imprisoned in the gulag, called for the legalization of the then-banned and repressed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and held several hearings on the Chernobyl disaster.
With Ukraine's long-awaited independence in 1991, newfound freedoms also became a reality--or, we thought. But since 2010, with the election of Viktor Yanukovych, human rights, rule of law, and democracy have been under relentless attack--symbolized by the continued unjust imprisonment of former Prime Minster and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, whose daughter, Yevhenia, testified at a Helsinki Commission hearing I held in May of 2012 and on whose behalf I, along with my colleagues, introduced a resolution in the previous Congress.
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It is the Ukrainian people's dissatisfaction with Yanukovych, his rollback of democracy, that drives the protest movement. The long-
suffering Ukrainian people deserve a government that treats them with dignity and treats them with respect. I am confident they will prevail in their heroic struggle.
I strongly support this resolution and, again, thank my friend from New York for authoring it.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 447, a resolution I authored supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine.
I would first like to thank my original cosponsors, Chairman Ed Royce and Representatives William Keating, ranking member of the Europe Subcommittee; and Marcy Kaptur, Sandy Levin, and Jim Gerlach, of the Ukraine Caucus, for their invaluable help in crafting this bipartisan resolution.
I also thank my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), for his remarks and agree with everything he said.
The United States has been a staunch supporter of a democratic, prosperous, and sovereign Ukraine. At this moment we must stand with the people of Ukraine more than ever before.
As the world has watched, over the past several months, hundreds of thousands of ordinary Ukrainian citizens have turned out in Kyiv and cities throughout the country to exercise their democratic rights and express their views.
The initial impetus for the demonstration was the Ukrainian Government's unexpected rejection of an offer from the European Union for closer political and economic ties. This rejection represented a reversal of government policy and, in the view of a great many Ukrainians, a lost opportunity for Ukraine to strengthen democratic institutions and values and increase economic opportunities.
In addition, the demonstrators have turned out not only in support of closer relations with Europe, but also more fundamentally in support of democracy, good governance, human rights, and basic human dignity. The fact that they have done so in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner is very, very impressive. It is also inspiring.
Sadly, there have been exceptions to the peaceful nature of the protests. These include police violence on several occasions late last year, the disturbing pattern of beatings and abductions of journalists and civil society activists, and the most recent and tragic violence in January.
Following this dramatic increase in tensions last month, the most recent developments in Ukraine give some cause for hope. I welcome the fact that meaningful talks appear to have begun between the government and opposition leaders.
I would also like to applaud the admirable efforts of the Obama administration and our European partners to deescalate tensions and support this dialogue.
Nevertheless, the situation in Ukraine remains highly volatile, and it is imperative that we actively support a peaceful, negotiated end to this crisis.
This resolution advances to that goal by strongly condemning all acts of violence, irrespective of their perpetrators. Let me also take this opportunity to condemn all acts of extremism in Ukraine, all acts of hatred, and all acts of anti-Semitism.
Moreover, the resolution calls on all individuals to behave responsibly. In particular, it calls on the Ukrainian authorities to respect and uphold the democratic rights of the citizens of Ukraine.
It also states that those who authorize or engage in violence should be held personally accountable for their actions, including by targeted sanctions, if appropriate. This is why I welcome the recent actions by the Department of State to revoke the visas of several individuals linked to the violence.
The resolution further urges the Ukrainian Government to bring to justice those responsible for violence against peaceful protesters, journalists, and civic activists, and to take additional steps to deescalate tensions.
Finally, the resolution urges all parties to continue the substantive and sustained dialogue to peacefully resolve the crisis and address the legitimate desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for a democratic, European future looking West, not East.
In sum, the passage of this resolution would send a strong message of support to the people of Ukraine. At this critical moment, they should know that the United States and the United States Congress stand with them as they seek to build a democratic, prosperous, and secure Ukraine, respecting human rights and dignity and anchored firmly in Europe.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 447.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), the cochair of the Ukrainian Caucus.
Mr. GERLACH. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey.
Madam Speaker, I rise today because, every now and then, we are reminded that there are still people around the world fighting fiercely to secure the same individual liberties and foster the very same democratic traditions that Americans have been blessed with for nearly 238 years.
During the past 3 months, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens have taken to the streets of Kyiv and other cities in peaceful protest of a government that has ignored the will of the people and steered the country away from closer ties to democratic allies and supporters.
The initial response from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was brutal. Government forces attacked protesters, resulting in at least five reported deaths.
Furthermore, President Yanukovych enacted harsh new laws aimed at snuffing out dissent by making it a crime to peacefully protest against the government.
Thanks to the vigilance of my colleagues in the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and the leadership of Congressman Engel, Chairman Royce, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Keating, the actions of President Yanukovych have not gone unnoticed here in the United States Congress.
Many of us have individually condemned the use of violent, repressive tactics against the protesters. Those of us in the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus have tried to convey to those fighting for democracy in Ukraine that their efforts are not in vain, and that totalitarianism must not be allowed to rise again in any fashion.
Today, all of us in the House have a chance to stand united with our friends in Ukraine who desire greater economic opportunity and individual liberty. So I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution to let the world know the United States will not stand by and allow repression, violence, and political intimidation to prevail in Ukraine.
Let's adopt this resolution for all those in Ukraine who wish for a government that is transparent, honors the fundamental human rights of its citizens, and respects the dignity of all Ukrainians, regardless of political affiliation.
I thank the gentleman from California for introducing this resolution. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for recognizing me.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.
(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LEVIN. Thank you, Mr. Engel, for yielding, and to Mr. Smith also, congratulations on your work.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 447, supporting the democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people and their right to choose their country's future and to choose its direction, free from fear or intimidation, whether internal or external.
For 3 months now, countless scores of Ukrainians across the country have braved not only the bitter cold, but also the constant threat of government-authorized violence, to peacefully stand up for the universal principles of democracy and respect for human rights.
With this resolution, we, in the U.S. House, stand with them now.
A few weeks ago, I joined a large number of members of the Ukrainian American community that I proudly represent in the Ninth Congressional District to express support for those demonstrating in the still-colder winter in Ukraine.
As a founding cochair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and original cosponsor of this resolution, I believe it is important that the House pass this expression of support for the Ukrainian people.
Those on Kyiv's Maidan and throughout the country need to know that the world is watching, that the U.S. is watching, that we here are watching, and we support them. I say to them, we are, and we do.
With colleagues, I recently had the privilege of meeting with opposition members of the Ukrainian Parliament. I was struck by what they indicated is their biggest fear and that of the demonstrators. There is the fear of riot police and government-backed thugs beating peaceful protesters, abhorrent behavior that has happened, resulting in numerous deaths.
There is a fear of being among the disappeared. According to reports, 20 opposition activists are still missing. What those brave democratic activists told us they are most afraid of is being forgotten, of the international community turning its attention elsewhere, of our global commitment to human rights and the rule of law being mere words, idealism overtaken by other foreign policy priorities.
The House today will take an important step to ensure that does not happen; that that fear is not realized.
Together with the Obama administration's continued forceful efforts, and the earlier passage of a similar resolution in the Senate, we present a unified American front. We show the people of Ukraine that we will steadfastly support their democratic and European aspirations.
We show Ukrainian President Yanukovych that America will not sit on the sidelines in the face of their government repression and gross human rights violation, and, as the Obama administration has shown, America will not only condemn, we will take action.
Like others, I welcomed the State Department's revocation of visas held by Ukrainian Government officials found to be responsible for violence against peaceful protesters.
I encourage the administration to take additional action, including targeted financial sanctions, should violence and human rights violations continue, which is what this resolution calls for.
It is time for the Government of Ukraine to immediately cease the use of violence, recognize the human rights of peaceful protesters and independent media, and participate in a true national dialogue with the opposition.
I urge all of my colleagues to stand and stand up with the courage, resilience, and indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people and pass this resolution.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), a very distinguished member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. CICILLINE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 447. As the tensions continue to rise in Ukraine about the future direction of this country, we understand that the people of Ukraine are hoping to secure basic democratic freedoms of association and speech for all citizens.
I join my colleagues in stressing the importance of the adoption of democratic social norms in Ukraine and in the region.
Over the past several years, we have seen some impressive improvements in the area of human rights. However, the situation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals continues to cause serious concern. The rampant and unacceptable state-sponsored homophobia that we are witnessing in neighboring Russia is slowly invading Ukraine as well.
Some individuals have sought to introduce legislation in the Ukrainian Rada, similar to Russia's, to ban so-called ``homosexual propaganda,'' which does nothing more than limit the fundamental freedoms of association, speech, and assembly for all Ukrainians, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The citizens of Ukraine, including her LGBT citizens, deserve much, much better, and they should know we stand with them as they pursue a free, inclusive, and democratic society.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York has 10\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the cochair of the Ukrainian Caucus, an original cosponsor of this resolution, and she and I had the opportunity many years ago to travel together to Ukraine.
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Ms. KAPTUR. I want to thank Ranking Member Eliot Engel of New York for his great leadership and Chairman Chris Smith of New Jersey for bringing this vitally important resolution up tonight.
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my support for House Resolution 447, supporting the courageous democratic aspirations of the people of Ukraine. I want to thank, on a bipartisan basis, Congressman Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania for his cochairmanship of our Ukrainian Caucus. We all stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The people of Ukraine have the human right to choose their own future, free of intimidation and fear. What courage it took for these interfaith religious leaders at Maidan to stand with their religious symbols, icons, and crosses and other religious garb, along with their leaders, with their backs to the barricades, protecting the students as they faced the police.
Over the past few months, the world has stood witness as Ukrainians have risen up, united in their desire for a more free, transparent, and democratic Ukraine. If one knows anything about the history of Ukraine, one knows what it took to do that in that place.
The passage of House Resolution 447 here this evening means that our Congress stands in solidarity with those in Maidan and that we lend our support to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians peacefully demonstrating in the freezing, bitter subzero temperatures for over 2 months for a more democratic and better future for all their people.
If there is a God--and I believe there is--surely he or she will look down on this place and bless these people.
The Ukrainian national anthem opens with the words:
Ukraine's glory has not yet died, nor her freedom; upon us, fellow compatriots, fate shall smile once more.
Indeed, fate shall smile once more upon Ukraine. Long live Ukraina. Long live her young people who hold in their hearts the democratic future of that nation.
Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of H. Res. 447. I say to my colleagues here, this is a most important crossroads in history. Truly, this country can be the borderland nation that links West and East and South and North in that important part of the world.
The world needs Ukraine. She is already the third-largest grain exporter to the world's people. Her talent, her artistry, her vision has been quashed for so many, many, many decades and generations. Now is her moment, and we stand with her people, aspiring to that better day for all.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I just want to take 30 seconds to respond and thank the gentlelady from Ohio for her very eloquent defense of the Ukrainian people and for, again, reminding Americans and the world of the pivotal role that the patriarch and the highest, as well as people who are just among the faithful, are playing.
The religious community is standing in solidarity with those who are aspiring for freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. And they have literally put themselves between the police and the barricades in a way that puts their very lives at risk, holding up crosses, holding up other, as the gentlelady said, icons of faith to say that we serve a God of peace and reconciliation.
Ms. KAPTUR. Will the gentleman yield?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield myself an additional 30 seconds, and I yield to the gentlewoman.
Ms. KAPTUR. I would just say to the gentleman, looking back at the history of Ukraine and that region, the fact that you would have leaders of the Jewish faith, leaders of the Islam faith, leaders of Christian faiths, be they Orthodox or Uniate or Roman Rite, all--all--
risking their substance, it is just incredible.
This should be on the front page of every newspaper in the world, and world opinion should move progress forward and help those people who have stood in that bitter cold weather for over 2 months. Unless you have traveled to Ukraine and experienced those temperatures yourself, you would not fully appreciate what they are enduring.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield myself an additional 30 seconds.
I am glad you brought up the interfaith aspect of this as well. I actually chaired another hearing on anti-Semitism just several months ago, and the chief rabbi from the Ukraine came and testified and gave very powerful testimony as to how the faith community is working side by side to mitigate and, hopefully, end the cruelty of anti-Semitism while simultaneously working with Christians and others on behalf of human rights.
Again, this demonstration of the faith community should go noted by everybody in this Chamber and, I hope, by everyone in the world.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), a very distinguished member of both the Budget and Ways and Means Committees and a member of the Ukrainian Caucus as well.
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank both Mr. Eliot Engel of New York and Mr. Chris Smith of New Jersey for leading us through what are important things for us to contemplate, because what is applicable to Ukraine is applicable to a lot of places in this world. So I am a proud cosponsor and a strong supporter of H. Res. 447. It expresses our solidarity with the Ukrainian people and affirms their right to choose their own future.
In this room, not that many years ago, we brought in the Prime Minister. Many of us had these flags, the colors of the Ukraine country.
Mass protests have broken out in Ukraine following President Yanukovych's decision in November to back away from negotiations for closer integration with Europe. So Russia has their fingers in all of this. Beware.
There was an agreement which had been supported by millions of Ukrainians in Ukraine and around the world. We have known about the violence. We have known about the detainment because folks just expressed their legitimate dissatisfaction with Yanukovych's government.
However, the current crisis in Ukraine had deeper roots. Almost a decade ago, the Orange Revolution led to the annulment of a fraudulent election which would have brought Viktor Yanukovych to power. In the wake of protests and civil disobedience on a massive scale, the Ukrainian people, instead, chose President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She is in jail. She is in jail right now, as we speak, still. Now the democratic gains made as a result of that Orange Revolution are at risk. Viktor Yanukovych has gained the presidency, and former Prime Minister Tymoshenko, as I said, is still in jail.
The use of force to suppress open expression by political opponents or popular protests could never be tolerated in a free and democratic society, and those within the Ukrainian Government who authorized these brutal crackdowns should be held accountable for their egregious abuse of power.
There has been a strong outpouring of support for the protesters from the large and active Ukrainian American community, many of whom live in my district, the Ninth Congressional District of New Jersey.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
Mr. PASCRELL. Ukrainian Americans deeply desire a solution to this crisis which respects the fundamental rights of their sisters and brothers in Ukraine to free speech, press, and peaceful assembly. It is my sincere hope that the United States can facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine which respects the will of the Ukrainian people and brings justice to those who have been harmed through wrongful arrests and violence.
As we saw in Syria, crackdowns on nonviolent protests can lead to an all-out civil war, and we still do not do what we should be doing with those refugees from Syria. That is a disgrace.
We need to act now to help the people of Ukraine before the violence escalates further. I urge my colleagues to join this vital show of support from the American people to the people of Ukraine.
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for yielding.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I want to continue to urge my colleagues to support the resolution. As anyone can see, this is a very bipartisan resolution. It is very important.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I, again, thank my good friend and colleague from New York, Eliot Engel, for his sponsorship of this important resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H. Res. 447, a resolution supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the Ukrainian people and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.
As an original co-sponsor and as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, I believe it is essential for Congress to continue to show its strong support for the Ukrainian people. In the two decades since Ukraine gained its independence from the Soviet Union, Congress has been at the forefront of efforts to foster democratic and economic reform in Ukraine.
I have been deeply troubled by developments in Ukraine since President Yanukovych's surprising announcement last November that his government would not sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. I remain concerned that Mr. Yanukovych and his government were unduly pressured by outside forces to take a decision at odds with the long-term interests of the Ukrainian people and that the government's decision was not taken in consultation with other political stakeholders.
Since November, I have watched Ukraine's unfolding political crisis with growing concern, especially authorities' use of violence against peaceful protestors. I have been deeply dismayed by the deaths and injuries sustained on all sides. I applaud the Administration's decision to revoke the visas of the Ukrainian government officials who were responsible for ordering or committing acts of violence against peaceful protestors. I believe additional sanctions should be considered in the event of further violence, but hope they will not be necessary.
In the past few weeks, we have started to see signs of progress toward a resolution, including the repeal of repressive measures adopted by parliament in mid-January and the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet on January 28. Both developments created an opening for serious dialogue between the government and the opposition. I urge all parties to seize this important opportunity.
This resolution does not take sides in what is quite rightly a matter that Ukrainians must decide for themselves. Instead, it urges all parties to refrain from violence and to engage in constructive, sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis.
To facilitate that process, this resolution underscores to protestors, to the government, and to all Ukrainians that the United States will continue to defend Ukraine's sovereign right to chart its own course and build its own future.
It also makes clear, not just to the protestors, but to President Yanukovych as well, that the United States will continue to support the Ukrainian people's aspirations to build a strong and prosperous democracy--one that is firmly rooted in Europe.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 447, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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