[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 833 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 833
Expressing support for Moldova's democracy, independence, and
territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova
relations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 2, 2021
Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Pfluger) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for Moldova's democracy, independence, and
territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova
relations.
Whereas August 27, 2021, marks 30 years of the Republic of Moldova's
independence;
Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with Moldova on
February 18, 1992, and the 2 countries have since enjoyed expanded and
positive relations;
Whereas, since Moldova's independence in 1991, the United States has supported
the people of Moldova's efforts to build a prosperous European
democracy;
Whereas Moldova and the United States have partnered to support the people of
Moldova with $1,700,000,000 in assistance to help the country improve
security and realize their democratic aspirations;
Whereas the United States and Moldova further strengthened their partnership
through the launching of the inaugural Strategic Dialogue on March 3,
2014;
Whereas the Strategic Dialogue has focused on advancing shared interests in
democracy, good governance, rule of law, anticorruption, energy
independence, economic development, and security cooperation;
Whereas Congress and State and local communities have a history of engaging with
Moldovan young leaders, civil society, and Members of Parliament through
official exchanges;
Whereas Moldova has participated in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
programs, including an MCC Threshold program completed in 2010 that
resulted in significant accomplishments in the judiciary and health
sectors and an MCC Compact in 2015 that invested $259,000,000 to improve
the country's road infrastructure and transition to high-value
agriculture and resulted in building a main trade artery from Soroca to
Chisinau;
Whereas the Republic of Moldova ratified an association agreement containing
comprehensive free trade provisions with the European Union in 2014 and
the agreement became fully effective in July 2016;
Whereas, in March 2020, Moldova completed a 3-year International Monetary Fund
program focused on banking system reforms, financial sector governance
strengthening, and macrofinancial stability, and in October 2021,
reached a provisional loan agreement worth $564,000,000 over 3.3 years
with the International Monetary Fund;
Whereas the United States supports Moldova's endeavors to increase transparency
and hold corrupt actors accountable, particularly efforts relating to
money laundering and financial fraud and seeking appropriate redress and
seizure of corrupt assets;
Whereas, in November 2020, the Moldovan people directly elected its first female
President, Maia Sandu, who campaigned on fighting corruption,
reinvigorating economic reforms, supporting judicial independence,
revitalizing European integration efforts, and strengthening relations
with the United States and the European Union;
Whereas, in July 2021, Moldova held parliamentary elections in which President
Sandu's anticorruption and reform-minded platform was overwhelmingly
supported by the people of Moldova;
Whereas, since August 6, 2021, women serve as both Moldova's head of state and
head of government;
Whereas, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the most recent
elections were ``well administered, competitive and fundamental freedoms
were largely respected'';
Whereas the Republic of Moldova has consistently and historically carried out
well-administered and competitive elections that result in nonviolent
transitions of power;
Whereas the United States commends and supports the new Moldovan Government's
priorities of justice sector reform, combating corruption, creating jobs
for Moldovan citizens, improving infrastructure and living standards,
strengthening relationships with the West and other international
partners, and combating the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas continued efforts to improve governance, combat corruption, and adopt
domestic economic reforms will further bolster Moldova's ability to
secure loan packages from international donors such as the International
Monetary Fund and the European Union;
Whereas Moldova's main trading partner is the European Union;
Whereas, as a member of the European Union's Eastern Partnership, Moldova's
European integration should be a high priority with the goal of eventual
European Union membership;
Whereas the United States Government supports the democratic and European
aspirations of the people of the Republic of Moldova, including their
expressed desire to join the European Union;
Whereas, in a judgment in 2004, the European Court of Human Rights found that
Moldova's separatist region of Transnistria was created with the support
of the Kremlin and considered it ``under the effective authority or at
least decisive influence'' of the Kremlin;
Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
the Republic of Moldova and on that basis participates as an observer in
the ``5+2'' negotiations to find a comprehensive settlement that will
provide a special status for Transnistria within Moldova's
internationally recognized borders;
Whereas the Kremlin maintains a contingent of military forces and a stockpile of
military equipment and ammunition within the Transnistrian region
constituting an occupation of Moldovan territory and a violation of
Moldova's territorial sovereignty;
Whereas the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe Mission to Moldova, and the Government of Moldova have called
upon the Kremlin to remove its troops from the territory of the Republic
of Moldova;
Whereas, in July 2017, the Moldovan Parliament adopted a declaration calling on
the Kremlin to withdraw its troops from Moldova;
Whereas, on September 22, 2021, Moldovan President Maia Sandu addressed the
United Nations General Assembly and called for the Kremlin to withdraw
its troops from the Transnistrian region;
Whereas the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed by an
overwhelming majority, and the President signed into law, S. 2183,
providing for a United States international broadcasting programming
surge to counter disinformation from Kremlin-supported news outlets and
ensuring that Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and Moldova have
access to independent news and information;
Whereas Moldova has been a valued and reliable partner in promoting global
security by participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions in the
Central African Republic, Kosovo, and South Sudan, supporting United
States efforts to increase international cooperation in combating
terrorism, and providing demining units and postconflict humanitarian
assistance in Iraq;
Whereas, since 1996, Moldova's Armed Forces have participated in the United
States National Guard State Partnership Program as a partner to the
North Carolina National Guard;
Whereas, in 1999, the existing defense relationship between the North Carolina
National Guard and the Defense Forces of Moldova led to the creation of
the Moldova-North Carolina Bilateral Partnership, which has been
formally renewed in 2004, 2010, 2015, and 2019, to facilitate
cooperation in the areas of civil emergency operations, expansion of
markets, coordination of humanitarian efforts and cultural, scientific,
and academic exchanges between the State of North Carolina and Moldova;
Whereas Moldova cooperates with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through
the Partnership for Peace program, including participation in the
Defense and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative, a flagship
defense reform partnership focused on reforming and modernizing
Moldova's Armed Forces to improve expertise, interoperability, and
peacekeeping capabilities;
Whereas the United States and the European Union and other partners have
cooperated to support Moldova's democratic aspirations and deepen
European integration;
Whereas, on September 21, 2021, President Biden addressed the 76th United
Nations General Assembly stating that the democratic world ``lives in
the proud Moldovans who helped deliver a landslide victory for the
forces of democracy, with a mandate to fight graft, to build a more
inclusive economy''; and
Whereas the United States provided more than $7,000,000 in assistance to Moldova
for combating COVID-19, including 500,000 United States donated
vaccines: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the historical significance of Moldova's
independence and reaffirms the commitment of the United States
on supporting the Moldovan people in their efforts to
strengthen democratic governance, root out corruption, increase
economic prosperity, support energy independence, and ensure
stability and security;
(2) reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to
support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Moldova and the inviolability of
its borders by other nation states;
(3) supports and encourages increased activity related to
the Strategic Dialogue as a means to strengthen relations
between the Republic of Moldova and the United States and
enhance the democratic, economic, rule of law, and security
reforms already being undertaken by the Republic of Moldova;
(4) supports the Joint Commercial Commission (JCC) between
the United States and the Republic of Moldova to strengthen the
bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two
nations and improve Moldova's investment climate;
(5) supports the new Moldovan Government's anticorruption
and government reform efforts that will enhance the work of the
JCC;
(6) encourages the United States Government to engage at a
leadership level to enhance United States partnerships with the
Moldovan Government and civil society organizations;
(7) urges the United States Government and European Union
and other transatlantic partners to increase cooperation,
coordination, and support for the Republic of Moldova for
democratic transformation, economic and energy independence and
security, and further integration;
(8) encourages the State Department, United States Agency
for International Development, the Development Finance
Corporation, the Department of Energy, and the United States
Trade Representative to increase and focus assistance on
justice sector reform, strengthening democratic institutions,
promoting an open and transparent government, combating COVID-
19, fostering indigenous independent media and an open
information environment, increasing domestic energy
development, diversification of energy supplies and energy
efficiency, improving transport and communication
infrastructure, as well as the promotion of trade and
investment opportunities, along with inclusive economic growth
focusing on the rural areas beyond the capital;
(9) recognizes the historic opportunity for the Republic of
Moldova to continue efforts to implement crucial governance and
economic reforms, including increasing the capacity and
independence of democratic institutions, combating corruption,
and maintaining open space for civil society engagement;
(10) reaffirms the importance of free, fair, and
transparent elections in Moldova;
(11) encourages the President to expedite the
implementation of Public Law 113-96, especially for populations
in Ukraine and Moldova;
(12) affirms the Republic of Moldova's sovereign right to
determine its own partnerships free of external coercion and
pressure, and affirms Moldova's right to associate with the
European Union or any regional organization;
(13) calls upon the Kremlin to fulfill its commitments made
at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's
Istanbul summit in 1999 and to withdraw its military forces and
munitions from within the internationally recognized territory
of the Republic of Moldova;
(14) calls upon the Kremlin to refrain from economic
threats, its disinformation campaign against western
democracies, and pressure against Moldova and to cease any and
all actions that support separatist movements within the
territory of Moldova;
(15) supports a results-oriented 5+2 process as the only
channel for resolving the Transnistria conflict;
(16) supports and encourages efforts to resume negotiations
and resolve the Transnistria issue through a comprehensive
political settlement that affirms Moldova's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, while providing a special status for the
Transnistrian region within Moldova;
(17) affirms that lasting stability and security in Moldova
is a key priority for the United States and that these can only
be achieved if the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Moldova and all European countries are respected; and
(18) celebrates the contributions that Moldovans and
Moldovan Americans have made in the United States.
<all>