[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6910 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6910
To prohibit United States assistance from being made available before
the implementation of conditions under the 2013 Brussels Agreement, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 2, 2024
Ms. Tenney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit United States assistance from being made available before
the implementation of conditions under the 2013 Brussels Agreement, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Backing the Agreed-upon Compromises
by Kosovo Imposed by the Negotiated Guarantees of the 2013 Brussels
Agreement'' or the ``BACKING the 2013 Brussels Agreement Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2013, the European Union moderated talks between
Kosovo and Serbia to normalize relations between the two
countries which required--
(A) the establishment of an Association/Community
of Serb-majority Municipalities to ensure the rights of
Kosovo Serbs;
(B) one police force for all of Kosovo, with
regional commanders in Serb-majority areas to be a
Kosovo Serb chosen from a list provided by the
municipality; and
(C) Kosovo Serbs comprise a majority of certain
judicial panels in Serb-majority areas.
(2) After a decade, the Association/Community of Serb-
majority Municipalities has still not been created by Kosovo in
violation of the 2013 Brussels Agreement.
(3) Kosovo Serbs are frustrated by the lack of progress in
establishing this Association/Community of Serb-majority
Municipalities and as a result protested local elections in
April 2023.
(4) In Serb-majority municipalities the turnout rate
reached only 3.39 percent, with most voters being Kosovo
Albanians.
(5) Despite the lack of turnout, Kosovo Albanian mayors
were installed by special police, in violation of the 2013
Brussels Agreement.
(6) The United States has provided Kosovo with over
$2,000,000,000 in foreign aid since 1999.
(7) As the United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey
Hovenier, put it, this aid was ``to ensure that all Kosovans
can access effective and accountable services from their
institutions, are empowered to demand accountability for these
services, and can thrive through strong economic and democratic
opportunities''.
(8) Despite this intention, Kosovo has repeatedly
discriminated against Kosovo Serbs including--
(A) repossessing cars with Serbian license plates;
(B) removing clothing with Serbian language on it
from Kosovo Serbs;
(C) harassment of Kosovo Serbs by the Kosovo
Security Force;
(D) prejudice against Kosovo Serbs in the civil
service and labor markets;
(E) denial of fair public trials and lengthy pre-
trial sentences; and
(F) failing to execute court rulings in favor of
Kosovo Serbs, particularly in property related
disputes.
(9) Kosovo Serb civil society organizations have raised
concerns about the criminalization of ``the expression of
political views, which is a universal human right guaranteed by
international conventions, as well as the constitution and laws
of Kosovo''.
(10) Kosovo's refusal to uphold the 2013 Brussels Agreement
is contributing to the destabilization of the region and
increasing tensions within the Balkans.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the actions by the Kosovan Government and Prime
Minister Albin Kurti including the forcible implementation of
mayors, oppression of human rights, and discrimination against
Kosovo-Serbs in the justice system, labor market, and civil
service is--
(A) in violation of international conventions;
(B) in violation of Kosovan laws;
(C) in violation of the 2013 Brussels Agreement;
and
(D) contrary to the ideals of the United States
such as rule of law, democracy, self-determination, and
minority rights;
(2) the actions by Kosovo undermine global efforts to
achieve peace and stability in Eastern Europe and the Balkans;
(3) Kosovo's destabilization of the Balkans could lead to a
regional war; and
(4) the United States rejects these undemocratic actions
that repress human rights and political freedoms.
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States not to support the Government
of Kosovo's--
(1) failure to implement and adhere to the 2013 Brussels
Agreement;
(2) ethnic discrimination of Kosovo Serbs through unequal
treatment in the justice system, and lack of access to the
labor market in violation of international law;
(3) the seizure or appropriation of Kosovo Serbs' private
property; and
(4) repression of the human right to freedom of speech,
including the right to express political views.
SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no United States
assistance is authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available
to the Government of Kosovo until each of the following conditions are
met:
(1) The Government of Kosovo implements the conditions
required be the 2013 Brussels Agreement, including the creation
of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.
(2) Special police are removed from northern Kosovo.
(3) New mayoral elections are held in northern Kosovo.
(4) The seizure of Kosovo Serb's private property, such as
cars and clothing, is halted.
(5) Freedom of political expression is respected and upheld
for all ethnicities in Kosovo.
SEC. 6. OVERSIGHT AND ADDITIONAL REPORTING.
Beginning with the first report submitted pursuant to section 116
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n) after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall include in
each report required by such section a description of the nature and
extent--
(1) of discrimination and harassment faced by Kosovo Serbs
by the government and police forces of Kosovo; and
(2) of the progress made by the Government of Kosovo in
meeting the requirements established by section 5 of this Act.
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