118 HRES 146 IH: Expressing strong support for the people of Moldova and for the Moldovan Government in their demonstrated commitment to advancing democracy, strengthening civil society, and European integration in the face of Russia’s illegal and full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-02-21
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IV
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 146
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 21, 2023
Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Lawler, and Ms. Ross) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
Expressing strong support for the people of Moldova and for the Moldovan Government in their demonstrated commitment to advancing democracy, strengthening civil society, and European integration in the face of Russia’s illegal and full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Whereas, over 30 years ago, the Republic of Moldova achieved independence and has since demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing democracy, strengthening civil society, furthering accession to the European Union, and deepening cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through the Partnership for Peace Program;
Whereas the United States has encouraged and continues to support the Republic of Moldova’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and movement toward democracy;
Whereas the United States Agency for International Development and United States Government assistance programs have supported the Republic of Moldova’s democratic aspirations and economic growth since 1992;
Whereas a joint observation mission from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and European Parliament (EP) determined the Moldovan parliamentary elections held on July 11, 2021, were “competitive and well run” and offered suggestions for further improvements;
Whereas the Party of Action and Solidarity, led by Maia Sandu, has pledged and begun to implement an anticorruption campaign that includes reforms to the judicial system, campaign finance, justice, and recovery of assets misappropriated by Moldovan officials, and the simplification of the regulatory framework for business;
Whereas, on June 23, 2022, the Republic of Moldova received European Union (EU) candidate status, together with Ukraine, and has since worked toward enacting the necessary structural reforms;
Whereas United States National Security Strategy adopted in October 2022 declares support for the European aspirations of Moldova and its commitment to important institutional reforms;
Whereas the United States supports the promotion of local governance, rule of law, and combating disinformation in Moldova;
Whereas Russia’s brutal, illegal, and full-scale invasion of Ukraine has directly threatened the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova by destabilizing energy security and the economy in the country;
Whereas more than 8,000,000 refugees have fled Ukraine and, as of February 2023, Moldova has processed over 760,000 cross-border movements from Ukraine as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine with more than 100,000 registering as refugees in Moldova;
Whereas Moldovans have valiantly opened their homes and provided resources to Ukrainian refugees who have fled as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion;
Whereas the Russian Government is engaged in a coordinated disinformation campaign to destabilize the current government and support pro-Russian candidates, political parties, and other pro-Russian elements;
Whereas access to energy resources is vital for the success of the Moldovan economy and for the prosperity of the Moldovan people;
Whereas Russia has weaponized their energy resources with regards to Moldova repeatedly cutting natural gas supplies in order to create an energy crisis in the country;
Whereas Russian military forces and equipment have remained in the Transnistrian region of Moldova since Moldova declared independence in 1991;
Whereas Russian military forces in the Transnistrian region of Moldova represent a direct threat to Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Whereas it is the longstanding policy of the United States to not recognize territorial changes that are the result of illegal uses of force;
Whereas the United States condemns the illegal presence of Russian military forces in the Transnistrian region of Moldova;
Whereas, in February 2023, reports indicate a Russian missile fired at Ukraine crossed over Moldovan sovereign territory, which Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu called “the unacceptable violation of our airspace”;
Whereas Moldovan Foreign Ministry spokesman called on Russia “to stop the military aggression against [Ukraine] which is causing numerous loss of human lives and material destruction”;
Whereas Russia continues to threaten Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through its naval presence in the Black Sea and Russian-occupied Crimea, and through repeated firing of rockets over sovereign Moldovan airspace as well as continued occupation of the Transnistrian region of Moldova;
Whereas Russia’s military activities in the region pose a direct threat to Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as to neighboring North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland;
Whereas the United States has contributed upward of $320,000,000 in emergency support to Moldova since February 24, 2022, and the European Union has recently pledged 250,000,000 Euros to help Moldova overcome the economic, energy, security, and humanitarian impacts of the Kremlin’s war of aggression in Ukraine;
Whereas most recently Moldovan democracy is actively threatened by Russian malign influence, including the recent uncovering of a plot by Russian malign forces to use agents provocateurs to attack government buildings under the guise of public protests in an effort to destabilize Moldova;
Whereas Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Russia’s goal was to change “the legitimate power from Chisinau to an illegitimate one”;
Whereas antigovernment demonstrations last year were organized by the pro-Russian Shor Party which President Sandu characterized as “attempts to undermine the State”;
Whereas, in October 2022, the United States enacted economic sanctions on malign, Russian-backed actors in Moldova including Ilan Shor, Vladimir Plahotniuc, and 7 other individuals, as well as 12 entities who are “widely recognized for capturing and corrupting Moldova’s political and economic institutions and those acting as instruments of Russia’s global influence campaign”; and
Whereas in the face of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, promotion of liberal, democratic values is vital for the preservation, facilitation, and success of democracy in Moldova: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives—
(1)
reaffirms the United States commitment to the Republic of Moldova in the face of Russian malign influence and military aggression;
(2)
lauds the strengthening of civil society, democracy, and democratic institutions in Moldova and encourages the people of Moldova and elected representatives to continue to enhance their democracy, strengthen the rule of law, and fight corruption;
(3)
welcomes the strong mandate given to proreform forces by the Moldovan people during the July 2021 Parliamentary elections and the November 2020 Presidential election;
(4)
expresses strong support for Moldova’s goal of integration with the Western, democratic community;
(5)
supports the Moldovan people’s aspirations for membership in the European Union and developing stronger connections to the United States transatlantic partners;
(6)
urges the European Union to continue to promote Moldova’s accession processes to the European Union to ensure Moldova’s economic and national security;
(7)
supports the Moldovan people and Government in their desire to rid the country of corruption and oligarchic control;
(8)
calls on the Biden administration to work with our transatlantic allies and review further actions against any individuals or groups working to undermine democracy in Moldova;
(9)
condemns in the strongest possible terms Russian malign activities in Moldova;
(10)
supports initiatives and productive cooperation within the four working groups under the United States-Moldova Strategic Dialogue as a mean to enhance ties between the two countries;
(11)
finds that it is in the interest of the United States and its allies to support democratic governance, energy security, and economic growth in Moldova for the advancement of European and global security and prosperity;
(12)
urges elected officials and policymakers in Moldova to build upon the practices of free and fair elections to further bolster legitimate and equitable election processes in the nation;
(13)
calls for all personnel and equipment belonging to Russian security or Armed Forces to be withdrawn from the sovereign territory of Moldova; and
(14)
continues to support an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe-led negotiation process a special status for the Transnistrian region within a territorially whole and sovereign Moldova within the internationally recognized borders.