Support for Democratization in Yugoslavia

 

To express the Senate’s support for democratization in Yugoslavia.

Senators Dole, Metzenbaum, Poll, Helms, Pressler, Nickles, D?Amato

whereas, in 1990 the republics of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia elected non—communist governments committed to democracy and free market economics;

whereas, in 1990 the republics of Montenegro and Serbia elected communist governments

Whereas, in 1990 the provinces of Kosova and Vojvodina were stripped of their autonomous status by the government of the Republic of Serbia and thereby denied representation to the collective presidency of Yugoslavia;

Whereas, the leaders of Slovenia and Croatia and the other yugoslav republics have been engaged in negotiations on the future structure of Yugoslavia since October, 1990;

Whereas, these negotiations have not included representatives from the provinces of ICosova and Vojvodina;

Whereas, on June 25, 1991, the republics of Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence;

Whereas, the Tugoslav Army responded to these declarations by mobilizing and deploying tanks and troops in Slovenia, Croatia and Kosova;

whereas, the unwillingness of the yugoslav central government and the military authorities to negotiate with the democratically elected leadership of Slovenia and Croatia has led to unnecessary bloodshed;

Whereas, there have been numerous reports of deaths of civilians, policemen, militiamen and soldiers as a result of fighting between Yugoslav Army forces and militia forces of the republics of Slovenia and Croatia, and as a result of repression against the Albanian population in Kosova; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That—

(1) The Senate supports the principles of democratization and self-determination for the six republics and two provinces of Yugoslavia;
(2) rhe Senate urges that the united States use its leadership to ensure that concerns regarding the restoration of political stability in rugoslavia will not preclude the chief objective of promoting and securing democracy and self-determination.

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3)The senate condemns the use of force by the Yugonlav authorities against civilians;
(4)The Senate urges the peaceful resolution of political differences in Yugoslavia and the inclusion of Kosova and Vojvodina in that process;
(5)The senate calls on the Yugoslav Army to refrain front obstructing the functioning of the democratic governments of Slovenia and Croatia and calls on the government of Serbia to cease front using force against the Albanian population of Kosova;
(6)The Senate calls for free and fair elections to be held in the provinces of Kosova and Vojvodina.
(7)The senate urges the President to explore means of increasing direct diplomatic, political and economic ties with the democratic governments of the republics of Croatia and Slovenia;
(8)The Senate urges the State Department to expand direct contacts with the leaders of the democratic opposition of Kosova and Vojvodina;
(9)The Senate recommends that the administration shape its foreign assistance, trade and technical assistance programs to support the republics of Croatia and Slovenia and the other democratic republics in Yugoslavia, and to encourage democracy in the rest of Yugoslavia.