SJ 3 ES

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to human rights in Central Asia.

Whereas the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are providing the United States with assistance in the war in Afghanistan, from military basing and overflight rights to the facilitation of humanitarian relief;

Whereas in turn the United States victory over the Taliban in Afghanistan provides important benefits to the Central Asian nations by removing a regime that threatened their security and by significantly weakening the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a terrorist organization that had previously staged armed raids from Afghanistan into the region;

Whereas the United States has consistently urged the nations of Central Asia to open their political systems and economies and to respect human rights, both before and since the attacks of September 11, 2001;

Whereas Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are members of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), both of which confer a range of obligations with respect to human rights on their members;

Whereas while the United States recognizes marked differences among the social structures and commitments to democratic and economic reform of the Central Asian nations, the United States notes nevertheless, according to the State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, that all five governments of such nations, to differing degrees, restrict freedom of speech and association, restrict or ban the activities of human rights organizations and other non-governmental organizations, harass or prohibit independent media, imprison political opponents, practice arbitrary detention and arrest, and engage in torture and extrajudical executions;

Whereas by continuing to suppress human rights and to deny citizens peaceful, democratic means of expressing their convictions, the nations of Central Asia risk fueling popular support for violent and extremist movements, thus undermining the goals of the war on terrorism;

Whereas President George W. Bush has made the defense of human dignity, the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, respect for women and private property, free speech, equal justice, religious tolerance strategic goals of United States foreign policy in the Islamic world, arguing that `a truly strong nation will permit legal avenues of dissent for all groups that pursue their aspirations without violence'; and

Whereas Congress has expressed its desire to see deeper reform in Central Asia in past resolutions and other legislation, most recently conditioning assistance to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on their progress in meeting commitments to the United States on human rights and democracy: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan should accelerate democratic reforms and fulfill their human rights obligations, including, where appropriate, by--

(A) releasing from prison anyone jailed for peaceful political activism or the nonviolent expression of their political or religious beliefs;

(B) fully investigating any credible allegations of torture and prosecuting those responsible;

(C) permitting the free and unfettered functioning of independent media outlets, independent political parties, and nongovernmental organizations, including by easing registration processes;

(D) permitting the free exercise of religious beliefs and ceasing the persecution of members of religious groups and denominations that do not engage in violence or political change through violence;

(E) holding free, competitive, and fair elections; and

(F) making publicly available documentation of their revenues and punishing those engaged in official corruption;

(2) the President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense should--

(A) continue to raise at the highest levels with the governments of the nations of Central Asia specific cases of political and religious persecution, and to urge greater respect for human rights and democratic freedoms at every diplomatic opportunity;

(B) take progress in meeting the goals specified in paragraph (1) into account when determining the scope and nature of our diplomatic and military relations and assistance with each of such governments;

(C) ensure that the provisions of foreign operations appropriations Acts are fully implemented to ensure that no United States assistance benefits security forces in Central Asia that are implicated in violations of human rights;

(D) press the Government of Turkmenistan to implement the helpful recommendations contained in the so-called `Moscow Mechanism' Report of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) respect the right of all prisoners to due process and a fair trial and release democratic activists and their family members from prison;

(E) urge the Government of Russia not to extradite to Turkmenistan members of the political opposition of Turkmenistan;

(F) work with the Government of Kazakhstan to create a political climate free of intimidation and harassment, including releasing political prisoners and permitting the return of political exiles, and to reduce official corruption, including by urging the Government of Kazakhstan to cooperate with the ongoing Department of Justice investigation;

(G) support through United States assistance programs individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and media outlets in Central Asia working to build more open societies, to support the victims of human rights abuses, and to expose official corruption; and

(H) press the Government of Uzbekistan to implement fully the recommendations made to the Government of Uzbekistan by the United Nation's Special Rapporteur on Torture; and

(3) increased levels of United States assistance to the governments of the nations of Central Asia made possible by their cooperation in the war in Afghanistan can be sustained only if there is substantial and continuing progress towards meeting the goals specified in paragraph (1).

Passed the Senate May 1, 2003.

Attest:

Secretary.

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to human rights in Central Asia.

END