As the U.S. House easily approved a plan to funnel aid to Ukraine in the form of loan guarantees, a House committee approved a non-binding resolution that would also express American frustration at the turn of events in Crimea and Ukraine, as lawmakers look to send a message to Moscow.
"This resolution is a straight-forward declaration by the House in support of freedom loving Ukrainians in their time of trial," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce of California.
"It also condemns Russia’s unprovoked aggression in no uncertain terms," Royce added.
The text of the resolution is classic Congress - laying out the case for action and then adding some stern legislative language to send a message.
It might seem odd to some that the Congress would even engage in such a process, but my experience has been that sometimes these resolutions can have a dramatic impact around the world, showing people in some far-flung land that the Congress of the United States cares about their plight.
Here is the text of the resolution that will likely be voted on next week.
Condemning the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation.
Whereas the United States has been strongly committed to the sovereignty, democratic development, and prosperity of Ukraine since the recovery of its independence in 1991;
Whereas the Ukrainian people have the right to freely determine their future, including their country’s relationship with other countries and international organizations, without interference, intimidation, or coercion by other countries;
Whereas closer relations with Europe hold out the prospect of a more stable and prosperous Ukraine, which would be of benefit to all countries, including Russia;
Whereas the military intervention by the Russian Federation in Crimea is a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity;
Whereas this military intervention is a violation of international law, including the Russian Federation’s obligations under the United Nations Charter;
Whereas this military intervention is a violation of the Russian Federation’s obligations under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, in which it pledged to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine;
Whereas by its military intervention in Ukraine, the Russian Federation has violated the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act Declaration of Principles Regarding Relations Between Participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe;
Whereas the Russian Federation’s military intervention in Crimea represents a reckless escalation of its long-standing efforts to pressure Ukraine through political, diplomatic, and economic means to reduce its ties to Europe and the West and force it into a closer association with Russia, including through the establishment of a Eurasian Union;
Whereas the Russian Federation has used and is continuing to use coercive economic measures, including the manipulation of energy prices and supplies, to place political pressure on Ukraine and other countries in the region;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has exercised extraordinary restraint to date in response to the use of force against it on its territory;
Whereas the instability in Ukraine has forced 230 Peace Corps volunteers to leave Ukraine; and
Whereas the immediate deployment of international monitors from either the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe or the United Nations to Crimea and in other Ukrainian regions would provide transparency and objective reporting regarding threats of violence and military activity, and also enhance the security of the Ukrainian people in all regions: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) condemns the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation;
(2) states that the military intervention by the Russian Federation—
(A) is in breach of its obligations under the United Nations Charter;
(B) is in violation of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, in which it pledged to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine and to refrain from the threat of use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine; and
(C) poses a threat to international peace and security;
(3) calls on the Russian Federation to remove all of its military forces from Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, other than at those operating in accordance with its 1997 agreement on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet Stationing on the Territory of Ukraine, and to refrain from interference in all regions of Ukraine, including by ending its support of separatist and paramilitary forces in the Crimea ;
(4) declares that the Ukrainian people have the right to determine their own future free from outside interference;
(5) commends the Ukrainian Government for its continued restraint and avoidance of military provocations;
(6) calls on the Ukrainian Government to continue to protect the rights of all minority populations within Ukraine and make clear that it represents all Ukrainian citizens;
(7) calls on all Ukrainians to respect the legitimate government authorities in all parts of Ukraine, including in eastern and southern Ukraine;
(8) calls for the deployment of independent monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Crimea and other areas of Ukraine;
(9) calls upon the President and the leaders of other democratic states to boycott the G-8 summit in Sochi, Russia, to convene a G-7 summit in June 2014 outside of Russia that does not include Russia, and to consider expelling Russia from the group, given its record of international aggression, domestic repression, and human rights records that are inconsistent with democratic standards;
(10) calls on the Administration to work with our European allies and other countries to impose visa, financial, trade, and other sanctions on senior Russian Federation officials, Russian and Ukranian oligarchs and others complicit in Russia's intervention and interference in Ukraine, majority state-owned banks and commercial organizations, and other state agencies, as appropriate;
(11) states that the United States should participate with its European allies and other countries in a joint effort to provide the Ukrainian government with financial, economic, and technical assistance, including asset recovery, to assist an economic recovery program that includes fundamental reforms;
(12) calls on the United States, its European allies, and other countries and international organizations to provide assistance to ensure that new elections scheduled for May 2014 are free, fair, and in full accordance with international standards;
(13) calls on the United States and its European allies and other countries to develop a long term strategy to support economic development in Ukraine, including enhanced relationships with Western countries, organizations and institutions;
(14) supports efforts by Ukraine to achieve energy independence;
(15) supports efforts by Ukraine to improve transparency, combat corruption, and protect individual rights through an independent judiciary and strong rule of law; and
(16) affirms the right of all countries in the region to exercise their sovereign rights within their internationally recognized borders free from outside intervention and to conduct their foreign policy in accordance with their determination of the best interests of their peoples.
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