[DOCID: f:hc18ih.txt]






105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 18

 Congratulating the people of the Republic of Nicaragua on the success 
        of their democratic elections held on October 20, 1996.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 1997

 Mr. Houghton (for himself, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Ballenger, 
 and Mr. Gilman) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
        was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Congratulating the people of the Republic of Nicaragua on the success 
        of their democratic elections held on October 20, 1996.

Whereas on October 20, 1996, the people of the Republic of Nicaragua held truly 
        democratic, multiparty elections to choose their government;
Whereas these elections were deemed by international and domestic observers to 
        be free and fair and a legitimate expression of the will of the people 
        of the Republic of Nicaragua;
Whereas on January 10, 1997, Arnoldo Aleman was peacefully sworn in to the 
        office of President of the Republic of Nicaragua and immediately 
        promised to continue down the path to democracy, national reconciliation 
        and reconstruction that was started by the previous administration of 
        President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro; and
Whereas this historic event of democratic elections in the Republic of Nicaragua 
        and the inauguration of President Arnoldo Aleman should be honored: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) congratulates the people of the Republic of Nicaragua 
        for the successful completion of the historic democratic, 
        multiparty elections held on October 20, 1996;
            (2) congratulates former President Violeta Barrios de 
        Chamorro for her personal courage and her commitment to 
        democracy, which have helped her achieve a profound political 
        and economic transition in the Republic of Nicaragua;
            (3) encourages all Nicaraguans to continue to work together 
        after taking this critical step on the long road to lasting 
        peace and democracy;
            (4) recognizes that all Nicaraguans should continue to work 
        together in order to ensure a stable democracy, respect for 
        human rights, a free and market-oriented economy, and social 
        justice for all people;
            (5) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to help 
        the Republic of Nicaragua move toward freedom and democracy; 
        and
            (6) further reaffirms that the United States is strongly 
        committed to encouraging democracy and peaceful development 
        throughout the Western Hemisphere.
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