Date: 08 Mar 2000
Time: 18:15:18
Remote Name: 24.30.137.96
On February 24, Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN), respectively the Chariman and the Ranking Democrat of the Near East and South Asia Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a resolution in the Senate on the recent Iranian elections. The text of the resolution is attached below.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Commending the people of Iran for their commitment to the democratic process and positive political reform on the occasion of Iran's parliamentary elections.
Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran held parliamentary elections on February 18, 2000;
Whereas more than 75 percent of the approximately 39,000,000 eligible voters cast ballots in the elections;
Whereas preliminary results indicate that reformers have won a parliamentary majority, freeing Iran's parliament, the Majlis, of hard-line domination for the first time since the 1979 Iranian revolution;
Whereas reformers won elections despite concerted efforts by hard-line Iranian clergy to ban reformist forces from the ballot; and
Whereas the elections show a clear preference by a majority of Iranian voters for democracy, rule of law, and improved relations with Western nations. Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress-
(1) commends the people of Iran for their commitment to the democratic process; (2) congratulates reformist parliamentarians on their recent electoral victory; (3) reaffirms the desire of the United States to see free, democratic political development, the restoration of the rule of law, and full civil and political rights for all Iranians; and (4) calls on the Government of Iran to rejoin the community of nations and renounce terrorism, opposition to the Middle East peace process, and the development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction.