Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 1152 (ih) To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to target assistance to support the economic and political independence of the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 1152 (ih) To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to target assistance to support the economic and political independence of the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. [Introduced in House] ...
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1152
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to target assistance to
support the economic and political independence of the countries of the
South Caucasus and Central Asia.
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1152
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to target assistance to
support the economic and political independence of the countries of the
South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Silk Road Strategy Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The ancient Silk Road, once the economic lifeline of
Central Asia and the South Caucasus, traversed much of the
territory now within the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan.
(2) Economic interdependence spurred mutual cooperation
among the peoples along the Silk Road and restoration of the
historic relationships and economic ties between those peoples
is an important element of ensuring their sovereignty as well
as the success of democratic and market reforms.
(3) The development of strong political, economic, and
security ties among countries of the South Caucasus and Central
Asia and the West will foster stability in this region, which
is vulnerable to political and economic pressures from the
south, north, and east.
(4) The development of open market economies and open
democratic systems in the countries of the South Caucasus and
Central Asia will provide positive incentives for international
private investment, increased trade, and other forms of
commercial interactions with the rest of the world.
(5) Many of the countries of the South Caucasus have
secular Muslim governments that are seeking closer alliance
with the United States and that have active and cordial
diplomatic relations with Israel.
(6) The region of the South Caucasus and Central Asia could
produce oil and gas in sufficient quantities to reduce the
dependence of the United States on energy from the volatile
Persian Gulf region.
(7) United States foreign policy and international
assistance should be narrowly targeted to support the economic
and political independence as well as democracy building, free
market policies, human rights, and regional economic
integration of the countries of the South Caucasus and Central
Asia.
SEC. 3. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES.
It shall be the policy of the United States in the countries of the
South Caucasus and Central Asia--
(1) to promote and strengthen independence, sovereignty,
democratic government, and respect for human rights;
(2) to promote tolerance, pluralism, and understanding and
counter racism and anti-Semitism;
(3) to assist actively in the resolution of regional
conflicts and to facilitate the removal of impediments to
cross-border commerce;
(4) to promote friendly relations and economic cooperation;
(5) to help promote market-oriented principles and
practices;
(6) to assist in the development of the infrastructure
necessary for communications, transportation, education,
health, and energy and trade on an East-West axis in order to
build strong international relations and commerce between those
countries and the stable, democratic, and market-oriented
countries of the Euro-Atlantic Community; and
(7) to support United States business interests and
investments in the region.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH
CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA.
It is the sense of the Congress that the President should use all
diplomatic means practicable, including the engagement of senior United
States Government officials, to press for an equitable, fair, and
permanent resolution to the conflicts in the South Caucasus and Central
Asia.
SEC. 5. AMENDMENT TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.
Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
``CHAPTER 12--SUPPORT FOR THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF
THE COUNTRIES OF THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
``SEC. 499. UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION AND
RECOVERY FROM REGIONAL CONFLICTS.
``(a) Purpose of Assistance.--The purposes of assistance under this
section include--
``(1) the creation of the basis for reconciliation between
belligerents in the countries of the South Caucasus and Central
Asia;
``(2) the promotion of economic development in areas of the
countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia impacted by
civil conflict and war; and
``(3) the encouragement of broad regional cooperation among
countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia that have been
destabilized by internal conflicts.
``(b) Authorization for Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--To carry out the purposes of subsection
(a), the President is authorized to provide humanitarian
assistance and economic reconstruction assistance for the
countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia to support the
activities described in subsection (c).
``(2) Definition of humanitarian assistance.--In this
subsection, the term `humanitarian assistance' means assistance
to meet humanitarian needs, including needs for food, medicine,
medical supplies and equipment, education, and clothing.
``(c) Activities Supported.--Activities that may be supported by
assistance under subsection (b) include--
``(1) providing for the humanitarian needs of victims of
the conflicts;
``(2) facilitating the return of refugees and internally
displaced persons to their homes; and
``(3) assisting in the reconstruction of residential and
economic infrastructure destroyed by war.
``(d) Policy.--It is the sense of the Congress that the United
States should, where appropriate, support the establishment of neutral,
multinational peacekeeping forces to implement peace agreements reached
between belligerents in the countries of the South Caucasus and Central
Asia.
``SEC. 499A. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Purpose of Assistance.--The purpose of assistance under this
section is to foster economic growth and development, including the
conditions necessary for regional economic cooperation, among the
countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
``(b) Authorization for Assistance.--To carry out the purpose of
subsection (a), the President is authorized to provide assistance for
the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia to support the
activities described in subsection (c).
``(c) Activities Supported.--In addition to the activities
described in section 498, activities supported by assistance under
subsection (b) should support the development of the structures and
means necessary for the growth of private sector economies based upon
market principles.
``(d) Policy.--It is the sense of the Congress that the United
States should--
``(1) assist the countries of the South Caucasus and
Central Asia to develop policies, laws, and regulations that
would facilitate the ability of those countries to develop free
market economies and to join the World Trade Organization to
enjoy all the benefits of membership; and
``(2) consider the establishment of zero-to-zero tariffs
between the United States and the countries of the South
Caucasus and Central Asia.
``SEC. 499B. DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
``(a) Purpose of Programs.--The purposes of programs under this
section include--
``(1) to develop the physical infrastructure necessary for
regional cooperation among the countries of the South Caucasus
and Central Asia; and
``(2) to encourage closer economic relations and to
facilitate the removal of impediments to cross-border commerce
among those countries and the United States and other developed
nations.
``(b) Authorization for Programs.--To carry out the purposes of
subsection (a), the following types of programs for the countries of
the South Caucasus and Central Asia may be used to support the
activities described in subsection (c):
``(1) Activities by the Export-Import Bank of the United
States to complete the review process for eligibility for
financing under the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945.
``(2) The provision of insurance, reinsurance, financing,
or other assistance by the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation.
``(3) Assistance under section 661 of this Act (relating to
the Trade and Development Agency).
``(c) Activities Supported.--Activities that may be supported by
programs under subsection (b) include promoting actively the
participation of United States companies and investors in the planning,
financing, and construction of infrastructure for communications,
transportation, including air transportation, and energy and trade,
including highways, railroads, port facilities, shipping, banking,
insurance, telecommunications networks, and gas and oil pipelines.
``(d) Policy.--It is the sense of the Congress that the United
States representatives at the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, the International Finance Corporation, and the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development should encourage lending to the
countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia to assist the
development of the physical infrastructure necessary for regional
economic cooperation.
``SEC. 499C. BORDER CONTROL ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Purpose of Assistance.--The purpose of assistance under this
section includes aiding the countries of the South Caucasus and Central
Asia to secure their borders and implement effective controls necessary
to prevent the trafficking of illegal narcotics and the proliferation
of technology and materials related to weapons of mass destruction (as
defined in section 2332a(c)(2) of title 18, United States Code), and to
contain and inhibit transnational organized criminal activities.
``(b) Authorization for Assistance.--To carry out the purpose of
subsection (a), the President is authorized to provide assistance to
the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia to support the
activities described in subsection (c).
``(c) Activities Supported.--Activities that may be supported by
assistance under subsection (b) include assisting those countries of
the South Caucasus and Central Asia in developing capabilities to
maintain national border guards, coast guard, and customs controls.
``(d) Policy.--It is the sense of the Congress that the United
States should encourage and assist the development of regional military
cooperation among the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia
through programs such as the Central Asian Battalion and the
Partnership for Peace of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
``SEC. 499D. STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY, TOLERANCE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF
CIVIL SOCIETY.
``(a) Purpose of Assistance.--The purpose of assistance under this
section is to promote institutions of democratic government and to
create the conditions for the growth of pluralistic societies,
including religious tolerance and respect for internationally
recognized human rights, in the countries of the South Caucasus and
Central Asia.
``(b) Authorization for Assistance.--To carry out the purpose of
subsection (a), the President is authorized to provide the following
types of assistance to the countries of the South Caucasus and Central
Asia:
``(1) Assistance for democracy building, including programs
to strengthen parliamentary institutions and practices.
``(2) Assistance for the development of nongovernmental
organizations.
``(3) Assistance for development of independent media.
``(4) Assistance for the development of the rule of law, a
strong independent judiciary, and transparency in political
practice and commercial transactions.
``(5) International exchanges and advanced professional
training programs in skill areas central to the development of
civil society.
``(6) Assistance to promote increased adherence to civil
and political rights under section 116(e) of this Act.
``(c) Activities Supported.--Activities that may be supported by
assistance under subsection (b) include activities that are designed to
advance progress toward the development of democracy.
``(d) Policy.--It is the sense of the Congress that the Voice of
America and RFE/RL, Incorporated, should maintain high quality
broadcasting for the maximum duration possible in the native languages
of the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
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