BELARUS DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2011; AND A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE IVORIAN

PEOPLE AND CALLING ON THE UNITED STATES TO APPLY

INTENSE DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE AND PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE POLITICAL CRISIS
IN COTE DIVOIRE

MARKUP
BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH,

AND HUMAN RIGHTS
OF THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON

H.R. 515 and H. Res. 85

APRIL 13, 2011

Serial No. 11253

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

(
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON

65793PDF

2011

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 5121800; DC area (202) 5121800
Fax: (202) 5122104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 204020001

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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
DAN BURTON, Indiana
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
Samoa
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
BRAD SHERMAN, California
STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
RON PAUL, Texas
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
MIKE PENCE, Indiana
RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri
JOE WILSON, South Carolina
ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey
CONNIE MACK, Florida
GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska
THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas
DENNIS CARDOZA, California
TED POE, Texas
BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky
GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
BRIAN HIGGINS, New York
JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ, Pennsylvania
BILL JOHNSON, Ohio
CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, Connecticut
DAVID RIVERA, Florida
FREDERICA WILSON, Florida
MIKE KELLY, Pennsylvania
KAREN BASS, California
TIM GRIFFIN, Arkansas
WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts
TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania
DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island
JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina
ANN MARIE BUERKLE, New York
RENEE ELLMERS, North Carolina
VACANT
YLEEM D.S. POBLETE, Staff Director
RICHARD J. KESSLER, Democratic Staff Director

SUBCOMMITTEE

ON

AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH,

AND

HUMAN RIGHTS

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Chairman

JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
TIM GRIFFIN, Arkansas
KAREN BASS, California
TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania
RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri
ANN MARIE BUERKLE, New York

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CONTENTS
Page

MARKUP OF
H.R. 515, To reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 .............................
Amendment to H.R. 515 offered by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith,
a Representative in Congress from the State of New Jersey, and chairman, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights .............
H. Res. 85, A resolution supporting the democratic aspirations of the Ivoirian
people and calling on the United States to apply intense diplomatic pressure and provide humanitarian support in response to the political crisis
in Cote dIvoire .....................................................................................................
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 85 offered by the
Honorable Donald M. Payne, a Representative in Congress from the
State of New Jersey ..........................................................................................

2
16

24
31

LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING

The Honorable Christopher H. Smith:
Prepared statement on H.R. 515 ........................................................................
Prepared statement on H. Res. 85 ......................................................................

21
40

APPENDIX
Hearing notice ..........................................................................................................
Hearing minutes ......................................................................................................

44
45

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BELARUS DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2011; AND A RESOLUTION

SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE
IVORIAN PEOPLE AND CALLING ON THE UNITED STATES
TO APPLY INTENSE DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE AND PROVIDE
HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN COTE DIVOIRE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH,
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:28 a.m., in room
2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Christopher H. Smith
(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
Mr. SMITH. The subcommittee will now come to order for a markup on two pieces of legislation. Pursuant to notice, for purposes of
markup, I call up the bill H.R. 515, the Belarus Democracy Act of
2011.
[H.R. 515 follows:]

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15
Mr. SMITH. And then following that, we will then be calling up
H. Res. 85, authored by Mr. Payne, which concerns all relevant
issues with Cote dIvoire.
Without objection, H.R. 515, the Belarus Democracy Act, will be
considered as read and open for amendment at any point. I have
a bipartisan amendment that members have in front of them in
their packets, which was provided previously to your offices as well,
and it is available online as well. The clerk will report the amendment.
Mr. KEARNEY. Amendment to H.R. 515, offered by Mr. Smith of
New Jersey. Page 1, line 5, strike Reauthorization and insert
and Human Rights. Page 3, line 14, insert at the end before the
period, the following: , sometimes by
[The amendment offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey follows:]

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20
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the amendment will be considered
as read. And I recognize myself to speak. I will not read my entire
statement.
We did have an extensive hearing on Belarus just the other day,
at which we focused on the despicable actions of Alekandr
Lukashenka, who is the dictator, especially as relates to the fraudulent December 19th election in Belarus, and the ongoing crackdown on democracy activists and independent journalists by the
Lukashenka dictatorship.
Immediately after the election, the government responded to
peaceful protests against electoral fraud with savage mass beatings
and large-scale detentions. Over 700 people were hurt. Some of
those jailed have been abused, and even tortured. A number of
them have already received harsh sentences of up to 4 years. Nearly 30 remain in detention.
Their families, lawyers, journalists, and democratic activists continue to be harassed and intimidated. The crackdown follows the
pattern of repression that has characterized Lukashenkas nearly
17-year rule. Through a series of rigged elections, large-scale intimidation, and suppression of independent media and civil society,
the dictator has long since consolidated his control over virtually
all national institutions.
Lukashenkas dictatorship has the worst democracy and human
rights record of any government in Europe. Several years ago, legislation I authored known as the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004
and the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006 passed the
House and Senate, and was signed into law, with overwhelming bipartisan support. H.R. 515 takes as a starting point the approach
of the earlier legislation.
And without objection, I would ask that my full statement be included in the record at this point.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Smith of New Jersey follows:]

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23
Mr. SMITH. I would like to recognize Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Yes, thank you. I have an amendment in the nature
of a substitute, an amendment on Cote dIvoire, and if the
clerk
Mr. SMITH. We will go right to that in 1 second. Anything on
Belarus?
Mr. PAYNE. Oh, excuse me.
Mr. SMITH. Do any other members wish to speak on the Belarus
Democracy Act?
Mr. PAYNE. Let me just commend you for your efforts, your diligence, how you have followed this through the decades. And I am
very pleased that this issue has come to the fore, and I certainly
support wholeheartedly this resolution.
Mr. SMITH. Thank you very much, Mr. Payne. Hearing no further
requests to speak, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.
All those in favor say aye.
[Ayes.]
Mr. SMITH. All those opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair,
the ayes have it and the amendment is agreed to. Hearing no further amendments, I move that the bill as amended be reported favorably to the full Committee on Foreign Affairs. All those in favor
say aye.
[Ayes.]
Mr. SMITH. All those opposed say no. The ayes have it, and the
motion is agreed to. Without objection, the bill as amended will be
reported favorably to the full committee in the form of a single
amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without objection, the
staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments.
I now call up the measure H. Res. 85, a resolution supporting the
democratic aspirations of the Ivorian people, and calling on the
United States to apply intense diplomatic pressure and provide humanitarian support in response to the political crisis in Cote
dIvoire.
[H. Res. 85 follows:]

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30
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read
and open for amendment at any point. And I recognize my good
friend, the ranking member, to offer his amendment in the nature
of a substitute, that members again have in front of them, that was
provided previously to your offices, and made available online. Mr.
Payne?
Mr. PAYNE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Since we just
had a very thorough hearing, I will be very brief. I just appreciate
the amendment being brought up. We know that this is something
that is very important, and we look for support from all of the
members here.
I would also like to, although they just left, acknowledge the fact
that the Ambassador from Cote dIvoire was with us, Mr. Diabate,
who just left. And also a group from the Ivorian Watch, headed by
Mrs. Bernadette Paolo, and her group was still here.
So I have an amendment at the desk.
Mr. SMITH. Thank you, Mr. Payne. The clerk will report the
amendment.
Mr. KEARNEY. Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.
Res. 85, offered by Mr. Payne of New Jersey. Strike the preamble,
and insert the following: Whereas, on March 4, 2007, key political
leaders of Cote dIvoire signed
[The amendment offered by Mr. Payne follows:]

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Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the amdendment is considered as
read, and I would ask unanimous consent to include my full statement in the record. Without objection, so ordered.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Smith of New Jersey follows:]

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Mr. SMITH. And I do yield to Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Thank you very much. As I was saying, we have just
had a hearing. I think that everything is pretty clear. I once again
appreciate the amendment being brought up, and urge its support.
Mr. SMITH. Thank you very much, Mr. Payne, and I commend
you on your resolution. It is an outstanding resolution, and we will
push very hard to see that it comes to the floor.
Would any other members like to be heard? Hearing no further
requests to speak, the question is on agreeing to the amendment
in the nature of a substitute. All those in favor, say aye.
[Ayes.]
Mr. SMITH. All those opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair,
the ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. Hearing no further
amendments, I move that the resolution as amended be reported
favorably to the full Committee on Foreign Affairs. All those in
favor say aye.
[Ayes.]
Mr. SMITH. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion
is agreed to, and the resolution as amended is reported favorably
to the full committee. Without objection, the staff is directed to
make any technical and conforming amendments. That concludes
our business, and without objection the subcommittee markup
stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:35 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

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APPENDIX

MATERIAL SUBMITTED

FOR THE

HEARING RECORD

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