SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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2004
EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES AND DEEPEST SYMPATHIES OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TRAJKOVSKI
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
H. Res. 540
MARCH 3, 2004
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Serial No. 108–73
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey,
Vice Chairman
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
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ROY BLUNT, Missouri
THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado
RON PAUL, Texas
NICK SMITH, Michigan
JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania
JEFF FLAKE, Arizona
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
MARK GREEN, Wisconsin
JERRY WELLER, Illinois
MIKE PENCE, Indiana
THADDEUS G. McCOTTER, Michigan
KATHERINE HARRIS, Florida
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
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BARBARA LEE, California
JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania
EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
DIANE E. WATSON, California
ADAM SMITH, Washington
BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota
CHRIS BELL, Texas
THOMAS E. MOONEY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel
ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director
Subcommittee on Europe
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska, Chairman
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
THADDEUS G. McCOTTER, Michigan
ROY BLUNT, Missouri
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ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
BARBARA LEE, California
JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania
EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon
VINCE MORELLI, Subcommittee Staff Director
JONATHAN KATZ, Democratic Professional Staff Member
PATRICK PRISCO, Professional Staff Member
BEVERLY HALLOCK, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
MARKUP OF
H. Res. 540, Expressing the condolences and deepest sympathies of the House of Representatives for the untimely death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski
APPENDIX
Letter dated March 3, 2004 to Prime Minister Cervenkovski, Republic of Macedonia, from Martin Vulaj, Executive Director, National Albanian American Council, submitted for the record by the Honorable Eliot L. Engel, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York
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EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES AND
DEEPEST SYMPATHIES OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE UNTIMELY
DEATH OF MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TRAJKOVSKI
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2004
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Europe,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:39 a.m. in Room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Doug Bereuter presiding.
MR. BEREUTER. Pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, H. Res. 540, for the purposes of markup. Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
H. Res. 540 expresses condolences and deepest sympathies of the U.S. House of Representatives upon the death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski.
[H. Res. 540 follows:]
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92345a.AAB
92345a.AAC
MR. BEREUTER. On February 26, President Boris Trajkovski of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was tragically killed in a plane crash over Bosnia-Herzegovina, while traveling to Mostar to attend a regional economic conference. He and eight other people on the aircraft died in this tragic accident. I understand that the official state funeral will occur in the capital on Friday of this week.
President Trajkovski is one of the most important reasons why Macedonia is making the progress it has made in recent years. He was an important leader and voice of reason in resolving the ethnic conflict that was threatening his country 3 years ago, and in implementing the Ohrid peace agreement of August 2001. His leadership and moderation between opposing sides has been absolutely essential in creating the conditions for the progress that his government and his country have made since then.
He worked tirelessly to ensure that democratic values and institutions would prevail in his country, and to bring his country closer toward full integration in the Euro-Atlantic institutions. In May of last year, his country joined Croatia and Albania in signing the Adriatic Charter, an agreement to commit to reforms and cooperation in order to prepare these countries for accession into NATO. His country has been a strong supporter of the international war against terrorism, and has contributed forces to operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Tragically, his country was scheduled to formally submit its application to become a candidate for membership in the European Union last week, on February 26th, the very day of the tragic accident.
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Historically, President Trajkovski will be known for saving his country from civil war. This resolution recognizes that fact and his leadership and his importance to his country. The resolution is an affirmation that the U.S. House of Representatives supports the reforms that President Trajkovski implemented and the progress that all Macedonians have made. May the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the people of Macedonia continue to follow his example, and continue along his path of reform, progress, peace, and democracy.
This Member would also like to express his deepest sympathies and condolences to the Boris Trajkovski family, to his country, and to all of the Macedonian people.
This resolution was introduced by Mr. Souder and Mr. Wolf, and, of course, we will welcome additional co-sponsors today by contacting Mr. Morelli.
I urge passage of the resolution. I turn to the Ranking Member for any comments he might like to make.
Mr. WEXLER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I join the Chairman in offering my most sincere condolences to the people of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the tragic loss of President Boris Trajkovski. I would also like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the President's family, as well as to those families who were also tragically killed on the airplane.
Macedonia, the Balkans and the world have been deeply affected by the untimely loss of President Trajkovski. His bold leadership in bringing his nation closer to the West, as the Chairman said, uniting all Macedonians to prevent civil war in this fledgling nation and his legacy of progress will be remembered by all Macedonians who champion his worthy cause.
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The United States has lost a true friend and partner in the Balkans. Under his unwavering leadership, President Trajkovski and Macedonia have stood together with the United States in the war on terror and in rebuilding Iraq. It is now America's turn to stand with the Macedonian people during these difficult times and pledge our friendship and support as they deal with this terrible loss and they schedule new elections. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Wexler. Are there other Members who wish to speak on this resolution?
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Seeing none, are there amendments?
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Seeing no amendments, the Chair will now entertain a motion that the resolution be reported favorably to the full Committee.
Mr. WEXLER. I so move.
Mr. BEREUTER. I thank the gentleman. Is there discussion?
[No response.]
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Mr. BEREUTER. The question occurs on the motion to report the resolution, H. Res. 540, favorably. All in favor, say aye. Aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
Mr. BEREUTER. All opposed, say no.
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. The motion is approved. The bill is reported favorably. The staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments.
It is also our intention, I would mention, to take the resolution to the House Floor next week as part of the suspension calendar.
I thank the Members for their cooperation in moving this H. Res. 540, and now we will resume the hearing on the European and Transatlantic relationship.
[Whereupon, at 10:44 a.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Material Submitted for the Record
LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER CERVENKOVSKI FROM MARTIN VULAJ SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD BY THE HONORABLE ELIOT L. ENGEL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK
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Hon. BRANKO CERVENKOVSKI, Prime Minister,
Republic of Macedonia,
Skopje, Macedonia.
DEAR MR. PRIME MINISTER: It is with deep sadness that we learned of the tragic demise of President Boris Trajkovski. On behalf of the National Albanian American Council and our Chairman, Mr. Ilirijan Rusi, please accept our deepest condolences for his loss and the loss of his aides and crew members of the aircraft. We also extend our condolences to the family of President Trajkovski as well as the families of the others who so prematurely lost their lives in that tragic accident.
While we did not always agree with the policies of President Trajkovski, we appreciated his accessibility, sense of fairness, and commitment to the people of Macedonia. We particularly valued his key role in ending the 2001 conflict, helping to realize the Ohrid agreement and putting Macedonia on the firm path toward her European future.
We were in Albania when we heard of the tragic event. The news was uniformly met with a sense of profound sadness by the people of Albania. It is a sadness that we all share. President Trajkovski's easy charm and effective leadership will be missed.
Sincerely,