Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 2.djvu/729

 PUBLIC LAW 107-246—OCT. 23, 2002 116 STAT. 1511 Public Law 107-246 107th Congress An Act To make available funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to expand democracy, good governance, and anti-corruption programs in the Russian Federa- Oct. 23, 2002 tion in order to promote and strengthen democratic government and civil society fH R 21211 and independent media in that country. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Russian Democracy Act of SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 2002. 22 USC 2151 This Act may be cited as the "Russian Democracy Act of 2002". note. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 22 USC 2295 (a) FINDINGS.— Congress makes the following findings: (1) Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the leadership of the Russian Federation has publicly committed itself to building— (A) a society with democratic political institutions and practices, the observance of universally recognized standards of human rights, and religious and press freedom; and (B) a market economy based on internationaly accepted principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. (2) In order to facilitate this transition, the international community has provided multilateral and bilateral technical assistance, and the United States' contribution to these efforts has played an important role in developing new institutions built on democratic and liberal economic foundations and the rule of law. (3)(A) Since 1992, United States Government democratic reform programs and public diplomacy programs, including training, and small grants have provided access to and training in the use of the Internet, brought nearly 40,000 Russian citizens to the United States, and have led to the establishment of more than 65,000 nongovernmental organizations, thousands of independent local media outlets, despite governmental opposition, and numerous political parties. (B) These efforts contributed to the substantially free and fair Russian parliamentary elections in 1995 and 1999. (4) The United States has assisted Russian efforts to replace its centrally planned, state-controlled economy with a market economy and helped create institutions and infrastructure for a market economy. Approximately two-thirds of the Russian Federation's gross domestic product is now generated

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