Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/79

 PUBLIC LAW 99-29—APR. 25, 1985 separately, including in co-operation with the United Nations, to promote universal and effective respect for them"; Whereas the Helsinki Accords also express the commitment of the participating States to "confirm the right of the individual to know and act upon his rights and duties in this field"; Whereas the Helsinki Accords also express the commitment of the participating States in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms to "act in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and to "fulfill their obligations as set forth in the international declarations and agreements in this field, including inter alia the International Covenants on Human Rights, by which they may be bound"; Whereas the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, in agreeing to the Helsinki Accords, have acknowledged an adherence to the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms as embodied in the Helsinki Accords; Whereas the aforementioned Governments have not fulfilled their commitments to the Helsinki Accords by denying individuals their inherent rights to freedom of religion, thought, conscience, and belief; Whereas on May 7, 1985, a meeting of experts on human rights and fundamental freedoms will be convened in Ottawa, Canada, to discuss questions concerning respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as embodied in the Helsinki Accords; Whereas this meeting is called for in the concluding document of the Madrid Review Conference of September 9, 1983; and Whereas this meeting will be attended by representatives of all Helsinki signatory nations: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That— (1) May 7, 1985, the opening date of the Ottawa meeting of experts on human rights and fundamental freedoms, is designated as "Helsinki Human Rights Day"; (2) the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation reasserting the American commitment to full implementation of the human rights and humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki Accords, urging all signatory nations to abide by their obligations under the Helsinki Accords, and encouraging the people of the United States to join the President and Congress in observance of "Helsinki Human Rights Day" with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; (3) the President is further requested to continue his efforts to achieve full implementation of the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Accords by raising the issue of noncompliance with the Governments of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania at every available opportunity; (4) the President is further requested to convey to all signatories of the Helsinki Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a vital element of further progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and (5) the President is authorized to convey to allies and friends of the United States that unity on the question of respect for

99 STAT. 57

59 Stat. I03i.

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