On the recordSeptember 21, 2020
Madam Speaker, Ms. Julie Fisher is our nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus. A confirmation vote is scheduled for tomorrow in the committee. Once confirmed, she leaves for her post. Upon arrival, she is to present her credentials to the duly elected President of the Republic of Belarus. Today, I am calling upon President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to ensure that these credentials be presented to the duly elected President of the Republic of Belarus, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. A republic is a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch or a dictator and who, in modern times, is a president duly elected by the people. Svetlana clearly won the election, and her massive support continues to show itself by the peaceful protests numbering over 100,000 citizens. Another option would be for her to present her credentials to the governing council, which will help transition the country to fair and free elections within 6 months. Madam Speaker, I call upon all of our democratic allies to do the same. ____________________
