MARKUP OF H. CON. RES. 292, H.R. 4283, H. RES. 415, H.R. 3743, H. RES. 362, AND H. RES. 475 WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1998 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Washington, DC. The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11:05 a.m., in room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman (chairman of the Committee) presiding. Mr. BEREUTER. [presiding] The Committee will come to order. The chairman is involved in a floor statement on normal trade relations issue on the floor. The Committee on International Relations resumes its hearing that began yesterday to mark up several items of legislation. We will continue to move expeditiously if we can as we did yesterday. I think all of the Members have been quite cooperative as we have moved forward. Mr. Hamilton, do you have any opening remarks? Mr. HAMILTON. No. Mr. BEREUTER. In that case, we will now consider H. Con. Res. 292 expressing the sense of the House relative to the situation in Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Chair lays the resolution before the Committee. The clerk will report the title of the resolution. Ms. BLOOMER. "H. Con. Res. 292. Resolution calling for an end to the recent conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and for other purposes." Mr. BEREUTER. This resolution was considered by the Subcommittee on Africa, marked up, and reported with an amendment. Without objection, the language recommended by the Subcommittee on Africa which is before the Members will be considered as original text for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, the clerk will read the preamble and operative language of the Subcommittee recommendation. It is so ordered. Ms. BLOOMER. "Whereas the 1991 ouster of the Mengistu dictatorship led to relative peace and stability in Eritrea and Ethiopia;" Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, the Subcommittee recommendation is considered as having been read and is open to amendment at any point. [H. Con. Res. 292 appears in the appendix.] Mr. BEREUTER. I understand the gentleman from California, Mr. Royce, recommends that I call upon Mr. Campbell. I do that at this time. (1) The gentleman is recognized to explain the resolution. Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman, thank you. I express in absentia my thanks to Congressman Royce, the Subcommittee chairman. We are all very saddened at what has happened in the Eritrea and Ethiopian conflict after a period of separation that was unique in recent African history for not leading to war. The two countries did indeed commence aggressive actions, let me say, between the two, were commenced May 6, 1998. What this resolution does is to put the U.S. concern on notice to the two countries, to commend the Administration for what it has done so far in brokering a moratorium on air raids. That's quite an accomplishment. And to encourage the Administration to continue. I wish we could do more, but at the very least this resolution gives clear statements that we know, we observe, we care, and we wish to see the conflict ended. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would only note that the Administration has informed me that they have read the text and are supportive of the text of this resolution. I would yield to my co-author of the resolution, Mr. Payne, if it is convenient to do so. Mr. BEREUTER. The gentleman yields to Mr. Payne. Mr. PAYNE. Thank you very much. Let me first of all commend Mr. Gilman and Ranking Member Hamilton, Mr. Royce, and Mr. Menendez. Let me thank my colleague from California, Mr. Campbell, and the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Hastings, for their input on this resolution. It is very timely. Although a cessation of hostilities is presently the mood on the ground, the situation is still at best tenuous. I am very concerned about the situation in the Horn. I believe this is a pointless conflict, in my opinion. With the U.N. announcement last week that 2.6 million people in Southern Sudan are in imminent danger of starvation, I think it is imperative that we resolve the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea permanently. I was pleased to hear that President Clinton announced that he would buy $250 million worth of wheat from American farmers and in turn the surplus will go to the Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. With that said, I am anxious to see a resolve to the present impasse. I believe the facts surrounding May 6 are at best sketchy. We still don't know exactly what happened. I know that respect for one's sovereignty and maintaining territorial integrity are very serious foreign policy objectives, however, border disputes are bigger issues for more serious underlying problems in many instances. In a world where border disputes are not that common but rarely result on full escalation of hostilities resulting in war, I can not understand why a full escalation of war occurred, especially between these two friends. I can not condone the killings of innocent people and women and children, whether it is in Asmara or Mekele or Botome or Masawa. They are fighting for a few square miles of barren mountain and where the disputed area is very rocky and arid. I would like to urge both Prime Minister Meles and President Isaias, both of whom are good friends of mine, and I have spoken to often, to halt full air strikes, to pull back their ground forces, and create a lasting solution for peace and stability in the region. I can not condone the minor Ethiopian migration in other parts of the border, nor can I condone the takeover of Botome by the Eritreans. A simultaneously full demarkation of the border is in order. I am pleased by the swift and quick and decisive action in the region taken by the United States, President Clinton, and Assistant Secretary Susan Rice, in coming up with the U.S.-Rwanda Accord. I would like to conclude by saying that both countries fought against the Mengistu regime, have common interests, and are very important in the region. The Eritreans and Ethiopians are brothers. It is sad and most embarrassing for this to have happened. Lives have been lost and damage has been done. But we must move forward. The United States should continue to actively promote a political settlement. I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you very much. Mr. BEREUTER. Does the gentleman have any further comments on his time? Mr. CAMPBELL. No. Mr. BEREUTER. I am pleased to recognize the distinguished Ranking Member of the Committee, Mr. Hamilton. Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I just want to thank Mr. Campbell and Mr. Payne and the other sponsors of this resolution. It puts the Congress on record as saying to both sides to renounce force and to reach a political settlement. That is exactly what we ought to be saying. I commend them and I strongly support the resolution. Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. Does the gentleman from California, Mr. Royce, have a statement as Subcommittee chairman? Mr. ROYCE. Yes. Mr. BEREUTER. If so, I recognize him. Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When troops from Eritrea and Ethiopia began their fighting on May 6, it really took us by surprise. It took the world by surprise. The leaders of these two nations not only were friends, but were seen as new African leaders who were working in concert to end the era of dictators that had held back African progress. The border between Ethiopia and Eritrea was never mutually agreed upon. But so long as the Presidents of these two countries were friendly, it did not seem to matter. Now we are faced with a border war. The Eritrean Government wants binding arbitration to decide on the border with Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Government doesn't want to go further with talks until the Eritreans withdraw from the disputed territory. The two governments have allowed the Americans, the Rwandans, the Kenyans, Ugandans, and the Organization of African Unity to engage in talks to resolve the crisis, but to no avail. No matter who the mediator is, both sides will have to cooperate in any plan to resolve this crisis. This bill calls on the two governments to do just that. I support this resolution. I commend the work on this issue by the resolution's authors, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Payne, Mr. Chabot, and Mr. Hastings. Beyond the current crisis, I call upon the U.S. Government to work with African nations to devise a mechanism to settle territorial disputes short of armed conflict. The Eritrea-Ethiopian bor |