CONTENTS Markup of H. Con. Res. 222, A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress, congratulating the former International Support and Verifica- tion Commission of the Organization of American States (OAS CIAV) for successfully aiding in the transition of Nicaragua from a war-ridden state into a newly formed democracy and providing continued technical support through the recently created Technical Cooperation Mission (OAS-TCM) which is responsible for helping stabilize Nicaraguan democracy by supplementing institution building Markup of H. Con. Res. 215, A concurrent resolution congratulating the people of Guyana for holding multi-party elections Markup of S. Con. Res. 37, A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that Little League Baseball Incorporated was established to support and develop Little League baseball worldwide and that its inter- national character and activities should be recognized Markup of H. Res. 374, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the ongoing violence in Algeria Markup of H. Res. 350, Congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their nation's independence Markup of H. Con. Res. 218, A concurrent resolution concerning the urgent need to establish a cease fire in Afghanistan and begin the transition toward a broad-based multiethnic government that observes international Markup of H. J. Res. 102, A joint resolution expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of friendship and coopera- The Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in Congress from New Jersey, and Chairman, Subcommittee on International Ŏperations (III) H. CON RES. 222, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS, CONGRATULATING THE FORMER INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT AND VERIFICATION COMMISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS-CIAV) FOR SUCCESSFULLY AIDING IN THE TRANSITION OF NICARAGUA FROM A WAR-RIDDEN STATE INTO A NEWLY FORMED DEMOCRACY AND PROVIDING CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGH THE RECENTLY CREATED TECHNICAL COOPERATION MISSION (OAS-TCM) WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING TO STABILIZE NICARAGUAN DEMOCRACY BY SUPPLEMENTING INSTITUTION BUILDING; H. CON. RES. 215, CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA FOR HOLDING MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS; S. CON. RES. 37, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS THAT LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL INCORPORATED WAS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLDWIDE AND THAT ITS INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER AND ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED; H. RES. 374, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA; H. RES. 350, CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR NATION'S INDEPENDENCE; H. CON. RES. 218, CONCERNING THE URGENT NEED TO ESTABLISH A CEASE FIRE IN AFGHANISTAN AND BEGIN THE TRANSITION TOWARD A BROAD-BASED MULTIETHNIC GOVERNMENT THAT OBSERVES INTERNATIONAL NORMS OF BEHAVIOR; AND H. J. RES. 102, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1998 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Washington, DC. The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:10 p.m., before the Honorable Benjamin Gilman, Chairman, presiding. Present: Representatives Gilman, Gallegly, Rohrabacher, Chabot, Salmon, Campbell, Hamilton, Lantos, Menendez, Hastings, Sherman, Luther, and L. Capps. Mr. GALLEGLY [PRESIDING). The Committee will be in order. The Chair lays before the Committee a concurrent resolution relating to the former International Support and Verification Com (1) mission of the Organization of American States. The clerk will report the resolution. Ms. BLOOMER. H. Con. Res. 222, Expressing the sense of Congress, congratulating the former International Support and Verification Commission of the Organization of American States for successfully aiding in the transition of Nicaragua from a war-ridden state into a newly formed democracy and providing continued support through the recently created Technical Cooperation mission which is responsible for helping to stabilize Nicaraguan democracy by supplementing institution building. Mr. GALLEGLY. Without objection, the clerk will read the preamble and operative language of the resolution for amendment. Ms. BLOOMER. Whereas the Organization of American StatesMr. GALLEGLY. Without objection, the resolution will be considered as having been read and open to amendment at any point. [H. Con. Res. 222 appears in the appendix.] This resolution was introduced by myself on February the 12th. It was referred to the Committee and then referred to the Subcommittee of the Western Hemisphere, which considered it on March 4th and ordered it forwarded to the Full Committee. At this time I will recognize myself for 5 minutes. In 1989 at the conclusion of the devastating civil war in Nicaragua the Nation was confronted with the sensitive task of disarming, repatriating, and resettling members of the former Contra resistance movement. Recognizing the need for help in carrying out this effort, the government of Nicaragua asked the OAS for help. On August the 7th, 1989 the International Support and Verification Commission of the OAS was created. Over the next 8 years the OAS-CIAV mission helped demobilize over 22,000 members of the Contra organization, distributed food and other humanitarian assistance to over 100,000 Nicaraguans and created 86 peace commissions to provide human rights and conflict resolution training. By every account the OAS-CIAV mission was a great success for both Nicaragua and the OAS itself, and this resolution congratulates the OAS-CIAV Commission for a job well done. This resolution we are considering was passed unanimously by the Subcommittee and is similar to a resolution passed by the full Senate last year. I would urge my colleagues to pass the resolution. Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman. Mr. GALLEGLY. Are there any Members seeking recognition? Mr. Campbell. Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman, I have a motion. I move that the Chairman be requested to seek consideration of this measure on the suspension calendar. Mr. GALLEGLY. The question is on the motion. All in favor say Mr. GALLEGLY. The ayes appear to have it and the ayes have it and the motion is agreed to. Mr. GALLEGLY. The Chair lays before the Committee a concurrent resolution relating to Guyana. The clerk will report the title of the resolution. Ms. BLOOMER. House Concurrent Resolution 215, Congratulating the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for holding multiparty elections. Mr. GALLEGLY. This resolution was considered in the Subcommittee of the Western Hemisphere and reported from the Subcommittee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without objection, the Subcommittee amendment in the nature of a substitute will be considered as the original text for the purposes of amendment and without objection, the clerk will read the preamble and operative language of the Subcommittee amendment in that order for amendment. Ms. BLOOMER. Whereas the people of Guyana voted on December 15, 1997 to re-elect the ruling party, the People's Progressive Mr. GALLEGLY. Without objection, the Subcommittee amendment will be considered as having been read and open to amendment at any time. [H. Con. Res. 215 appears in the appendix.] I would recognize myself at this time for 5 minutes. During the recess from October last year until January several nations of the Western Hemisphere including Honduras, Čolombia, Jamaica, and Chile held important Presidential, Congressional, or municipal elections. These elections represented another important step in the consolidation of democracy in the Americas. All of these nations deserve our support. One of those elections and the subject of this bill was held on December 15th of last year when the people of Guyana elected their new President. H. Con. Res. 215 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey, Don Payne, and congratulates the 88 percent of the voters of Guyana who participated in their elections. By all accounts these elections were judged to be free and fair by a team of international election observers, despite the fact that some ballot-counting problems did arise which necessitated an audit which is currently underway. Interestingly enough, the new President, Mrs. Janet Jagen, is a U.S.-born native of Chicago who succeeds her husband, the former President, who passed away last year. At any rate, I want to commend our colleague, Don Payne, for introducing this bill, and urge its adoption by the Committee. Are there any Members seeking recognition to offer amendments to the Subcommittee amendment in the nature of a substitute? If not, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is adopted, without objection. The gentleman from California is recognized to offer a motion. Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chairman be requested to seek consideration of this measure, as amended on the suspension calendar. Mr. GALLEGLY. The question is on the motion. As many as are in favor will signify by saying aye. [Chorus of ayes.] Mr. GALLEGLY. Those opposed? |