3

ing of terrorist activity, including the use of objec

tive investigators into the massacres;

(6) acknowledges that the Government of Algeria has made progress toward democratization and urges the government to engage in dialogue with all

elements of Algerian society who have renounced violence, in order to further democracy and promote

the rule of law;

(7) urges the United States Government to continue to work closely with the Government of Algeria to bring about the development and implementation of political and economic reforms as well as the full

restoration of law and order in Algeria; and

(8) encourages the European Union and the Government of Algeria to further their cooperation against terrorism.

AMENDMENT OFFERED BY

MR. MENENDEZ OF NEW JERSEY TO H.RES. 374

At the end of the resolution add the following:

(9) encourages the Algerian Government to accept the appointment of a Special Rapporteur by the United Nations or another qualified independent organization, to conduct an inquiry into the violations of human rights in Algeria.

HRES 350 IH

105th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. RES. 350

Congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their nation's independence.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 1998

Mr. BEREUTER (for himself, Mr. HAMILTON, and Mr. BERMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their nation's independence.

Whereas on February 4, 1948, the people of Sri Lanka gained their independence from the British; Whereas the people of Sri Lanka and the United States have a common interest in the promotion and preservation of democratic systems of government;

Whereas the people of Sri Lanka and the United States have had many shared values and interests, including the desire to promote the peaceful development of the South Asian region;

Whereas Sri Lankan citizens who have visited or lived in the United States, and United States citizens who have visited or lived in Sri Lanka, have done much to improve mutual understanding and build friendship over the past fifty years;

Whereas United States citizens of Sri Lankan origin have contributed greatly to the advancement of knowledge, the development of the United States economy, and the enrichment of cultural life in the United States;

Whereas the ties of trade and investment between the United States and Sri Lanka have grown over fifty years to the benefit of the people of both countries; and

Whereas the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of Sri Lanka offers an opportunity for Sri Lanka and the United States to renew their commitment to international cooperation on issues of mutual interest and concern: Now, therefore, be it

END

Resolved, That the House of Representatives-

(1) congratulates the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their nation's independence; and

(2) looks forward to broadening and deepening United States cooperation and friendship with Sri Lanka in the years ahead for the benefit of the people of both countries.

1 of 3

105th CONGRESS

2d Session

H.CON. RES. 218

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 norms of behavior.

HCON 218 EH

105th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. CON. RES. 218

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas peace and stability has not returned to Afghanistan despite the February 1989 Soviet
withdrawal from Afghanistan;

Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights for 1997 states: 'The overall
human rights situation [in Afghanistan] is poor *** political killings, torture, rape, arbitrary detention,
looting, abductions and kidnappings for ransom were committed by armed units, local commanders, and
rogue individuals';

Whereas the continuing civil conflict in Afghanistan has had a grievous impact upon the Afghan people,
where within its borders occurs the highest rate of infant, child, and maternal mortality in the region;

Whereas neighboring countries have provided support in the form of financial assistance and arms to the
different groups warring in Afghanistan, thereby extending the length and expanding the destruction of
this internal conflict;

Whereas another byproduct of this conflict is the harboring of Islamic militants and terrorist leaders in
Afghanistan;

Whereas due to the tyranny and destruction caused by Taliban rule, Afghanistan is now one of the
world's leading producers of opium, and over the past year alone, the production of opiates in
Afghanistan has increased and resulted in a growth in the drug trade not only in the Central and South
Asian regions but in Russia and the West as well;

Whereas continuing instability serves as an obstacle to international investment and the establishment of
developmental projects inside Afghanistan, so necessary to Afghanistan's rejuvenation from years of
conflict, and central to promoting political cooperation among Afghan factions;

Whereas the continuing conflict in Afghanistan serves as an impediment to economic prosperity and
political development throughout all of South Asia and the newly independent Central Asian nations as
well; and

Whereas despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to broker an end to continuing warfare among
the country's warring factions, the absence of peace has prevented Afghanistan from addressing the

8/11/98 10:38 AM

numerous problems facing its citizenry: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress-

(1) acknowledges that, through determination, tenacity, and courage, the Afghan people successfully waged a war against Soviet expansionism and greatly assisted in bringing an end to the cold war;

(2) calls upon all warring factions and national powers to participate in intra-Afghan dialogue (the 'Frankfurt Process') and in the peace process and to actively cooperate in the acceleration of endeavors for peace;

(3)(A) deplores continuing human rights violations occurring within Afghanistan, especially
against women and female children, who have suffered condoned discrimination and
harassment, and the reported widespread execution of prisoners of war and civilians
evidenced by the discovery of mass graves which contained an estimated 2,000 corpses; and
(B) supports the intention of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red
Cross to continue their investigation into these reported killings;

(4)(A) welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Lakhbar Brahimi as special envoy of the
United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan and supports his efforts toward attaining
a peaceful negotiated settlement with the assistance of the six nations bordering Afghanistan
as well as representatives from the United States and Russia; and

(B) encourages a role for Afghan leaders of all factions and ethnic groups in the United
Nations negotiation efforts, based on the fact that peace and national reconciliation cannot
be imposed on the Afghan people by their neighbors;

(5) urges the nations of the region to cooperate in the peace process and to end immediately the supply of arms, ammunition, military equipment, training or any other military support to all parties to the conflict;

(6) urges appropriate parties in the United Nations, Afghanistan, and its neighbors to work toward the eradication of the production of opium, especially in southern Afghanistan, and to link such efforts wherever possible to realistic income alternatives;

(7) calls upon all parties within Afghanistan to prevent the reoccurrence of actions which impede the ability of humanitarian and international organizations to move food shipments and other forms of humanitarian assistance into Afghanistan;

(8) acknowledges that due to the death and destruction wrought by the February 4, 1998, earthquake in northeastern Afghanistan, where approximately 5,000 people have died and an estimated 30,000 have been left homeless, there is a continuing need for international emergency aid of food, clothing, and shelter;

(9) recognizes the continuing requirement to address the needs of more than 2,500,000 Afghan refugees in neighboring countries, three-quarters of whom are women and children;

(10) acknowledges the necessity of international efforts to clear the estimated 10,000,000 land mines buried in the Afghan countryside; and

(11) calls for the expulsion of all known terrorist leaders from Afghanistan and the closing down of all terrorist training camps operating in the country.

Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 1998.

Attest:

Clerk.

END