[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 660 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 660

To commend President Clinton for supporting the efforts of former South 
      African President Nelson Mandela to bring peace to Burundi.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 27, 2000

    Ms. Lee (for herself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Gejdenson, Ms. Waters, Ms. 
    Millender-McDonald, and Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
To commend President Clinton for supporting the efforts of former South 
      African President Nelson Mandela to bring peace to Burundi.

Whereas President Mandela was chosen by the international community to lead the 
        peace initiative following the death of Julius Nyere, former President 
        of Tanzania;
Whereas on September 11, 2000, 1 of 4 holdout Tutsi political parties signed a 
        power sharing agreement with Burundi's Hutu majority;
Whereas, Godefroid Hakizimana, President of Burundi's social democratic party, 
        signed the document as a mediator, working with former South African 
        President Nelson Mandela;
Whereas of the 19 groups taking part in the talks to end Burundi's 7 year civil 
        war, the government, the military, 7 Hutu political parties, and 6 of 
        the 10 Tutsi political parties signed the power sharing agreement;
Whereas intense fighting has continued since the August 28, 2000, signing of the 
        power sharing agreement;
Whereas representatives of Major Pierre Buyoya's government met with rebel 
        leaders on September 20, 2000, in Nairobi, Kenya, and a cease-fire 
        agreement was not reached;
Whereas diplomats from the United States, French, and Belgian Embassies 
        participated in the Nairobi talks;
Whereas all signatories to the power sharing accord (and those in attendance in 
        Nairobi) should do all that they can to continue to progress toward the 
        signing of a cease-fire agreement;
Whereas peace and a cessation of hostilities will help the approximately 800,000 
        Burundi refugees living in Tanzania to return home and help with the 
        peace and reconciliation process; and
Whereas the ongoing fighting threatens the process of implementing the power 
        sharing agreement as called for in the September 11, 2000, accord: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and commends the Hutu and Tutsi leaders of 
        the people of Burundi for demonstrating their desire for peace 
        by signing the power sharing agreement;
            (2) encourages Major Pierre Buyoya's government and rebel 
        leaders to continue the cease-fire agreement negotiations begun 
        September 20, 2000;
            (3) commends the Presidents of Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania 
        for their presence in Nairobi and their commitment to help 
        their neighbor to bring an end to the violence;
            (4) commends the Government of Tanzania for hosting 800,000 
        Burundian refugees;
            (5) urges the United States and the international community 
        to continue their efforts to assist the encamped refugees;
            (6) urges all parties to remain constructively engaged in 
        the peace process;
            (7) urges all parties to make rapid progress to bring into 
        effect a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis;
            (9) commends former South African President, Nelson 
        Mandela, for forging the power sharing agreement;
            (10) commends President William Jefferson Clinton for his 
        contributions in encouraging peace in Burundi;
            (11) encourages the United States, French, and Belgian 
        Governments and other Western nations to remain engaged in 
        Burundi through a cease-fire and a final negotiated peace 
        settlement; and
            (12) urges the United States Government and the 
        international community to continue to work with all parties to 
        ensure a lasting peace that will end the conflict in Burundi.
                                 <all>