[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 154 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 154

   Concerning the transition to democracy in the Republic of Burundi.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 12, 2003

  Mr. Payne submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Concerning the transition to democracy in the Republic of Burundi.

Whereas more than 100,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been 
        displaced due to the decade-long civil war in the Republic of Burundi;
Whereas in 2001, 19 political parties from Burundi signed an historic peace 
        agreement in Arusha, Tanzania, which was mediated by former South 
        African President Nelson Mandela;
Whereas in November 2001, a transitional national government for Burundi was 
        established, consisting of representatives from political parties that 
        signed the 2001 peace agreement, with President Pierre Buyoya as interim 
        head of state for the initial 18 months, and current Vice President 
        Domitien Ndayizeye as successor head of state for the remaining 18 
        months of the 36-month transition period;
Whereas the Government of South Africa has deployed more than 600 troops to 
        provide protection for the politicians who are returning to Burundi and 
        to support of the transitional national government;
Whereas although the formation of the transitional national government in 
        Burundi offers hope for a permanent peace, Burundi still faces daunting 
        challenges in the short-term, such as armed extremist groups which 
        refused to sign the 2001 peace agreement and which continue to terrorize 
        the civilian population and threaten the stability of the transitional 
        government;
Whereas the Government of Burundi continues to face serious economic problems 
        and a crushing external debt burden; and
Whereas hundreds of thousands of refugees from Burundi remain in desperate 
        conditions in refugee camps in Tanzania and other neighboring countries: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) strongly commends the efforts of former South African 
        President Nelson Mandela and others involved in the historic 
        peace agreement for the Republic of Burundi that was signed in 
        2001 in Arusha, Tanzania;
            (2) calls on the President to significantly increase 
        development and economic assistance to Burundi;
            (3) strongly urges the President to work with Congress to 
        lift restrictions imposed on Burundi shortly after the 1996 
        coup in Burundi;
            (4) strongly urges the President, acting through the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development (USAID), to establish a USAID mission in Burundi;
            (5) calls on the Administrator of USAID to provide funds in 
        support of demobilization programs and to support efforts 
        designed to bring lasting peace and democracy to Burundi; and
            (6) strongly urges the international community to assist 
        Burundi in its debt relief efforts, including through the 
        Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
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