[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          U.N. VOTING RECORDS

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, in just a moment or two, we are going to 
be moving to a vote on the Lott amendment. I implore my colleagues to 
think very carefully about this amendment. I think it could have a very 
deleterious effect on the conduct of the U.S. foreign policy. On the 
surface, it seems to be a reasonable amendment. It says if a country 
has not voted with us at least 25 percent of the time at the United 
Nations, there will be no American economic or security assistance to 
that country.
  It is important to examine what these votes represent. Of the 88 
recorded plenary votes at the 47th U.N. General Assembly, the United 
States voted alone 8 times; we voted with only one other country 21 
times; and we voted with 2 other countries 8 times. So for 37 out of 
the 88 votes that are being used to make this judgment, the United 
States had either no country, one country or only two countries voting 
with us. That accounts for 40 percent of the votes that are being used 
to make this measure.
  The countries that would be affected are some countries that have 
been very helpful to us and are playing an instrumental role in some 
very important international efforts at the moment: Morocco, Tunisia, 
the Philippines, Cyprus, Jordan. Some of these countries are essential 
to the effort to move the peace process in the Middle East. Other 
countries on this list include Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, 
a major actor in the African context--indeed, beyond the African 
context; and India, the second most populous nation in the world.
  This standard is an inappropriate standard to be using. You have to 
analyze the votes you are using and what the specific issues were. In 
fact, the countries that would be cut off voted with the United States 
on most of the important votes.
  So I say to Members, this is one of those amendments which on the 
surface seems to be very attractive, but when you look carefully could 
have consequences that we would live to regret. And the countries 
affected are not going to take it lightly. We cannot play games with 
these countries. They are essential to important purposes that we are 
seeking to accomplish.
  I yield to the Senator from New York.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from New York 
[Mr. Moynihan].
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. I rise most emphatically to support the Senator from 
Maryland in this regard.
  I spoke yesterday on the matter. All this amendment would provide is 
a gratuitous affront to countries, particularly in the Near East, 
Morocco, Egypt, which are taking great risks for peace, have done and 
are doing. It would be an affront to them. It would be an affront to 
the Indian democracy. And all it would do is inhibit and prevent the 
United States from taking actions which we may wish to do in our own 
national interest. I hope this will be tabled.

  Mr. SARBANES. This is just another arbitrary standard. Everyone says, 
oh, yes, they should not get aid if they have not voted with us. But 
this standard is neither appropriate nor meaningful. And the 
consequences of applying this standard are very severe and serious for 
American foreign policy interests.
  I urge the Members, I implore the Members, to oppose this amendment.

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