[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 98 (Monday, July 25, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATORSHIP FOR FAILED NATION STATES

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to discuss a 
concept behind a resolution which I introduced on June 24.
  On June 24, I proposed the creation of an international 
conservatorship. This conservatorship would be aimed primarily at 
Haiti, but it is a concept that I think deserves some discussion. Today 
unfortunately we have around the world failed nation states where the 
government has effectively lost all control over the civil organs of 
government, failing to provide reasonable security, both economic and 
physical security for their citizens. Somalia comes to mind as well as 
Haiti.
  The problems of these failed nation states are not being well 
addressed by the international community. I think it is time to 
consider something akin to the trusteeships which was used to manage 
the affairs, the possessions of Germany after World War I and then 
those possessions having passed to Japan after World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, this proposal would basically take the concept that the 
effective leadership, if there is any, of these countries would 
voluntarily give up elements of their sovereignty for specified periods 
of time. They would do that in exchange for a massive infusion of 
bilateral and multilateral assistance and some form of international 
administration and technical assistance which would accompany that 
assistance. It would not be unlimited. It would be for a specified 
period of time. I think this kind of approach really must be considered 
by international organizations, especially the United States, as a way 
to deal with the failed nation states that are all too apparent across 
the surface of the globe today.
  I urge my colleagues to consider this concept and to consider 
cosponsoring the resolution I introduced on June 24.

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