[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S4756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   THE AMERICAN CITIZENS HELD IN IRAQ

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise to share my strong concerns about 
the safe and prompt return of two American citizens currently being 
held in an Iraqi prison.
  William Barloon, the brother of one of my constituents in Minnesota, 
and David Daliberti unintentionally strayed into Iraqi territory on 
March 13 while seeking to visit friends in the demilitarized zone 
between Kuwait and Iraq.
  They were allowed to pass through two check points, one run by the 
United Nations and the other by Iraqis, before they were arrested for 
not possessing appropriate visas to enter Iraq. Thus, the very 
vulnerable position in which these men found themselves was not 
altogether of their own making.
  Following their arrest, Mr. Barloon and Mr. Daliberti were given a 
rushed trial with no Americans present and without satisfactory legal 
counsel. An Iraqi court sentenced them to 8 years in prison, a very 
severe and disproportionate punishment for what was, at most, simple 
carelessness and neglect.
  Mr. President, I also rise in strong support of the amendment offered 
yesterday by the gentlemen from Iowa to condemn the conviction and 
sentencing of Mr. Barloon and Mr. Daliberti. We must send a loud and 
clear message to the Iraqi Government: Under no circumstances should it 
even attempt to link its unjustified detention of the Americans to 
other international issues.
  The Iraqi Government must be made to realize that the longer they 
hold these two men, the more they will heighten tensions and damage 
relations with the United States and the rest of the international 
community.
  If Iraqi hopes to use American citizens as bargaining chips in 
negotiations on U.N. economic sanctions, it is sadly mistaken. Nothing 
less than the immediate release of Mr. Barloon and Mr. Daliberti will 
be satisfactory.
  Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank those countries 
that are assisting the U.S. Government on this matter. Poland, in 
particular, deserves our gratitude for making sure that its diplomats 
have visited the Americans in prison and were present at their trial. I 
hope other countries will prove to be as cooperative as we work to 
resolve this situation.
  Mr. President, as we all work to gain the quick release and safe exit 
from Iraq for Mr. Barloon and Mr. Daliberti, our prayers and thoughts 
are with them and their families.

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