[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 60 (Friday, March 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        THE KOSOVA PEACE, DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 1995
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce H.R. 1360, the Kosova 
Peace, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 1995, along with 
Representative Ben Gilman, chairman of the International Relations 
Committee, and Representative Susan Molinari.
  For too long, ethnic Albanian citizens of Kosova, who comprise 90 
percent of the province's population, have been dominated and repressed 
by Serbia. Kosovars voted overwhelmingly for the independence of their 
State in September 1990. They have chosen Ibrahim Rugova to be the 
first President of the newly declared Republic of Kosova and Bujar 
Bukoshi to be its first Prime Minister. Serbia, however, has not seen 
fit to recognize these valid and legitimate acts of self-determination. 
Belgrade has prevented the new government from meeting in the Kosovar 
capital of Prishtina and strictly controls all media and public 
expressions of political views.
  Today, the human rights situation in Kosova is grave and has worsened 
with the July 1993 expulsion by the Servian authorities of 
international monitors. Ethnic Albanians are denied access to 
education, health care, and legal process solely on the basis of their 
ethnicity. More are dismissed from their jobs due to their Albanian 
heritage. Human rights groups from Amnesty International and Human 
Rights Watch to the OSCE and others document worsening humanitarian 
conditions, especially since the departure of international monitors. I 
strongly believe that the United States must demand the return of 
international observers and speak out more vociferously against the 
silent extension of ethnic cleansing to Kosova.
  The security situation in Kosova is also very troubling. If Serbia 
escalates its aggressive behavior in Kosova, the Balkan conflict may 
expand into Macedonia, drawing in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and 
possibly Turkey. I support statements by the United States Government 
threatening a stern American response in the event of conflict in 
Kosova caused by Serbian action and believe that the administration 
should reiterate these warnings.
  On the other hand, I deeply reject more recently policy changes by 
the administration. Last month, President Clinton offered to drop all 
sanctions against Serbia if it meets a specified list of conditions. 
Kosova was not among those conditions, even though the President 
specifically pledged to me in a January 4, 1995 letter that Belgrade 
would not be freed of sanctions until the situation in Kosova improves. 
I ask unanimous consent that a copy of that letter be printed at this 
point in the Record:

                                              The White House,

                                  Washington, DC, January 4, 1995.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Eliot: Thank you for your December 2 letter regarding 
     U.S. policy toward Kosovo. I am pleased Dr. Rugova had a 
     useful visit to the United States and know that his meetings 
     with senior Administration officials were fruitful for both 
     sides. While the United States does not support independence 
     for Kosovo, we are committed to restoring human and political 
     rights to the people of Kosovo, where Dr. Rugova plays an 
     important and admirable role. His rejection of violence and 
     his patience in the face of continued Serb repression 
     demonstrate courage and foresight.
       There are a large number of issues, including Kosovo, that 
     I believe must be addressed before Belgrade should be freed 
     of UN sanctions and able to return to the international 
     community. At the same time, we have clearly seen the utility 
     of using limited sanctions suspension in return for helpful 
     steps, such as closure of the Serbian border with Bosnia. 
     Should Milosevic make further positive steps, we will need 
     the flexibility of being able to consider the suspension of 
     additional sanctions. As before, our decision of whether to 
     support suspension of any sanctions will be made in close 
     consultation with Congress.
       Belgrade knows the seriousness of our resolve in Kosovo, 
     which I reaffirmed soon after taking office and subsequently. 
     With Congressional support, we have been able to maintain a 
     steady flow of humanitarian assistance to Kosovo. Our Embassy 
     in Belgrade pursues an active schedule of visits there. We 
     are working to bring the CSCE long-duration missions back and 
     have welcomed Dr. Rugova's plan to open an LDK party office 
     in Washington. I am aware of the strong arguments in favor of 
     opening a USIS center in Pristina, but believe that we should 
     not do so unless our safety and security concerns are 
     resolved.
       I am grateful to know to your deep interest in this 
     important issue, and hope to work together with you and your 
     colleagues to restore the rights of Kosovo's ethnic 
     Albanians.
           Sincerely,
                                                             Bill.

  With the President's recent policy changes, the bill we introduce 
today is even more important. The bill contains several sections. In 
the findings section, the abuses of civil and human rights of ethnic 
Albanians in Kosova are specified. Next, a section detailing United 
States policy toward the Kosova issue is presented. Third, and most 
importantly, the bill conditions the lifting of sanctions against 
Serbia and Montenegro upon specific improvements in Kosova, including:
  Substantial progress toward the realization of a separate identity 
for Kosova and the right of the people of Kosova to govern themselves, 
or the creation of an international protectorate for Kosova;
  Substantial improvement in the human rights situation in Kosova;
  International human rights observers return to Kosova; and
  The elected government of Kosova is permitted to meet and carry out 
its legitimate mandate as elected representatives of the people of 
Kosova.
  Finally, the bill directs the administration to study policy options 
on Kosova, including the opening of a U.S.I.A. office in Prishtina.
  Last year, Representative Molinari and I, as cochairs of the Albanian 
Issues Caucus, introduced a virtually identical piece of legislation. 
This year, I am proud to stand, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 1360, 
the Kosova Peace, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 1995, with the 
chairman of the International Relations Committee who is the prime 
sponsor of the bill and a member of the Albanian Issues Caucus. H.R. 
1360 is good for Kosova and the right policy for the United States. I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.


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