[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14700-S14701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR THE PEACE PROCESS IN LIBERIA

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues the recent cease-fire agreement in Liberia. After nearly 6 
years of civil war, 13 failed peace agreements and protracted 
negotiations, the leaders of Liberia's warring factions have finally 
coalesced to form a government aimed at bringing peace and democracy to 
this war-torn African nation. This recent peace agreement, agreed to on 
August 19, 1995, in Abuja Nigeria, provides the United States with a 
unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership in restoring peace and 
democracy to a longtime ally, as well as to prove its concern for the 
stability of the entire West African region.
  Mr. President, I would like to begin my statement by identifying 
several key actors who deserve recognition for procuring this peace 
agreement: Members of ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African 
States, ECOMOG, the West African peacekeeping force, UNOMIL, the U.N. 
observer mission, and the President's Special Envoy to Liberia, 
Ambassador Dane Smith, I would particularly commend the extraordinary 
diplomatic leadership shown by President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana and 
his Deputy Foreign Minister Muhamed Ibn Chambas. I know and greatly 
admire both men; their commitment to peace in Liberia is exemplary and 
is one of the key reasons why this cease-fire and agreement have been 
archived.
  On a local level, I would like to pay special tribute to my esteemed 
colleague on the Foreign Relations Committee, the distinguished Senator 
from Kansas. As Chair of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, she is a 
strong leader, an able manager, a model for bipartisanship, and a 
tremendous resource on issues regarding African affairs. Last week, 
Senator Kassebaum introduced amendment 2710, stating that it is in the 
interest of the United States to ``strongly support the peace process 

[[Page S 14701]]
in Liberia, including diplomatic engagement, support for the West 
Africa peacekeeping force, humanitarian assistance, and assistance for 
demobilizing troops and for the resettlement of refugees.''
  I too, believe that it is in the interest of the United States to 
support this peace agreement, both diplomatically and financially. The 
United States has a special responsibility towards Liberia. Founded in 
the early 19th century by freed American slaves, the United States and 
Liberia have had almost 150 years of continued friendship. As pointed 
out in a position paper sent to me by Friends of Liberia, in World War 
II, American soldiers used Liberian airfields and ports as a primary 
base to supply the battlefields in North Africa and Europe. During the 
cold war, Liberia was often our only reliable ally in Africa, serving 
as a listening post and headquarters to the United States intelligence 
services. At the United Nations, Liberia has been a dependable American 
ally, consistently voting in support of United States positions, even 
when such actions were unpopular among other developing nations.
  If we neglect our historic relationship with Liberia, we will 
jeopardize, if not lose, our reliable foothold in Africa. A limited 
diplomatic reaction to this peace agreement would reflect poorly on our 
commitment to peace and democracy on the African Continent, and would 
hinder future United States diplomatic and commercial interests, among 
others, in the region.
  Given the current climate in Congress to paralyze humanitarian 
assistance, I believe that this situation offers an important 
opportunity to prove to critics of U.S. foreign aid that a small 
investment in seeking peace through diplomacy will yield significant 
returns. By heightening our diplomatic involvement and providing modest 
financial support to the peace process, we can help break the cycle of 
humanitarian need that will only continue if this disastrous war is not 
resolved.
  American support can make the difference in securing a sustainable 
peace in Liberia and beyond. The international community looks to the 
United States as having the closest ties to Liberia, thus having the 
responsibility of taking the first step in assisting this peace 
process. Once the United States takes the lead, the European Community, 
Japan and other governments with historical relationships with Liberia, 
as well as members from the private and public sectors, are likely to 
follow.
  Given our special relationship towards Liberia, our commitment to 
promoting peace, democracy, trade and human rights in West Africa, and 
our position in the international community as the only remaining 
superpower, I conclude that it is in the interest of the United States 
to take the initiative to develop and implement a coalition to sustain 
the peace in Liberia. We must move quickly to provide the significant 
support, in terms of diplomatic engagement and where possible, the 
allocation of resources, to assist the Liberians as they move through 
this delicate period of transition to peace and democracy.

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