[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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          FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, during the vote yesterday on an 
amendment I offered to the Senate amendment to the amendment in 
disagreement in the foreign operations appropriations conference 
report, there was some confusion over the administration's position 
despite the assurances in my statement that the administration 
supported my amendment. To clarify this issue, I ask that a letter of 
support from Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Wendy 
Sherman be included in the Record.
  The letter follows:


                                          Department of State,

                                     Washington, DC, Nov. 1, 1995.
     Hon. John McCain,
     Senate.
       Dear Senator McCain: In response to your inquiry regarding 
     the Department's position on counternarcotics assistance to 
     Burma, I would like to reiterate the comments contained in 
     the Department's September 14 letter to Senators McConnell 
     and Leahy commenting on key provisions in the FY 1996 Foreign 
     Operations Appropriations bill, as reported by the 
     Subcommittee.
       In that letter, the Department of State noted that:
       ``The existing political situation in Burma precludes 
     significant cooperation on drug control, but we need 
     flexibility to decide whether it is in our interest to 
     cooperate in specific, limited cases as they arise. Burma is 
     the world's number one heroin producer and sixty percent of 
     the heroin that comes to the streets of the United States 
     originates in Burma. The Administration must have the 
     opportunity to work against a problem which affects the daily 
     lives of the American people in such a harmful way.''
       The Department's opposition to legislative restrictions on 
     counternarcotics aid to Burma remains unchanged.
       I trust that this information is responsive to your 
     inquiry. The Department of State greatly appreciates your 
     continuing support for our position and we continue to 
     support the substance of your legislative language to 
     facilitate limited and carefully structured counternarcotics 
     cooperation with Burma while at the same time maintaining our 
     policy on human rights and democracy. If you need further 
     information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Wendy R. Sherman,
     Assistant Secretary Legislative Affairs.

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