[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION OF THE CRISIS IN KOSOVA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 29, 1996

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of this 
resolution recognizing the rights of the people of Kosova.
  We all heard about the ethnic cleansing, the human rights abuses, and 
the violence in Bosnia over the past 5 years. The images on television 
and the horrific stories written in our papers led many of us to say, 
``Stop the killing!''
  Now there is a peace agreement in place, and we are working with 
others in the international community to restore the faith and trust of 
the Bosnian people in each other, in their leaders, and in their 
communities. But what many people may still not know is that there is 
another troubled region in the former Yugoslavia. It is a place called 
Kosova. And until the situation in Kosova improves, we will never have 
a lasting peace in the Balkans.
  Mr. Speaker, America can't turn its back on the people of Kosova any 
longer. The people of Kosova have witnessed human rights abuses by 
Serbian authorities. They have been the victims of a systematic attempt 
to shut down their culture and their economy. But the people of Kosova 
are standing strong today--and we must stand with them. We should not 
lift the remaining sanctions against Serbia until the situation in 
Kosova improves.
  Mr. Speaker, that is what this resolution calls for. It also calls on 
Serbia to restore human rights in Kosova, to allow the elected 
Government of Kosova to meet, to allow people who lost their jobs to be 
reinstated and to reopen the education system. Above all, it states 
that the free will of the people of Kosova must be respected.
  Mr. Speaker, passing this resolution will put Congress on record as 
supporting the rights of the people of Kosova.
  America is the strongest democracy in the world.
  We have an obligation to stand up for human rights. We can do that by 
passing this resolution in support of the rights of the people of 
Kosova.

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