[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1879-E1880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REMARKS BY BOUTROS BOUTROS- GHALI, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
    NATIONS: ``CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN AFRICA: DIPLOMACY AND ACTION''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 1996

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, during the just concluded Congressional 
Black Caucus legislative weekend, we were honored by the presence of 
the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Honorable Boutros 
Boutros-Ghali. The Secretary General spoke to the International Affairs 
workshop on ``Conflict Resolution in Africa: Diplomacy and Action'' 
that was chaired by our esteemed colleague and chairman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, Donald Payne of New Jersey. All who heard 
the Secretary General's speech were impressed anew with his commitment 
to the economic, social, and political development of the African 
continent. I believe that all of our colleagues in the House should be 
made aware of the Secretary General's speech and, therefore, I ask that 
it be placed in the Congressional Record.
       I am honoured to stand before Representatives of the 
     American people. The United Nations--so much the dream and 
     creation of the United States--finds its home, here, in 
     America.
       I am particularly honoured to have been invited to 
     participate in this forum by Congressman Donald Payne, the 
     distinguished Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and 
     recognized foreign policy leader in Congress.
       I thank Chairman Payne for holding this meeting on the 
     peace-keeping mission of the United Nations to give us the 
     opportunity to make more Americans aware of this vital work. 
     I pay tribute to Chairman Payne and to Congresspersons 
     Cynthia McKinney, Alcee Hastings, Albert Wynn and Victor 
     Frazer, who serve with him on the House International 
     Relations Committee.
       I know that all of these members have valiantly continued 
     the tradition of the Congressional Black Caucus as champions 
     of U.S. engagement with the developing world, and 
     particularly with the nations of Africa and the Caribbean.
       The history of African-Americans is one of struggle, of 
     pride, and of brilliant achievement. African-Americans are an 
     inspiration to all who seek to live in liberty, in dignity, 
     and in justice.
       I want to acknowledge the rich contribution which African-
     Americans have made to the United Nations and to 
     international diplomacy. Earlier this year, I participated in 
     the dedication of the new Ralph Bunche Center for 
     International Affairs at Howard University. This wonderful 
     centre honours the memory and contribution of the man whose 
     leadership launched the United Nations.
       I recognize as well the continuation of the legacy of the 
     African-American diplomats whose UN service followed that of 
     Ralph Bunche, and want to pay particular tribute to the 
     service of Ambassador Andrew Young as the US representative 
     to the United Nations.
       I had the privilege of working with Ambassador Young and 
     his able successor, Ambassador Don McHenry, in the late 
     1970's, as they made the US an active participant in the 
     movement for self-determination and majority rule in Southern 
     Africa.
       And, of course, I could not be here at this meeting without 
     paying tribute to the leadership of the African-American 
     community--especially Randall Robinson of TransAfrica--and 
     the Congressional Black Caucus in securing legislation to 
     impose sanctions upon the apartheid regime in South Africa in 
     the mid-1980s.
       Allow me, now some personal reminiscences.
       In 1977, I was asked to become Minister of State of Egypt. 
     As Minister, I chose--without hesitation--to focus on African 
     affairs. In support of President Sadat's foreign policy I 
     travelled throughout Africa and engaged with the problems of 
     the Continent. Today, I can look back and say that I have 
     visited virtually every African country. And I can look 
     forward and predict that Africa will emerge as a great and 
     vibrant force on the world scene.
       My friends, I am African. And as an African, I am grateful 
     to you for inviting me to share with you some of my thoughts 
     on conflict in Africa.
       My public comparison of the amount of international 
     attention and response devoted to conflicts in Europe as 
     compared to those in Africa has made me unpopular with some. 
     But I stand by the recognition of this reality. I further 
     recognize the need for greater advocacy for Africa. African 
     conflicts are not getting the attention they need from the 
     international community.
       You, as leaders of the African American community, must 
     continue to be vocal on behalf of Africa. You must call upon 
     the international community to engage actively in the 
     resolution of African conflicts before they escalate and 
     exact a terrible toll on human life. The security of African 
     States, and of Africa as whole, needs to be understood as 
     significant for world peace and security.
       Policy makers in government, those in the private sector, 
     and in the international news media, need to be challenged to 
     address conflicts in Africa, and seek their solution.
       How can we obtain the international attention needed to 
     resolve African conflicts? Let me mention four ways: 
     diplomacy, disarmament, regional cooperation, and peace-
     building. The UN is at work in all these areas. But more can 
     be done, with your help.
       First, we can act through diplomacy.
       Diplomacy cannot work miracles--particularly when one party 
     believes it will gain from using force. But in Africa, 
     military action too often is taken before diplomatic options 
     have been exhausted.
       When diplomacy is an option, more and more African 
     countries turn to the UN. As an impartial body, with a global 
     mandate, and without the need to publicize its role, the UN 
     can achieve a great deal. It can work behind the scenes, 
     where compromise may more easily be reached. The successful 
     UN involvements in South Africa and Sierra Leone are solid 
     examples of effective diplomacy. So is the resolution of 
     territorial disputes involving Libya and Chad, and most 
     recently, Nigeria and Cameroon.
       Remember, however, as we have been reminded in Angola and 
     in Somalia, that no diplomacy--no matter how skilled--can be 
     successful without one essential ingredient: the will of the 
     parties to achieve peace. The same is true in peace-keeping, 
     which is based upon consent of the parties. Peace-keeping is 
     therefore not appropriate for war situations. I have long 
     argued that in war situations, the international community 
     should either send combat troops or no troops at all.
       Experience has shown that the best way to do that is with a 
     multinational force, or regional force, authorized by the UN 
     Security Council. The enforcement action could then, if 
     necessary, be followed by peace-keeping. This was the course 
     of the international involvement in Haiti--so far successful, 
     and in which the leadership of the Black Caucus has been 
     crucial.
       I call upon you, the members of the Congressional Black 
     Caucus to continue your efforts to mediate the conflicts in 
     Liberia, Rwanda and Burundi. We must persevere in our efforts 
     to resolve those conflicts. For history has shown that hard 
     work and perseverance can produce positive results in even 
     the most difficult situations.
       Second, we can reduce conflict in Africa by disarmament.
       Disarmament is an essential confidence-building measure, 
     both among States and within them. The signing in April of 
     the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was a major step 
     forward in the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction.

[[Page E1880]]

       Action is now needed to stem the uncontrolled flow of small 
     conventional arms--which have, for too long, sustained and 
     stimulated African conflict. What I have called micro-
     disarmament will be indispensable. Africa has been flooded 
     with small arms. The very existence of light weapons in such 
     vast numbers makes conflict in Africa inevitable. The United 
     Nations has begun to track the transfer and stockpiling of 
     light arms, and to set forth steps of achieving mico-
     disarmament.
       A comprehensive international ban on land-mines is also 
     urgently needed. Even years after conflict has subsided, 
     land-mines continue to pose a severe obstacle to agriculture, 
     transportation and infrastructure. Landmines in Africa are 
     part of a destructive legacy of conflict that has impeded 
     development. And this, in turn, has fuelled still more 
     conflict. The United Nations has taken the lead in 
     building international support for a ban on the production 
     and transfer of all land-mines and land-mine components. 
     This U.N. campaign deserves the widest support.
       Third, we can help prevent--and resolve--the problems of 
     conflict in Africa by reinforcing regional cooperation.
       Cooperation between the United Nations and the OAU has been 
     strengthened. The current situation in Burundi emphasizes the 
     positive role which regional organizations can play in 
     promoting regional stability and the peaceful resolution of 
     local conflict.
       The OAU must play an ever more active role in the 
     resolution of African conflicts. It has recognized the need 
     for leadership in this area through the creation of a 
     Mechanism for the Prevention. Management and Resolution of 
     Conflicts. I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for your 
     support of the OAU over the years. And I thank you for your 
     recent support for U.S. assistance to the building up of 
     OAU's conflict resolution capacity.
       In April, I welcomed the decision of the Government of 
     Central Africa to designate armed units for possible United 
     Nations or Organization of African Unity peace assignments.
       This measure has far-reaching implications for conflict 
     management prospects in Central Africa. Had such a measure 
     been enacted two years ago, a massive human tragedy in Rwanda 
     might have been averted.
       I have been intensively involved in the U.N.'s work with 
     the Monitoring Group [ECOMOG] of the Economic Community of 
     West Africa States [ECOWAS] regarding the terrible conflict 
     in Liberia.
       As you know, I took the initiative to recommend to the 
     Security Council the involvement of U.N. peace-keepers in 
     Liberia, as a major assistance to the ECOWAS operation. I 
     know that all of us have been frustrated by the lack of 
     political will to reach a peaceful agreement on the part of 
     the faction leaders. However, there now appears to be 
     reasonable grounds for optimism.
       We are now awaiting word from the Liberian Council of State 
     as to what role the UN should play in the elections scheduled 
     for the end of May 1997. We understand there is a consensus 
     for the UN to conduct the elections. For my part, I will use 
     my best efforts to give the Liberian people the opportunity 
     to choose their own leaders in free and fair elections.
       The fourth area for international action is peace-building, 
     which combines many dimensions in a comprehensive effort. The 
     purpose is to remove the causes of conflict, and to solidify 
     the achievement of peace.
       Democracy and respect for the rule of law help guard 
     against division, conflict and war. In Africa, democracy is 
     an essential component in the conflict resolution process. It 
     is a strong support for efforts to achieve national 
     reconciliation.
       In Mozambique and in Angola, for example, democratization 
     and improved civil governance have underpinned a new 
     commitment to peace and an end to violent conflict.
       Sierra Leone has just concluded a successful electoral 
     process. But this process was not an easy undertaking. I 
     personally intervened with former Chairman Strasser, and 
     later on with his successor, Brigadier Bio, to impress upon 
     them the necessity of abiding by their pledge to hold 
     elections. At a critical stage in this controversy, I 
     personally went to Freetown to make the case for free and 
     fair elections.
       Development is crucial. Without it, the competition of 
     scarce resources will condemn Africa to continual conflict. 
     The unbearable burden of debt must be lifted from African 
     shoulders. And development assistance levels must rise so 
     that Africans can be enabled to participate in the new global 
     economy.
       The Congressional Black Caucus leadership has created a new 
     US trade and investment policy towards Africa, following the 
     legacy of the late Secretary Ron Brown. Ron Brown opened the 
     eyes of the US business community to opportunities for 
     profitable investment in Africa. I salute the memory of 
     Secretary Ron Brown. He gave his life on a peace-building 
     mission. He was a true peace-builder.
       The new U.N. Special Initiative for Africa--which I 
     initiated in April 1996--offers a comprehensive, peace-
     building approach. It draws together all the elements of the 
     U.N. system--including the Bretton Woods institutions--to 
     mobilize support for Africa's priority development goals, in 
     the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
       I ask you of the black Caucus to help Americans learn 
     about--and support--the U.N. Special Initiative for Africa.
       Just yesterday, the High Level Panel of Personalities on 
     African Development--a group of internationally recognized 
     experts on African development--met in New York to provide me 
     with counsel on the implementation of the Special Initiative 
     for Africa. I am pleased to have on this Panel the 
     participation of the Honourable Andrew Young.
       If the international community gives Africa the support she 
     deserves, it can help to tip the balance toward a brighter 
     future for all of Africa, and for all the world.
       Thank you.

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