[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION ON VOTE--AMENDMENT NO. 382

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, on Tuesday, June 17, I was unable 
to vote. I would have voted ``yes'' on the Lugar amendment No. 382 to 
S. 903, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1997.
  I believe that the United States should pay our debt to the United 
Nations. However, I also believe that change and reform in the United 
Nations are essential if the United Nations is to be revitalized. The 
U.S. dues for the regular U.N. budget and for international 
peacekeeping should be reduced. These cost-saving goals can be achieved 
but we will have to convince our allies and friends, who will have to 
bear a larger portion of the costs as our contributions decline, that 
we are serious about our leadership and our compliance with our 
obligations. That is why I believe that Senator Lugar offered a 
reasonable solution to wipe the slate clean of our arrears and clear 
the way to pursue the U.N. reforms that will make it a more viable 
institution.
  I am hopeful that when this bill emerges from the conference 
committee the 38 benchmarks mandated in title XXII of the bill as pre-
conditions for our payment will be addressed and corrected.

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