[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8618-S8619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COSPONSORSHIP OF AMENDMENT 885 TO S. 955

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my support 
as a cosponsor to Amendment 885 to S. 955, the Foreign Operations 
Appropriations Act. This amendment restores the $2.1 billion earmark 
for assistance to Egypt.
  Ever since the signing of the Camp David Accords, Egypt has been a 
key ally of the United States in the Middle East. The first Arab 
country to make peace with Israel, Egypt has been a steadfast leader 
and supporter of peace in the Middle East. Indeed, I feel it is safe to 
say that it is because Egypt signed the peace agreement with Israel in 
1979 that there has not been an Arab-Israeli War since. What is more, 
since 1979 both Israel and Egypt have experienced significant economic 
growth. Peace between these two nations has brought success and 
prosperity that has benefitted the entire region.
  The chairman of the Subcommittee has stated his reasons for not 
including the earmark to Egypt in the Foreign Operations bill in either 
the subcommittee nor committee. He believed the relationship between 
Egypt and the United States has suffered over the past year. Thus, the 
message he wished to send to Egypt was clear disappointment with 
Egypt's actions and policies in connection with the stalled peace 
process in the Middle East.
  I do not believe, however, that it is either productive or 
responsible to send such a message at this delicate time in the Middle 
East peace process. The peace process is at its most critical stage. 
Along with the United States, Egypt is a key player in convincing 
parties to that process to come back to the negotiating table. 
Moreover, Egypt has played a key role in securing agreements reached 
between Israel and Jordan and the Palestinians. It is in the best 
interest of the United States to keep our key allies in the Middle East 
engaged in a process needed to produce a just and lasting peace--a goal 
which will benefit America's strategic, economic and political 
interests.
  Equally important, Egypt is a strategic ally of the United States 
irrespective of the peace process. We all remember how Egypt provided 
the leadership needed to form the American/Arab coalition that 
liberated Kuwait. No other country in the Arab World could have done 
that. Moreover, more than 35,000 Egyptian soldiers fought alongside our 
troops. Without access to the Suez Canal and to Egyptian airspace and 
facilities, supporting our troops in the Gulf would have been 
significantly more difficult and much more costly.
  Egypt's strategic importance should not be underestimated. With the 
Suez Canal and its location on both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean 
Sea, Egypt is the gateway to Africa, the Near East and Southwest Asia. 
Our strategic interests in all three regions are furthered 
significantly by Egypt's willing cooperation.
  Egypt's cooperation with our military has a global impact. As our 
strategic ally, Egypt routinely cooperates with our military in 
providing hundreds of overflight and transit rights for U.S. military 
logistics aircraft supporting American forces in the region. Our naval 
vessels travel through the Suez Canal--a practice critical to our 
ability to protect U.S. vital interests in the region. Without the 
ability to use the Suez routinely, an advantage we now enjoy, our 
Navy's operating costs and personnel operating requirements would soon 
rise to unsustainable levels.
  I agree with the Chairman of the Subcommittee that foreign aid is not 
an entitlement. It is my sincere hope that one day in the near future 
Egypt will find that U.S. aid is not necessary. Signs of this are 
already apparent within Egypt's booming economy and burgeoning private 
sector. We in the United States should encourage this path of 
independence, growing capitalism and economic reform. But until Egypt 
becomes economically self-sufficient, we should continue to live up to 
our promises as dictated in the Camp David Accords. Any future 
reduction of assistance should follow consultations

[[Page S8619]]

and discussions with the government of Egypt. Unilateral actions will 
only harm relationships important to the American national interest.
  In summary, Egypt has played and continues to play a key role in 
ensuring the success of the Middle East Peace Process. Equally 
important, Egypt has proven to be a staunch ally, willing to face 
danger to protect our shared interest in the region and to support us 
as our armed forces contribute to global stability. As such, I am 
supportive of the Committee's amendment to reinstall the earmark for 
assistance to Egypt.

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