[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2354-H2356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 218) concerning the urgent need 
to establish a ceasefire in Afghanistan and begin the transition toward 
a broad-based multiethnic government that observes international norms 
of behavior, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 218

       Whereas peace and stability has not returned to Afghanistan 
     despite the February 1989 Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan;
       Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports on Human 
     Rights for 1997 states: ``The overall human rights situation 
     [in Afghanistan] is poor . . . political killings, torture, 
     rape, arbitrary detention, looting, abductions and 
     kidnappings for ransom were committed by armed units, local 
     commanders, and rogue individuals'';
       Whereas the continuing civil conflict in Afghanistan has 
     had a grievous impact upon the Afghan people, where within 
     its borders occurs the highest rate of infant, child, and 
     maternal mortality in the region;
       Whereas neighboring countries have provided support in the 
     form of financial assistance and arms to the different groups 
     warring in Afghanistan, thereby extending the length and 
     expanding the destruction of this internal conflict;
       Whereas another byproduct of this conflict is the harboring 
     of Islamic militants and terrorist leaders in Afghanistan;
       Whereas due to the tyranny and destruction caused by 
     Taliban rule, Afghanistan is now one of the world's leading 
     producers of opium, and over the past year alone, the 
     production of opiates in Afghanistan has increased and 
     resulted in a growth in the drug trade not only in the 
     Central and South Asian regions but in Russia and the West as 
     well;
       Whereas continuing instability serves as an obstacle to 
     international investment and the establishment of 
     developmental projects inside Afghanistan, so necessary to 
     Afghanistan's rejuvenation from years of conflict, and 
     central to promoting political cooperation among Afghan 
     factions;
       Whereas the continuing conflict in Afghanistan serves as an 
     impediment to economic prosperity and political development 
     throughout all of South Asia and the newly independent 
     Central Asian nations as well; and
       Whereas despite repeated efforts by the United Nations to 
     broker an end to continuing warfare among the country's 
     warring factions, the absence of peace has prevented 
     Afghanistan from addressing the numerous problems facing its 
     citizenry: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) acknowledges that, through determination, tenacity, and 
     courage, the Afghan people successfully waged a war against 
     Soviet expansionism and greatly assisted in bringing an end 
     to the cold war;
       (2) calls upon all warring factions and national powers to 
     participate in intra-Afghan dialogue (the ``Frankfurt 
     Process'') and in the peace process and to actively cooperate 
     in the acceleration of endeavors for peace;
       (3)(A) deplores continuing human rights violations 
     occurring within Afghanistan, especially against women and 
     female children, who have suffered condoned discrimination 
     and harassment, and the reported widespread execution of 
     prisoners of war and civilians evidenced by the discovery of 
     mass graves which contained an estimated 2,000 corpses; and
       (B) supports the intention of the United Nations and the 
     International Committee of the Red Cross to continue their 
     investigation into these reported killings;
       (4)(A) welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Lakhbar 
     Brahimi as special envoy of the United Nations Secretary 
     General for Afghanistan and supports his efforts toward 
     attaining a peaceful negotiated settlement with the 
     assistance of the six nations bordering Afghanistan as well 
     as representatives from the United States and Russia; and
       (B) encourages a role for Afghan leaders of all factions 
     and ethnic groups in the United Nations negotiation efforts, 
     based on the fact that peace and national reconciliation 
     cannot be imposed on the Afghan people by their neighbors;
       (5) urges the nations of the region to cooperate in the 
     peace process and to end immediately the supply of arms, 
     ammunition, military equipment, training or any other 
     military support to all parties to the conflict;
       (6) urges appropriate parties in the United Nations, 
     Afghanistan, and its neighbors to work toward the eradication 
     of the production of opium, especially in southern 
     Afghanistan, and to link such efforts wherever possible to 
     realistic income alternatives;
       (7) calls upon all parties within Afghanistan to prevent 
     the reoccurrence of actions which impede the ability of 
     humanitarian and international organizations to move food 
     shipments and other forms of humanitarian assistance into 
     Afghanistan;
       (8) acknowledges that due to the death and destruction 
     wrought by the February 4, 1998, earthquake in northeastern 
     Afghanistan, where approximately 5,000 people have died and 
     an estimated 30,000 have been left homeless, there is a 
     continuing need for international emergency aid of food, 
     clothing, and shelter;
       (9) recognizes the continuing requirement to address the 
     needs of more than 2,500,000 Afghan refugees in neighboring 
     countries, three-quarters of whom are women and children;
       (10) acknowledges the necessity of international efforts to 
     clear the estimated 10,000,000 land mines buried in the 
     Afghan countryside; and
       (11) calls for the expulsion of all known terrorist leaders 
     from Afghanistan and the closing down of all terrorist 
     training camps operating in the country.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Luther) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). Is there objection 
to the request of the gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 218, which this Member 
introduced on February 1, 1998, calls for the urgent need to establish 
a cease-fire in Afghanistan and begin the transition towards a broad-
based multi-ethnic government that observes international norms of 
behavior.
  Today Afghanistan has no internationally recognized government. It is 
a country torn apart by civil war carried out by two warring factions 
known as the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. No parties to the 
conflict are heroic. All must share the blame for the destruction and 
division.
  One of the by-products of the destruction brought about by this 
extended warfare is that Afghanistan has become one of the world's 
leading producers of opium. Over the past year alone, the production of 
opiates in Afghanistan has increased, and results in a growth in the 
drug trade throughout Central and South Asia, Russia, Europe and the 
United States.
  Other problems currently facing Afghanistan include serious and 
repeated human rights violations occurring throughout the country, 
especially the treatment of women. The Department of State's Country 
Reports on Human Rights for 1997 states,

       The overall human rights situation in Afghanistan is poor. 
     Political killings, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, 
     looting, abductions and kidnappings for ransom were committed 
     by armed units, local commanders and rogue individuals.

  At the end of this decade-long conflict it would appear that 
Afghanistan is beginning the process of resolving these problems, as 
well as a number of others, including the removal of millions of land 
mines scattered throughout the Afghan countryside; the repatriation of 
over 2 million Afghan refugees currently residing in Pakistan and Iran; 
as well as the cessation of safe haven for terrorist leaders and 
activities in this war-torn Nation.

[[Page H2355]]

  The United States officially supports no party or faction in this 
conflict and backs the United Nations negotiation efforts to establish 
a coalition government where all factions are fairly represented. 
Recently, on April 17, the United States Ambassador to the United 
Nations, the Honorable Bill Richardson, brokered an agreement from the 
two opposing factions to establish a cease-fire and participate in 
structured peace talks.
  If the factions follow through with their commitments, it will mark 
the first talks since the Islamic militia took control of the capital 
1\1/2\ years ago. Fighting broke out which appeared to jeopardize the 
negotiations. However, recognizing the renewed U.S. attention to 
Afghanistan, the Taliban and the Northern Alliance have begun these 
important talks.
  This Member commends Ambassador Richardson and his staff, as well as 
the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for their efforts in 
successfully bringing the two warring factions to the negotiating 
table. In their opening statements, representatives of the two factions 
declared their willingness to work towards a peaceful resolution of the 
Afghan conflict. This Member sincerely hopes that this round of 
negotiations will bring enduring peace to the people of Afghanistan.
  In the past, similar efforts have ended in failure as agreements 
reached in 1992 and 1993 quickly collapsed into more fighting. But this 
initiative comes at a time when internal and outside parties to the 
conflict seem at least more ready to work towards achieving stability 
in Afghanistan before all hope of stability and economic development is 
lost. The return of stability would in turn encourage international 
investment projects to the region, beneficial to South Asia and the 
newly independent Central Asian nations as well.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 218 was considered by the Subcommittee on 
Asia and the Pacific on March 5, 1998 and was favorably reported to the 
full committee. On April 1 the Committee on International Relations 
unanimously approved this important resolution.
  In conclusion, this Member again expresses appreciation to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations, and the distinguished gentleman from 
California (Mr. Berman) the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia 
and the Pacific, for their support and cosponsorship of H. Con. Res. 
218. This Member would also thank the distinguished gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) for his advice and support on this 
resolution. The gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) has visited 
Afghanistan on numerous occasions, and has taken an active interest in 
Afghanistan's history and in resolving the bitter dispute which has 
consumed this country for the past 10 years.
  Mr. Speaker, at this critical point of the ongoing peace 
negotiations, this Member urges this body to send a strong message that 
the United States Government and the Congress, which in the past 
assisted Afghanistan in the war against communist aggression, are 
supportive of the desire for peace by so many, indeed almost all of the 
Afghan people. Accordingly, this Member urges adoption of H. Con. Res. 
218.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution. I again commend the 
gentleman from Nebraska for his leadership in drafting the resolution 
and bringing it before the House today. The scene of bitter fighting 
for more than 18 years, Afghanistan today is virtually forgotten by the 
international community. There are few nations in the world whose 
prospects look bleaker than Afghanistan. But I am pleased to say that 
over the past weekend, the various Afghan factions held the first round 
of what we all hope will be talks leading to the reestablishment of a 
just peace in Afghanistan.
  This resolution seeks to refocus world attention upon Afghanistan at 
this important time. It calls for an end to the fighting in 
Afghanistan, for respect for human rights, and for the eradication of 
the heroin trade and the export of terrorism. This resolution deserves 
our support. I urge our colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this 
important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) who has been very responsive to 
the concerns of many people in his district concerned with the 
continued conflict in Afghanistan. For his active interest in the 
issue, I commend him.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from 
Nebraska, chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, for 
offering this very important resolution on the tragedy that is going on 
in Afghanistan.
  What this resolution does is bring attention to a country which has 
been largely forgotten. America was intensely focused on Afghanistan 
after the Soviet invasion and throughout the years of its occupation. 
The Red Army was driven out in the face of a courageous resistance by 
the Afghan people, with the aid of America. Looking back, that 
unfortunately for Afghanistan was the easy part. It has been much 
harder winning the fight for peace and stability in Afghanistan since 
then, but the United States has an interest in trying. We must try.
  The Afghan people are suffering. They have one of the highest infant 
mortality rates in the world. Millions of Afghans live as refugees, 
some in neighboring countries. Tragically, some of this suffering is 
almost a deliberate policy of the ruling Taliban in much of 
Afghanistan. This regime bans girls and women from attending schools, 
and it is blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid to thousands of 
suffering people in Afghanistan. The U.S. has an interest in seeing 
this stopped.
  More direct interests are at stake, too. Afghanistan is now one of 
the world's leading producers of opium. This reaches America's shores. 
Afghanistan harbors terrorists who have the potential to attack our 
Nation. Terrorists with Afghan roots have wreaked havoc throughout the 
world. This resolution addresses all these American interests.
  For too long the U.S. has been indifferent to the fate of 
Afghanistan. That has been changing a bit of late. My conversations 
with the former king of Afghanistan, King Zahir Shah, have led me to 
believe there is reason for hope. Events are moving rapidly. There are 
plans for peace talks among the factions.
  This resolution says that what happens in Afghanistan matters to the 
U.S. and that we have an interest in seeing the peaceful resolution of 
this long-running and depressing conflict. I urge its adoption by my 
colleagues.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) for his excellent statement.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the distinguished Chairman 
of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. 
Bereuter and its Ranking Minority Member, the gentleman from 
California, Mr. Berman, for initially crafting this important piece of 
legislation.
  H. Con. Res. 218 calls attention to the urgent needs of the Afghan 
people who have been suffering for years from the aftermath of the cold 
war. The current civil conflict has led to a breakdown in civil 
society. Large areas of Afghanistan are now training grounds for 
terrorism and the world's largest production grounds for opium. 
Millions of land mines are killing scores of people daily and women are 
treated as chattel.
  The war has created a huge humanitarian crises in the north where 
more than 2,000,000 refugees are in need of humanitarian assistance. We 
commend our colleague, the gentleman from California, Congressman 
Rohrabacher for filling in for the State Department and AID by raising 
the funds to ship plane loads of medical equipment to the refugees. I 
hope that the administration takes this resolution as a signal that it 
should be doing more to resolve the crises there and that it especially 
supports the inter-Afghan dialogue process which would serve as a long 
term solution to the problems.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous support for this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.

[[Page H2356]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 
218, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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