[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF CONGRESS CONDEMNING ATROCITIES BY SERBIAN POLICE AND MILITARY 
                   FORCES AGAINST ALBANIANS IN KOSOVA

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                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 1998

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to show my support of H. Con. 
Res. 315 in condemning the atrocities in Kosova. The region has 
suffered significant loss of life and an immense amount of property 
damage due to the brutal actions of the Milosevic administration's 
military forces.
  Tension in the area has been increasing since the government of 
Yugoslavia removed Kosova's autonomous status in 1989 without the 
consent of the people, of whom 90% are ethnic Albanians. Human rights 
groups report that the conflict has escalated to the point where forces 
are conducting abductions and summary executions of innocent civilians. 
More than 900 people have died in the fighting this year, while an 
estimated 200,000 Albanian refugees have been forced out of their 
homes. If the offensive continues, these refugees will be at risk of 
freezing to death in the forests where they have hidden.
  Mr. Speaker, we can not allow this destruction of Kosova's resident's 
to continue. Because the Milosevic government has been primarily 
responsible for this conflict, it should bear the burden of providing 
compensation for the loss of life and for the costs of rebuilding the 
destroyed areas.

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