[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H11689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  COMMENDING THE PEOPLE OF MOZAMBIQUE

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of 
the resolution (H. Res. 610) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the people of the Republic of Mozambique are to be 
commended for their commitment to rebuilding their nation after years 
of civil war, their willingness to live together harmoniously despite 
sharp political differences, and their ability to overcome poverty, 
health crises, and refugee outflows to build a growing economy and a 
positive future for their country, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, although I 
do not intend to object, I would like to thank the chairman, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Gingrich) and the Democratic leadership for bringing this bill to 
the floor. This bill makes note of the positive relationship between 
our country and that of Mozambique and commends Mozambique for its 
progress in democratization and respect for human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will 
not object, but I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), 
the chairman of the committee, for any comments that he might wish to 
make.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure for deserving 
Mozambique. The gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney), a member of 
our committee, has done us a service by bringing these issues before 
us. The people of Mozambique have overcome obstacles that many of us 
could never imagine. Thirty years of war, grinding poverty and 
continued disruption of normal life.

                              {time}  2030

  According to the U.N., at least one-third of the 17 million people in 
Mozambique were forced to flee their homes as refugees or as internally 
eternally displaced persons.
  In the best of times, Mr. Speaker, Mozambique is one of the poorest 
nations in the world. Estimates indicate a per capita income of $80 per 
year. Mozambique's civil war ended in 1992. In 1994 Mozambique held its 
first democratic elections, which were judged to be free and fair, and 
which benefited from the participation of the opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Mozambique, like their neighbors in South 
Africa, stand as a model of political reconciliation. Other troubled 
regions of the world should look to the manner in which the Mozambique 
people have put away their political and other differences and have 
worked together to build a better future for their families.
  Despite its many hurdles, Mozambique now boasts one of the world's 
fastest growing economies, having grown at 8 percent last year. 
Democracy is once again thriving in Mozambique, with both the 
government and the opposition working for a representative parliament 
and military.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. 
McKinney) for bringing this issue before us. I urge my colleagues to 
support the resolution. I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Bereuter) for his role in this.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I want 
to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentlewoman 
from Georgia (Ms. McKinney) for their support for this legislation. I 
announce my support for it.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my resolution of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Camp). Is there objection to the request 
of the gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 610

       Whereas the Republic of Mozambique suffered from armed 
     conflict for 30 years, first against Portuguese colonialism 
     and then a brutal civil war between the FRELIMO government 
     and RENAMO rebels;
       Whereas up to one-third of Mozambique's 17,000,000 people 
     were forced to flee their homes as refugees or internal 
     displaced persons as a result of the civil war;
       Whereas the two sides to the civil conflict reached a peace 
     accord in 1992 and democratic elections were held in 1994 
     with the participation of all major political groups;
       Whereas both the government of President Joachim Alberto 
     Chissano and opposition parties have participated positively 
     in Mozambique's representative democracy;
       Whereas both the government and the opposition have made 
     considerable strides in building a defense force that is 
     representative of the Mozambican people;
       Whereas Mozambique has rejected its communist economic 
     policies, embraced free market principles, privatized many 
     state enterprises, encouraged foreign investment and now 
     enjoys one of Africa's highest economic growth rates at 8 
     percent per year; and
       Whereas Mozambique is a fertile market for United States 
     investment and trade: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the achievements of the Mozambican people in 
     overcoming political and economic obstacles to become a model 
     of reconciliation and development;
       (2) applauds those who have led Mozambique toward political 
     reconciliation and away from armed conflict;
       (3) commends the people of Mozambique for continuing to 
     support democracy and democratic institutions;
       (4) calls upon United States Government agencies to 
     continue to work with their Mozambican counterparts in 
     forging a close bilateral relationship;
       (5) calls on the Government of Mozambique to continue to be 
     a model of democracy, economic liberalization, and respect 
     for human rights; and
       (6) calls those nations in the world torn by civil strife 
     to look toward the example of Mozambique for the benefits of 
     political reconciliation and peaceful economic development.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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