[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 END THE HOSTILITIES BEFORE OUR MILITARY RESOURCES ARE FURTHER DEPLETED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for this special order today 
so that we may share with the American people and all the Members of 
Congress the results of our peace mission this past weekend to Vienna 
which was led by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon). As a member of the House Committee on Armed 
Services, I felt a special responsibility to our service men and women 
to find a way to end the hostilities before their lives are further 
endangered and before our military resources are further depleted.

                              {time}  2015

  As a Member of Congress, I felt that the people of my congressional 
district wanted me to pursue a peaceful and diplomatic end to a 
conflict that could escalate into wider hostilities.
  I believe that the eleven Members of the House delegation 
significantly increased the opportunity for a diplomatic settlement to 
the current hostilities in Kosovo without further loss of life. We did 
so in a way that will help accomplish the U.S. and NATO goals of ending 
ethnic cleansing and providing for the return of the refugees to an 
autonomous Kosovo.
  We met extensively with our counterparts this weekend in the Russian 
Duma who are also committed to bringing a peaceful resolution to this 
conflict. Russia is a key player in finding a diplomatic resolution, 
and we must keep in mind that our continued involvement in the bombing 
campaign threatens future relations between the United States and 
Russia.
  The members of the Russian Duma we met with agree that the Balkan 
crisis poses a tremendous threat to international security, and they 
share our desire for a diplomatic solution rather than military 
escalation. Failure to find such a solution not only will undermine 
Russian-American relations but will further exacerbate the human 
suffering caused by the terrorism, the ethnic cleansing and massive 
refugee problems in the region.
  The end product of our sessions with the Duma provides a realistic 
framework for the administration to negotiate an end to the Balkan 
crisis. We call for practical measures to achieve three equally 
important tasks: withdrawal of Serbian armed forces from Kosovo, an end 
to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and a cessation of the military 
activities of the KLA. All three of these goals must be accomplished to 
recognize a lasting peace.
  We can accomplish these tasks by allowing a voluntary return of all 
refugees and the unhindered access to them by humanitarian aid 
organizations. NATO would be responsible for policing Yugoslavia's 
borders to ensure that weapons do not reenter Yugoslavia with the 
returning refugees. An armed international force, not composed of the 
major combatants, would administer the peace in Kosovo, and the 
Russians are very willing to participate in that armed international 
force.
  A sense of the Congress resolution is being finalized which would put 
Congress on record in support of our framework for peace. It is our 
hope that such a resolution will be voted on later this week and that 
the administration will also pursue the diplomatic route to peace, 
including further discussions with the Russians.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution when it comes to the 
House Floor for a vote. Neither our congressional delegation nor the 
members of the Russian Duma were negotiating on behalf of our 
respective governments, but we are confident that the framework we 
jointly developed clears the path for a solution to the crisis that 
will both end the ethnic cleansing and stop the bombing.
  I am proud to have been a part of this bipartisan peace mission. The 
eleven Members of Congress who sat at the same table for 19 hours with 
members of the Russian Duma are committed to finding a diplomatic 
avenue acceptable to all parties that will bring peace to the region. I 
am convinced that the framework we established will pave the way for a 
lasting peace.
  Unlike some of my colleagues, I am very confident in the ability of 
our Armed Forces to win this war. But I believe that we must continue 
to prepare for all-out war, and we must fund our Armed Forces, but we 
must also search for peaceful solutions.
  The time is ripe. The Russians will help, and the Serbs are ready to 
avoid a wider war that will totally destroy their country and also 
sacrifice the lives of our brave young men and women of the U.S. Armed 
Forces.




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