[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1216-E1217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TAIWAN TO AID KOSOVOR REFUGEES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 1999

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend President Lee Teng-
hui of Taiwan, who has announced Taiwan's decision to provide $300 
million in aid for Kosovar refugees and the reconstruction of war-torn 
areas of Kosovo. The aid includes emergency food and shelter for 
Kosovar evacuees in Macedonia, as well as short-term occupational 
training in Taiwan to help refugees speed the reconstruction of war-
ravaged areas.
  President Lee and the government and people of Taiwan are to be 
congratulated for voluntarily participating in the international relief 
effort for the people of Kosovo. Their actions are in stark contrast to 
People's Republic of China's hostile attitude toward the United States 
and NATO and their political obstruction to maintaining peace in the 
fragile democratic nation of Macedonia. This generous humanitarian 
action by Taiwan, a nation of 21 million freedom loving people, who 
live in the threatening shadow of tyranny imposed on mainland China, 
emphasizes the reason that the United States must remain a loyal friend 
and unwaveringly support the defense of freedom for the Taiwanese 
people.
  I am enclosing for the record a copy of President Lee's June 7, 1999 
presidential statement regarding assistance to Kosovar refugees.

    Presidential Statement Regarding Assistance to Kosovar Refugees

       The huge numbers of Kosovar casualties and refugees from 
     the Kosovo area resulting from the NATO-Yugoslavia conflict 
     in the Balkans have captured close world-wide attention. From 
     the very outset, the government of the ROC has been deeply 
     concerned and we are carefully monitoring the situation's 
     development.
       We in the Republic of China were pleased to learn last week 
     that Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milosevic has accepted the 
     peace plan for the Kosovo crisis proposed by the Group of 
     Eight countries, for which specific peace agreements are 
     being worked out.
       The Republic of China wholeheartedly looks forward to the 
     dawning of peace on the Balkans. For more than two months, we 
     have been concerned about the plight of the hundreds of 
     thousands of Kosovar refugees who were forced to flee to 
     other countries, particularly from the vantage point of our 
     emphasis on protecting human rights. We thereby organized a 
     Republic of China aid mission to Kosovo. Carrying essential 
     relief items, the mission made a special trip to the refugee 
     camps in Macedonia to lend a helping hand.
       Today, as we anticipate a critical moment of forth-coming 
     peace, I hereby make the following statement to the 
     international community on behalf of all the nationals of the 
     Republic of China:
       As a member of the world community committee to protecting 
     and promoting human rights, the Republic of China would like 
     to develop further the spirit of humanitarian concern for the 
     Kosovar refugees living in exile as well as for the war-torn 
     areas in dire need of reconstruction. We will provide a grant 
     aid equivalent to about US $300 million. The aid will consist 
     of the following:
       1. Emergency support for food, shelters, medical care, and 
     education, etc., for the Kosovar refugees, living in exile in 
     neighboring countries.
       2. Short-term accommodations for some of the refugees in 
     Taiwan, with opportunities of job training in order for them 
     to be better equipped for the restoration of their homeland 
     upon their return.
       3. Furthermore, support the rehabilitation of the Kosovo 
     area in coordination with international long-term recovery 
     programs when the peace plan is implemented.

[[Page E1217]]

       We earnestly hope that the above-mentioned aid will 
     contribute to the promotion of the peace plan for Kosovo. I 
     wish all the refugees an early return to their safe and 
     peaceful Kosovo homes.

     

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