[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ROC TO DONATE $300 MILLION TO HELP KOSOVAR REFUGEES

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                          HON. JOHN E. SWEENEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 1999

  Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, on June 7, 1999, after chairing a meeting 
concerning the Kosovo crisis, President Lee Teng-hui announced that the 
Republic of China will donate $300 million to help Kosovar refugees 
rebuild their homes. I would like to applaud the ROC for playing an 
active role in the ``world arena'' and working together to maintain 
world peace. Humanitarian aid to Kosovar refugees is a common goal for 
all countries. In recognition of their honorable deed I am submitting 
President Lee Tenug-hui's 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 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 committed 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 $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 Kosovo area 
     in coordination with international long-term recovery 
     programs when the peace plan is implemented.
       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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