[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2000

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, recently, the world's oldest democracy, the 
United States, and the world's largest democracy, India, jointly agreed 
to work together to fight a common enemy--international terrorism. The 
agreement between our nation and India is a recognition that terrorism 
is a worldwide threat that singles out those nations who have 
consistently followed the democratic path. It is also recognition that 
we face a common foe--Osama bin Laden.
  The joint agreement to work together represents not only a combining 
of effort but represents as well as new area of cooperation between our 
two nations. This agreement builds on the strong relations existing 
between the United States and India.
  Just last week here in Washington, the first tangible expression of 
the joint agreement became evident. Representatives from the two 
countries held their first meeting as part of the Joint Working Group 
on Terrorism (JWG) under the leadership of the Department of State and 
India's Ministry of External Affairs. Other organizations represented 
at the meeting included the United States Department of Justice, the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, India's Home Ministry and its 
Intelligence Bureau.
  According to the JWG, the first joint action is to apprehend and 
bring to trial the hijackers of Indian Airlines Flight 814 who used 
innocent civilians as bargaining chips to further their terrorist ends. 
But the working group has a larger agenda, eradicating terrorism and 
those who sponsor or finance it.
  I rise today, Mr. Speaker to applaud our joint efforts with India. 
This is an initiative that is long overdue. If their efforts result in 
success, whether in the capture of the Indian Airlines hijackers, or in 
the reduction of terrorism itself, the citizenry of our two 
democracies, and the citizens of all the world's democracies, will be 
well served.

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