[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 127 (Friday, October 8, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H9029-H9032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RESOLUTION OF THE ETHIOPIA-ERITREA BORDER DISPUTE ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on International Relations be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 2760) to limit United States assistance 
for Ethiopia and Eritrea if those countries are not in compliance with 
the terms and conditions of agreements entered into by the two 
countries to end hostilities and provide for a demarcation of the 
border between the two countries, and for other purposes, and ask for 
its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 2760

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Resolution of the Ethiopia-
     Eritrea Border Dispute Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Algiers agreements.--The term ``Algiers Agreements'' 
     means the Cessation of Hostilities Agreements and the 
     Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee 
     on International Relations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
       (3) Cessation of hostilities agreement.--The term 
     ``Cessation of Hostilities Agreement'' means the Agreement on 
     the Cessation of Hostilities signed on June 18, 2000, in 
     Algiers, Algeria, by the Government of Ethiopia and the 
     Government of Eritrea that

[[Page H9030]]

     established a temporary demilitarized security zone within 
     Eritrea to be enforced by the United Nations Peacekeeping 
     Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).
       (4) Comprehensive peace agreement.--The term 
     ``Comprehensive Peace Agreement'' means the agreement signed 
     on December 12, 2000, in Algiers, Algeria, by the Government 
     of Ethiopia and the Government of Eritrea, under the auspices 
     of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), that provided for 
     an end to military hostilities between the two countries, 
     assurances by the countries to refrain from the threat or use 
     of force against each other, and established a neutral 
     Boundary Commission to delimit and demarcate the border 
     between the two countries.
       (5) Economic assistance.--The term ``economic assistance'' 
     means--
       (A) assistance under chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to development assistance); 
     and
       (B) assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to economic support fund 
     assistance).
       (6) Military assistance and arms transfers.--The term 
     ``military assistance and arms transfers'' means--
       (A) assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to military assistance), 
     including the transfer of excess defense articles under 
     section 516 of that Act;
       (B) assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to international military 
     education and training or ``IMET''), including military 
     education and training for civilian personnel under section 
     541 of that Act (commonly referred to as ``Expanded IMET''); 
     and
       (C) assistance under the ``Foreign Military Financing'' 
     Program under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act and 
     the transfer of defense articles, defense services, design 
     and construction services, or any other defense-related 
     training under that Act.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On May 6, 1998, a conflict erupted between Ethiopia and 
     Eritrea, two of the world's poorest countries.
       (2) The two-year war claimed 100,000 lives, displaced more 
     than 1,000,000 people, cost Ethiopia more than 
     $2,900,000,000, and caused a 62 percent decline in food 
     production in Eritrea.
       (3) Millions of dollars were diverted from much needed 
     development projects into military activities and weapons 
     procurements at a time when severe drought threatened a 
     famine in both Ethiopia and Eritrea, as bad as the famine in 
     1984 in those countries, putting more than 13,000,000 lives 
     at risk.
       (4) On June 18, 2000, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of the 
     Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and President Issaias 
     Afewerki of the State of Eritrea signed the Cessation of 
     Hostilities Agreement in Algiers, Algeria. On December 12, 
     2000, the two countries also signed the Comprehensive Peace 
     Agreement in Algiers under the auspices of the Organization 
     of African Unity (OAU) and in the presence of United Nations 
     Secretary General Kofi Annan and President Abdel-Aziz 
     Boutheflika of Algeria.
       (5) Article 4.2 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement states 
     the following: ``The parties agree that a neutral Boundary 
     Commission composed of five members shall be established with 
     a mandate to delimit and demarcate the colonial treaty border 
     [between the two countries] based on pertinent colonial 
     treaties (1900, 1902 and 1908) and applicable international 
     law.''.
       (6) Article 4.15 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
     states the following: ``The parties agree that the 
     delimitation and demarcation determinations of the Commission 
     shall be final and binding. Each party shall respect the 
     border so determined, as well as territorial integrity and 
     sovereignty of the other party.''.
       (7)(A) The President of the United Nations Security 
     Council, on behalf of the Security Council, confirmed the 
     Security Council's endorsement of the terms and conditions of 
     the Algiers Agreements, with special reference to the neutral 
     Boundary Commission described in Article 4.2 of the 
     Comprehensive Peace Agreement and its mandate.
       (B) In addition, the Security Council reaffirmed its 
     support for the Algiers Agreements in United Nations Security 
     Council Resolution 1308 (July 17, 2000), 1312 (July 31, 
     2000), 1320 (September 15, 2000), 1344 (March 15, 2001), 1369 
     (September 14, 2001), 1398 (March 15, 2002), 1430 (August 14, 
     2002), 1434 (September 6, 2002), and 1466 (March 14, 2003).
       (8) On April 13, 2002, the neutral Boundary Commission 
     announced its ``Delimitation Decision'', reiterating that 
     both parties had agreed that it would be ``final and 
     binding''.
       (9) Following the decision of the Boundary Commission that 
     the heavily disputed town of Badme would be zoned to the 
     Eritrean side of the new border, Foreign Minister Seyoum 
     Mesfin of Ethiopia announced on April 15, 2003, that ``[n]o-
     one expects the [G]overnment of Ethiopia to accept these 
     mistakes committed by the Commission''. Further, the 
     Ethiopian Ministry of Information released a statement 
     accusing the Boundary Commission of an ``unfair tendency'' in 
     implementing the border ruling and ``misinterpreting'' the 
     Algiers Agreements.
       (10) In his March 6, 2003, ``Progress Report'' to the 
     United Nations Security Council, Secretary General Kofi Annan 
     reported that Prime Minister Zenawi of Ethiopia had expressed 
     to his Special Representative, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, that 
     ``if its concerns were not adequately addressed Ethiopia 
     might eventually reject the demarcation-related decisions of 
     the Commission''.
       (11) The independent Boundary Commission has investigated, 
     reviewed, and rejected Ethiopia's claims with respect to the 
     village of Badme, and in a report issued on March 12, 2003, 
     stated that, based on the boundary line from the 1902 treaty 
     between the two countries that was used as the reference 
     under the terms of the Algiers Agreements, the evidence 
     submitted by the Government of Ethiopia to support its claim 
     was ``inadequate and inconsistent'' and the Commission 
     ``cannot allow one party to claim a territorial right, to 
     insist on adjustments of parts of the boundary with that 
     party finds disadvantageous''.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that both Ethiopia and Eritrea 
     should take all appropriate actions to implement the Algiers 
     Agreements, including by accepting the ``Delimitation 
     Decision'' issued by the neutral Boundary Commission on April 
     13, 2002, with respect to the boundary between the two 
     countries.

     SEC. 5. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

       Congress makes the following declarations:
       (1) Congress expresses its support for the Boundary 
     Commission established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
     and calls on the international community to continue to 
     support the United Nations trust fund established to 
     facilitate the process of demarcation between Ethiopia and 
     Eritrea and the economic and social transition of affected 
     communities to new borders determined by the Commission.
       (2) Congress further declares that it shall be the policy 
     of the United States to limit United States assistance for 
     Ethiopia or Eritrea if either such country is not in 
     compliance with, or is not taking significant steps to comply 
     with, the terms and conditions of the Algiers Agreements.
       (3) Congress strongly condemns recent statements by senior 
     Ethiopian officials criticizing the Boundary Commission's 
     decision and calls on the Government of Ethiopia to 
     immediately end its intransigence and fully cooperate with 
     the Commission.

     SEC. 6. LIMITATIONS ON UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Limitation on Economic Assistance.--Economic assistance 
     may only be provided for Ethiopia or Eritrea for any period 
     of time for which the President determines that Ethiopia or 
     Eritrea (as the case may be) is in compliance with, or is 
     taking significant steps to comply with, the terms and 
     conditions of the Algiers Agreements.
       (b) Limitation on Military Assistance and Arms Transfers.--
     Military assistance and arms transfers may only be provided 
     for Ethiopia or Eritrea for any period of time for which the 
     President determines that Ethiopia or Eritrea (as the case 
     may be) is in compliance with, or is taking significant steps 
     to comply with, the terms and conditions of the Algiers 
     Agreements.
       (c) Exceptions.--The limitation on assistance under 
     subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply with respect to 
     humanitarian assistance (such as food or medical assistance), 
     peacekeeping assistance, counterterrorism initiatives, 
     assistance to protect or promote human rights, and assistance 
     to prevent, treat, and control HIV/AIDS.
       (d) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of 
     subsection (a) or (b) with respect to Ethiopia or Eritrea if 
     the President determines that it is in the national security 
     interests of the United States to do so.

     SEC. 7. REPORTS.

       Until the date on which the border demarcation between 
     Ethiopia and Eritrea is finalized, the President shall 
     prepare and transmit on a regular basis to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that contains a description 
     of progress being made toward such demarcation, including the 
     extent to which Ethiopia and Eritrea are in compliance with, 
     or are taking significant steps to comply with, the terms and 
     conditions of the Algiers Agreements.


    Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Smith of 
                                Michigan

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Smith of Michigan:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Resolution of the Ethiopia-
     Eritrea Border Dispute Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Algiers agreements.--The term ``Algiers Agreements'' 
     means the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the 
     Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee 
     on International Relations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
       (3) Cessation of hostilities agreement.--The term 
     ``Cessation of Hostilities Agreement'' means the Agreement on 
     the Cessation of Hostilities signed on June 18, 2000, in 
     Algiers, Algeria, by the Government of Ethiopia and the 
     Government of Eritrea that

[[Page H9031]]

     established a temporary demilitarized security zone within 
     Eritrea to be enforced by the United Nations Peacekeeping 
     Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).
       (4) Comprehensive peace agreement.--The term 
     ``Comprehensive Peace Agreement'' means the agreement signed 
     on December 12, 2000, in Algiers, Algeria, by the Government 
     of Ethiopia and the Government of Eritrea, under the auspices 
     of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), that provided for 
     an end to military hostilities between the two countries, 
     assurances by the countries to refrain from the threat or use 
     of force against each other, and established a neutral 
     Boundary Commission to delimit and demarcate the border 
     between the two countries.
       (5) Economic assistance.--The term ``economic assistance'' 
     means--
       (A) assistance under chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to development assistance); 
     and
       (B) assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to economic support fund 
     assistance).
       (6) Military assistance and arms transfers.--The term 
     ``military assistance and arms transfers'' means--
       (A) assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to military assistance), 
     including the transfer of excess defense articles under 
     section 516 of that Act;
       (B) assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to international military 
     education and training or ``IMET''), including military 
     education and training for civilian personnel under section 
     541 of that Act (commonly referred to as ``Expanded IMET''); 
     and
       (C) assistance under the ``Foreign Military Financing'' 
     Program under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act and 
     the transfer of defense articles, defense services, design 
     and construction services, or any other defense-related 
     training under that Act.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On May 6, 1998, a conflict erupted between Ethiopia and 
     Eritrea, two of the world's poorest countries.
       (2) The two-year war claimed 100,000 lives, displaced more 
     than 1,000,000 people, cost Ethiopia more than 
     $2,900,000,000, and caused a 62 percent decline in food 
     production in Eritrea.
       (3) Millions of dollars were diverted from much needed 
     development projects into military activities and weapons 
     procurements at a time when severe drought threatened a 
     famine in both Ethiopia and Eritrea, as bad as the famine in 
     1984 in those countries, putting more than 13,000,000 lives 
     at risk.
       (4) On June 18, 2000, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of the 
     Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and President Isaias 
     Afewerki of the State of Eritrea signed the Cessation of 
     Hostilities Agreement in Algiers, Algeria. On December 12, 
     2000, the two countries also signed the Comprehensive Peace 
     Agreement in Algiers under the auspices of the Organization 
     of African Unity (OAU) and in the presence of United Nations 
     Secretary General Kofi Annan and President Abdel-Aziz 
     Boutheflika of Algeria.
       (5) Article 4.2 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement states 
     the following: ``The parties agree that a neutral Boundary 
     Commission composed of five members shall be established with 
     a mandate to delimit and demarcate the colonial treaty border 
     [between the two countries] based on pertinent colonial 
     treaties (1900, 1902 and 1908) and applicable international 
     law.''.
       (6) Article 4.15 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
     states the following: ``The parties agree that the 
     delimitation and demarcation determinations of the Commission 
     shall be final and binding. Each party shall respect the 
     border so determined, as well as territorial integrity and 
     sovereignty of the other party.''.
       (7)(A) The President of the United Nations Security 
     Council, on behalf of the Security Council, confirmed the 
     Security Council's endorsement of the terms and conditions of 
     the Algiers Agreements, with special reference to the neutral 
     Boundary Commission described in Article 4.2 of the 
     Comprehensive Peace Agreement and its mandate.
       (B) In addition, the Security Council reaffirmed its 
     support for the Algiers Agreements in United Nations Security 
     Council Resolutions 1312 (July 31, 2000), 1320 (September 15, 
     2000), 1344 (March 15, 2001), 1369 (September 14, 2001), 1398 
     (March 15, 2002), 1430 (August 14, 2002), 1434 (September 6, 
     2002), 1466 (March 14, 2003), 1507 (September 12, 2003), 1531 
     (March 12, 2004), and 1560 (September 14, 2004).
       (8) On April 13, 2002, the neutral Boundary Commission 
     announced its ``Delimitation Decision'', reiterating that 
     both parties had agreed that it would be ``final and 
     binding''.
       (9) Following the decision of the Boundary Commission that 
     the heavily disputed town of Badme would be zoned to the 
     Eritrean side of the new border, Foreign Minister Seyoum 
     Mesfin of Ethiopia announced on April 15, 2003, that ``[n]o-
     one expects the [G]overnment of Ethiopia to accept these 
     mistakes committed by the Commission''. Further, the 
     Ethiopian Ministry of Information released a statement 
     accusing the Boundary Commission of an ``unfair tendency'' in 
     implementing the border ruling and ``misinterpreting'' the 
     Algiers Agreements.
       (10) In his March 6, 2003, ``Progress Report'' to the 
     United Nations Security Council, Secretary General Kofi Annan 
     reported that Prime Minister Zenawi of Ethiopia had expressed 
     to his Special Representative, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, that 
     ``if its concerns were not properly addressed Ethiopia might 
     eventually reject the demarcation-related decisions of the 
     Commission''.
       (11) On September 19, 2003, Prime Minister Zenawi wrote to 
     United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and stated: ``As 
     the Commission's decisions could inevitably lead the two 
     countries into another round of fratricidal war, the Security 
     Council has an obligation, arising out of the UN Charter, to 
     avert such a threat to regional peace and stability.''.
       (12) On October 3, 2003, the United Nations Security 
     Council wrote to Prime Minister Zenawi and stated: ``The 
     members of the Security Council therefore wish to convey to 
     you their deep regret at the intention of the government of 
     Ethiopia not to accept the entirety of the delimitation and 
     demarcation decision as decided by the boundary commission. 
     They note in particular, that Ethiopia has committed itself 
     under the Algiers Agreements to accept the boundary decision 
     as final and binding.''.
       (13)(A) In an attempt to resolve the continued impasse, 
     United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan offered his good 
     offices to the two parties and appointed Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, 
     former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, to serve as 
     his Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea on January 29, 
     2004.
       (B) Despite the assurances of the United Nations Secretary 
     General, including in his Progress Reports of March 6, 2004, 
     and July 7, 2004, that the appointment of the Special Envoy 
     was ``not intended to establish an alternative mechanism to 
     the Boundary Commission or to renegotiate its final and 
     binding decision'', President Isaias of Eritrea has refused 
     to meet with the Special Envoy or otherwise engage in 
     political dialogue aimed at resolving the current impasse.
       (14) In his July 7, 2004, ``Progress Report'' to the United 
     Nations Security Council, Secretary General Kofi Annan 
     reported that the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
     continues to reiterate its position that ``the current 
     demarcation line would disrupt the lives of border 
     communities and lead to future conflict''.
       (15) In that same report, Secretary General Annan reminded 
     both governments that they themselves ``entrusted the 
     Boundary Commission with the entire demarcation process, drew 
     up its mandate and selected its Commissioners'' and called 
     upon the Government of Ethiopia to ``unequivocally restate 
     its acceptance of the Boundary Commission's decision, appoint 
     field liaison officers, and pay its dues to and otherwise 
     cooperate fully and expeditiously with the Commission''.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that Ethiopia and Eritrea--
       (1) should take all appropriate actions to implement the 
     Algiers Agreements, including by accepting the ``Delimitation 
     Decision'' issued by the neutral Boundary Commission on April 
     13, 2002, with respect to the boundary between the two 
     countries; and
       (2) should fully cooperate with the United Nations Special 
     Envoy for Ethiopia-Eritrea, Lloyd Axworthy, whose mandate is 
     the implementation of the Algiers Agreements, the 
     Delimitation Decision of the Boundary Commission, and the 
     relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations 
     Security Council.

     SEC. 5. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

       Congress makes the following declarations:
       (1) Congress expresses its support for the Boundary 
     Commission established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
     and calls on the international community to continue to 
     support the United Nations trust fund established to 
     facilitate the process of demarcation between Ethiopia and 
     Eritrea and the economic and social transition of affected 
     communities to new borders determined by the Commission.
       (2) Congress further declares that it shall be the policy 
     of the United States to limit United States assistance for 
     Ethiopia or Eritrea if either such country is not in 
     compliance with, or is not taking significant steps to comply 
     with, the terms and conditions of the Algiers Agreements.
       (3) Congress strongly condemns statements by senior 
     Ethiopian officials criticizing the Boundary Commission's 
     decision and calls on the Government of Ethiopia to 
     immediately and unconditionally fulfill its commitments under 
     the Algiers Agreements, publicly accept the Boundary 
     Commission's decision, and fully cooperate with the 
     implementation of such decision.
       (4) Congress recognizes the acceptance by the Government of 
     Eritrea of the Boundary Commission's decision as final and 
     binding, but condemns the Government of Eritrea's continued 
     refusal to take advantage of the good offices offered by the 
     United Nations Secretary General, to work with Special Envoy 
     Lloyd Axworthy, or to otherwise engage in dialogue aimed at 
     resolving the current impasse, and calls on the President of 
     Eritrea to do so without further delay.

     SEC. 6. LIMITATIONS ON UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Limitation on Economic Assistance.--Economic assistance 
     may only be provided for Ethiopia or Eritrea for any period 
     of time for which the President determines that Ethiopia or 
     Eritrea (as the case may be) is in compliance with, or is 
     taking significant steps to comply with, the terms and 
     conditions of the Algiers Agreements.
       (b) Limitation on Military Assistance and Arms Transfers.--
     Military assistance

[[Page H9032]]

     and arms transfers may only be provided for Ethiopia or 
     Eritrea for any period of time for which the President 
     determines that Ethiopia or Eritrea (as the case may be) is 
     in compliance with, or is taking significant steps to comply 
     with, the terms and conditions of the Algiers Agreements.
       (c) Exceptions.--The limitation on assistance under 
     subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply with respect to 
     humanitarian assistance (such as food or medical assistance), 
     assistance to protect or promote human rights, and assistance 
     to prevent, treat, and control HIV/AIDS.
       (d) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of 
     subsection (a) or (b) with respect to Ethiopia or Eritrea, 
     particularly for the provision of peacekeeping assistance or 
     counterterrorism assistance, if the President determines and 
     certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that it 
     is in the national interests of the United States to do so.

     SEC. 7. INTEGRATION AND BORDER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

       (a) Assistance.--After the date on which the border 
     demarcation between Ethiopia and Eritrea is finalized 
     (consistent with the decision of the Boundary Commission 
     established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement), the 
     President shall establish and carry out an initiative in 
     conjunction with the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea 
     under which assistance is provided to reduce the adverse 
     humanitarian impacts on the populations of the border region, 
     prevent conflict which might result from the demarcation 
     process, and further social and economic development projects 
     that are identified and evaluated by local authorities to 
     establish sustainable integration, development, and trade at 
     the border region.
       (b) Project Examples.--Examples of development projects 
     referred to in subsection (a) are--
       (1) startup initiatives, including farming projects, to 
     promote community economic development and the free flow of 
     trade across the border between the two countries;
       (2) generous compensation packages for families displaced 
     by the border demarcation and support for relocation;
       (3) effective mechanisms for managing movement of persons 
     across the border between the two countries;
       (4) an increase in the supply of basic services in the 
     border region, including water, sanitation, housing, health 
     care, and education; and
       (5) support for local efforts to reinforce peace and 
     reconciliation in the border region.

     SEC. 8. REPORT.

       Until the date on which the border demarcation between 
     Ethiopia and Eritrea is finalized, the President shall 
     prepare and transmit on a regular basis to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that contains a description 
     of progress being made toward such demarcation, including the 
     extent to which Ethiopia and Eritrea are in compliance with, 
     or are taking significant steps to comply with, the terms and 
     conditions of the Algiers Agreements, and are otherwise 
     cooperating with internationally-sanctioned efforts to 
     resolve the current impasse.

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask 
unanimous consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be 
considered as read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Chairman of the 
Committee on International Relations, my good friend from Illinois, for 
agreeing to move this important legislation forward. With passage of 
this legislation, Congress will further encourage the end to a long, 
protracted dispute between these two desperately poor nations.
  In July 2003, after considerable deliberation, I introduced this 
legislation to let the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments know that the 
international community's patience with this costly border dispute 
could not go on forever. Mr. Speaker, Ethiopia and Eritrea fought an 
unnecessary and bloody two-year war beginning in May 1998, which 
claimed 100,000 lives and displaced more than 1,000,000 people. The 
damage of the war was exacerbated by a preventable food crisis that 
left nearly 12 million people at risk of starvation.
  Today, 20 years after the 1984 Ethiopian famine, both Ethiopians and 
Eritreans rely increasingly on food aid abroad while their governments 
spend hundreds of millions of dollars on weapons. In 2000, Ethiopia and 
Eritrea signed a comprehensive peace agreement in Algiers. The 
agreement established a neutral Boundary Commission and the parties 
agreed that the decision of the Commission is final and binding.
  In April 2002, the Boundary Commission announced its Delimitation 
Decision, placing the heavily disputed town of Badme in Eritrea. Both 
nations initially accepted the ruling, although Ethiopia later rejected 
the Commission's ruling. Ethiopia's refusal to accept the decision of 
the Boundary Commission has delayed demarcation of the boundary and is 
costing the international community millions of dollars because of the 
delay.
  To date, more than $600 million have been spent to keep U.N. 
peacekeeping troops in a 25-kilometer-wide temporary security zone 
between the two countries. Meanwhile, the people of both nations are 
starving. In Eritrea, the 2004 donor appeal included a request for 
nearly $150 million to meet their food requirements for this year 
alone. Meanwhile, 13 million Ethiopians will meet none of their food 
needs in the 2004-05 production year, increasing to 14 million in 2005-
06 and reaching an estimated 17.3 million by 2007-2008.
  Mr. Speaker, over the past decade, the United States has provided 
$1.8 billion in foreign assistance to Ethiopia and another $333 million 
to Eritrea. So, why is the international community being asked to spend 
one-half a billion dollars to keep Ethiopia and Eritrea from attacking 
each other while their people starve? Mr. Speaker, what is wrong with 
this picture? And why, after agreeing to the Boundary Commission's 
decision, has Ethiopia continued its refusal to comply with its own 
binding commitment?
  U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan appointed Lloyd Axworthy, the former 
Canadian foreign minister, as his Special Envoy and charged him with 
reinforcing international efforts to settle the dispute and move the 
process forward. While I deeply disagree with the position taken by 
President Meles of Ethiopia, I want to commend him for extending the 
courtesy of meeting with the Special Envoy during his visit to 
Ethiopia.
  On the other hand, I cannot express the extent of my dismay and 
disappointment that President Issaias of Eritrea refused to meet the 
Special Envoy, illustrating his own inflexibility and disdain for 
international efforts. There were no preconditions for meeting Mr. 
Axworthy, and only a diplomatic courtesy was expected.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an outrage that these two countries whose citizens 
live on the very edge of survival cannot end their belligerent 
relationship, settle their dispute, and get on with addressing the 
critical economic, social, and political needs of their people. Instead 
of developing the great agricultural potential of Ethiopia and 
exploiting Eritrea's strategic port, these two countries find 
themselves permanently locked in a dispute and ultimately, appealing 
again to the international community for humanitarian help.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2760 sends a very clear message to both countries--
abide by the Algiers Agreement and respect international diplomatic 
efforts and the United States will work to build economic prosperity 
and peace in the border areas. However, if either country fails to 
abide by the Algiers Agreement or refuses to cooperate with the Special 
Envoy, there should be consequences.
  The amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Smith, and 
myself updates the resolution and has been agreed by both sides of the 
aisle. I want to thank my good friend from Michigan for assistance in 
this matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this 
bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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