[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING THE UNITED STATE'S LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH SWAZILAND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2008

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, as a proud co-chair of the 
Congressional Caucus on Swaziland, I rise today to educate my 
colleagues about the history of Swaziland and strong but unfortunately 
too often overlooked relationship between the United States and the 
Kingdom of Swaziland.
  The Swazi nation has a long and rich history going back to the 16th 
century when, according to tradition, the Swazi people migrated south 
from what is now Mozambique. Following a series of conflicts with 
people living in the area around modern day Maputo, Mozambique, the 
Swazi people settled in northern Zululand--part of present day South 
Africa--in about 1750. Unable to resist the growing power of the Zulu 
nation in the region, the Swazis moved gradually northward in the 1800s 
and established themselves in the area of modern Swaziland. From 1894 
to 1902 South Africa administered Swazi interests with the British 
assuming control of the country in 1902. On September 6, 1968, the 
Kingdom of Swaziland became officially independent from the British 
crown.
  Today, Swaziland is a full fledged member of the United Nations, the 
African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), 
and Southern African Development Community (SADC). Ten accredited 
ambassadors or honorary consuls are resident in the country and 
Swaziland maintains diplomatic missions in Brussels, Copenhagen, Kuala 
Lumpur, London, Maputo, Nairobi, Pretoria, Taipei, the United Nations, 
and Washington, D.C.
  The United States has maintained good bilateral relations since the 
kingdom became independent in 1968 and these good ties have developed 
substantially over the years through talks of trade and assistance to 
fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic that plagues the Kingdom.
  Approximately five years ago, the United States began negotiations to 
launch a Free Trade Agreement with the Southern African Customs Union 
(SACU) made up of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and 
Swaziland. While the negotiations are currently on hold, the United 
States is still engaged in cooperative efforts to launch a program to 
intensify the trade and investment relationship in preparation for a 
Free Trade Agreement that would eventually eliminate tariffs, reduce 
non-tariff barriers, liberalize service trade, protect intellectual 
property rights, and provide technical assistance to help the five 
African nations, including Swaziland. To compound these future goals, 
the U.S. supports small enterprise development, education, military 
training, and development of institutions and human resources, and 
agricultural.
  In addition to promoting economic reform and improved industrial 
relations, the United States has worked closely with many organizations 
within Swaziland, and through U.S. agencies, to develop HIV/AIDS 
initiatives and programs. The U.S. is also the largest bilateral donor 
to the Global Fund, Swaziland's principal HIV/AIDS funding source. 
Through this source, many Swaziland groups such as the Hope House, 
Anglican United Against HIV/AIDS, World Teach, Salvation Army etc, have 
received funds to help in the scourge against AIDS. As exhibited in 
this year's large reauthorization amount for Presidential Emergency 
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the United States is committed in the 
fight against AIDS, and will stand alongside any country willing to 
join us in this serious fight.
  The Peace Corps has made substantial contributions to this common 
fight as well. In 2003, Peace Corps volunteers returned to Swaziland 
after a nine-year absence. The current Peace Corps program in Swaziland 
focuses on HIV/AIDS and provides assistance in the execution of two 
components of the HIV/AIDS national strategy--risk reduction and 
mitigation of the impact of the disease. Volunteers encourage youth to 
engage in appropriate behaviors that will reduce the spread of HIV; 
they work with children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and they 
assist in capacity building for nongovernmental organizations and 
community-based organizations.
  I was also pleased to learn that the U.S. Government sends, on 
average, four Swazi professionals to the United States each year, from 
both the public and private sectors, primarily for master's degrees, 
and about five others for three- to four-week International Visitor 
programs. Such programs are vital to continuing substantial progress 
between our two countries' common goals. Given the great potential for 
progress and development between the United States and Swaziland as 
outlined above, I am excited to co-chair the Congressional Swaziland 
Caucus with my friend and colleague Representative Edolphus Towns of 
New York. I urge my colleagues to learn more about the Kingdom of 
Swaziland and to consider joining the Congressional Swaziland Caucus to 
help us bolster the long standing ties of friendship between our two 
great countries.

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