[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ON EL SALVADOR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2009

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my grave 
concern about the upcoming elections in El Salvador this week.
  Under its current and recent governments, El Salvador has served as a 
Forward Operating Location in the war on drugs and cooperates closely 
with the United States. However that may change if the opposition 
party, the FMLN, comes to power in Sunday's election.
  The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) is a pro-
terrorist party with direct ties to sponsors of terror like Cuba, Iran, 
and FARC, the narcoguerrilla terrorist organization in Colombia. Based 
on its relationships, the FMLN clearly is not a reliable partner in the 
fight on drug trafficking and money laundering.
  If the FMLN were to enter government in El Salvador, the Department 
of the Treasury would be forced to use its legal authority to monitor, 
control, delay, or terminate the movement of nearly $4 billion in 
remittances and other money transfers to El Salvador.
  The United States must be prepared to apply, on an urgent basis, the 
full array of legal instruments available should circumstances after 
the Salvadoran election require the urgent termination of the flow of 
remittances to that country.
  The government of El Salvador has shown itself to be a reliable and 
trustworthy counterpart regarding U.S. national security. For the sake 
of the Salvadorans and the United States, I pray that the FMLN is 
defeated, so that the United States can maintain its special 
relationship with the government of El Salvador.
  On Election Day, El Salvador will be choosing between remaining a 
close U.S. ally, or realigning itself with countries hostile to the 
U.S. Let's hope they choose freedom, security, and good neighborliness 
with the U.S.

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