[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 179 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SERBIA STEPS UP AT A CRITICAL TIME

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Serbia's recent donation of $5.4 
million to the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, where thousands of Muslims 
were killed in the Yugoslav Wars, is a clear sign that the Serbian 
Government wants to do what they can to improve relationships with 
countries in the region. Mending these relationships is especially 
important as the Balkans are on the front lines of the refugee crisis. 
As of the beginning of November, the same month that President Vucic 
announced this large donation, over 300,000 refugees had flowed through 
the country since the beginning of the year. Most refugees are fleeing 
Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and travelling to Europe to seek asylum. 
Serbia is doing their part to process and protect these people. In 
October alone, 180,307 refugees were processed compared to 51,048 in 
September because of Serbia's commitment to improving capacity.
  It is critical for countries in the region to work together to 
process the influx of refugees while ensuring the safety of their own 
countries and the world. The Balkans are a transit region making it 
important for all the countries to have an open line of communication 
in order to ensure the ordered, safe, and peaceful flow of people and 
is especially important for bordering countries.
  Serbia's gesture to Bosnia is hopefully a signal of relationships on 
the mend at this very tense time in the world. While the importance of 
Balkan countries working together cannot be underemphasized, it is also 
of utmost importance for all freedom-loving countries throughout the 
world to work together to fight ISIS, a big factor in the flow of 
migrants and a threat to our way of life, in which all lives are 
cherished. Every country must do their part. We must all come together 
and obliterate this scourge on our world.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Serbian Caucus, I commend the 
Serbian Government for all that they have done to mend their 
relationships in the region and for their leadership during this 
incredibly trying time.
  And that's just the way it is.

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