[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22756]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF MOZAMBIQUE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the consideration of S. Res. 358 submitted earlier today by Senator 
Biden.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 358) congratulating the people of 
     Mozambique on their successful efforts to establish, build, 
     and maintain peace in their country for the past ten years, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements in relation to this matter be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 358) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 358

       Whereas, on October 4, 1992, having overcome the hardships 
     of a colonial struggle, decolonization, and armed regional 
     and national conflict, the people of Mozambique, the parties 
     to the civil war in Mozambique, and the leadership of 
     Mozambique reached a peaceful settlement to the devastating 
     16-year civil war;
       Whereas this peace was facilitated by the good offices of 
     the Comunita di Sant' Egidio in Rome and supported by 
     regional friends and the international community;
       Whereas in 1994 and 1999 Mozambique held multi-party 
     elections deemed free and fair by the international 
     community;
       Whereas this peace has been consolidated and strengthened 
     by Mozambique civil society, helping to keep the Government 
     of Mozambique on a course of political and economic reforms 
     despite the challenges currently presented by HIV/AIDS, 
     floods, droughts, and regional instability;
       Whereas the Government of Mozambique has initiated sound 
     economic reforms, including the privatization of state-run 
     enterprises, the reduction and simplification of import 
     tariffs, and the liberalization of agricultural markets, 
     resulting in extraordinary economic growth;
       Whereas the resources that have become available by 
     Mozambique's participation in the Highly Indebted Poor 
     Countries Initiative have been responsibly channeled by the 
     Government of Mozambique into anti-poverty programs;
       Whereas, despite the progress that Mozambique has made, 
     more than one-half of the people of Mozambique over 15 years 
     of age are illiterate, twenty-eight percent of the children 
     under five are malnourished, infant mortality stands at more 
     than 12 percent, and life expectancy is only 42 years;
       Whereas the United States values democratic principles, the 
     rule of law, peace, and stability in all nations that 
     comprise the community of states; and
       Whereas Mozambique has been transformed from a war-torn 
     country to one where political disputes are settled through 
     peaceful means: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the people of Mozambique on ten years of 
     continued peace and growing democracy and commends the 
     Government of Mozambique for continued economic and political 
     reforms;
       (2) salutes the Comunita di Sant' Egidio for using its good 
     offices to facilitate and mediate the peace process that led 
     to the October 4, 1992, agreement;
       (3) recognizes the indispensable role that civil society in 
     Mozambique has played in both achieving peace and deepening 
     democratic reforms; and
       (4) stands ready to assist the Government of Mozambique on 
     a variety of programs, including humanitarian and development 
     assistance, HIV/AIDS prevention, and technical assistance to 
     fight corruption.

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