[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING PRIME MINISTER NAJIB RAZAK OF MALAYSIA

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Prime Minister 
Najib Razak of Malaysia for his leadership in negotiating the release 
of the remains of the victims killed in the downing of flight MH17 in 
eastern Ukraine.
  Prime Minister Najib held a series of secret talks with the 
separatists to broker an agreement for the return of the bodies and the 
promise of safe passage for recovery teams going to the crash site. He 
also secured the return of the black boxes of flight MH17 so that a 
full investigation may ensue.
  Prime Minister Najib's personal involvement in the negotiations sets 
the standard for diplomacy around the world. I commend Prime Minister 
Najib for not leaving negotiations to aides.
  Some matters in life are sacred, and I am pleased that Prime Minister 
Najib recognized this situation as such. I thank him for setting aside 
politics for a higher purpose--to return the bodies of fathers, 
mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters to the families who lost 
and loved them. I praise him for doing what others would not or could 
not.
  My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by 
this tragedy. After a full and fair investigation, I am hopeful that 
those responsible will be held accountable.

                          ____________________