[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 10047-10048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5034]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 3, 1994]




 

Justification for Presidential Determination of 
                Eligibility of Eritrea To Be Furnished Military 
                Assistance Under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 
                and the Arms Export Control Act

                Section 503 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and 
                Section 3(a)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act require, 
                as a condition of eligibility to acquire defense 
                articles and services from the United States, that the 
                President find that the furnishing of such articles and 
                services to the country concerned will ``strengthen the 
                security of the United States and promote world 
                peace.''

                The United States has a significant security interest 
                in the stability of newly founded Eritrea, which 
                borders Sudan and occupies a strategic position on the 
                Red Sea. Eritrea's security directly affects the 
                stability of its neighbor and former ruler, Ethiopia. 
                Moreover, Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia all benefit 
                from Eritrean stability in a region threatened by 
                Islamic fundamentalism.

                Eritrea gained its independence after a thirty year war 
                against Ethiopian central authority and a United 
                Nations-monitored referendum in April, 1993. Among the 
                devastating consequences of this war is the remainder 
                of over 500,000 anti-personnel land mines throughout 
                the country. These land mines seriously hinder the 
                government's efforts to reconstruct Eritrean society 
                and the economy.

                One of the Department's newly developed demining 
                programs centers on the dispatch of U.S. military 
                Special Operations Forces personnel to teach local 
                instructors demining techniques. We have selected 
                Eritrea to be the pilot country for this program 
                because of the urgent need and a combination of 
                favorable factors.

                     Eritrea currently is politically stable. 
                We believe that Eritrea will continue to enjoy 
                political stability for the foreseeable future.
                     The conditions are more favorable for 
                detecting mines in the open terrain of this semi-arid 
                country than in more forested countries.
                     Eritrea has an educated work force. In 
                addition, many Eritreans speak either Italian or 
                English, which will facilitate the work of our Special 
                Forces trainers.
                     All sectors of Eritrean society, 
                especially the Eritrean Government, recognize the 
                gravity of the land mine situation. They are anxious to 
                give us their complete cooperation for the demining 
                program.
                     Currently, no other organization or 
                country is contributing to Eritrean demining. This 
                program will garner the United States considerable good 
                will, and will help establish a productive and 
                cooperative security assistance relationship with 
                Eritrea.

                Providing defense articles and services to Eritrea 
                pursuant to Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export 
                Control Act authorities will further our long-term 
                goals of promoting stability both in Eritrea and in the 
                strategic Horn of Africa, thereby strengthening the 
                security of the United States and promoting world 
                peace.

[FR Doc. 94-5034
Filed 3-1-94; 2:20 pm]
Billing code 4710-10-M