    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [January 9, 1991]
    [Page 24]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 24]]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on United States Assistance for
    Liberia and Other Refugee Relief Efforts
    January 9, 1991

        The President has taken two important steps which underline our
    concern for the beleaguered people of Liberia and our desire that there
    should be a peaceful settlement to the problems of that country.
        On January 2, the President approved release of $6.0 million from
    the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund (ERMA) to meet
    urgent humanitarian needs of Liberian refugees. This is in addition to
    earlier U.S. contributions of $73 million for humanitarian assistance
    programs for Liberian conflict victims. Of this amount, $63.9 [million]
    was in food assistance and $9.1 million was in cash contributions and
    relief supplies to international and private voluntary organizations for
    their relief efforts in the region.
        On January 7, the President approved a Department of State request
    to provide the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) with
    $2.8 million in economic support funds for its peacekeeping and
    humanitarian relief activities in Liberia. This assistance will be
    limited to nonlethal support for ECOWAS peacekeeping operations and for
    related humanitarian relief activities in Liberia.
        Our contribution to ECOWAS reflects United States support for ECOWAS
    objectives in Liberia--a ceasefire, the formation of an interim
    administration, and the holding of free and democratic elections. These
    objectives offer the best formula for a peaceful solution to the
    conflict. The ECOWAS intervention in Liberia represents an encouraging
    example of African states finding African solutions to African problems.
    We call on the international donor community to continue its support for
    humanitarian relief assistance in Liberia and to demonstrate its
    solidarity with ECOWAS efforts to bring peace to Liberia.
        The President also approved use of Emergency Refugee and Migration
    Assistance Fund money as follows: $3.0 million for refugee and migration
    needs in response to the Persian Gulf crisis; $2.5 million to meet the
    emergency needs of Sudanese refugees; and $600,000 for emergency
    assistance programs in Central Africa for new Chadian and Rwandan
    refugees and those uprooted by the current conflict in Rwanda.

                        Note: Presidential Determination No. 91-12 of
                            January 2 was printed in the ``Federal
                            Register'' of January 16. Presidential
                            Determination No. 91-14 of January 7 was printed
                            in the ``Federal Register'' of January 28.