[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 27 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[Page 1308]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Statement on the Sierra Leone Peace Agreement

July 7, 1999

    On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate President Ahmed Tejan 
Kabbah and Revolutionary United Front leader Foday Sankoh on the signing 
of a peace agreement today in Lome, Togo. The agreement offers the hope 
of ending nearly 8 years of terrible conflict in Sierra Leone and 
bringing peace and a brighter future for its people.
    I thank President Eyadema and the Government of Togo for hosting the 
peace talks, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 
the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the U.N., and my Special Envoy, 
Reverend Jesse Jackson, for providing critical support to the peace 
process. Neighboring countries also provided refuge to hundreds of 
thousands of Sierra Leoneans who fled the conflict and atrocities in 
their country. Their willingness to open their arms to those in need is 
an example that inspires us all.
    We are committed to working with ECOWAS, the U.N., and the OAU to 
ensure appropriate support for implementing the agreement and beginning 
reconciliation efforts. We will work with the people of Sierra Leone and 
the international community to support the safe return of more than one 
million refugees and internally displaced people and the reconstruction 
of the country.