Extensions of Remarks

17842 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 17, 1990 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS IN ernment of the Socialist Republic of Serbia CURRENT ISSUES SURROUND THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, dissolved the 188-member Kosovo Provincial ING UNITED STATES MILITARY YUGOSLAVIA Assembly, took over the organs of the provin PRESENCE IN HONDURAS cial government and closed Albanian lan HON. WM. S. BROOMFIELD guage news media. The virtual ending of Ko HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS OF MICHIGAN sovo's status as a province began in 1989 OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES when the nationalist-inspired President of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, July 17, 1990 Republic of Serbia amended the Serbian con stitution and severely limited Kosovo's aukm Tuesday, July 17, 1990 Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I am alarmed about the recent dissolution of the omy. His recent actions were designed to in Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, as political and Kosovo Provincial Assembly and believe that flame ethnic tensions by denying the ethnic civil strife wane in Central America, allowing the current policies of the President of the Re Albanian people, who constitute 90 percent of for recovery and development to take place, it public of Serbia will lead to further ethnic strife the population of Kosovo, the right to have a is crucial that we analyze what is happening in in that tense Province and could trigger the province of their own. Honduras, a country which has received hun breakup of Yugoslavia. Today, I introduced In response to the unwarranted actions of dreds of millions of dollars in United States legislation concerning the ongoing tragedy of Mr. Milosevic in 1989, ethnic Albanians peace aid in recent years, and is currently under the Kosovo. Should the situation in Kosovo further fully protested. Over 50 of them were gunned new leadership of President Rafael Leonardo deteriorate, I will consider stronger legislation down, scores more were wounded, and others Callejas. Such questions as the restructing of that will have a serious economic impact on were imprisoned. It is important to remember its economy, its role in the political equilibrium that country. that all of these unfortunate events are hap of Central America, and its ties with Europe The seamy side of Yugoslavia's policies pening in Kosovo when respect for justice, de and the United States deserve to be exam toward its ethnic groups was brought to my at mocracy, and minority rights is growing in ined. In this context, the Honduras-United tention by Ekrem Bardha, my good friend and Eastern Europe. States military alliance is also undergoing sub a leader in the United States-Albanian com The unfortunate policies of Mr. Milosevic stantial revisions. munity, in 1986. A young Michigan resident, have curtailed the possibility for the Albanian Amidst popular opposition to continued Pjeter lvezaj, visited his family in Kosovo and community to express opinions freely and United States military presence, the Callejas was arrested, abused and put on trial for administration is restructuring its vision of the defend its interests through a peaceful proc having demonstrated in front of the Yugoslav role of the country's armed forces, focusing ess. The policies of the leadership of the Ser Embassy in Washington in 1981. After he was on a demilitarized cooperative effort aimed at given a long prison sentence, I introduced leg bian Republic have undermined prospects for combating deforestation the increased use of islation that would have denied Yugoslavia a peaceful democratic solution in Kosovo that Honduras as a transshipment point for illicit most-favored-nation trading status with the would respect the rights of all of the citizens narcotics. In order to provide some back United States. Fortunately, Mr. lvezaj was re in that Province. ground on the current issues surrounding leased. The democratic movements in Kosovo have United States military involvement in Hondu Last year, the sad story of Dobroslav attracted nearly 1 million supporters despite ras, I draw your attention to an article by a re Paraga, a young Croatian human rights activ the severe restrictions upon human rights and searcher with the Council on Hemispheric Af ist, came to my attention. He was imprisoned, the democratic process in that Province. Mr. fairs [COHA], which first appeared in the July along with another Croatian, for having called Milosevic remains clearly enamored with the 11 issue of that organization's biweekly publi for the release of political prisoners in Yugo Communist Party and is doing everything pos cation, the Washington Report on the Hemi slav jails. While in prison, he was beaten, and sible to contain the rising tide of democracy sphere. I encourage my colleagues to read his colleague died in prison under mysterious and the need for free elections in Kosovo. this illuminatory article by Research Associate circumstances. After learning of the flagrant The house that former Yugoslav President Renato Bendana. violation of the basic human liberties of Mr. Tito so carefully built was designed to contain HONDURAS OPPOSES PERMANENT U.S. MILI Paraga, I introduced legislation in the House Serbian nationalism. Mr. Milosevic is attempt TARY PRESENCE-PRIORITIES SHIFT AS RE last September condemning the brutal treat GIONAL TENSIONS LESSEN ing to rebuild the former Serbian kingdom at ment of that decent man and highlighting the (By Renato Bendana> tragic human rights record of that country. An the expense of ethnic Albanians and others who may stand in his way. Many in today's Recently inaugurated President Rafael identical bill passed the Senate in August and Leonardo Callejas has stated categorically received strong support from our colleagues Yugoslavia fear a rampant Serbia. Is there any that he will not sign an accord providing for who share our concerns about Yugoslavia and wonder that many Europeans are calling the the establishment of permanent U.S. mili human rights. The Department of State's Serbian President the most dangerous man in tary installations on Honduran territory. "Country Reports On Human Rights Practices Europe and a real threat to peace in the The statement came in response to increas for 1989" and Amnesty lnternational's report Balkan region? ing controversy over what role the U.S. mili tary, which for years has conducted exten for 1990 clearly document the ongoing human My sense of the Congress resolution com sive operations in Honduras on what is tech rights abuses in that country. mends the ethnic Albanians for showing re nically a temporary basis, will play in the In April, Congressman LANTOS held a hear straint during these difficult times and encour country now that prospects for continued ing in his Human Rights Caucus on the human ages a peaceful solution to the problems of civil strife in the region have diminished rights situation in Yugoslavia and invited me to Kosovo. The bill also urges the Government and emphasis has shifted towards economic development. testify about Mr. Paraga. A few hours prior to of Yugoslavia and the Government of the Re that hearing, the state of emergency was lifted If ratified, the controversial proposition, public of Serbia to restore the autonomous in the Province of Kosovo and several political known as Protocol III, would become an ex status of Kosovo and abandon its nationalistic tension of the 1954 Bilateral Military Assist prisoners were released. Many Members of ance Agreement, in which both countries Congress were led to believe at that time that policies which can only serve to undermine the unity of Yugoslavia. agreed to "act together for the common de a period of healing was beginning in Kosovo. fense and for the maintenance of the peace Unfortunately, the situation in that troubled I urge my colleagues to support this timely and security of the Western Hemisphere." Province has worsened. This month, the Gov- resolution. Two protocols have since been added, cover- e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. July 17, 1990 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 17843 ing issues ranging from diplomatic immuni tion. Menacing enough, armed forces com Florida Keys Protection Act will direct the Sec ty for U.S. personnel to counter-terrorism mander Gen. Arnulfo Cantarero Lopez has retary of Transportation to submit a proposal training. Protocol III would mark a signifi warned critics that although the armed cant break from the past, and set the stage forces have subordinated themselves to the to the International Maritime Organization to for a new and even more controversial era in civil government to date, they "are not tol designate the sanctuary as an area to be U.S.-Honduran relations. erant or weak in any sense.'' avoided. U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Crescencio Callejas' contention that "perhaps this is Furthermore, H.R. 3719 will prohibit all min Arcos, who previously dabbled in the coun a good time to remember that we cannot be eral activities, including oil and gas leasing, try's politics while serving as press secretary so dependent on U.S. aid," could reflect a exploration, and development within the sanc at the embassy during the height of the slightly revised line of thinking on the part tuary. contra war, has argued that U.S. bases of the Honduran government. In an effort Florida's Keys are worthy of safeguarding. I would be a tremendous asset to Honduras, to begin to ease his country away from its considering that this country's military dependence upon Washington, the president would like to thank my colleague from Florida, presence contributes an annual $45 million has become a staunch supporter of Central Congressman FASCELL, for his great concern to the Honduran economy.

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