5496 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March 11, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS REGIONAL COOPERATION You also know-if you didn't before this would be people with the stature to create BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT conference-that the program is working. It new constituencies of support, and raise has established long-term joint projects in funds from private, foundation, and corpo­ several fields, including health, agriculture, rate sources. HON. LEE H. HAMILTON and marine science. Most of you have heard Such an arrangement would cost the U.S. OF INDIANA about the tangible results it has produced­ Treasury no more than it currently spends IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the strains of salt-tolerant fruits and vegeta­ for Middle East Regional Cooperation­ bles, livestock better suited to the desert, Wednesday, March 11, 1987 about $5 million year. This would guarantee controlling shoreline erosion, protecting the continued U.S. role as an equal partner Mr. HAMIL TON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to lakes, and of course, the brilliant work in epidemiology. in the program, while ensuring it is led by bring to the attention of my colleagues re­ people with a vision of how Regional Coop­ marks made by our colleague, HENRY Just as important as these science gains have been the remarkable personal ties eration should expand, and the wherewithal WAXMAN, of California, on regional coopera­ built between these two nations. We see fur­ to make that happen. tion programs in the Middle East. ther evidence of that in this conference. I would hope such an entity would not Congressman WAXMAN has provided sus­ But now that Regional Cooperation has limit itself to scientific exchange, but would tained leadership in the Congress over the proven itself, we must become more ambi­ eventually aim to stimulate a variety of last several years in support of the Middle tious. For the fact is that the present pro­ joint projects. There are many areas of East Regional Cooperation Program which gram is tiny. It has reached only a few hun­ health, agriculture, rural and economic de­ seeks to bring Israelis and Arabs together on dred scientists. Its budget of $5 million a velopment in which Egypt and Israel have year represents only one one-thousandth of scientific and technological cooperative ef­ complementary resources, where joint work the $6 billion the U.S. gives annually to can bring great benefits to both nations. forts. This small program has generated much Egypt and Israel. support in Israel, Egypt, and the United As its reputation grew, such a Foundation Regional Cooperation must begin to could become a magnet for practical bridge­ States. The annual expenditures have aver­ behave in a more activist way-not simply building projects of all kinds, and for donors channeling money to the same projects year aged less than $5 million but Members should who want to help build them. If an initia­ be aware of the scope and promise of this ac­ after year, but reaching out to new partici­ pants, new fields. It must begin to act more tive as grandiose as the 'Marshall Plan' pro­ tivity and the key role played by the Congress posed by Shimon Peres and others ever in fostering and promoting it. Congressman like the Brandeis Center, with a vision of what should happen and the commitment comes about, the Foundation would perhaps WAXMAN is to be commended for his continu­ to move it forward, and less like a routinized have provided a testing ground for some of ing leadership on it. His suggestions for the bureaucracy. its ideas. future of this program and its future expansion Such a change is not likely to happen Let me assure those of you with a strong deserve consideration. while the program remains in its current interest in this program, and strong opin­ Congressman WAXMAN's remarks of Febru­ form. The AID structure which now houses ions about how it is organized, that I pro­ ary 6, 1987, at Brandeis University follow: it has been crucial in choosing solid projects pose nothing as a fait accompli. I lay this to begin the program and in overseeing REGIONAL COOPERATION: A LOOK TO THE out to stimulate discussion, and invite your their success. But as a large bureaucracy, comment on it. I welcome any other ideas FUTURE AID simply does not offer the active, entre­ (By Eenry A. Waxman) you may have for expanding the program in preneurial approach needed to break a time of shrinking U.S. budgets. (Introduction by Susan Miller, Brandeis) through the many barriers Regional Coop­ Whatever the final outcome, the keystone Thank you very much, Susan. It is a tre­ eration faces. of this activity is, and must remain, the rec­ mendous pleasure, and gives me great per­ Furthermore, AID is unable-through no ognition that peace is not, by itself, a pro­ sonal pride, to be here. I have already fault of its own-to put the additional funds talked quite a bit with some of you here, into this program that it is going to need in gram. The program is development. Raising and a warm welcome to those who have just order to expand. Like all agencies of the productivity; improving infrastructure, man­ joined us. federal government, AID's budget is under aging natural resources; improving health; I'd like to begin ·by thanking Joe Califano, attack because of our massive budget defi­ advancing the general welfare-these are Baruch Levy, Leonard Houseman, Susan cit. Indeed, AID's budget will be cut far your mandates. These goals transcend reli­ Miller, and all the people at the Center for more than most agencies. In a time when gion and nationality; they are shared by all Social Policy in the Middle East at Brandeis the allotments for many of our other people everywhere. It is in pursuing these who are responsible for putting this confer­ strongest allies are slashed by as much as fundamentally practical aims that we ad­ -ence together. You have worked for years in 50%, it is simply not realistic to seek to vance the loftier objective of peace. su.pp<imt of regional cooperation, through expand this program through more U.S. Let me close on a personal note. I deeply good times and bad, and your dedication is government funds. believe that what we are doing in this en­ .an Jnspir.ation to all of us. So we must look for other ways to do it. I deavor, in the dreams we share and the re­ For the '1ast four days this conference has believe several ideas deserve serious study. ality we have already forged is, in a small :worked to outline new areas for trilateral One of these would be to create a small, but critical way, affirming the values of projects in the health field. I understand U.S. government foundation to take over peace, of cooperation, of mutual respect, you have identified four specific ones-hos­ the running of these programs. Based in and of friendship. ipital and community health management, Washington, it would be empowered to Throughout the Regional Cooperation information systems, water quality, and manage the current programs and launch Program, we have, together, rejected the intervention in several specific diseases. As new ones, bring in new participants and beef awful legacy of war and moved toward a you m.ay know, I have specialized in public up the program's budget. policy relating to health throughout my The Foundation would be a U.S. govern­ better future for ourselves and our children. career, so it is particularly gratifying for me ment entity in that its Board of Directors Today we reaffirm our inalienable com­ personally to envision such new projects. would be chosen by the President and ap­ mitment to humanity, knowing that if we But now I want to step back from the proved by the Senate, and part of its budget are deterred, or if we fail, we will have health area and address the whole of re­ provided annually by Congress. Several of handed a victory to the enemies of peace gional cooperation-where it has come from, its board members would be U.S. govern­ more precious than any on a battlefield. and where it should go next. ment officials with operational responsibil­ It is precisely because of the terror in Leb­ Most of you know that the Middle East ity for policy in the Middle East, such as the anon, the carnage in Iran and Iraq, and the Regional Cooperation Program began in the Assistant Secretary of State for Near East daily tensions of the region that we must go face of much skepticism. Many people and perhaps the AID Administrator. forward. If we do, others will follow us. simply did not believe that governments But it would differ from the standard gov­ I am sincerely grateful for your personal would be interested in having their scien­ ernment agency in that a majority of the commitment, dedication, perseverence, and tists come together for joint projects. Board would be private individuals. These friendship. 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. March 11, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 5497 TRIAL OF CZECHOSLOVAK JAZZ One such person who believes that success "I'm always criticizing American. manage• SECTION starts with competitive products is Akio Morita, ment rather than the American work chairman of the Sony Corp. By stressing prin­ force," Morita, 65, said.