Speech #930352541

For example. at the present time. the island of Mozambique has insufficient foreign exchange to pay for critically needed food imports and spare parts. and without this assistance Mozambiques economy. which is basically sound. will be drastically affected. In other countries. illiquidity and lack of foreign currencies are significant factors in the rapidly worsening economic picture. The other matter which did not appear in the House resolution is the sum of $10 million to be appropriated for the purpose of providing refugee assistance to Palestinian refugees. Mr President. as all of us are aware. during the past year and a half this Congress has appropriated the sum of $86.5 million to assist Soviet Jews to relocate themselves to Israel. This bill contains an additional $10 million for this purpose. The committee felt that the Office of Migration and Refugee Affairs should provide additional assistance to Palestinian refugees through the United National Relief and Works Agency or as otherwise authorized by Public Law 87510. Refugees from Palestine now number over 1.5 million. Unlike many other refugees who have fled from their homelands in search of safety. the Palestinians have found no refuge. Palestinians in exile continue to search for peace and safety. Over the past 26 years. they have been caught up in the rivalry of nations in the Middle East. Too frequently have they been the pawns in the international political process. and three times they have seen their homes. schools. and hospitals destroyed by the contending armies of the Middle East states. Often neglected. seemingly in the backwaters of international concern. the Palestinian refugees have known no peace and have had very little reason to hope. Their camps have become the focal point of discontent. Now. however. the United States has the opportunity to encourage the emergence of new realities In the Middle East. In addition to the inadequate programs presently under consideration for rendering assistance to governments of the area. we feel there must be more tangible evidence of concern for the plight of the Palestinian refugees. The modest amount the committee has recommended will be instrumental in convincing the Palestinians that they are not a forgotten people. and the committee very sincerely believes that this will advance the cause of peace in the Middle East. As the chairman has noted. the language which appeared in the authorizing bill relating to Turkey and Greece also appears in this measure.