Speech #970018736

Mr. President. I am pleased to join in cosponsoring this resolution designating April 9 as "African Refugee Relief Day." to mark the opening of the International Conference for Assistance to Refugees in Africa. The conference is being held under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to focus worldwide attention on the estimated 3 to 5 million refugees spread across 25 nations in Africa. Half of the worlds refugees are in Africa. yet their plightis least understood by the international community. The goal of the conference. to be held at the United Nations in Geneva. is to gain the support of the international community in providing basic humanitarian assistance to African refugees a well as to increase international awareness of their plight. This resolution is offered In support of these goals. Mr. President. as former chairman oj the Subcommittee on Refugees and ol the full Judiciary Committee. I can say the United States has had a proud record in responding to the needs of refugees around the world. When refugee emergencies have arisen. we have responded. When humanitarian assistance has been required. we have offered a helping hand. And when resettlement opportunities have been called for. we have opened our doors. This resolution recognizes this humanitarian tradition. It affirms our concern for the millions for homeless people in Africa. and the special and urgent needs they have today. As ranking minority member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Refukee Policy. I am pleased that the chairman. my distinguished colleague from Wyoming . is dispatching a member of the subcommittee staff to monitor the African Refugee Conference in Geneva next week and to report to the subcommittee on its work. I commend the administration for its efforts to respond favorably and generously to the UNHCRs call for assistance. And I pledge my continued support for all of these efforts in the Senate. Mr. President. I ask that excerpts from the UNHCR report on the African Refugee Conference be printed at this point in the RECORD.