Speech #1010041496

I recently returned from Ethiopia and other countries in the Horn of Africa. While there. I had the opportunity to visit with President Mengistu and I know of his efforts to initiate peace negotiations. I also had the opportunity to observe first hand. Ethiopias efforts. at great expense to its internal political stability not to mention the tremendous strain on its domestic food resources. to provide both refuge and food to the more than 800.000 Sudanese and Somalian refugees. In addition it was also playing a key role in the humanitarian assistance into the southern Sudan. There is no question that these efforts have resulted in the saving of many lives.