Finally. let me recognize the valuable assistance of the staff of the full committee as well as the staffs of the human rights and international organizations and Europe and Middle East subcommittees. All of us have experienced a sense of horror and outrage over the reports and images of systematic executions. concentration camps. and mass expulsions in former Yugoslavia. This conflict poses a significant threat to international security for a variety of reasons. not the least of which is that it has generated over 2.3 million refugees and displaced persons. As the Balkan winter approaches. relief officials warn that tens of thousands of already devastated victims will soon face the risk of death because they lack adequate shelter and supplies to survive the coming harsh weather. By calling for an intensification of relief efforts. my resolution represents a means for translating our desire to do something into concrete actions. This Nation can help bring material comfort to the refugees and displaced persons and avert this winters looming tragedy. We are under no illusions that the provision of relief represents a longterm solution to this conflict. Ultimately. the parties themselves must come to terms with one another. In the meantime. however. this resolution lays out the fundamental principles that should guide future actions by the international community to help bring order to this chaotic situation. For example. my resolution urges the President to seek international agreement on the fundamental rights of refugees and displaced persons. including the right of return and compensation. It also addresses the abhorrent process of ethnic cleansing by asking the President to pursue an agreement declaring null and void those documents signed under duress which result in forcible property transfers among ethic groups. Such actions would send a clear message that intimidation. theft. and expulsion will not be tolerated. A crucial and central feature of this resolution is its provision to establish a comprehensive documentation mechanism for all refugees and displaced persons. The development of a reliable enumeration procedure will provide a clearer picture of refugee flows and. more importantly. will ultimately hold all sides accountable for the safety. repatriation. and compensation for persons who have been forced to flee their homes. While the Congress has held the Government of Serbia and Montenegro primarily responsible for the conflict and subsequent forced migrations. this resolution makes no ethnic distinctions when it comes to defining the rights of refugees or the provision of relief. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this resolution and sending a strong signal of commitment to the refugees and displaced persons in former Yugoslavia. who undoubtedly feel that the international community is not sufficiently engaged in addressing their plight. The message we send today is this: The United States and the community of nations care what happens to these people. and we are keeping track of them. Today. the Washington Post reports on its front page that the refugee crisis is worsening dramatically as Serbian forces have intensified their drive to brutally cleanse northwestern Bosnia of its remaining Moslems. Need I say that this horrible news lends greater urgency to our efforts to pass this timely resolution. Should we fail to act now. the humanitarian crisis will most certainly deepen before Congress can next act on this important issue in January.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees