---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 15 Sep 2000 11:59:04 -0700
From: International Bicycle Fund <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [wa-afr] FW: ACTION: Support peacekeeping - 2 sign-on ltrs
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Shall we sign-on?
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 8:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ACTION: Support peacekeeping - 2 sign-on ltrs
ADNA Action: 000913
Message from: Better World Fund
For contact information see also:
http://www.betterworldfund.org
Dear ADNA members,
Following find the text of two sign on letters, one to Congress and
one to Clinton regarding peacekeeping and the UN. Feel free to
share these with your networks, and reply with your signature
authority directly to Better World Campaign as noted below. Note
the deadline for the first letter (Congressional leaders) is Monday
Sept 18, close of business, and for the 2nd, more Africa specific
letter (President Clinton) is Wed Sept 20 close of business.
Regards,
Vicki Ferguson
ADNA Communications Facilitator
From: Susan Myers <[log in to unmask]>
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: sign on letters
Date sent: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 10:41:58 -0400
So far, the House and Senate versions of the Commerce, State,
Justice and the Judiciary Appropriations bill cut the President's
request for UN peacekeeping by one-third. And even worse, the
House version of the CJS bill completely zeros out funding for all UN
missions in the continent of Africa. Full funding of the President's
request of $739 million is necessary if the U.S. is to meet its
commitment to pay 25 percent of all UN peacekeeping missions.
The following sign-on letters, one to the Congressional leadership
and one to the President, support full funding of UN peacekeeping
and call attention to the zeroing out of funding for Africa. The bill
may be moving in the Senate in the next few days, so urgent
attention is appreciated. If you would like to sign on or have any
questions, please contact Susan Myers at the Better World
Campaign, 202-462-4900, or [log in to unmask] Thank
you.
1. The deadline for this letter to the Congressional leadership and
the President is September 18, close of business:
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The Honorable Trent Lott
The Honorable Thomas Daschle
The Honorable Dennis Hastert
The Honorable Richard Gephardt
Dear President Clinton and Members of Congress:
We are writing to express our concern about the funding of U.S.
contributions to United Nations peacekeeping activities. At a time
when the UN, with the support of the U.S. through its role in the
Security Council, has expanded and created key missions to
address conflicts that threaten international peace and stability, the
U.S. must be a dependable and cooperative partner with the UN and
pay its share of these operations.
A strong U.S. role in international affairs is essential to our
continued economic prosperity, national security, and ability to
promote democratic values abroad. Whether or not the U.S. is able
to pursue these goals depends on peace. It is clearly in the
interests of the U.S. to support UN peacekeeping, because it lays
the groundwork for peace without requiring our nation to pay all the
costs or bear all the risks. And without the support of the U.S.,
these UN missions are far more likely to fail.
As representatives of a broad spectrum of the NGO community, we
urge Congress to approve funding for UN peacekeeping operations
required to meet our legal obligations. The Administration estimates
that amount to be $739 million for FY2001 and an additional $107
million in supplemental funding for FY2000 to support new and
expanded operations in Kosovo and East Timor. Additionally, holds
currently in place on funding for missions in Sierra Leone, East
Timor, and Congo must be lifted so the U.S. can pay these bills and
provide critical support for these ongoing operations.
These payments are important because of their short-term
implications for the UN's ability to perform these missions. They
also will impact long-term U.S.-UN relations, especially as U.S.
Permanent Representative to the UN Richard C. Holbrooke
negotiates with other member-states to reduce our peacekeeping
assessment rate, as called for by last year's Helms-Biden
agreement.
Understandably, there are some concerns about UN peacekeeping,
particularly the mission in Sierra Leone. The UN Secretary-General
himself has called on the General Assembly to make improvements
in the way peacekeeping is conducted. However, the U.S. must
continue to be a cooperative partner with the UN and other member-
states if it wants to improve this useful alternative to unilateral action
when conflicts threaten our security, our economic prosperity, and
human lives.
Sincerely,
2. The deadline for this letter, which focuses more on the Africa
issue and will be used to emphasize to the President the importance
of this issue, is September 20.
Dear President Clinton:
At a time when our nation has renewed its commitment to Africa and
is contemplating new strategies to stem the tide of social and
economic problems faced by this continent, we are writing to urge
your continued strong support for something fundamental to all of
these efforts - United Nations peacekeeping.
Your recent visit to sub-Saharan Africa highlights the strategic
importance of Africa in the U.S. efforts to stop the spread of
HIV/AIDS, develop new economic opportunities for American
businesses, and encourage the spread of democracy and freedom
around the globe. We applaud your decisions to fight for increased
funding for the struggle against the AIDS pandemic in Africa, to sign
the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, and to send American troops
to Nigeria to train peacekeepers from that nation who will join the UN
peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone. However, these initiatives
may prove to be futile in the long run unless UN peacekeeping
receives critical financial support from the U.S.
Recent Congressional actions are jeopardizing the ability of the UN
to be an effective vehicle for peace in some of Africa's most
troubled nations. Currently, while UN peacekeepers are on the
ground risking their lives to contain conflicts in Sierra Leone, the
Congo, Ethiopia-Eritrea, Western Sahara, and Angola, the U.S.
Congress is considering legislation that will cut by one-third your
request for UN peacekeeping funding. Last year, you were the
critical ingredient in setting our relationship with the UN back on
track by working out an agreement to pay over $1 billion in arrears
to this organization. This year, the U.S. must honor its commitment
to pay 25 percent of all peacekeeping missions, as dictated by this
same agreement, so the U.S. remains a credible partner of the UN.
But even more egregious, the House version of the bill that funds UN
peacekeeping zeros out funding for each and every African
mission, while fully funding all missions in other parts of the world.
Despite our nation's other efforts on behalf of growth and stability in
Africa, unless this action is reversed, we will send the clear
message that peace and security in Africa is not a priority of the
U.S. - the world's preeminent leader.
We know that as a committed internationalist, you fully appreciate
the value of working with the UN to advance not only international
peace, but also American security and foreign policy interests -
when we work with the UN we don't have to pay all the bills or
shoulder all the burdens. However, the current appropriation cripples
the ability of the next Administration to meet our nation's commitment
to the UN and to be a leader in that organization, and as
consequence, in the world. As the current appropriations process
comes to a close, you must work to restore critical funds for UN
peacekeeping, particularly for the missions in Africa, and provide
your successor with the tools to continue your historic reshaping of
the U.S.-Africa relationship.
Sincerely,
***
This message is distributed by the Better World Campaign for the
Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA).
Vicki Lynn Ferguson
Advocacy Network for Africa
Communications Facilitator
c/o Africa Policy Information Center
110 Maryland Ave, NE #509
Washington, DC 20002
Ph: 202-546-7961
Fax: 202-546-1545
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.africapolicy.org/adna
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7:00 p.m. WSAN business meeting
8:00 p.m. Program: PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health)
We meet the last Wednesday of the month. To post a message: [log in to unmask] To subscribe sending a blank message to [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe send a blank message to [log in to unmask] For complete information on the Washington State Africa Network visit: www.ibike.org/africamatters
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