---------- 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 -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> 0% Introductory APR! Instant Approval! Aria Visa - get yours today. http://click.egroups.com/1/7102/18/_/23029/_/969044345/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> 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 Our next meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 27, Safeco Jackson St Center, 306 23rd Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle (enter off Main St) 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------