Ammendment to Cut Off Aid to Yugoslavia
U.S. Senator Al D’Amato
of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 10, 1990
CONTACT:Frank Colwaan (202) 224-6498 Zenia Mucha (212) 73G—3865
D’ AMATO NICKLES IN U.S. AID YUGOSLAVIA
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN KSOVO CITED
WASHINGTON — U.S ? Senator Alfonse M. D?Snato (ft-fl) today joined Senator Don Nickles (R-OK) in pushing for an end to us. aid to projects and vrograms in any Yugoslavian republic that fails to respect human rights.
The Senators, citing the violent crackdown by Serbians against ethnic Albanians in losovo, successfully urged the Appropriations Committtee to include the contingent ban in the annual funding bill for foreign operations.
The aid cut-off would target funds passing through the central Yugoslavian government on Its way to projects and programs in individual republics, unless those republics held free and fair elections and are not engaged in human rights abuses.
?We cannot permit U.S. approval, of loans to support projects in Yugoslavia, while ethnic minorities ate brutally oppressed, - D?Amato said. ?The Committee’ a action sends a clear signal that crushing the quest for democracy in the Balkans will have a direct effect on foreign aid.
according to D?Amato, the main thrust of the amendment would end U.S. voting support for World Bank and Export-Import Bank loans to Yugoslavia, where the loans are used in the offending republics. In the past three yeas, the Eastern European nation has taken six World Bank loans worth over $1 billion.
“While many Yugoslavian ethnic groups are striving for political pluralism and ref orms, the Serbians continue to support reactionary, hard-line communism,” D’Amato said.
The Senator cited his own recent visit to Zosovo with Nickles and sir other Senators, where 10,000 ethnic albanians peacefully chanted pro-American and pro-democracy slogans, only to be gassed and bludgOoned by Serbia troops.
The ammendment would not apply to assistance intended to support democratic parties or movements, humanitarian aid, or human rights programs. The Secretary of State could also negate an aid cut-off by certifying that Yugoslavia is in compliance with its obligations und.r the Helsinki- Accords.
This amendment takes no sides in ethnic conflicts. Rather, it treats all republics seeking US assistance equally, by! setting one standard of democracy and human rights, - D’Amato concluded. -
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Summary of Nickles/D’Amato Amendment
Prohibits all U.S. aid to Yugoslavia unless the aid is to be used In a Republic which has held democratic elections and IS not violating human rights.
Specifies that the prohibition on aid Includes Import-Export bank assistance, and requires the U.S. to vote against World Bank anti other MDB loans to Yugoslavia.
Ensures that aid may provided If it will be used In a republic which has held democratic elections, and which Is not engaging In human rights violations.
Allows aid to support democratic parties or movements, emergency or humanitarian assistance or to further hwusn rights.
Ufts restrictions on aid once the Secretary of State certifies that Yugoslavia Is in compliance with the obligations under the Helsinki Accords.
No aid for Yugoslavia is specifically eannarked in the bill. however, It is assumed that Yugoslavia would be otherwise eligible for SEED assistance, and &port-Import Bank loan Current. Eximbank exposure in Yugoslavia totals $1.2 billion making It the 3rd largest recipient of Esimbank ffuandng.
a major Esimbank tansaction for YugoslavIa for $255 million was approved last July despIte section 2(b)(1)B of the Export-Import Bank Act or 1945 which requires the bank to consider the human rights record or a country when determining eligibility for assistance.
In its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices from 1989, the State Department cites many human rights practices against the ethnic Albanian population In the Province of Kosovo which violate internationally accepted human rights standards including çsychiaixic abuse abrogation of the thJits of assembly, free speech, free press, and the right to a fair trial
Amnesty Iaternadonals annual report for 1990 documents the detention of more than 4,500 political prisoners innn Yugoslavia during 1989, more than 1,000 were jailed for more than 60 days for tnking part in non-violent pretest strike in Kosovo in February.
The Helsinki Commission states that the treatment of minorities in Kosovo Is one of the worst remaining human rights problems in Eurupe.
Helsinki Watch wrote a letter in August to YngoslaviWs Prime Minister protesting the gross human rights abuses that are occurring In Kosovo.