IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 265

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President

should actively encourage holders of Jordanian debt to provide debt

relief in order to strengthen the economy of Jordan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 29, 1999

Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr.

ACKERMAN, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr.

FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. SAWYER, and Mr. WEXLER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that

the President should actively encourage holders of Jordanian debt to provide debt relief in order to strengthen

the economy of Jordan.

Whereas the new king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,

King Abudllah bin al-Hussein, has already demonstrated

his determination and skill in following in the footsteps

of his late father, King Hussein Bin Talal, who was a

powerful force for peace and stability in the Middle East;

Whereas an economically strong and viable Jordan would

make additional vital and positive contributions in fostering peace and security in that region;
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Whereas the United Nations sanctions which have been imposed against the Government of Iraq have placed a disproportionate economic burden upon the people and the

Government of Jordan;

Whereas the current burden of Jordan’s international debt,

which now totals over $7,183,000,000, represents a debilitating and oppressive hardship on the Jordanian people and their well-being and the Jordanian economy, impacting negatively upon King Abudllah’s efforts to exert

a positive influence in the region;

Whereas during the period 1994 through 1996 the United

States Government forgave approximately $698,000,000

of Jordanian debt to the United States;

Whereas Jordan has significant indebtedness with Japan,

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, other member

countries of the G–7, and the Gulf States; and

Whereas the recent Israeli elections open an encouraging but

brief and fragile window of opportunity to proceed toward

stability and peaceful progress in Middle East region:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends the Administration for its leader3 ship in forgiving $698,000,000 of debt owed by Jor4 dan to the United States;

5 (2) urges the President and the Secretary of

6 State to take appropriate diplomatic and other

7 measures to support and assist the Jordanian econ8 omy, including advocating that member countries of
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1 the G–7 and other countries which are holders of

2 Jordanian debt forgive that indebtedness;

3 (3) requests that the Secretary of State report

4 to the Committee on International Relations regard5 ing efforts to strengthen the Jordanian economy and

6 the results of efforts made pursuant to this resolu7 tion to secure the forgiveness of Jordanian debt; and

8 (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Represent9 atives to send a copy of this resolution to the Sec10 retary of State with the request that it be forwarded

11 to the Governments of Japan, France, the United

12 Kingdom, Germany, and other countries which are

13 holders of Jordanian debt.

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