III

Calendar No. 515

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 275

To express the sense of the Senate concerning Afghanistan.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 28 1996

Mr. BROWN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Foreign Relations

JULY 24, 1996

Reported by Mr. HELMS, with an amendment

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

RESOLUTION

To express the sense of the Senate concerning Afghanistan.

Whereas, prior to 1979, Afghanistan was a peaceful, united

country;

Whereas the successful fight of brave men and women of Afghanistan resisting the Soviet invasion and occupation of

1979–1989 was a significant element in the dissolution of

the Soviet empire;

Whereas the dissolution of the Soviet empire brought freedom

to the nations of central and eastern Europe as well as

to the nations of central Asia;
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SRES 275 RS

Whereas although many years after the Soviet Union withdrawal, Afghanistan does not enjoy the peace it has

earned;

Whereas the United Nations can play a unique and important

role in bringing an end to the conflict in Afghanistan;

and

Whereas recent meetings between Members of Congress and

the representatives of the major Afghan factions indicate

a significant desire on the part of all parties to achieve

a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan and

the establishment of an effective government that represents the interests of the Afghan people: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—

2 (1) the courageous people of Afghanistan have

3 earned the world’s respect and support for their epic

4 struggle against the forces of communism;

5 (2) resolving the continuing conflict in Afghani6 stan and alleviating the accompanying humanitarian

7 distress of the Afghan people should be a top prior8 ity of the United States;

9 (3) outside interference and the provision of

10 arms and military supplies to the warring parties

11 should be halted;

12 (4) a unique moment in Afghan civil war exists

13 where all major factions are searching for a peaceful

14 solution to the conflict;
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SRES 275 RS

1 (5) the United States should urge the United

2 Nations to move quickly to appoint a special envoy

3 to Afghanistan who will act aggressively to assist the

4 Afghans to achieve a solution to the conflict accept5 able to the Afghan people; and

6 (6) the United Nations should work to create

7 the conditions for a continuing dialogue among the

8 Afghan factions.

9 (5) urges the United Nations Security Council to

10 impose an international arms embargo on Afghani11 stan to halt the resupply of arms and ammunition to

12 the warring factions;

13 (6) the United States welcomes the appointment

14 by the United Nations of a new special envoy to Af15 ghanistan and urges him to aggressively assist the Af16 ghans to achieve a solution to the conflict acceptable

17 to the Afghan people; and

18 (7) the United Nations should work to create the

19 conditions for a continuing dialogue among the Af20 ghan factions.

Calendar No. 515

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 275

RESOLUTION

To express the sense of the Senate concerning

J

Afghanistan.

ULY 24, 1996

Reported with an amendment