106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 46
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas peace and stability existed between Eritrea and
Ethiopia following the 1991 ouster of the Mengistu dicta-
torship and the independence of Eritrea in 1993;
Whereas on May 6, 1998, a military confrontation erupted
between Eritrea and Ethiopia, resulting in the deaths of
thousands of civilians and the reported forced detention
or deportation of over 60,000 people;
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Whereas hundreds of thousands of Eritreans and Ethiopians
have been displaced from their homes as a result of this
conflict;
Whereas the governments of the United States and Rwanda,
the Organization of African Unity (OAU), as well as
countries in the region, immediately put forth proposals
for resolving the conflict;
Whereas on September 9, 1998, Congress passed H. Con.
Res. 292 commending efforts by the United States facili-
tation team to resolve the crisis, including its success in
brokering a moratorium on air raids, and calling on Eri-
trea and Ethiopia to end the conflict peacefully before it
escalated into a full-scale war;
Whereas on December 17, 1998, the Central Organ Summit
of the OAU approved a Framework Agreement in fur-
therance of its efforts to mediate the dispute between the
two parties and provide an avenue for peace;
Whereas on January 29, 1999, the United Nations Security
Council adopted Resolution 1226 expressing its strong
support for the OAU Framework Agreement, and calling
on both parties to work for a reduction in tensions by
adopting policies leading to the restoration of confidence
between the governments and peoples of Eritrea and
Ethiopia, including urgent measures to improve the hu-
manitarian situation and respect for human rights;
Whereas the Government of the United States, the OAU, and
countries in the region have been engaged in an intensive
effort to identify a peaceful solution to the conflict;
Whereas on February 6, 1999, while sustained diplomatic ef-
forts by the international community were ongoing, the
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moratorium on air strikes was violated and war once
again erupted between Eritrea and Ethiopia;
Whereas on February 10, 1999, the United Nations Security
Council passed Resolution 1227 condemning the use of
force by Eritrea and Ethiopia, stressing that the OAU
Framework Agreement remains a viable and sound basis
for peaceful resolution of the conflict, and calling once
again on both countries to ensure the safety of the civil-
ian population and respect for human rights and inter-
national humanitarian law;
Whereas the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia have en-
joyed warm relations with the United States and have
stated their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the
conflict based on the OAU Framework Agreement; and
Whereas the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia have suffered
for decades due to war and manmade famines and do not
deserve once again to suffer due to armed conflict, which
could destabilize the entire subregion of Africa: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) deplores the escalation of the conflict be-
tween Eritrea and Ethiopia which has resulted in
the massive and senseless loss of life, as well as sub-
stantial economic hardship to the peoples of Eritrea
and Ethiopia;
(2) strongly urges both Eritrea and Ethiopia
immediately to bring an end to the violence between
the two countries;
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(3) commends the efforts of the Organization of
African Unity (OAU) and former United States
National Security Adviser Anthony Lake to mediate
peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia;
(4) strongly affirms United States support for
the OAU Framework Agreement; and
(5) calls on the United Nations Human Rights
Commission and all human rights organizations to
investigate human rights abuses in connection with
the forced detentions, deportations, and displace-
ments of populations caused by this conflict.
Passed the House of Representatives October 26,
1999.
Attest:
Clerk.