Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the urgency of providing support for the "Agreement on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities Between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy of Liberia", and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hconres-240
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2003-07-08 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Agriculture and Food
Armed Forces and National Security
Armistices
Arms control
Border patrols
Child health
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil War
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Congressional tributes
Crime and Law Enforcement
Democracy
Diamonds
Dispute settlement
Economic development
Economic growth
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Food relief
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign leaders
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Human rights
Immigration
International agencies
International relief
Liberia
Mental health services
Military assistance
Negotiations
Nongovernmental organizations
Peace
Peace negotiations
Peace treaties
Peacekeeping forces
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Refugees
Relocation
Repatriation
Sierra Leone
United Nations
War crimes
War relief
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-08
text: 
Commends: (1) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for successfully negotiating and signing in Accra, Ghana, on June 17, 2003, the &quot;Agreement on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities Between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy of Liberia&quot; (Ceasefire Agreement); (2) the Parties to the Ceasefire Agreement; and (3) the Liberian civil society and Liberian communities in exile for continuing to strive for peace and democracy in their country and for sustaining families unable to survive economically under President Taylor's corrupt regime with financial remittances and for steadfast advocacy for their country;
 
Calls on all parties to the Ceasefire Agreement to: (1) refrain from committing, aiding, abetting, or permitting, any acts in violation of the Agreement; and (2) facilitate the sustained delivery of humanitarian relief supplies throughout the country, ensure the safety and freedom of movement of all humanitarian workers, abide by the Ceasefire Agreement timetable, and form a transitional national government.
 
Calls on President Charles Taylor to implement his June 4, 2003, statement that he would seek &quot;a national unity government immediately&quot; and be willing to remove himself from power in the interest of transition to peace for the Liberian people.
 
Commends the Special Court for Sierra Leone for its work to bring justice to the people of Sierra Leone who suffered in the civil war sponsored by President Charles Taylor and fueled by the trade in &quot;conflict diamonds&quot;.
 
Calls upon the U.S. Government to: (1) to assume a leadership role in the international community through its membership in the International Contact Group for Liberia to help guide the Ceasefire Agreement and subsequent peace agreement, political transition and establishment of a sustainable democracy with good governance, and economic reconstruction processes; and (2) play a strong and proactive role in supporting the Ceasefire Agreement and peace and reconciliation initiatives.
 
Calls upon the Secretary of State to: (1) take a lead role in collaboration with ECOWAS in negotiating the establishment of the Joint Verification Team under the Ceasefire Agreement; (2) provide leadership and participate in negotiations to establish the Joint Monitoring Committee to supervise the ceasefire; and (3) together with the United Nations, ECOWAS, and the African Union to establish and deploy an International Stabilization Force that will initially monitor the peace agreement and provide security for humanitarian relief efforts.
 
Calls upon the Secretary of Defense to: (1) provide military experts, personnel, logistical support, equipment and funds to support the Joint Verification Team; (2) provide financial, logistical, personnel, and technical support, and to participate in the Joint Monitoring Committee; and (3) play a lead role in creating and deploying an international stabilization force to Liberia.
 
Calls on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to: (1) commit to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Liberia; (2) focus on the most vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons and war-affected persons in Monrovia; and (3) coordinate relief efforts with national and international nongovernmental organizations and other donors.
 
Calls on the international community to: (1) support humanitarian efforts to meet the urgent and dire needs of the Liberian people; (2) support efforts that advance the development of democratic civil institutions in Liberia; and (3) assist in the establishment of a government that respects the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of its neighbors.
 
Calls upon Liberian indigenous private and voluntary organizations active in local grassroots rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development efforts and Liberians living overseas to engage fully in the international efforts to help restore Liberia as a viable country in which present and future generations can live peacefully.
 
Calls upon the United Nations to: (1) provide peacekeeping troops to enforce the Ceasefire Agreement, protect humanitarian efforts, and maintain a stable transitional environment; and (2) provide adequate repatriation packages for refugees and resettlement packages for internally displaced persons.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2003-07-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-08
text: Introduced in House