Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 4.djvu/880

 108 STAT. 3514 PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19, 1994 a significant contribution to global economic growth, while creating new opportunities for United States businesses. (7) Excessive military expenditures threaten political and economic stability in Afiica while diverting scarce resources from development needs. Demobilization and other measures to reduce the size of African armies, and civilian control of the military under the rule of law are in the interest of international security and economic development. (8) Conflict prevention, mediation, and demobihzation are prerequisites to the success of development assistance programs. Nutrition and education progrEuns, for example, cannot succeed in a nation at war. Billions of dollars of development assistance have been virtually wasted in war-ravaged countries such as Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan. (9) Africans have a long tradition of informal mediation. This tradition should be built upon to create effective institutions through which Africans can resolve African conflicts. (10) The effectiveness of U.S. support for conflict resolution programs requires coordination and collaboration with multilateralinstitutions and other bilateral donors. (11) African institutions are playing an active role in conflict resolution and mediation utilizing the experience of elder statesmen. Groups such as the All African Council of Churches have assisted in defusing conflicts. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sought to address the conflict in Liberia by deploying an African peacekeeping force. The Southern African states have been working to prevent a crisis in Lesotho. The Intergovernmental Authority on Desertification and Drought (IGADD) has been engaged in attempting to resolve the conflict in Sudan. (12) The Organization of African Unity, under the leadership of Secretary General Salim Salim, has established a conflict resolution mechanism and has been active in mediation and conflict resolution in several African countries. (b) UNITED STATES POLICY. — The Congress declares, therefore, that a key goal for United States foreign policy should be to help institutionalize conflict resolution capability in Africa. 22 USC 2151 SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF note. THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY. (a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.— The President is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict resolution capability of the Organization of African Unity, as follows: (1) Funds may be provided to the (Organization of African Unity for use in supporting its conflict resolution capability, including providing technical assistance. (2) Funds may be used for expenses of sending individuals with expertise in conflict resolution to work with the Organization of African Unity. (b) FUNDING.— Of the foreign assistance funds that are allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, not less than $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998 should be used to carry out subsection (a). 22 USC 2151 SEC. 4. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF MULTI- note. LATERAL SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AFRICA. (a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. —The President is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict resolution

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