Doug Bereuter: “I certainly share the gentleman's concern about the activity that is going on and the complicity, at least among…”

“I certainly share the gentleman's concern about the activity that is going on and the complicity, at least among commercial interests there, perhaps involving the governments as well. I do appreciate the gentleman's statement that the IMET tool is a blunt instrument and probably not the way to proceed. I think we have perhaps a more effective way to pressure the parties concerned, and that might be through the international community's massive financial support for the Government of Cambodia. There is an op-ed piece in today's Washington Post on this very subject. In fact, this gentleman brought a resolution to the floor which was passed last March expressing the concern of what is happening in Cambodia. What I think we might focus on is that July 11 and 12 donors meeting, a donors conference on Cambodia. I think that offers the international community a golden opportunity. We could call on the United States to take the lead at this meeting to impress upon the leaders in Phnom Penh who clearly play a part in this continuing problem of logging the KR-controlled territory.”