On the recordMarch 11, 1998
For many years we have tried to dictate policies for other countries and tell them what they ought to do. We have had a year-long meeting with the African diplomatic corps, and many of them are offended by the statements that we hear that we are going to transship through them. They say they have been dealing with other countries before. There is the ECOWAS community of 16 West African countries; we have SADC, made up of the 12 southern; we have the east and southern countries. And the African diplomatic corps indicate that they want this bill to come through. They think it is best for them. It is racism when we try to apply our views on other people, whether they are countries in Africa or whether they are minorities in this country. And if African diplomats and African presidents feel that this bill is at least a step up in the right direction, then who are we to tell them that it is wrong for them?
Source
govinfo.gov
