Eliot Engel: “Mr. Chairman, after years of repression, the humanitarian situation in Kosovo is very grim. Recent reports by respected…”

“Mr. Chairman, after years of repression, the humanitarian situation in Kosovo is very grim. Recent reports by respected international relief groups spell out the seriousness of the situation. According to O. Terry Heselius, Country Director of Kosovo for Mercy Corps International, "because there has not been 'all out war' in Kosovo, many people have difficulty in understanding the severity of the situation and the need for continued emergency humanitarian aid relief." Given the difficult circumstances and the importance of maintaining stability in Kosovo, I firmly believe that it is in the interest of the United States to continue our humanitarian assistance program for Kosovo at last year's level of $6 million.”