Don Nickles: “this resolution is a bipartisan resolution which several of us have worked on for the last few days. I thank my friends…”

“this resolution is a bipartisan resolution which several of us have worked on for the last few days. I thank my friends and colleagues, particularly Senator Lieberman, who worked on this, Senator Levin, Senator Biden, and other colleagues, Senator Lott and his staff. We wanted to speak out strongly and condemn the atrocities that have happened recently in Kosovo, not condemning the Serbian people but, frankly, condemning the Serbian leadership and primarily that of Mr. Milosevic. The killings that have happened recently, which culminated in the loss of life of at least 60 people including women and children who were slaughtered by their special police forces, are an atrocity. It needs to be condemned, and we need united action. This resolution condemns the slaughter, it condemns the atrocities that have happened recently, and it also calls upon the United States and the world community to act together to take action to see that it does not happen again. The administration was in the process of actually reducing sanctions to the Serbian Government, to Mr. Milosevic. They have now postponed lifting those sanctions. We also in this legislation say that the United States should freeze funds of the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia if the Government of Serbia fails to comply by March 25, 1998, with the terms set forth by the contact group. I think that will have some impact. I think that will get his attention.”