WASHINGTON, 12 June: The US House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced legislation aimed at pressuring Egypt to improve its human rights record by withholding some military aid until progress is made.
The House Appropriations Committee approved a wide-ranging foreign aid bill for next year that would hold back 200 million US dollar in military funds for Egypt until the close American ally takes steps to curb police abuses, reform its judicial system and stop weapons smuggling from Egypt to Gaza.
The measures, included in a 34,2 billion dollar foreign aid bill for fiscal 2008, which starts on October 1, still must be debated by the full House and the Senate.
The bill also would bar US diplomatic operations in Libya until Tripoli pays off families of those killed in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Libya reached a settlement to pay families of the Lockerbie bombing victims 10 million dollar per victim, but has not paid the final 2 million each that the families believe they are owed.
– We are deeply encouraged by this important step by Congress to hold Libya accountable before it is rewarded with diplomatic relations, said Kara Weipz, president of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103.
US-Libya ties have improved dramatically since Libyas 2003 decision to give up weapons of mass destruction, but outstanding disputes over Lockerbie and other issues have prevented a full thaw and ambassadors have not yet been exchanged.
MILITARY MONEY
Overall, Egypt would receive 1,3 billion dollar in grants (gavebistand) next year, out of 4,5 billion dollar to all countries, to help Cairo buy military hardware and finance military training from the United States. This is in addition to US economic aid.
– The 200 million dollar cut is substantial, said Demoratic Representative James Moran adding: – Our ally is not upholding the principles that define us.
Demoratic Representative Nita Lowey, who will steer the bill through the House, said she hoped Egypt would get the message and make progress on human rights matters before lawmakers finish work on the legislation later this year.
Egypt is one of the top recipients of US aid and, under the House proposal, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would have to certify (godkende) Egypts progress on human rights and weapons smuggling before the 200 million would be released.
Last week, President George W. Bush called on Egypt to release opposition leader Ayman Nour from jail. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Bush of “unacceptable” meddling in his countrys domestic affairs.
The appropriations panel took a similar step against Indonesia, putting conditions on 2 million dollar, out of a total of 8 million, in military funds to that country. The Bush administration wanted 15,7 million dollar in military aid.
Before the 2 million can be released, the bill says Indonesia must prosecute and punish armed forces personnel involved in gross human rights violations.
For Pakistan, another controversial US aid recipient, 300 million dollar in military grants would be provided next year, the same level as this year and matching Bushs request for fiscal 2008.
The foreign aid bill, which would spend 700 million dollar less than Bush wanted, faces a possible presidential veto because of language Democrats inserted allowing the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to send contraceptives (svangerskabsforebyggende midler) to family planning organizations abroad.
The Bush administration has advocated education programs on abstinence (seksuel afholdenhed) until marriage.
Kilde: The Push Journal
