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Congressional Budget Justification for
Released by the Office of the Secretary of State
Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2001
Resources, Plans and Policy
U.S. Department of State, March 15, 2000
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GLOBAL PROGRAMS
ANTI-TERRORISM ASSISTANCE
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
41,000
33,000
68,000
National Interests:
International terrorism threatens American lives, property, and national interests, such as furthering the Middle East peace process and promoting the stability and security of friendly nations. Whether the terrorists' goal is simply to lash out at Americans or undermine friendly governments, the United States has a strong interest in preventing terrorists from destroying more lives and property.
International cooperation and improved security and law enforcement capabilities in host countries is essential to countering the terrorist threat. In protecting Americans living and travelling overseas, host governments have the primary responsibility for security on their territory, with police and security officials as the first line of defense. By improving host-government capabilities, the Department's Anti-terrorism Assistance (ATA) programs enhance their ability to protect the lives of both Americans and the indigenous population, and to enhance the cooperation among counterterrorism specialists and their policy leaders.
Objectives and Justification:
The United States seeks to prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. citizens and to minimize the impact of any attacks that may occur, whether at home or abroad. A corollary of this goal is preventing terrorists from undermining the stability of, or otherwise adversely affecting, other nations where the U.S. has foreign policy, economic, or security interests. The terrorism threat and counter strategies continue to evolve, as new and often loosely knit religious groups emerge that overshadow many of the older, secular groups. The willingness of some terrorists to commit suicide in order to kill as many persons as possible makes it more difficult for security forces to take effective counter measures.
Key to the counterterrorism effort is effective international cooperation, which includes not only diplomatic cooperation and exchange of intelligence information and coordinated actions, but also the provision of antiterrorism training for law-enforcement and security officials of friendly foreign governments. These efforts combine to foster the development of good working relationships between the U.S Government and friendly countries.
The ATA program provides specialized training to foreign governments to help increase their capability to deter and cope with terrorist attacks. The program is designed to develop the necessary technical skills, such as bomb detection and airport security, required for nations to protect individuals, facilities, and their infrastructure against the threat of terrorism. The program also is embarking on additional approaches to deter terrorists, such as curbing terrorist fundraising and countering terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction.
For FY 2001, the Administration is requesting $68 million to support the ATA activities: $38 for the ATA program, and $30 million for a dedicated training facility for antiterrorism and security related training. The proposed $38 million training during FY 2001 is needed to:
Enhance anti-terrorism skills: There is a crucial need to strengthen the capabilities of an increasing number of nations to counter efforts by terrorists groups, such as those aligned with Uslama Bin Ladin as they broaden their areas of operation. Typical programs include training in detecting and handling explosives, crisis management, airport security, and personnel and physical installation security. The upsurge of terrorist-related activities during the months leading to the millennium provided additional indications that persons involved with radical fundamentalist terrorist groups were active in parts of Africa and some of the Central Asian states and even trying to cross our border with Canada. The Government of Jordan, which has received a considerable amount of antiterrorism and investigative training through the ATA program, disrupted a major terrorist attack, and counter measures helped deter potential attacks elsewhere. This training component of the overall ATA training is programmed for $38 million in FY 2001 and is shown by region and discussed below (dollars in thousands):
Region/Program
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
Sub-Saharan Africa
8,150
5,450
5,800
Western Hemisphere
1,200
1,436
1,650
East Asia & Pacific
2,750
3,150
3,700
Europe/NIS
4,530
6,500
7,750
Near East
8,950
6,400
6,900
South Asia
200
2,450
2,950
Program Design & Development
1,123
600
850
Program Management
5,074
7,014
8,400
Total
41,000
33,000
38,000
The requested funding will enable the ATA program to finish the third year of the training launched by the FY 1999 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for training in six African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and six Central Asia and Eastern European countries, including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the Czech Republic. It also will allow for a continuation of assistance in traditional areas of concern, such as the Middle East, where the Gulf Countries, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel receive specialized training. Funds may also support new training programs in Central Asia and reviving training for India. The ATA program is expecting to provide training for approximately 3,000 participants in FY 2001.
Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction: The ATA program is funding interconnected programs to help counter the threat of terrorist use of chemical, biological or radiological or nuclear weapons of mass destruction; training host government senior officials in the crisis response and consequence management techniques needed to cope with potential mass casualty attacks; and training for the "first responders," the firemen, paramedics, policemen and hazardous materials personnel. This program focuses on the foreign security personnel who will be the ones most immediately coping with a terrorist attack and the senior level officials who will be managing the responses. To the maximum extent feasible, the effort draws from lessons learned and materials being developed for training first responders in the United States. Approximately $4 million dollars of the overall ATA training program will be utilized for this specialized effort.
The WMD programs are intended to provide foreign senior officials and emergency response personnel with the skills needed for collective, interagency responses needed to cope with problems of potential mass casualties from an attack involving weapons of mass destruction. Crisis management seminars and exercises for more senior policy level officials will be utilized. Initial seminars already have been conducted with several Middle East nations and are being planned for others in the remainder of FY 2000. Training is being planned for up to 12 countries, including Central Asia, during FY 2001.
Curb Terrorist Fundraising: This is a multi-faceted program designed to curb terrorists' ability to obtain necessary resources needed to recruit members, organize and launch attacks. The ATA program is coordinated with other agencies such as the Justice and Treasury Departments on a program to train officials of other countries in countering terrorist fundraising and money transfers. The program teaches banking and other foreign officials in courses and seminars to develop the skills and techniques to identify, investigate, intercept, and prosecute funding operations for terrorist activities. Initial training is focusing on countries in the Gulf, to be followed by selected states in Central Asia and other regions. Current estimated cost would be up to $1 million for this component of the ATA training program in FY 2001.
Center for Antiterrorism and Security Training (CAST)
Adequate, dedicated training facilities are needed to meet the increasing needs for ATA courses. Currently, training for 21 courses in the U.S. is spread over 7 facilities controlled by other agencies. As interest and participation in the ATA program has grown, it has become increasingly difficult to schedule certain ATA courses in a timely manner using facilities controlled by other agencies which have their own scheduling priorities. This not only delays training in some courses by as much as two years, but it makes responding quickly to a country's special needs difficult. The facilities problem also causes scheduling out of the preferred sequence of training for the participating countries. Specialized facilities are needed to provide firing ranges, safe areas for dismantling explosives, and evasive driving courses.
The Administration is requesting $30 million for design and construction of a dedicated training facility to meet the ATA program's needs. At present, several potential sites are under review, including military facilities that are being deactivated and that are in close proximity of Washington to facilitate senior level interaction and participation.
CTBT PREPARATORY COMMISSION
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
28,900
14,000
21,500
National Interests:
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a key component of U.S. nonproliferation policy. By banning all nuclear explosions, it constrains nuclear weapon development and strengthens the nuclear nonproliferation regime. Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) convened in 1995 and agreed to extend the NPT indefinitely, but in a statement of Principles and Objectives also called for concluding a CTBT no later than 1996 as an important measure to support the NPT. With U.S. leadership, the Treaty text was concluded in summer 1996, with the United States the first to sign. Although the Senate voted against U.S. ratification of the CTBT on
October 13, 1999, the Administration continues to support the Treaty, including financial support for its implementation. In his State of the Union address, January 27, 2000, President Clinton voiced his hope for "a constructive bipartisan dialogue this year to build a consensus which will lead eventually to the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty." To date, 155 states have signed and 53 have ratified the CTBT.
Objectives and Justification:
For FY 2001, the Administration is requesting $21.5 million in NADR to fund the U.S. voluntary contribution to the CTBT Organization Preparatory Commission, which is responsible for preparing for effective implementation of the CTBT, including a verification regime. The U.S. contribution is approximately 25 percent of the annual CTBT budget, with voluntary contributions from other signatory nations making up the other 75 percent. These funds will be used for establishment of the International Monitoring System (IMS), the Treaty's global, 321-station network of seismic and other sensors to monitor for nuclear tests, as well as for administrative expenses of the Preparatory Commission's Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS). Establishment of the IMS is critical, even prior to entry into force of the CTBT, in order to strengthen U.S. verification capabilities by making full use of other countries' collaborative efforts.
Since 1997, Prepcom funds have been used for IMS site surveys, seismic station upgrading, and initial PTS staffing and infrastructure in Vienna, Austria, the seat of the CTBT Organization. Efforts have become an increasingly vigorous to establish the IMS and other parts of the verification regime (the International Data Centre and associated communications); to allow IMS data to be collected and processed for Signatory States; to build the capability to conduct on-site inspections; and to develop the PTS infrastructure to support these programs. The budget has increased each year as the building program has accelerated. The PTS expects the IMS to be 50 percent complete by the end of 2002 and over 90 percent complete by the end of 2005.
ENHANCED INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING CAPABILITIES
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
FMF
7,000
2,500
6,000
National Interests:
Peacekeeping initiatives support multiple U.S. national interests, including national security, democracy & human rights and humanitarian response. The need for peacekeeping is likely to stretch well into the future and it is in the U.S. interest to encourage both broad international participation and efficient well trained interlocutors. The Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities (EIPC) funding reduces the likelihood and expense of future U.S. involvement in peacekeeping operations by ensuring that the United States has effective coalition partners when national interests dictate involvement.
By enhancing international peacekeeping capabilities around the globe EIPC not only reduces U.S. and international costs for peacekeeping missions by increasing the pool of credible peacekeeping operatives, it encourages regional conflict prevention and resolution.
Objectives and Justification:
The primary objective of the EIPC initiative is to assist selected foreign countries in developing their institutional capacities to field more efficient and well-led peacekeeping units, capable of taking on the toughest assignments. It provides a global framework for rationalizing development of regional peacekeeping initiatives. EIPC aims to enhance military interoperability, leadership performance, use of common peacekeeping doctrine, and English language proficiency -- at the institutional level -- to help promote effective combined operations when battalion-level or larger units from diverse countries deploy together. In doing so, EIPC seeks not only to promote burdensharing, but also to enhance national and regional capability to support peace.
For FY 2001, we seek $6 million in FMF to support ongoing efforts to expand and reinforce the pool of peacekeeping-capable countries worldwide. EIPC recipients are selected, in large part, for their demonstrated commitment to strong future participation in international or regional peacekeeping operations. Therefore, these funds would be used to strengthen their ability to participate with the greatest possible effectiveness. As the program moves beyond its take-off point, we will seek to incorporate common peacekeeping doctrine in recipient training programs. We will work to enhance command and control interoperability at the battalion and higher staff level; such interoperability is required for effective participation in actual peacekeeping operations or in multinational peacekeeping exercises. We will help develop the capability of selected EIPC recipients to offer peacekeeping training courses to other regional PKO participants. Finally, we will actively encourage greater capabilities on the part of EIPC recipients to host and participate in regional multinational peacekeeping exercises.
Since its inception, FMF funds have been allocated to: Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Fiji, Hungary, Jordan, Lithuania, Mongolia, Nepal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Ukraine and Uruguay. All of the countries that have received EIPC funds have taken decisive steps to increase their international PKO role. To cite a few examples: Argentina has developed the pre-eminent PKO training center in Latin America. Nepal has volunteered to participate in operations in both East Timor and Sierra Leone, significantly increasing this country's international participation. Mongolia has engaged with U.S. Pacific Command to participate in joint peacekeeping exercises and is actively developing PKO training capabilities for its military, significant for a country that has not been a PKO participant in the past.
FMF funds are used to procure non-lethal defense-related training equipment in support of EIPC, which emphasizes the "train the trainer" concept in order to maximize the benefits of the expenditures. The program also funds workshops tailored to a country's peacekeeping training needs. The program provides for visits to U.S. peacekeeping training centers and installations for senior-level officers and trainers that are directly involved in national PKO training programs. Additionally, these funds help to procure peacekeeping training and doctrine-related manuals and other library resources, and for limited construction of facilities dedicated to PK training. Finally, EIPC enables countries to obtain and employ peacekeeping software training simulations rather than relying on more costly field exercises. The EIPC program is complemented by other resources, including the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, Excess Defense Articles programs, and CinC peacekeeping exercises.
The program has increased the willingness and military capacity of recipients to become contributors in peace operations. This program has increased the political commitment and integration of complementary programs by other sponsor governments to work with the United States in support of EIPC goals. EIPC has also increased the capacity and effectiveness of national peacekeeping training programs to develop leaders, staffs and units proficient in UN/MNF peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions.
ENVIRONMENTAL DIPLOMACY
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
ESF
--
4,000
5,000
National Interests:
U.S. national interests are increasingly at stake as new technologies emerge, natural resources are destroyed and world population grows. Environment, science and technology issues impact directly on the health and economic well-being of all Americans. U.S. national interests are best served by proactive diplomacy and American leadership in these areas.
Objectives and Justifications:
The Administration is requesting $5 million in Economic Support Funds for environmental diplomacy activities in FY 2001. Environmental diplomacy allows the United States to assist foreign countries to understand the technical aspects of environmental issues and to enable host governments to elaborate their own environmental policies in an informed manner. These funds will allow the Department of State to implement a coordinated strategy using the technical expertise of other U.S. Government agencies in providing such assistance. Environmental diplomacy funds enhance and extend the traditional diplomatic efforts of the Department of State and complement and strengthen the activities of other U.S. Government agencies. Funds will support workshops, symposia, outreach, and other mechanisms with the objective of:
- Promoting understanding of the science that provides the foundation for U.S. positions on environmental issues;
- Explaining technical aspects of U.S. positions to foreign governments and civil society in order to build and maintain international support;
- Making clear the economic and environmental implications of the choices being made in international fora;
- Enhancing regional cooperation in transboundary environmental and health issues, and;
- Asserting U.S. leadership as new environmental issues emerge.
The Department of State is currently negotiating agreements and building support for U.S. positions on environmental issues including biodiversity, forests, hazardous chemicals, fisheries, oceans and climate change. These international negotiations will directly affect U.S. interests in trade and investment in such areas as food safety, movement and use of hazardous chemicals, timber harvesting and export, fishing and navigation rights and global energy use.
Program funds will be used, among other things, to:
- Help developing countries assess and implement their treaty obligations with respect to hazardous chemicals. Funds will support workshops that highlight U.S. positions in ongoing hazardous persistent organic pollutants and prior informed consent negotiations with the goal of securing support for U.S. approaches.
- Organize regional meetings to raise policy-level awareness and build consensus for action with respect to invasive plant and animal species that pose a potential impact of in excess of $100 billion dollars annually on the U.S. economy in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and manufacturing sectors, as well as human health threats.
- Develop regional management mechanisms for transboundary fresh water issues in such key areas as Central Asia, the Nile basin and Southern Africa.
- Conduct outreach to communities and nations to promote the economic and environmental value of protecting coral reef systems.
- Organize symposia with the aim of increasing developing country participation in efforts to address climate change as a key element of our overall diplomatic effort.
- Organize negotiating sessions for an agreement to protect and conserve endangered sea turtles in the Indian Ocean, and to resolve trade concerns associated with U.S. sea turtle conservation efforts.
EXPORT CONTROL ASSISTANCE
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
5,000 [note 1]
10,780
14,000
National Interests:
A key element to stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems is effective export controls -- ensuring that potential suppliers have proper controls on exports of dual-use goods and technologies, that transit countries have the tools to interdict illicit shipments crossing their territory, and that trans-shipment states implement controls to prevent diversions. The U.S. export control assistance program provides recipient countries the technical and material support needed to carry out these nonproliferation efforts.
Objectives and Justification:
For FY 2001 the Administration is requesting $14 million to support a world-wide effort to strengthen national export controls on dual-use goods and technologies by working with key countries to:
- Establish the necessary legal and regulatory basis for effective export controls;
- Coordinate, train, and provide WMD detection and interdiction equipment, such as radiation detectors and X-ray vans to enforcement agencies;
- Develop licensing procedures and practices;
- Install export control Internal Compliance Programs at entities of particular nonproliferation concern; and
- Develop and install integrated, automated information systems for licensing and enforcement.
In FY 2001, NADR export control assistance funds will be used to:
- Increase the capabilities of source-countries to interdict illicit exports of dual-use goods and technologies. Funds will be used to: assist recipient countries in improving legal and regulatory infrastructures, install export controls at enterprises of particular proliferation concern; and provide the necessary equipment and training to enforcement agencies. To date, Internal Control Programs (ICPs) have been installed at 207 Russian industrial and scientific facilities to implement effective nonproliferation controls at the source; this "at the source" control program will be continued in FY 2001 in Russia and other countries.
- Continue to provide the equipment, including radiation detectors, and training that allow interdiction efforts in Central/Eastern Europe and the Baltics to stop those countries from being used as conduits for illicit WMD-related exports destined for terrorist states. This support is directly responsible for successful interdiction of several recent nuclear smuggling attempts in Europe.
- Enhance capabilities to interdict illicit materials in transit. Funds will support continued programs in Malta and Cyprus, and creation of transshipment controls in other key freeports such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Fund programs in India and Pakistan to improve their nonproliferation export control systems. Funds will support establishment of viable legal and regulatory regimes, as well as provision of equipment and training for senior officials and line personnel (customs officers, border guards, and others) on procedures, techniques, and equipment usage to increase identification and interdiction of WMD materials, technology, and delivery systems.
HUMANITARIAN DEMINING PROGRAM
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
35,000
40,000
40,000
National Interest:
A key U.S. foreign policy goal is to eliminate the threat to civilians of uncleared anti-personnel landmines, which have proven to be one weapon that is both destabilizing and damaging to the restoration of peace and prosperity once a conflict is over. The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Program supports U.S. foreign policy by providing funds to allow mine-affected nations to save the lives and limbs of innocent civilians, return displaced persons to their homes, rebuild shattered economic infrastructure, return agricultural land to productivity, and allow the safe delivery of other humanitarian services. The program seeks to build, within a mine-affected nation, the indigenous capacity to execute and manage humanitarian mine action initiatives on its own. The
FY 2001 request demonstrates a continued U.S. commitment to rid the world of anti-personnel landmines and leverages additional contributions from other governments, international organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector.
Objectives and Justification:
Landmines emplaced during past conflicts now constitute a scourge that kills or maims thousands of people each year, impeding political reconciliation and the return of land and people to productive economic activities. Although an accurate number of landmine victims is difficult to calculate, the international community generally agrees that there are over 25,000 victims annually. The U.S. National Security Strategy recognizes demining as one of its most significant humanitarian efforts because it saves lives and also minimizes the need for other humanitarian support.
Since 1993, the United States has provided a total of nearly $400 million either bilaterally or through non-governmental or international organizations (NGOs/IOs) for demining efforts in thirty-six nations. U.S. support has contributed to the following successes:
- In Cambodia, the landmine casualty rate has been cut by 90 percent. Namibian deminers have been able to restore most previously mined land to productive use. Rwanda has cleared nearly a quarter of its landmine-contaminated territory. Nearly 2,000 indigenous personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been trained and certified as deminers.
- US humanitarian demining assistance has also supported existing or new peace settlements around the world. In Peru and Ecuador, U.S. assistance played a key role in the peace process, allowing the two nations to clear and mark their border.
The FY 2001 request of $40 million will sustain and expand existing U.S. efforts in thirty-six countries, including those most severely affected by landmines (Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, and Mozambique), and permit expansion into several of the other landmine-affected countries. Potential new participants include Algeria, Bulgaria, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia, and Sri Lanka. Provision of assistance is based on a careful assessment of a country's needs and prospects for successful completion of the national demining program.
Demining funds will be used to support mine clearance operations, the acquisition of new and replacement mine detection and clearance equipment and supplies; service contracts/grants with commercial firms, NGOs and IOs; and mine awareness instruction and instructional materials. For countries with a mature program, funds will support procurement of heavy equipment for humanitarian demining and expansion of other efficient and proven methods, such as dog detection teams. Demining funds may also used to support broad, cross-cutting initiatives, such as the UN Level I survey action program; publication of "Hidden Killers;" mine awareness initiatives by the United Nations Children's Fund; a quick reaction demining force; and outreach activities to foster awareness of the global landmine problem.
A detailed country/program breakout for the FY 2001 Humanitarian Demining Program follows. Individual country justifications are included in the respective country papers.
FY 2001 Humanitarian Demining Program
($ in thousands)
Country
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
Afghanistan/UNOCHA
2,615
3,000
2,900
Angola
--
3,096
2,900
Armenia
--
300
600
Azerbaijan
--
500
600
Bosnia
2,305
--
--
Cambodia
1,500
2,580
2,600
Chad
732
633
600
Croatia
600
--
--
Djibouti
--
300
800
Ecuador
1,000
1,000
1,200
Eritrea
--
1,117
1,000
Estonia
335
--
300
Ethiopia
--
1,117
1,000
Georgia
--
997
900
Guinea-Bissau
--
300
500
Jordan
1,900
1,511
1,500
Laos
1,800
1,486
1,500
Lebanon
530
857
800
Mauritania
535
501
400
Moldova
--
300
--
Mozambique
1,900
2,500
2,000
Namibia
1,053
300
100
Oman
--
300
500
Org. of American States
2,388
1,437
1,500
Peru
1,000
1,000
1,200
Rwanda
750
246
250
Somalia
1,150
1,300
1,600
Thailand
1,050
1,220
1,300
Vietnam
1,096
1,000
800
Yemen
1,462
1,236
1,400
Zambia
--
300
500
Zimbabwe
743
1,152
1,000
New Country Programs
--
--
1,800
Crosscutting Initiatives
8,056
7,914
5,450
Program Management
500
500
500
TOTALS
35,000
40,000
40,000
Note: Demining in the Balkan region funded primarily through the Slovenia Trust Fund.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY FUND
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
ESF
9,000
9,000
18,000
National Interests:
Taken together, democracy and human rights are one of the seven U.S. National Interests identified in the Strategic Plan for International Affairs. In supporting the spread of democracy and human rights, the United States is simultaneously promoting America's values and protecting its interests, for history amply demonstrates that liberal democracies are more prosperous, peaceful and cooperative than authoritarian governments.
Objectives and Justification:
The Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF) advances U.S. national interests by providing funds to address emerging human rights and democratization opportunities and provides the Secretary of State the flexibility to address such unanticipated events without having to redirect funds from existing priorities. For FY 2001, $18 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF) is requested to support democratization and human rights efforts world-wide of the types listed below. Funds will also be used to leverage other contributions for programs developed through the Community of Democracies Initiative, which is to be launched at a ministerial meeting in Warsaw in June 2000. This will be the first-ever meeting of governments that have chosen the democratic path. The purpose of the initiative is to find creative ways to protect threatened democracies, coordinate donor assistance, and share lessons about building democratic institutions.
The HRDF supports four specific objectives:
1. To respond to human rights emergencies in order to forestall the outbreak of abuses or to prevent further abuses. In Kosovo, the HRDF is supporting efforts of the American Bar Association to document war crimes, as well as the International Commission on Missing Persons to search for the approximately 15,000 missing persons.
2. To respond to democratization emergencies in order to protect a threatened democracy, or to exploit an unanticipated opening in an authoritarian regime. In Indonesia, the HRDF supported various organizations associated with the landmark elections following the fall of Suharto's 30-year dictatorship and the historic referendum on the political future of East Timor.
3. To implement a peace settlement by helping establish national institutions that serve human rights and democracy. In Bosnia, the HRDF has supported the critically important post-conflict work of the Bosnia Human Rights Commission, the International Commission on Missing Persons, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. These institutions have worked at the grassroots level to reunite families, account for missing persons, bring to justice persons indicted for war crimes during the Bosnian conflict, and address human rights violations that continue to occur.
4. To support multilateral initiatives that strengthen the capacity of the international community to respond to human rights and democratization opportunities. The HRDF is supporting the National Democratic Institute's Emerging Democracies Forum, which has brought together leaders of 16 new democracies to establish a network of mutual assistance. The Forum provides a public dialogue for leaders to share their experiences in making the transition to democracy, with the goal of assisting each other in creating an open civil society, holding free and fair elections, strengthening the rule of law, and carrying out economic reform.
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
40,000
43,000
47,000
National Interests:
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as a fundamental barrier to the spread of nuclear weapons. Its program of international safeguards monitors the presence and use of nuclear material worldwide, providing assurance that nuclear material is being used exclusively for peaceful purposes. The United States has strongly supported the IAEA since its creation in 1957.
Objectives and Justification:
For FY 2001, the Administration is requesting $47 million for a voluntary contribution to the IAEA to support implementation of strengthened safeguards; continue development of more advanced safeguards technology and procedures; combat nuclear smuggling; and strengthen nuclear safety measures around the world. Over the past twenty years, demands on safeguards have risen steadily, both in terms of the number of nuclear facilities subject to safeguards as well as the volume of nuclear material under safeguards. At the same time, safeguards standards have become much more rigorous, due in large measure to U.S. leadership. The proposed $4 million increase will permit the IAEA to deal more with safeguards needs, particularly in replacing outdated equipment and supporting on-going development of new safeguards techniques.
In addition, the proposed increase will allow modest support for vital nuclear safety programs in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and for combating smuggling of nuclear materials. The U.S. voluntary contribution will help strengthen the IAEA's operations, meet other critical nonproliferation needs, and support development of new measures to verify that nuclear materials removed from nuclear weapons by the United States and Russia are not re-used for weapons. Finally, the U.S. voluntary contribution will support projects, training, fellowships and equipment through the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Program in countries that are party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Specific projects planned for FY 2001 may include:
- Sustaining adequate inspection of the fabrication of mixed oxide nuclear fuel (a critical option for disposition of stocks of excess nuclear weapons plutonium);
- Installing unattended radiation monitoring equipment (in part for use at a new uranium enrichment facility in China that will be under international inspection);
- Installing updated optical surveillance systems used worldwide;
- Effectively conducting spent-fuel monitoring worldwide;
- Updating equipment for the Safeguards Analytic Laboratory, particularly for analysis of environmental samples;
- Upgrading computers/communication, particularly for remote monitoring and satellite imagery; and
- Training national authority and facility operator personnel in the application of upgraded safeguards.
PARTNERSHIPS TO ELIMINATE SWEATSHOPS
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
ESF
--
4,000
5,000
National Interests:
There is increasing concern among the American public, including U.S. consumers, labor unions, universities and corporations, that consumer goods sold in the U.S. market are produced under sweatshop conditions in foreign factories. One important component of the effort to eliminate sweatshops is the fostering of partnerships by concerned private sector actors to address these problems. These efforts serve our national interests by promoting democracy and economic development abroad and reinforcing the domestic consensus in support of international economic and political engagement.
Objectives and Justification:
This program, beginning in FY 2000, facilitates partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), universities, organized labor and corporate alliances to allow a variety of approaches to address unacceptable working conditions around the world to be developed and evaluated. Corporate codes around the world are many and varied, and independent monitoring of enforcement of codes has just begun on a small scale. Funds will be used to develop monitoring efforts, to train and accredit monitoring agencies, and to target countries and industries where the greatest problems exist. This effort complements other efforts being made to bring countries and companies into full compliance with the 1998 ILO Declaration of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The overall objectives are to eliminate forced labor, child labor, violations of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, minimum wage violations, harassment, discrimination, substandard health and safety conditions, and abusive work schedules in manufacturing facilities overseas, especially in those that produce for the American market.
For FY 2001, $5 million is requested to further expand and support this innovative partnership program to eliminate sweatshops. These funds will be used to make grants available to both domestic and international applicants to eliminate sweatshops through the promotion of core labor standards, corporate codes of conduct, monitoring, training, research and other efforts to combat abusive working conditions. Funds may also be used to support mechanisms that allow for communication and exchange of information among the grant recipients, in order to share lessons learned and discussion of best practices.
NONPROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT FUND
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
14,990
15,000
15,000
National Interests:
Stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is a key national security objective. The Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF) provides the flexibility and resources necessary to respond quickly and effectively to unanticipated or unusually difficult nonproliferation requirements or opportunities.
Objectives and Justification:
The Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF) is a sharply focused fund that permits rapid response to high priority requirements or opportunities to: (1) halt the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, their delivery systems, and related sensitive materials; (2) destroy or neutralize existing weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related sensitive materials; and (3) limit the spread of advanced conventional weapons and their delivery systems. Recent unanticipated events for which NDF funding has been approved include:
- Destruction of conventional arms in Moldova necessary to assist the orderly and safe withdrawal of Russian troops;
- Prompt conversion of a chemical weapons facility to civilian use; and
- Testing low enriched uranium fuel as an alternative to using highly enriched uranium in the three remaining Russian plutonium production reactors following conversion to civilian use.
The administration is requesting $15 million for the NDF in FY 2001 to support unanticipated opportunities or projects as described above. As in prior years, up to 4.5 percent of funds may be used for administrative purposes for the NDF. To ensure the capability to respond quickly on an "as needed" basis, the Administration is requesting that NDF funds be appropriated to remain available until expended and include the necessary legislative authorities for flexibility.
SMALL ARMS DESTRUCTION
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
--
--
2,000
National Interests:
As part of its broader efforts to promote regional stability and minimize threats to civilian populations, the United States is taking an active role in destroying stockpiles of small arms and light weapons (SA/LW), such as automatic rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers, mines, small mortars, portable rockets, and associated ammunition. These weapons claim hundreds of thousands of lives and displace millions of civilians every year. Forty six of the forty-nine regional conflicts occurring in the 1990s, for example, were fought using illicit SA/LW, primarily of Cold War origin.
SA/LW stockpiles contribute to the uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of relatively cheap, accessible weapons in the international illicit arms market, in turn exacerbating regional and civil conflicts, contributing to political instability, facilitating crime, and hindering economic development, particularly in Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. By supporting the international effort to reduce SA/LW stockpiles, the United States is helping preclude their use in attacks on U.S. and allied peacekeepers involved in international peacekeeping missions, counter-drug forces, and police forces; minimize civil and regional conflicts; strip criminals, insurgents and terrorists of easy access to weapons; facilitate implementation of peace agreements; and remove impediments to local economic development. Germany, Norway, and South Africa have already begun to contribute to this effort.
Objectives and Justifications:
For FY 2001, the Administration is requesting $2 million in NADR for SA/LW destruction in select Eastern European and African nations that have specifically requested assistance in destroying their stockpiles. Bulgaria, along with Albania, Macedonia, Moldova, and four other countries in the region, signed the Stability Pact Declaration on Small Arms and Light Weapons in November 1999, which calls for signatories to destroy SA/LW confiscated from illicit transfers and surplus to defense needs. FY 2001 funds may be used to destroy the 3400 tons of small arms and light weapons surplus to defense needs in Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Macedonia. Additionally, Sierra Leone has also committed to destroy weapons as part of the agreement ending its civil war. To help protect this fragile peace agreement, FY 2001 NADR funds may be used to destroy the 600 tons of surplus weapons collected in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau.
The following table displays the potential countries for the FY 2001 small arms destruction program. Destruction costs, which average $500 per ton, may vary according to types and numbers of weapons, access to transportation, environmental regulations, labor, and presence and amount of ammunition.
Candidate Countries for the
FY 2001 Small Arms Destruction Program
Country
Estimated Tonnage to be Destroyed
Estimated Total Cost
Ukraine
800
400,000
Bulgaria
650
325,000
Albania
650
325,000
Macedonia
650
325,000
Moldova
650
325,000
Sierra Leone
350
175,000
Guinea-Bissau
250
125,000
TOTAL
4,000
2,000,000
TERRORIST INTERDICTION PROGRAM
($ in thousands)
Account
FY 1999 Actual
FY 2000 Estimate
FY 2001 Request
NADR
--
5,000
4,000
National Interests:
The United States has a major interest in preventing terrorists from crossing international borders to attack innocent civilian populations or to disrupt the internal stability of friendly countries. The Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP) is designed to help stave off the undetected travel of terrorists across international borders into high risk countries that have little or no means of quickly identifying such persons. TIP complements existing anti-terrorism training programs by providing additional systems, incorporating computerized data based programs and fast transmission of information, to interdict potential terrorists and their weapons trying to cross international borders. In doing so, the TIP helps bolster the security of Americans both domestically and abroad.
Objectives and Justification:
The TIP is intended to make it more difficult for terrorists to enter vulnerable countries by establishing a multiple layered barrier program comprised of three major related elements: border monitoring using lookout systems and passport scrutiny, updated data bases and communications systems, and development of appropriate equipment to detect weapons. This program focuses on vulnerable countries that are key transportation hubs or otherwise important international crossroads identified by intelligence analysis and interagency assessment teams. As demonstrated by the bombings in East Africa in 1998 and the recent indications of increased movements by various terrorist groups, intercepting terrorists before they can move into position is key to preventing terrorist activities.
There are three major elements to the program:
Border Monitoring Program ($2.5 million)
Many third world countries lack basic systems for rapidly identifying and accessing records of persons entering and leaving their country. The program involves establishing and helping maintain computerized systems for checking the passports and visas and other identifying travel documents of persons arriving and departing through airports and other points of entry. These systems use a centralized computerized data bank, or National Central Bureau, in the participating country's appropriate government agency, with high speed secure connections to the airports or other points of entry for fast and accurate checking of passports and visas for the purpose of identifying terrorist suspects. The system would allow quick retrieval of information on persons who may be trying to hastily depart a country after a terrorist incident. The TIP has been developed in consultation with various agencies, such as INS, who have similar programs for their own missions domestically and internationally, drawing upon their software development where possible. The program would use commercially available computers and related equipment.
To complement the computerized screening, TIP, working through the Anti-terrorism Assistance (ATA) program, will provide related courses, in training immigration officials to identify possible suspects and fraudulent documents through "low tech" equipment for examining possibly fraudulent travel documents. This training will be supplemented, where conditions are appropriate, with the more traditionally provided ATA programs such as patrolling land borders and physical security of airport facilities.
The funding would provide for TIP implementation in up to half a dozen nations, primarily in Africa, building upon the development work that was initiated in FY 2000. As funding permits, programs are also contemplated for Central Asia and perhaps key transportation points in other regions, such as Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Updating Communications ($1.0 million)
The second part of the system provides an updated communications link from a centralized source to the participating country's national database, as many of underdeveloped countries do not have good information sources of their own. The databases would draw from a variety of sources. An essential element is an up-to-date INTERPOL system, upgraded to be able to transmit fingerprints, photos and other graphics on a real time basis. The United States will contribute up to $1 million in additional seed money to leverage INTERPOL's modernization of its communications system, expanding the upgraded links beyond the initial African countries planned for FY 2000 into the next focus activity, Central Asia. The upgraded INTERPOL links financed by the U.S. would be connected to countries selected by the U.S. for participation in the TIP.
The INTERPOL network already links U.S. law enforcement at the federal, state and local level with police in 177 other member countries. An upgraded system would improve INTERPOL's ability to rapidly collect and disseminate sensitive information, particularly fingerprints and other graphic images, through its international communications system. It also allows for regional and world-wide dissemination information on individuals or other types of information such as stolen passports and terrorists methods of operation. Other nations have pledged contributions to the effort to improve INTERPOL's data information systems, including Japan ($1 million) and France ($1 million annually for five-years).
Weapons Detection Equipment ($0.5 million)
The third component of TIP is intended to make smuggling of weapons and explosives more difficult as terrorists attempt to cross international boundaries. The FY 2001 program would support continued research and development of counterterrorism equipment for provision and training of foreign security officials. The interagency National Counterterrorism Research and Development program would coordinate and develop TIP equipment that can be used in the developing world for detecting weapons, explosives, chemical and biological agents plus countermeasures and equipment to counter the threat posed by these materials.
A special emphasis would be placed on portable, easily used equipment to detect chemical agents, a PC-based training tool to assist bomb technicians, and an explosives containment system for use at airports or inspection stations. The Chemical Agent Detection and Sampling Kit would enable first responders to rapidly identify the presence of chemical agents. The Enhanced Bomb Detection Training System would develop a multimedia tool to assist bomb technicians in diagnostics and rendering safe improvised explosive devices or vehicle bombs. The Explosives Containment System would develop for use at airports or other inspection stations a lightweight and mobile containment system for safely handling explosives in average size suitcases or containers.
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Footnote:1. In addition, $4 million in FY 98 ESF was used for Export Control programs in FY 99.
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