ROBERT E. ANDREWS
FIRST DISTRICT. NEW JERSEY
Congress of the United State
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-3001

December 23, 1994

Mr. J. Brian Atwood
Administrator
U.S. Agency For International Development
320 21st Street NW Rm 5894
Washington, D.C. 20523-0002


Dear Mr. Atwood:

I have learned recently that AID plans to change the way American foreign 
assistance is provided to Tajikistan. While your efforts to trim your budget are 
commendable, I would like to express certain concerns regarding the use of aid 
in Tajikistan.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a resolution - sponsored 
by incoming Chairman Ben Gilman and me urging the Administration to use aid to 
Tajikistan as leverage for humanitarian reforms. That resolution set several 
priorities for our expenditures. It encouraged the Administration to continue to 
fund humanitarian assistance for Tajikistan's citizens to help them obtain food 
and fuel. It stressed that our aid should help the country's people become self-
sufficient. It encouraged the President to see that funding goes to independent 
non-governmental organizations. Finally, it warned that no aid should be 
provided directly to the government of Tajikistan until significant progress is 
made in the areas of civil and human rights.

In the wake of what appears to be a rigged election, won by silencing 
independent expression, it is clear that Tajikistan's ruling regime has not 
mended its ways. It is equally clear that the population still lacks the 
necessities to survive the winter ahead.

In accordance with the above resolution, I encourage you to reconsider your 
decision to cut AID's allocation of humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan. 
Likewise, I must emphasize my strong objection to transferring any monies 
directly to the country's government. As Tajikistan hovers between humanitarian 
emergency and reconstruction, we must provide hope to its people without 
providing help to its oppressive regime.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to learning your 
decision.

Sincerely,
ROBERT E. ANDREWS
Member of Congress
cc: Beniamin A. Gilman