senator clinton response to the opposition's memo

Thank you for sharing with me your concerns regarding the situation in Darfur.
It is important to me to know the issues that are foremost in the minds of my
constituents and I appreciate that you took the time to write to me about this
issue that is of importance to you and to many New Yorkers. I take this
situation very seriously.

We cannot stand by and let atrocities continue. The people of Darfur have been
subject to a genocidal campaign of vicious attacks conducted by the armed
militias of the Janjaweed, with the backing of the Sudanese government. The
concerted acts of these groups have created a humanitarian crisis of astonishing
proportions. We have an obligation to work with our allies and others to help
protect the people of Darfur.

I recently joined with a bipartisan group of more than 30 senators in writing to
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to reiterate the need to take action
regarding the continuing violence in Darfur. The letter discusses a number of
important issues, including how to strengthen our work with the African Union to
assist it in deploying more troops effectively; how to give force to United
Nations resolutions; how to ensure that health and other needs of women and
children are taken care of; and how to assure accountability for human rights
violations and genocide. The letter also urges the appointment of a new envoy
for Sudan.

Also in June 2004, to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of
Sudan and in Chad, I co-sponsored a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005
Department of Defense Appropriations Act that added millions in funding for
international disaster and famine assistance, and migration and refugee
assistance in the region. I am pleased to let you know that the amendment was
adopted by the Senate and this funding was retained in the legislation that was
signed into law.

Most recently, I urged the international community to do more when I addressed a
Vital Voices Global Partnership Forum at New York University to help commemorate
the 10th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.
During my February visit to the Munich Conference on Security, I also urged that
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) use its logistical and other
capabilities to assist the African Union's efforts. I also raised the issue of
NATO's involvement at a recent hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee
and was assured that NATO has humanitarian capabilities that could be utilized.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted resolutions addressing the
situation in Darfur. The United States government should work to ensure these
resolutions have force, and continue its work with our allies to help bring
security and peace to the region and end the suffering of the people of Darfur.

Please be assured that I will continue to work in the Senate to help the people
of Darfur overcome the dire challenges they face. Thank you again for
contacting me. Please check my website at http://clinton.senate.gov for updates
on this and other important matters being discussed before the United States
Senate.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

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