Hoyer Leads Congressional Delegation to Sudan, Egypt, Greece, and Germany

WASHINGTON, DC - Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) is currentlyleading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Sudan, Egypt, Greece and Germany. Joining him areCongressman John Barrow (D-GA), Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Congressman Jim Costa(D-CA), Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL),Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), CongressmanBrad Miller (D-NC), Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Congresswoman IleanaRos-Lehtinen (R-FL).

[The Majority Leader's Office did not release informationregarding the CODEL until today due to security concerns.]

The Delegation brieflystopped in Athens, Greece,for a dinner with Dora Bakoyannis, Greece's Minister of ForeignAffairs this past Sunday, April 1.

The next three days werespent in Sudan. The first day the Delegation went to Juba, in SouthernSudan, where they met with President of Southern Sudan and FirstVice President of Sudan Salva Kiir and other Government of Southern SudanMinisters including Rebecca Garang, who is the Minister for Transportation andthe widow of John Garang. Garang was the Vice President of Sudan and theformer leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army. Members also metwith the Speaker of Parliament from the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly,James Wani. The Delegation then accompanied Rebecca Garang to the JohnGarang Memorial Site, where they paid their respects and signed the memorialbook.

The Delegation traveledto El Fasher, in North Darfur, the nextday. While there, Members visited El Salaam Internally Displaced PersonsCamp, and met with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Force Commander,Major General Luke Aprezi, at AMIS Headquarters. The delegation also metwith UN officials working on the ground, including the UN Mission in Sudan,and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

On their final day in Sudan, Members received briefings by non-governmentalorganizations carrying out humanitarian work in the South and Darfur,rebel leader and Darfur Peace Agreement-signatory Minni Minawi, and AfricanUnion Ambassador to Sudan Sam Ibok. The delegation also met with a seniorSudanese Foreign Ministry official.

Yesterday, theDelegation was in Egypt,where they had meetings with several Egyptian officials including PresidentMohammed Hosni Mubarak, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and Speaker of thePeople's Assembly Ahmed Fathy Sorour. The Members discussed Sudanwith the officials, as well as other issues. Delegation members also attendedan event with Admiral William Fallon, Commander, U.S. Central Command.

The final stop for theDelegation is Germany, wherethey will tour LandstuhlRegional MedicalCenter and visit withhospitalized servicemembers.

"I chose to travel to Sudanas my first trip as Majority Leader because Darfurdemands the focus of the entire world" said Hoyer. "Genocidehas been committed here, and the violence continues. I wanted to bring abipartisan delegation to assess ground conditions and send a strong messagethat the world is watching. It is the government of Sudan's fundamental job, as it isthat of any government, to protect all of its people.

"I also felt it wasimportant to meet with the President Murbarak of Egyptand other leaders to discuss the crisis in Darfurand encourage them to play a leading role in bringing it to an end,"concluded Hoyer.