The present report is submitted pur-suant to paragraph 13 of Security Council resolution 1213 (1998) of 3 December 1998, in which the Council, inter alia, requested me to submit a report no laterthan 15 January 1999 regarding the statusof the peace process, the future role andmandate of the United Nations in Angolaand the force structure of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola(MONUA) in the light of its ability tocarry out its mandated tasks.

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, today's hearing marks the first time that I have had the honor to present to Congress the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. I submit these 1998 reports proudly, in accordance with a prime statutory responsibility given by the Foreign Assistance Act to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, which I have headed since November. In 1977, shortly before these reports were first issued, President Carter gave their rationale in his inaugural address: “Because we are free,” he said, “we can never be indifferent to the fate of freedom elsewhere.”

All of you have seen The Washington Post story of today saying that the Secretary-General is suspicious that the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) assisted United States intelligence efforts in Iraq.

We are here to discuss emerging threats to America's security as we reach a new century. How do we respond to the threat of terrorists around the world, turning from bullets and bombs to even more insidious and potent weapons? What if they and the rogue states that sponsor them try to attack the critical computer systems that drive our society? What if they seek to use chemical, biological, even nuclear weapons? The United States must deal with these emerging threats now, so that the instruments of prevention develop at least as rapidly as the instruments of disruption.