[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 81 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA JOINS THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WITH NATO

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 1994

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked an historic milestone in 
the post-cold-war partnership between the United States and Russia and 
an historic milestone for Europe and the world. On the 53d anniversary 
of Germany's invasion of Russia on June 22, 1941, the Foreign Minister 
of Russia signed documents making Russia a participant of NATO's 
Partnership for Peace.
  While the United States-Russian relationship over the last 50 years 
has been dominated by friction, it is framed on both ends by beacons of 
cooperation and partnership. I am optimistic and confident that the 
future of United States-Russian cooperation will be peaceful, 
prosperous, and successful.
  It is significant, Mr. Speaker, that the Government of Russia has 
signed the Partnership for Peace documents on June 22, because that day 
marks the 53d anniversary of Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, a 
historic turning point of World War II which led to the establishment 
of the grand alliance of the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, 
and other countries which ultimately led to the final and unconditional 
defeat of the Nazi invaders. Russia's contribution to the Allied effort 
was critical to the ultimate success, and was vital in bringing about 
the end of the domination of the Fascist regimes.
  The signing of the Partnership for Peace documents brings to mind 
another key event of the World War II era of cooperation with the 
Soviet Union. On April 25, 1945, troops of the American and Soviet 
Armies met on the Elbe River in Germany. That meeting was an important 
symbol of our united cooperation in the final successful assault on 
Nazi Germany. Within a few weeks of the historic meeting of American 
and Soviet troops at Turgau on the Elbe River, Hitler and most of his 
lieutenants were dead, Nazi Germany was defeated, Europe was liberated, 
and the Allies were victorious.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we have come full circle, and once again the 
United States and Russia, along with our European allies, have agreed 
to work together for the goal of maintaining peace in Europe and in the 
world. It is incumbent upon all of us to recognize the great 
opportunity which Russia's participation in NATO's Partnership for 
Peace now provides us--a better opportunity for contributing to peace 
and fostering democracy in Europe and around the world.
  It brings me great pleasure--and relief--to see the world backing 
away from the threat of global war and nuclear conflict that we have 
faced during most of the past half century. It is reassuring to see our 
two nations moving toward cooperative solutions to the pressing 
problems that we both face. The implications of Russian participation 
in NATO's Partnership for Peace are enormous. If this leads to eventual 
NATO membership by Russia and the other members of the former Warsaw 
Pact, it will mark the true end of the barriers which have divided 
Europe since the end of World War II.
  The security alliance stretching east from Vancouver to Vladivostok 
does not ensure that there will be no more Bosnias or no more Nagorno-
Karabakhs, but it does a great deal to eliminate the risk that such 
tragic local conflicts will lead to large-scale conventional warfare, 
and it assures that there will be greater possibility for nuclear 
cooperation. Moreover, it enhances the international community's 
ability to deal with low-scale, localized conflict. Just as important, 
it means that resources previously devoted to military preparedness can 
now be allocated to more productive domestic uses which will contribute 
improved quality of life for the citizens of all countries.

  Mr. Speaker, the Russian people and the Russian Government of 
President Boris Yeltsin are to be congratulated for their decision to 
join the Partnership for Peace. It required statesmanship and 
farsightedness for Russia now to cooperate closely with its former 
enemies--not a policy lightly undertaken by any nation, and certainly 
not one enduring the political and economic upheaval wracking Russia. I 
commend President Yeltsin, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, and 
Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev for their enlightened action today.
  Mr. Speaker, I also wish to commend our own administration for their 
critical and constructive contribution to the historic event that we 
marked yesterday starting with President Clinton and including 
Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Deputy Secretary of State Strobe 
Talbott, and the rest of the President's foreign policy team. These men 
and women are to be commended for their successful conclusion of 
painstaking negotiations for Russia's entry into the Partnership for 
Peace.
  This long process has demanded vision, patience, perseverance, and 
diplomatic skills of the highest level as the administration sought to 
allay Russian fears about NATO expansion and alliance worries over 
possible Russian obstructionism once inside the partnership. Moreover, 
we're not out of the woods yet; rather, the signing ceremony initiated 
the start of another critical phase in the process of creating a 
peaceful, prosperous, and stable post-cold-war Europe. Disagreements 
and setbacks are to be expected along the way as the East European 
countries and Russia are integrated more thoroughly into the Atlantic 
Alliance, but the promise of closer consultation and coordination 
clearly argues well for the ultimate success of this undertaking.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge this administration's 
contribution to establishing lasting peace and real security on the 
European continent, the very same cause that so many Americans and 
Russians fought and died for during World War II. The best way we can 
honor their sacrifice and achievement is to make the resort to arms 
unnecessary in Europe. This agreement brought us closer to that goal.

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