[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                                ESTONIA

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, 3 weeks ago Russian President Boris 
Yeltsin delivered a blow to Estonia's efforts to remove Russian troops 
from its borders. He publicly rescinded his promise to withdraw the 
2,000 remaining troops from Estonia by August 31.
  The complete removal of Russian troops from the Baltics remains one 
of the most important post-cold war issues for defining Russia's new 
role in Eastern Europe. If we are to convince that nation that it 
cannot interfere in the ``near abroad,'' we must ensure that it abides 
its promises of complete withdrawal.
  Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has moved slowly on 
this issue. In 1992, a full year after the Soviet Union disintegrated, 
Russia was still stationing 130,000 troops in the Baltics. Until this 
year, all three Baltic countries still housed Russian troops. And, now 
it appears that there is no schedule for the removal of all troops from 
Estonia.
  The United States should play an important role in resolving this 
issue. The success we have experienced to date is a direct result of 
international pressure. This body has voted on numerous occasions, 
beginning with the 1992 Freedom Support Act, to condition some portion 
of our Russian aid on troop withdrawals. Even with that pressure, 
Russian compliance has sputtered. The remaining troops in Estonia 
should be seen as a defeat as much as the victory for our efforts.
  Nearly 3 years after this debate began, we should demand complete 
withdrawal for Estonia. That country, and the Baltics as a whole, have 
done as much as any other former Soviet Republic to earn our promise of 
protection from Russia. It has embraced political and economic reform 
with a vengeance, and developed an unmatched post-Soviet record of 
economic growth. Over the past 2 years it has achieved roughly 3.5 
percent unemployment, 1.7 percent inflation, and a stronger and more 
stable currency than any other either in the former Soviet Union. It 
has also made strides to eradicate the difficult problem of 
discrimination against ethnic Russians.
  Mr. President, the Baltics are former Soviet Republics that should be 
removed from the Russian sphere of influence. We should make them a 
part of the West. We should admit them into NATO, and reward their 
brave economic reforms, their democratic institutions, and their 
civilian control of military with aid. And we should follow through on 
our efforts to remove all Russian troops from their borders.
  On Thursday, the House and Senate conferees of the foreign operations 
appropriations bill will determine whether to retain language the 
Senate approved by a vote of 89-8 less than 2 weeks ago. That language 
would move up from December 31, 1994, to August 31, 1994, the date by 
which Russia must withdraw all troops from the Baltics in order to 
receive any Russian aid. The Senate conferees should do all they can to 
see that the Senate version is retained. That language appropriately 
responds to Mr. Yeltsin's comments, and has the overwhelming support of 
this body.
  Mr. President, this is an issue that is important not only to a newly 
democratic country that recently emerged from 45 years of subjugation. 
It is a question of how the United States will control a Russian 
tendency to concern itself in its neighbors affairs. Our interests are 
clear: we should demand the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and 
demonstrate to both our friends and potential enemies that democracies 
will be rewarded with efforts to protect their sovereignty.

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