[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   STATEMENT ON RESOLUTION CALLING FOR REMOVAL OF RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM 
                                MOLDOVA

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 1994

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, on August 31, 1994, Russian active-duty 
military forces left Germany, Latvia, and Estonia. Their departure was 
one of the most visible steps in removing the vestiges of the cold war. 
But more steps are necessary.
  We need only look at Moldova, where between 8,000 and 10,000 troops 
of the Russian 14th Army remain, against the will of the people and the 
government of that nation. Ever since Moldova became independent in 
1991, its government has been negotiating with Moscow on a reasonable 
timetable for the removal of these troops. In 1992, many of these 
forces took part in the bloody secessionist movement in the 
Transdniestria area of Moldova where they are stationed.
  A diplomatic mission of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe posted in Moldova has submitted a commendable proposal aimed at 
resolving the Transdniestrian conflict. Among the provisions of the 
CSCE proposal is the accelerated withdrawal of the 14th Army.
  Mr. Speaker, in early July I led a large U.S. delegation to the CSCE 
Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna, where I was honored to chair the 
Committee on Human Rights. Among the resolutions adopted by the 
assembly was one calling for a ``continuing unconditional, and full 
withdrawal'' of the 14th Army from Moldova.
  I am pleased to report that some progress has been made. On August 10 
of this year, negotiators of the Moldovan and Russian Governments 
initialed an agreement according to which Russia will withdraw its 
military forces from Moldova in 3 years. Unfortunately, the ink was 
hardly dry on the agreement when the Russian Minister of Defense, 
General Grachev, called for further drafting of the withdrawal 
agreement, and the commander of the 14th Army, General Lebed, publicly 
rejected the terms of the agreement. He called it ``idiotic.''
  Under President Clinton's leadership, the United States has taken a 
strong position in favor of withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova. 
During his recent visit to Moldova, our U.N. Ambassador, Madeleine 
Albright, stated that the United States considers the withdrawal of the 
14th Army as ``a matter of primary importance to U.S. foreign policy.'' 
Mr. Speaker, President Clinton has been justly credited, even by some 
of his political adversaries, for the perseverance and persuasiveness 
he employed in encouraging the Russian Government to remove its troops 
from the Baltics last month. U.S. leadership will be needed here as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, my distinguished colleague from Virginia, Mr. Wolf and I 
have introduced a concurrent resolution calling upon the government of 
the Russian Federation to adhere to the provisions of the withdrawal 
agreement initiated on August 10, 1994, and urging the administration 
to use every appropriate opportunity, including multilateral and 
bilateral diplomacy, to secure removal of Russian military forces from 
Moldova.
  I believe that the Congress should join with the administration in 
reminding Russia of its commitment, stated by Foreign Minister Kozyrev 
and Defense Minister Grachev, to remove all of its active duty armed 
forces from foreign territory, as they have already done in Germany, 
Poland, and the Baltic States.
  I urge the Russian Government to adhere to the provisions of the 
August 10 withdrawal agreement, and I urge my colleagues to join us in 
supporting this resolution.

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