[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 51 (Monday, March 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S4196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                THE UNITED STATES-RUSSIAN SUMMIT MEETING

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, President Clinton's decision to attend a 
summit meeting in Moscow in May is the latest in a series of ill-
advised foreign policy actions that have been set-backs for U.S. 
leadership in world affairs. This one will be perceived as an implicit 
show of support for the policies of the Russian Government. It will be 
interpreted as an endorsement of: First, Russian aggression in 
Chechnya; second, nuclear sales to Iran; and third, meddling by Russian 
agents in the affairs of former Soviet Republics.
  Two months ago, I had the privilege of meeting with Elena Bonner, a 
longtime acquaintance and courageous fighter against the tyranny of the 
Soviet Union during the darkest days of the cold war. Mrs. Bonner paid 
a much higher price than most in battling the Soviet Government. As the 
wife and partner of the late Andrei Sakharov she was severely harassed 
for years, and exiled under house arrest in a provincial Russian city. 
This brave lady bore the grief of watching the stress and turmoil of 
Soviet oppression that inflicted an early end to the life of her 
husband before what would have been his crowning moment--the collapse 
of the Soviet Union.
  So why, Mr. President, was Mrs. Bonner in Washington? She came on 
short notice because decency demanded it. She was here to criticize the 
policy of the United States which has virtually ignored a degree of 
repression and violation of human rights in Russia that is without 
precedent since the time of Josef Stalin. As Mrs. Bonner recounted for 
me the violence and devastation in Chechnya I came to the conclusion 
that not only are the internal policies of the Russian Government out 
of control, but that United States policy toward Russia has completely 
lost its bearings.
  Recently President Yeltsin shook the Clinton administration with his 
threat to renew the cold war under the guise of a cold peace. Any 
astute observer would have already heard this message in the many 
negative actions of the Russian Government before and since that 
threat.
  Two weeks ago a spokesman for the Russian Government publicly warned 
President Clinton of the dire results if the President canceled the 
Moscow summit. The summit meeting is set to coincide with the 50th 
anniversary of the Russian victory over Germany in World War II. If the 
President canceled his visit--so goes the logic of the Russian 
Government--the Russians would be reminded that American forces refused 
to open a second front against Germany early in World War II.
  Mr. President, this revisionist history comes directly from the 
Stalin era. According to Stalin, the United States let Russia bear the 
brunt of the German assault in World War II while dallying elsewhere. 
This lie, perpetuated by Stalin to cover his own complicity for 
devastating Russian casualties in World War II, and to deny his profane 
agreement with Adolf Hitler to conquer and divide Europe, has been 
refuted by every post-war United States administration until now. 
Unbelievably, the Clinton administration has not only failed to condemn 
this historical lie, they have agreed to commemorate it in Moscow.
  If President Clinton wished to truly celebrate the 50th anniversary 
of victory over Germany perhaps he should go to Warsaw, where the Red 
Army patiently waited to press its offensive until Nazi forces 
exterminated the Polish anti-Communist resistance fighters. The 
President could visit the Baltic Nations to remember the 50-year Soviet 
occupation put in place by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
  A Russian politician recently visiting the Foreign Relations 
Committee reminisced about the talent of past American Presidents in 
conveying a sense of warmth to the Russian people while simultaneously 
maintaining a principled stand against the nondemocratic Soviet 
Government. Through diplomacy, communications such as Radio Free 
Europe, and public condemnation when necessary, the United States 
maintained a constant pressure on the Soviet Government to respond to 
the interests of its own people. This message was clearly understood by 
the Russian people, and it won the United States the deserved 
reputation as a defender of their liberty. By agreeing to go to Moscow 
while the war rages on in Chechnya President Clinton has done great 
damage to that hard earned reputation.
  The muted response from the United States Government to the disaster 
in Chechnya is in direct conflict to numerous Russian politicians with 
unimpeachable and consistent pro-reform credentials who oppose 
President Yeltsin's policy. We have failed to support the reformers in 
Russia. I would even argue that we have failed to support the good 
people of Russia--who stand 4 to 1 against this terrible civil war. 
Ultimately, however, we have failed ourselves. How has the U.S. 
Government strayed so far the principles of its people?
  Mr. President, President Clinton's decision to attend hold this 
summit is a mistake. I regret that the President and his advisors 
declined to reconsider it when some of us pleaded that he not go.


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