[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1963-E1964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN CENTRAL ASIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has focused much 
needed attention on U.S. foreign policy with respect to the 
internationally recognized right to freedom of religion and the right 
to practice one's personal faith. As Co-Chairman of the Commission on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe and for the benefit of my 
colleagues, I would like to direct the attention of this House to the 
Department of State's ``OSCE Implementation Report 1998'' and, more 
specifically, the sections concerning religious freedom issues.
  In Central Asia, the recognition of religious liberty has been mixed. 
The Constitution and laws of the Kyrgyz Republic provide for the right 
of all citizens to choose and practice their own religion. However, 
these rights are not being effectively protected in practice. In 
December 1996, the President issued a decree creating new legal 
obstacles for registering church congregations. In 1997, a new law 
failed to pass the parliament that would have severely limited 
religious liberties. Similarly, in its seventh year of independence, 
Kazakhstani citizens enjoy basic religious rights, although the 
government is inclined to regulate the activities of foreign religious 
associations. Current law in Turkmenistan requires 500 signatures 
before registration is granted and in Uzbekistan, similar restrictions 
apply to religious groups.
  In Eastern Europe, although there are signs of progress, there are 
some countries that could be potential trouble spots. In 1997, Russia 
enacted a potentially discriminatory law concerning religion which 
imposes new restrictions on the establishment of new religious 
organizations. In Moldova, there is currently in force a 1992 law on 
religion that contains some restrictions to religious liberty and could 
inhibit the activities of some religions, although these provisions are 
reportedly not being enforced. In Ukraine, despite the 1991 law which 
has positive provisions, a 1993 amendment to that law has been used to 
restrict the activities of foreign religious organizations. Foreign 
religious workers have encountered resistance from Ukrainian local 
officials when trying to renew visas or seeking the use of public 
buildings for religious services. These kinds of government activities 
may violate commitments found in the Helsinki Final Act, Basket III, 
Section 1d, in which the participating states confirm that religious 
faiths can have contacts and meetings among themselves.
  The focus of the report on the Baltic States is Latvia where freedom 
of religion is constitutionally well established. Under the 1995 Law on 
Religious Organizations, the Government of Latvia does not require 
religious groups to register. However, there is incentive to do so in 
that certain rights and privileges will be afforded to them only if 
they register. The Justice Ministry has registered some 800 
congregations under this law but still denies registered status to 
Jehovah's Witnesses, the Latvian Free Orthodox Church, the Church of 
Christ Scientist, and the Rock of Salvation Church. With respect to 
foreign missionaries, they are allowed to hold meetings and proselytize 
only if Latvian religious organizations invite them. In particular the 
Jehovah's Witnesses have encountered severe obstacles under the current 
Latvian legal framework. As one of the privileges afforded to 
registered religious organizations, Latvian law allows for religious 
education to be provided to students in public schools on a voluntary 
basis by representatives of registered faiths. Elsewhere in the 
Baltics, Estonia has yet to clarify the implementation of a new visa 
law enacted in January which could potentially restrict residency of 
foreign missionaries to ninety days during any six month period. The 
Baltics merit a close watch, despite some favorable reports.
  In the Caucasus, both Azerbaijan and Armenia have strict laws 
prohibiting foreigners from proselytizing. While Azerbaijan does 
respect ``domestic'' faiths, placing no restrictions on them, many 
foreign groups have reported harassment. The Ministry of Justice has 
denied

[[Page E1964]]

registration to one such group but does allow it to continue to 
function. The Helsinki Commission in investigating this case has 
learned that, because of this church's work among the refugee 
population, the Azeri government continues to refuse to register the 
humanitarian aid arm of the church but continues to refuse registration 
to their religious body. Unfortunately, this appears to be a pattern 
the Azeri Government follows when it receives a benefit from a group it 
does not want to register.
  In Armenia there are similar concerns. In September of 1997, a new 
law was enacted by parliament, designed to stifle the growth of non-
Armenian Orthodox churches by tightening registration requirements for 
non-Apostolic religions and also by tightening funding restrictions so 
that foreign-based churches are not allowed to be supported by funds 
from headquarters outside Armenia. Despite this, however, a variety of 
faiths regularly hold services.
  While there has been progress in the OSCE region, there remain areas 
where significant violations of religious liberty are occurring in 
Eastern and Central Europe. I commend the ``OSCE Implementation Report 
1998'' to my colleagues as an interesting study of the progress and 
problems of the region.

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