[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2497-E2498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF A VISIT BY A RUSSIAN DELEGATION TO THE THIRD 
                  CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks I have read many news articles 
and heard many interviews which paint a very grim picture of the 
political and financial situation in Russia. I have seen economic 
analysts and political pundits shake their heads and ask in very solemn 
tones, ``Who lost Russia?'' If I were to believe the most outspoken 
American leaders and experts, it seems we should just give up on 
democratic development in Russia and allow the worst-case scenarios to 
become self-fulfilling prophecies.
  But while gloomy forecasts cloud this country's media-based 
perception of Russia's future, I have good reason to hold out hope for 
a prosperous Russia and for a strong U.S.-Russian relationship. In 
September, I hosted a delegation of Russians through the auspices of 
the Library of Congress and the American Foreign Policy Council. After 
spending an exceptionally enlightening week with these individuals, I 
believe the real question facing the West is not who lost Russia--as if 
it were the West's to lose--or even whether Russia is lost. Rather, the 
question is how can we help enterprising and industrious Russians, like 
those I met, work to rebuild their nation.
  The delegation that spent a week in my Congressional district in 
western Wisconsin came from different regions of Russia and different 
walks of life. As politicians, scientists and financial advisors, these 
men and women represented their nation well. They looked around a 
typical Wisconsin dairy farm, walked in a small town parade, toured a 
state university campus and strolled along the banks of the Mississippi 
River. All the while they shared with me, with my constituents and with 
each other, their thoughts about their homeland, its future, and the 
future of relations between our countries. I was struck by the energy 
and optimism of these individuals, and by their sincere desire to see 
their fledgling democracy flourish.
  Mr. Sergey Alcksandrovich Klimov is the deputy head of the Votorynets 
district administration in Nizhney-Novgorod Oblast. Ms. Irina Lovovna 
Osokina is a deputy of the Moscow City Duma. Mr. Nikolay Mikhaylovich 
Tarasov is the Mayor of Orsk in the Orenbugh Oblast and a member of the 
legislative assembly. Mr. Dimitry Valeriyevich Udalov is chairman of 
the board of the agricultural finance company Russkoye Pole, and deputy 
of the Saratov regional Duma. Each of these individuals has specific 
reasons for participating in the delegation to my district, and each 
had specific interests in comparing the institutions, business ventures 
and political processes of our two nations. But by the end of their 
stay, each grew to be friends with the others, as well as with me and 
my staff, and our shared goals for peace and prosperity outweighed the 
differences between our respective ways of life.
  On their way home, the delegation stopped here in Washington. They 
were not only impressed by our magnificent capital city, but by the 
fact that the American people have such

[[Page E2498]]

direct and open access to their elected leaders and their government. I 
am glad to say that through this exchange program, myself and many 
other Members of Congress were able to open this Capitol--the People's 
House--to our World War II allies as a sign of support for their 
honorable efforts at home.
  Since the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of Soviet Communism in 
Russia, the Russian people have strived to reap the fruits of democracy 
and capitalism. Many in Russia feel that the journey is hopeless and 
that capitalism will not work for them. I am confident that, based on 
the four outstanding people I had the honor of hosting, the doubters 
and naysayers both in Russia and abroad will be proven wrong.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit that we have a duty, not only as legislators, 
but as Americans and as citizens of the world, to help our Russian 
friends at this critical time in their history. Let us extend a hand 
both in friendship and assistance. Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Editor-in-
Chief of U.S. News & World Report recently wrote: ``Russia is not lost. 
It is still a much better friend of the West than it was under 
Communism.'' Mr. Zuckerman went on to say, ``The Russians have, in 
fact, demonstrated an extraordinary resilience . . . The United States 
and the West will have to appreciate that Russia can only solve its 
problems its own way.'' He concluded, ``Humility will serve us well. 
Not everybody needs to be like us.'' I couldn't agree more. Russia does 
have a bright future, and the United States has the opportunity to be a 
friend and partner in that future.
  We will, of course, continue to encourage democracy and openness not 
only in Russia, but in all nations of the world. In the aftermath of 
the Cold War, such participation remains vital to our national 
interest. America must be active in the world community to help guide 
the many newly independent nations in their democratic development.
  Mr. Speaker, I made new friends in September; friends I hope learned 
at least a little from me and my community, as I learned so much from 
them. Perhaps the greatest thing I learned is how similar are our goals 
and dreams for our countries, our communities, and our families. I 
applaud the members of the Russian delegation that visited my district 
for their dedication and loyalty to their nation, and I wish them well 
in their efforts to build stronger communities and homes for their 
families.

                          ____________________