[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6305-S6306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO EUROPE

  Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I am pleased to address the Senate to 
applaud the leadership being shown by President Bush during his visit 
with leaders in Europe. I like the straightforward and forceful way he 
is expressing his views on international security issues, especially on 
the subject of missile defenses.
  In March, the President dispatched senior administration officials 
around the world to discuss with leaders of other nations the plans he 
was considering to deploy defenses against ballistic missiles. The 
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and high-level 
administration teams have worked hard to ensure that our friends and 
allies understand why the United States intends to deploy these new 
defensive systems.
  This week European leaders are hearing directly from the President 
his personal views on this issue. At his first stop in Madrid, 
President Bush said that the task of explaining missile defense 
``starts with explaining to Russia and our European friends and allies 
that Russia is not the enemy of the United States, that the attitude of 
mutually assured destruction is a relic of the Cold War, and that we 
must address the new threats of the 21st century if we're to have a 
peaceful continent and a peaceful world.''
  The Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Aznar, responded to President Bush's 
remarks by saying:

       [I]t is very important for President Bush to have decided 
     to share that initiative with

[[Page S6306]]

     its allies, to discuss it with them, to establish a framework 
     of cooperation with his allies with regard to this initiative 
     and, as he announced, to also establish a framework for 
     discussions, cooperation, and a new relationship with Russia.

  The Prime Minister also said:

       What I am surprised by is the fact that there are people 
     who, from the start, disqualified his initiative and, in that 
     way, they are also disqualifying the deterrence that has 
     existed so far and probably they would also disqualify any 
     other kind of initiative. But what we're dealing with here is 
     an attempt to provide greater security for everyone. And from 
     that point of view, that initiative to share and discuss and 
     dialog and reach common ground with the President of the 
     United States is something that I greatly appreciate.

  Today the news reports indicate that many other European leaders 
agree with the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister of Spain. The 
most conspicuous exceptions have been France and Germany.
  I commend President Bush for his effort to modernize our defenses 
against terrorism and ballistic missiles. Internationally, we remain 
vulnerable to these threats. We can no longer intentionally choose to 
accept that on behalf of our citizens. Nor can peace-loving people 
anywhere in the world tolerate the continued intentional vulnerability 
that this policy ensures.
  President Bush realizes this and is doing what is necessary to remedy 
the situation. He is making it clear that he will unilaterally reduce 
our stockpile of nuclear weapons to the lowest level, compatible with 
the need to keep the peace. And he is consulting with our allies and 
others in an effort to explore new agreements that will further protect 
our common security interests.
  He acknowledges that everyone, not even our closest allies, will 
agree with us on everything, but President Bush holds out hope for new 
understandings. He said at one news conference:

       I don't think we are going to have to move unilaterally, 
     but people know I am intent on moving forward.

  The President is doing the right thing and setting the right tone in 
providing this kind of leadership at this particular time. It is a very 
important step in achieving a higher level of security for all the 
world, not just for the United States.
  I ask unanimous consent that a list of quotations from those 
supporting U.S. missile defense plans be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            Quotes Supportive of U.S. Missile Defense Plans

       Australia--Foreign Minister Downer (June 1, 2001): ``We've 
     said to the Americans that we are understanding of their 
     concerns about the proliferation of missile systems . . . if 
     a rogue state were to fire a missile at the United States, 
     would an appropriate response be for the United States to 
     destroy all of the people in that country? And I think, 
     understandably, the Americans are saying that may be a slight 
     over-reaction. And if that is all that their current 
     deterrence arrangements provide for, then I think it's 
     understandable that they should want to look for more 
     sophisticated and more effective, and at the end of the day, 
     more humane ways of dealing with these problems.''
       Czech Republic--President Havel (June 13, 2001): ``. . . 
     the new world we are entering cannot be based on mutually 
     assured destruction. An increasingly important role should be 
     played by defense systems. We are a defensive alliance.''
       Hungary--Prime Minister Orban (May 29, 2001): ``The logic 
     of the Cold War, mutual deterrence, would not give a reply to 
     the problems of the future. It is important that North 
     America and Europe should work jointly on solutions demanded 
     by the new realities.''
       Italy--Prime Minister Berlusconi (June 13, 2001): ``We 
     agree that it is necessary for a new, innovative approach in 
     our policies towards these new threats.''
       Defense Minister Martino (June 11, 2001): ``[Missile 
     defense] would not be directed against the Russian Federation 
     today; the aim is to protect us from unpredictable moves by 
     other countries. It is in the interests of peace, of all of 
     us.''
       Japan--Prime Minister Koizumi (June 7, 2001): ``This is 
     very significant research because it might render totally 
     meaningless the possession of nuclear weapons and ballistic 
     missiles.''
       Poland--President Kwasniewski (June 13, 2001): ``[The U.S. 
     missile defense plan is a] ``visionary, courageous, and 
     logical idea.''
       Defense Minister Komorwski (May 27, 2001): ``Poland has 
     looked upon U.S. declarations on the necessity of 
     establishing a missile defense system with understanding from 
     the very start. We . . . see the modification of the project 
     to provide for a `protective shield' for European allies as a 
     step in the right direction. This can only enhance defense 
     capabilities but also strengthen the unity of NATO. The 
     territory of Poland and the Polish defense system may become 
     a key element of an allied missile defense structure.''
       Secretary of the National Security Council Siwiec (May 18, 
     2001): ``The ABM Treaty . . . stands in the way of building a 
     new security system. The debate on the missile shield is not 
     unlike protests of steam engine users against the inventors 
     of rocket engines . . .''
       Romania--Defense Minister Pascu (June 12, 2001): Romania 
     understands the U.S. desire for protection from missile 
     attack and would have ``no objection at all' even if the U.S. 
     proceeded unilaterally. Regarding those in Europe that 
     dismiss the threat of missile attack, Pascu said ``It is a 
     real danger. To some, it is not because they don't want it 
     [missile defense] done.''
       Slovakia--Prime Minister Mikulas (June 8, 2001): ``We have 
     always perceived the United States as the protector of 
     democratic principles in the world and we understand the 
     alliance (NATO) as a defense community. So we consider the 
     missile defense project to be a new means of collective 
     defense . . ., a security umbrella for this democratic 
     society and therefore in general we support this project.''
       Spain--Defense Minister Trillo (May 23, 2001): ``The [U.S.] 
     missile initiative . . . is neither an aggressive 
     initiative--it is a defensive one--nor a nuclear escalation, 
     but rather, on the contrary, a means of deterrence of the 
     buildup of nuclear weaponry.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.

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