[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.
____________________