[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13142-S13143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMBASSADOR STEPHAN M. MINIKES

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, 
I take this opportunity to welcome the recent swearing-in of Stephan M. 
Minikes to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE. Prior to that ceremony, I met with 
Steve to discuss priority issues on the Commission's agenda, including 
the promotion of democracy, human rights and economic liberty as well 
as such pressing concerns as international crime and corruption and 
their links to terrorism.
  The Commission remains keenly interested in the OSCE as a tool for 
promoting human rights and democratic development and advancing United 
States interests in the expansive 55-nation OSCE region. The terrorist 
attacks of September 11 represented an assault on the principles of 
democracy, human rights and the rule of law--core principles at the 
heart of the OSCE. It is crucial that we redouble our efforts to 
advance these fundamental principles throughout the OSCE region even as 
we pursue practical cooperation aimed at rooting out terrorism.
  The OSCE provides an important framework for advancing these vital 
and complementary objectives.
  I am confident that Steve will draw on his extensive and varied 
experiences as he assumes his duties as U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE and 
I look forward to working with him and his team in Vienna.
  I ask unanimous consent that Secretary of State Powell's eloquent 
prepared remarks delivered at Ambassador Minikes' swearing-in ceremony 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  Remarks of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell at the Swearing-in of 
                           Stephan M. Minikes

       Ambassador Ducaru, Distinguished Guests, welcome to The 
     Department of State.
       It is my honor and pleasure today to swear-in a 
     distinguished civic leader as our next Ambassador to the 
     Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe: Steve 
     Minikes.
       As a boy in Nazi Germany, Steve knew what it is like to 
     live under oppression. His relatives died in concentration 
     camps. He saw hate consume a country, ravage a continent, and 
     cause a world war. Later, he saw a devastated Europe divided 
     by force and a hot war replaced by a cold one. And since the 
     age of eleven, when he found his new home in America, Steve 
     Minikes has never for a minute taken freedom for granted--not 
     his or anyone else's.
       And so, when President Bush selected Steve to be his 
     personal envoy to the OSCE, he knew that he was choosing a 
     person who would be deeply committed to the fundamental 
     principles of the Helsinki process.
       The President knew that Steve needed no convincing that 
     human rights, the rule of law and democracy are inextricably 
     linked to prosperity, stability and security.
       And the President knew that in Steve he was choosing 
     someone who would work hard and well to realize, in all its 
     fullness, the dream of a Europe whole and free.
       And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, Steve Minikes will bring to 
     his new position a deep commitment to serve the country that 
     gave him a new life, and a strong determination to help the 
     continent of his birth attain its highest hopes.
       And Steve will bring a lot more to the table besides. He 
     will bring expertise in and out of government that spans the 
     law, management, banking, trade, energy and defense. He will 
     bring a reputation for excellence and dedication that extends 
     from the corporate world to Capitol Hill, from the Pentagon 
     to the White House, as the presence here of friends from 
     Congress and from a wide range of federal agencies attests.
       Steve also brings his experience as a Director of the 
     Washington Opera, which will serve him very well at OSCE. 
     Think about it. Conducting multilateral diplomacy with 54 
     other sovereign countries--countries as big as Russia, 
     Germany and the United States on the one hand, and as small 
     as Liechtenstein, San Marino and Malta on the other. And each 
     of them with a veto. That's a lot like staging the elephant 
     scene from Aida--only easier.
       The American people are truly fortunate that they can count 
     on a citizen as accomplished and admired as Steve to 
     represent them at so important a forum as the OSCE.
       I know that Steve would be the first to agree with me, 
     however, when I say that we would not have been able to 
     contribute so much to his community and his country, had it 
     not been for the love and support of his family. I want to 
     especially welcome his partner in life, Dede and their 
     daughter Alexandra and her husband Julian. A warm greeting as 
     well to Dede's sister Jackie and brother Peter and their 
     families. I think they all deserve a round of applause.
       Ladies and Gentlemen: Twenty-six years ago when President 
     Ford signed the Final Act in Helsinki, he said that the 
     Helsinki process would be judged not by the promises made but 
     by the promises kept.
       Thanks in incalculable measure to the men and women who 
     braved totalitarian repression to ensure that the promises 
     made in Helsinki would be kept, all 55 members of the OSCE 
     are truly independent nations today, able to chart their own 
     course for a new century.
       The promises made in Helsinki during the Cold War and 
     reaffirmed during the post-Cold War period, are still 
     fundamental to European security and cooperation in this 
     post-post Cold War world.
       And, like all his predecessors from Gerald Ford to William 
     Clinton, President Bush is strongly committed to fulfilling 
     the promise of Helsinki.
       The President and I are counting on you, Steve, to work 
     with our fellow member states, with the various OSCE 
     institutions that have been established, and, of course, with 
     the Members of the U.S. Commission on Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe, to that noble end.
       Human rights and fundamental freedoms remain the heart and 
     soul of OSCE. Keep them in the spotlight. Democracy and the 
     rule of law are key to fighting hatred, extremism and 
     terrorism. Work with our OSCE partners, the Office for 
     Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the 
     Representative for Free Media to consolidate democratic 
     processes and promote freedom of expression. Help OSCE foster 
     ethnic tolerance. Help it protect human dignity by 
     strengthening efforts against trafficking in persons.
       We also look to you, Steve, with your private sector 
     experience, to explore ways to develop OSCE's economic and 
     environmental dimensions. OSCE has done some good work on 
     corruption and good governance. Portugal, the incoming 
     Chairman-in-Office, has some interesting ideas on 
     transboundary water issues. Help us think about what else we 
     might do.
       The President and I also depend on you to utilize and 
     strengthen OSCE's unique capacities for conflict prevention 
     and crisis management. To work with OSCE's High Commissioner 
     on National Minorities in addressing the root causes of 
     ethnic conflict. We will also look to you to support OSCE's 
     field missions which are contributing to stability from 
     Tajikistan to Kosovo.
       In the security dimension of OSCE, good progress has been 
     made in meeting conventional force reduction commitments. We 
     will

[[Page S13143]]

     count on you, Steve, to help resolve the remaining issues. 
     The Voluntary Fund for Moldova is a valuable tool for getting 
     rid of weapons and ammunition. Keep using it.
       OSCE's action plan will be valuable in fighting terrorism. 
     Implementation is critical. Keep the momentum going.
       Institutionally speaking, OSCE's strengths remain its 
     flexibility, the high degree of political will that is 
     reflected in its consensus decisions, and the politically 
     binding nature of its commitments. As OSCE considers how it 
     might best adapt to changing needs, do not compromise these 
     strengths. Build upon them.
       Ladies and Gentlemen, next week, Steve and I will travel to 
     Bucharest for a meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council. 
     There, the Chairmanship-in-Office will pass from the capable 
     hands of Romania into the able hands of Portugal. And I will 
     just as confidently witness the passing of the baton from 
     Ambassador Johnson to Ambassador Minikes.
       There is a great deal of important work ahead for the OSCE. 
     There are still many promises to keep. And Steve, the 
     President and I know that you will help us keep them.
       You and Dede have President Bush's and my best wishes as 
     you embark upon your new mission for our country.
       And now it is my pleasure to administer the oath of office.

                          ____________________