[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1001-E1002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2002

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, during the past recess, I joined with 
Representative Curt Weldon and other Members in traveling to Russia, 
Uzbekistan, China, and Korea for discussions with government officials 
in those nations. I think I speak for all members of our delegation in 
thanking Representative Weldon for his excellent leadership of this 
group. I think we all also would agree that this trip provided an 
invaluable and enlightening look at key nations we must deal with in a 
broad range of issues.
  Representative Weldon recently reported on our trip but today I want 
to insert into the Record my own most recent newspaper commentary, 
which outlines my own thoughts and assessment of our delegation's 
meetings. I ask that the commentary appear at this point in the Record.

                    Promoting Democracy and Freedom

       During the Memorial Day recess, I joined a 13-member 
     bipartisan congressional delegation to meet with government 
     leaders in Russia, Uzbekistan, China, and South Korea. One of 
     the key goals of the delegation, led by Representative Curt 
     Weldon (R-PA), was to visit North Korea. We wanted to express 
     our interest in addressing food aid, agriculture, health, 
     education, and other humanitarian assistance in a nation 
     rampant with starvation and economic turmoil. Unfortunately, 
     the North Korean government denied us entry at the last 
     moment.
       Traveling through three countries that were once part of 
     the ``Communist Bloc,'' we could see that democracy is now a 
     growing force in these nations. Our delegation arrived in 
     Moscow the day after the historic signing of the strategic 
     arms reduction treaty by Presidents George W. Bush and 
     Vladimir Putin. More good news came when we met with members 
     of the State Duma, our legislative counterpart that once was 
     a rubber stamp of the Kremlin, but now is a legitimate policy 
     institution. We presented the legislators with 108 
     recommendations for U.S.-Russian engagement, and the Members 
     of the Duma stated their desire to work with us to bring the 
     U.S. and Russia closer together.
       We visited the Kurchatov Institute, initially established 
     to design Russia's first nuclear weapons, but now transformed 
     into a research center for safe and environmentally friendly 
     nuclear power generation. We attended the ribbon-cutting for 
     the new American University in Moscow, where we met students 
     and faculty in the American Studies program.
       Over the last decade of reforms, Moscow has changed from a 
     gray and solemn city to a tourist destination. Gold-domed 
     churches, colorful buildings beautifully lit at night, 
     billboards and neon abound in the new Moscow.
       At our next stop in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet Republic 
     which is key to the stability of Central Asia, we found a 
     strongly pro-American sentiment. In the capital of Tashkent, 
     the Uzbekistan President, Islom Karimov, told us he wants to 
     model his country after America.
       Uzbekistan (about the size of California) is one of the few 
     countries in Central Asia that shares this pro-American 
     stance. We visited with our troops in the hot and dry desert 
     base of Karshi-Khanabad on the edge of Afghanistan, and 
     assured them of the complete support of the American people. 
     We delivered letters from school children and homemade 
     cookies as tokens of appreciation.
       When we arrived in Beijing, China, I was stunned by its 
     growth since I was first there in 1981. Now it is a bustling 
     metropolis complete with high rise buildings, luxury hotels, 
     and streets packed with cars rather than bicycles. We met 
     with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who stressed that China 
     and the United States have more interests in common than 
     differences.
       China has been fairly successful in its economic reforms. 
     The one major concern I have had with China is its human 
     rights record. Our goal must be to find common ground, while 
     supporting freedom, such as last year's approval by Congress 
     of permanent normal trade relations. Reunification with 
     Taiwan remains a central focus for China's leaders, and our 
     delegation was adamant that this issue must be solved 
     peacefully.
       In Seoul, South Korea, our ally for over 50 years, progress 
     and expansion are still taking place. As hosts of the World 
     Cup, Seoul was filled with visitors from around the world, 
     lending a festive air to this vibrant city. The traffic 
     reminded us of Los Angeles. The delegation visited our troops 
     at Yongsan military base and at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) 
     on the border of North Korea. In a last attempt to obtain 
     visas to visit North Korea, we were denied entry by General 
     Secretary, Korean Workers' Party Kim Jong-Il (he is also 
     ``Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.'') 
     Unfortunately, his country is stuck in the dark ages of 
     totalitarian communism. But we are hopeful that our efforts 
     to open dialogue will lay the groundwork for future meetings.
       It is heartening to report that with the leaders of the 
     countries that we met had praise for America's war on 
     terrorism and President Bush's conduct of our foreign policy. 
     Everywhere we saw leaders, there was great respect for 
     President Bush. Our travels provided insight into the 
     progress and economic growth that has taken hold as a result 
     of democratic reforms. Our congressional delegation brings 
     home a more informed picture of this progress and a set of 
     goals to help us continue improving our relations with these 
     important countries.


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