[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S446-S447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LUGAR:
  S. 2562. A bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory 
treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of 
Kazakhstan; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
designed to extend permanent normal trade relations to Kazakhstan. 
Kazakhstan is still subject to the provisions of the Jackson-Vanik 
amendment to the Trade Act of 1974, which sanctions nations for failure 
to comply with freedom of emigration requirements. This bill would 
repeal permanently the application of Jackson-Vanik to Kazakhstan.
  In the post-Cold-War era, Kazakhstan has demonstrated a commitment to 
meet these requirements, and in addition, has expressed a strong desire 
to abide by free market principles and good governance. Since 1992, 
Kazakhstan has been certified annually as meeting the Jackson-Vanik 
requirements. This legislation would make this trade relationship 
permanent and, in so doing, stimulate further market reforms and 
encourage a commitment to safeguarding individual liberties.
  The U.S. has a long record of cooperation with Kazakhstan through the 
Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction. Kazakhstan inherited the 
fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world with the fall of the Soviet 
Union. Through the Nunn-Lugar Program the United States has assisted 
Kazakhstan in eliminating this deadly arsenal and joining the 
Nonproliferation Treaty as a nonnuclear state.
  Earlier this month, a team of American scientists working under the 
Nunn-Lugar Program quietly entered Kazakhstan in sub-zero temperatures 
to begin the careful packaging of bubonic and pneumonic plague samples 
in accordance with international safety standards for the transport of 
dangerous biological materials. I am pleased to inform my Senate 
colleagues that the samples have been safely transported on a U.S. Air 
Force C-17 cargo plane to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado. It marked the successful 
completion of a 5-year negotiation to secure, transport and develop a 
research program for the pathogens.
  Cooperative research by American and Kazakhstani scientists will 
develop prevention and cure possibilities for this deadly plague. It 
provides new hope for places where the disease is naturally occurring 
and helps deter the plague's use as a bio-terror weapon. As many may 
know, Plague is a highly lethal disease spread from rodents to humans 
by fleas. It caused the Black Death which swept across Europe in the 
14th century. It is estimated that 20-30 million Europeans died--
perhaps as much as half of the continent's population at the time. An 
estimated 75 million people worldwide died from the Black Plague.

[[Page S447]]

  Kazakhstani and American plague experts will conduct joint research 
on the samples at Federal labs in Fort Collins, CO. They will develop 
advanced diagnostics and treatments for plague. This cooperative public 
health research funded through the U.S. Department Health and Human 
Services Biotechnology Engagement Program will yield valuable 
scientific insights into a potentially devastating disease, which is 
endemic throughout Central Asia. The aim of such cooperation is to 
improve the protection of Kazakhstani and global populations against a 
naturally occurring disease that could also be exploited by terrorists.
  U.S. strategic and economic interests intersect in Central Asia. With 
Russia to the north and Iran and Afghanistan to the south, energy-rich 
Central Asia is at the frontline of American national security 
priorities. We have tremendous opportunities in the region, but it will 
take time and consistent high-level effort to build constructive 
relationships. This region needs to have a much higher priority on 
America's foreign policy agenda. In Kazakhstan, we have a record of 15 
years of collaboration on weapons destruction through the Nunn-Lugar 
program. This is a solid foundation on which to continue building our 
relationship.
  I recently traveled to Kazakhstan and met with senior government 
officials and discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation with 
the United States, including energy security. In my conversations with 
Kazakh leaders I encouraged the government to pursue trans-Caspian 
transportation options for oil and gas. At the current time, Kazakhstan 
relies almost exclusively upon Russia to transport oil and gas to world 
markets. In turn, Russia has occasionally demonstrated willingness to 
use its control over these supplies for political gain at the expense 
of our European allies. Opening trans-Caspian export routes will dilute 
Russia's control over energy supplies. Likewise, having multiple export 
options will reinforce the political independence of Kazakhstan. I was 
pleased that Kazakh officials indicated a willingness to work with the 
U.S. and their neighbors on these issues.
  There are areas in which Kazakhstan needs to continue to improve. 
These include market access, democratic and human rights reforms. The 
U.S. must remain committed to assisting Kazakhstan in pursuing these 
reforms. The government in Astana still has important work to do in 
these critical areas. The permanent waiver of Jackson-Vanik and 
establishment of permanent normal trade relations will be the 
foundation on which further progress in a burgeoning partnership can be 
made.
  I am hopeful that my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
important legislation. It is essential that we act promptly to bolster 
this burgeoning democracy and promote stability and in this region.
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