[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6349-S6350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             FOREIGN TRAVEL

  Mr. SPECTER. It has been my custom to make a report to the Congress 
and my constituents and the general public when I return from a trip, 
which I did on July 11, having started on July 3, and having visited 
the Czech Republic, Israel, Syria, and Croatia. I will ask at the 
conclusion of my comments the full text of my prepared statement be 
printed in the Record.
  A few supplementary comments about my visits to Israel and Syria: The 
Mideast peace process is of enormous importance, not only to that 
region but to U.S. national security interests and to the interest of 
peace in the world. The Palestinian track seems to be stuck with the 
controversies over the neighborhoods, also referred to as the 
settlements. But the administration is hard at work through special 
envoy former Senator George Mitchell moving ahead on that line.
  I believe the time is ripe now for movement on the Israel-Syria 
track. I say that based on the conversations I had with Israeli and 
Syrian officials. I was invited to come to Damascus. I have been to 
Syria on many occasions in the past, starting in 1984. I have been 
there some 19 times. This was the first time that I received a specific 
invitation from President Bashar al-Assad to come there. I believe that 
is an indication, which President Assad is very open about, of his 
interest in having peace talks with Israel without preconditions.
  He immediately follows that with a statement that Syria has a right 
to the Golan Heights. But it is no surprise that this is being asserted 
from the Syrian point of view.
  Only Israel should decide for itself whether it wishes to trade the 
Golan for other national security interests, for concerns about 
Hezbollah and Hamas and the link with Iran--whatever effect there may 
be with the Iranian-Syrian relationship and the stabilization of 
Lebanon. But it is a different world today than it was in 1967 in an 
era of rockets, so the security interests are very different.
  The Israelis and the Syrians came very close to a peace agreement in 
1995 and again in the year 2000. Turkey had been brokering talks 
between Israel and Syria, but the Turkish envoys have withdrawn after 
the so-called flotilla incident, asking Israel for an apology. Since 
none is forthcoming, the Turks are not brokering that issue. So it 
seems to me with the role the United States played, the very active 
role of former President Clinton--with U.S. participation I believe the 
prospects are good and there could be a treaty there.
  Israel has significant potential gains--to stop the shelling by Hamas 
from the south and the threat and potential shelling from Hezbollah 
from the north, and also the relationship between Syria and Iran. 
President Assad said to me that Iran supports Syria, but Syria does not 
support Iran. With the recent action by Syria in changing the veiling 
requirement, it is an indication that Syria is pursuing being a secular 
state with significant differences from the practices in Iran. If it 
should become the national interest of Syria to side with the West, 
that is a potential which ought to be explored. It is not going to 
happen overnight, but it is something worth thinking about and worth 
considering.
  I now ask unanimous consent that the full text of my prepared 
statement be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Mr. President--As is my custom, when I return from foreign 
     travel, I file a report with the Senate.
       From July 3 to July 11, 2010, I traveled to the Czech 
     Republic, Israel, Syria, and Croatia.


                             Czech Republic

       I arrived in Prague on Sunday, July 4, 2010 after having 
     departed Washington, D.C. on Saturday with a brief overnight 
     stay in England. This was my first trip to Prague since 
     Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and 
     Slovakia in 1993. The evening of my arrival in Prague, I 
     dined with U.S. Ambassador John Ordway, who is serving as the 
     Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Prague while the 
     Senate considers the nomination of Norman Eisen to be U.S. 
     Ambassador to the Czech Republic. One of the issues we 
     discussed was his belief in the importance of congressional 
     travel. In addition to raising Members of Congress' 
     understanding of world affairs, it provides embassy staff 
     with opportunities to raise issues of importance with foreign 
     leaders at higher levels than normally possible. Along these 
     lines, I was asked to voice my support to Czech officials for 
     the efforts of Westinghouse--a Pittsburgh-based company--to 
     build a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic.
       The Westinghouse facility would provide 9,000 American 
     jobs, create $18 billion in U.S. exports, and would allow the 
     Czech Republic to reduce its reliance on Russia as an energy 
     provider. Russia currently provides the Czech Republic with 
     70 percent of its natural gas, 60 percent of its petroleum, 
     and 30 percent of its nuclear power.
       The following morning I met with Ambassador Ordway and some 
     of his deputies for a country team briefing. One of the 
     issues we discussed was the newly-elected Czech Parliament's 
     plan to balance the national budget by 2013 through cuts in 
     expenditures and increased indirect taxes. Additionally, we 
     discussed the Czech Republic's presence in Iraq and 
     Afghanistan. Approximately 535 Czech soldiers are currently 
     serving in Afghanistan, and it was the sense of the embassy 
     staff that public sentiment regarding the mission could 
     change following the recent deaths of 3 Czech servicemen.
       Following the meeting at the Embassy, Ambassador Ordway and 
     I proceeded to a meeting with Czech President Vaclav Klaus. I 
     thanked the President for his country's contribution to the 
     military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he expressed 
     the belief that while the missions were not popular in the 
     court of world opinion, something had to be done and the 
     world could not afford to standby.
       I raised the issue of the prospects of forming lasting 
     democratic institutions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He expressed 
     the view that he thought democracy would come to Iraq, but 
     was unsure when. He expressed doubts as to whether it could 
     ever take hold in Afghanistan.
       I urged President Klaus to support Westinghouse's nuclear 
     bid and he said that he has been impressed with Westinghouse 
     products since his days as Prime Minister, but added that the 
     decision would be made by others in the Czech government.

[[Page S6350]]

       Knowing President Klaus to be a former economics professor, 
     I raised the issue of China's unfair subsidization of its 
     steel industry--something I have fought against and argued 
     before the International Trade Commission on a number of 
     occasions--which leads to an unlevel playing field for U.S. 
     and Czech companies alike. President Klaus shared my 
     frustration with such practices, but he disagreed when I 
     suggested the implementation of countervailing duties. It was 
     his sense that democratic reform in China would be the 
     greatest driver for improvements in trade practices, although 
     he could not suggest a timeline for such reform.
       I inquired with President Klaus his views of Iran and what 
     could be done there. While he did not have a direct answer, 
     he shared a very interesting story about an encounter he had 
     with Russian Prime Minister Putin and Russian President 
     Medvedev. He explained that during a conference the three had 
     attended, both Putin and Medvedev expressed great concern 
     over the situation in Iran, because of Iran's efforts to 
     develop a nuclear weapon.
       We also discussed efforts to create a lasting Mideast 
     peace, strategies for dealing with North Korea, and climate 
     change. With regard to the last issue, knowing me to be 
     concerned with current changes to the global climate, 
     President Klaus provided me with a copy of his book ``Blue 
     Planet in Green Shackles,'' in which he expresses his 
     skepticism with regard to man's impact on the warming of our 
     planet.


                                 Israel

       We spent most of July 6 traveling to Israel from the Czech 
     Republic. This was my 27th visit to Israel in my capacity as 
     a Senator. The following day, I had a series of meetings with 
     Palestinian Liberation Organization negotiator Dr. Saeb 
     Erekat, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, 
     Israeli Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni, Israeli President 
     Simon Peres, and finally had a dinner meeting with Israeli 
     Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.
       My first meeting of the day was with Dr. Saeb Erekat in 
     Ramallah, someone I have gotten to know very well over the 
     past 15 years. We opened the meeting with a discussion about 
     the prospects for peace. Dr. Erekat immediately said that 
     peace was obtainable--very much in reach--and the next 
     move lay in the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 
     Netanyahu. I mentioned that I would be meeting with 
     Israeli President Peres later that day and Syrian 
     President Assad the following day. Erekat told me to speak 
     to Israel about using Turkey to resume the indirect talks 
     between Israel and Syria. According to him, it was both 
     his and President Abbas's position that it was in the 
     Palestinians' interest for Syria and Israel to resume 
     talks and that the current tension between Israel and 
     Turkey benefitted no party.
       That afternoon I remained in Ramallah to meet with 
     Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. He said he 
     is focusing on growing the economy in order to undercut 
     peoples' reliance on Hamas for basic needs. Prime Minister 
     Fayyad was optimistic that the Palestinian Authority can 
     regain control of the government from Hamas in the upcoming 
     elections.
       I raised the issue of Israel's talks through Turkey with 
     Syria. Prime Minister Fayyad was skeptical of the utility of 
     this track, and indicated his belief that the best course 
     forward is to formulate a joint public document outlining the 
     key issues which need to be resolved to make peace. He also 
     discussed his belief that concerted U.S. involvement could 
     greatly improve the chances of success.
       I asked the Prime Minister if there were other ways the 
     U.S. could be helpful and he explained that much of the 
     progress on moving the economy and infrastructure has come 
     from USAID, including more than $2.9 billion since 1994 for 
     programs in the areas of water, sanitation, infrastructure, 
     education, health care, economic growth and democracy.
       After meeting with Prime Minister Fayyad, we returned to 
     Jerusalem where I met with Israeli Opposition Party Leader 
     Tzipi Livni. We opened the discussions talking about Israel's 
     indirect talks with Syria through Turkey. She indicated her 
     belief that an agreement was ``feasible''.
       I proceeded to ask her about Prime Minister Fayyad's 
     assertion that there will be no peace between Israel and the 
     Palestinians until the Palestinians are united. In her view 
     talks between Israeli and Palestinians could proceed, and 
     when an agreement is reached it could be presented to Hamas--
     where they would be given a choice work together or be seen 
     as an obstructionist minority.
       That evening I joined Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 
     Daniel Ayalon for dinner. We became friends when he served as 
     Israel's ambassador to the United States. I opened the 
     discussion by expressing Dr. Erekat's position that if Prime 
     Minister Netanyahu were serious about peace, a deal could be 
     made. Ayalon responded by stating that peace was on the table 
     in November of 2008 and was rejected by the Palestinians.
       During my meeting with Dr. Erekat, he mentioned a situation 
     where Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman would not 
     shake his hand, so I raised the issue with Deputy Foreign 
     Minister Ayalon. He denied the account and referred to 
     Lieberman's oft-quoted remark that he would give his own 
     house for peace with the Palestinians.
       Before concluding dinner, Ayalon asked me to return with 
     two messages to the U.S. The first was to pass a request 
     shorten the life sentence for Jonathan Pollard, a former 
     civilian intelligence analyst who was convicted of spying for 
     Israel. The second was to express appreciation for the funds 
     stemming from the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation 
     Act of 2007, which authorizes grants to encourage 
     collaboration between the U.S. and Israel in the research, 
     development, and commercialization of renewable energy and 
     energy efficiency technologies. The $4 million 
     appropriated to date by Congress for this program has been 
     matched 100 percent by the Israeli Government. Funding has 
     gone to support eight collaborative projects between 
     Israelis and American universities and private companies, 
     including a company based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. 
     With this funding Israel hopes to reduce its oil 
     dependence by 50 percent.


                                 Syria

       The next morning we flew to Syria--my 19th trip to the 
     country--via Jordan to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. I 
     have gotten to know President Bashar al-Assad well over the 
     past decade, just as I knew his father, Hafez al-Assad. I 
     opened my meeting with President Assad by expressing regret 
     that the U.S. Senate had not acted to confirm Robert Ford to 
     be the Ambassador to Syria, in addition to ambassadors to 
     other important countries and international bodies. President 
     Assad replied that he was very pleased by President Obama's 
     signal that he wanted an American ambassador in Damascus.
       I continued the conversation by recounting a discussion I 
     had recently with Syria's Ambassador to the United States, 
     Imad Moustapha, in which we discussed the opportunity to 
     restart talks between Israel and Syria. President Assad 
     expressed great openness to resuming the talks with Turkey as 
     the broker.
       I pressed Assad on Syria's alleged sale of Scud missiles to 
     Hezbollah and his support for Hamas and Hezbollah. He asked 
     for proof on the missile issue and denied the charge. He said 
     that once there was a Syria-Israeli peace agreement there 
     would no longer be a reason for any concern about missiles. 
     Hezbollah or Hamas.
       In discussing Iran, President Assad suggested the U.S. work 
     to improve its relationship with Iran by further pursuing 
     diplomatic engagement.
       As I have done in previous conversations with President 
     Assad, I expressed my desire that he allow forensic teams 
     into his country on the missing Israeli soldiers issue. I 
     also raised again my request that the remains of Eli Cohen be 
     returned to Israel--or, at a bare minimum, allow a kaddish to 
     be said over his remains by his widow and a rabbi. He said 
     those matters would have to await a Syria-Israeli peace 
     treaty.
       Finally, at the urging of the Charge, I asked that recent 
     changes to Syrian visa regulations--which seem to target 
     Americans--be reversed in light of the fact that the U.S. has 
     reduced visa wait periods for Syrians and lifted the Travel 
     Warning for Syria. President Assad said he would look into 
     this situation.


                                Croatia

       On Friday, July 9, 2010 I flew to Dubrovnik, Croatia where 
     I met with U.S. Ambassador Jim Foley. During our meeting 
     Ambassador Foley underscored Croatia's strong support of the 
     U.S. and cited its commitment of 300 soldiers to the mission 
     in Afghanistan. The Ambassador expressed his support for 
     Croatia's desire to enter the European Union so as to 
     strengthen the economy and provide incentives for 
     governmental reform. I inquired about the status of the 
     Serbian fugitives responsible for the Srebrenica Massacre and 
     the Ambassador assured me everything was being done to bring 
     those men to justice. While we were in Croatia, there was a 
     summit of regional leaders being held in the city.
       The next morning I met with Croatian Foreign Minister 
     Gordan Jandrokovic before the Croatian summit. I expressed my 
     appreciation for Croatia's efforts in Afghanistan and my 
     support for Croatia's desire to enter the E.U. He indicated 
     in response that Croatia plans to expand its troop commitment 
     in Afghanistan by five percent to 320. We also discussed 
     efforts to improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia so as 
     to improve regional security.
       We returned to the United States on Sunday, July 11, 
     following an overnight layover in France.

  Mr. SPECTER. In the absence of any other Senator on the floor seeking 
recognition, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask the time be yielded back so we can 
proceed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________