[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12290-12291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                LATVIA, UKRAINE, RUSSIA, JORDAN AND IRAQ

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, over the Memorial Day recess my 
colleagues from Idaho and South Carolina joined me on a trip to Europe 
and the Middle East to review political and economic developments in 
emerging democracies, and U.S. security and foreign assistance 
activities that support the march of freedom in those regions. I want 
to take a brief moment to share with my colleagues some of the trip 
highlights.
  Our first leg took us to Latvia, where Senators Crapo and DeMint and 
I met with senior government officials and President Vaira Vike-
Freiberga. Although a young democracy, Latvia is unquestionably headed 
in the right direction. A painful and horrific past under Soviet 
occupation has seemingly steeled in that country's national 
consciousness a drive and determination toward freedom and free 
markets. Not surprisingly, Latvian officials today are keenly aware of 
events in neighboring Russia, and expressed concern with what they 
perceive as growing authoritarianism in Moscow.
  A member of NATO and the EU, Latvia recognizes that while it 
continues to make forward progress at home, including passage of 
important money-laundering legislation, it has an important role to 
play in the region and beyond. I again want to express my heartfelt 
appreciation to the people of Latvia for their support of military 
operations in Iraq and democracy in neighboring Belarus, Ukraine, and 
Georgia.
  U.S. Ambassador Cathy Bailey and her staff, particularly Mark Draper, 
deserve praise for representing America's interests in Riga ably, 
continuing to strengthen U.S.-Latvian bilateral relations, and 
providing outstanding support throughout our visit, including setting 
up a meeting with the Belarusian opposition. I am particularly proud of 
Cathy as she is a Kentuckian; she is doing the Commonwealth proud.
  From Latvia we traveled to Russia, where the contrast between the two 
countries was immediate. Although Moscow has physically changed since 
my last visit in 1993, a bumbling Soviet-era bureaucracy and suspicion 
of the United States unfortunately remain.
  Cooperation on issues of mutual importance to the United States and 
Russia must continue, including countering terrorism, preventing the 
proliferation of weapons and materials of mass destruction, and dealing 
with the challenges of Iran and North Korea. However, concerns 
expressed in Latvia--and later in Ukraine--on the rollback of democracy 
in that country were underscored in a meeting we had with a dynamic 
member of Russia's Duma, and the 9-year prison sentence handed down to 
ex-YUKOS tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky while we were in Moscow.
  I echo the calls by President Bush and Secretary of State Rice for 
greater support and respect for democracy and the rule of law by 
President Putin and the Russian Government. I would only add that with 
respect to regional relations, it is in Russia's interest that its 
neighbors are democratic. It is my view that greater freedom can 
provide the stability that the Kremlin apparently seeks in Ukraine, 
Georgia and elsewhere.
  In Ukraine, we met with a broad range of government and former 
government officials to discuss the Orange Revolution, and the need for 
critical economic reforms that Ukraine must implement in order to 
fulfill its aspirations for entry into the WTO, EU and NATO. While it 
is clear that President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Tymoshenko 
understand the hard work that lies ahead, they--and other key leaders--
must keep their collective noses to the grindstone to implement 
economic reforms as quickly as possible.
  As a long time Ukraine-watcher, it is my hope that Yushchenko and 
Tymoshenko do not repeat the mistakes of previous governments that led 
to massive corruption and political shenanigans following independence 
in 1991. The recent failure of the Rada to pass intellectual property 
rights legislation--which is essential to WTO entry--is a cause for 
concern. However, Ukrainians should know that America is ready and 
willing to help further freedom in their country. This was no more 
clearly demonstrated than through the $60 million provided for Ukraine 
in the recently passed emergency supplemental.
  I know my fellow Senators will agree that U.S. Ambassador John Herbst 
and his staff deserve recognition for doing a great job. They made sure 
that our visit included differing views on the Orange Revolution, 
including those of former President Leonid Kravchuck and Yushchenko-
challenger Viktor Yanukovych, both of whom were at dinner one night at 
the Ambassador's house, and had very different views, obviously, than 
those expressed by the President and Prime Minister.
  From Ukraine we traveled to Jordan where we met with King Abdallah. 
We discussed regional issues, particularly Iraq and prospects for peace 
on the West Bank and Gaza. King Abdallah is clearly engaged on both 
issues and we appreciate that he continues to be a valued partner for 
peace.
  Given aircraft mechanical problems, our visit to Iraq was somewhat 
abbreviated. Nonetheless, we departed Baghdad with an unmistakable 
conclusion: 2005 is a critical year for the future of democracy in that 
country--and for our own country's efforts to help the Iraqi people 
secure the blessings of liberty. The Iraqi people face a number of 
looming deadlines, including drafting a new constitution by August 15, 
holding a national referendum on the constitution by October 15, and 
conducting national elections to form a new government by December 15. 
So they have several deadlines ahead of them on the road to democracy. 
The participation of Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish representatives in this 
process is absolutely imperative. According to an Iraqi parliamentarian 
we met, the Iraqi people are up to this challenge. They should know 
that America will continue to stand with them.
  In Baghdad, we met with David Satterfield, our Charge d'Affaires, 
General George Casey, and General David Petraeus. The view expressed by 
our general officers in Baghdad--that the Iraqi Army has made 
considerable progress--was shared by the Commander of the Second Marine 
Expeditionary Force in Fallujah, General Steve Johnson.
  In Fallujah, we met with a task force of Marines determined that the 
heroic combat operations required to take the city should be followed 
by successful reconstruction efforts. They told us that Iraqi forces 
are combat ready, and determined in the face of enemy opposition. 
Recent press reports regarding Operation Matador, and the discovery of 
an insurgent underground bunker system, reveal only a small part of the 
great work that our forces are doing in Anbar province.
  On a personal note, in Fallujah I was reunited with 2LT Joe Bilby of 
the Third Battalion, Eleventh Marine Regiment. This young officer once 
worked on my staff here in the Senate, heard the call of duty, and 
earned a commission in the Marine Corps. His unit is

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executing a mission critical to our success in Iraq. The people of 
Kentucky, and the rest of the country, should be proud of Lieutenant 
Bilby and his Marine band of brothers.
  Let me close by pointing out that critical to the success of freedom 
in any country is strong and effective leadership that includes the 
political will to implement needed political, economic and legal 
reforms. As in previous years, my staff and I will be using this 
measurement as we put together the fiscal year 2006 State, Foreign 
Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill in the weeks to 
come.

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