[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 22, 1992]
[Pages 127-129]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the International Conference on Humanitarian Assistance to 
the Former U.S.S.R.

January 22, 1992
    I would first start off by saying I got bawled out by the Secretary 
of State for being late. And my position is: I'm not late; you guys are 
early.
    But I just want to give a warm welcome to the United States and to 
Washington, our Capital, to the many distinguished guests in this room 
today who include foreign ministers and senior officials from 47 
countries, the United Nations, major international financial 
institutions, and other major international organizations.
    We come together this morning as partners at a historic time, a 
turning point in our century and, I think, in modern history. Our 
mission is to respond together to the dramatic revolution that swept 
away Soviet communism and left in its place 12 new nations moving to 
establish their place in the world and struggling with the critical task 
of feeding, clothing, and housing their peoples this winter, this 
spring, and beyond.
    Before you discuss these issues in depth over the next 2 days, I 
wanted to take a moment to reflect on the meaning of these events in the 
former Soviet Union for those of us in North America, in Europe, the 
Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific, in all corners of 
the globe.
    For nearly 50 years, throughout most of the adult lives of almost 
everyone in this room, mankind endured a dangerous global conflict, the 
cold war. It divided continents and peoples and held all countries 
hostage to the possibility of nuclear annihilation. The free world rose 
up against that threat posed by Soviet expansionism in the decades after 
the Second World War. We spent hundreds of billions of dollars and 
sacrificed precious lives and national resources in that great struggle.
    With the revolution in Eastern Europe in 1989 and in the Soviet 
Union in 1991, that mortal threat has withered. And with the dissolution 
of the Soviet Union itself just last month, we find ourselves at the 
entryway to a new world, a world of hope for a lasting peace and growing 
prosperity.
    Led by a courageous President, Boris Yeltsin, reformers have come to 
power in the enormous Russian Federation. Ukraine has won independence, 
and the government of President Leonid Kravchuk holds out the promise of 
a new political and economic order. In Armenia, a former prisoner of 
conscience, President Ter-Petrosyan, has led an extraordinary national 
effort to transform his country's economic system and lib-

[[Page 128]]

erate its people from political oppression. And in Central Asia the same 
stories, as President Nazarbayev, President Akayev are leading the fight 
for reform there. A new day has dawned throughout the Commonwealth of 
Independent States, with hope for a fundamental transformation in the 
way people live and work and think.
    As we begin a new year and chart our course for the rest of this 
decade, let us bring equal commitment to the challenge of helping to 
build and sustain democracy and economic freedom in the former U.S.S.R., 
just as we did to winning the cold war. Let us help the people 
throughout the Independent States to make the leap from communism to 
democracy, from command economies to free markets, from authoritarianism 
to liberty. And then let us pull together to win the peace in this post-
cold-war era.
    We should not underestimate the enormity of this challenge and the 
difficulty of unraveling economic dislocations resulting from over 70 
years of Communist economics. Ultimate success or failure rests squarely 
with the efforts and wisdom of the peoples of Russia and the Ukraine and 
the Caucasus in Central Asia. The battle is really theirs to win. But 
they cannot win it alone. These 12 new countries will need the hard 
work, creativity, and good will of all of our countries from every 
continent.
    And that is why we meet today, to assure that our commitment and 
assistance will be up to the task, well-conceived and efficiently 
executed. And we meet to demonstrate to the peoples in these new States 
that the international community cares about them and supports their 
hard struggle to build new societies on the ruins of communism.
    So, let us join together to give these people a reason to hope. Let 
us commit ourselves this morning to work in full partnership as we 
proceed.
    First, we must continue to act resolutely this winter, this spring, 
and then throughout 1992 to meet the critical emergency needs of these 
States, food and medical supplies and energy and shelter. The shortages 
now evident throughout the 12 States will not soon disappear and will 
require sustained attention, our sustained attention.
    Second, we must also meet the challenge of promoting economic growth 
and development of new free-market institutions through a collective 
international effort to provide technical assistance. Our work will be 
critically important to help the new States construct banking and 
taxation systems, to provide a healthier environment, to promote the 
rule of law and, yes, nuclear safety.
    In short, we must support those who are standing up for reform and 
freedom. We should stimulate concrete investments and expanded trade. 
President Boris Yeltsin's courageous economic reforms deserve our 
support, as do efforts in the other States to introduce economic change.
    Our success or failure will hinge on our ability to work effectively 
together on this common cause. The challenge is too great for any one 
nation or group of nations. It is a global challenge requiring the 
efforts and commitment of nations from all over the world. And your 
presence here, a truly remarkable presence, is vivid testimony that this 
is and must be a global coalition. Nothing else can work.
    As we come together during these 2 days and then certainly in the 
months ahead, let us do so constructively, in the spirit of partnership, 
avoiding sterile debates over which one of us has done the most or the 
least and which should lead our response to this historic challenge. All 
of us have a role and obligation to fulfill. And many of us have already 
undertaken concrete actions to help.
    The European Community has shouldered a major and generous share of 
the burden. Its prompt actions over several years to provide 
humanitarian support were vitally important, and its commitment to a 
vigorous technical assistance program is far-reaching and most welcomed. 
Germany alone has assumed enormous responsibility in providing military 
housing and in channeling credits to the former U.S.S.R. and now to the 
Federation, to the Russian Federation. Other EC governments have made 
important contributions. The Atlantic alliance stands ready to help with 
the knowledge that the peoples of the former U.S.S.R. are moving toward 
the same values that have sustained NATO since its birth.

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    It is especially satisfying to see here today our friends from 
Central and Eastern Europe as the pioneers in discarding communism and 
embracing democracy. You are here as symbols of success. And though you 
still face problems yourselves, the world applauds your willingness to 
help freedom elsewhere.
    The challenges before us require efforts not just from Europe but 
from other regions and countries as well. Japan has made important 
contributions, commitments and will be critical to this effort. And now 
other nations in the Far East and the Middle East and Latin America 
should commit their expertise, their resources to assure the success of 
reform.
    And I can assure you today that the United States, which for so long 
has led the struggle to contain communism, is also contributing its 
share so that democracy is its permanent replacement. For over 40 years, 
we have led in the reconstruction and defense of the free world. And now 
that the torch of liberty has sparked freedom among our former 
adversaries, the greatest good of our long labor is at last visible.
    The U.S. cannot and will not falter at the moment that these new 
States are struggling to embrace the very ideals that America was 
founded to foster and preserve. Accordingly, as a further U.S. 
contribution to this urgent worldwide effort, I am proposing that the 
Congress approve over $600 million for new technical assistance and 
humanitarian efforts. In addition to the assistance already announced, 
this will bring to over $5 billion the level of various forms of U.S. 
assistance to these people in their time of need.
    In closing, I would like to reiterate the importance of seizing this 
moment to commit ourselves individually and collectively to an 
opportunity that may not come our way again in our lifetimes. The 
prospect that our former adversaries may become our friends and our 
partners, this is in the national interest of every country represented 
around this table and those countries that are not represented around 
this table.
    By coordinating our efforts toward common goals, we have a chance to 
reshape the world for our children and for generations to come. And if 
we do not, we risk the reversal of the historic leap to freedom made by 
the Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, and other peoples during these last 
months.
    So, let us work together over the next 2 days to promote our 
national and collective security, continued global economic growth, and 
to do what is right for the ordinary people who yearn for a better, free 
life in these new Independent States.
    Thank you all very, very much for being here. I know it is not easy 
to make the long trek. It is desperately important. Thank you for this 
opportunity to speak with you today. And may God bless the peoples of 
all the countries represented here and the peoples of these new, 
struggling Independent States. We have such confidence that we can 
succeed, all of us working together.
    Thank you all very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 9 a.m. at the 
                        Department of State. In his remarks, he referred 
                        to President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan 
                        and President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan.