[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 20, 1992]
[Page 482]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Russia-United States 
Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing in Action

March 20, 1992
    The United States and Russia have established a joint commission to 
investigate unresolved cases of prisoners of war and missing in action 
dating from the Second World War, including the Korean and Vietnam 
conflicts. The creation of this commission underscores the commitment of 
both the United States and Russia to work together in a spirit of 
friendship to uncover the fate of missing servicemen on both sides. This 
effort symbolizes the determination of the administration to resolve 
outstanding issues from the cold war period and is another step in 
developing our new cooperative relationship with Russia.
    Former Ambassador to the Soviet Union Malcolm Toon has been 
designated the President's representative and Chairman of the U.S. 
delegation to this commission. The commission also will include Senators 
John Kerry and Robert Smith and Congressmen Pete Peterson and John 
Miller. The Russian delegation will be chaired by Gen. Dmitri 
Volkogonov, a senior adviser to President Yeltsin. The first meeting of 
the joint commission will be held March 26-28 in Moscow.