Clinton discusses policy issues with Central/East European leaders (02/18/96)

Clinton discusses policy issues with Central/East European leaders

by Eugene Iwanciw
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - "I think you can have a huge influence," remarked President Bill Clinton to representatives of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), who met with him at the White House on February 12 to discuss U.S. foreign assistance, NATO expansion and other regional issues. The meeting included the leadership of 18 national grass-roots organizations representing over 22 million Americans of Central and East European heritage.

The Ukrainian National Association (UNA), represented by Ulana Diachuk and Eugene Iwanciw, and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), represented by Askold Lozynskyj and Michael Sawkiw, were among the organizations present at the meeting.

A spokesman for the CEEC described the meeting as candid and productive. It centered on the issue of NATO's openness to new members and the important role U.S. foreign assistance plays in advancing American interests.

The president assured the coalition he would not delay or abandon the timetable for NATO enlargement and agreed with coalition members that Russian rhetoric had gotten irresponsible on the question of NATO.

The president insisted that his policy was clear and firm without being provocative. "We have a fine line to walk while maintaining a climate which is secure for Central and Eastern Europe," said President Clinton. The president stated that the Russians cannot harbor any illusions that if they reverted to aggressive behavior, his administration would not respond in an appropriate manner.

During the meeting, which lasted nearly 45 minutes, President Clinton thanked the coalition for its support of the U.S.-brokered Bosnia peace plan and for its leadership in raising awareness among its constituents on the importance of American engagement and leadership in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. A follow-up to a November 29, 1995, CEEC meeting with administration officials at the White House, this exchange with President Clinton also occurred at the administration's invitation.

The president noted that the members of the coalition had great credibility with fellow Americans because "you are a living and walking symbol of the long struggle against communism and for freedom."

The members of the coalition have consistently supported continued U.S. foreign assistance as an essential tool of U.S. foreign policy. The UNA is a co-founder and leading member of the CEEC.

Casimir Lenard of the Polish American Congress thanked the president for meeting with the members of the CEEC. Mr. Iwanciw then noted that a 30-page briefing book with an executive summary (see page 6) was provided. He summarized the major issues of concern to the coalition, including concern about NATO enlargement and U.S. foreign assistance.

In his comments, Mr. Iwanciw noted that ideas and words have meaning, and stressed the need to continue the flow of information to the nations of Central and East Europe through the U.S. Information Agency, and U.S. international radio and television services. He concluded by informing Mr. Clinton that the coalition had five questions it wished to pose to him.

Mr. Lenard, Regina Narusis of the Lithuanian American Community Inc. and Edith Lauer of the Hungarian American Coalition asked the president a series of questions about the timeframe of NATO expansion and steps the United States would take to ensure the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the region. The president responded that his administration has made it clear that "there is no justification for Russian aggression" against its neighbors. He went on to state that "our test should be to judge Russia not on what they say but on what they do."

Carl Bazarian of the Armenian Assembly of America stated that the CEEC wants to cooperate more fully with the Clinton administration on maintaining foreign aid at levels commensurate with U.S. national security interests and stressed the importance of earmarks for the non-Russian nations. (In Fiscal Year 1996, Congress earmarked $225 million for Ukraine, making it the third largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid.)

Ints Rupners of the American Latvian Association pointed out that as U.S. assistance declines, it is vital that it be efficiently administered through organizations such as U.S. ethnic organizations with an understanding of the targeted countries and a long-term commitment to the region.

The president, expressing concern about the trend toward greater U.S. isolationism among many Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, agreed to work more closely with the Central and East European Coalition on maintaining a reasonable level of assistance.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Lozynskyj asked the president to raise, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, the issue of assistance to the victims of the disaster at the upcoming G-7 meeting. The president reacted positively to the suggestion.

Administration officials attending the meeting included National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, as well as the National Security Council's Senior Director for Central and Eastern European Affairs Daniel Fried and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs Chip Blacker.

Present from the State Department were Richard Morningstar, coordinator of U.S. assistance to the NIS, and James Holmes, coordinator for East European assistance.

Representing the White House Office of Public Liaison were Director Alexis Herman and Associate Director Marilyn DiGiacobbe, who set up the meeting. Meetings with these officials both before and after the meeting with the president offered the delegation the opportunity to explore a number of issues in greater depth.

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