FOR THE RECORD: Helsinki Commission letter cautions Clinton on summit with Yeltsin (03/16/97)

FOR THE RECORD

Helsinki Commission letter cautions Clinton on summit with Yeltsin

Following is the text of a March 12 letter to President Bill Clinton written by Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, chairman, and Rep. Christopher Smith, co-chairman, of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission).

Dear Mr. President:

In anticipation of your upcoming summit meeting with Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin, we urge you to consider several issues as you prepare for these important discussions. Your travels to the Finnish capital are a reminder of the monumental changes that have occurred in Europe since the 1975 signing of the Helsinki Final Act as well as the continuing challenges in building a truly united and democratic Europe.

While we strongly support the timely enlargement of NATO as part of this process, we remain concerned that reason and realism be exercised in efforts undertaken by the administration to forge ahead with some form of formal partnership between Russia and NATO. The killing fields of Chechnya should serve as a stark reminder of the limits on democracy and human rights in Russia. President Yeltsin is ultimately responsible for the Russian military operations that laid waste to Grozny, leveled scores of towns and villages, led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Chechen and Russian civilians, and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.

The single greatest contribution Russia can make to the construction of an integrated and democratic Europe would be to consolidate democracy, human rights and rule of law at home.

We cannot ignore the historical relationship between Russia and her neighbors, many of whom have understandable concerns for their sovereignty and independence, given decades of brutal domination and suppression by Moscow. Such apprehension can only be heightened by the current leadership crisis in the Kremlin and neo-imperialist statements made by certain prominent Russian political figures. Russian Foreign Minister Yevgenii Primakov, a key interlocutor on NATO issues, has been one of the chief proponents of the re-establishment of a Russian sphere of influence in the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.

Mr. President, while we cannot ignore legitimate Russian security concerns as NATO proceeds with the admission of new states, neither can we allow Moscow to dictate the terms of enlargement or which states might be admitted. While the United States should continue to encourage cooperation among countries in the Baltic region, it is important to keep in mind that such cooperation cannot preclude NATO membership for Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

Talks on a possible formal charter between NATO and Russia should clearly address the following points. First, the Russian Federation must not be given a veto, or implied veto, over the timing or conditions for the admission of new members into the alliance. Second, such an accord must firmly oppose any moves by Moscow to establish "spheres of influence" in East/Central Europe. Third, the charter must in no way impede the development of enhanced relations between NATO and non-members, such as Ukraine.

With Ukraine in mind, we wish to express our growing concern over a series of disturbing Russian actions relating to the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. Challenges to Ukrainian sovereignty over Sevastopol continue despite the 1995 agreement signed by the presidents of Ukraine and Russia on the principles for dividing the Black Sea Fleet headquartered on the Crimean peninsula. In December the Federation Council of the Russian Parliament overwhelmingly approved a resolution claiming the port as part of Russian territory and condemning Ukraine's refusal to recognize Sevastopol's "Russian status." A similar measure was adopted by the State Duma in October. More recently, Moscow Mayor Yurii Luzhkov traveled to Sevastopol, where he declared that "Sevastopol was and is a Russian city and we must defend Sevastopol's right to be a Russian city."

In the five years since independence, Kyiv has endeavored to pursue improved relations with the Russian Federation based on sovereign equality. Threats to Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, such as those described above, can only undermine this process with potentially destabilizing consequences.

During your talks with President Yeltsin, we urge you to underscore unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, and to stress the importance of resolving all outstanding issues relating to the Black Sea Fleet and the port of Sevastopol in a manner consistent with OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] principles, including respect for territorial integrity.

Regarding this principle, we note that there has been some indication that Russia intends to withdraw at least part of its military forces from Moldova. Your administration has consistently and properly insisted that the October 21, 1994, withdrawal agreement between Moldova and Russia be observed. We hope you will continue to encourage President Yeltsin to this end.

In closing, Mr. President, we wish you every success in Helsinki, and may your work be guided by those principles so closely identified with that city.

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