NCSJ - 04.27.2010

NCSJ's Levin Testifies on Capitol Hill


NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin testified before Congress today in favor of graduating Russia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. Mr. Levin testified as part of a panel before the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittees on Europe and on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

Visit foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1176 for the full hearing notice and a list of witnesses. An archived webcast of the hearing is viewable using RealPlayer at international.edgeboss.net/real/international/jh04272010.smi. Mr. Levin's testimony begins at the 57:00 minute mark. A pdf copy of Mr. Levin's written testimony is available by clicking here.

Below are news stories that quote Mr. Levin.

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JTA  - 04.29.2010

NCSJ: Rescind Jackson-Vanik for Russia

WASHINGTON -- A group that advocates for Jews in the former Soviet Union endorsed efforts to lift restrictions on Russia's trade with the United States.

Former Soviet states are still subject to review under standards established by the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment, which linked trade status to human rights, particularly among Jews. Jewish communities in those nations in recent years have lobbied for its rescission, and have garnered support in both parties.

"Russian Jewish life has flourished dramatically since the Soviet collapse in 1991," Mark Levin, who directs the NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia, told a joint hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittees on Europe and Trade on Tuesday. "What has happened is nothing less than a historic rebirth of a people and their culture after decades of persecution."

Also testifying on behalf of removing the restrictions was Mark Talisman, who heads the Project Judaica Foundation, which seeks to preserve Jewish culture. Talisman helped draft the amendment as chief of staff to the late U.S. Rep. Charles Vanik (D-Ohio), who shepherded the law through the House.

Resistance to removing the restrictions comes from some in the business and human rights communities who say that Russia continues to maintain centralized controls over business and religious expression.

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Reuters - 04.28.2010

US agrees to intensify talks on Russia's WTO bid (UPDATE 2)

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON -- The United States and Russia have agreed to intensify talks on Moscow's nearly 17-year-old bid to join the World Trade Organization, a U.S. trade official said on Tuesday.

"The participants reviewed the action plan that Russian, U.S. and EU negotiators have developed, and discussed how best to move Russian accession to the finish line," Carol Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office, said after a day of high-level U.S.-Russia talks.

White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov "agreed that the dialogue at all levels would continue and be intensified. The United States looks forward to Russia becoming a member of the WTO," Guthrie said.

The renewed push is another sign of improved relations between the two former Cold War enemies.

It also comes nearly a year after Russia threw its bid to join the WTO into confusion by announcing it planned to join as a "customs union" with Kazakhstan and Belarus.

The U.S.-Russia talks on Tuesday also included U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and Russian Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina.

Shuvalov on Monday set the stage for the talks when he told reporters that Russia was dropping its insistence on joining in tandem with its two neighbors. He said Russia wanted to finish its accession process separately while still working on the customs union.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday that the creation of a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan was still on track.

"The process of creating a joint customs zone is taking place in strict accordance with our agreements," Putin said.

The officials meeting in Washington discussed Russia's plans for the customs union, as well as its implications for the accession process, Guthrie said.

They also reviewed a number of issues that Russia must resolve to complete its bid, Guthrie said. Those include issues about its state-owned enterprises, protection of intellectual property rights, products with encryption and agricultural trade, Guthrie added.

JEWISH EMIGRATION

In another development, U.S. Representative Bill Delahunt said he planned to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks to remove Russia from the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which still applies to a dwindling number of former Soviet Republics.

That provision, passed in 1974, tied U.S. trade relations with the Soviet Union to the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate freely. Russia has been in compliance since 1994.

Delahunt, a Democrat, is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe.

"I think it's very, very important that we recognize we're out of compliance with our own law (by not recognizing Russia's progress) and it would have a very positive impact on our bilateral relationship, which has been moving substantially in a very positive direction," Delahunt said.

Removing Russia from the Jackson-Vanik amendment would eliminate an irritant in bilateral relations.

Even though Russia has been in compliance for 16 years, many U.S. lawmakers are reluctant to free Russia from the provision because they think it gives the United States negotiating leverage in the WTO talks.

Mark Levin, executive director of NCSJ, formerly known as the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, said Congress should recognize that the amendment long ago achieved its goals and remove Russia from the provision.

"Russia's strong relationship with Israel is partly a testament to over one million Russian-speaking emigres who have become Israeli citizens since Jackson-Vanik was enacted," Levin said. "Russian Jewish life has flourished dramatically since the Soviet collapse in 1991."

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RussiaToday  - 04.28.2010

US Congress could chicken out of repealing Jackson-Vanik amendment

US lawmakers are trying to finally put the Cold War to rest by lifting the last obstacle for unlimited trade between Moscow and Washington that prevents Russia from joining the World Trade Organization.

Many American lawmakers believe the time is now to put this relic of the past to rest, but some nagging doubts remain.

US Congress has intensified talks on whether or not to lift sanctions signed 35 years ago which limit trade between Russia and the US – the notorious Jackson-Vanik amendment – remains is, unlike such relics of the Cold War like arms race or space race, is safe and sound.

“The Jackson-Vanik amendment was enacted into law for the intention of protecting the rights of Jews attempting to emigrate from the former Soviet Union in the 1970s,” announced Elton Gallegly, US Congressman, (R-California).

The problem is that the Soviet Union no longer exists and neither do Jewish immigration problems.

“It makes sense to waive the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. It is time for the United States Congress to act,” US Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA, Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs) demanded.

The US congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs, along with other analysts, is still debating whether or not it should just be repealed.

“The question is to be or not to be. To do or not to do. Do we pass it or we don’t? That’s the question,” told RT US Congressman David Scott (D-Georgia), adding that “My answer to that is, to be!”

“When it comes to Jackson-Vanik, let’s tear down this wall. It is about time that this ancient relic of the Cold War be discarded,” shared his opinion US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-California).

“My advice to you all is do not repeal it. Keep it in the tool bag,” pleaded President of Project Judaica Foundation Mark Talisman.

“The Jackson-Vanik amendment has a proud and honorable past, but it has sunk into a state of purposelessness and confusion,” pinpointed Stephen Sestanovich, Fellow at Council on Foreign Relations.

“We believe the Administration and Congress should move forward on graduation for Russia,” demanded Mark B. Levin from National Conference on Soviet Jewry.

To put the controversial piece of legislation to rest has been the question posed throughout the entire hearing. Observers, however, say that the real debate could stem from, of all things, chicken.

If it were not for poultry, there would be almost no problem getting rid of Jackson-Vanik, because apparently the white meat is somehow tied to emigration and human rights.

The founder and President of the World Russia Forum Edward D. Lozansky, Ph.D., revealed that “There were some members of Congress, especially from the states who produce poultry, they raise objections that Russia does not buy enough of American poultry,” he said, adding that it is not just chicken that counts.

“There are many interest groups that don’t like Russia for many reasons.”