Assistant Secretary Jones - 05.05.2003

 

Ron Sachs/CNP

Remarks by 
The Honorable A. Elizabeth Jones,
Assistant Secretary of State 
for European and Eurasian Affairs

NCSJ Board of Governors Meeting

Dr. Robert J. Meth, NCSJ Chairman
Dr. Joel M. Schindler, NCSJ President
May 5, 2003
Washington, DC

Introduction Tolerance Anti-Semitism and Religious Freedom OSCE Anti-Semitism Conference Holocaust Diplomacy Political Reform Free Markets Law Enforcement, Corruption, and Secure Borders Conclusion

 

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Introduction Chairman Meth, President Schindler, members of the Board of Governors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am pleased to be here today to address your meeting. The NCSJ and the State Department enjoy a long history of working together toward common goals. In the 1970s and ‘80s, NCSJ worked –- with incredible success -- for free emigration from the former Soviet Union. Now NCSJ is in the forefront of the religious and cultural revival of Jewish communities in Eurasia. The United States government champions human rights and religious freedom around the world, and it is gratifying to have non-governmental partners such as the NCSJ. President Bush has articulated a vision of Europe and Eurasia as “whole, free and at peace.” We are working to fulfill that vision. “Whole:” no divisions between East and West. “Free:” democratically elected governments, tolerance of diversity, and a thriving civil society. “At peace:” no conflicts over pieces of territory and ethnic separatism. Our work is to promote the spread of tolerance, democratic values and practices, and open markets. Europe and Eurasia are changing in momentous and important ways. Although we sometimes disagree with our European partners, we cooperate in many areas. As Secretary Powell said in Brussels a few weeks ago, we now need to put disagreements behind us and move forward. We cooperate closely with Europe on matters of regional and global significance, from trafficking in persons, to trade liberalization, to terrorism financing. Europe remains our most important partner in promoting human rights; Europe joins us in seeking peace in the Middle East and supporting development in Africa. Both the EU and NATO are expanding, bringing in countries that are embracing democracy and market economies. The new members bring a new perspective and a new energy to both organizations. NATO is more than a military organization. It is a community of values, of open, free and tolerant societies. By bringing in new members, NATO is not only extending its security protections to new territory, but also acknowledging that these countries belong in our community. These expanded boundaries challenge European nations to build a new concept of themselves. They challenge the U.S. to work constructively with this new reality. Tolerance President Bush and Secretary Powell are committed to promoting tolerance across Europe and Eurasia, and around the world. This includes our commitment to combating anti-Semitism and the violence that it can lead to. Anti-Semitism and Religious Freedom We share our NGO partners' alarm over past outbreaks of anti-Semitic violence. We constantly urge governments and leaders across Eurasia to frame laws and enforce them, to prosecute those who commit violent acts, and to promote tolerance. Working together with NCSJ, other NGOs, and partner governments, we have made progress. European leaders are speaking out. Last year French President Chirac condemned anti-Semitic acts in France. He addressed the issue again on April 9, calling on the government to exercise vigilance toward all acts that endanger security and the respect of people, property and religious symbols. German Foreign Minister Fischer wrote in an editorial last year, "Every anti-Semitic incident that occurs in Germany threatens not only Jews, but our society and democracy as a whole." UK Prime Minister Blair, identifying himself with the pre-eminent British organization fighting anti-Semitism, the Community Security Trust, said: "Neither this country nor this government will tolerate anti-Semitism or any threat to the Jewish community. It has no place in our society whatsoever." Russian President Putin last year awarded the Order of Courage to Tatyana Sapunova. She was injured when she removed a booby-trapped sign with an anti-Semitic slogan on it. Belgian and Ukrainian leaders also have made strong statements. But statements alone are not enough. Fortunately, prosecutions are also increasing. Ukrainian legislation has built strong safeguards to protect the rights of the Jewish community. Implementation of the laws has been vigorous. European governments have responded to anti-Semitic incidents. They increased security at Jewish religious and cultural sites, investigated incidents, and prosecuted suspects. Progress, however, is far from universal. In Russia, prosecution of those who commit anti-Semitic acts remains lax, despite President Putin’s public gesture. Jewish communities in Central Asia and the Caucasus are doing well. Azerbaijan has excellent relations with its Jewish minority. When I visited Baku last year and toured the picturesque streets of the Jewish neighborhood, I was impressed by the free and open expression of faith practiced by the Jewish community there. Two months ago, NCSJ leaders attended the opening of the largest synagogue in the Caucasus in Baku. In Georgia, Jews have traditionally been well assimilated and the community is very active. The NCSJ played a key role in organizing the successful meeting of international Jewish leaders for a Peace and Harmony Conference in Kazakhstan in February. Presidents Akayev of Kyrgyzstan and Rakhmanov of Tajikistan joined President Nazarbayev for that meeting. In Uzbekistan, relations between Jewish groups and the government are exceptionally good. The Be'er Hagolah Institutes gave an award to President Karimov during his trip to the United States in March a year ago for his support of Jewish culture in Uzbekistan. To the north, the Baltic States have taken significant steps in coming to terms with difficult aspects of their history during World War II. All three governments work to combat intolerance and anti-Semitism. While there is evidence that the number of incidents has declined, we are far from declaring even partial victory. In Russia, Jews and some Christians continue to face prejudice, discrimination, and some violence. Restrictions on religious and media freedoms remain issues of concern. We hope the Russian government will continue to work at improving religious freedom for all people in Russia. This includes the clergy and lay people of the Roman Catholic Church. We continue to raise our concerns with senior Russian officials about these issues. Anti-Semitic acts –- sometimes violent -– continue in Ukraine, though these are less common. In Western Europe, anti-Semitic sentiments remain. The Anti-Defamation League documented this in two public opinion surveys last year. You know the statistics. An average of 35% of those surveyed believe Jews have too much power in the business world. Some 51% believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country. The United States recently assumed the Chairmanship in Office of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research. The Task Force will hold its Washington Plenary on May 14. We hope it will increase the number of concrete projects -- already more than 130 –- directed toward changing hearts and minds. OSCE Anti-Semitism Conference We are well on the way toward holding a first-ever OSCE Specialized Meeting on Anti-Semitism on June 19-20 in Vienna. I know that you have been working closely with my colleagues and with our OSCE Mission in Vienna to get the substance right and to get top-flight participants. The U.S. hopes to field a strong delegation to this event because we take it very seriously. The OSCE meeting should be a rallying point in the Euro-Atlantic Community's approach to this species of hatred. Participants not only will identify best practices, they also will reinforce the OSCE's implementation review mechanisms. The OSCE meeting will send a message that the battle against anti-Semitism is part of the battle for human rights and the rule of law. That is why we have insisted that it deal especially with relevant law enforcement and prosecution issues. Like the NCSJ, we want this meeting to focus on Eurasia as well as on Central and Western Europe. We have urged the Russians, the Ukrainians and others to provide high-level delegations and speakers. Our close cooperation on behalf of this meeting is a terrific example of government-NGO partnership. Together, we will make this a success. Holocaust Diplomacy I know that our Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Randy Bell has been working with you and other NGOs. Together you have focused on recovery of seized assets, the work of the Task Force, the OSCE Meeting, and other matters. This Administration remains deeply committed to U.S. obligations regarding restitution, the Washington Principles on Nazi-Looted Art, and Holocaust education. We remain committed to coming to terms with the past. We do this because our overall foreign policy in Eurasia and our Holocaust diplomacy complement each other. We cannot urge the building of democracy, tolerance, and pluralism if we ourselves do not visibly and productively engage in the righting of wrongs still left over from the past century. Most of the countries of Eurasia have only begun to join with us in this effort. But many Eurasian countries, including Belarus, participate in the German Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility, and the Future," the foundation established to make payments to certain Holocaust victims. Through the OSCE Meeting on Anti-Semitism we can also reach out to these countries and bind them further into our work. Political Reform It is in America’s interest that Eurasian countries develop as democratic, market-oriented societies that respect human rights. This goes back to the community of values that I mentioned earlier. Free and open societies are stronger internally and less vulnerable to terrorism. This is the best long-term guarantee of regional stability and of positive, mutually beneficial relations.  Throughout the region, there are still problems in democracy, freedom and human rights. The media are not free from government interference. Media harassment continues. In some countries, freedom of speech and assembly is restricted. All Eurasian countries lack a thriving opposition. Presidential elections in Armenia did not meet OSCE standards. Other recent elections in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan also fell short. The situations in Belarus and Turkmenistan are more challenging. We won passage of our strongly worded Belarus resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights. We are monitoring Belarus closely to see whether President Lukashenko will seek a third term in office and how the regime will choose to implement a restrictive new law on religion. In Turkmenistan, we have witnessed a sharp crackdown since the attack on President Niyazov’s motorcade in November.  I don’t want to paint too bleak a picture. While much work remains, our engagement with the countries of Eurasia is critical to genuine progress. In Ukraine, NGOs, journalists, and the Rada are staking out their independence. They are making their voices heard. We have placed a special emphasis on promoting the forces of democratic reform. We are particularly focused on the preparations for the 2004 Presidential election. We have redirected some of our assistance to more vigorously support civil society, to build up the independent media, to encourage those who will be preparing voters for the election. We hope Ukraine will have a free and fair contest in 2004, with balanced media coverage and minimal governmental interference. In Central Asia, some governments are lessening the weight of their heavy hand. Uzbekistan, for example, released 923 political prisoners in a December 2002 amnesty. The government has allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross access to its prisons. It has registered two local human rights NGOs for the first time, and abolished pre-publication censorship of the media. The government also acknowledged the problem of torture following the visit by a UN Special Rapporteur. One of the freedoms that the United States has championed for many years is freedom of emigration. This is one area where most of the countries of Eurasia have made consistent progress. Jackson-Vanik has succeeded. Equally important, the goals and spirit of Jackson-Vanik have become ingrained in U.S. foreign policy over successive administrations. We are committed to graduating Russia, Ukraine and six other Eurasian countries from Jackson-Vanik. NCSJ’s work on Russian graduation has been invaluable to our efforts. We look forward to continuing our consultations as we pursue this goal. Protection of human rights and religious freedom is an integral part of our bilateral and multilateral dialogues. They will remain so, even as we work with Congress to graduate these countries from Jackson-Vanik. Concerns over issues beyond Jackson-Vanik’s scope, such as trade, incline some in Congress to delay action. I know NCSJ and the Administration will continue to work together to make it clear that other tools exist to solve bilateral problems. We should graduate Russia, Ukraine and other Eurasian countries from Jackson-Vanik. Free Markets With the expansion of the European Union in 2004, Eurasia is now on the border of Europe. Although the U.S. never recognized the Baltic states as part of the Soviet Union, they were subject to the same economic stranglehold as the countries of Eurasia. Their accession to the EU is one of the great success stories of the year. Other countries in the region have stated their intention to join multilateral institutions of free trade such as the EU and WTO. Accession to these bodies is a force for reform. Significant economic liberalization is required. And countries must create a legal structure to support it. Some countries have had more success than others. Kyrgyzstan was the first former Soviet republic to join the World Trade Organization. A very successful micro-enterprise program that we fund in Kyrgyzstan provides employment for hundreds of poor women. In Armenia, our Market Assistance Program works directly with 55 agribusinesses and 25 farmer associations. In Georgia, our micro-finance programs benefited 60,000 borrowers last year. These are real steps forward.  The Department of Commerce granted Kazakhstan and Russia market economy status last year. The Russian government has undertaken meaningful free-market reforms. Tax reform, pension reform, a market-oriented labor code, and land ownership reforms were all tackled in the past year. Responsible fiscal policy has kept Russia on track to meet debt payments that are expected to peak this year. U.S. assistance programs had a role in much of this progress. A grantee of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) drafted five deregulation measures that substantially decrease the administrative burdens on businesses. The Central Bank of Russia is using another grantee’s work to design a banking reform program. USAID supported the first comprehensive analysis of the Sakhalin oil-and-gas workforce. And our Commercial Law Development Program supported Russia's efforts to join the WTO through regional workshops and by financing the production of a Russian version of WTO texts for the Duma. The challenge now is to focus U.S. Government assistance programs on some of the tough problems remaining for Russia: energy and housing reform, support for small- and medium-sized enterprises, addressing corruption, and ensuring federal reforms are replicated at the local level. In Ukraine, we have seen positive developments, such as a burgeoning of small and medium business growth. Our Land Titling initiative encouraged the issuance of 1.2 million land titles. Our Policy Reform Project advanced legislation for a grain warehouse receipt system and a private crop insurance program. These initiatives helped increase agricultural production by 9% in 2002. We also have Treasury advisors in Ukraine working on tax and budget issues. However, we remain concerned about the Kolchuga incident and the depth of the government's commitment to successful agricultural reform. Some states in the Caspian region are fortunate to have abundant oil and gas resources. But because the region is land-locked, developing these resources and getting them to world markets is a formidable challenge. We have vigorously supported development of an East-West Energy Corridor.  In Central Asia, poor economic and social conditions are contributing to the appeal of extremist Islam in the volatile Ferghana Valley. We seek to head off conflict by improving infrastructure, promoting agricultural reform, and helping develop and strengthen civil society. We are creating jobs through marketing assistance and establishing credit for agricultural processors. We are maintaining a high level of student and professional exchanges. In addition, we hope to expand highly successful pilot health reform projects. Foreign aid can never substitute for the political will of the parties involved to find peaceful solutions to their conflicts. However, we can do a great deal to support countries recovering from conflict and to address the social, economic, and political conditions that sow the seeds of conflict. We do not want another Afghanistan. Law Enforcement, Corruption, and Secure Borders Across Eastern Europe and Eurasia, one of our most important goals is to strengthen the rule of law. A credible and fair legal system underpins all other reforms. Minorities, the media, and NGOs are truly free only when they have recourse to the legal system if their rights are infringed. Market economies can truly function only when all of the stakeholders recognize property rights and the validity of contracts. Battling corruption goes hand in hand with strengthening rule of law. And all of these fit into our focus on counterterrorism and are integrated into our assistance. In Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Balkans, we have huge U.S. Government programs that are helping to stop the transborder movement of terrorist groups, weapons, illegal drugs, and trafficked persons. Security assistance is helping to make borders less porous. Significant interdictions of both weapons and drugs, especially in Tajikistan, are now taking place. And in Georgia, our Train and Equip Program, begun in 2002, is enhancing Georgia's abilities to control its territory and to fight terrorism. In Russia, the people want law and order, but some believe they are getting only the order. To his credit, President Putin, who studied law, has pressed a bold program of legal reforms. But Russia cannot yet be said to have an impartially applied judicial standard that applies to all. There are other shortcomings. High-profile murders, such as that of Duma deputy Sergey Yushenkov a few weeks ago, underscore the need for continuing reforms. Russia’s criminal justice system needs to show greater accountability as well as fair treatment of the accused. U.S. Government technical assistance programs helped Russia to put in place a modern criminal procedure code. Part of this reform institutes jury trials. These are now a matter of course in most of Russia and will be in place nationwide in 2004. U.S.-funded professional training seminars are helping the Russian bar develop the advocacy skills required by the new code. In addition, the Library of Congress has hosted hundreds of Russian judges, acquainting them with the role of the judiciary in the U.S. and demonstrating how our judges preside over trials.  Conclusion The promotion of religious freedom -- as well as democracy and the other human rights -- is an integral element of our domestic and foreign policy. As Secretary Powell has said, “we have no tolerance for intolerance.” The United States is wholly committed to intensive engagement and dialogue with each of the nations of this pivotal region of the world. We will continue to use this dialogue to work towards our goal of freedom for all individuals. I will be happy to take your questions.

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