Congressional Letters - May 2002

 

Senators and Representatives Write to President Bush Before U.S.-Russia Summit, Urge He Address Arms Sales To Iran

Senate Letter (25 signers)

House Letter (34 signers)

United States Senate

May 17, 2002

President George W. Bush  
The White House  
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to address a matter of great concern to us in advance of your imminent meeting with Russian President Putin at the critically important U.S.-Russia summit.  We believe this meeting  presents a unique opportunity to build on your relationship with the Russian President and construct a new U.S.-Russian partnership.  Undoubtedly, many significant issues will be on your agenda.  However, we believe that no issue is more central or could create more of an obstacle to enhanced U.S.-Russian ties than the continued proliferation of Russian missile and nuclear technology and expertise to Iran.

As you have pointed out, Iran is part of an axis of evil—a group of rogue states that both support international terrorism and are themselves seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction. The possibility that Iran might soon succeed in gaining nuclear weapons is truly frightening.

Unfortunately, it is Russian technology which contributes to Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program and we understand that it continues to flow into Iran.  This occurs despite our efforts and despite the fact that an Iran armed with weapons of mass destruction on Russia’s southern border cannot be in Russia’s interest.

We believe that the matter is of such urgency, the potential danger so great to our own security interests in the region, to our allies in the region, and, ultimately, to ourselves, that this issue should be among the top items on your agenda with President Putin.  Time is running out, and without a sustained and meaningful effort on the part of the Russian government to stop dangerous exports now, we will soon be faced with an altered and hugely more threatening security environment in an area vital to our own strategic interests.

We believe that President Putin personally can make the difference here, and urge you to raise this matter with him directly and forcefully.  We are confident that Russian cooperation in this arena will contribute directly to an overall improvement in U.S.-Russian relations.

We know that you share our sense of urgency. We look forward to hearing from you of your discussions with President Putin.

Sincerely,

(signed)

 

 

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United States Congress

May 16, 2002

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Your upcoming summit with Russian President Putin marks an opportunity to build on your relationship with Russia and construct a new U.S.-Russian partnership.  While many significant issues will be on your agenda, ranging from the war on terrorism to missile defense and nuclear missile reductions, we believe that no issue is more central or could create more of an obstacle to enhanced U.S.-Russian ties than the continuing Russian export of missile and nuclear technology and expertise to Iran.

As you have pointed out, Iran is part of the axis of evil—that group of rogue states who both support international terrorism and are themselves seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction. The possibility that Iran might soon succeed in gaining nuclear weapons is truly frightening.

Unfortunately, Russian technology continues to contribute to Iran’s weapons of mass destruction programs.  This is so, despite our efforts and despite the fact that an Iran armed with weapons of mass destruction on Russia’s southern border cannot be in Russia’s interest.

We believe that the matter is of such urgency, the potential danger so great to our own security interests in the region, to our allies in the region, and, ultimately, to ourselves, that this issue should be at the top of your agenda with President Putin.  Time is running out, and without a sustained and meaningful effort on the part of the Russian government to stop dangerous exports now, we will soon be faced with an altered and hugely more threatening security environment in an area vital to our own strategic interests.

We believe that President Putin personally can make the difference here, and urge you to raise this matter with him directly and forcefully.  We are confident that Russian cooperation in this arena will contribute directly to an overall improvement in U.S.-Russian relations.

We know that you share our sense of urgency. We look forward to hearing from you of your discussions with President Putin. 

Sincerely,

(signed) 

 

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