SUSPENSION OF RUSSIA FROM THE G8 -- (Senate - February 28, 2005)
[Page: S1792] GPO's PDF
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Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my good friend Senator McCain, to speak about a resolution that is of great importance to the cause of democracy which we have devoted America to advance at home and around the world. In November 2003 Senator McCain and I were moved by Russia's failure to adhere to democratic principles to submit a resolution to hold Russia accountable for the commitments Moscow made when first invited to participate in what became known as the G8. Since then, the situation in Russia has deteriorated. I am particularly pleased that Senators BAYH, BURNS, CHAMBLISS, SMITH, and DURBIN have joined as original co-sponsors of this resolution indicating the increasing Senatorial concern over the accelerating erosion of democratic and economic freedom in Russia. As President Bush returns from his meeting with President Putin at the summit in Bratislava, we call once again on the President of the United States and the Secretary of State to work with our partners in the G7 to condition Russia's continued participation in the G8 on Russia's compliance with basic standards of democracy and rule of law.
We have a real stake in Russia's adherence to democratic norms because our commitment to Russia's transition toward democracy is critical to secure a peaceful future with Russia. The G7 nations are highly industrialized countries bound together by fundamental principles of democracy, rule of law, a free market system, and respect for human rights.
The actions of President Putin over the past few years have raised serious concerns about Russia's commitment to these principles. There is a long list of well-documented antidemocratic developments in Russia. The Putin administration has limited freedom of expression in Russia by seizing independent media organizations and suppressing the activities of independent journalists, religious organizations, and nongovernmental organizations that are all integral components of a healthy civil society. The Russian government's dismantling of Yukos and the arrest of its founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky 16 months ago raised serious doubts about Russia's commitment to free market principles and rule of law as well as respect for property and shareholder rights. The Federal Security Services, FSB, play a strong role in Russia's power structures in a manner reminiscent of the KGB in the old regime. President Putin's support for the first fraudulent results in the Ukrainian presidential elections last year exhibited disregard for basic democratic principles. Fortunately, a democratic outcome prevailed in a new vote and Yushchenko's victory--a very positive development for Ukraine's and Russia's democrats.
We were all moved by the horrific attack on the schoolchildren and families of Beslan school last September. There can be no justification for such brutal acts and we condemn them with every fiber of our soul. Our hearts and sympathy go out to the families of these victims as they continue to cope with the loss of their loved ones. The United States condemns terrorism in all forms. But the tragedy of the Beslan school should not be used by President Putin to retreat from democratic reforms. In the wake of the Beslan crisis, President Putin abolished the popular election of regional governors in favor of presidential appointees. These changes to the Russian political system enhance the power of the executive branch, while reducing the checks and balances that make democracies work. As former Secretary of State Colin Powell said, ``We understand the need to fight against terrorism ..... but in an attempt to go after terrorists I think one has to strike a proper balance to make sure that you don't move in a direction that takes you away from the democratic reforms or the democratic process.''
Allowing Russia to continue its involvement in the G8 and to host the 2006 G8 Summit while continuing to undermine democracy makes mockery of the very principles that bind theÐ G8 countries together. This resolution is not anti-Russian; it is a strong show of support for Russia's democrats who have long urged the United States to not turn a blind eye to undemocratic developments in Russia. Sharing a deeply personal moment from his time in Soviet Gulag, Natan Sharansky recently told a group of Senators how deeply supported he felt when President Reagan gave his famous ``evil empire'' speech that honestly addressed the oppression of the Soviet system. Since then Russia has come a long way, but we must speak openly in the face of the backsliding we are seeing.
As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said, ``The real deepening of our relations can only take place on the basis of common values.'' To do otherwise would be to shirk our responsibilities as a leader of the democratic world. And as President Bush said so eloquently in his inaugural and State of the Union addresses, America's security is advanced by the advancement of freedom. This resolution puts those sentiments into concrete action and I urge my fellow Senators to support it.
I don't know what this was on yesterday--I just saw it oone of the c-span channels and I didn't know where else to post this---
A governor (don't know which state) was discussing health care---he said that he had talked to some of the manufacturing plant owners in his state and they said that because of the cost of providing health care insurance to their employees, they cannot compete on the International marketplace because the other countries don't supply the health benefits to their emplyoyees--
Therefore, the governor has come to the conclusion that we HAVE to have a socialized health care system so that businesses wouldn't be penalized anymore when competing for customers---
I just had to laugh---like the money they save would not go into the pockets of the owners and the customers would still have to pay the higher prices--besides they will be losing customers because if they start taxing Americans to pay for someone else's health care, then they will have less spendable income---am I right?
These socialists are gonna try to slip their programs in under any and every excuse in the books---
Just had to get that off of my chest since I heard it yesterday!!! Thank you very much