FOR THE RECORD: Summary of CEEC presentation to Clinton (02/18/96)

FOR THE RECORD: Summary of CEEC presentation to Clinton

Following is the executive summary of the Central and East European Coalition's position paper urging continued U.S. engagement in Central and Eastern Europe, which was presented to President Bill Clinton and members of his administration during a meeting at the White House on February 12.

The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) comprises 18 national grassroots organizations representing over 22 million Americans who trace their heritage to that part of the world. The coalition strongly believes that the long-term national security and budget interests of the United States require a strong commitment to the transition of Central and East European countries to fully democratic and free market nations. This commitment requires an active U.S. engagement in that part of the world.

The Central and East European Coalition believes that peace, stability and democracy throughout Europe serve the national security interests of the United States. In this century, the United States has been called upon to fight two world wars and a 45-year Cold War - conflicts which emanated from the heart of Europe - in the furtherance of our vital geopolitical interests. The institutionalization of democracy and market economies in Central and Eastern Europe is the best means of ensuring that there will be no further European conflicts that will entangle the United States. We believe that with the collapse of communism and the Soviet Union, the objectives of peace, stability and democracy in Europe are achievable. For those objectives to be achieved, however, requires the continued engagement, support and assistance of the United States and the West.

Since the signing of the Camp David Accords, the United States has wisely supported the peace process in the Middle East. This long-term commitment is now paying dividends with increased stability throughout that region of the world. Similarly, the strengthening of democracy and market economies in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will require a long-term commitment by the United States. Forty-five to 75 years of Communist oppression and tyranny cannot be eradicated overnight.

The CEEC was pleased to support the president's deployment of U.S. military personnel to Bosnia as part of an international peacekeeping force. The funding for that program, however, must not come at the expense of existing U.S. programs aimed at building democratic and free market institutions in the other nations of the region.

Continued United States engagement in Central and Eastern Europe must take various forms:

Openness of NATO - United States engagement demands involvement in the security issues of the region. In January 1994, the Clinton administration committed itself to the integration of the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe into the defensive structure of the Atlantic community. Two years later, the questions the president posed - when the process of NATO expansion will begin, and who will join - remain unanswered. We believe that the general stability, cooperation and prosperity of the region can best be accomplished through the openness of NATO to include all the nations of the region who desire to join the alliance and who meet the criteria for membership.
U.S. foreign assistance - The most visible component of United States engagement is our foreign assistance. While we had expected that the administration's over-all funding levels would be accepted by the Congress, we were troubled by the severe cuts that the House of Representatives made in the programs for Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Freedom Support Act (FSA). We commend the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operations for restoring many of those cuts. We especially applaud the earmarks the Senate gave to the non-Russian nations considered part of the New Independent States (NIS). However, as U.S. assistance to this important part of the world is, unfortunately, reduced, it is vital that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) maximize the impact of every dollar of assistance. It is time for USAID to work through organizations with both an understanding of the region and a demonstrated, long-term commitment to the establishment of democratic and free market institutions in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The CEEC has proposed a 15-point program of reform of U.S. assistance programs.
Human rights and the rule of law - We believe that United States policy must continually reinforce the institutionalization of democracy, market reforms and respect for basic human rights, including the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. U.S. foreign assistance should be focused on those countries that have demonstrated progress in these areas. We also support the Humani-tarian Aid Corridor Act, a part of the recently enacted Foreign Operations Appropria-tions legislation, which suspends assistance to any country that hinders U.S. humanitarian relief efforts to a third country.
Russian foreign policy - The United States must remain firm in opposing any attempt by the Russian Federation to establish a sphere of influence over the former republics of the Soviet Union, the Baltic nations, or the former members of the Warsaw Pact through military force, economic coercion or other means of intimidation that seek to undermine the sovereignty of these nations. That policy must include Russian compliance with all the provisions of the Conventional Forces in Europe Agreement and opposition to the stationing of Russian troops in foreign countries not requesting their presence. While we believe that a unique historical opportunity was missed to gain Russia's reluctant recognition and acceptance of its loss of empire, and to guide it away from its traditional path of expansionism and towards much-needed internal reforms, United States policy must continue to pursue these objectives.
Information and communications - An important aspect of our engagement in Central and Eastern Europe involves the flow of information and ideas to the peoples of Central and Easernt Europe. For five decades, the United States has provided the peoples of this region with timely and accurate information through the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). We must continue to maintain these programs which are as vital today as they were during the Communist period.
Immigration - The United States must have control of its borders, and we support the efforts of the administration and the Congress to curtail illegal immigration. Legal immigration, however, has been the strength of our nation, and we oppose all efforts to reduce the current level of legal immigration or to restrict the rights of legal immigrants.

The United States spent hundreds of billions of dollars to win the Cold War. It would be tragic if the United States were to lose the peace through short-sighted policies and illusionary budgetary savings. An investment in democracy-building today will pay dividends through long-term security and reduced military expenditures for the United States.

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