Secretary of state-designate reaffirms need to maintain U.S. leadership role (01/19/97)

Secretary of state-designate reaffirms need to maintain U.S. leadership role

by Michael Sawkiw Jr.
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 8, Madeleine Albright, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and secretary of state-designate, explained her vision of American foreign policy for the second term of the Clinton administration.

As the first woman to be nominated to the high-ranking Cabinet post of secretary of state, Ambassador Albright presented the challenges that America must undertake to remain internationally involved, "so that we [the U.S.] can make a difference." The Senate Foreign Relations Committee spoke admiringly of Ambassador Albright's qualifications and proceeded to question the secretary of state-designate about various topics, including U.S. obligations to an expanded NATO as well as possibilities for an increase in the foreign affairs budget.

Being familiar with the need to maintain American leadership throughout the world, the U.S. representative to the U.N. appealed for increased funding for foreign affairs. "Consider the stakes ... We are talking about 1 percent of our federal budget, but that 1 percent may well determine 50 percent of the history that is written about our era."

The embodiment of an American immigrant's tale, Ambassador Albright was born in the former Czecho-Slovakia. She spoke of her family's early years as refugees, escaping Nazi and Communist aggression.

Her testimony proved all the more inspiring as she noted her arrival in the United States: "My ambition then [referring to her youth] was only to speak English well, please my parents, study hard and grow up to be an American."

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), emphasized his commitment to work with the soon-to-be confirmed secretary of state, though he voiced his opinion about the "blunders" of the foreign policy decisions of the Clinton administration's first term.

"It is my hope," continued Sen. Helms, "that as the president's most senior foreign policy advisor, you will devote your strength and courage to bring some coherence, direction and fresh ideas to America's foreign policy." In that vein, Sen. Helms' fellow colleagues addressed issues that were of concern to them and their constituents.

Among the first to question Ambassador Albright was Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.). A known friend of the Ukrainian American community, Sen. Lugar began his line of questioning by focusing on the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU). When asked by Sen. Lugar what ought to be the policy of assistance at this point of their evolutionary process, Ambassador Albright emphasized that assistance to this region of the world is in part due to U.S. national security interests. She elaborated by pointing to the fact that the State Department is preparing a "new initiative" to look at the assistance already provided to the FSU by the U.S. government and its future considerations.

Specifically referring to Ukraine, Sen. Lugar appealed to Secretary-Designate Albright to focus a special priority on Ukraine, where "President [Leonid] Kuchma is very favorable toward reform, though the economy is very grave." The ambassador acknowledged the special relationship between Ukraine and the United States, and proposed to continue U.S. support and commitment to this vital and strategically located country.

Freshman Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) began his inquiry with questions regarding NATO expansion to the former Soviet-satellites of the Warsaw Pact, and in particular to countries of the FSU. Ambassador Albright pledged to enlarge NATO to include the newly emerged democracies in Central and East Europe, while fully understanding the security interests of all European states that seek integration with NATO.

When asked by Sen. Joseph Biden Jr. (D-Del.) about the Clinton administration's "charter" for a proposed special relationship between NATO and the Russian Federation, Secretary-Designate Albright said she thought it would be "premature ... to go into more detail ... but the issue is basically one where we want to make sure that Russia does not believe NATO is an adversarial idea."

[In the context of NATO expansion, Ambassador Albright's address to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America's conclave held in October 1996 incorporated the security interests and rights of Ukraine: "As you all know, NATO is preparing to take in new members. We (the U.S.) are determined that the process of NATO enlargement enhance both the overall security of the region and the individual security of all European states that deserve and aspire to integration. That emphatically includes Ukraine."]

Other highlights of the confirmation hearing included Sen. Helms' plan for a re-organization of the State Department. Sen. Helms favors the consolidation of three agencies: the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United States Information Agency (USIA) and the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (USACDA), all independently controlled at present, to fall within the jurisdiction of the new, leaner State Department. Though not opposed to this consolidation, Ambassador Albright promised to remain open to the idea, emphasizing that she "will work with you [Congress] to make sure that for every tax dollar that we have, we get a dollar's worth out of it - if not more than a dollar's worth."

It is expected that Secretary of State-Designate Albright will be overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Helms has requested that the committee meet in a timely manner to confirm the nominee. The vote is expected to occur on Inauguration Day, Monday, January 20.

| Home Page |