Central and East European Coalition protests nomination of envoy to NIS (07/20/97)

Central and East European Coalition protests nomination of envoy to NIS

WASHINGTON - The Central and East European Coalition, which unites 19 ethnic American organizations whose members trace their ancestry to Central and Eastern Europe, has protested the nomination of Stephen Sestanovich as ambassador at large to the newly independent states because of his stand against NATO expansion.

They voiced their opposition to his nomination in a July 10 letter to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright.

The CEEC members wrote: "Although we respect the prerogative of the president to select and nominate officials of his choosing, we believe that the stakes are too high to remain silent. ... During the last three years, we have had to oppose Mr. Sestanovich's crusade against NATO enlargement."

In addition, the CEEC's letter underlined: "We have been and continue to be concerned about his views that the United States should not oppose Russian efforts to turn the areas of the former Soviet Union into its own exclusive sphere of influence by 'non-violent' means."

Mr. Sestanovich currently is vice-chairman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The full text of the CEEC's letter to the secretary of state follows.

* * *

Dear Madam Secretary:

The coalition comprises 19 national membership-based organizations representing 22 million Americans with ethnic roots in 13 countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

We strongly support the administration's policy on NATO enlargement. We also urge that every Central and Eastern European country which is willing and qualified to join the alliance should be integrated into the defense structure of Western democracies. We applaud your vision and determination in pursuing this critical goal, and we are most fortunate to have you at the helm of our foreign policy to help shape a new world order that will secure Europe and advance our geopolitical interests in the region.

In view of the foregoing, we are particularly puzzled and deeply concerned about the recent nomination of Stephen Sestanovich as ambassador at large to the states of the former Soviet Union. This decision is incomprehensible and casts doubt on the consistency of your efforts.

Although we respect the prerogative of the president to select and nominate officials of his choosing, we believe that the stakes are too high to remain silent. Bluntly stated, we strongly object to his appointment.

During the last three years, we have had to oppose Mr. Sestanovich's crusade against NATO enlargement. We have been and continue to be concerned about his views that the United States should not oppose Russian efforts to turn the area of the former Soviet Union into its own exclusive sphere of influence by "non-violent" means. Several examples of his published opinions, which explicitly contradict this administration's articulated views on NATO enlargement and Russia, include the following:

On NATO enlargement:

"It would be hard to think of a policy that more pointlessly re-enacts Cold War battles without really helping us to deal with post-Cold War problems." (The New York Times, December 22, 1996)

"Today Russian-American relations are a textbook case of how not to build lasting cooperation between great powers (The New York Times, October, 1996)

On the Russian sphere of influence:

"What is most likely to take shape on the territory of the former Soviet Union is not a restored empire, or a rough copy of the old Soviet bloc, but a Russian sphere of influence." (The National Interest, summer 1994, "Giving Russia Its Due")

"For the states of the near abroad, being part of a Russian sphere will have no single meaning - and certainly none of the institutional and ideological uniformity imposed on members of the old Soviet bloc." (The National Interest, summer 1994, "Giving Russia Its Due")

"What geopolitical impact would a Russian sphere in the near abroad have on the rest of Europe? It is truly fantastic to compare it with the impact of the old Soviet empire in Eastern Europe." (The National Interest, summer 1994, "Giving Russia Its Due")

"If Russia is able to put together some kind of sphere of influence across most of the territory of the former USSR - and if that is all it does - the impact on Russian domestic politics will prove to be relatively minor. Some of the effects may even turn out to be positive." (The National Interest, summer 1994, "Giving Russia Its Due")

We are confident, Madam Secretary, that you will appreciate our concern. We believe that the statements made by Mr. Sestanovich if accepted as policy, may jeopardize not only a strong and effective NATO, but the independence and welfare of Central and Eastern European nations as well. These disastrous consequences would not serve the interests of the United States. Considering his bias, Mr. Sestanovich should not be put in the position of your leading adviser, who will control the flow of information on the developments in Russia and the NIS.

American Latvian Association Inc.
Armenian Assembly of America
Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis
Congress of Romanian Americans Inc.
Czechoslovak Council of America
Estonian American National Council Inc.
Estonian World Council Inc.
Georgian Association in the U.S.A. Inc.
Hungarian American Coalition
Joint Baltic American National Committee Inc.
Lithuanian-American Committee Inc.
Lithuanian American Council Inc.
National Federation of American Hungarians Inc.
Polish American Congress Inc.
Slovak League of America
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Inc.
Ukrainian National Association Inc.

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