S5654 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 4, 1998 of both countries to rebuild their I know from my own work for the Director ways that few other conflicts can: I am economies and improve the standard of of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, that speaking of the conflict in the Republic living for the people, something that the existing monitoring system did the job of Georgia in the distant but strategi- last summer, detecting a ‘‘seismic event’’ off obviously has not been the case for ei- Novaya Zemlya in Russia and eventually cally critical region of Abkazia. ther India or Pakistan. Urging them to helping to determine that it was not from a And yet the stability in independent sign the treaty would be one step in nuclear test. Our intelligence services are Georgia is one of the principal US in- the right direction. Treaty ratification rightly assigned the task of monitoring for terests in the former USSR and should is also a necessary step for restricting nuclear explosions, with or without the trea- be one of our overriding strategic the flow of nuclear technology, from ty. But with the treaty, additional sensors goals. This is not just sentiment for these emerging nuclear powers and na- would be deployed in a global network that one of the earliest Christian civiliza- tions worldwide. would complement our own intelligence. tions in a part of the world where Some of these additional sensors would be I urge Senator LOTT to take up con- ‘‘aimed’’ at the subcontinent. And with the Christian civilizations do not thrive: sideration of the Comprehensive Test treaty, we could request onsite inspection of rather it is a clear statement of our Ban Treaty, and I urge all of my Sen- suspicious activities. own strategic interest and objectives. ate colleagues to vote for a ban on nu- The test ban treaty—which has already Georgia is a NATO borderland and an clear testing by the United States. The been signed by 149 nations and ratified by entry point to the emerging new Silk United States must lead by example. our nuclear allies, Britain and France—pro- Road. It is a key ally of our partner We did not do enough to prevent the vides the legal framework for a long-term so- Turkey and is important in many lution to the problem of nuclear testing in nuclear tests by India or Pakistan, and India and Pakistan. The best way for these ways: strategically, militarily, com- now we must do more to ensure that two nations to begin addressing the inter- mercially. If Georgia were to become further testing is halted in South Asia national condemnation and sanctions that unstable, the entire region would be and throughout the world. President have resulted from their tests is for them to put in jeopardy. Clinton is scheduled to travel to China sign the treaty, without condition. Senate Against overwhelming odds, Georgia and South Asia later this year. I be- ratification would strengthen our hand in has achieved strong positive economic lieve such a diplomatic mission is ex- pushing India and Pakistan toward a respon- growth in the last few years. It is one sible course, and it would help dissuade other of the most stable of the post-Soviet tremely timely and must include visits states from going down the dangerous road to China, India and Pakistan for the of developing nuclear weapons. states, with world-class leadership in distinct purpose of discussing global se- Senator Lott also expressed concern that President Eduard Shevardnadze. It is curity in light of the round of nuclear the treaty ‘‘will not enter into force unless America’s natural ally in a neighbor- capacity testing in the region. I en- 44 countries, including India and Pakistan, hood that features Iran and Iraq. courage my Senate colleagues to sup- ratify it.’’ Precisely for this reason, Article Georgia is central to the successful port the President in this endeavor. 14 of the treaty calls for a review conference development of what the new Silk in September 1999 to look for ways to put the Road from Central Europe to China. The article follows: treaty into effect if it has not been approved [From the New York Times, June 2, 1998] by all 44 nuclear-capable nations (i.e., those This ambitious project will eventually REASONS TO RATIFY, NOT TO STALL with nuclear weapons or with nuclear reac- encompass pipelines, roads and rail- (By Sidney D. Drell) tors for research or power). roads, airports and communications Only those nations that have ratified will STANFORD, Calif.—The nuclear tests by networks that stretch from Central Eu- India and Pakistan have led some in the have a seat at that conference. Thus the rope to China. This corridor will com- United States Senate to seek further delay United States must ratify the treaty this pletely alter the economics and the on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, year if we are to be a leader, as we must be, politics of Eurasia in ways that we can- which has already been awaiting ratification in an effort to put the treaty into force. Previous Senates have shown that they can not now foresee, but which are certain for more than a year and a half. Senator act quickly and courageously on such mat- to intersect US strategic interests in Trent Lott of Mississippi, the majority lead- ters. When President John F. Kennedy sub- Eurasia in many places. The states of er, said on Friday that ‘‘the nuclear spiral in mitted the Limited Test Ban Treaty to the the Caucasus—Georgia, Azerbaijan and Asia demonstrates that irrelevance of U.S. Senate in 1963, the Foreign Relations Com- action’’ on the treaty, calling the pact ‘‘un- Armenia—lie at the very center of this mittee held its first hearing four days later, new Silk Road. For the corridor to verifiable and ineffectual.’’ and the treaty was approved by the full Sen- To the contrary, the treaty’s international function, stability in these states is es- ate in less than two months. monitoring system, when used in combina- Yet in the wake of the Indian and Paki- sential. tion with our own intelligence resources, stani tests, it would appear that the Senate Not surprisingly, some people wish provides the means to verify the test ban ef- will not act even to bring the treaty to a ardently to jeopardize America’s inter- fectively. Moreover, a quick vote in the Sen- vote. Inaction will not help to deter further ests in this region by threatening Geor- ate approving the treaty is an essential re- nuclear tests or reduce nuclear dangers. gia’s stability, and they have fastened sponse to the South Asian nuclear gambit. Rather than pointing to India’s and Paki- While it is true that American intelligence on a perverse way of doing so. the stan’s tests as an excuse for inaction, the small, break-away region of Abkazia failed to provide imminent warning of In- Senate should be approving the treaty with- dia’s first three nuclear tests on May 11, we out delay. has been Russia’s best available instru- were well aware that the technical prepara- Four decades ago President Dwight D. Ei- ment to diminish Georgia’s accom- tions had been made for testing. Further- senhower said that not achieving a nuclear plishments and to imperil its remark- more, the global network of seismic sensors test ban ‘‘would have to be classed as the able gains. Russia is the only power to that will form the core of the treaty’s ver- greatest disappointment of any administra- benefit from such activity. Let us not ification system did detect, locate and iden- tion—of any decade—of any time and of any be timid in naming the problem: Russia tify the main nuclear blast that day. party.’’ It would be tragic if once more we is the problem, the aggressor and the It is evident that the system also proved fail to seize this opportunity.∑ effective in detecting Pakistan’s tests, both single-most threat to stability in Geor- f on Thursday and on Saturday. And the trea- gia and the entire Caucasus. ty calls for the monitoring system to be CONFLICT IN THE REPUBLIC OF Since the early 1990s, Russia, acting beefed up. Also, the treaty would allow us to GEORGIA through Abkazia, has attempted to request a short-notice, on-site suggesting ∑ Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, the bring down Georgia. This is no secret. that a nuclear weapons test might have oc- Virtually every expert to travel to the curred. newspapers are full of Kosovo and Ser- India has claimed that its last two an- bia, of India and Pakistan and of region reports the same thing: Russia nounced tests, on May 13, had very low course, Indonesia. These threatening is responsible for arming, training and yields, in the subkiloton range. Whether or events have captured most of the head- sustaining Abkazia’s so-called freedom not we succeed in corroborating possible lines and have attracted the attention fighters. Russia’s support for the pro- tests of such relatively small magnitude, we of the Administration in greater or Russian Abkazian leadership is barely need to remember that very low yield tests lesser degrees. These are not trivial disguised: Russia has funneled arms are of questionable value in designing new and support for more than six years nuclear weapons or confirming that a new issues, and we cannot afford to ignore design will work as intended. Any failure by their importance for challenging US into the Abkaz region of Georgia for the monitors to detect such tests is not the interests. one specific task: to destabilize the proper benchmark for determining the sys- But another conflict rages that, government of Eduard Shevardnadze so tem’s—or the treaty’s—effectiveness. while small, challenges US interests in that Georgia will be unable to realize June 4, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5655 its goals of being independent, of join- Mr. President, it is time for the Ad- TRIBUTE TO THE MARSH BIL- ing the community of free democratic ministration to state unequivocally LINGS NATIONAL HISTORIC nations, and of providing better lives— that the stability and survival of an PARK free lives—for the people of Georgia. independent Georgia is a fundamental ∑ Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, June It is high time the Administration U.S. interest. That Russia’s collusion 5, 1998, is a great day for Vermont and took a strong position on the subject of with the Abkaz is nothing less than for the Nation as we open Vermont’s the Caucasus and of Georgia in particu- Moscow’s effort to maintain control first, and the Nation’s newest, National lar. So far, it has not only failed to over sovereign Georgia and will not be Historic Park. On behalf of all Ver- reign in Russian efforts against Geor- tolerated; and that it is time to put an monters I want to welcome the Na- gia, but by this very failure, it has in- end to Russian Trojan horses in Geor- tional Park Service and express my sured that the Russian-promoted desta- gia—the phony Russian ‘‘peace- deepest gratitude to Laurence and bilization efforts will continue. keepers’’ and the military bases that Mary Rockefeller for making this pos- Administartion apathy on this sub- provide Russia with the means to sible. ject is best illustrated by the astonish- threaten Georgia’s future and to put Vermonters have always drawn a spe- ing lack of urgency that the State De- U.S. interests at risk.∑ cial strength from the land. And as partment ascribes to placing qualified f Vermonters, we have a responsibility and dynamic ambassadors in these to the land. I was proud to introduce TRIBUTE TO LAHAINALUNA HIGH countries. Georgia has been without a for myself, Senator LEAHY and all Ver- SCHOOL OF MAUI, HAWAII U.S. ambassador for well over six monters, the legislation that created months. No candidate has yet been ∑ Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise this National Historic Park in 1991. A identified, let alone brought to the today to congratulate the students perfect ‘‘Vermont scale’’ National Senate for confirmation, despite per- from Lahainaluna High School from Park, its size fits our State’s land- sistent and forceful requests by Presi- Lahaina, Maui, who recently came to scape, incorporating many of the most dent Shevardnadze and other key lead- Washington, D.C., to participate in the significant attributes about Vermont: ers in Georgia for such an appoint- national competition of We the People our stewardship of the working agricul- ment. . . . The Citizens and the Constitution. tural and forest landscapes, our dedica- The Administration has also been As you may know, We the People . .. tion to conservation, and our commit- supporting the Russian ‘‘mediation’’ of The Citizen and the Constitution is a ment and respect for our towns and the Abkaz conflict: this policy must be civic education program which seeks to communities. reversed. Russian ‘‘mediation’’ consists develop young students into enlight- Mr. President, the beauty and signifi- of injecting Russian peacekeepers into ened and capable citizens who under- cance of this site will now forever re- the region to separate the Georgian stand and promote responsible partici- ceive the same recognition as our other and Abkaz combatants. Their behavior pation in our democratic process. Stu- great National Parks, such as Yellow- in the recent fighting in Abkazia shows dents learn the history and principles stone, Grand Teton, and Gettysburg. their true intentions: the best case sce- behind our constitutional democracy George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Bil- nario shows that the Russian peace- through the use of the Declaration of lings, and Laurence Rockefeller’s devo- keeping forces did nothing to interdict Independence, the U.S. Constitution, tion and commitment to the issues of the flow of separatist personnel and and the Bill of Rights. conservation, forest management, and heavy weaponry into the region where These young students competed agriculture have helped develop this the fighting was taking place. The against 49 other classes from across the nation’s attitudes for how we treat and worst case scenario has them actually Nation, demonstrating a youthful and respect our lands. Private land owners providing weapons to the Abkaz com- enthusiastic interest in the fundamen- throughout the country have followed batants. This is unacceptable. tal ideas that are imperative for gain- the example of these distinguished Allowing continued Russian control ing a better understanding of our gov- leaders. Today, those who work and over this situation is tantamount to ernment. We the People is not only a own the land, and hold true to the inserting the fox’s first cousin as a me- competitive event, but it is also the ideals of Marsh and Billings, are this diator between the foxes and the hens. most extensive civics program to reach Nation’s most important stewards. The The current situation insures that more than 26 million students from ele- preservation and conservation of the Georgia can only lose. It is time for the mentary, middle, and high schools Nation’s working landscape, and his- Administration to demand the removal across the country. toric and natural resources are increas- of the bogus Russian peacekeepers, and I would like to recognize these fine ingly important and yet are becoming to insist on their replacement by an students for their accomplishments: more difficult to maintain. The Marsh independent force of peacekeepers. To Iao Eisenberg, Tiffany Fujiwara, Jas- Billings National Park will forever do less is to acknowledge implicitly mine Hentz, Erin Lockhard, William serve Vermont and the Nation as a that Georgia remains within Russia’s Myers, Leah Nakamura, Ryan Ott, Mi- model for conservation. sphere of control. chael Prieto, Julie Reed, Sal Saribay, I salute Mary and Laurence Rocke- This matter also raises the issue of Justin Serrano, Jeffrey Shelton, Yee feller for their vision in providing this the continued presence of Russian mili- Ning Tay, and Kerri Tsubaki. I would park to the people of Vermont and the tary bases in Georgia. They are there also like to acknowledge the contribu- United States. The Rockefeller family despite the overwhelming opposition of tions of their teacher, Mrs. Ruth E. has given future generations of Ver- Georgian citizens. These bases were es- Hill, and the District and State Coordi- monters, indeed all Americans, access tablished at a time when Georgia was nators, Ms. Jane Kinoshita and Ms. to a truly historic and beautiful site. in no position to repulse Russian ad- Sharon Kaohi, respectively. Without This is only the most recent accom- vances. Russia has no legitimate na- their dedication and leadership, our plishment in Mr. Rockefeller’s more tional security claim on Georgia. Rus- students would be unable to participate than 50 years of conservation leader- sia is no less safe—indeed it is safer— in this important program. ship. Laurence Rockefeller was the with a Georgia that is free, independ- Mr. President, I commend all the stu- first person ever awarded a Congres- ent, democratic and with free markets dents and teachers who participated in sional Gold Medal for conservation close to its southern border. These this program, and particularly the stu- work, and that award was richly de- bases—from which the perpetrators of dents of Lahainaluna High School who served. I am proud to have been an the assassination attempts on Presi- represented Hawaii in the national original cosponsor of the legislation dent Shevardnadze are reported to have competition. It is always heart- that granted him the award. fled—must be closed. The United warming to see students actively en- Mr. President, the people of Wood- States must not accept the notion that gaged in the learning process. I wish stock and the entire State of Vermont Georgian independence can only be se- the students and teacher of have lived a long time in harmony with cured by Russian power. Nothing could Lahainaluna High School the best as the landscape. Our first national park be more alien to the truth and to our they continue to pursue their future not only recognizes the two founders of national values. endeavors.∑ the American conservation movement,