April 26, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3975 good for everybody. This is a win-win- I had an opportunity to talk with Mort Dworken, the Charge d’ Affairs at win opportunity. Let’s not blow it. Palestinian Authority Chairman Yas- the American Embassy. f ser Arafat, who makes representations When questioned about the proposed CLOTURE MOTION which simply are not true. Arafat European Defense Force, Mr. Parry of- makes the contention that he has Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a fered insight as to why Mr. Blair, who issued an unequivocal edict for the Pal- is a strong supporter of NATO, had cloture motion to the desk to the pend- estinians to cease the violence, citing come out in favor of an European de- ing motion to proceed so that we can as an example a speech he made at the fense force. According to Mr. Parry, get under way. I have let the Senate Arab summit. When that speech is ex- Mr. Blair apparently believes that by basically mark time now for the last amined, it is so conditional as to be week without achieving any real meaningless. putting a European flag on the force progress or closing the negotiations. I We had an opportunity to travel as structure, European nations will be think it is time we guarantee that we well to Damascus where conversations more likely to put money into it as can get on the bill. were held with Foreign Minister al- well as spend the money on what they The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BEN- Shara. should in a NATO context. NETT). The cloture motion having been The situation between Israel and Mr. Parry noted the idea of a Euro- presented under rule XXII, the Chair Syria is very tense. Israel retaliated pean defense force has been around directs the clerk to read the motion. against a Syrian radar installation be- The legislative clerk read as follows: since 1952. He said it is not designed to cause of the Hezbollah attacks against remove the U.S. from the theater, but CLOTURE MOTION Israel from southern Lebanon make it more likely to have the U.S. We the undersigned Senators, in accord- Hezbollah being backed by Iran with ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the there because the Europeans would be the concurrence of Syria. pulling more of their own weight. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The trip I made occurred during the move to bring to a close debate on the mo- past Easter recess, and I will describe On the issue of the International tion to proceed to Calendar No. 23, S. 1, an Criminal Court, Mr. Parry stated that original bill to extend programs and activi- it in some detail in the course of this ties under the Elementary and Secondary floor statement. the U.K. is generally in favor of it. It Education Act of 1965: Upon coming back to the United believes there is a need for a forum to Trent Lott, Jim Jeffords, Bill Frist, Rick States, I have written to the President hold those accountable who would oth- Santorum, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Don urging him to appoint a special rep- erwise escape justice because of a lack Nickles, Tim Hutchinson, Strom Thur- resentative in the Mideast, just as that of interest in their home jurisdiction. mond, Frank Murkowski, Pat Roberts, had been the practice going back to the He was surprised when I told him that Sam Brownback, Jeff Sessions, Mike days when Henry Kissinger shuttled for War Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Carla Crapo, Judd Gregg, Susan Collins, and Jesse Helms. President Nixon, special envoys being Del Ponte was thinking of indicting appointed by President Jimmy Carter, General Wesley Clarke and other NATO Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have con- President Ronald Reagan, President sulted with Senator DASCHLE and ad- officers for targeting civilians and for George H. W. Bush, and President Bill recklessly endangering them in tar- vised him that I would be filing clo- Clinton. ture. This is not a surprise on his part. geting military objectives. Mr. Parry Mr. President, from April 7 to April said it was his understanding that that I know Senator KENNEDY was aware of 21, we traveled from New York City to it. I am sorry he was not on the floor British troops could not come under in- London, Florence, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, dictment because of provisions that the because he has been working very hard Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus, Beruit, United Kingdom would take care of its doing a good job. Souda Bay, Crete, and Rome en route own. Under the rules, this vote then would to Philadelphia. occur on Tuesday. I ask unanimous In London, we met at the British When I asked why we are putting so consent that this cloture vote occur at Ministry of Defense with Ian Lee, the much into NATO in light of the loss of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and that the man- Director of the NATO and European the Soviet threat, Mr. Parry replied datory quorum under rule XXII be Security Policy Department, and Dep- that NATO’s actions in Kosovo show waived. uty Director, A. D. Richards. The that it is still necessary. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without meeting touched on a range of issues. Our conversation then turned to the objection, it is so ordered. Among those were President Bush’s po- f U.K.’s actions with Iran and Iraq. Mr. sition on missile defense, the British Parry noted that Britain was looking MORNING BUSINESS outreach to rogue nations, the viabil- to keep a relationship open with the ity of NATO absent a Soviet threat, Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unan- nations, and then if firm action was plans for the proposed European de- imous consent that there now be a pe- later required, the relationship could fense force, and the British thoughts riod of morning business with Senators be adjusted accordingly. permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes on the War Crimes Tribunal and the each. International Court. I then asked Mr. Parry if the Euro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. Lee stated that the British reac- peans might eventually be on board the objection, it is so ordered. tion to President Bush’s position on idea of missile defense. He responded f Missile Defense and its effect on the that the assumption in Britain was the ABM Treaty was one of general sup- United States would go ahead and de- REPORT ON FOREIGN TRAVEL port. They have an appreciation for the ploy a missile defense system, if it Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I want risks and agree with the United States would work. The British position is to make a statement on a recent trip I on the threats. However, they are wait- that they will do what is necessary to have made to the Mideast. I want to ing to see what the actual proposal ensure its success, but would like it to alert my colleagues to the fact that be- would be. be ‘‘arranged in such a manner as to yond what is available in the news Mr. Lee stated that the United King- generate greater solidarity on the media, the situation in the Mideast is dom was at a different stage than the issue.’’ so serious it is really hard to describe. United States in regards to its relation The concern I have is that the violence with several rogue nations. Its mission We then had substantive discussions is likely to move beyond the borders of in Iran is moving toward having an am- in a working tea with the Baroness Israel where Hamas and Islamic Jihad bassador, while it continues an effort Scotland of Asthal QC, the Parliamen- may be targeting other installations, to establish diplomatic ties to Libya. tary Under-Secretary of State for For- perhaps even U.S. installations. I next met with Mr. Emry Jones eign & Commonwealth Affairs with I had an opportunity to talk with the Parry, the Political Director and Dep- ministerial duties including North Israeli leaders, including Prime Min- uty Undersecretary of State for the America. Over tea at the House of ister Sharon, who has the understand- Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Lords, we discussed the American/Brit- able position that he is not going to ne- Also attending was Mr. Jonathan ish relationship. She also described her gotiate for peace until the violence has Darby, the U.S. Desk Officer, Foreign background and how she came to be in ended. and Commonwealth Office, and Mr. the House of Lords.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:53 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3976 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 26, 2001 After having tea in the House of the case. Now counterfeits can often be Piazza SS. Annunziata. Mr. McCormick Lords, we then walked across Par- of a very good quality, and be very dif- gave me a brief on the activities of his liament to the House of Commons Cen- ficult to differentiate. center which was founded in 1988 ‘‘to tral Lobby, where I was met by the Rt. We were surprised that the Italian strengthen the research capability of Hon. Geoffrey Johnson Smith, MP, government doesn’t do more to stop the United Nations Children’s Fund, with whom I had a wide ranging discus- this form of theft, especially since so UNICEF, and to support its advocacy sion of issues. Smith and I had debated many of the top designers are from for children worldwide.’’ We touched on in November 1949 when he represented Italy, and asked how much litigation several areas including an on-going Oxford and I was on the Penn team. they are involved in to protect the study in West Africa on trafficking in Later that same day, we met with Ferragamo name. Most litigation, it children, religious persecution in the the country team headed by Mort turns out, is of a civil nature and is in- Sudan and child protection. His first Dworken, Charge d’ Affairs, who junctive in nature. Even though most hand accounts of children as young as briefed us on the latest information re- actions are civil, it is very difficult to five being used as soldiers and camp garding foot and mouth disease, fallout get damages based upon the design of slaves in Sierra Leon were quite trou- from the Administration’s position on Italian law. bling. His organization continues to the Kyoto Accords, European security As for criminal actions, it is recog- push for the education of young chil- policy and the status of US/British re- nized as a form of larceny, but the dren which they see ‘‘as central to poor lations. criminal courts consider it to be of countries economic well-being.’’ In attendance were Mort Dworken, nominal value and not as important as After leaving UNICEF’s Research Charge d’ Affairs; Tom Hamby, Foreign other crimes. We were told that in one Center, we participated in a press con- Agriculture Minister-Counselor with case often cited by the courts, a cus- ference at the Florence City Hall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Ed tomer went to buy a ‘‘Ferragamo’’ Palazzo Vecchio regarding a joint ef- Kaska, Economic Affairs Officer; Cap- purse and paid a low price for it. The fort between Italian Police and Micro- tain Stu Barnett, USN, Defense Atta- court reasoned that since the price was soft in Livorno, Italy in which a large che; and Sonya Tsiros, Political Offi- so low, the purchaser had to know it counterfeiting operation was uncov- cer. wasn’t a real Ferragamo purse and ered. Attending were representatives of We initially asked about the current therefore, no fraud occurred. I com- Microsoft, and local government offi- status of the foot and mouth epidemic mented that by prosecuting a few cials. and were told the disease was still not white-collar crimes, a real deterrent ef- At the news conference, the Micro- under control. The British Government fect could be achieved. soft representatives stated that coun- was undertaking a massive control pro- Later that day, we discussed a wide terfeiting was most prevalent in Tus- gram to try and isolate the virus. This range of US/Italian/European issues cany so they had started a law enforce- included the slaughter of over 1 million over lunch with Consul General ment action in Florence. They said head of livestock with another half Hilarion Martinez at his home above that the reproduction or cloning was so million yet to be killed. In addition, the American Consulate. During the good that it took Microsoft experts the government was restricting move- course of our discussion, he stated that some 15 minutes to tell the difference ment in the countryside including the although American students widely between a counterfeit product and a closure of such historic sites as Stone- participate in education programs in genuine product. They also stated that henge. Florence and all throughout Italy, it they had located in the past year in Tom Hamby, from the U.S. Depart- was difficult to get Italian students to Europe some 25 million Microsoft coun- ment of Agriculture, noted that the come to the U.S. because Italian Uni- terfeit products on the market at a loss U.S. currently has sixty veterinarians versities often do not recognize the of 1.7 billion dollars. in the country both to help as well as credit hours bestowed by American According to Microsoft, the national become educated on successful ways to Universities, absent a one on one (Italy) rate for illegal/counterfeit combat the disease. He described the agreement between the institutions. Microsoft sales was in the 31–37 percent effort much like a military campaign Early the next day, we set out to category. In Brescia, the illegal repro- so that if the virus gets to the U.S., we visit the Georgetown campus in the duction was 65 percent before passage will have people trained and on the hills above Florence. Upon arrival, we of the copyright law in 1999, and have ground to fight it. were greeted by Ms. Heidi Flores, the since been reduced to 29 percent. The We inquired into the political and Director of the Georgetown program. law provides for fines and a jail sen- economic effect of the disease and The campus is located on a beautiful tence and also has provisions for search found that both had been affected. villa overlooking the whole of Flor- and entry. There have been some ef- Prime Minister Blair postponed the na- ence, and was established in 1981 when forts to apply the copyright infringe- tional elections until June 27th due to the facility was donated to the univer- ments to internet apparently to online the severity of the disease. Economi- sity. It has 27 students currently en- sales. cally, the disease had yet to show its rolled and 6 faculty. Other similar pro- We had an opportunity to discuss full weight. Although the U.K has less grams in the area include New York with the attorneys whether there had than 2% of its Gross Domestic Product University, Syracuse, Smith College, been any criminal prosecutions in agriculture, the closure of the California State, Florida State, Stan- brought under the new law. They re- English countryside had a clear eco- ford, and the Universities of Michigan sponded with a lengthy description of nomic affect in regards to tourism. At and Wisconsin. the process. Apparently, there had been the time, there was no definitive num- We asked them who it was that we no criminal prosecutions. We then ber on the economic impact. could talk to about producing a recip- asked if there had been a use of the Early the next morning, we traveled rocal agreement between the U.S. and search and entry law, and he said that to Florence, Italy where our first meet- Italy which would seek to recognize they had one such case where counter- ing was with a trio of lawyers with the credits equally. The Minister of Uni- feit products had been transported famed Ferragamo family businesses to versities was identified as the appro- from Singapore to Holland to Milan. discuss trademark protection. During priate individual. He could give sub- The Microsoft experts aided the police the meeting, we were told that the ma- stantial background information re- in the search and entry, helping to jority of Ferragamo products which are garding the problem. identify counterfeit products. illegally copied originate in Asia. We During my visit at the Georgetown In Israel, we met with Prime Min- asked how counterfeiting was detected, campus, we met Cuffe Owens a student ister Ariel Sharon, former Prime Min- and whether there were any trouble in and a nephew of my colleague Senator ister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister distinguishing the quality between JOE BIDEN. Shimon Peres. Our first meeting was counterfeit and non-counterfeit goods. After returning to the city, we met with Mr. Peres whom I first met in Tel The answer was yes, there often is a with Mr. Patrick McCormick, the Di- Aviv in 1980 and have seen him on difference in the quality of the leather rector of Communications for the many occasions since, both in the and accessories. But that is not always UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre on United States and in Israel.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:53 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 26, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3977 Minister Peres was in good spirits, spoke at length about his extensive After our meeting with Ambassador displayed his great sense of humor, three-way discussions involving Presi- Lubrani, we drove from Tel Aviv to Je- proceeded to give a comprehensive dis- dent Clinton, Arafat and himself. He rusalem where we met the next morn- course on the state of affairs in the spoke about, as he put it, his ‘‘con- ing with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mid-East, and to respond to our ques- templation’’ as to what might have Also in attendance was Binyamin Ben- tions. Minister Peres started our con- been encompassed in a settlement, but Eliezer, the Minister of Defense, and versation by saying that terrorism was emphasized that none of the discus- Daniel Ayalon, the Foreign Policy Ad- as un-American as communism used to sions about Jerusalem or the conces- visor to the Prime Minister. be. The topic of conversation on our sions on land were final offers until the Our meeting was conducted with a minds was the escalating violence on entire deal was complete. backdrop of an escalating conflict. the border with Gaza, and the northern I told him that I had met in Wash- During the previous evening, Israeli border with Lebanon. Peres was firm in ington several weeks ago with the planes had bombed a Syrian radar in- his conviction that when the time to Egyptian Foreign Minister who said he stallation in Lebanon in retaliation for negotiate comes, everything must be knew I had a trip planned to the Mid- the actions of Hezbollah in south Leb- on the table, no impositions on the East and urged me to meet with anon. I started my conversation with Israelis, and no impositions on the Pal- Arafat. I told him I would consider it. the Prime Minister by noting that the estinians. When President Mubarak was in Wash- Egyptian Foreign Minister had asked Peres then asked me to explain to ington in early April, he also urged me me to talk to Chairman Arafat. Prime Palestinian Authority Chairman to meet with Arafat and I agreed to do Minister Sharon wasted no time in de- Arafat whom I was scheduled to meet so providing the meeting took place in livering his message. The policy of the later in the trip, that some of Sharon’s Cairo. In my discussions with Presi- Israeli government would be to draw a words are very tough, but that the dent Mubarak, I had anticipated his distinction between the civilian popu- being present during my meeting with Israelis have several guiding principles. lation and terrorists, supporters of ter- Arafat. As it worked out, Mubarak was They will respect signed agreements as rorists and instigators. He stated that not in Cairo for my scheduled meeting long as both sides respect them. Israel, he plans to ease the conditions in the with Arafat. His deputy Osama El-Baz he said, is ready to make painful com- territories. And at the time, stated he joined me in the meeting. was ready to show flexibility except in promises for peace, including reem- The former Prime Minister stated ployment in the territories. He also one area, under no circumstances will that he thought it would be very useful he be flexible with the security of the added that the final proposal offered for me to meet with Arafat, so Arafat under former President Clinton is dead Israeli citizens. would understand the thinking of a Although Sharon did express some since he left office. He stated that he member of the Senate. I asked Mr. willingness to negotiate, it was clear thought it was a big mistake on Ara- Barak about the prospects for the that in his eyes the plan pushed by fat’s part not to accept that deal. peace process from this point forward President Clinton in his waning days in Peres stated that it is currently very and he said he thought it would be very office, is dead. ‘‘Peace is more painful hard to negotiate because of all the difficult for the immediate future. He than war,’’ he said, ‘‘because you have anger. Arafat’s delivering of emphasized that he had great admira- to make concessions for peace.’’ ‘‘I ‘‘impossible″ speeches only makes it tion, respect and friendship for Prime have a true desire to move the process more difficult as well. His view is that Minister Sharon whom he has known forward, not the process that has al- the Palestinians think Israelis are for decades, and emphasized he would ready failed.’’ No negotiations would militarily harsh in the territories, and do anything in his power to help the occur, Sharon assured me, under the that in order to move forward, a dif- new Prime Minister. ‘‘threats of terror.’’ The violence must ferent climate must be created there. Mr. Barak asked me about Israel’s stop. The Prime Minister noted the vi- The best thing that could happen is to standing in the United States. I replied olence occurring in Gaza, and stated change the conditions there. The an- that U.S. Congressional support for that the violence could not continue. swer for the Palestinians is not the Israel was continuing, and I thought The Israelis wouldn’t accept it. ‘‘We battlefield, but the bargaining table-as that the new Bush Administration are very much interested in stability in it has historically been. would similarly be very favorably dis- the Middle East, but we are not going I asked Minister Peres whether posed. We talked about the evenly di- to pay for it. We have the natural right Arafat could control terrorism. He re- vided Senate, and he was very inter- to exist and defend ourselves.’’ plied he could do a lot by making a ested to know about our recent budget I told Sharon that we were planning strong and unambiguous declaration battle and the significant role played on driving from Damascus to Beruit as against it, and prevent the police force by Vice President CHENEY. He asked part of our trip. He said the current participation in the violence. Minister about the economy which we then dis- situation that exists in south Lebanon, Peres stated that the current situation cussed at some length. is not what was contemplated by the was not one of absolutes, except that Upon leaving my discussion with withdrawal agreement. Hezbollah the Israelis seek absolute effort. The former Prime Minister Barak, I met wasn’t supposed to occupy the posi- first expression of that effort is an un- with Ambassador Uri Lubrani, the Leb- tions they currently hold. ambiguous, unconditional and strong anon Coordinator for the government Sharon then stated that Iranian in- statement rejecting violence delivered of Israel at the Ministry of Defense fluence continued to grow in the area, in Arabic. Headquarters. Joining us was the with the approval of Syria. ‘‘Iran is Following our meeting with Foreign former Foreign Minister to Iran, Zidma building an independent center of Minister Peres, we walked a block to a Divon, Deputy Director General of the international terror, which could not meeting with former Prime Minister Foreign Ministry, and John Scott, have been done without the support of Ehud Barak. I had first met the former Counselor for Political Affairs at the Syria. Syria could have stopped them.’’ Prime Minister when he was just out of American Embassy. They expressed Sharon then noted that the actions the army, and starting to become ac- real concern with Iran’s backing of the of the previous evening in bombing the tive in labor politics, perhaps five or Hezbollah movement in South Leb- Syrian facility was a warning to Syria. six years ago. I have met him on sev- anon. During the course of our discus- He wanted to send a signal that Israel eral occasions subsequently, including sion about Iran, Ambassador Lubrani would not accept the possibility of his visit to the White House in July showed me a quote from a report of a Israeli soldiers being killed in Israel. 2000 where President and Mrs. CLINTON British Ambassador to Tehran in the Negotiations do not currently exist hosted a large dinner in his office in his sixties, at the end of his tour of duty: with Syria. First must come the Pales- honor, in a big tent on the South Lawn. ‘‘The Iranians are people who say the tinian question. ‘‘Israel can’t negotiate Mr. Barak was also in good spirits opposite of what they think and do the on two fronts when peace requires considering the strenuous campaign, opposite of what they say. That does painful concessions.’’ his recent election defeat, and the dif- not necessarily mean that what they Out talk concluded with Prime Min- ficult negotiations and tenure as Prime do does not confirm to what they ister Sharon noting that the imme- Minister. The former Prime Minister think.’’ diate threat to stability in the region

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:53 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3978 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 26, 2001 remained Tehran, and that only the stop any acts of violence. I said to out about it, he had ordered it stopped United States could lead the anti-ter- Arafat that the instruction to stop any with the people doing the shooting to ror struggle in the free world. acts of violence would be in accordance be arrested. In the course of the next After our meeting with Sharon, we with his famous letter of September 9, several days there was repeated mortar flew to Cairo, Egypt and at approxi- 1993 which was the inducement for shelling into Israel by Palestinians. mately 6 p.m., had a meeting with Dr. Prime Minister Rabin and Peres to Contrary to Arafat’s assertions, our in- Osama el-Baz, advisor to President Mu- meet with Arafat at the White House telligence sources advised he had au- barak. Dr. el-Baz and I talked at some on September 13, 1993. In that letter thorized the shelling. length about the current situation in Arafat renounced the use of violence From Cairo, we departed for Beirut the Middle-East, the U.S. role, and and said he would take disciplinary ac- by way of Damascus. Climbing up the about my meeting with Chairman tion against any of his people who vio- mountains on the way to Beirut, we Arafat later that evening. During that lated his direction. passed the location of the Syrian Radar meeting, some issues arose as to U.S. Arafat then said that he had said all site that Israeli forces destroyed in a intelligence questions, so I called CIA the things that I had mentioned. raid just a few days earlier. The U.S. Director George Tenant in Washington Erakat then said that not only had Embassy compound in Beirut is the to get the current status report. Arafat made these statements in a most heavily fortified embassy in the Dr. el-Baz arranged a boat ride and speech at the Arab summit, but that world. Standing in the middle of the dinner for us on the Nile river where Shimon Peres had asked Arafat to compound, as a stark reminder, are the we met with a variety of Cairo’s lead- make these statements from his own remains of the prior Embassy that was ing citizens including journalists, pro- lips, and that Arafat had done so. destroyed by a bomb. fessionals, businessmen and industri- Dr. Osama el-Baz and I both stated While remaining in the compound alists. I was questioned about why the that we had not heard any such state- overnight, we received an in depth U.S. continued to support Israel when ment. If any such statement was ever briefing on the current situation in Israel has responded with dispropor- made, it was doubtless in a long speech Beirut and Lebanon, with insight pro- tionate force to the actions of the Pal- and was followed or preceded by many vided by Ambassador David Satterfield, estinians. I responded that the U.S. was conditions. and his Deputy Chief of Mission David trying to carry out the Camp David Ac- I told Arafat that there was consider- Hale. As Ambassador Satterfield point- cords in which their great President able anti-Palestinian Authority senti- ed out, Lebanon was very badly divided Anwar Sadat had invested so much ment in the Congress with some 87 because of its charter (its form of a time and effort, and that Israel had members of the Senate and over 200 constitution) which divided authority agreed to discuss peace once the vio- members of the House writing a letter between three Lebanese factions. He lence had stopped. urging action that the Palestinian Au- commented about how Beirut had the Shortly before 10:30 p.m., we arrived thority be ousted from its Washington potential to regain its status as ‘‘Paris at Chairman Arafat’s guest house. office. of the Mid-East,’’ but that there would After meeting quite a number of his At one point I asked Arafat why he have to be major economic reforms. He colleagues Dr. el-Baz, Chairman Arafat had not accepted the very generous also commented that the Prime Min- and Arafat’s chief deputy, Saeb Erakat offer from Barak on territorial conces- ister Rafik Hariri had been discussing and I went upstairs to a private room sions on the West Bank and significant with the World Bank and International so we could have, as Osama el-Baz said, concessions on Jerusalem. Arafat re- Monetary Fund about ways to get fi- a tete-e’-tete. Arafat and Erakat were plied that he had accepted that offer on nancing which could lead to a revital- visibly disturbed about the status of a number of occasions including his ization of Beirut. Satterfield also noted the violence between Israel and the meeting with President Clinton at the that Hezbollah was a very strong force Palestinian Authority. They were espe- White House. Again, Arafat’s state- in Southern Lebanon, with only a few cially distressed because, as they told ment did not comport with the facts hundred fighters. us immediately upon our arrival, Israel since he had imposed so many condi- Beirut still shows the scars of its sav- was taking forceful military action tions. age civil war with its once beautiful against Gaza as we spoke. I said that my staff and I had met hotels reduced to shells. There is a re- During the course of our discussion with Prime Minister Sharon earlier building effort, however, and its cen- which lasted more than an hour, we that day and that Sharon had said, tral business district has been rebuilt were interrupted six or eight times by among other things, that peace was to some extent. Arafat’s men who came in and handed more painful than war because in peace We drove back from Beirut to Damas- Arafat written messages. Arafat spoke you had to make concessions. I cus. Ambassador Ryan Crocker hosted in Arabic which was interpreted by thought from that, it was apparent a dinner for visiting Assistant Sec- Erakat on detailing the action being that Sharon was interested in peace retary of State for Near Eastern Af- taken by Israeli military with heli- talks. fairs Edward Walker and our party. We copters and missiles. Erakat commented that he had ex- had a wide ranging conversation about Arafat and Erakat described the situ- pected a call from an Israeli contact. I the current state of affairs in the Mid- ation as very serious recounting the told Erakat that I would call the con- East. I reported on our trip to Beirut, number of Arabs who had been killed tact which I did the next day. When I which Ambassador Ryan noted with and wounded and then reciting the telephoned Erakat later in the day, he some interest as he was the Ambas- number of Israeli casualties which confirmed that the Israeli contact had sador to Beirut when our embassy was showed a much larger number of Arab called him. last bombed. casualties. Erakat was especially I further told Arafat that Sharon had The next morning we met with Syr- feverent in pleading for some help as to told me earlier in the day that he was ian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara a way to break the impasse. prepared to allow Palestinians to come and Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al- After a considerable discussion, I said into Israel for work providing there Mu’allim. At the start of our meeting that I would venture a possible ap- was no security risks. Sharon had spec- we discussed my last visit to Syria, proach which was not a recommenda- ified that he was not doing this in ex- which was for President Assad’s fu- tion because I thought that would not change for anything from the Pales- neral. I told FM al-Shara that my fel- be appropriate. I then said that one ap- tinian Authority because he did not low Senators were very interested in proach might be for Arafat to make a want it viewed that Israel was making Syria, and then mentioned that I had public statement that the cycle of vio- concession or buying peace in any way. just been to see Chairman Arafat in lence was untenable, and that while he I asked Arafat if there was any sub- Egypt. I discussed my recent travels in would much prefer to have a joint stance to the contention that the Pal- the area, and related that everyone statement made by Sharon and himself estinians had been firing out of Gaza would like the violence to stop. The with a schedule on a comprehensive ap- into Israel. Arafat replied that he did Foreign Minister asked me what Israel proach, he would make a unilateral have a report of three such mortar was seeking, and I told him of my dis- statement directing all Palestinians to shots; but that as soon as Arafat found cussions with Prime Minister Sharon,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:53 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 26, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3979 who stated that he is determined to d’Affairs William Pope, and Margaret His annual Messiah performances re- avoid Israeli loss of life and will act ac- Dean, Minister-Counselor for Economic kindle fond memories among many cordingly. I also told him that the Affairs. We discussed the effect of the Aberdonians. Alyce continues to define Israelis intended to ease up on the bor- European Union on NATO, reviewed excellence in piano performance and ders as long as there were no threats to the current areas of work for the em- teaching, regularly accompanying stu- security; the Israeli government posi- bassy, and the effect of the strong U.S. dents to this day. tion was that all the violence must dollar on tourism. In addition, I briefed Over two decades ago, friends, fac- stop prior to any talks taking place. I them on parts of my visit to Florence ulty, alumni and students surprised the then encouraged him to talk to the including our meeting with the attor- Berggrens with a musical thank you. Israelis. neys for Ferragamo, and our visit to In 1978, to honor both Jack and Alyce, Foreign Minister Shara said I had the Georgetown campus. their community sponsored ‘‘The Gala persuaded Syria, or perhaps, more ac- Margaret Dean was familiar with the Concert for the benefit of the Northern curately been a factor, to enter into case that the Ferragamo attorneys had State College Music Department.’’ In negotiations with Israel in my numer- told us about in which a person pur- addition to NSU music students and ous discussions with former President chased counterfeit goods at such a low faculty, the concert included the Aber- Hafaz El-Assad during the 1980’s and price that the judiciary reasoned the deen Barbershop Chorus and the Elks 1990’s. I had first visited Damascus in purchaser could not have believed the Chorus. 1984 and had met with President Assad goods to be authentic, and therefore Gala II was held in 1989, and this almost every year from 1988 to 1998. found no fraud in the sale. She stated year, May 5, marks the third Gala con- Minister Shara stated that only after that often, because of that case, sellers cert. I am pleased to know that the beginning discussions with the Israelis of counterfeit goods often go so far to Johnson Fine Arts Center will once did it become apparent that they didn’t label the goods as ‘‘fake’’ to avoid pros- again display the talents of those want peace. I reminded him that both ecution. touched by the Berggrens. I only regret sides came very close on the Golan and The Embassy reported that it doesn’t that I cannot be there in person to that a dialogue must continue. have any one overriding area that it enjoy the event and the company of Our attention then turned to Iraq, concentrates on. It has several areas of Jack and Alyce. Instead, I hope this China and recent American politics as concentration which include tourism, statement will serve as my small con- well as efforts to exchange Parliamen- trade disputes, military issues, and the tribution and a symbol of immense tarians with Iran. Mid-East situation. Charge d’Affairs gratitude to Jack and Alyce for their We left Damascus and flew into Pope reported that Italy had changed a contributions to the musical arts in Souda Bay, Crete, which houses the lot and had become a fairly different South Dakota. U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda place in the last decade. He reported a f Bay, and Fleet Air Reconnaissance recent high-tech emphasis that has TRIBUTE TO KATHRYN COLE Squadron Two, VQ–2, a unit responsible helped propel the country’s economy to for reconnaissance missions for the the 6th largest in the world. The coun- Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I Mediterranean, and which is the coun- try has also benefitted from the in- would like to take this opportunity to terpart to the unit that was involved in crease in tourism generated by the express my gratitude to a very special the recent mishap with a Chinese pilot strong American dollar. person in South Dakota who has dedi- in international waters off the coast of On April 21, we flew from Rome to cated many years to the Northern China. Philadelphia. Black Hills’ Retired Seniors Volunteer I was met by Captain Steve Hoefel, I yield the floor. Program. the Base Commanding Officer and was f Today, the directors and volunteers set up in quarters for the night. That of this RSVP program will gather at night, Rear Admiral Steve Tomaszeski, IN APPRECIATION OF ALYCE AND their annual recognition banquet to the Commander of the Mediterranean JACK BERGGREN celebrate the dedication and hard work Air Fleet, flew in for a brief to be held Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ap- of Kathryn Cole, who is retiring from the next morning. preciate the opportunity today to this RSVP community after 21 years of On Friday, April 20, we received a honor two very special people from my service. In fact, for 20 of those years, classified brief on the mission of the hometown of Aberdeen, SD. Alyce and Kathryn served as the director of this base and its reconnaissance aircraft. Jack Berggren have contributed tire- important program. The base’s main responsibility is to lessly to the arts of South Dakota, and The generous gift of Kathryn Cole’s support and resupply the forward-de- I am blessed to call Alyce and Jack my time and experience has benefitted ployed Navy and Marine Corps forces. long-time friends. those around her in countless ways, It has the largest fuel storage facility, Alyce Bedrosian grew up in Chicago and I truly applaud her ‘‘can-do’’ spirit, largest ammo storage facility and the in an Armenian family. After earning a her determination, and her dedication deepest port in the Mediterranean, and masters degree in piano from North- to the betterment of the communities is strategically located near the Mid- western University, she was hired by of the Northern Black Hills area. From East. Northern State Teachers College in Spearfish to Belle Fouche to Lead, We toured the base, and the port fa- 1947. Though she carried a return train Kathryn has sent hundreds of volun- cility located nearby. A large amount ticket from her concerned father, teers to serve and support local com- of construction was occurring on the Alyce decided to remain in South Da- munities. With her warm spirit, she dock with the installation of new fa- kota. She never used the ticket. has always made a special effort to en- cilities designed to give sailors and Ma- Jack Berggren’s boyhood was spent a sure that volunteers have the oppor- rines all the amenities of home when world away in Scottsbluff, a small tunity to participate in the activities they dock. I was pleased to find two town in western Nebraska. He studied that both interest and inspire them. Pennsylvanians among the many Navy voice at Hastings College in Hastings, From tutoring at local schools to deliv- Construction Battalion sailors working NE, and came to Northern State Uni- ering Meals on Wheels to offering serv- on the structures. versity in Aberdeen in 1949. There, he ices to the High Plains Heritage Mu- We also had the opportunity to tour met Alyce, and they began performing seum and the Mathews Opera House, an EP–3 aircraft similar to that which together. In Jack’s own words, he mar- Kathryn has made an immeasurable remains in China, and were briefed on ried his ‘‘accompanist’’ in 1950. contribution to the Northern Black the various station’s responsibilities For almost half a century, the Hills. during flight operations, as well as talk Berggrens have touched the lives of There is a special feeling of satisfac- to several of the crew members. We countless NSU students and music tion that comes only from volun- also had the opportunity to see an E3 lovers of the northern plains. ‘‘Dr. B.,’’ teering. Through her tremendous lead- AWACS on the runway. as his students affectionately call him, ership, Kathryn Cole has helped seniors From Crete we flew to Rome where taught voice, directed choirs and experience that satisfaction with serv- we received a brief by the Charge served as the NSU Dean of Fine Arts. ice to their communities. I know my

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