S510 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2001 the public. But you have to make the floor, I think this would be an appro- On my return trip, after Senator decision. priate time to report on some foreign VOINOVICH had departed in Israel, I had This administration must support travel which I recently undertook for a the chance to meet with the chief pros- new generation of transmission and 2-week period in late December and ecutor of the International Criminal make sure that existing generation early January, accompanied on part of Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, continues and is not prematurely shut the trip by Senator VOINOVICH. Our trip Carla del Ponte, at The Hague. She is down. took us to the Mideast, where we had insistent on bringing Milosevic to trial There are impediments to competi- the opportunity to confer with Egyp- at The Hague. tion. For example, it is high time that tian President Mubarak, and then in Under the U.N. resolution, there is a PUHCA and PURPA are repealed. We Israel, Prime Minister Barak, and Min- priority status accorded to The Hague need to find ways to allow construction ister Ariel Sharon, who was contesting to try Milosevic. of new transmission lines. We need to for the post of Prime Minister in an Perhaps these interests can be rec- enact legislation to protect the reli- election to be held in Israel on Feb- onciled by trying Milosevic first in ability of the grid. ruary 6; and also former Foreign Min- Yugoslavia, but before he serves a sen- Finally, the State of California made ister Shimon Peres. tence if one is imposed, he goes to The systematic decisions over a 10-year pe- I then continued on to Aqaba in Jor- Hague for trial. Ms. del Ponte was con- riod to not build new powerplants in dan and had the opportunity to meet cerned that there not be a long interval California while at the same time they with King Abdullah in Jordan. because the War Crimes Tribunal is a watched their power consumption We found the Mideast to be very temporary institution. There have been grow. The State made deregulation de- tense, with the exacerbation of vio- some suggestions that Milosevic be cisions that didn’t remove regulations, lence inspired by Palestinian youth. tried by the War Crimes Tribunal in it simply changed the regulations, and The Palestinian Authority has not ob- Belgrade, Yugoslavia, but that remains now, in the face of mounting debt and served their obligation under the Oslo to be worked out. possibly utility bankruptcy, the State accords to have an educational system One thing which must be accom- refuses to allow rate increases to pay which omits the traditional incitement plished, in my judgment, is that for expensive non-utility power. to violence of youngsters. Their edu- Milosevic must be tried and brought to While it would be unrealistic for the cational materials in the sixth grade, State of California to ask the rest of justice. It is enormously important seventh grade, ninth grade and beyond, that a head of state be tried. the Nation to pay for its power, not- urges the young people to engage in vi- withstanding the fact that California I note my distinguished colleague, olence—a holy jihad for the glory of Senator GRASSLEY, has arrived on the consumers enjoy—this is a fact—Cali- Allah—encouraging acts which result fornia consumers today enjoy some of floor, so I will conclude these remarks in their own deaths as martyrs. That the lowest monthly bills in the United with a comment or two on the discus- has set into motion a sequence of States, California needs to make a sions which were held with the leaders events in the area where the violence good-faith effort to accept responsi- in India and in Pakistan where there has just been extraordinary. has been a problem of nuclear con- bility in this crisis. It needs to address I think we are really looking at a its credit problems. It must not pursue frontation and the dispute in Kashmir. generational problem—perhaps more There were also discussions on the per- policies that appear to be intended to than a generational problem—until bankrupt utilities rather than solve secution of Christians, which is a very there is some recognition that the those problems. Then the Federal Gov- rampant problem. Israelis and Palestinians can live side ernment can look at its role in pro- Mr. President, on December 28, Sen- by side under the terms of the Oslo ac- viding assistance. But it is not up to ator VOINOVICH and I departed from An- cords and the implementation, as may the Federal Government to bail out drews Air Force Base and flew across be worked out. California from a series of bad deci- the Atlantic landing late in the When we were there, and to this day, evening in Munich, Germany. Consul sions. And for the long term, the State the atmosphere was heavy with doubts needs to be looking at building power- General Bob Boehme and Economic Of- as to whether a peace treaty could be plants and transmission facilities to ficer John McCaslin met us in Munich. reached. The two shared with us their thoughts meet its power needs. The situation in I have complimented President Clin- on a wide variety of subjects ranging California demonstrates that our en- ton privately and publicly, and I do so from a potential U.S. missile defense ergy future is in our hands collec- again today, for the efforts he main- tively—the State of California first. tained right to the end of his term in system to the current refugee situation We can take the path of least resist- office. Now the new administration, I in Germany. The next morning we had ance, as California did, and we can suf- know, will pick up this very difficult a working breakfast with representa- fer the consequences. Or we can take issue and will work as best they can to tives of the German/American business the actions necessary to ensure our en- community. Our discussions ranged ergy future—oil and natural gas as well implement the peace process and try to bring stability to that region. form lack of an educated workforce in as electricity. Germany resulting in the need for That is why President Bush and we Before traveling to Egypt and Israel, Senator VOINOVICH and I visited Bel- skilled immigrants to staff many of are seeking to revitalize our energy in- their high-tech companies to harmoni- dustry and to formulate a long-term grade in Yugoslavia and made a trip into Bosnia. We were enormously im- zation of a European defense force with energy strategy that will ensure that NATO to the ever-evolving situation in the United States has the energy we pressed with the U.S. military presence in Bosnia, and U.S. soldiers helping to the Balkans. After our breakfast we de- need to fuel our economy. parted Munich and arrived in Belgrade, I thank the Chair. I thank my friend maintain a very fragile peace in that Yugoslavia on Friday December 29. from Maine for allowing me additional area of the world. In Yugoslavia, we met the new lead- My first visit to Yugoslavia was in time. 1986, when I visited with then President The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ers, who are very impressive men who Moisev. I was last in Belgrade in Au- BUNNING). The Senator from Maine is are carrying forward. gust 1998 in an attempt to visit then recognized. The problem of former President Ms. COLLINS. I thank the Chair. Milosevic is a very big issue in Yugo- President Slobodan Milosevic to urge (The remarks of Ms. COLLINS and Mr. slavia. The new Yugoslav leaders say him to turn over indicted war crimi- KERRY pertaining to the introduction they want to try him in Yugoslavia, as nals. Yugoslavia today is a country un- of S. 162 are located in today’s RECORD he has committed horrendous crimes dergoing dramatic changes. Recently under ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills against the people of Yugoslavia—em- and most notably is the formation of a and Joint Resolutions.’’) bezzlement which is estimated as high democratic form of government. The as $1 billion, and stealing the election greatest political achievement of the f on election fraud. But at the same Serbian people was a peaceful demo- A REPORT ON FOREIGN TRAVEL time, there are competing demands cratic revolution. Public protests usu- Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, in the from the War Crimes Tribunal at The ally happen before elections are held absence of any other Senator on the Hague. when the political tensions are at their

VerDate 24-JAN-2001 23:57 Jan 24, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.008 pfrm02 PsN: S24PT1 January 24, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S511 greatest. In Yugoslavia, the opposite the opportunity to prosecute Mr. elections and the Church had always happened. Mass protests were the only Milosevic for his many transgressions advocated peaceful solutions and a way to guarantee that the popular will against them, such as stealing the Sep- peaceful transfer of power. expressed at the polls was to be re- tember elections and stealing approxi- After our meeting with the Patriarch spected by former President Milosevic. mately $1 billion from the coffers of we flew to Bosnia to meet soldiers from The transfer of power following the the Yugoslav government. President the multinational peace keeping force electoral victory has not been simple, Kostunica was quick to point out that in Tuzla. Major General Sharp, Com- primarily because of Mr. Milosevic’s he welcomed the office of The Hague mander of the 3rd Infantry Division, attempts to falsify obvious electoral Tribunal, which had recently reopened headquartered in Tuzla, Bosnia met us results. With widespread support from in Belgrade, as the first step in the the citizens, the Democratic Opposi- eventual investigation and prosecution at the airport. General Sharp com- tion of Serbia secured the recognition of Mr. Milosevic and also other in- mands over 3900 American soldiers, of the electoral results and Dr. dicted war criminal who were seeking which help constitute a combined force Kostunica was declared head of state safe harbor in Yugoslavia. of over 6700 soldiers including those on October 5, 2000. However, full legal We then met with Professor Miroljub from Russia, Denmark, Poland, Esto- transfer of power was not fully accom- Labus, the Federal Deputy Prime Min- nia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Swe- plished by this proclamation. President ister in charge of economic policy as den and Turkey. We discussed his sol- Kostunica has insisted on a strict ob- well as Mr. Bozidar Djelic, the Serbian dier’s mission, which was supporting servance of the rule of law. The imme- Minister of Finance. Professor Labus implementation of the Dayton Peace diate challenge ahead for President as well as Minister Djelic, both were Accords and maintaining force protec- Kostunica and the Federal Government emphatic in their desire to bring pro tion awareness in the region. We dis- includes dealing in a clear and trans- market, transparent transactions to cussed the problem of war criminals parent way with relations in the Yugo- the economy of both the federal repub- and he said that he knew of no indicted slav federation and, in Serbia, resolv- lic of Yugoslavia as well as Serbia. Two war criminals in his area of responsi- ing the political and security issues re- of the major moves the federal govern- bility but that the orders for his divi- lated to Kosovo. After my discussions ment had undertaken that week was to sion were to detain and hold any of the with the various officials from the Ser- cut defense spending in order to direct personnel that had been indicted for bian and Yugoslav Government, it was more money into infrastructure repairs war crimes. We also discussed the in- clear there is a strong desire for Mr. which had been badly neglected under creasing role of the National Guard in Milosevic to be tried by the Serbian the Milosevic regime and deregulate the peacekeeping role in the Balkans government and be held to pay for foreign trade in order to attract more and the fact that Pennsylvania’s 29th what he has done to the Serbian people overseas investment. Both felt that Infantry Division will be taking over before they were willing to turn him while the new democratic government that critical peace keeping mission over to the officials at The Hague. had a good deal of support of the people there in 2002. We were met at the airport by U.S. behind them, they only had about 3 to We then flew by UH–60 Blackhawk Ambassador Bill Montgomery and pro- 6 months to help get the government helicopters from Tuzla to Camp Dobol ceeded to our first meeting with Mr. on the right track since the people to visit with some of the soldiers who Vojislav Kostunica, President of the were expecting to demand results soon. are stationed there. During lunch we Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Sen. We next met Mr. Zoran Djindic who discussed many issues with the soldiers VOINOVICH and I were the first Congres- won his election only 6 days prior to ranging from the need to continue to sional leaders to meet with the newly our arrival. He told us that while he reform Tri-Care to the transferability elected President and we congratulated had won the political battle, the battle of a soldiers GI bill to his family mem- him on his monumental victory. Presi- to undertake the reforms the people of bers. After having lunch we departed in dent Kostunica proudly told us that Serbia demanded was just beginning. Humvee’s and went on a patrol through after the recent December 23 elections, He said that for the past 50 years the the towns of Flipovici and Katonovici democratic party candidates won 176 government of Serbia had been a fa- with the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Di- out of 250 seats in Parliament, Yugo- cade and that he intended to have a vision. slavia was now ready to push forward transparent, functioning democratic with reform. Unfortunately, the new government. When we discussed Mr. Upon returning from Tuzla late in democratic Yugoslavia is now having Milosevic being tried at The Hague, he the afternoon, we met with Yugoslav to pay for ten years of corruption and said Mr. Milosevic was merely a small Minister of Justice Momcilo Grubac mismanagement under the Milosevic time criminal but had been in the posi- who told us that the new Yugoslav regime. Basic public services and tion to have the opportunity to com- state would be formed under the rule of health care are lacking as well as en- mit big time crimes. He further said law and the massive legal reform was ergy production resulting in rolling the will of the Serbian people was to just beginning. The Minister told us blackouts in Belgrade during the time try Mr. Milosevic in the Serbian courts that they were working on harmo- of our visit. Another internal problem first. On the topic of Montenegro, he nizing existing Yugoslav law with EU facing the Federal Republic of Yugo- said that integration into the Federal law in order to comply with inter- slavia is a political problem—dealing Republic of Yugoslavia was imperative national standards and to attract over- with the integration of Serbia and for the establishment of joint institu- seas investment and provide legal and Montenegro. President Djukanovic of tion of government so that Yugoslavia economic stability. When we discussed Montenegro has declared that Monte- could begin to slowly move towards the trial of Mr. Milosevic, the Minister negro should be a separate state loose- gaining membership into the EU. of Justice felt strongly that Milosevic ly aligned with Yugoslavia while Mr. On the morning of December 30, we should first be tried and held account- Zoran Djindjic of Serbia, expected to met with His Holiness Paul, Patriarch able in the Federal Republic of Yugo- be Prime Minister, desires a more tra- of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The slavia before being turned over and ditional federal alliance with the Fed- elderly Patriarch was a distinguished tried in The Hague. The Minister of eral Republic of Yugoslavia. looking gentleman who served as a Justice said a new prosecutor for the During our discussion, I told Presi- priest in Kosovo for 34 years. The Pa- City of Belgrade would be responsible dent Kostunica that I thought triarch felt that while the Serbians had for trying Milosevic. The current DA Slobodan Milosevic should be turned done many things wrong during the re- was a holdover from a Milosevic gov- over to the prosecutors at the Inter- cent conflicts, others did as well, and ernment and until December par- national Criminal Tribunal for the the unfortunate result was that many liamentary elections could not have former Yugoslavia at The Hague for ancient churches and mosques were been removed. The Minister antici- prosecution. President Kostunica told senselessly and unnecessarily de- pated that in late January or early me that while he agreed that Slobodan stroyed. The Patriarch stated that he February the DA would be replaced Milosevic should be held accountable, felt that the Church had assisted in with one that would be able to pros- the Serbian people should first be given highlighting moral issues during the ecute Milosevic.

VerDate 24-JAN-2001 23:57 Jan 24, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.055 pfrm02 PsN: S24PT1 S512 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2001 Later that evening we met with Pro- try, also has a large vocal Christian ister Sharon said that his much ma- fessor Dragoljub Micunovic, the Presi- community which is comprised of ligned visit to the Temple Mount dent of the Federal Parliaments Cham- Copts and Evangelicals. I had pre- served only as an excuse for the Pal- ber of Citizens ‘‘the Republic’s Upper viously discussed the plight of religious estinians by which to mount violence Body’’ and his colleagues. We met in minorities with President Mubarak in against the Israeli people. He stated the same Parliament building that we February of 1998, in January of 1999, that he had visited the Temple Mount all saw on CNN only a few months ear- and again in September of 1999. I was a number of times in the past without lier being stormed by citizens demand- informed on my previous trips as well incident. Minister Sharon told us, if ing fair counting of the elected results. as back in Washington that both the elected as Prime Minister on February These same citizens then were hanging Copts and other religious minorities 6, he would be willing to immediately out of windows waving the Yugoslav faced wide-spread discrimination and talk to Arafat about continued nego- flag after they were successful in forc- persecution sometimes rising to the tiations. Minister Sharon said he was ing Mr. Milosevic to declare President level of violence. President Mubarak astounded that Prime Minister Barak Kostunica the rightful winner of the assured Senator VOINOVICH and me that was willing to ‘‘give away’’ Jerusalem federal elections. The Parliamentar- the Egyptian government would not and the holy sites without any debate ians told us that they felt they had laid tolerate such activity. We discussed or discussion with the people of Israel. a successful groundwork for reform and the International Religious Freedom He felt that the problems of Jeru- that now it was time for them to de- Act of 1998 with President Mubarak salem, ensuring there are adequate se- liver. They, like all the other officials who downplayed the significance of the curity zones inside Israel, and the re- we talked to in Yugoslavia, felt that Act in Egypt. He said there was no turn of refugees were the major stum- Mr. Milosevic should be first tried in need for its application because his bling blocks to peace. Minister Sharon Yugoslavia. We were told that they government would not tolerate reli- said although he was a General, he was were sure that the prisons in Serbia gious persecution and that any inci- committed to peace, not war. He re- were much less comfortable that those dents that did occur were undertaken counted how he started as a young pri- in The Hague and thus Mr. Milosevic on an isolated basis and investigated vate in the Israeli Defense Force and would face a much harsher sentence in by the government. rose to the level of General, fighting in Serbia. After serving his time in Ser- At mid morning on New Years day, every battle in the history of the State bia, they agreed it would be possible we departed from Cairo and flew to Tel of Israel. He said that he had experi- for him to go to The Hague to be tried. Aviv. Upon reaching Jerusalem, we enced all the horrors of war that he On New Years Eve we departed Bel- were briefed by Ambassador Martin had seen many of his friends killed and grade for Cairo, Egypt. In Cairo that Indyk and headed off to our first meet- wounded and was in fact twice wounded evening, we met with Ambassador Dan- ing at the Kennesset with former himself and therefore he understood, iel Kurtzer to discuss the status of the Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Former perhaps more than most, the impor- negotiations between Israel and the Prime Minister Peres was under the tance of peace. However, he said, nego- Palestinians. My first meeting with impression that there was not suffi- tiating peace for Israel was almost as Ambassador Kurtzer occurred on Janu- cient time to conclude the compressive painful as war because peace means se- ary 7, 1998, his second day in Egypt. negotiations between the Palestinians curity for Israel and it was something On New Years Day we visited with and Israelis before the upcoming elec- that he was not going to undertake President Mubarak at Itihadiya Palace tions in Israel on February 6 and the lightly. in Heiliopolis. As always, the President end of President Clinton’s term. In At the conclusion of that day after was gracious as he rearranged his busy Prime Minister Peres’ opinion, there meeting with President Mubarak, schedule in order to meet with our del- was not enough focus on the economic Prime Minister Barak, former Prime Minister Peres and Minister Sharon, egation. President Mubarak and I dis- issues surrounding a comprehensive Senator VOINOVICH and I decided to cussed the negotiations between Chair- peace plan. The former Prime Minister send telefaxes to the leaders of Jordan, man Arafat, Prime Minister Barak and held the common opinion that the Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia, as President Clinton. When we asked major stumbling blocks to the current well as President Mubarak, urging President Mubarak when the Egyptian negotiations were Jerusalem, the holy them to publicly express their support Ambassador would be returned to sites and the Palestinian claim to a for President Clinton’s proposal. The Israel, he said the withdrawal of his did right of return. He emphasized that letter stated: not lessen diplomatic contacts between there could be no Israeli concession on Egypt and Israel and should not be con- the right of return without endan- We are advised that you think President gering the continuation of a ‘‘Jewish Clinton’s suggested parameters for the strued as his lack of support for com- Israeli–Palestinian peace negotiation is a prehensive peace between the Palestin- state’’ which was the fundamental rea- reasonable proposal and should be accepted ians and the Israelis. son for the creation of Israel after the by both sides. If that is true, we urge you to President Mubarak said he felt that Holocaust. say so publicly to demonstrate there is sup- there was no pressure to conclude talks Our next meeting was with Prime port in the Arab world to encourage Chair- because of President Clinton’s depar- Minister Barak whose frustration with man Arafat to give President Clinton an af- ture or because of Prime Minister negotiations was palpable. Barak stat- firmative reply promptly. Barak’s upcoming election. I asked ed that he had been very flexible in his Later that evening I departed Tel President Mubarak if he would be will- negotiations with Arafat and that Aviv and flew to Aqaba, Jordan. Sen- ing to participate at the negotiations Arafat had taken no risks in the posi- ator VOINOVICH stayed in Israel and had in Washington. President Mubarak said tions he was articulating. He stated a separate schedule for the balance of that he did not feel that it would be that the continuing violence between his trip. helpful to negotiate along-side Chair- the Palestinians and Israeli’s lead to I met with King Abdullah in his sum- man Arafat, Prime Minister Barak and unrest in the region and did not help mer palace on January 2. I had pre- President Clinton as the issues really the current peace with Egypt and Jor- viously met with the King’s father for need to be resolved between Barak and dan. The Prime Minister reminded us many years. King Abdullah said that Arafat on their own. that last year was the best year in the he had found President Clinton’s peace President Mubarak said that the history of Israel for Israel’s economy. proposals to be very reasonable and younger leaders in the region—The Prime Minister Barak stated that the that he had encouraged Chairman King of Jordan, the King of Morocco, only reason he had not already ended Arafat to use the proposal as a frame- and Crown-prince of Bahrain—were all his negotiations with Arafat was to work from which to build a comprehen- bright stars on the horizon in the re- give President Clinton, who had per- sive peace. The King and I discussed gion and could be counted on to be sup- sonally invested so much in the nego- whether or not he believed that Chair- portive of the peace process. tiations, one last chance to broker man Arafat had control of the street We discussed the problem of persecu- peace in the region. violence and protest in Israel, and King tion of religious minorities with Presi- Our final meeting on New Years day Abdullah opined that he believed that dent Mubarak. Egypt, a Muslim coun- was with Minister Ariel Sharon. Min- at the outset of the Intifada, Arafat

VerDate 24-JAN-2001 23:57 Jan 24, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.056 pfrm02 PsN: S24PT1 January 24, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S513 had more control but recently the in- The Foreign Secretary stressed that Sonia Gandhi’s late husband. We met fluence of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas India shared the United States com- in the room that used to serve as the were on the rise. I discussed with the mitment to reducing nuclear weapons, late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s of- King the possibility of other Arab but have not always agreed in how to fice. Mr. Singh took me to the memo- countries using their influence to pub- reach this common goal. The United rial, which marked the spot that on Oc- licly persuade Arafat that the Clinton States believes that India should fore- tober 31, 1984, while walking to her of- peace proposal was something that go nuclear weapons. India believes that fice from her nearby residence, Indira should be seriously considered. King it needs to maintain a credible min- Gandhi was assassinated. Abdullah stated that President Muba- imum nuclear deterrent in keeping We discussed issues ranging from the rak had by far the most influence on with its own assessment of its security middle east peace process to the bal- Chairman Arafat. King Abdullah needs. Nonetheless, he said, India ance of power in the newly elect 50–50 thought that he along with the Crown would be prepared to work with the Senate to India-Pakistan relationship. Prince of Bahrain, President Ben-Ali of U.S. to build upon the bilateral dia- Mr. Singh expressed the belief of his Tunisia, President Mubarak of Egypt, logue already underway. party that reestablishing a bilateral and King Mohamed of Morocco would Next, I asked the Foreign Secretary dialogue with Pakistan is critical if consider publicly supporting the Clin- the impact of the religious persecution any progress is to be made in the Kash- ton peace proposal. legislation that was enacted in law in mir region. I told him that following Later that afternoon we departed for 1998. He responded that the legislation my visit to the subcontinent in 1995, I New Delhi. We arrived in New Delhi at had no impact because there is no real wrote a letter to President Clinton 10:15 p.m. and Albert Thibault, the problem with discrimination in India. summarizing my meetings with then Deputy Chief of Mission and Paul When I asked him what steps the In- Prime Minister Rao and Prime Min- Mailhot, First Secretary, met us at the dian government had taken to protect ister Bhutto and suggesting that it airport. The following morning we had minority communities and prosecute would be very productive for the a working breakfast meeting with offenders, the Foreign Secretary re- United States initiate and broker dis- members from the U.S. Embassy. At sponded that there had been isolated cussions between India and Pakistan the briefing, we discussed the current incidences in the remote tribal areas of regarding nuclear weapons and missile issues that were of concern to India in- Orissa and Gujarat and that the Gov- delivery systems. cluding the signing of the Comprehen- ernment had strongly condemned these When I raised the issue of persecu- sive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), India- murders. Prime Minister Vajpayee had tion of religious minorities, he re- Pakistan relations, and the future of committed that reducing communal vi- sponded that there is no state spon- U.S.-India relations under the Bush Ad- olence was one of the main goals of his sored discrimination, but there had ministration. President Clinton visit in government and in that light he had been isolated case by case incidents. March of 2000 was the first Presidential spent last week in the state of Kerala Mr. Singh expressed to me that these visit since President Carter’s visit to focuses on the issue. He went onto note were isolated incidents and that the India. The main focus of our discus- that many religious minorities held government had strongly condemned sions was the relationship between seats in Parliament including Defense the attacks. He informed me that India and Pakistan. Minister George Fernandes. Prime Minister Vajpayee personally My first meeting that morning was That afternoon, Ambassador Celeste was distressed over these attacks and with Foreign Secretary Lalit hosted a luncheon at his residence with had just returned from meeting with a Mansingh. I congratulated Foreign leaders from the business, civil, polit- group of Christian Bishops in the state Secretary Mansingh on his designation ical and philanthropic communities. of Kerala. as the next Indian ambassador to the We discussed a wide range of issues The following day I attended a lunch- U.S. We spoke briefly about the elec- ranging from brain drain in India to eon meeting with the Confederation of tions in the U.S. and the Foreign Sec- the middle-east peace process. Indian Industry. Approximately 40 retary asked me if I thought that the My next meeting that afternoon was business leaders participated in a live- election would result in some momen- with the Leader of the Opposition in ly question and answer session where I tum for reform of our system of voting. the Upper House of Parliament Dr. responded to wide array of questions I responded that reform was on the ho- Manmohan Singh. Dr. Manmohan about from bipartisanship in the newly rizon but that the electoral college Singh was also Finance Minister under elected Senate, the U.S. economy, would not be eliminated. On the issue former Prime Minister Narashima Rao China PNTR and the Comprehensive of the CTBT, the Foreign Secretary ex- and the architect of India’s economic Test Ban Treaty. pressed his sentiment that the U.S. reform program in the early 1990’s. We I left the luncheon and arrived at the should not expect India to sign a Trea- discussed topics ranging from the con- Mother Child Welfare Center in ty that the U.S. itself perceives as tinued strengthening of U.S.-India ties Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. This Welfare flawed. He went on to state that the In- under the Bush Administration to the Center also serves as the local polio dian neighborhood was getting more perseverance of India’s economic liber- immunization clinic. Launched in 1988, dangerous and that India had no choice alization. When Dr. Singh asked me the global Polio Eradication Initiative but to ‘‘go nuclear’’ to protect itself about my general views on South Asia, is spearheaded by the U.S. Center for against both China and Pakistan ‘‘but I told him that I believed that with a Disease Control and Prevention, WHO, we want to convince you that India is population of over 1 billion, one fifth of Rotary International, National Gov- a responsible country.’’ I then posed the world’s population, India has a lot ernments and UNICEF. The Govern- the question to him of what his assess- of unrealized potential. I told him that ments of the United States, Denmark, ment was of the likelihood was that a I applauded India’s move from a social- Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, the Euro- nation, excepting those classified as so- ist economy to a free market economy pean Commission, Bill & Melinda Gates called rogue nations, would launch an and its achievements in science and Foundation, and the UN Foundation attack against another country. The technology. He said that India is com- and the World Bank have all been sup- foreign secretary promptly responded mitted to economic expansion and re- porting the effort to eradicate polio in that unless there was an ‘‘act of mad- form—especially in the emerging India by 2002. This would be only the ness’’, one does not anticipate nuclear knowledge-based industries and high- second disease to be eradicated after attacks from democratic regime. India, technology areas, and it is determined small pox. Here, I had the opportunity he said, is producing thousands of grad- to bring the benefits of economic to hold and administer the polio vac- uates every year, whereas Pakistan is growth to all its people. cine drops to the infants at the clinic. producing thousands of terrorists each My final meeting that evening was Later that afternoon, I met with For- year. He went onto expressed his con- with K. Natwar Singh, who is the chief eign Minister Jaswant Singh. We dis- cern about the role of Pakistan in fos- foreign policy advisor to Congress cussed India signing the CTBT, tering religious fervor, which mani- Party President Sonia Gandhi. Mr. FMCT—Fissile Material Production fested themselves into acts of ter- Singh also served as foreign minister Treaty which would end the production rorism. under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, of nuclear materials—India’s nuclear

VerDate 24-JAN-2001 23:57 Jan 24, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.057 pfrm02 PsN: S24PT1 S514 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2001 weapons program, Kashmir, the prob- agents in-charge of the FBI and DEA in mined, the foreign secretary informed lems in Afghanistan with the Taliban. New Delhi. me that there was a similar situation He told me that India was committed That same morning I also met with when a previous General had ousted a towards any hostility in the region and Dr. John Fitzsimmons and Dr. Gary previous Prime Minister and a lawsuit that the CTBT was a meaningless Trea- Hlady to discuss the National Polio was filed challenging the legitimacy of ty in their eyes because they have al- Surveillance Project and to see what the action. The Supreme Court in that ready taken on a voluntary morato- might be done to expand that program case found the General’s actions to be rium. He went on to stress that India to cover other illnesses such as mea- unjustified and returned the Prime recently signed a treaty with Pakistan sles, rubella, tetanus etc. They told me Minister to power. I told the Foreign that recently no aggressive use of nu- that polio eradication within Asia was Secretary of the great concern in the clear weapons. within reach by the year 2002 and that United States Congress regarding the The next morning we departed for measles was on the horizon. We also return of democracy to Pakistan and Udaipur. That afternoon I met with discussed ways in which Congress could that I was hopeful General Musharraf Professor P.C. Bordia, an expert on In- assist the CDC and NIH to develop pro- would honor the October 2002 Supreme dia’s licit opium production program. grams targeted at eradicating these Court deadline for restoring democ- India is the world’s largest source of diseases. racy. opium for pharmaceutical use. How- It was apparent by comments in both Our discussion then turned to Kash- ever, located between Afghanistan and India and Pakistan that the Senate’s mir and the ongoing conflict there. The Burma, the two main world sources of 1999 vote against ratifying the CTBT Foreign Secretary stated that his gov- illicitly grown opium, India is a transit was closely watched and that the vote ernment was pleased with the easing of point for heroin. Opium is produced le- diluted our power to persuade nations tensions and was hopeful, but not opti- gally in India under strict licensing like India and Pakistan to support the mistic, that the Indian government and control, and the Government of CTBT. In my discussions with officials, would engage in dialogue regarding India tries to extract every gram from it became evident that securing com- Kashmir. I asked the Foreign Secretary what the cultivators. The United States and pliance with the CTBT by these two could or should be done with the India signed an agreement in June 2000 nations without U.S. ratification would Taliban and Osama Bin Laden in Af- to jointly survey and study samples of be problematic. ghanistan. The Foreign Secretary told licit opium poppy crop. Professor We departed New Delhi on the morn- me that Undersecretary of State Pick- Bordia explained to me the method- ing of January 7 traveled to Islamabad, ering had conducted meetings with of- ology of the three year study. This col- Pakistan. I last visited Pakistan in ficials from the Taliban and that they laborative DEA funded project seeks to 1995 meeting with then Prime Minister were very grateful for the support of produce reliable data on the yields of Benezir Bhutto who is now living the U.S. provided during their war with opium gum from India’s poppy cultiva- abroad in exile and facing corruption the former Soviet Union. The Foreign tion, which would help the Government charges in Pakistan. Upon our arrival, Secretary felt that the U.S. should con- of India to maintain tight control over the Charge, Michele Sison, met me at tinue to provide humanitarian aid to its licit poppy production to prevent the airport and we departed for our Afghanistan and that perhaps through diversion and ensure an adequate sup- first meeting. General Musharraf, the dialogue with the Taliban some solu- ply to meet the international medical Chief Executive and current political tion regarding Osama Bin Laden could and scientific needs. The project is leader of Pakistan as well as the for- be reached. The Foreign Secretary scheduled to begin in mid-January 2001 eign minister, were out of the country thought that more sanctions would do with the visit of two U.S. scientists, on foreign travel. more harm than good. The Foreign Our first meeting was with the For- Drs. Basil and Mary Acock. Secretary told me that Pakistan suf- Later that afternoon, my staff toured eign Secretary, Inam ul-Haq. Secretary fered from more terrorist attacks than the Udaipur Solar Observatory GONG Ul-Haq is Pakistan’s highest-ranking any other country and that combating project—Global Oscillation Network career diplomat having previously been terrorism in Afghanistan worked to Group—which has been funded by the posted as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan’s benefit as well. National Science Foundation for the the United Nations and as Pakistan’s Finally, we discussed the situation last nine years. The GONG project is Ambassador to China. Our meeting facing religious minorities in Pakistan. an international project conducting a began with a discussion of Pakistan’s Pakistan is a predominately Muslim detailed study of the internal structure nuclear tests and the Comprehensive country with roughly 90 percent of its and motions of the Sun using Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The Foreign population belonging to that religion. helioseismology. The U.S. National Ob- Secretary told me that General The remaining religious minorities are servatory developed GONG stations in Musharraf and the current government roughly 3 percent Hindu, 6 percent six stations all over the world. These was in favor of ratification of the Christian and 1 percent Sikh. The are in Hawaii, California, Chile, Canary CTBT. However, I was told that there major problem facing non-Muslims in Island, India and Australia, and the was a very vocal group in Pakistan Pakistan is the blasphemy law, which National Solar Observatory in Tucson, which was opposed to Pakistan’s ratifi- allows for the death of anyone who Arizona. Dr. Arvind Bhatnagar and Dr. cation of the Treaty and that the For- blasphemes the Prophet Mohammed. I S.C. Tripathy explained that this eign Minister was personally working was told that the interpretation of the project enables surveillance of the Sun on persuading opponents of the Treaty law is very liberal and mere attendance 24 hours a day. My staff saw first hand and its benefits. The foreign secretary of mass by Catholics is a sufficient the working of the sophisticated $1.5 informed me that the Pakistani gov- basis on which to charge someone for million state of the art telescope that ernment closely followed the limited the crime. I urged the Foreign Sec- has been installed in Udaipur under debate and vote in the U.S. Senate re- retary to have his government repeal this project. This telescope monitors garding the CTBT and that ratification this law and play a more active role in the Sun automatically, and takes dig- by the U.S. would be very helpful in the protection of religious minorities. ital velocity images of the sun every Pakistan’s internal debate on the After my meeting with the foreign minute. This data is then combined issue. secretary, we attended a working re- with the data from the other five sites I next discussed the procedure by ception at the Charge’s home in at the central facility located in Tuc- which General Musharraf came to be Islamabad. The attendee’s at the recep- son. Dr. Bhatnagar explained to my the current political leader of Paki- tion were leaders from the Govern- staff with tremendous enthusiasm that stan. I was told that after the General’s ment, the Academy, various NGOs, re- the GONG project promises to unravel ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ligious and American communities. several fundamental problems of solar and ascension to power, a lawsuit was During the course of the evening, we interior and general astrophysics. filed against the General in the Su- engaged in spirited debate on topics On Sunday, January 7, prior to de- preme Court challenging the legit- such as the CTBT, missile defense, reli- parting for Islamabad from New Delhi, imacy of his actions. When I asked if gious tolerance and the importance of I met with the Station Chief and the outcome of that suit was predeter- democracy.

VerDate 24-JAN-2001 23:57 Jan 24, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.059 pfrm02 PsN: S24PT1 January 24, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S515 The next morning I had the oppor- After departing Istanbul, we traveled I asked Madam del Ponte if the ICTY tunity to sit down with Mr. Shahbaz to Mons, Belgium to meet with General needed any additional resources. She Bhatti, Founder and President of the Ralston, the Supreme Allied Com- told me that resources continued to be Christian Liberation Front of Pakistan mander of all NATO forces in Europe. tight—stressing that there was a great whom I had met in Philadelphia earlier General Ralston and I discussed the deal of work to do collecting evidence this year. His group is an umbrella or- United State’s proposed National Mis- of the war crimes and that additional ganization whose self described mission sile Defense System and the views our resources would be beneficial. is the ‘‘liberation of the oppressed from European allies had of that plan. Gen- My next meeting was with ICTY social subjugation, economic depriva- eral Ralston told me that he felt that Judge Patricia Wald who resigned from tion, religious discrimination, religious the European’s felt vulnerable to stra- the federal judiciary to serve at The intolerance and expression.’’ Mr. tegic missile attack under the U.S. Hague. We discussed the functioning Bhatti and I discussed Pakistan’s blas- plan which just proposed to protect the and legal rules of the ICTY. Judge phemy law, which he told me is broadly United States. We discussed the stand- Wald informed me that the ICTY bench interpreted, and states that anyone alone European Defense force in addi- consists of members from the U.S., who blasphemes the Prophet Moham- tion to NATO. General Ralston had England, France, Australia, Portugal, med is to be sentenced to death. Mr. high praise NATO’s new members, Italy, China, Vienna, Malaysia, Zam- Bhatti told me that there were many Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary bia, Colombia, Jamaica and Egypt. individuals currently being detained in and in fact was headed to the Czech Re- My meetings with Chief Prosecutor Pakistani jails under the law and he public that afternoon. Carla del Ponte and Judge Pat Wald, provided me with a list of names. I General Ralston told me that his following on my earlier meetings in asked Mr. Bhatti if he thought that the forces were ready, willing and able to Belgrade, supported my notion that religious persecution act the Congress assist the International Criminal Tri- bringing Milosevic to justice at The had passed had any effect on his situa- bunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Hague rather than in Yugoslavia would tion in Pakistan. in effectuating the arrest and return to prove to be complicated. The new He told me that he thought the Act The Hague of persons indicted for war Yugoslavian democratic government’s was a useful instrument for the en- crimes as soon as his political leader- persistence on trying Milosevic in Ser- hancement of interfaith harmony and ship instructed him to do so. bia and the ICTY’s insistence that it religious tolerance, not only in Paki- After our meeting with General Ral- had primacy over Milosevic established stan, but also all over the world. Mr. ston, we traveled to The Hague to meet the complexity of the issue. The con- Bhatti told me that he felt that the with the Chief Prosecutor of the ICTY, cept on an International Criminal U.S. State Department needed to be Carla del Ponte, and some of her staff. Court arose because of the failure of more focused on persecution in Paki- She expressed her strong sentiment to national courts to bring individuals stan in the coming year. Mr. Bhatti me that Slobodan Milosevic must be like Milosevic to trial. On one hand, to said that while he had met with the returned to The Hague for trial at the permit Yugoslavia to try Milosevic, at U.S. Ambassador when he had visited ICTY before standing trial in Belgrade. least first, would encourage national Pakistan and that he had met with the Madam del Ponte felt very strongly courts to deal with such issues. On the Ambassador again in Washington, he about Milosevic being brought to trial other hand, Madam del Ponte’s felt that Pakistan should be elevated in Belgrade for a number of reasons. adamance that the ICTY had primacy to a country of special concern in the First of all, she said, the ICTY had a granted under U.N. Resolutions and State Department’s annual report. Mr. clear mandate and enjoyed primacy should not have to negotiate. She fur- Bhatti felt that Islamic militants in- over domestic courts—this was a Secu- ther expressed her concern that Yugo- side Pakistan were pressuring the gov- rity Council mandate. Secondly, she slavia could not be trusted to prosecute ernment to be even less tolerant of re- expressed her fear that the Milosevic Milosevic due to problems of witness ligious minorities. Mr. Bhatti told me regime would still retain some power— intimidation and the Milosevic regime that he had received telephonic threats even behind the scenes—for a long still retaining influence in the Justice at his home and that vandals had done time; Further, she stressed that The system. It is a difficult problem with property damage to his office. He told Federal Republic of Yugoslavia must no easy solution. me that he had a meeting with General first establish its credibility before it I yield the floor. Musharraf to discuss religious toler- takes on the daunting task of judging a f ance and while the General seemed to former President. She said that the be genuinely concerned about the whole basis of the ICTY was to tackle CONCLUSION OF MORNING plight of the religious minorities, he those difficult, painful cases for which BUSINESS told Mr. Bhatti that he had to deal domestic courts are ill-equipped. I told The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning with a constituency, which did not the Chief Prosecutor that I shared her business is now closed. desire to have Mr. Milosevic prosecuted share his tolerant views. f After my discussion with Mr. Bhatti at The Hague but was doubtful that I called the Foreign Secretary to dis- Mr. Milosevic would be turned over to EXECUTIVE SESSION cuss the plight of the religious minori- The Hague after my recent meeting in ties and the detention of certain indi- Belgrade. viduals under the blasphemy law. The The Chief Prosecutor and I also dis- NOMINATION OF TOMMY G. Foreign Secretary told me that he cussed the ongoing negotiations to es- THOMPSON TO BE SECRETARY would look into the matter and I told tablish an International Criminal OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERV- him I would send him a list of those Court and the concerns surrounding ICES—Resumed imprisoned because of their religion such a body. I told her that there were The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under which Mr. Bhatti provided me. concerns in the United States Congress the previous order, the Senate will now We departed Islamabad and arrived regarding the vulnerability of U.S. go into executive session and resume into Istanbul on the night of January 8. servicemen of being subjected to consideration of the nomination of The next morning we had a working charges that are purely politically mo- Tommy G. Thompson, which the clerk breakfast with the Ambassador, his tivated and had no basis in fact. We will report. wife, Station Chief and the regional discussed her consideration of requests The legislative clerk read the nomi- head of the DEA. Our discussions at by Russia and Yugoslavia under nation of Tommy G. Thompson, of Wis- breakfast covered a wide range of Milosevic to charge NATO officials consin, to be Secretary of the Depart- issues from resolution of Turkey’s with war crimes. Madam del Ponte told ment of Health and Human Services. long-standing conflict with Cyprus, me that as a prosecutor she had no dis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Syrian-Turkish relations, Turkey’s cretion in the matter and that, as a the previous order, there will now be 10 entry into the European Union, and the matter of course, she had to inves- minutes each under the control of the strong political and military ties be- tigate the charges which she eventu- Senator from Iowa, Mr. GRASSLEY; the tween Turkey and the United States. ally deemed to be without merit. Senator from Montana, Mr. BAUCUS;

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