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Trip of the First Lady to Central Asia, Russia, and the Ukraine-Speechwriter Trip Book (David) [Binder][2]
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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. report
government reports (10 pages)
c 10/1997
P1/b(1)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Speechwriting (Noa Meyer Subject Files)
OA/Box Number: 13006
FOLDER TITLE:
Trip of the First Lady to Central Asia. Russia, and the Ukraine -Speechwriter Trip Book
(David) [Binder] [2]
2012-0869-S
kc954
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)|
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
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an agency |(b)(2) of the FOIA]
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financial information [(a)(4) of the PRAJ
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information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA|
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RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
Clinton Presidential Records
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This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
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D - KZ (Misc.)
First Lady's November Trip to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
UZBEKISTAN
Background Papers
-- Main Issues in Bilateral Relations
-- Political/Social Overview
-- - Economic/Commercial Overview
-- - Human Rights Overview
-- Ethnic and Religious Issues
-- Education System and Issues
-- Women's Issues
-- Population and Family Planning Issues
-- Children's Issues
-- Health Issues
-- - Overview of U.S. Assistance Program
-- - - Environmental Issues
-- Overview of U.S. Embassy
Other Materials
-- Biographies
-- - Background Notes/Fact Sheets
-- - Scenesetters
UZBEKISTAN: MAIN ISSUES IN BILATERAL RELATIONS
Interest in U.S. ties. Despite its slow pace of internal reform,
Uzbekistan actively seeks closer U.S. ties. It has supported U.S.
positions in the UN on controversial issues such as Iran and Cuba;
it has cooperated actively in efforts against weapons
proliferation and narcotics; and it has been an active participant
in Western security initiatives under Partnership for Peace, OSCE
and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. Uzbekistan is also a
member of the Central Asian Peacekeeping Battalion (Centrasbat)
with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which in September held joint
military exercises that included U.S. participation.
Mutual benefits. Uzbekistan values closer relations with the
U.S. to assure its independence, counter the regional ambitions
of Russia and Iran, assert its own regional role, and attract
western investment. The U.S. in turn recognizes Uzbekistan as a
regional leader, representing relative stability in a turbulent
region; a growing market for U.S. exports ($350 million in 1996) ;
a producer of natural resources such as gold, uranium, and
natural gas; and as a likely regional hub for infrastructure such
as pipelines, transportation, and communications, in which U.S.
firms seek a leading role.
Joint commission. The desire for closer relations on both
sides has led to an agreement to form a Joint Commission,
chaired by Ambassador-at-Large Sestanovich and Foreign
Minister Kamilov, to be inaugurated in Washington, most likely
in January 1998. Formation of the Joint Commission, an idea
endorsed by President Clinton in his June 1996 meeting with
Karimov, institutionalizes our effort to build closer
relations. While both sides seek to deepen military and
regional cooperation, the Commission will also serve to push
political and economic reform.
Differences. Despite close cooperation in a number of areas,
there are sources of friction in our bilateral relationship.
These arise from Uzbekistan's slow pace of economic reform, poor
human rights record and sometimes meddlesome regional activities.
a) Economic reform. Reform has stalled since Uzbekistan's
October 1996 decision to restrict currency convertibility. This
has reduced IFI programs and hampered foreign companies seeking
to invest. Other concerns are slow movement on medium/large-
enterprise privatization and bureaucratic obstacles to investment
and trade. More positively, a new tax code was passed in April;
we will monitor its implementation closely.
b) Human rights. President Karimov, a former Uzbek Communist
Party First Secretary, has fallen far short of his declarations
in favor of a democratic society and free press: the government
refuses to register human rights NGOs or real opposition parties;
there remains pervasive press censorship; and there have been
numerous reports of beatings and torture by police. Karimov, a
former Uzbek Communist Party First Secretary, defends his
political record by claiming the need to defend the state against
ethnic and fundamentalist unrest.
c) Regional aspirations. Despite its fear that the conflict,
instability and Islamic fundamentalism in neighboring countries
could spill across its porous borders and threaten its own
secular state, Uzbekistan has taken some potentially
destabilizing actions within the region. Uzbekistan has
supported renegade ethnic Uzbek officers in neighboring
Tajikistan, which threatens to disrupt that nation's fragile
peace process. Moreover, in Afghanistan -- although it has at
times played a moderating and constructive role -- the Uzbek
government has supported ethnic Uzbek military activity, which
helps perpetuate Afghanistan's civil conflict.
Future relations. The U.S. believes that Uzbekistan's stability
and prosperity could better be assured by a firmer commitment to
economic and political reform, an issue we will pursue in the
Joint Commission. Lack of progress on both fronts will
jeopardize continuation of some USG assistance and undermine the
overall relationship. We also continue to encourage Uzbekistan
to maintain a neutral role in the civil conflicts in neighboring
Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In addition, we want to build on the
success of September's Centrasbat exercise by making it an annual
event, and to expand IMET and other forms of training for Uzbek
military forces.
UZBEKISTAN: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL OVERVIEW
Uzbekistan is politically one of the least changed states in the
former Soviet Union. Power is now concentrated in the hands of
President Karimov instead of the Communist Party, but the
legislature functions largely as it did in the Soviet era. There
is no independent judiciary.
Consolidation of presidential power. During his first few years
as President, Karimov focused on consolidating power. He
outmaneuvered his rivals within the government and crushed the
largest non-Communist political opposition movement in Central
Asia, although he did so largely without resort to force. A
former First Secretary of the Uzbek Communist Party, Karimov was
elected President in a contested election in December 1991 in
which the most popular prospective candidate, Abdurahim Pulat,
leader of the main opposition movement, was not allowed to run.
Opposition. Following a student riot in early 1992 and mounting
opposition criticism of the regime, police suppressed Birlik and
Erk, the two main independent political movements that had
emerged during the era of perestroika. The authorities also
cracked down on Islamic activists in the Ferghana Valley.
Opposition and religious leaders were harassed, beaten or
arrested. Others, including Birlik Chairman Pulat, Erk Chairman
Solikh and former Grand Mufti of Uzbekistan Sadiq were forced
into exile.
Popular support. Despite his use of repression, Karimov appears
to have popular support. A 1996 International Foundation for
Election Systems (IFES) poll showed that over two-thirds of the
respondents said that they were satisfied with "the situation in
Uzbekistan today, and three-fourths said that the overall
quality of their life today was either "very good" or "fairly
good" -- indicating high levels of satisfaction, according to
U.S. polling experts.
Status quo. Absent a rapid deterioration in the economic
situation, Karimov is likely to succeed in his bid to stay in
office past the year 2000. This reflects not only his successful
repression of opposition and public acceptance of his approach to
reform, but also the cohesive nature of the population (three-
quarters ethnic Uzbek), an unbroken history of authoritarian
rule, and the a growing sense of national identity that Karimov
has helped build. Although the legacy of repression in
Uzbekistan probably stifled the level of dissent expressed to the
pollsters, the uniform results nevertheless suggest that many
Uzbekistanis appreciate the stability that Karimov has brought to
the country and accept his claim that political reform must be
implemented gradually to prevent chaos.
Attention to western concerns. As Karimov has attempted to
attract foreign investment, he has sought to accommodate, at
least superficially, Western concerns about human rights and
democratization. Karimov allowed Radio Liberty to reopen an
office in Tashkent and has allowed the establishment of local
independent television stations. The government invited the OSCE
to hold a seminar on human rights in Tashkent and permitted the
brother of Birlik Chairman Pulat, Abdumannob Pulat, who was given
political asylum in the U.S., to return to Uzbekistan and attend
the meeting.
Superficial reforms. Nevertheless, democratic reforms have been
largely cosmetic. In practice, the Uzbekistani Government
continues to restrain, either directly or indirectly, fundamental
freedoms. Karimov broke his promise to consider his current term
in office -- extended by a March 1995 referendum -- as his last,
by having parliament to declare in August 1995 that he is
eligible to run again in the year 2000.
UZBEKISTAN: ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL OVERVIEW
Energy and agriculture. Uzbekistan's labor-intensive economy is
centered on agriculture and mineral extraction. It has been less
vulnerable to the disruptions experienced by other countries of
the former Soviet Union, because rapid growth in the production
of oil and gas -- which grew by 180 and 19 percent, respectively,
between 1991 and 1996 -- allowed Uzbekistan to reduce its oil
imports at a time when energy prices were increasing sharply.
Uzbekistan -- a net gas exporter -- took advantage of these
higher prices and increased gas exports. In addition, the
government's policy of shifting crop acreage from cotton to
grains and other crops increased domestic food supplies, heading
off social tensions and the need for food imports.
Economic performance. Uzbekistan's GDP declined 17 percent, but
industrial production held steady, between 1990 and 1996 --
easily the best performance of all the CIS countries.
Nevertheless, rapid energy growth has masked steep drops in other
industrial sectors, including metallurgy, chemicals, and
construction materials, ranging from 33 to 59 percent between
1990 and 1995.
Trade. Foreign trade has performed better than in other CIS
countries. Although total two-way trade in 1996 was an estimated
50 percent of the 1990 level, exports to hard currency non-CIS
partners -- mostly of cotton -- more than doubled during that
period, and Uzbekistan was the only CIS country to import more
from non-CIS partners than it had in 1991.
Reform. While initially rejecting serious economic reforms, in
mid-1994 Uzbekistan implemented a macro-economic stabilization
policy and other reforms with IMF guidance to deal with high
inflation and to attract greater foreign investment. State
control over the economy, however, remains strong. The
government's tight rein on credits and deficit spending has
reduced average monthly inflation from more than 20 percent in
1994 to four percent in 1996 and an estimated three percent in
1997.
Privatization. Housing and small-scale enterprises, mostly in
retail and services, have been almost fully privatized.
Employment in the state sector dropped from 67 percent in 1991 to
43 percent in 1996, and 95 percent of retail sales last year went
through enterprises not owned by the government. Large-scale
privatization has barely begun, however, and the government's
approach has favored current employers and managers over a
process more open to the public. In 1996, the government further
changed privatization procedures to encourage the participation
of foreign investors. The government has permitted private
ownership of livestock and expanded privatized cotton production.
While most consumer prices are close to world levels, Uzbekistan
maintains artificially low prices on cotton and wheat. Moreover,
the government retains state orders -- as high as 50 percent --
on the cotton and wheat crops, as well as complete control over
cotton exports, and it strictly controls participation in hard
currency exchanges.
Foreign investment. Economic reforms have improved the foreign
investment climate in Uzbekistan, but potential investors
continue to face problems from an inadequate legal infrastructure
and a cumbersome, often corrupt, bureaucracy. In October 1996,
the government restricted the number of banks authorized to
conduct foreign exchange transactions. Several small-scale
investors have shut down operations, and major foreign investors
have noted difficulties in purchasing foreign exchange to meet
external obligations and repatriate profits. Although more than
1,200 joint ventures have been registered in Uzbekistan, only
about half were operating in 1996.
UZBEKISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS
Slow progress. Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state with limited
civil rights. The government has failed to make significant
progress on human rights concerns and political reforms. Chosen
President by a 1991 election that was neither free nor fair,
Islam Karimov had his term extended to 2000 by a 1995 Soviet-
style referendum. The government continues to deny registration
to independent political parties and other groups critical of the
government, while creating several parties to support itself. It
also continues to hold political prisoners. Police and security
services use torture, harassment and illegal searches against
activists. Police often beat criminal suspects to obtain
confessions.
Freedom of the press. Press censorship remains pervasive.
Almost all newspapers are government-owned, and citizens have
little access to foreign newspapers. Radio Liberty, the Voice of
America, BBC radio and expensive local cable television channels
are among the few sources of uncontrolled news, but even their
reporters face harassment. Freedom of expression is constrained
by an atmosphere of repression and concrete measures including a
law against "offending the honor and dignity of the President."
Positive steps. Nevertheless, some potentially positive steps on
human rights were taken in 1996 and 1997. It remains to be seen
to whether these measures are truly reforms or merely
superficial. In 1997, legislation was enacted to increase access
to information and protect journalists; to reform the penal
system and protect the rights of prisoners; and to establish an
ombudsman's office to monitor and investigate human rights
abuses. During the summer of 1996 authorities permitted Human
Rights Watch/Helsinki and Radio Liberty to open bureaus in
Tashkent. In addition, just prior to a meeting with President
Clinton in June 1996, President Karimov released fifteen
political prisoners and invited exiled human rights activists to
return to Uzbekistan. Later that year he established a National
Center for Human Rights devoted to training professionals in
human rights issues.
UZBEKISTAN: ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES
Discrimination claims. Despite official Uzbekistani government
policy favoring the development of a multi-ethnic society, a
number of non-Uzbek ethnic groups claim official discrimination.
For example, some groups claim that their communities are
shortchanged in distribution of government resources. This
discrimination appears to apply particularly to those groups who
are most isolated, such as the Karakalpaks who occupy the
ecologically-devastated northwestern corner of the country near
the Aral Sea.
Language issues. The government is moving to replace Russian
with Uzbek as the official language by the year 2000, a move that
is seen as disadvantaging the quarter of the country's 24 million
people for whom Uzbek is not the first language. In addition,
legal proceedings are often conducted in Uzbek without Russian
translation, even when they involve Russian speakers, and Russian
suspects are routinely forced to sign confessions written in
Uzbek.
Freedom of religion. Uzbekistan's constitution provides for
freedom of religion and separation of religion and state. Many
groups worship freely, including the majority of (Sunni) Moslems,
Jews, Russian Orthodox and several other Christian denominations.
However, the government suppresses some religious groups and
activities. For example, to counter what it perceives as
extremist Islamic views, the government limits the expression of
political views by religious leaders in sermons and elsewhere,
and effectively controls the Islamic religious hierarchy.
Authorities continue to use the tactic of convicting Islamic
religious leaders on trumped-up criminal charges (e.g.,
possessing drugs and ammunition) to suppress their suspected
criticism of government policy. Moreover, at least one
evangelical leader has been arrested and briefly jailed for
operating an unregistered church. Other evangelical groups have
had difficulty registering and, as a consequence, operate in
legal limbo. Acting on orders from presidential staff, customs
officials confiscated and held for most of 1997 a shipment of
29,460 Bibles belonging to the Uzbekistan Bible Society.
UZBEKISTAN: EDUCATION ISSUES
High literacy. The high educational level of the Uzbek
population is a great asset to this Central Asian nation.
Literacy is near universal at over 98 percent in both rural and
urban areas. Educational methods and curricula, however, are
often outmoded and inappropriate, and rural schools are less
well-equipped than their urban counterparts.
Deteriorating conditions. As in other social sectors, the Uzbek
educational system experienced significant material and financial
constraints following the breakup of the former Soviet Union. As
a result, serious problems relating to the maintenance of
educational institutions and the provision of necessary equipment
and supplies such as textbooks have emerged. For instance, many
schools, especially in rural areas, have no telephone, no running
water, and no sewage system. In addition, low teacher salaries
have caused many of the most talented teachers to leave teaching.
Length of schooling. Despite this bleak financial situation, the
total mean years of schooling for both men and women in
Uzbekistan exceeded 11 years in 1994. Also, the percent of all
persons aged 6 to 23 enrolled in school was approximately 50
percent in 1994. However, this figure is over 10 percent lower
than the equivalent figure for 1992. Also disturbing is the fact
that the percentage of 19-year-olds still enrolled in full-time
education declined from 31 percent in 1992 to 26 percent in 1994.
Continued decline? The needs in the educational sector must be
addressed fairly quickly to preserve the quality and availability
of education for all children and young adults. Hence, during
coming years, Uzbekistan must try to maintain its educational
achievements by revising and restructuring curricula to meet the
requirements of a modern, independent nation. Assistance is also
urgently needed for maintenance of the basic educational
infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Education has not
been a sector of specific concentration for USAID work.
UZBEKISTAN: WOMEN'S ISSUES
Women's rights. Uzbekistan has acceded to a number of
international human rights-related treaties, almost all of which
prohibit discrimination based on gender. Both the Constitution
and the 1992 law on citizenship prohibit discrimination on the
basis of sex. However, enforcement mechanisms are inadequate,
and women are unaware of their rights and too poorly organized to
advocate for themselves effectively.
Traditional society. Uzbekistan is a traditional society in
which Islamic culture is becoming more of a presence. Women
assume that raising children and managing the home are
exclusively the domain of women. Early, arranged marriages are
common, and young brides are expected to have a child within the
first year of marriage and to care for their mothers-in-law.
Education. The female literacy rate in 1990 was 96 percent,
which compares very favorably with a 60 percent rate worldwide.
Opportunities for women to obtain an education are declining,
however. Because traditional attitudes toward women favor early
marriage and child rearing, education for women receives a low
priority. The government has abolished the compulsory attendance
law, making it easier to keep girls out of school. Declining
financial support for state schools has resulted in the best
educational opportunities requiring entry payments amounting to
bribes. Economically hard-pressed families are more likely to do
this for sons, for whom a career is considered as required, while
keeping daughters at home.
Economic Participation. Women's employment and labor force
participation is high (71%), but women tend to be employed in
low-skilled occupations or in low-paying occupations such as
education and health. Women make up three-fourths of the
country's doctors and nurses and 60% of teachers, but only a
third of technicians and engineers. Women seeking to be
entrepreneurs face a host of obstacles, including cultural
attitudes, family and household responsibilities, and lack of
access to family assets, which reduces access to scarce credit.
Political representation. The proportion of women represented in
Parliament has dramatically decreased since independence. Before
the 1989 elections, due largely to a quota system, women
comprised 35% of the Supreme Soviet. Now, only 13 of the 250
deputies in Parliament, or five percent, are female. Few women
hold influential positions in the executive branch and those that
do tend to serve in ministries dealing with social issues such as
health and education. A woman deputy prime minister was
appointed to handle women's affairs. She is the only female in
the Cabinet and has no program funds or real power. Women serve
as deputy governors for women's affairs at the province and
district levels, but have no program funds and limited chances to
put issues forward in a male-dominated environment.
NGOs. The Republican Women's Committee, a government-sponsored
NGO headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, has supported a few
useful projects. A number of women-oriented, grassroots NGOs
deal with specific gender issues but, as with most NGOs in
Uzbekistan, they are weak and lack depth in their leadership.
International activities. A national delegation was sent to the
United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing as
well as to the 1996 meeting in Bucharest. Support from outside
the country permitted key women leaders not affiliated with the
government to attend the Beijing conference. Since Beijing, the
government has prepared a paper entitled "The Government's
Conception on Improving the Status of Women". In May 1997, a
Gender in Development Unit under the Republican Women's
Committee, financed by the UN, began developing a National Action
Plan to be based on the Government's concept paper.
Social benefits. Under the Soviet Government, a comprehensive
system of social benefits assisted women and gave them
preferential treatment, including child allowances, maternity
leave, and favorable retirement pensions allowing earlier
retirement than men. Unfortunately, this system of social
welfare is grossly underfunded. Benefits are too small and often
paid late. Until it is reformed, women are likely to suffer
disproportionately.
Demographics.
Female population - 11.5 million (50.5% of population) (1995)
Number of women 15-45 in 1995 = 5.6 million; in 2015 = 8.9 million
Life expectancy - 72 years (as opposed to 66 for men)
Total fertility rate - 3.8
UZBEKISTAN: POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING
Projected trends. With a total population of approximately 23.7
million, Uzbekistan is the third most populous country in the
former Soviet Union. With the current population growth rate of
2.5 percent, the population will dramatically increase in the
next fifteen years and is projected to reach 35.7 million by the
year 2025. Forty percent of the population of Uzbekistan is less
than 14 years of age. Fertility in Uzbekistan has declined in
recent years by one child. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for women
is 3.3 children.
Contraception. Currently, reproductive health services are
available at hospitals and polyclinics at the oblast, rayon, and
city levels, and at primary health care institutions through the
public sector. According to demographic and health data,
knowledge of contraceptive methods is virtually universal among
Uzbekistani women and 51 percent of currently married women are
using a modern method of contraception, primarily in-uteri
devices. Most of the women obtain their contraceptive method
from the public sector.
International assistance. The United Nation Fund for Population
(UNFPA) with the EU credit has supplied the contraceptive for the
public sector. This may change in the future as the commercial
sector becomes more active. USAID is helping the Ministry of
Health to improve the accessibility and availability of
contraceptives through the commercial sector. However, the
recent adoption of regulations to control and limit foreign
exchange for businesses have affected USAID's efforts.
Abortion. An abortion rate of 0.7 abortions per woman in
Uzbekistan is lower than estimates for other areas in the former
Soviet Union. These lower rates are largely due to greater
availability and use of alternative contraceptive methods.
UZBEKISTAN: CHILDREN'S ISSUES
Decline in social services. Despite recently increased efforts
on the part of the government of Uzbekistan to address the
general downturn in the country's social indicators,
preoccupation with macroeconomic issues as well as real budgetary
constraints has meant that social services for the most
vulnerable groups -- especially children -- are shrinking and in
danger of not furnishing even minimum support. Some 41 percent
of the population is under the age of 16; this places high
demands on scarce social services.
Nutrition. A wide range of serious nutritional problems affect a
large percentage of children, especially in rural areas. Among
the major reasons are large families, low family incomes and
sporadic supplies of major food products. The USAID-funded 1996
Uzbekistan Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) found that close
to 15 percent of the child population is stunted and another
three percent wasted. This is in line with percentages generally
found in Central Asia, but higher than those for other areas.
Breast-feeding is almost universal in Uzbekistan; 96% of all
children are breast-fed during their first four to six months of
life. This satisfies the World Health Organization recommended
minimum four months of breast feeding.
Infant health care. Almost all births in Uzbekistan (94%) take
place in health facilities and under the care and supervision of
trained medical personnel. Uzbekistan provides a full range of
inoculations (polio, measles, BCG and DPT/DT) to 85 percent of
the children aged 12 - 23 months. The highest coverages are for
Polio 1 and Diphtheria 1, 99 percent. The lowest is for measles,
89 percent. USAID addressed vaccine security issues early on in
Uzbekistan and Central Asia. It provided technical assistance to
modernize antiquated and inefficient immunization protocols.
USAID has also been in the forefront of helping combat other
diseases by providing vaccines and associated assistance.
Aral Sea. In the Aral Sea zone, children have been especially
susceptible to the air and waterborne diseases associated with
the ecological disaster area. Although the infant mortality rate
has fallen in recent years, it remains higher than in other areas
of Uzbekistan. USAID mobilized resources quickly in 1994 to
fulfill Vice President Gore's commitment to the area. Uzbekistan
shared with Kazakhstan in USAID's $22 million Aral Sea Initiative
to bring potable water to people of the Aral Sea region. This
initiative has now shifted from infrastructure projects to ones
addressing water policy and sustainability.
Adoption law. While international adoptions of Uzbekistani
orphans are legal, government officials are not in agreement on
who has authority over such adoptions. Only three foreign
adoptions took place in FY 1997. Uzbekistan is not a party to
the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child
Abduction. Thus, cases of children abducted to or from
Uzbekistan must be handled in the family courts of the country to
which they have been taken. When such cases are brought to the
attention of the Department of State, the natural parents are
advised to retain legal counsel in the country to which the
children have been taken. The Department of State is not aware
of any pending cases in Uzbekistan.
UZBEKISTAN: HEALTH ISSUES
Major problems. Uzbekistan's major health problems include high
maternal and infant mortality rates; poor women's health,
including reproductive health; intestinal and parasitic
infections; high rates of cardiovascular diseases; and increasing
incidence of tuberculosis and vaccine-preventable diseases,
including polio, diphtheria, and anemia, particularly in women
and children.
Deteriorating conditions. Historically, the national health care
system in Uzbekistan was comprehensive. Services available to a
large percentage of the population were provided mainly free of
charge. However, health sector resources have declined since the
breakup of the former Soviet system, reducing health care
quality, accessibility and efficiency.
Drinking Water. Lack of access to potable water continues to be
a major problem for half a million people in the Aral Sea area.
This is a main cause of higher incidences of diarrheal disease in
the region. The government and USAID have already improved two
large water treatment plants serving half a million people in the
Aral Sea region through installation of chlorination and other
water cleaning equipment. These efforts immediately improved
drinking water quality, which in turn reduced health risk. A
regional effort in water management and water pricing is
underway.
Reform and USAID assistance. Recently the Government of
Uzbekistan has indicated readiness to pursue health reforms more
consistent with a market-oriented economy. USAID is focusing on
issues of health care financing and improved primary health care.
This complements USAID's existing assistance in improving access
to contraceptives through the private sector; reducing vaccine-
preventable infant deaths; strengthening epidemiological
monitoring of infectious diseases; and developing hospital
partnerships with U.S.-based hospitals to transfer modern
clinical technologies. USAID has provided some $3 million to the
health sector in the past two years, in addition to roughly $5
million to improve water supply systems. USAID works closely on
health issues with the World Bank, the World Health organization,
and other United Nation Agencies.
UZBEKISTAN: ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Total funding commitment. The United States has provided
approximately $137.5 million to fund humanitarian aid, technical
assistance and investment promotion activities in Uzbekistan
since 1992. These programs seek to lay a basic foundation for
market economic and democratic reform in an effort to encourage
the government of Uzbekistan to embrace such reforms in earnest.
The U.S. has contributed an additional $16.6 million to the UNHCR
and International Organization of Migration's 1997 Joint Appeal
for the CIS Migration Conference follow-up for programs in
Uzbekistan, as well as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Funding for economic reform. U.S. funding since 1992 for private
sector development and economic restructuring in Uzbekistan
totals approximately $18 million. This relatively low figure
compared to aid to other NIS reflects the slow pace of economic
reform in Uzbekistan to date. Despite declarations to the
contrary, the Uzbek government has been reluctant to implement
many of the reform ideas generated by U.S.-funded programs. In
addition, Uzbekistan's restrictions on currency convertibility
undercut its efforts to attract foreign investment.
Economic programs. Our programs are nevertheless helping to lay
the groundwork for a market-oriented economy by working with
selected, reform-minded GOU officials. USAID has fielded a team
of resident advisors that has been working closely with
Uzbekistan's government on tax, fiscal, and financial reform.
These advisors played a key role in drafting Uzbekistan's new tax
code, which parliament passed in April 1997. USAID advisors are
also working to draft new laws on budget formulation, reform the
pension system, train banking system supervisors and streamline
Uzbekistan's legal framework for international trade and
investment in preparation for possible WTO membership.
Central Asian-American Enterprise Fund. The USG has also pledged
$150 million to capitalize the Central Asian-American Enterprise
Fund, which operates in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Turkmenistan. We created this fund to support the development of
small and medium-sized enterprises in Central Asia by making
equity investments and providing micro-lending services. The
fund has invested $23.4 million in 10 Uzbek businesses in the
manufacturing, food processing, construction, and service
sectors. Unfortunately, currency convertibility problems have
prevented even greater Fund activity in Uzbekistan thus far.
Democracy and human rights. The GOU has moved slowly on
democratic reform, continues to repress its political opponents
and resists the emergence of an independent media. Democracy-
building aid activities have consequently been limited to working
to strengthen civil society by supporting the development of a
variety of NGO's in areas such as women's rights, advocacy for
the handicapped and general human rights. People-to-people
programs such as USIA exchanges, farmer-to-farmer programs, and
the Department of Commerce's SABIT Business Internship Program
contribute to the development of Uzbekistan's civil society.
Another project assists 16 local television stations.
Health care programs. Since 1992, the U.S. has allocated
approximately $7 million for improvements in Uzbekistan's health
care system which have benefited women and children in
particular. At the national level, the U.S. is helping
Uzbekistan create a computerized national disease surveillance
system. At the local level, USAID is beginning a major project
that will develop pilot programs for financing rural hospitals.
Family planning programs. Underlying these programs is a focus
on women's reproductive health and children's health. USAID
supports two family planning programs that seek to reduce rates
of maternal morbidity, infant mortality and abortions by creating
model training clinics and conducting public education campaigns
on the use of modern contraceptives. Recent data from project
sites throughout Central Asia indicate a significant decline in
abortions and increase in contraceptive use in recent years.
USAID and the U.S. Center for Disease Control are also operating
training programs aimed at battling infectious diseases such as
polio, diphtheria, and Uzbekistan's two major causes of child
mortality -- pneumonia and diarrhea. A medical partnership
between Tashkent State Medical Institute and the University of
Illinois at Chicago Teaching Hospital has been awarded over $1.5
million in grants since April 1995 for work on treatment of high-
risk pregnancies, training in neo-natal resuscitation, and
establishment of a Women's Wellness Center.
Environmental programs. The USG has provided nearly $9 million
for environmental programs in Uzbekistan since 1992. A large
portion of these funds have financed projects that address the
environmental disaster zone surrounding the Aral Sea. USAID has
provided $7 million for capital improvements in water treatment
facilities in communities near the Aral Sea. USAID has also
sponsored intense efforts to promote regional cooperation on
water management and sharing. Thanks to this initiative, the
presidents and prime ministers of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Kazakhstan are close to agreement on a common water management
policy. USAID has also funded pollution control projects at a
major oil refinery and cement plant.
Energy programs. The U.S. has recently initiated a new project
that aims to develop a legal and regulatory structure for
Uzbekistan's energy sector. The goal of this program is to
create the necessary conditions to attract foreign investment.
Humanitarian Assistance. We have delivered $58.7 million in
medical equipment, medicines, and other commodities donated by
the U.S. Department of Defense and private voluntary
organizations since 1992.
UZBEKISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Serious problems. Caused largely by the former Soviet regime's
mismanagement of natural resources in the region, Uzbekistan's
environmental problems include depletion of water supply,
deteriorating water quality, water contamination from both
agricultural pesticides and fertilizers and industrial
enterprises, increasing water salinity, public health crises,
improper waste and wastewater disposal, and air pollution from
the industrial sector, concentrated in Tashkent province.
Uzbekistan's economy relies largely on agriculture and extraction
of natural resources, both carried out in an unsustainable
manner, particularly with respect to water use.
Aral Sea disaster. Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of
the Aral Sea. Due to Soviet agricultural development policies,
large amounts of water were diverted from this sea for
irrigation, leading to its shrinkage to slightly more than half
its previous volume. The massive diversion of water from the two
main tributaries, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, in combination
with unsustainable agricultural practices, has destroyed the Aral
Sea as a viable ecosystem and ruined local economies in the
process. The U.S., along with the World Bank, UNDP, the EU, and
Canada, is now focused on trying to stabilize the situation; any
hope of restoration is dim at best.
USAID assistance. Much of USAID's initial focus has been on the
urgent public health needs arising from the sea's degradation.
Several million people living in the sea's basin have been
deprived of access to safe water and have experienced abnormally
high rates of morbidity, non-specific diarrheas, and viral
hepatitis. In response, USAID undertook a series of multi-
million dollar potable water projects to provide increased clean
water access to over a million Central Asians. Some $7 million
of capital improvements including new disinfection systems,
coagulation units, and expanded testing capabilities were
provided to potable water treatment facilities in the major towns
of northwestern Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has committed resources
to insure the ongoing maintenance and operation of these
renovated facilities. USAID has provided legal and regulatory
review to help develop Uzbekistan's National Environmental Action
Plan, and has emphasized use of economic instruments to promote
environmental improvements and discourage liability hazards.
Water sharing and management. Donors including USAID, the World
Bank, UNDP and the EU have sponsored intense efforts to promote
cooperation among the five new Central Asian Republics in water
management and sharing, thereby addressing the underlying causes
of the Aral Sea disaster. From workshops and a demonstration
project to promote concepts of water pricing, protection of water
resources for beneficial uses, and water demand management,
donors have shifted to application of these principles at the
Toktogul Reservoir, the largest multi-year storage facility in
Central Asia, used primarily for irrigation and secondarily for
power production. Acreage under irrigation provided by Toktogul
water generates hundreds of millions of dollars from cotton and
other crops in Uzbekistan and somewhat less from rice and other
agricultural production in Kazakhstan.
Competing needs. Acute tension has arisen from competing needs
for power generation for winter heating of homes in Kyrgyzstan
and irrigation of crops in the summer for downstream countries.
A series of year-long agreements between the countries on the
dam's operation and the sharing of water have collapsed.
Water management agreement. Over the last year and a half, USAID
has worked with the Interstate Council of the Republics of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan (ICKKU) to establish a
multi-year agreement applying the principles of water pricing and
demand management. The result is a draft agreement which ICKKU
will submit for approval by the three governments by early 1998.
USAID intends to assist in successful implementation of the
agreement. Based upon the lessons learned through Toktogul,
USAID also plans to assist with the development of other water
basin management agreements along the Syr Darya. On a more local
level, USAID is helping to form agricultural water user
associations through training seminars and drafting of sample
incorporating documents.
Waste minimization. Over half of Uzbekistan's industry is
centered in Tashkent Oblast. Principal environmental problems
are air emissions of particulates from power plants and cement
plants, wastewater from chemical plants, and disposal of solid
wastes from mineral extraction and processing. To tackle these,
USAID funded demonstration projects in waste minimization in two
industries. An oil refinery and a cement plant installed
pollution reduction equipment, resulting in large energy and
dollar savings and substantial reductions in carbon dioxide and
particulate emissions.
Environmental NGO Development. Non-governmental organizations
are a key means of overcoming the Soviet legacy of environmental
mismanagement. USAID has funded ISAR, a non-profit organization
that supports NGOs working on environmental issues in the Newly
Independent States since 1993. ISAR has awarded $500,000 in
small grants (from $300 to $5,000) to local NGO's to conduct
concrete actions in environmental education, awareness,
monitoring, and law; alternative energy; sustainable development;
sustainable agriculture; and related areas.
EMBASSY OVERVIEW: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN
Location and staff. Embassy Tashkent opened in March 1992 and
moved to its present site in a former Soviet Youth Center about
five miles from downtown Tashkent later the same year. Staffed
initially by fewer than ten full-time Americans, the Embassy has
grown substantially to reflect the increasing complexity of
U.S.-Uzbek relations and U.S. interests in the region. The
Embassy now has about 32 full-time direct hire American
positions plus several local hire Americans.
Offices and programs. The State Department complement includes
political/economic, political/military, administrative and
consular sections. In addition, the newly-created regional
environmental office is located here, covering the five Central
Asian states most affected by the Aral Sea crisis. The
following agencies also are present in Tashkent:
USIS. USIS is staffed by a Public Affairs Officer and a
Regional English Language Specialist.
USAID. USAID for Central Asia is based in Almaty, but
represented in Tashkent by one direct-hire American.
Foreign Commercial Service. The Foreign Commercial Service is
represented by a Senior Commercial Officer, who also oversees
the operations of the American Business Center here.
Defense Attaché. The Defense Attaché Office (DAO) is headed by
an Army Lieutenant Colonel assisted by an Operations
Coordinator. DAO oversees the Partnership for Peace Program and
the bilateral military educational and training exchanges.
Peace Corps. The Peace Corps maintains two programs
countrywide, one focusing on English teaching and the other on
small business development and education, with about 50-60 total
volunteers.
Other. Family services for resident Americans are developing
gradually as funding increases and Uzbek officials become more
comfortable dealing with an international business and
diplomatic presence. There is a locally organized International
School and an International Clinic. The U.S. government
contributes significantly to both institutions.
UZBEKISTAN: TASHKENT SCENESETTER
History. Tashkent was the fourth largest city in the Soviet
Union and the Russian/Soviet administrative center for central
Asia. Until its conquest by the Czar's armies in 1863,
Tashkent had been a minor town (its name means "stone village" in
Uzbek). By the mid-nineteenth century, however, Tashkent had
grown into a prosperous trading town.
City setting. Tashkent has the appearance of a modern city,
owing mostly to its near-total destruction by an earthquake in
1966. It was rapidly rebuilt in a "Soviet modern" style. Post-
independence, much new building is going on and the government
has encouraged a more Asian architectural style. Many new
buildings have white columns and turquoise domes. The
combination of this new style with the broad, tree- lined
boulevards built by the Soviets makes Tashkent a pleasant city to
visit.
UZBEKISTAN: SAMARKAND SCENESETTER
History. Samarkand, which celebrated its 2, 500th birthday last
year, was already a major urban center when it was conquered by
Alexander the Great. For almost a thousand years, beginning in
the second century B.C., virtually every caravan on the Silk
Route passed through Samarkand. It remained an important trade
city until sea routes between Europe and the Orient were opened.
The city's glory ended with its destruction at the hands of
Genghis Khan in 1220. However, by early in the thirteenth
century, Samarkand recovered when Tamerlane (known here as Amir
Timur, the "Iron Emir") chose it as his capital.
City setting. Today Samarkand, with a population of about
500,000, is a center of commerce supporting agricultural activity
in the surrounding countryside. There has been some light
industrial development. Samarkand is set apart from other
Central Asian cities by its spectacular historic sights.
UZBEKISTAN: BUKHARA SCENESETTER
History. Considered by many to be Uzbekistan's most beautiful
city, Bukhara celebrated the purported 2500th anniversary of its
founding on October 19, 1997. Successively ruled by Achaemenids,
Greeks, Seleucids, Parathions, and Kushans before being captured
by Arabs in the eighth century, it was a major trading, cultural,
and educational center for much of its history. It was the
capital of the Saminid empire -- the first independent central
Asian state -- in the tenth century. Largely destroyed by
Genghis Khan, the city's fortunes improved in the second half of
the sixteenth century as it became the center of various Khanates
or Emirates until 1920. The Emirate of Bukhara became a
protectorate of Russia in 1873, although the Emir was allowed to
continue to rule. Bukhara was a center of counter-revolution
during the Russian civil war and was taken by the Red Army in
September 1920. Any semblance of Bukharan independence (under a
Bukharan People's Republic) was ended in September 1924 when the
region officially joined the Soviet Union.
City setting. Today, Bukhara is a quiet city of roughly 300,000
inhabitants. While there are some industrial enterprises in the
new part of the city, the city was not as heavily industrialized
as others in central Asia. Moreover, the old city, with its
narrow, twisting streets, maintains a separate atmosphere from
more modern sections of Bukhara, and kept its historic identity
intact.
Clinton Presidential Records
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E
First Lady's November Trip to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Russia
Background Papers
-- Main Issues in Bilateral Relations
-- Political/Social Overview
-- Economic/Commercial Overview
-- Human Rights Overview
-- Ethnic and Religious Issues
-- Education System and Issues
-- Women's Issues
-- - Population and Family Planning Issues
-- Children's Issues
-- Health Issues
-- Overview of U.S. Assistance Program
-- Environmental Issues
-- Overview of U.S. Embassy
-- Science and Technology
-- Space
Event Papers
-- Arrival/Departure Statements
Other Materials
-- Biographies
-- Updated Background Notes/Fact Sheets
-- Moscow Scenesetters
-- Maps
Russia
President
Boris Yel'tsin
MOSCOW
(reelected July 1996)
Key Ministers and Other Government Representatives
Chairman
Viktor Chernomyrdin
Date of Independence: 24 August 1991
First Deputy Chairman
Anatoliy Chubays
Population:
approx. 149 million
First Deputy Chairman
Boris Nemtsov
Deputy Chairman
Ramazan Abdulatipov
Deputy Chairman
Maksim Boyko
Minister without Portfolio
Yevgeniy Yasin
Deputy Chairman
Vladimir Bulgak
Chairman. Federal Securities Market Commission
Dmitriy Vasil'yev
Deputy Chairman
Viktor Khlystun
Director. Federal Security Service (TSB)
Nikolay Kovalev
Deputy Chairman
Anatoliy Kulikov
Chief, State Protection Service (SGO)
Yuriy Krapivin
Deputy Chairman
Valeriy Serov
Director. Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)
Vyacheslav Trubnikov
Deputy Chairman
Oleg Sysuyev
Director, Federal Border Service
Gen. Andrey Nikolayev
Deputy Chairman
Yakov Urinson
Head, Government Apparatus
Vladimir Babichev
Minister of Agriculture & Food
Viktor Khlystun
Chairman. Central Bank of Russia
Sergey Dubinin
Minister of Civil Defense. Emergencies. & Natural Disasters
Sergey Shoygu
Central Currency & Export Control Service
Oleg Pavlov
Minister of Cooperation with Member States of the CIS
Anatoliy Adamishin
Chief, Government Press Service
Andrey Nikolayev
Minister of Culture
Natal'ya Dement' yeva
Ambassador to the US
Yuliy Vorontsov
Minister of Defense
Igor Sergeyev
UN Perm Rep
Sergey Lavrov
Minister of Economics
Yakov Urinson
Minister of General & Vocational Education
Vladimir Kinelev
Key Legislative Officials
Minister of Finance
Anatoliy Chubays
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Chairman. Federation Council
Yevgeniy Primakov
Yegor Stroyev
Minister of Foreign Economic Relations & Trade
Mikhail Fradkov
Duma Speaker
Gennadiy Seleznev
Minister of Fuel & Energy
Boris Nemtsov
First Deputy Duma Speaker
Vladimir Ryzhkov
Minister of Health
Tat'yana Dmitriyeva
Deputy Duma Speaker
Mikhail Gutseriyev
Minister of Internal Affairs (MVD)
Anatoliy Kulikov
Deputy Duma Speaker
Artur Chilingarov
Minister of Justice
Sergey Stepashin
Deputy Duma Speaker
Svetlana Goryacheva
Minister of Labor & Social Protection
Oleg Sysuyev
Deputy Duma Speaker
Sergey Baburin
Minister of Nationalities Affairs & Regional Policy
Vyacheslav Mikhaylov
Deputy Duma Speaker
Mikhail Yuryev
Minister of Natural Resources
Viktor Orlov
Chairman. Duma Security Committee
Viktor Ilyukhin
Minister of Railways
Nikolay Aksenenko
Chairman. Duma Budget, Taxes. Banking.
and Finance Committee
Minister of Science & Technology
Vladimir Fortov
Mikhail Zadornov
Minister of State Property
Chairman. Duma International Affairs Committee
Vladimir Lukin
Maksim Boyko
Chairman. Duma Defense Committee
Minister of Transportation
Lev Rokhlin
Nikolay Tsakh
September 1997
Power Ministers
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COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Speechwriting (Noa Meyer Subject Files)
OA/Box Number: 13006
FOLDER TITLE:
Trip of the First Lady to Central Asia, Russia, and the Ukraine -Speechwriter Trip Book
(David) [Binder] [2]
2012-0869-S
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RUSSIA: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL OVERVIEW
Six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the
emergence of Russia as an independent state, Russia continues
to undergo a dramatic political, economic, and social
transformation. The 1993 constitution provides the basis for a
government founded on three separate branches of power and
grounded in the rule of law, respecting human rights and civil
liberties.
Institutions. Democratic institutions and practices continue
to take firmer root in Russia. Following the bloody standoff
between Yeltsin and the parliament in October 1993, Russia has
held successful presidential elections and two cycles of
parliamentary elections. For the first time in Russia's
history as an independent state, its head of state was chosen
in 1996 in a competitive election, judged by the international
community to be free and fair. All heads of regional
government and regional legislatures, previously appointed by
the president, are now democratically elected.
Institutional conflict. President Yeltsin's government and the
lower house of parliament, the Duma, which has a majority of
communists and nationalists, frequently differ over policy and
legislative issues. Sharpened differences over tax reform and
other legislation deemed essential to advance economic reform
led to an effort by deputies to challenge the Yeltsin
government through a vote of no-confidence in mid-October.
Yeltsin's last-minute appeal to deputies not to follow through
with the vote and his offer to hold "reconciliation" talks with
parliamentary leaders averted a showdown for the time being.
His subsequent public pledge to observe constitutional norms
put to rest rumors that he might attempt to bait the Duma into
a showdown with the government.
Religious freedom. More worrisome for Russia's political
transformation is a new law "On Freedom of Conscience and
Religious Associations." The law appears to restrict the
activities of minority religious organizations -- including some
under the Orthodox rubric -- and newer religions. The Russian
government, however, claims implementing regulations will
protect the religious freedoms to which Russia is committed
under its international covenants. The law responds in part to
concerns voiced by the Russian Orthodox Church and other
conservative forces about activities undertaken by non-
traditional religions and sects in the past few years. While
2
the government portrays the law as a compromise among all
traditional faiths, most major Protestant groups and the Roman
Catholic Church publicly opposed the law. We will carefully
monitor implementation of the law and watch for cases that
violate Russia's international commitments under the Helsinki
Final Act, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other
agreements.
Economic transition. For the past six years, Russia has been
in the process of transition from a centrally planned economy
to a market-oriented economy. While this process has brought
greater economic opportunity and expanded goods and services
available to consumers, it has also adversely affected people
living on fixed incomes, those whose skills are no longer in
demand, and persons who continue to be employed at inefficient
state-run enterprises. Unemployment remains high, particularly
in the countryside.
Social conditions. Some twenty-one percent of Russia's
population -- 31.5 million people -- live below the poverty
level of 402, 000 rubles or 69 U.S. dollars per month. The
elderly are extremely hard hit, with the average monthly
pensions set at 55 U.S. dollars per month. Decreases in the
availability and quality of health care and life expectancy,
coupled with increased incidences of epidemic disease, higher
infant mortality rates and death rates dramatically illustrate
how the social safety net has frayed for Russia's neediest
citizens.
Crime. Crime has also increased dramatically in Russia as
state law enforcement authorities grapple with a shortage of
resources to combat crime effectively and as society tries to
cope with growing inequalities of wealth amid a deteriorating
social safety network.
RUSSIA: ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES
Ethnic diversity. The Russian Federation is home to over
100 distinct nationalities. While ethnic Russians comprise
about 81% of the population, there are also large numbers of
Turkic peoples (many of whom are Muslim), Caucasians and
numerous ethnic groups native to Siberia and the far north.
The Federation is a patchwork of 89 administrative units,
including oblasts, autonomous oblasts, autonomous okrugs and
republics, many of which were nominally established during
the Soviet period to grant a measure of autonomy to non-
Slavic minorities. Though local governance was largely a
fiction during Soviet times, many regions -- including
Sverdlovsk Oblast (of which Yekaterinburg is the capital)
are attempting to redefine Russia's brand of federalism in
order to wrest more authority from Moscow. With the
exception of the bloody conflict in Chechnya, which ended in
1996, Russia has contained these centrifugal forces without
serious problems with ethnic strife or violence.
Ethnicity by region. Both Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk lie
on the trans-Siberian railway and were key settlements
during Russia's eastward expansion. As such, they are by-
and-large populated by Russians, though adjacent regions
have considerable numbers of ethnic minorities.
Yekaterinburg's region borders on the Republic of
Bashkortostan, whose population is about 50% Muslim.
Southeast of Novosibirsk are the Altay mountains and due
east, beyond Lake Baikal, lies Buryatia. Both of these
regions have indigenous Mongol populations who take pride in
their kinship to Ghengis Khan.
Religious diversity. Russia's religious diversity matches
its ethnic diversity and since the fall of the USSR Russia
has seen a remarkable rebirth of religious activity. About
half of the population is affiliated with the Russian
Orthodox Church, which is one of Russia's most respected
national institutions, symbolized by its partnership with
the City of Moscow to reconstruct the Cathedral of Christ
the Savior in central Moscow. There has also been a revival
in Jewish life and religious practice. Other religions with
large followings include Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism and
the Baptist Church.
Religious intolerance. There are continuing incidents of
societal anti-Semitism and the government has been justly
criticized for not aggressively prosecuting perpetrators of
hate crimes. Some prominent politicians and members of the
Russian Orthodox clergy have publicly denounced foreign
missionaries and argued for strict limitations on their
activities because of their allegedly corrosive influence on
young people. Many regional governments have harassed
religious minorities and tried to prevent missionaries from
proselytizing.
Religion law. A new law "On Freedom of Conscience and
Religious Associations" was signed by President Yeltsin and
went into effect October 1 despite high-level intervention
from President Clinton and Vice President Gore. While the
Russian government portrayed the law as a compromise among
all traditional faiths, most major Protestant groups and the
Roman Catholic Church publicly opposed the law.
Interpretation and implementation of the law will likely
vary by region, though federal officials have insisted that
Russia's respect for religious tolerance will not be eroded.
Legal restrictions. The legislation imposes severe
restrictions on minority religious organizations --
including some under the Orthodox rubric -- and newer
religions. Some of these communities may be forced to wait
up to 15 years before attaining full legal status, a
requirement for owning property, publishing literature,
inviting foreign guests, operating schools and conducting
charitable activities. The law also imposes onerous
restrictions on non-citizens and erects barriers against
foreign missionaries.
Incidents of implementation. In late September, the
municipal authorities in Touim, a village in Khakassiya, a
region in Siberia near Novosibirsk, notified a Lutheran
congregation that it was being deregistered under terms of
the new law. The authorities subsequently backed off,
implicitly acknowledging the illegality of their action. It
is expected that local authorities in other regions may also
be emboldened by the new law to disrupt minority religious
communities.
The Russian Orthodox Church. From the perspective of the
Moscow Patriarchate, the law is a form of protectionism
against foreign missionaries as well as rival elements of
the Orthodox Church. By conferring de facto legal
advantages on the Moscow Patriarchate, the law could serve
as a powerful instrument for exerting pressure on non-
conformists within the Orthodox family. For this reason,
the "Old Believers" and the "Free Orthodox Church" opposed
the law. According to press reports, a municipality near
Moscow is already using the law to transfer control of a
church building from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the
Moscow Patriachate.
U.S. Congressional reaction. Congress is considering
legislation that would cut off assistance to the Russian
government if the law is applied in a manner that results in
religious discrimination Our government continues to
engage with the GOR on this issue and we intend to watch
closely how the law is implemented.
RUSSIA: ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL OVERVIEW
Economy in transition. As it has moved from a centrally planned
economy toward a free market system, the Russian economy has
suffered considerable stress. GDP fell by over 30% between 1992
and 1997, comparable to the Depression of the 1930's in the
United States. Estimates of combined unemployment and
underemployment range from 15 to 30 percent. The average wage
is about $150 per month and average pension about $55 per month.
Late payment or non-payment of wages and pensions is a pervasive
problem at times affecting as much as 60% of Russia's work
force, including public servants such as teachers and military
personnel. The infant mortality rate is about three times as
high as in the United States.
Cautious optimism. Today, however, more and more analysts are
expressing cautious optimism about the Russian economy. Despite
periods of policy drift, the Russian government has brought
inflation down from a peak of over 2,200 percent in 1991 to a
projected 12-15 percent in 1997, stabilized the Russian ruble,
privatized over 70 percent of all enterprises, and has turned
towards regulating major monopolies, streamlining the tax
system, rationalizing housing and fuel subsidies and making
other structural and social reforms. The appointment of
Anatoliy Chubays and Boris Nemtsov as First Deputy Prime
Ministers in March 1997 reflected an renewed commitment to
reform by the Yeltsin government. After six-plus years of
economic contraction, the Russian government projects zero
growth in 1997 and approximately 2 percent growth in 1998.
Investment. Investment in the Russian economy, which is
essential for modernization and renewed growth, is still
lacking. There is evidence of repatriation of Russian capital,
and the stock market is up dramatically, but there is little
indication that Russian industry is investing in new capital
goods. Foreign investment goes mostly into portfolio
investments rather than into capital investment in new
production. Foreign direct investment in Russia pales by
comparison in per capita terms with China, Hungary, Poland and
other transitional economies. U.S. and Russian businesses
identify the lack of strong, market-oriented laws and economic
institutions, the arcane and punitive tax code, and pervasive
problems with crime and corruption as key impediments to
operating in Russia. Improving the investment climate has
become a major theme of President Yeltsin's economic reform
program, and presents his administration with one of its
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greatest challenges. The U.S. is Russia's largest foreign
investor with cumulative investment of approximately $4 billion,
mostly in the energy and food processing industries.
Bilateral trade. U.S. - Russia trade reached $6.3 billion in
1996, with Russia enjoying a surplus of $1.2 billion. The U.S.
ranks as Russia's third largest trading partner, although from
the U.S. perspective Russia ranks below thirtieth. Leading U.S.
exports to Russia include aircraft, nuclear equipment, meat and
poultry, and tobacco. Russia's principal exports to the United
States are aluminum, iron, steel and chemicals. Although there
is strong protectionist sentiment within elements of the Russian
government and Duma, government policy is moving in the
direction of a more open market, mainly through the process of
acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Russia's goal,
which President Clinton endorsed at Helsinki, is to accede in
1998, although this objective will be challenging.
RUSSIA: HUMAN RIGHTS OVERVIEW
Russia's record on human rights is mixed, with notable successes
in the development of democratic institutions and press freedoms
juxtaposed with continuing problems in the judicial system and
the military. Despite the slow process of institutionalizing
human rights protections, the Russian Government is committed to
observing international standards as embodied in the OSCE
process and the European Convention on Civil and Political
Rights. Russia's Law on Religion is covered in a separate
briefing paper.
Democratic institutions. Democratic institution-building has
been one of independent Russia's stellar achievements. As
mandated by the 1993 constitution, parliamentary elections took
place in 1995 and presidential balloting occurred in 1996. Both
elections were deemed free and fair by international observers
although OSCE monitors noted that state-owned media displayed
bias in their coverage of the candidates contending for
president in 1996.
Chechnya. The most serious blemish on Russia's human rights
record since independence was the war in Chechnya, in which tens
of thousands of civilians were killed and over 500,000 persons
displaced. Russian forces engaged in indiscriminate and
disproportionate use of force, resulting in numerous civilian
deaths. The two sides reached a settlement in August 1996 and
negotiations between Moscow and Groznyy continue, albeit
sporadically. Both sides have agreed to resolve conclusively
Chechnya's political status prior to 2001. Despite the end of
hostilities, violence has continued to plague Chechnya; six
International Committee of the Red Cross. workers were murdered
in December 1996 and kidnappings occur frequently. Two U.S.
citizens who disappeared in 1995 remain unaccounted for. In
recent months, Chechen authorities have staged public executions
as part of a campaign to institute shari'a law.
Violation of international standards. Although Russia has made
progress in recognizing the legitimacy of international human
rights standards, the institutionalization of procedures to
safeguard these rights has lagged. Implementation of
constitutional provisions for due process, fair and timely trial
and humane punishment have proceeded slowly. In addition, the
judiciary is subject to manipulation by political authorities
and plagued by large case backlogs and trial delays. Lengthy
pretrial detention is a serious problem and there are credible
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reports of beatings and torture of inmates by correctional
officials. As many as 20,000 inmates and detainees are thought
to die annually because of sub-standard conditions and physical
abuse.
Military hazing. In the military, the practice of
"dedovshchina" (the violent hazing of new conscripts) remains a
serious problem. Military personnel acknowledge unofficially
that beating and psychological abuse remain part of the military
initiation ritual. Human rights activists allege that scores of
soldiers die or commit suicide each year as a direct consequence
of the trauma inflicted by these practices.
Violation of due process: the Nikitin case. In one high-
visibility case that has been fraught with numerous violations
of due process, Aleksandr Nikitin -- a former navy captain who
was researching the environmental dangers of nuclear waste from
the Northern Fleet -- was detained by the security services for
six months in 1996 without charge. He was later charged with
espionage and revealing state secrets on the basis of a decree
that is itself secret. Nikitin has been released from
detention, but is barred from leaving St. Petersburg and is
still awaiting a determination about whether his case will go to
trial. In April, Nikitin was awarded the prestigious Goldman
Environmental Award, which his wife received on his behalf. She
and the five other award recipients were received by President
Clinton at the White House. Perhaps as a reaction to the
Nikitin case, on October 6, Yeltsin signed a new law that makes
illegal some previously acceptable forms of environmental
activism.
Freedom of the press. Freedom of the press is generally
respected and Russia's diverse political spectrum is well
represented in newspapers and on television. There are
increasing concerns, however, that control over the media,
particularly television, is being concentrated in the hands of a
small group of business empires, many of which have close
relationships with the government.
Migration and refugees. Russia is a party to the major
international conventions on refugees and forced migrants.
Russia's Federal Migration Service has made progress in
establishing the legal basis and procedures for evaluating
applications for asylum and the U.S. government works closely on
these issues with Russia and the other states of the former
Soviet Union. However, little progress has been made in
implementing these procedures to adjudicate the 50,000
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registered asylum seekers in the Russian Federation. Moreover,
strict residential registration requirements in regions such as
Moscow have been used to block migrants from establishing
residence. Human rights activists have also documented
instances in which local authorities use registration
requirements to target darker skinned people for harassment and
abuse.
RUSSIA: HEALTH CARE
Deteriorating conditions. Russia is in the midst of a
public health crisis caused by lack of public funds, lax
sanitation standards, inadequate health care service,
industrial pollution and poor dietary and health practices.
As a consequence, the health of the average Russian has
deteriorated over the last decade, according to official
statistics and extensive anecdotal reports. Russia's
birthrate has been dropping since the mid-1980s, and the
death rate increased steadily from 1992 until 1996, when it
began to stabilize. As a result, Russia's population has
been declining slightly since 1992, despite emigration.
Mortality rate increases. During the period since the mid-
1980s, mortality rates for cardiovascular disease, cancer,
accidents, suicide and violent crime have increased
markedly, particularly among men of working age. These
rates are up to three times higher than those observed in
Western Europe and other industrialized countries. High
levels of alcohol and tobacco consumption contribute to the
deterioration in public health.
Infectious disease. The incidence of infectious diseases
such as diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis),
tuberculosis, syphilis, polio and cholera increased sharply
in the mid-1990s, exceeding levels seen in the USSR during
the 1970s. Widespread government vaccination programs for
children since 1995 have succeeded in significantly reducing
the incidence of diphtheria and polio. Tuberculosis,
however, has continued to spread at a rapid rate, and health
officials are alarmed at the rapid increase in the incidence
of sexually and intravenously transmitted diseases such as
syphilis and HIV. If present trends continue, as many as
300,000 Russians could be infected with HIV by 2000.
Government health programs. Russia's compulsory medical
insurance program, implemented in 1992 to provide payroll
tax-based funding for basic health coverage, has had
difficulty collecting premiums as more enterprises fail to
pay taxes. Moreover, conflicting Health Ministry
directives, wide regional variations in implementing the
insurance program, and inadequate funding have left the
majority of Russians with minimal basic health coverage and
few affordable or accessible alternative for health care,
according to Russian health analysts. Efforts to shift
enterprise-funded health facilities over to local
governments have only aggravated the lack of funds for these
facilities, half of which need capital repairs or upgrades
such as showers and baths, hot water systems, and
functioning sewer systems. Hospital and clinic patients
often must provide their own -- usually costly --
medications and other medical supplies.
USAID assistance. USAID's assistance to Russia in the
health sector grew out of an explicit commitment by
President Clinton to President Yeltsin at the 1993 Vancouver
Summit to a program of "Humanitarian Medical Assistance."
Originally designed to respond to anticipated acute
humanitarian needs associated with the breakup of the USSR,
the program has been redirected to help create long-term
sustainable reforms to the Russian health care system. A
total of $87.3 million was programmed in 1994-96 and an
additional $ 7 million is planned for 1997. Our programs
focus on six areas:
The Health Sector Restructuring Program supports the
design and testing of alternative approaches to health
care financing and service delivery with the aim of
creating sustainable, replicable Russian models for
improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness and quality.
The Women's Reproductive Health Program is designed to
increase the availability of reproductive health choices
to Russian women and to reduce high rates of abortion.
The Pharmaceutical Security Program helps to improve
pharmaceutical management and rational drug use; increase
imports of high quality, FDA-approved pharmaceuticals,
medical devices and foods; and increase the production
and distribution of critical pharmaceuticals in Russia.
The Medical Partnerships Program strengthens the response
of hospitals, professional associations and non-
governmental organizations to key health sector problems
by introducing new approaches and assisting them in
professional and organizational development.
The Environmental Health Initiative assists policy-makers
and NGO's identify and reduce environmental risks to
public health through assissments of the impact of
environmental pollution on the population, prioritizing
health risks, and incorporating results into the
development of policies, laws and regulations.
The Health Information and Response activities strengthen
the capabilities of responsible Russian agencies in
health surveillance, monitoring, health education and
promotion, and disease prevention and control.
RUSSIA: EDUCATION ISSUES
Organizational restructuring. Russia's educational system,
like other state-run institutions, has been hit especially
hard by the political and economic changes of recent years.
The quality of free elementary, secondary and post-secondary
education provided by the state has declined because of
shrinking education budgets at all levels of government. At
the national level, an administrative shake-up is underway
that will consolidate a divided education bureaucracy into a
single Ministry of General and Professional Education.
Deteriorated conditions. Teachers, already among the lowest
paid, have in recent months had to endure increasingly
longer periods between paychecks as local authorities divert
scarce resources to pay for other critical needs. In
addition, many Russian students are forced to study in
dilapidated schools using outdated textbooks and inadequate
supplies. Resource shortages have complicated the already-
difficult task of revising the school curriculum. Not
surprisingly, teachers' strikes occur regularly and scores
of teachers are leaving the state schools for better paying
positions in private schools or in business.
Private education. Starting in 1993, private education at
all levels became an option and by the end of 1995 more than
one percent of primary and secondary schools were private.
In higher education this trend has been more pronounced: in
the 1996-97 school year, 30% of all post-secondary
institutions, attended by 6% of the students, were private.
Private entities are also being established to develop
textbooks and curriculum materials; one example is the
Moscow-based organization "Grazhdanin" ("Citizen") which
designs and produces materials for civic education.
International cooperation. Despite general disarray in the
educational system, there are now unique opportunities for
the international community to establish contacts with
Russia's world-class universities and there is unprecedented
interest everywhere in the study of English. As the
training ground for Russia's next generation and future
leadership, cooperative activities with educational
institutions have been a key component of our assistance
efforts.
English in demand. Though underdeveloped during the Cold
War, learning and teaching of English is SO popular today
that the educational system is struggling to respond to
demand. In addition to school-age students, businessmen,
journalists, politicians, scientists and others are seeking
access to materials and courses which can provide them with
proficiency in English, which is regarded as the language of
opportunity. As a consequence, Russian teachers are
receptive to the introduction of new materials and eager to
expand contact with native speakers in order to absorb
information about American culture as well as contemporary
teaching methodology. USIS libraries, the Peace Corps and
numerous independent secondary and university-level exchange
programs have sought to meet these demands.
USIS assistance. The U.S. is also supporting the
development of local English teaching associations. With
USIS assistance, they have sponsored seminars and
conferences for teachers. These groups also assisted in the
distribution of new teaching materials to replace the
ideologically dated material that remains in use in many
schools. In addition, USIS is facilitating access by
teachers and students to e-mail and the internet.
Exchange programs. Traditional exchange programs such as
Fullbright and Humphrey Fellowships continue to benefit
thousands of scholars, young and old. The experiences of
participants in these programs provides impetus for further
educational reform and has ripple effects throughout Russian
society.
RUSSIA: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Environmental matters affect and are affected by a number of
issues key to Russia's transition: economic development, health,
military conversion and the growth of citizens advocacy groups.
Global implications. Russia possesses some of the world's
unique natural areas whose protection has significant
implications for the preservation of global biodiversity. These
areas include vast boreal forests which could play a role in the
global warming equation (through sequestration of greenhouse
gases) comparable to that played by the Amazon Basin.
Conservation issues generate a significant amount of
international interest and it has been reported that as much as
half of Yeltsin's correspondence from the foreign public relates
to environmental matters.
Competing concerns. While the Russian government formally
acknowledges the importance of conservation issues, it is
reluctant to devote additional resources while the country is
unable to cope with pressing problems of industrial, municipal
and agricultural pollution, hazardous and radioactive waste,
elevated levels of lead and toxic air pollution. These problems
are a factor in Russia's on going public health crisis, which
has contributed to declining rates of life expectancy.
Public activism. In the late 1980's and early 1990's,
environmental activism played a leading role in the
democratization movement. Although economic pressures have
weakened the influence of the environmental movement, these
issues still have the capacity to mobilize citizens to political
action, particularly at the local level.
Institutions. Institutions intended to protect the environment
have been plagued by inadequate funding, constant
reorganizations and bureaucratic turf battles with agencies
committed to exploiting natural resources. Moreover, the most
far-reaching environmental policies in Russia are those set by
economic policymaking institutions such as the economics and
finance ministries. Their decisions on tax policy, investment
and industrial policy have tremendous impact on environmental
outcomes because they determine the structure of incentives
guiding economic restructuring and development.
U.S. assistance. A number of U.S. assistance programs are
designed to address environmental problems in the Urals and in
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Siberia. In Yekaterinburg, USAID is working on a comprehensive
study to identify the sources of pollution in the city's
drinking water supply and outline technical and institutional
changes that will help ensure a safe and reliable water supply
for city residents. Elsewhere in the Urals, the U.S. is
sponsoring a $5 million program in Nizhniy Tagil that is
identifying technological modifications to local industry that
will both increase economic efficiency and reduce pollution.
In eastern Siberia, American advisors have worked with local and
regional government officials, NGOs and the private sector to
protect Siberia's Lake Baikal and its associated watershed,
which contains more than 20 percent of the world's fresh water
and supports tremendous biological diversity. The project has
helped local and regional governments to implement land-use
planning, and has also promoted sustainable agricultural
practices through farmer-to-farmer workshops. As a result of
the USAID program, a regional approach to ecotourism was
developed, and a regional tourism guidebook was written and
distributed. Seminars were also held in Baikal-area villages on
operating bed and breakfast inns for tourists.
RUSSIA: POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING ISSUES
Projected trends. Russia has an unusual demographic outlook.
The population peaked in 1992 at 148.6 million, is expected to
decline for most of this decade, then to grow slowly until the
early 21st century, and then begin a long-term decline. Factors
behind these shifts include: Russia's highly irregular
population profile, with few people in several five-year age
groups reflecting the multi-generational impacts of World War
II; emigration to Israel and reunited Germany after the late
1980s, and immigration of Russians from other former Soviet
Republics after 1991; and dramatic recent changes in fertility
and mortality. The Russian government has frequently expressed
concern about the declining birth rate.
Fertility and life expectancy. By industrialized country
standards, Russian fertility has been high and life expectancy
low since the 1960s. However, as the USSR began to unravel,
fertility declined sharply, from 2.2 births per woman in 1988 to
1.4 by 1993 -- one of the lowest levels in Europe. At the same
time, as living conditions deteriorated, Russian mortality hit
its worst point since World War II. At 58.9 years in 1993, male
life expectancy is the lowest of any industrialized country, and
female life expectancy is among the lowest. With these changes,
yearly deaths in Russia have exceeded births since 1992, and the
population growth rate is now a negative 0.6%.
Reproductive health. Available data suggest that Russia meets
all the targets set by the 1994 International Conference on
Population and Development held in Cairo, but its reproductive
health situation is comparatively quite poor. Infant mortality
is three times greater than in the U.S. or EU, much of it from
easily prevented infectious disease. Maternal mortality is six
to seven times greater, reflecting poor sanitation, reproductive
damage from repeated abortions, and abortion-related
complications. Particularly during Soviet times, abortions were
widely used as a form of birth control and were performed
without regard for long-term health risks. With thousands of
radioactive waste dumps and underground nuclear explosion sites
across the country, radiation is another reproductive health
hazard.
Birth control and abortion. Russian abortion rates have long
been among the world's highest; there were 216 abortions per 100
live births in 1992. In the past this was due to low
contraceptive usage, but a recent USAID-funded survey found
2
current contraceptive prevalence to be surprisingly high at 69-
78% (of which about 15% use traditional methods). The most
common contraceptive methods are the IUD, withdrawal or
abstinence, and condoms. However, a high rate of abortions
persists. Only about one-third of all pregnancies reported by
women in the survey had resulted in a live birth; the majority
were ended by induced abortion, suggesting frequent
contraceptive failure or a high discontinuation rate. About one
in four women has an unmet need for modern contraception.
Sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted diseases
including HIV/AIDS are an emerging issue for Russia. HIV-
positive drug users appeared in 1996, and reported cases of the
infection in Kalingrad rose eighteen-fold in 1996. Syphilis
cases in Russia more than doubled between 1994 and 1995,
indicating unsafe sex that could also facilitate HIV/AIDS
transmission (condoms are little available or used). The HIV-
positive male-to-female ratio has already begun to equalize and
is now 2:1 versus 6:1 when HIV/AIDS appeared.
USAID assistance. USAID's support for family planning in Russia
began in 1994; this program was highlighted to show how family
planning saves lives in the Administration's successful effort
to win early release by Congress of FY97 international
population assistance funds. Total funds committed have
exceeded $8 million, and $1 million was allocated in FY97.
Program components include the creation of model family planning
clinics; training pharmacists and health personnel in
contraceptive technology; counseling and clinical skills;
publishing and distributing educational materials; assisting
local NGOs including the Russian Family Planning Association,
and developing support for family planning among policy makers.
At this year's Gore-Chernomyrdin Health Committee meeting,
Secretary Shalala and Health Minister Health Dmitriyeva endorsed
a national mass media campaign for family planning.
RUSSIA: CHILDREN'S ISSUES
Along with other vulnerable segments of society, many
Russian children have suffered disproportionately during
recent years. Hundreds of thousands of children endure the
consequences of domestic violence, the lack adequate health
care and an overburdened network of orphanages.
Orphans. Russia's high divorce and poverty rates have
exaggerated the number of "orphans": in 1995, some 530,000
children were classified as orphans although only five
percent were truly orphaned. The remainder had been removed
from their homes due to alcoholism and/or abusive
conditions. Some estimate that up to 500,000 additional
children were on waiting lists to enter orphanages because
economic conditions compelled their parents to relinquish
custody. Abusive conditions often prevail in orphanages,
particularly facilities for mentally disabled youngsters.
Human rights organizations contend that in some institutions
children are physically abused and/or deliberately treated
with inappropriate medications.
Domestic abuse. Although data are difficult to obtain,
evidence suggests that domestic violence affects scores of
children. Duma Deputy Mariya Gaydash stated that two
million children under 14 suffer from physical or mental
abuse and as many as 200,000 die of their injuries each
year. She also asserted that 50,000 children run away from
home each year and 2,000 commit suicide to escape domestic
abuse.
Child labor. Child labor is not a major problem in Russia.
The Labor Code prohibits regular employment for children
younger than 16 and in practice there is an adequate supply
of adults available for low-wage employment although cases
of children working after school in family businesses are
not unknown.
Foreign adoption. Since the enactment of Russia's new
adoption law in September 1996, adoptions of Russian orphans
by American citizens have taken place smoothly and in large
numbers. Russia is expected to be the leading source
country for international adoptions this year with more than
3,500 adoptions. Russian law assigns the Ministry of
Education responsibility for general supervision over
foreign adoptions. That ministry and the Health Ministry
have authority over the institutions, such as orphanages,
from which adoptable children are identified. Local courts
must authorize all adoptions.
Foreign adoption problems. Despite the high volume of
successful adoptions by Americans, there have been several
problematic cases. An incident of alleged abuse involving
two newly adopted four-year-old girls resulted in civil and
criminal suits against the adoptive parents. The children
are currently in foster care in Arizona pending a decision
of the court. The Russian government has not issued any
complaints about the handling of this or other such cases by
the U.S. authorities.
Proposed legislative restrictions. Communist Party members
in the Duma recently proposed changing Russia's adoption law
to strengthen the government's ability to monitor the well
being of Russian children who have been adopted by
foreigners. The proposal would also mandate the conclusion
of bilateral adoption agreements between Russia and
receiving countries. This review is in its initial stages
and it is unclear whether these proposals have broad support
in the Duma.
Child abduction. As Russia is not party to the Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child
Abduction, cases of children abducted to or from Russia must
be handled in the family courts of the country where the
children are resident. In the past year, three abduction
cases involving Russia have been brought to the attention of
the State Department.
RUSSIA: WOMEN'S ISSUES
Despite Soviet rhetoric about women's equality, Russian society
has been and remains extremely traditional in views about gender
roles. Economically, Russian women in many ways have borne the
brunt of the suffering associated with the transition to a
market economy. Accentuating a pattern of the Soviet era, women
have frequently been the first targets of layoffs and suffered
discrimination in hiring as employers seek to save on maternity
and child-care costs. According to Russian NGO's, women form a
disproportionate number (62%) of Russia's unemployed and salary
disparities have magnified in recent years, with women
comprising 87% of those earning less than $21 per month.
Educational and professional access. Women enjoy equality of
educational opportunity and are not formally restricted in their
choice of profession. The opportunities in Russia's new economy
have also opened new options for women, some of whom have become
successful entrepreneurs. In practice, however, the highest
echelons of business, government and academia generally remain
closed to women.
Domestic violence. Domestic violence compounded by pervasive
alcoholism -- remains a major problem. The Interior Ministry
estimates that 80% of all violent crime occurs in the home.
Police are often reluctant to involve themselves in what are
frequently regarded as domestic disputes. Medical personnel are
also timid in seeking details about domestic violence because of
the inconvenience of working such cases through the court
system. Victims themselves are deterred from reporting such
crimes because the acute housing shortage in Russia makes it
difficult to find housing outside the family dwelling or to
expel an abusive spouse, even after a final divorce action. The
institutional response has thus far been inadequate as there is
no law on domestic violence and little effort at changing the
attitude of the police towards crime of this type. A draft law
on domestic violence is reported to be worse than the current
lack of any law.
U.S. assistance. United States assistance programs seek to
address domestic violence with a multi-disciplinary approach
that includes police, lawyers, physicians, mental health workers
social workers, politicians and NGO activists. These teams are
developing a plan that will include the establishment of a
network of shelters for victims of domestic violence. We have
sponsored a project with the University of South Carolina to
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develop ways to combat domestic violence as part of training in
community-oriented policing and to train health care providers
and law enforcement officials in ways to respond more
effectively to cases of spousal abuse. In addition, in April
1997, the State and Justice Departments hosted a one-week
seminar for judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officials and
leaders of NGO's from Russia and the U.S. to examine the
phenomena of trafficking in Russian women internationally and
the solicitation of child pornography via the internet.
Reproductive assistance programs. Reducing the high levels of
maternal morbidity and mortality is another focus of our
assistance efforts. This objective is pursued by increasing
knowledge and use of modern contraceptives, which can also
contribute to a reduction in the high abortion rate among
Russian women. A key element of this program is the
establishment of model family planning centers in six oblasts,
including Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. More than 70,000 women
have made use of these centers and over 4,000 physicians have
been trained in modern contraceptive technology and/or clinical
and counseling skills.
International women's conferences. Participation by the Russian
Government delegations at the UN Fourth World Conference on
Women and at the 1994 and 1995 prepcoms in New York and Vienna,
was minimal. The Russian delegates were for the most part
silent; what few interventions they made focused on ensuring
that "economies in transition" were recognized, along with
references to "least developed countries, particularly Africa"
whenever the subject of outside assistance, especially financial
assistance, was raised. In contrast to other delegations from
the former Soviet bloc, Russia's delegations did not have
dynamic women willing to play public and visible roles. At the
New York meetings, in fact, Russia was represented predominantly
by men from Russia's UN mission. Russian NGOs have also not
been active participants at these sessions. The few represented
at the Vienna ECE meeting voiced concerns about decreasing
levels of women's political participation.
U.S. -Russian cooperation on women's issues. More recently,
however, the Russians played an active role at the U.S. -hosted
G-8 Democracy experts meetings in September/October on expanding
women's political participation. In addition, following a
bilateral discussion on human rights earlier this year, Russia
proposed conducting a joint US/Russian conference on family
violence. Discussions with the Russians on this proposed
conference are underway.
RUSSIA: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
History. There is a long tradition of advanced science in
Russia, particularly in mathematics and physics. In addition,
U.S.-Russia science and technology cooperation was far more
extensive and uninterrupted during the Cold War than is generally
known. These facts provide the basis for the greatly expanded
cooperative effort in science and technology that is currently
underway between the U.S. and Russia.
Declining government support. As the Russian government is
increasingly unable to fund science, pressure has mounted for a
more independent, "Western" model of cooperation. Increasingly,
individual institutions, such as universities, foundations,
companies and national laboratories, are cooperating on specific
projects, as opposed to large-scale government-to-government
cooperation. Nonetheless, this is a slow evolution, as science
in Russia is still dominated by the government. The government's
financial pressures have also been reflected in a "brain drain"
from Russian science and technology, with experts not only
leaving Russia, but shifting to other work inside Russia.
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. At the government level, our
relationship is centered around the Science and Technology
Committee of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission (GCC). The
Committee coordinates and initiates projects of mutual interest
and benefit, to enhance technology and knowledge transfer between
the U.S. and Russia. Recently, Russia has shown great interest
through the GCC process in technology commercialization. This
again reflects financial pressures on the science community and
its need to move from pure research to product development. This
Russian initiative presents an important strategic opportunity to
the U.S., both scientifically and commercially. For Russia, the
initiative is also of strategic importance as a way to
revolutionize its economy and to convert defense industries to
civilian use.
Cooperation for mutual benefit. While science and technology
cooperation with the U.S. continues to involve vast numbers of
basic research projects, the more immediate value of the
relationship is its potential to assist Russia in development of
a stable, sustainable economy, and to help the U.S. maintain the
leading science and technology base in the world.
RUSSIA: OVERVIEW OF U.S. MISSION
INCLUDING U.S. CONSULATE YEKATERINBURG
Mission purpose. The U.S. Mission to Russia is considered
one of the U.S. government's most important posts overseas.
The historical political and economic transformations now
underway in Russia have profound consequences for vital U.S.
interests. These include our national security (while it no
longer targeted at the U.S., Russia retains the only nuclear
force capable of threatening the United States directly),
security and stability in Eurasia and the non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction. The United States is likely
to have no greater interest in foreign policy over the rest
of the century than the evolution of Russia in the direction
of a stable, democratic, market-oriented society, integrated
into the international community and at peace with its
neighbors. U.S. Mission members grapple with aspects of
these issues daily, working to encourage both the further
development of democratic and market institutions as well as
a Russian foreign policy compatible with our most basic
principles and concerns.
Mission staff. The U.S. Mission to Russia is comprised of a
diverse group of Americans. With twenty-three agencies
represented, there are close to 600 American officials
serving in Russia, with 511 at the Embassy in Moscow.
Forty
U.S. government employees serve in St. Petersburg, with
another twelve in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. The
newest U.S. consulate general in Russia, located in
Yekaterinburg, opened in 1993 and currently has six USG
employees.
U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg. The Consulate General in
Yekaterinburg was established to recognize the regional and
economic importance of the Urals and because this region had
been closed to foreigners for close to seventy years. It
also is Boris Yeltsin's hometown. Known for its seemingly
boundless natural resources, including oil and natural gas,
the region also remains one of Russia's high tech centers;
Yekaterinburg's sister city partner in the U.S. is San Jose,
California. Yekaterinburg has an American Business Center
operated by the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service to provide
information on and advocacy for U.S. business.
2
Yekaterinburg history. Yekaterinburg was the capital of the
original Soviet "Urals Oblast," and it still sees itself as
the unofficial center for the whole region. Governor Eduard
Rossel became the first elected governor in the region in
August, 1995 and plans to visit the United States in 1998.
Yekaterinburg is an industrial and mining center. Stalin had
Yekaterinburg renamed Sverdlovsk in memory of Y.M.
Sverdlovsk, a leading Bolshevik. In post-Soviet Russia, the
government restored the pre-Soviet name Yekaterinburg. Peter
the Great founded the city in 1721 and named it after his
wife Catherine I. Bolshevik forces took the last Russian
tsar, Tsar Nicholas, and his family to Yekaterinburg after
their arrest. There, Bolshevik troops executed the royal
family in 1918.
The Urals. The Urals region has seen itself as a distinct
society since at least the turn of the century, different
from either Siberia or Western Russia. It has been linked
with Russia's military-industrial complex from Peter the
Great's era, and still takes pride as being the "center of
Soviet power" during the fight against Nazi Germany. The
region was the producer of virtually all the weapons used to
win the "Great Patriotic War" of 1940-45.
NIS REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Commonwealth of Independent States. When the new independent
states (NIS) of the former USSR attained independence in 1991,
they were largely unprepared for the challenges of statehood or
for the requirements of membership in the international
community. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was
established in 1992 to try to preserve some Soviet-era political
and economic relationships in the absence of the Soviet
government. Many of the new independent states, however, were
uncomfortable with these ties - which were mainly vertical and
dominated by Moscow - and have steadily distanced themselves
from Russia by establishing closer links with each other as well
as with the outside world.
Rejection of Russian authority. The CIS has not fulfilled
Russia's original expectations. NIS leaders use the CIS as a
forum to conduct bilateral or regional diplomacy rather than as
a mechanism for building viable multilateral institutions. The
Russian leadership now explicitly recognizes that NIS leaders
are loathe to cede authority to an organization that puts
Russia's interests first or attempts to establish links similar
to those of the Soviet era. Many recognize that the CIS will
only develop to the extent that it serves the common interests
of all its members.
Ukraine. Russia's relations with Ukraine began contentiously in
1992 with the dispute over the Black Sea Fleet which is based on
Ukrainian territory in Crimea. The controversy festered for
nearly five years and was aggravated by trade problems and
Russian resentment over Ukraine's efforts to establish closer
ties with the United States and the West. In 1997, the two
neighbors finally reached agreement on a friendship treaty and
resolved the Black Sea Fleet dispute, which President Yeltsin
concluded during a state visit to Kiev in May.
Central Asia. In Central Asia, Russian policy is largely
defensive, motivated by the desire to prevent further erosion of
Russia's military, political and economic influence in the
region. Given Russia's history of heavy-handedness and lack of
capital or technology, it is only natural that the Central Asian
countries would seek investment, political contacts and
integration with the world community.
a) Russian interests. Many Russians want to secure a major
role for Russia in developing Central Asia's natural resources
2
and seek to limit outside economic involvement in the region.
Moscow would like to maintain its monopoly on transit routes for
Central Asian oil and gas, even as Russia's private sector has
an interest in participating in international consortia planning
to exploit these resources. As economic interests gain more
influence over Russian foreign policy, a more market-driven
approach towards Central Asia should emerge. A dispute between
the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Russian oil companies over
delimitation of the Caspian Sea typifies the disconnect between
Russia's economic interests and its foreign policy community.
b) Relations with Russia. Russia's closest relationship in
Central Asia is with Kazakhstan, in part because of the long
border and centuries-old political and economic ties, as
evidenced by Kazakhstan's large (though aging) ethnic Russian
minority. Russia's leverage in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is
also strong. In Tajikistan, Russian troops play a key role in
arbitrating the balance among feuding clans, and the GOR was
instrumental in brokering the peace settlement in June. Russia
also regards its presence in Tajikistan as necessary to stem
narcotics trafficking, as a beachhead for influencing events in
Afghanistan and as a means to thwart Islamic fundamentalism.
Kyrgyzstan regards close ties with Russia as a necessary balance
to China, Bishkek's southern neighbor. The Uzbekistani
leadership has been the most able and willing to pursue policies
independent of Moscow and is actively reaching out to the West
and building political bridges to Ukraine. Turkmenistan,
adhering to a policy of neutrality, has been stymied in efforts
to export its gas to paying customers through Russia because of
Russia's control of oil and gas pipelines. In response,
Ashgabat is seeking to develop alternative pipeline routes
through Iran and Afghanistan.
c) Regional cooperation. Within Central Asia, cooperation has
been closest among Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, though
personal rivalries and competition for resources often limit the
scope of joint activity. These three states have established an
organization that mediates issues of water usage. All five
Central Asian countries are members of the Economic Cooperation
Organization, an association of ten countries throughout Central
and South Asia. Security cooperation is also fledgling: in
September, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan participated in
CENTRASBAT, a military exercise conducted with the U.S., Russia,
Turkey and others under the auspices of NATO's Partnership for
Peace initiative.
U.S. - RUSSIAN RELATIONS
High-level meetings. In thirteen personal meetings since 1993,
most recently at the Summit of the Eight in Denver, President
Clinton and President Yeltsin have transformed U.S. Russian
relations, laying the foundation for a bilateral relationship in
which we seek to expand and deepen areas of cooperation and air
our differences frankly but without confrontation. Meetings
between Secretary of State Albright and Russian Foreign Minister
Primakov occur frequently. Thus far in 1997, they have met over
a dozen times.
NATO-Russia relations. The United States and the NATO Allies
have cooperated closely with Russia to strengthen European
security and create an undivided Europe, as evidenced by
successful NATO-Russian cooperation in Bosnia. On May 27, NATO
and Russia concluded a "Founding Act" that establishes the basis
for a new relationship between NATO and Russia. The Founding
Act created a NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council as a mechanism
for consultation, cooperation and, as appropriate, joint action
on issues of mutual concern. The Allies and Russia held the
inaugural meeting of the PJC at the Ministerial level in
September in New York.
International cooperation. In the international arena, the
United States and Russia are often partners rather than rivals.
The United States and Russia are co-sponsors of the Middle East
peace process and consult on a range of regional issues
including as co-chairs of the Minsk Group dealing with the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Cooperation is also expanding in
efforts to combat global problems such as organized crime,
narcotics trafficking and environmental degradation and in
developing scientific and technological contacts.
Arms control. Historic strides have been made in reducing both
sides' nuclear arsenals and enhancing controls over weapons of
mass destruction, including measures to avoid their
proliferation. We are working with Russia to improve
accountability standards for nuclear material and to dismantle
hundreds of Russian nuclear weapons. Such cooperation takes
place under the umbrella of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat
Reduction program and numerous Defense and Energy Department
activities. At Helsinki in March 1997, President Clinton and
President Yeltsin committed to explore further reductions in
nuclear weapons once START II is ratified by the Russian Duma.
2
Obstacles. Despite these areas of cooperation, the United
States and Russia continue to differ on a number of issues. The
United States is concerned about Russian nuclear, technological,
and economic cooperation with Iran. Also, notwithstanding the
conclusion of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Russian officials
across the political spectrum continue to oppose NATO
enlargement.
Economic engagement. The United States has worked closely with
Russia throughout its transition to a market economy. The USG
has provided significant technical assistance to Russia through
the Freedom Support Act (well over two billion dollars since
1992) to aid in the development of laws, regulations and
economic institutions essential for the proper functioning of a
market-oriented democracy. The U.S. also actively supports
Russia's efforts to integrate itself into the world economy,
working closely with the Russian government on WTO accession,
Paris Club membership, and participation with a view to future
membership in a variety of other organizations, including the
OECD and APEC. At Helsinki, Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin
agreed to pursue an active economic agenda.
Private investment. The U.S. private sector has shown great
interest in Russia. The U.S. is Russia's largest foreign
investor with cumulative direct and portfolio investment of
about $4 billion. The U.S. was Russia's largest trading partner
in 1996; Russia enjoyed a $1.2 billion trade surplus and two-way
trade totaled $6.3 billion.
Challenges remain. Still, U.S. -Russia trade and investment are
both far below their potential. The challenge facing the U.S.
government is to encourage Russia to keep its markets open and
improve its investment climate as well as establish a legal
system that protects investments through the creation of a more
transparent and predictable business environment in Russia.
ILSA - Gazprom: (Need short section)
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. The ninth session of the Gore-
Chernomyrdin Commission (GCC) took place in Moscow in
September. A highlight was the signing of an agreement on
cooperation concerning plutonium production reactors. A broad
range of cooperative activities takes place under the GCC
rubric, including a regional investment initiative to attract
more foreign and domestic capital to the regions of Russia
outside Moscow; joint work to protect the marine ecosystem near
Sakhalin Island; and a program to raise public awareness in
3
Russia of women's reproductive health issues. The eight
working committees of the Commission are: business development,
defense conversion, agriculture, space, science and technology,
energy, health, and environmental issues. In addition, the
Commission provides a forum for high-level discussions of
security, nonproliferation, economic, and other priority
issues.
RUSSIA: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL OVERVIEW
Six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the
emergence of Russia as an independent state, Russia continues
to undergo a dramatic political, economic, and social
transformation. The 1993 constitution provides the basis for a
government founded on three separate branches of power and
grounded in the rule of law, respecting human rights and civil
liberties.
Institutions. Democratic institutions and practices continue
to take firmer root in Russia. Following the bloody standoff
between Yeltsin and the parliament in October 1993, Russia has
held successful presidential elections and two cycles of
parliamentary elections. For the first time in Russia's
history as an independent state, its head of state was chosen
in 1996 in a competitive election, judged by the international
community to be free and fair. All heads of regional
government and regional legislatures, previously appointed by
the president, are now democratically elected.
Institutional conflict. President Yeltsin's government and the
lower house of parliament, the Duma, which has a majority of
communists and nationalists, frequently differ over policy and
legislative issues. Sharpened differences over tax reform and
other legislation deemed essential to advance economic reform
led to an effort by deputies to challenge the Yeltsin
government through a vote of no-confidence in mid-October.
Yeltsin's last-minute appeal to deputies not to follow through
with the vote and his offer to hold "reconciliation" talks with
parliamentary leaders averted a showdown for the time being.
His subsequent public pledge to observe constitutional norms
put to rest rumors that he might attempt to bait the Duma into
a showdown with the government.
Religious freedom. More worrisome for Russia's political
transformation is a new law "On Freedom of Conscience and
Religious Associations. The law appears to restrict the
activities of minority religious organizations -- including some
under the Orthodox rubric -- and newer religions. The Russian
government, however, claims implementing regulations will
protect the religious freedoms to which Russia is committed
under its international covenants. The law responds in part to
concerns voiced by the Russian Orthodox Church and other
conservative forces about activities undertaken by non-
traditional religions and sects in the past few years. While
2
the government portrays the law as a compromise among all
traditional faiths, most major Protestant groups and the Roman
Catholic Church publicly opposed the law. We will carefully
monitor implementation of the law and watch for cases that
violate Russia's international commitments under the Helsinki
Final Act, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other
agreements.
Economic transition. For the past six years, Russia has been
in the process of transition from a centrally planned economy
to a market-oriented economy. While this process has brought
greater economic opportunity and expanded goods and services
available to consumers, it has also adversely affected people
living on fixed incomes, those whose skills are no longer in
demand, and persons who continue to be employed at inefficient
state-run enterprises. Unemployment remains high, particularly
in the countryside.
Social conditions. Some twenty-one percent of Russia's
population -- 31.5 million people -- live below the poverty
level of 402,000 rubles or 69 U.S. dollars per month. The
elderly are extremely hard hit, with the average monthly
pensions set at 55 U.S. dollars per month. Decreases in the
availability and quality of health care and life expectancy,
coupled with increased incidences of epidemic disease, higher
infant mortality rates and death rates dramatically illustrate
how the social safety net has frayed for Russia's neediest
citizens.
Crime. Crime has also increased dramatically in Russia as
state law enforcement authorities grapple with a shortage of
resources to combat crime effectively and as society tries to
cope with growing inequalities of wealth amid a deteriorating
social safety network.
RUSSIA: WOMEN'S ISSUES
Despite Soviet rhetoric about women's equality, Russian society
has been and remains extremely traditional in views about gender
roles. Economically, Russian women in many ways have borne the
brunt of the suffering associated with the transition to a
market economy. Accentuating a pattern of the Soviet era, women
have frequently been the first targets of layoffs and suffered
discrimination in hiring as employers seek to save on maternity
and child-care costs. According to Russian NGO's, women form a
disproportionate number (62%) of Russia's unemployed and salary
disparities have magnified in recent years, with women
comprising 87% of those earning less than $21 per month.
Educational and professional access. Women enjoy equality of
educational opportunity and are not formally restricted in their
choice of profession. The opportunities in Russia's new economy
have also opened new options for women, some of whom have become
successful entrepreneurs. In practice, however, the highest
echelons of business, government and academia generally remain
closed to women.
Domestic violence. Domestic violence -- compounded by pervasive
alcoholism -- remains a major problem. The Interior Ministry
estimates that 80% of all violent crime occurs in the home.
Police are often reluctant to involve themselves in what are
frequently regarded as domestic disputes. Medical personnel are
also timid in seeking details about domestic violence because of
the inconvenience of working such cases through the court
system. Victims themselves are deterred from reporting such
crimes because the acute housing shortage in Russia makes it
difficult to find housing outside the family dwelling or to
expel an abusive spouse, even after a final divorce action. The
institutional response has thus far been inadequate as there is
no law on domestic violence and little effort at changing the
attitude of the police towards crime of this type. A draft law
on domestic violence is reported to be worse than the current
lack of any law.
U.S. assistance. United States assistance programs seek to
address domestic violence with a multi-disciplinary approach
that includes police, lawyers, physicians, mental health workers
social workers, politicians and NGO activists. These teams are
developing a plan that will include the establishment of a
network of shelters for victims of domestic violence. We have
sponsored a project with the University of South Carolina to
2
develop ways to combat domestic violence as part of training in
community-oriented policing and to train health care providers
and law enforcement officials in ways to respond more
effectively to cases of spousal abuse. In addition, in April
1997, the State and Justice Departments hosted a one-week
seminar for judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officials and
leaders of NGO's from Russia and the U.S. to examine the
phenomena of trafficking in Russian women internationally and
the solicitation of child pornography via the internet.
Reproductive assistance programs. Reducing the high levels of
maternal morbidity and mortality is another focus of our
assistance efforts. This objective is pursued by increasing
knowledge and use of modern contraceptives, which can also
contribute to a reduction in the high abortion rate among
Russian women. A key element of this program is the
establishment of model family planning centers in six oblasts,
including Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. More than 70,000 women
have made use of these centers and over 4,000 physicians have
been trained in modern contraceptive technology and/or clinical
and counseling skills.
International women's conferences. Participation by the Russian
Government delegations at the UN Fourth World Conference on
Women and at the 1994 and 1995 prepcoms in New York and Vienna,
was minimal. The Russian delegates were for the most part
silent; what few interventions they made focused on ensuring
that "economies in transition" were recognized, along with
references to "least developed countries, particularly Africa"
whenever the subject of outside assistance, especially financial
assistance, was raised. In contrast to other delegations from
the former Soviet bloc, Russia's delegations did not have
dynamic women willing to play public and visible roles. At the
New York meetings, in fact, Russia was represented predominantly
by men from Russia's UN mission. Russian NGOs have also not
been active participants at these sessions. The few represented
at the Vienna ECE meeting voiced concerns about decreasing
levels of women's political participation.
U.S. -Russian cooperation on women's issues. More recently,
however, the Russians played an active role at the U.S.-hosted
G-8 Democracy experts meetings in September/October on expanding
women's political participation. In addition, following a.
bilateral discussion on human rights earlier this year, Russia
proposed conducting a joint US/Russian conference on family
violence. Discussions with the Russians on this proposed
conference are underway.
RUSSIA: SPACE ISSUES
History of cooperation. U.S.-Russian bilateral space
cooperation began in the early 1960s, with agreements on
meteorology, communications, magnetic survey and life sciences.
The 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project marked the first instance of
human spaceflight cooperation between the U.S. and the former
Soviet Union. It involved coordination to enable rendezvous,
docking and interchange of astronauts, and the conduct of five
joint science experiments.
Expansion of cooperation. The collapse of the Soviet Union and
the lessening of tensions in the post-Cold War era opened the
door to an expansion in space cooperation. The high priority
and prestige accorded by the Russian leadership to its space
program has provided a unique opportunity to advance our
interests across a spectrum of important areas, including:
developing new and expanded cooperation in space as an element
of our new relationship; furthering our missile non-
proliferation strategy; engaging Russia in market-based
activities, such as commercial space launches; enhancing our
ability to acquire unique Russian hardware and technology; and
encouraging Russia to re-orient its space sector from a military
focus toward civilian applications.
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. The Space Committee of the Gore-
Chernomyrdin Commission has achieved impressive results in
pushing back the frontiers of civil space exploration. The
Space Shuttle and the Mir space station have now docked seven
times, providing crucial experience in working together in
space. The Russian Space Agency is developing important flight
hardware for the International Space Station (ISS) in support of
a scheduled first element launch in 1998. In December of this
year, the U.S. will sign an Intergovernmental Agreement with
Russia, Canada, Japan, and the fifteen nations of the European
Space Agency to formally establish cooperation in the ISS
program.
Scientific and environmental research. Life and microgravity
sciences and applications are supported through the U.S.-Russia
Scientific and Technical Advisory Council. The U.S.-Russia
Space Biomedical Center in Moscow has achieved significant
results in tele-medicine and tele-education programs, and
continues research in gravitational and environmental physiology
and pharmacological. A better understanding of how the Earth's
environmental processes work is also a priority. The analysis
2
and application of data obtained from space remote sensing are
essential to understanding the changing global environment. We
are jointly working on satellite missions to measure the ozone
layer, monitor natural disasters, and study the condition of the
world's forests, and oceans.
Clinton Presidential Records
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FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
STATEMENT UPON ARRIVAL IN ROMANIA
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
JULY 1, 1996
This is my first visit to Romania, and I am delighted to be
here. I bring with me a message of hope and solidarity from the
American people, who support the courageous efforts underway in
Romania to build a new and lasting democracy.
During my stay in Bucharest, I will have the opportunity to
meet with many men and women in government and non-governmental
organizations who are working to improve health care, education,
and civic life in Romania. Their efforts are crucial to the
success of Romanian democracy and to the future of the Romanian
people, particularly women and children who suffered most during
the dark yars of authoritarian rule.
It is with great excitement and eagerness that I make this
visit. I thank the President Iliescu and his government -- and
all the Romanian people -- for extending such a warm welcome to
me.
###
FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
STATEMENT UPON ARRIVAL IN SLOVAKIA
JULY 6, 1996
I am very pleased to visit your beautiful country today. In the last several days I have
visited Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic. I have seen how the people of Central Europe
are striving, sometimes against great odds, to make freedom and democracy work for their
societies.
In recent years, Slovakia has been through two momentous changes: its freedom from the
tyranny of communism, and its emergence as an independent nation. Today Slovakia aspires to
join the democratic family of nations, and we support that aspiration.
During the Velvet Revolution, the people of Slovakia made it clear that they embrace the
principles of democracy. Now they must assure that those principles take root and allow for the
growth of a civil society with respect for human rights, rule of law, an independent judiciary and a
free press.
I bring with me a message of encouragement from the American people. During this visit,
I will meet not only with your government leaders, but also with private citizens. In particular, I
will meet with the representatives of non-governmental organizations who will play a crucial role
in the building of your democracy.
FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
STATEMENT UPON DEPARTURE FROM SLOVAKIA
JULY 6, 1996
I am glad to have had this chance to visit Bratislava, a city that has played an important
role in European history, and to have met with people striving to make a difference in this period
of historical opportunity.
During my brief stay, many people told me of Slovakia's accomplishments and of the
challenges still confronting the nation as it seeks to rejoin the democratic family of the West.
Democracy depends on the full participation of all segments of society, and I was gratified to
meet with so many Slovak citizens and representatives of non-governmental organizations who
are embracing the principles of democracy and trying to integrate them into the life of their
country. I also met with President Kovacs and Prime Minister Meciar, who were generous in
sharing their views about Slovakia's aspirations for progress.
To the government and people of Slovakia, I offer thanks for the hospitality and warmth
extended to me today.
###
FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
STATEMENT UPON ARRIVAL IN ESTONIA
TALLIN, ESTONIA
JULY 8, 1996
This is my first visit to Estonia, and I am grateful for the
opportunity to be in a country that has left behind a terrible
legacy of totalitarianism in favor of democracy and freedom.
To the Estonian government and people I bring a message of
encouragement and support from America. We admire your courage,
tenacity, and commitment to democracy and free market economics.
And we will stand by you as you complete your democratic journey
and rejoin the free nations of the West.
While in Tallin, I will meet with government leaders,
representatives of non-governmental organizations and others
involved in the building of democratic institutions in Estonia. I
also hope to learn more about the rich history and culture that
speaks to Estonia's European heritage and orientation.
To the government and people of Estonia, I convey my sincere
thanks for the warm welcome you have shown me.
FINAL
FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
STATEMENT UPON DEPARTURE FROM ESTONIA
TALLINN, ESTONIA
JULY 9, 1996
I leave Tallinn today inspired by Estonia's example as a
country that has lifted itself from the darkness of occupation
to a place among the democratic nations of the West. Even on this
short visit I could see that Estonia is enthusiastically
embracing the democratic values so necessary to reuniting Europe
in the post-Cold War era.
While problems remain, particularly in the area of inter-
ethnic relations, I talked to many government leaders and private
citizens of different backgrounds who are confident that Estonia
can prosper and thrive as a free, democratic and multi-ethnic
society.
I will return home with high hopes about Estonia's future,
and a warm place in my heart for the Estonian people. This is a
beautiful country, one which I look forward to visiting again. To
President and Mrs. Meri and the people of Estonia, I offer my
deepest thanks for making my visit so special.
###