Cord Byrd: “I am sympathetic to the concerns of Senator Smith with regard to religious minorities in Russia or anywhere else. The…”

“I am sympathetic to the concerns of Senator Smith with regard to religious minorities in Russia or anywhere else. The effect of the law recently passed by the Russian Duma is to discriminate against any religious group not recognized by the Soviet Government in 1982, which has the effect of recognizing the rights only of Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. This represents an onerous act of discrimination against religious minorities within the Russian Federation. I note that if the same standard included in the Smith amendment was applied to all other nations, we would be forced to terminate our foreign aid to other key United States allies, including Israel, Egypt, and Turkey. These nations, along with others, could not pass the test included in the Smith amendment. This amendment, therefore, discriminates against one nation, even while it claims that discrimination is its concern. Just as Russia should apply one standard in the case of all religions, so should the United States apply one standard in the distribution of foreign aid with all other nations. Finally, I would note that there are other diplomatic methods that can be used to deal with this problem.”