Steny Hoyer: “We come to the close of a debate that has seen 3 years of failure. No one on this floor has addressed the policy as a…”

“We come to the close of a debate that has seen 3 years of failure. No one on this floor has addressed the policy as a success. Everyone has said it is a failure. It is time, then, to move on. Today we mark... the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act to the day, August 1, 1975. Twenty years ago the United States, in concert with 33 countries of Europe and Canada, declared our commitment to 10 sacred principles governing our relationships with each other. We pledge to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. We pledge to respect the territorial integrity of each state, like Bosnia, the sovereign, independent, internationally recognized state of Bosnia. We pledge not to threaten or use force against any state, unlike Serbia. We pledge to settle disputes by peaceful means, so as not to endanger international peace, security, and justice. This debate is about promises to keep. This debate is about meeting our commitments under article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. There are promises to be kept, Mr. Chairman, and now is the time; not tomorrow, not tomorrow and thereafter.”