Political Quotes

“I am opposed to this amendment's cut of $253 million from the assistance to the New Independent States account. This amendment comes at a delicate point in the development of these new states, and it is critical that we stick to our commitments. I believe that in paring down our assistance, we would be sending a dangerous political signal to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and the other States of the former Soviet Union. Reformers in the New Independent States are, for the most part, facing uphill battles as they try to change fundamentally the way their economies and governments operate and as they seek consensus on arms control issues that are of vital importance to the United States. Precisely because the reformers are facing challenges to their agendas, our continued commitment to support their reforms becomes even more crucial. Reducing funding for the newly independent states would only confirm what the reformers in the New Independent States fear-- that the West will not support them when the going gets tough. Last year, President Clinton made a commitment to the emerging democracies that we would help to bolster their reform efforts. Although we were facing difficult budgetary times, the Congress fully funded the President's request because we recognized that helping these new countries is in our national interest.”