US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 3, No 43, October 26, 1992
Title: FREEDOM Support Act Signed Into Law
Bush
Source: President Bush
Description: Statement released by the White House, Office of the
Press Secretary, Washington, DC
Date: Oct, 25 199210/25/92
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Eurasia
Country: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia
Subject: Democratization, Media/Telecommunications,
Trade/Economics, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Arms Control
[TEXT]
Today I have signed into law S. 2532, the "FREEDOM [Freedom for Russia and
Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets] Support Act." This
historic legislation authorizes a range of programs to support free market
and democratic reforms being undertaken in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, and
the other states of the former Soviet Union. In particular, the bill endorses
the $12 billion increase in the U.S. share of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and authorizes $410 million in U.S. bilateral assistance. In addition,
the bill removes a number of outdated Cold War legislative restrictions on
U.S. relations with the new independent states.
I am proud that the United States has this historic opportunity to support
democracy and free markets in this crucially important part of the world.
While it is clear to all that the future of the new independent states of the
former Soviet Union is in their own hands, passage of the FREEDOM Support
Act demonstrates the commitment of the United States to support this
endeavor.
Once again, the American people have united to advance the cause of
freedom, to win the peace, to help transform former enemies into peaceful
partners. This democratic peace will be built on the solid foundations of
political and economic freedom in Russia and the other independent states.
We must continue to support reformers in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, and the
other new states.
I am pleased that the bill draws our private sector, as never before, into the
delivery of technical assistance to Russia and the other new states.
Various provisions of this bill will call upon the specialized skills and
expertise of the U.S. private sector. S. 2532 will provide support for the
trade and investment activities of U.S. companies to help lay the economic
and commercial foundations upon which the new democracies will rest.
This is an investment in our future as well as theirs.
The IMF quota increase will ensure that the IMF has adequate resources to
promote free markets in the former Soviet Union and elsewhere throughout
the world. By contributing to a more prosperous world economy, the IMF
will expand markets for U.S. exporters and increase jobs for American
workers.
This bill will allow us to provide humanitarian assistance during the
upcoming winter; to support democratic reforms and free market systems;
to encourage trade and investment; to support the development of food
distribution systems; to assist in health and human services programs; to
help overcome problems in energy, civilian nuclear reactor safety,
transportation, and telecommunications; to assist in dealing with dire
environmental problems in the region; and to establish a broad range of
people-to-people exchanges designed to bury forever the distrust and
misunderstanding that characterized our previous relations with the former
Soviet Union.
The bill also provides additional resources and authorities to support
efforts to destroy nuclear and other weapons, and to convert to peaceful
purposes the facilities that produce these weapons.
We undertake these programs of assistance out of a commitment to
increased security for ourselves, our allies, and the peoples of the new
independent states. These programs will enhance our security through
demilitarization and humanitarian and technical assistance.
A number of provisions in the bill, however, raise constitutional concerns.
Some provisions purport to direct me or my delegates with respect to U.S.
participation in international institutions. Under our constitutional system,
the President alone is responsible for such matters. I therefore will treat
such provisions as advisory.
Furthermore, the bill could interfere with my supervisory power over the
executive branch by giving a subordinate official in the Department of State
the authority to resolve certain interagency disputes and by regulating how
other agencies handle license applications by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. I will interpret these provisions in the light of my
constitutional responsibilities.
The bill also authorizes the creation of supposedly nongovernmental
entities--the Democracy Corps and a foundation that will conduct scientific
activities and exchanges--that would be subject to Government direction,
established to carry out Government policies, and largely dependent on
Government funding. As I have said be-fore, entities that are neither
clearly governmental nor clearly private undermine the principles of
separation of powers and political accountability. In determining whether
to exercise the authority granted by this bill, I will consider, and I direct
the Director of the National Science Foundation to consider, whether these
entities can be established and operate in conformity with those principles.
I also note a concern with the provision under which Freedom of Information
Act litigation involving the Demo-
cracy Corps would be the "responsibility" of the Agency for International
Development. This responsibility should not be understood in any way to
detract from the Attorney General's plenary litigating authority. Therefore,
I direct the Agency for International Development to refer all such matters
to the Attorney General consistent with his current authority.
George Bush (###)
Dispatch, Vol 3, No 43, October 26, 1992
Title: US-Vietnam Joint Statement
Boucher
Source: Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman
Description: Text of US-Vietnam joint statement issued in Hanoi,
Vietnam, released by the Office of the Assistant
Secretary/Spokesman, Washington, DC
Date: Oct, 19 199210/19/92
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Southeast Asia
Country: Vietnam
Subject: POW/MIA Issues, Development/Relief Aid,
International Law
[TEXT]
Based on an agreement between the governments of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam and the United States of America, the President's Special Emissary
for POW/MIA [prisoners of war/missing in action] Affairs, General John W.
Vessey, Jr., USA[rmy] (Retired), visited Hanoi, 17-19 October 1992.
Accompanying General Vessey on this trip were Senator John McCain and
representatives of the U.S. Govern-ment's Interagency Group for POW/MIA.
While in Hanoi, General Vessey and Senator McCain met with Prime Minister
Vo Van Kiet, Defense Minister Doan Khue, Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam,
Vice Foreign Minister Le Mai and senior officials from the Foreign Ministry,
the Defense Ministry, and the Ministry of the Interior.
Foreign Minister Cam and General Vessey reviewed recent activities
relating to the humanitarian concerns of both countries.
The two sides reached agreement on an important new step which should
accelerate results on the POW/MIA issue. The Government of Vietnam
informed General Vessey it has been unilaterally conducting a country-wide
search of all its archives for documents, photographs and other materials
related to American POW/MIA cases and will make all such material
available to the U.S. at its military museums. In addition, they agreed that a
joint information research team should be formed to examine all the
materials collected. This team has already begun its work resulting in
important information on specific POW/MIA cases being provided to the U.S.
During the visit, Foreign Minister Cam invited General Vessey to visit the
Central Military Museum in Hanoi to personally review some of this
material.
The two sides also agreed on the importance of using this new archival
information to seek the prompt and early recovery and repatriations of
remains of missing U.S. personnel.
General Vessey expressed U.S. appreciation for Vietnam's cooperation in
investigating reports of live Americans in Vietnam. He noted that as a
result of these efforts, more than 40 of these "live sighting" reports had
been satisfactorily investigated.
The two sides noted with satisfaction the accelerated pace of joint field
investigations which give priority to resolving the remaining last known
alive discrepancy cases. This effort, too, has already resulted in important
information on specific POW/MIA cases being provided to the U.S.
The two sides also reviewed U.S. efforts to address Vietnam's humanitarian
needs. General Vessey informed Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet that the United
States was making available immediately a new disaster assistance grant
to help alleviate the suffering of residents of Quang Binh province which
was affected by recent severe floods. General Vessey also noted the recent
U.S. contribution of two million dollars through non-governmental
organizations to assist areas in Vietnam impacted by retuning refugees, as
well as the implementation of 17 Fulbright scholarships for Vietnamese
students. General Vessey further informed Foreign Minister Cam that the
U.S. would soon submit concrete proposals regarding U.S. technical
assistance to Vietnam to address the important health issue of malaria.
Foreign Minister Cam appreciated these efforts and proposed that the U.S.
side should send a high level delegation to Vietnam to discuss further U.S.
contributions to address Vietnam's humanitarian needs.
The two sides reaffirmed both their governments' desire for early
normalization of relations between the two countries. General Vessey
indicated that in the context of accelerated cooperation to resolve the
POW/MIA issue, the United States will move more rapidly toward
normalization of relations. In this context, Senator McCain expressed his
view that there was bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for improved
relations. The Vietnamese side said normalization was in the interests of
people of both countries and would contribute to peace, stability and
cooperation in Southeast Asia and the world. (###)
Dispatch, Vol 3, No 43, October 26, 1992
Title: Second Year of AA-1 Immigrant Visa Program
Boucher
Source: Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman
Description: Statement released by the Office of the Assistant
Secretary/Spokesman, Washington, DC
Date: Oct, 20 199210/20/92
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Whole World
Subject: Immigration
[TEXT]
Results of FY 1993 AA-1 Mail-in Program
A total of 52,445 applicants are being registered for the FY 1993 AA-1
immigrant visa program. These applicants were selected at random by
computer in early September from the more than 800,000 qualified entries
received in the mail. The Department of State will begin notifying the
winners within the next 2 weeks.
Registered applicants are eligible for the 41,016 total visas available in FY
1993. This figure represents the 40,000 allocated in the Immigration Act
of 1990 plus 1,016 visas that were unused from the previous year's AA-1
program.
During the selection process, the computer assigned a rank order number for
each applicant. This number will serve as the "priority date" for processing
visas in the strict numerical order in which they were selected.
As in last year's lottery, applicants must be prepared to act immediately on
their cases. Once all 41,016 visas have been issued, the program for FY
1993 will end.
The law requires that at least 40% of each year's available AA-1 visas must
be designated for natives of Ireland (including Northern Ireland), amounting
to 16,406 in FY 1993. The Irish visa allotment in FY 1993 will also be
augmented by another 1,383--the number of visas that were available to
Irish nationals last year but were not used. This year, the share of AA-1
visas available for Irish nationals will be 17,789.
A recent amendment to the AA-1 program required that any visas which
Irish applicants do not use in one year are allocated to Irish nationals the
following year.
Up to 25,000 Irish applicants are being registered for this year's program.
The final results of the FY 1993 AA-1 registrations for the other countries
and dependent areas are:
Albania - 43
Algeria - 234
Argentina - 446
Austria - 31
Belgium - 52
Canada - 2,108
Czechoslovakia - 205
Denmark - 98
Estonia - 42
Finland - 169
France - 139
Guadeloupe - 6
New Caledonia - 1
Germany - 270
Great Britain - 1,052
Bermuda - 4
Gibraltar - 0
Hungary - 105
Iceland - 21
Indonesia - 825
Italy - 166
Japan - 970
Latvia - 79
Liechtenstein - 0
Lithuania - 138
Luxembourg - 0
Monaco - 0
Netherlands - 66
Norway - 54
Poland - 19,856
San Marino - 0
Sweden - 94
Switzerland - 106
Tunisia - 65
A total of 1.1 million pieces of mail were received during the 1-month
mail-in period that ended August 28. However, 200,000 duplicate entries
were received from about 2,000 persons and were thus disqualified from the
lottery. An additional 115,000 entries were disqualified for failing to
submit a proper application.
Results of FY 1992 AA-1 Program
Preliminary totals for FY 1992 issuances are:
Albania - 22
Algeria - 171
Argentina - 1,179
Austria - 83
Belgium - 72
Czechoslovakia - 202
Denmark - 125
Estonia - 4
Finland - 81
France - 530
Guadeloupe - 1
New Caledonia - 5
Germany - 514
Great Britain - 2,484
Bermuda - 4
Gibraltar - 5
Hungary - 196
Iceland - 17
Indonesia - 1,978
Ireland - 14,617
Italy - 371
Japan - 5,164
Latvia - 11
Liechtenstein - 0
Lithuania - 25
Luxembourg - 2
Monaco - 1
Netherlands - 150
Norway - 169
Poland - 10,391
San Marino - 1
Sweden - 206
Switzerland - 126
Tunisia - 81 (###)
Dispatch, Vol 3, No 43, October 26, 1992
Title: United States and Belarus Sign Assistance
Agreement
Boucher
Description: Statement released by the Office of the Assistant
Secretary/Spokesman, Washington, DC
Date: Oct, 22 199210/22/92
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Eurasia
Country: Belarus
Subject: Trade/Economics, Development/Relief Aid,
International Law, Arms Control
[TEXT]
The United States and Belarus today signed the first agreements for the use
of Nunn-Lugar funds outside Russia. Deputy Secretary of Defense [Donald]
Atwood and Under Secretary of State [Frank] Wisner signed three
agreements with First Deputy Minister of Defense Aleksandr Tushinskiy of
the Republic of Belarus. The agreements mark a significant achievement in
the development of close relations between Belarus and the United States.
They were greeted by the Government of Belarus as important
manifestations of US recognition of Belarus' independence when they were
initialed in Minsk on September 30 [1992]. A US team will depart this
weekend for another round of bilateral discussions with Ukraine, Russia, and
Kazakhstan on how the United States can assist in the safe, secure
dismantlement of nuclear weapons in these countries.
The three documents signed today with Belarus include:
-- An umbrella agreement providing a legal framework for US assistance;
-- An implementing agreement to provide nuclear accident emergency
response equipment such as protective clothing and radiation monitoring
gear; and
-- An implementing agreement to provide a wide range of assistance to
help Belarus develop an export control system, with an emphasis on
controlling nuclear materials.
The Nunn-Lugar program, signed into law by President Bush in December
1991, authorized the expenditure of up to $400 million in fiscal year 1992
Defense Department appropriations specifically for the purposes of
facilitating the transportation, storage, safeguarding, and destruction of
nuclear, chemical, and other weapons of the former USSR and to prevent
weapons proliferation. Congress has passed legislation appropriating an
additional $400 million for Nunn-Lugar programs.
As of October 19, the Administration had notified Congress of proposed
obligations totaling $191 million of the Nunn-Lugar appropriations. In
addition to the agreements signed today with the Republic of Belarus, the
United States has signed an umbrella agreement and seven implementing
agreements with the Russian Federation. (###)
Dispatch, Vol 3, No 43, October 26, 1992
Title: Focus on the Emerging Democracies:
A Periodic Update
PA
Source: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public
Affairs
Date: Oct, 26 199210/26/92
Category: Focus on Emerging Democracies
Region: Eurasia
Country: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan, Georgia
Subject: Trade/Economics, Development/Relief Aid,
International Law, Arms Control
[TEXT]
The following is a summary of US efforts to assist the new independent
states of the former Soviet Union:
Overview
Total US Assistance: To date the US has pledged about $9.2 billion in grant
assistance and credits to the new independent states of the former Soviet
Union for FY 1991-93. About 63% of this total already has been obligated.
US assistance in FY 1993 will total about $3 billion. FY 1993 grant
assistance is estimated to be about $1.3 billion (including $923 million in
technical and humanitarian assistance and $415 million appropriated to the
Department of Defense). FY 1993 credit programs are estimated to be about
$1.5-$2 billion ($1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation credits, $450-
$900 million in Export-Import Bank credits, and $125 million in Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) financing).
Multilateral Financial Assistance: The US will contribute $5 billion to the
$24 billion multilateral financial assistance program ($18 billion in
financial support and $6-billion currency stabilization fund for Russia) as
agreed by the Group of Seven industrialized countries (G-7) in April 1992.
Agricultural Credit Guarantees: The US has announced a total of $5.5 billion
in export credit guarantees to the NIS, of which $4.5 billion has been
committed; about 32 million tons of agricultural commodities already have
been shipped.
This includes an additional $1.15 billion credit guarantee and food
assistance package announced for Russia on September 14, 1992, consisting
of $900 million in loan guarantees and $250 million in grant food aid.
Credit guarantees of $100 million were made available immediately; $500
million more followed on October 1; and the remaining $300 million will be
made available on January 1, 1993. On October 19, 1992, $200 million of
credit guarantees were announced for Ukraine.
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation Provide Hope ($180 million): During Phases I and II of Operation
Provide Hope, the United States delivered about 20,000 tons of Department
of Defense (DOD) excess food (valued at $34 million) and 3,000 tons of
excess medicines and medical supplies and equipment (valued at $112
million) to 26 cities throughout the 12 NIS. These totals do not include
transportation costs.
Phase III of Operation Provide Hope has begun with the shipment of 4 million
ready-to-eat meals (valued at $18 million) to 17 locations in Russia and
about 10,000 tons of processed food (valued at $20 million) targeted for
needy individuals and families in Russia.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Assistance ($283 million): More
than 630,000 tons of food aid (valued at $283 million) has been committed
to Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
In addition, on October 9, 1992, USDA announced a $250 million grant food
aid package for Russia in FY 1993.
US Agency for International Development (USAID) Emergency Immunization
Initiative ($6 million): USAID has purchased measles, tetanus, polio, and
diphtheria vaccines and related medical equipment to immunize about
520,000 infants in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In
addition, Project Hope will administer a program to procure US-
manufactured vaccines and immunize about 261,000 children in Ukraine and
Armenia.
Emergency Medical Initiative ($14 million): The US is purchasing critically
needed medicines to meet emergency needs in several republics. At least $1
million worth of medicines and supplies are being purchased for the
republics of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Plans are also being developed to
purchase similar amounts for the republics of Moldova, Uzbekistan, Ukraine,
and Kazakhstan.
Presidential Medical Initiative ($10 million US contribution): Since
February 1992, Provide Hope has delivered pharmaceuticals and medical
supplies (valued at $74 million) to all NIS.
DOD Medical Supplies ($9 million): The US has shipped and installed medical
supplies and equipment (valued at more than $9 million) to outfit a 1,000-
bed hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia. The US also is considering providing similar
assistance to Kyrgyzstan by the end of 1992.
Private Sector Contributions ($49.3 million): More than 5,000 metric tons
of food (valued at $24.3 million) and 1,770 tons of medicines and medical
supplies (valued at $25 million) were delivered under the authority of the
Dire Emergency Supplemental legislation. According to NIS information, at
least 50,000 tons of food, medicines, clothing, and other items from other
private donors have been delivered.
Technical Assistance
New Technical Assistance
Programs: New technical assistance programs proposed for FY 1993 include
a $35-million, 3-year environment project to strengthen environmental
management institutions and promote environmental technology, and two
enterprise funds in Russia and Ukraine.
The US Government has allocated $634 million for technical assistance
programs in the NIS in FY 1991-93. Examples of current programs follow:
Democratic Institution-Building
Political Party Training and Civic Education: The National Democratic
Institute and International Republican Institute, as well as several other
non-governmental organizations, have received grants to carry out political
party training and civic education activities and to place long-term experts
in the NIS.
Rule of Law: To date, the American Bar Association has placed 5
long term program directors and 7 short-term legal advisers in the NIS,
provided assessments of draft legislation and constitutions, and sent about
40 US specialists to host 6 technical legal workshops on judicial
restructuring.
The Department of State held seminars for senior NIS legal officials on the
US legal system and is providing judicial training assistance to the Legal
Academy of the Russian Ministry of Justice.
Independent Media: Internews, a non-profit media organization, is
establishing an independent television news distribution system in Russia,
Ukraine, and Kazakhstan and is providing journalism training for independent
broadcasters throughout the NIS.
Public Administration: The US Information Agency (USIA) is sponsoring
visitor programs in the US for all NIS presidential chiefs of staff and other
high-level national government officials to learn about executive office
organization. USIA also is sponsoring training programs for high-level city
officials from Russia and Ukraine, providing a grant to Sister Cities to
establish a municipal training program between partnered US and NIS cities,
and publishing materials on public policy and administration for distribution
in the NIS.
America Houses: USIA will begin establishing America Houses in Kiev,
Ukraine, and in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, by November 1992, and in
Vladivostok, Russia, shortly thereafter to serve as focal points for the
exchange of people to and from the US and make available on-the-ground
logistical and information resources for the American private sector.
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Assistance: Six US private voluntary
organizations (PVO) have received funding to enhance the institutional
capabilities of indigenous non-governmental organizations in the NIS and to
undertake social service projects in Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and
the Central Asian republics.
Economic Restructuring, Privatization, and Defense Conversion
Financial Sector Advisers: Four short-term tax policy missions have been
sent to Russia since May to provide advice to the Ministry of Finance on tax
policy and administration. Six short-term advisers have provided
assistance on tax and currency policy and regulation in Ukraine. The
Treasury Department will send a long-term tax policy adviser to Russia and
a financial adviser to Belarus in November 1992, pending approval of a
National Security Council directive.
Privatization: The US has provided funding to the International Financial
Corporation to support NIS privatization through small-scale auctions , to
distribute copies of a "how-to" manual for small privatization auctions, and
to privatize the transportation sector in Nizhniy Novgorod.
The US is sponsoring auctions, modeled after those held in Nizhniy Novgorod,
to privatize the retail sector in Volgograd, Russia, and Volgograd oblast (a
regional political entity) and Lviv, Ukraine. A team also will be sent to
Tomsk, Russia, shortly to begin the auction process.
The US is providing funding to the Russian State Committee on the
Management of State Property to support design, implementation, and
publicity for a mass voucher program, and a project to screen businesses
which may serve as demonstration privatizations.
The Trade and Development Program (TDP) and OPIC have received funding to
conduct investment missions and provide feasibility study financing for
infrastructure projects in the NIS. The Department of Commerce has
established a business information center on commercial opportunities in
NIS.
Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT): Currently
eight Russians are participating in the Commerce Department's SABIT
program. An additional 86 candidates have been selected, and 33 of these
are expected to arrive in the US shortly. The department has received more
than 150 applications from US companies interested in hosting business or
scientific interns. It expects 241 interns to participate over the next year.
Defense Conversion: The US has sent three defense conversion advisers to
Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, and two advisers to Kharkiv, Ukraine. Additional
advisers are planned for Tomsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia, and Alma-Ata,
Kazakhstan.
The International Executive Service Corps has completed industry
restructuring projects in Saratov and St. Petersburg, Russia, and Kiev,
Ukraine. It has established offices in Moscow and Kiev and expects to select
long-term representatives for new offices in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and
Yerevan, Armenia, by the end of 1992.
Agriculture
Farmer to Farmer: About 1,800 agribusiness volunteers in the Farmer-to-
Farmer Program will be placed in private agribusinesses and/or farms in all
NIS over the next 3 years. Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance
(VOCA) has sent 16 volunteers to Russia and 8 volunteers to Ukraine and has
identified 19 to go to Russia and 8 to go to Ukraine in the next few months.
Another 15 volunteers have gone to Kazakhstan and Armenia. An additional
five implementing organizations received grants in late September.
USDA Programs: USDA is establishing a model farm near St. Petersburg and
assisting in the development of private wholesale markets in Moscow and
Kiev.
USDA also will be sending four American agribusiness executives to Russia
and two to Kazakhstan to work with newly privatized food industries under
its Loaned Executives Program.
In addition, USDA has selected 41 Russians and 10 Ukrainians to participate
in its Cochran Fellowship program for training in agribusiness.
Grain Storage: The US recently signed a contract with North American
Agricultural, Inc., to install more than 300 grain storage facilities in 80
sites (including 50 in Russia, 15 in Ukraine, and 15 in Kazakhstan) to reduce
immediate grain losses and to demonstrate benefits of modern grain storage
technology. Each facility, which consists of four storage bins plus grain-
moving and related equipment, has a capacity to store 80,000 bushels. Most
facilities will be in place by the end of 1992.
Agribusiness: All NIS will be eligible for assistance under the USAID
agribusiness project that is designed to get more US agribusinesses
involved in the former Soviet Union. This program will emphasize upstream
and downstream agricultural activities, such as fertilizers, marketing,
processing, and distribution. Proposals are under review, and grants will be
awarded by late November or early December, with activities expected to
begin in early spring 1993.
Energy
Nuclear Reactor Safety: The Department of Energy and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission are implementing a $25-million nuclear reactor
safety program which will establish a training center in Russia and Ukraine
to enhance operational safety, provide risk reduction measures for nuclear
reactors, and assist regulators in developing consistent and effective
safety standards and procedures.
Energy Efficiency: US technical experts have conducted energy audits in
district heating plants in Kostroma and Yekaterinburg, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine;
Minsk, Belarus; Yerevan, Armenia; Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan; and Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan, and are installing necessary equipment to increase energy
efficiency this winter.
Coal Mine Safety: Partners in Economic Reform is providing equipment and
establishing training centers to improve management and safety standards
in the Kuzbass and Vorkuta regions of Russia, Donbass region of Ukraine, and
Karaganda Basin in Kazakhstan.
Housing
Four of twelve long-term housing advisers are in Moscow, Novosibirsk, and
Yerevan working on legal reform in the housing sector, development of a
housing privatization law, and municipal management.
Health
Hospital Partnerships: Twelve hospital-to-hospital partnerships have been
established in the NIS. These partnerships will create a base for technology
and personnel exchanges between US and Russian hospitals. We expect to
establish 20 such partnerships by the end of 1993.
Trade and Investment in Pharmaceutical Sector: TDP, OPIC, and the
Department of Commerce will undertake trade and investment missions to
encourage increased trade and investment in the health sector throughout
the NIS.
Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Production: USAID is working with Merck ∧ Co.
and Lederle to procure equipment and spare parts to help restore production
of measles, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio vaccines; provide orientation to
US standard good manufacturing practices for NIS executives and scientists;
and conduct feasibility studies for establishing vaccine manufacturing
facilities in Russia at a level of quality comparable to that in the US. A
similar program, focusing on vaccine production, will be implemented in
Ukraine.
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps will place 250 volunteers in Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, and
Uzbekistan by the end of 1993. Assessment visits are planned for
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in October 1992, possibly to be followed by
Belarus and Turkmenistan in November.
Staff arrived in Armenia in August 1992, and 40 volunteers will arrive in
November.
Staff arrived in the Russian Far East in June 1992 and established a
permanent office on September 14; 50 volunteers are scheduled to arrive in
November to work in the Primorski, Khabarovsk, and Sakhalin oblasts. Fifty
volunteers are scheduled to arrive in November to work in five oblasts in
the Volga River region.
Staff arrived in Uzbekistan in September 1992. Initial negotiations on a
country agreement are complete, and 50 volunteers are expected to arrive in
December 1992.
Nunn-Lugar Funds
DOD appropriations for dismantlement and destruction of nuclear weapons
total $400 million in FY 1992 and an additional $400 million for FY 1993.
Expanded funding authorities for FY 1993 include defense conversion,
nuclear safety, and export controls.
International Science and Technology Centers: The US has committed $25
million toward the establishment of an International Science and
Technology Center in Russia and $10 million for a similar center in Ukraine
to employ former military scientists in civilian projects in the former
Soviet Union. (###)