|  6/11/2008 - Sen. Schumer suggests return of Russia's hegemony in Central and East Europe... AHF sends letter and calls on community to express its concern. On June 3, 2008, Senator Schumer (D-NY) published an article in The Wall Street Journal entitled "Russia Can Be Part of the Answer on Iran." In this article, Sen. Schumer suggests that stronger economic sanctions would help deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The effectiveness of the sanctions, according to Sen. Schumer, will require Russia's cooperation.
In order to entice Russia to join the economic sanctions against Iran, Sen. Schumer proposes that the United States dismantle the anti-missile system in Central Europe as it "mocks Mr. Putin's dream of eventually restoring Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe." He also proposes to recognize Russia's "traditional role" in the Caspian region, and "make Russia whole if it joins in our Iranian boycott." The article can be viewed at: http://online.wsj.com/
In related news, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) also submitted a letter to Sen. Schumer seeking a clarification of the Senator's June 3rd column in The Wall Street Journal. The Federation, an active member of the CEEC, contributed to the letter. [read the CEEC letter]
Below is AHF's letter to the Senator. [download the AHF letter]
The Honorable Charles Schumer
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
June 11, 2008
Dear Senator Schumer:
The Hungarian American community is deeply concerned and perplexed by your column in June 3rd edition of The Wall Street Journal entitled, "Russia Can Be Part of the Answer on Iran." In that column, you suggest that the United States should recognize Russia’s “dream of eventually restoring Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe” in order to entice Russia to join in economic sanctions against Iran. Your suggestion that the nations of Central and Eastern Europe be used as pawns in order to appease Russia is inexplicable and profoundly troubling.
For decades Hungarians and the other nations of the region had been oppressed by Russia, whose "greatness" you suggest Mr. Putin wishes to restore. Less than two years ago, we commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. That noble quest for freedom, democracy and independence was brutally crushed by the Soviet Union which tragically was allowed to dominate Hungary and the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
After untold suffering, Hungary and the other countries of the region have regained their freedom, independence and sovereignty. And now you suggest that Russia once again be allowed to dominate them in order to pursue policies whose effectiveness is a matter of conjecture at best. While Iran’s nuclear capability is a threat that must be addressed effectively, bartering away the independence of Central and Eastern Europe is neither an acceptable proposal nor is it consistent with the policies pursued by both Democrat and Republican administrations and the interests of the United States in a free, stable, democratic and secure Central and Eastern Europe.
Senator Schumer, your proposal suggests that the United States, the strongest beacon of democracy and freedom in the world, pander to Russia's longing for its past empire.
We respectfully call upon you to meet with representatives of the Hungarian American community and clarify or retract your statements in the Wall Street Journal column with an unequivocal call for the continued independence of Central and Eastern Europe.
Sincerely,
Attila Micheller, National President
Akos Nagy, Chairman of the Board
Frank Koszorus, Jr., Chairman, International Relations Committee
---------------
Below is the Central and East European Coalition's (CEEC) letter:
CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COALITION
[download the letter]
1612 K Street, N.W., Suite 410
Washington, D.C. 20006
June 10, 2008
The Honorable Charles Schumer
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Schumer:
The Central and East European Coalition (“CEEC”) comprises 18 national membership organizations representing more than 22 million Americans who trace their heritage to Central and Eastern Europe. We write to express our deep concern about your recent column in The Wall Street Journal entitled, "Russia Can Be Part of the Answer on Iran," (June 3). As a supporter of democracy for the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, which suffered greatly under "Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe," your suggestion that these nations be used as bargaining chips in order to appease Russia is troubling, inexplicable and unacceptable.
For decades Central and East Europeans had been oppressed by Russia, whose "greatness" you suggest that Mr. Putin restore. The 1932-1933 genocide in Ukraine, the incorporation of the Baltic countries into the Soviet Union, the brutal crushing of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the suppression of the Prague Spring in 1968, the imposition of martial law in Poland in 1981, the blatant and continuing denials of fundamental freedoms in Belarus are all examples of the tragedies that ruined millions of lives in the countries of a region which had been ill-advisedly relegated to the Russian sphere of influence in the twentieth century.
After untold suffering, these nations have regained their freedom and sovereignty. And now you suggest that Russia once again be allowed to dominate the countries of Central and East Europe in order to pursue policies whose effectiveness is a matter of conjecture at best.
Your recommendations are especially distressing, considering the disturbing trends in Russia, including the intimidation used to silence the press and critics of the government, rising anti-Semitism and intolerance toward minorities and attempts to use energy as a means to divide Europe and unduly influence Central and East European governments. Your proposal, in effect would validate these disturbing trends in the eyes of Moscow and pander to Russian nostalgia for imperialism. Clearly these trends are contrary to U.S. geo-strategic interests in the region. Please Senator Schumer, no more Yaltas!
We respectfully call upon you to meet with us and clarify your statements in The Wall Street Journal column.
Sincerely,
Frank Koszorus, Jr.
Co-President
American Hungarian Federation
Juris Mezinskis
President
American Latvian Association
Bryan Ardouny
Executive Director
Armenian Assembly of America
Walter Stankievich
President
Belarusian-American Association
Radi Slavoff
President
Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis
Armand A. Scala
President
Congress of Romanian Americans
Juraj Slavik
Washington Chapter of Czechoslovak National Council of America
Marju Rink-Abel
President
Estonian American National Council
Mamuka Tsereteli
President
The Georgian Association in the USA
Maximilian N. Teleki
President
Hungarian American Coalition
Lya Karm, M.D.
Chair
Joint Baltic American National Committee
Saulius Kuprys
President
Lithuanian American Council
Vytas Maciunas
President
Lithuanian American Community
Laszlo Pasztor
National President Emeritus and Member of the Presidium
National Federation of American Hungarians
Frank J. Spula
President
Polish American Congress
John Karch, Ph.D.
Slovak League of America
Michael Sawkiw, Jr.
President
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Stephen Kaczaraj
President
Ukrainian National Association
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