A trip to Moscow
this month was another reminder of a needless thorn in Russian-American
relations. The Jackson-Vanik Amendment, a relic of the Cold War, continues to
apply to Russia.
This makes no sense.
I’ll never forget Dec. 20, 1974, the day the
U.S. Congress unanimously adopted the amendment to the 1974 Trade Act. It
linked the granting of most-favored-nation trade status for non-market
economies to their policy on emigration. In essence, it was targeted at the Soviet Union for its restrictions on the
emigration of Jews.
When Congress passed the legislation, I was
in Norway,
having been expelled from the U.S.S.R. earlier that month. Until being put on a
plane from Moscow, I had been one
of six Americans working in Soviet schools as part of a
government-to-government exchange program, an early dividend of the
Nixon-Brezhnev era of détente. But my regular contact with Soviet Jewish
activists irked my hosts.
Having witnessed firsthand the oppression of
Soviet Jews, I could only cheer the Congressional action sparked by the
leadership of Senator Henry Jackson and Congressman Charles Vanik.
During the 1980s, some began calling for
repeal of the amendment in light of the first signs of glasnost and
perestroika. Such action was premature. Moscow
needed to understand that domestic change must include the right to emigrate
without the daunting obstacle course so long in place. By the 1990s, the Soviet
Union was no more, emigration was a fact, and Jewish communities were
miraculously beginning to reemerge across the former Soviet Union.
Yet the Jackson-Vanik Amendment remains
intact, at least as far as Russia
is concerned. Moscow must receive a
periodic presidential waiver. There is no rhyme or reason for this annual
review, which, as American Jewish Committee groups have learned from frequent
meetings with Russian officials, they understandably find upsetting.
Washington is sending the wrong message to Moscow, especially at a time of improving
bilateral ties between our two countries and growing cooperation on such
pressing issues as Iran’s
nuclear program.
It also raises questions about our
credibility. Today, no one doubts that Russians who wish to emigrate have the
right to do so. Apropos, if millions were to exercise that option, it is
absolutely certain that the U.S.
would not admit all, or even most of them. Meanwhile, Russia and Israel
have signed a visa-free agreement, meaning that citizens of both countries can
travel back and forth without a visa, another sign of the free movement of
people.
Three successive American presidents —
Clinton, Bush and Obama — have supported the graduation of Russia
from the strictures of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, but, regrettably, without
results to date.
The obstacle lies in Congress. Some
legislators, perhaps with no recollection of the amendment’s original intent,
have viewed it as an all-purpose vehicle for expressing opposition to
particular Russian policies. Most striking has been the American poultry
industry effort to use the amendment to force Moscow
to purchase imported chickens.
This is absurd. If Russia is placing
barriers in the path of our exports, or posing other problems, then by all
means address the question directly, but not in such a roundabout way. The
recent spy swap demonstrates how today the two countries have the capacity to
deal successfully with difficult issues.
Lifting the Jackson-Vanik Amendment would
acknowledge that what was sought in 1974, emigration, has been achieved. It
would demonstrate that our word counts for something on this issue and that we
are not going to move the goal posts at will. It would recognize the forward
march of history.
Some argue that the legislative battle is
not worth pursuing now. They assert that Congress will in any case need to
graduate Russia
from the amendment as part of Moscow’s
eventual accession to the World Trade Organization. But that’s the back-door
route, creating the impression that it is being done grudgingly.
Instead, Congress should take the high road.
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment was a landmark accomplishment. It spoke to the
highest values of America’s
commitment to human rights. It served its noble purpose. As a result, countless
people gained their freedom.
Congress should stop “playing chicken” and
do the right thing: recognize reality and graduate Russia
from this throwback to the Cold War.
David Harris is executive
director of the American Jewish Committee.
An AJC leadership delegation just concluded
a two-day visit to Russia.
Moscow marks the
last stop for the 11-member group, which began its journey in Azerbaijan and also visited
Ukraine.
In Moscow,
the delegation met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Israeli
Ambassador to Russia Anna Azari, American Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Rubin,
former head of the Russian presidential administration Alexander Voloshin, and
senior officials at ROSATOM (the State Atomic Energy Corporation).
Thursday’s meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov was the latest in more than a
dozen meetings with the foreign minister in the past several years.
In addition, AJC met with leaders of Russia’s
vibrant Jewish community, including the Russian Jewish Congress, Moscow Hillel,
the Eurasian Jewish Congress, and VAAD.
Interreligious dialogue was also high on the
agenda in a discussion with the Deputy Head of International Relations for the
Russian Orthodox Church, which counts over 135 million members worldwide and
functions as an integral part of Russia’s
social and cultural fabric.
Many Russian media outlets closely followed
the AJC trip throughout their two-day stint in Moscow.
Russia’s premier English-language station, Russia Today or RT, which is
broadcast worldwide, featured two interviews with the delegation and the
Russian News and Information Agency, RIA Novosti, prominently displayed a third interview on its website.
"Our meetings in Russia
were extremely informative, fruitful, and in many respects, encouraging,"
said Harris. "AJC’s relationship with this part of the world dates back to
1906, when the organization was founded by American Jews concerned about
pogroms sweeping the region. In light of this tragic history, not to mention
the events of the Second World War and the plight of Soviet Jewry, it’s simply
stunning to come as an American Jewish group to Moscow and see what progress
has been made here in rebuilding Jewish life."
AJC’s meetings in the Foreign Ministry and
at ROSATOM focused on Iran’s
nuclear program and what can be done to prevent the regime from attaining
nuclear weapons. "Our talks with high-ranking Russian officials both
confirmed and highlighted this threat, as time is not on our side,"
explained Harris. "An Iran with nuclear-weapons
capability not only poses a threat to the state of Israel,
but also to regional and global security. Russia, Israel, the United States,
and indeed the entire international community, have a vested interest in
bringing this program to a halt.
On a more uplifting note, talks with
American and Israeli diplomats indicated that the bilateral relationships
between these two countries and Russia
are at their highest point in years. As Harris explained, "The
much-discussed "reset" in relations between the U.S. and Russia
is a reality and its effects are being felt here on the ground. AJC hopes that
this bond will continue to strengthen and that Russia
will soon be graduated from the outdated Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which today
is little more than a Cold War relic."
Similarly, relations with Israel,
which is home to more than a million Russian speakers are strong and getting
stronger. Successful economic, cultural and political partnerships between the Russian Federation
and the State of Israel have been bolstered by a visa-free agreement, which
allows Russian and Israeli citizens to travel easily between the two countries,
encouraging both trade and tourism.
July 8, 2010
AJC Executive Director,
David Harris was interviewed by leading broadcaster Russia Today
about the AJC leadership delegation’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov and about the challenges facing the Middle East. To see this interview click here.
July 7, 2010
AJC Leadership Delegation Visits Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
An AJC leadership delegation just concluded
a two-day visit to Ukraine.
The 11-member group met with Prime Minister
Mykola Azarov, the President's Deputy Chief of Staff for External Affairs Amb.
Andrii Goncharuk, and Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Horin.
AJC also met with Opposition Leader Yulia
Tymoshenko and former President Viktor Yushchenko.
The delegation was briefed by American
Ambassador John Tefft and Israeli ambassador Zina Kalay-Kleitman, and met with
leaders of the Jewish community, including representatives of the VAAD, the
Ukrainian Jewish Committee, and the Ukrainian Union of Jewish Students.
"Meeting with the Jewish community was
a profoundly moving experience for the delegation," said AJC Executive
Director David Harris. "It is inspiring to witness how vibrant Jewish life
has returned to a land where Jews experienced such horrendous tragedies in the
20th century, including the Nazi massacre at Babi Yar
in Kyiv," added Harris.
The AJC delegation visited Babi
Yar and recited the Mourner's Kaddish for the tens of thousands of
Jews murdered there in the fall of 1941 by occupying Nazi forces and local
collaborators.
The discussion with Ukrainian officials
focused on the bilateral relationship with the United
States, following the visit to Kyiv last week of U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and with Israel. High on the agenda was a
shared concern about Iran's
ominous nuclear program and continued defiance of the will of the international
community.
Moreover, the delegation discussed a pilot
project, involving AJC, Germany
and local participants, to identify and protect mass graves of Jews from the
Holocaust in Ukraine.
The project was triggered by the laudable work of Father Patrick Desbois, a
Catholic priest, who was honored by AJC four years ago for his commitment to
the protection of Holocaust memory.
"AJC appreciates Ukraine's support for Israel," said Harris. "In
particular, AJC applauds Ukraine's
vote at the UN against the infamous Goldstone Report, as well as the
forthcoming agreement for a visa-free agreement with Israel.
The accord is expected to boost bilateral tourism and trade."
"For AJC, Ukraine has been an important
country since the re-establishment of its independence in 1991, a step we
actively supported," concluded Harris. "That's why we have visited
regularly and sought to be helpful, including in the successful 'graduation' of
Ukraine
by the U.S. Congress from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. Ukraine is a large country with vast potential,
is home to a large Jewish community and a rich Jewish heritage that is slowly
being reclaimed, and has important links with Israel."
Prior to Kyiv, the AJC group was in Azerbaijan for meetings with President Ilham
Aliyev and senior officials of his government, as well as American and Israel
diplomats.
July 5, 2010
AJC Leadership Delegation Visits Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
An AJC leadership delegation just concluded
a two-day visit to Azerbaijan.
The 11-member group met for an hour with
President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday at his seaside residence outside Baku,
the nation's capital. Just prior to the meeting with AJC, President Aliyev
welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the estate.
The group also met with Azerbaijan's
Deputy Foreign Minister Vaqif Sadiqov, Speaker of the Parliament Oktay Asadov,
Israeli Ambassador Michael Lavon-Lotem, outgoing American Charge d'Affaires
Donald Lu, incoming Charge d'Affaires Adam Sterling, and other
officials.
The visit was given significant media
coverage in Azerbaijan
and on the country's international television station, which broadcasts in
Russian, Farsi and other languages.
This was AJC's second trip to Baku
in the past two years. The earlier visit took place in August 2008. In January
2008, AJC met privately with President Aliyev at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
At that time, the Azerbaijani leader invited AJC to pay a visit Baku.
"Azerbaijan
is a critically important country," said AJC Executive Director David
Harris. "We were delighted to be there at the same time as U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton and a month after U.S.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, underscoring Washington's
deep interest."
"It is important for Americans to
understand the key role that Azerbaijan today plays in
our nation's counter-terrorism efforts, energy security, and military
operations in Afghanistan,"
added Harris. "And
Jews and friends of Israel
need to be aware of the long and rich history of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan, and of the
country's close and mutually beneficial ties with Israel."
In the course of the extensive
conversations, Azerbaijani officials shared their strong interest in resolving
the long-standing conflict over territory occupied by Armenia
for more than 15 years and their
frustration with the efforts to date. For its part, AJC raised concerns about
the Iranian nuclear program and support for international terrorism. Azerbaijan shares a
350-mile border with Iran
to its south. Iran
was widely reported to have been involved in a foiled plot two years ago to
attack Israeli diplomats in Baku.
"We were very warmly and graciously
received by our Azerbaijani hosts," Harris said. "Given the
importance we attach to Azerbaijan,
we shall look forward to our next visit and to frequent contact in
between."
July 4, 2010
Azerbaijan News Agency on AJC meeting with President Aliyev
Azerbaijani President receives executive
director of American Jewish Committee
04.07.2010 21:51
President Ilham Aliyev has today received Executive Director of the American
Jewish Committee David Allan Harris and his accompanying delegation, AzerTAj
state news agency reported.
The Head of State expressed hope that the visit of the delegation would be
successful and provide opportunities to learn more about Azerbaijan.
David A. Harris noted Azerbaijan is an important country for the United States,
saying "we, friends of Azerbaijan, realize this country`s political,
strategic and cultural importance for the U.S". He pointed his visit comes
after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton`s trip to Azerbaijan. According to
Harris, these visits are the indicator of expanding US-Azerbaijan ties.
President Ilham Aliyev noted US-Azerbaijan relationship is developing
successfully in a variety of fields. Both countries have built effective
cooperation in the political, economic energy and other fields. Azerbaijan and the United States
are partners in counterterrorism operations.
The Head of State underscored the importance of bilateral relations in terms of
regional cooperation.
President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He told of
Armenia`s military aggression against Azerbaijan, peace talks and country`s
stance on the resolution of the dispute based on international legal
principles.
Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijanis and Jews have lived in peace and harmony for
centuries. Jews living in Azerbaijan
contribute to development of the country and it is, according to the President,
a good factor reflecting "our relations".
June 6, 2010
To the Free Gaza
Movement
By David
A. Harris
Executive
Director, AJC
According to your website, you describe
yourselves as a "human rights movement."
You proclaim: "We respect the human
rights of everyone, regardless of race, tribe, religion, ethnicity,
nationality, citizenship or language."
And yet nowhere is there evidence of your
respect for the human rights of Israelis, who've been the targets of massive
human rights violations by Hamas and other terror groups operating freely in Gaza.
Are human rights indivisible, or only
permitted for the groups you preselect?
Actually, you answer that question at a
deeper level when you assert that: "We recognize the right of all
Palestinian refugees and exiles and their heirs to return to their homes in Israel
and the occupied Palestinian territories.... This is an individual and not a
collective right, and cannot be negotiated except by the individual."
In other words, not only do Israelis, who
want nothing more than to live free of missile and mortar attacks from Gaza,
have no such right, but the country in which they live has no right to exist.
That's precisely what your formula means.
So much for being a "human rights
movement" and respecting "the human rights of everyone."
Clearly, if it's not about pointing the
finger at Israel
-- or, should I say, giving Israel
the finger -- then you're simply not interested.
When Egypt occupied Gaza
until 1967 and imposed draconian military rule, where were you to protest and
organize flotillas and "humanitarian convoys"?
When in 2005 Israel left Gaza
to determine its own destiny -- for the first time in its history, I might add
-- where were you to encourage investment and job creation?
When Hamas violently ousted the Palestinian
Authority from Gaza in 2007, where
were you to express support for the PA?
When Hamas opted to follow a dead-end
strategy to turn Gaza
into a pariah state and terrorist redoubt, where were you to press for a truly
"free Gaza"?
When Christians were attacked in Gaza
by jihadists, where were you to demonstrate solidarity with the victims?
When Egypt sealed its border
with Gaza and, later,
announced the construction of a steel wall along the frontier, where were you?
And when officials today live lavishly in Gaza
and humanitarian supplies are siphoned off to privileged groups and gangs,
where are you?
No, it's only about Israel.
Nothing else matters. Your agenda is obvious. Your motives are transparent. And
surrounding yourselves with a few convenient Jews doesn't make you any more
credible.
But if you still want to persuade the world
that you're a "human rights movement," here's an idea.
June 12th is the first anniversary of the
rigged Iranian elections.
Here's what one human rights group had to
say on Iran:
"Iran's
latest presidential election on June 12, 2009, took place against a backdrop of
discrimination, worsening repression of dissent and violent unrest.
Amnesty International continues to document serious human rights violations,
including detention of human rights defenders and other prisoners of
conscience, unfair trials, torture and mistreatment in detention, deaths in
custody and the application of the death penalty. Iran
has one of the highest number of recorded executions of any country in the
world.... Furthermore, Iran executes more people
than any other country in the world except for China.
Iran
is also the only country in the world that continues to execute juvenile
offenders."
Moreover, the group reported: "Iran is
now witnessing sweeping restrictions on the use of communications technology,
including telecommunications, satellite broadcasts and internet access, a ban
on peaceful demonstrations, armed attacks on students in university premises,
as well as the arbitrary arrest of political activists, students, journalists,
and human rights defenders, many -- if not all -- of whom are prisoners of
conscience."
There will be a global day of action on June
12th demanding an end to human rights abuses in Iran.
You're missing from the sponsoring groups. How could that be? After all, you
define yourselves as a "human rights movement."
Surely, the fact that human rights defenders
in Iran
-- your presumed compatriots -- are in jail should mobilize you, not to mention
state-sanctioned murder of minors.
Oops, I forgot. Israel
isn't involved. That disqualifies Iran
from consideration.
In fact, if you truly were a human rights
movement, and based on your well-honed methods, you'd be organizing another
flotilla as we speak.
You'd recruit your "activists" to
be on board. You'd proclaim your solidarity with the dissidents, the prisoners
of conscience, and those on death row. And, come what may, you'd head for the
Iranian coast. Luckily for you, you'd discover that Iran
has 1100 miles of shoreline along the Persian (or is it Arabian?) Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Actually, you've got another option as well
-- logistically easier and cheaper to boot.
Lo and behold, Turkey shares a 310-mile
land border with Iran.
Given your cozy ties with the Turkish government and Turkish
"humanitarian" groups (who, by the way, could use some education
about Gandhi before being deployed again), why not plan to cross the frontier
in convoys loaded with supplies for Iran's human rights activists? And don't forget
to bring the signs to unfurl in front of the media you'll invite: "Free
Iran," "End human rights oppression in Iran," "Women
deserve equality," "Gays have rights," "Stop capital
punishment," "We remember Neda," "Ballots, not
bullets," "No more torture," "Persecution of Baha'i must
end."
But you don't give a hoot about the
well-being of millions of Iranians, whose human rights are being massively
violated. You wouldn't take a single day off from your relentless anti-Israel
campaign to assist the Iranian people.
Why is it that a self-proclaimed "human
rights movement" doesn't care about the fate of Iranians desperately in
need of outside support? Why would you never think about taking your show on
the road to Iran,
whatever risks might await you? Why is that you and your Turkish friends
wouldn't spend a moment on the subject?
Alas, the reason is obvious. Israel
isn't involved. You can't pin the blame on Jerusalem.
Those waiting for you on the border don't wear an Israeli uniform (and don't
abide by the same strict code of military conduct, either).
So what does that make you?
Nothing more than a Hamas booster club
seeking Israel's
disappearance, while posing as a "human rights movement."
To read articles by David A. Harris in the
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