Remarks for Hearing with Secretary Rice

Wednesday, February 13, 2007

Madame Secretary, welcome.

Let me start by expressing our great sadness at the loss earlier this week of our beloved Chairman and colleague, Tom Lantos.

Tom was a gracious man of great courage, a natural leader of unimpeachable character who was loved and respected on both sides of the aisle.

He set a very high standard for himself and devoted himself to making the world a better place than the one he found. We will miss him.

We look forward to the wonderful celebration of the Chairman’s life tomorrow.

Turning to today’s hearing, there are many troubling developments in the present that concern us all, but I would like to note a few that are of particular importance to me.

Nuclear proliferation

Heading the list is the accelerating spread of the capacity to make nuclear weapons.

Nowhere is this more dramatic than in the Middle East where country after country, expressed their intent to pursue their own nuclear programs.

Virtually none of these projects can be justified in economic terms, and it defies logic to attribute this sudden rush to a new-found concern over global warming.

The threat to the world’s security is obvious.

In an age when the nuclear fuel in a typical reactor can be used in so-called “dirty bombs,” even the full range of international controls and inspections cannot provide a margin of safety.

It is critically important that the U.S. and other countries, especially France and Russia, which have been active in promoting their nuclear ties in the region, pause and consider the consequences of this development in this region, before agreeing to bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements with all these countries.

North Korea

In North Korea, our current effort to persuade that country to give up its nuclear weapons program has encountered one obstacle after another. I believe we are in danger of repeating the errors of the past.

It surprises me greatly to point to Libya as a guide for anything, but our success in ridding that country of unconventional weapons provides some useful and timely lessons.

And our success led by our Chairman Tom Lantos, was rooted in a refusal to compromise with the regime until it first, completely and verifiably, dismantled-- not suspended-- but dismantled its chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons facilities.

Only after it ceased to threaten the world did the U.S. begin to remove the sanctions and offer it any sort of legitimacy.

Given this example, we have to be careful in our approach to the regime in North Korea and take full note of Admiral McConnell’s judgment regarding North Korea’s intentions. 

Last week, in his annual threat assessment to Congress, Admiral McConnell, Director of National Intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that “while Pyongyang denies a program for uranium enrichment, and they deny their proliferation activities, we believe North Korea continues to engage in both.”

He further noted: “We remain concerned North Korea could proliferate nuclear weapons abroad.”

I reiterate previous requests my colleagues and I have made of the Administration to provide a full briefing for Members of this Committee, and for Congress as a whole, not just on the Six-Party Talks, but also on the reported Israeli strike on a Syrian facility with suspected North Korea ties.

We look forward to a positive response on these requests.

Iran

Of course, Iran’s determination to lay the foundation for a nuclear weapons program poses the greatest threat to the world’s security.

We thank you Madame Secretary for your efforts to persuade members of the UN Security Council to strengthen sanctions against the regime in Tehran.

The provision in the current draft Security Council resolution encouraging active measures by all countries to prevent their citizens and businesses from supporting Iran’s nuclear and missile program is particularly welcome.

Another important provision is the one relating to the inspection of cargo bound for Iran.

This parallels the Administration’s very successful PSI, Proliferation Security Initiative, that has steadily increased its effectiveness over the past few years in intercepting vessels carrying materials of proliferation concern.

I hope this new UN mandate will have the same impact regarding the enforcement of sanctions against Iran.

Iran/UAE

Currently, those sanctions are being undermined, for example, by the transshipment of banned goods through the United Arab Emirates, among other countries.

For that reason, I and several other Members of this Committee have sent a letter to Director McConnell asking for an assessment of the effectiveness of UAE’s export control regime, especially regarding Iran.

Unfortunately, the problem is not simply with the UAE.

The efforts of responsible nations to pressure the Iranian regime to cooperate with the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency, have been significantly undermined by China and Russia.

China/ Russia

China and Russia continue to engage in policies that assist Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and have also become major arms merchants in the region. 

I urge you to make clear to the Russian and Chinese governments-- including through the implementation of the full range of U.S. laws that we regard these arms shipments to be a direct threat to our interests and to global peace and security.

China Olympics

Although some see Beijing as becoming a responsible “stakeholder” in the international system, China’s actions demonstrate something completely different.

I regret that the Olympics are being held in the capital of a country which does not respect the human rights of its own population.

But there are potential dangers to Americans as well.

The State Department should consider issuing a travel advisory to warn U.S. citizens traveling to Beijing about the Chinese regime’s actions against anyone expressing support for democracy, for human rights in Tibet, or for religious freedom, especially for the heavily persecuted members of Falun Gong.

What steps is the U.S. prepared to take if such expressions of support result in beatings, imprisonment, and worse for U.S. citizens?

Darfur

On the broader issue of Darfur, that you in selecting Ambassador Williamson as our new Special Envoy, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with him, and hope that we can make progress regarding the deployment of the hybrid force, toward an expeditious end to the genocide in Darfur.

But we must fully implement our Sudan divestment laws and convince other responsible nations to cease investments and activities that only serve to prop up the Sudanese regime.

Iran/Venezuela/Cuba

Turning to the Hemisphere, many of us are increasingly concerned about Iran’s growing presence and influence throughout the region, especially its cooperation with Cuba and Venezuela.

In my letter to you of last week, I requested that the Administration investigate whether a recently reported petrochemical sector agreement between the governments of Venezuela and Iran violates U.S. law.

Since that letter was sent, I have learned that a Venezuelan-owned bank, Banco Industrial de Venezuela (BIV), headquartered in Caracas, has been operating branches in Miami, Havana, and Teheran.

For that reason, I ask that any investigation be expanded to include this new information to ensure that U.S. laws concerning both Iran and Cuba are fully enforced.

Afghanistan/ Pakistan

Turning to South Asia, I would ask you to comment on reports that:

· the Pakistani government has negotiated a ceasefire with Islamic militants who are active supporters of al Qaeda and the Taliban,

· how this fits into our bilateral counter-terrorism efforts, and

· what does it mean when viewed within the context of Monday’s capture of Taliban militia leader Mansoor Dadullah (MAN-SEWER) (DAH-DUH-LA).

Further, what types of assurances have we received from the Pakistani government to ensure that Monday’s election there is "fair, transparent and peaceful"?

U.S. Victims of Palestinian terrorism

Madam Secretary, turning to issues involving victims of terrorism, there are currently a number of U.S. court judgments issued against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the PLO for their involvement in the terrorist attacks that killed U.S. citizens in Israel.

So far the PA and the PLO have refused to pay these judgments, arguing that U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over them.

Now, recent reports indicate that the State Department may issue a statement in favor of the PA efforts to avoid paying hundreds of millions of dollars in judgments won by American victims in U.S. courts.

I would hope that would not happen.

PEPFAR/ CIVILIAN RESERVE CORPS BILLS

In terms of pending legislation before our Committee is the Administration’s request for authority to create a Civilian Response Corps.

Thank you for your efforts on the Civilian Response Corps and on PEPFAR, I know these are important issues to you.

I look forward to working with Mr. Berman toward a resolution of the PEPFAR bill as well.

I am gratified that we have been able to reach an agreement with the Majority which provides you and the President the necessary authorities to carry out this proposal.

I appreciate the opportunity to outline some issues of particular importance to me and thank you for your service.