Kuchma's Iraqi Arms Deal Approval Draws Fire from Helsinki Commission Leaders

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Leaders of the UnitedStates Helsinki Commission have urged Secretary of State Colin Powellto keep a close eye on President Leonid Kuchma's financial dealingsafter recent revelations that the Ukrainian personally approved anarms deal with Iraq.

In their letter to Powell, the bipartisan Commission leadershipsaid Kuchma's "action makes a mockery of international efforts toisolate Saddam Hussein's outlaw regime while. . .significantlyincreasing the risk to U.S. and U.K. military personnel who arecurrently policing the 'no-fly' zones and may be called upon toconduct additional operations against Iraq."

Helsinki Commission leaders signing the letter were ChairmanSenator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), Co-Chairman Rep. ChristopherH. Smith (R-NJ), Ranking Member Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)and Ranking Member Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD).

"We are deeply troubled by recently published information makingit clear that Ukrainian President Leonid D. Kuchma gave his personalapproval for the sale of sophisticated military equipment to Iraq,"the leaders wrote in a letter to Powell.

"It is difficult to see Mr. Kuchma's approval of this sale asanything other than a hostile and reckless act," the leaders wrote."Such criminal conduct by the leader of a country that has been amajor beneficiary of U.S. political support and financial assistanceis outrageous and demands a clear and firm response from theAdministration."

Strong action is warranted to demonstrate to Mr. Kuchma, as wellas to other foreign officials, that reckless and criminal behaviorwill have the most serious consequences, according to the leaders.

"As an initial step, we urge that the Department of Stateestablish an inter-agency group to develop concrete measures focusedon the Ukrainian leader, members of the presidential administration,and other state officials," the letter reads.

Among other things, the purpose of such an inter-agency groupwould be to closely examine any financial benefit Kuchma or hisassociates might have derived from this sale, as well as any otherpossible illegal activities, including money laundering.

"We further urge that the United States initiate contacts withforeign governments in an attempt to identify the money trail fromsales to Iraq or possible sales to other rogue regimes," the letterreads. "In addition, we believe official contacts with Mr. Kuchmashould be kept to an absolute minimum and be conducted at the lowestpossible levels."

"While we continue to endorse strong U.S. support for Ukraine andits people, given the evidence at hand it is hard to see how we mightresume a normal relationship with Mr. Kuchma or place our faith inany assurances he might offer us," Commission leaders wrote. "Webelieve that U.S. policy toward Ukraine must be crafted with thesegoals in mind."

The United States Helsinki Commission has actively monitoredUkraine's military security and human rights conditions. Acompilation of the Commission's Ukraine-related material is availableon the Internet at http://www.csce.gov/state(under)query.cfm'state(under)id(equals)52.

The United States Helsinki Commission, an independent federalagency, by law monitors and encourages progress in implementingprovisions of the Helsinki Accords. The Commission, created in 1976,is composed of nine Senators, nine Representatives and one officialeach from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

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