If Trump is going to engage Russia, he should do so on this topic - By Steny Hoyer and Ben Cardin

[DonViejo]

Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is House minority whip. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) is the ranking minority member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Last week, President Trump met in the Oval Office with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov — a staunch defender of Russian aggression abroad and repression at home. In that meeting, according to the White House’s official readout, the president “emphasized his desire to build a better relationship” with Russia. The meeting came just days after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered a speech to State Department employees outlining how he would approach U.S. diplomacy during his tenure, telling them that our country would no longer insist that nations we partner with respect democratic and human rights principles.

Together, these developments constitute an alarming abdication of America’s role as the world’s leading democracy, and they reflect this president’s striking rejection of the principles enshrined in the landmark 1975 Helsinki Final Act.

During our tenures in Congress, we both have been privileged to chair the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, the bipartisan, bicameral body that the Helsinki Final Act created. That commission put pressure on Communist governments that failed to deliver on human rights commitments, helping usher in the downfall of totalitarian communism in Europe. It has been a powerful tool in democracy’s arsenal, and it has contributed to the achievement of key U.S. foreign policy goals.

Tillerson himself acknowledged during his January confirmation hearing that “American leadership requires moral clarity. We do not face an ‘either/or’ choice on defending global human rights. Our values are our interests when it comes to human rights and humanitarian assistance.” So he should understand what Helsinki is all about — that true security is brought about not only through military power but also by standing up for basic democratic values in places where they are denied. These include respect for the rights of minorities, an independent press, and the freedom to believe, live and express oneself peacefully according to one’s conscience.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/if-trump-is-going-to-engage-russia-he-should-do-so-on-this-topic/2017/05/15/24f596c6-3696-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html