U.S. Ready to Remove Peace Corps From Russia, Citing Disputes
Read and comment on this story from the Bloomberg News Service on the Bush administration saying it is prepared to remove Peace Corps volunteers from Russia, where they have been subject to visa denials and accusations of spying.
The Peace Corps Press Office has not returned our calls asking for further information on this story, however our unofficial contacts within the agency tell us that the problem is that for the last few months, the Peace Corps has been hoping against hope to salvage a dying program. Now the Peace Corps needs to deal with the reality that Russia really doesn't want the Peace Corps any longer and defend the Peace Corps and the hundreds of Volunteers and staff who served in Russia before this matter escalates any further.
* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
U.S. Ready to Remove Peace Corps From Russia, Citing Disputes
2002-12-16 18:35 (New York)
Washington, Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- The Bush administration says it is prepared to remove Peace Corps volunteers from Russia, where they have been subject to visa denials and accusations of spying, the State Department said.
"We've made clear to the Russian government that if it decides it no longer wishes to continue this cooperation, we will relocate our volunteers to other countries where their energies, skills and commitment are welcome and appreciated,'' said Mark Toner, a spokesman for the department's European affairs bureau.
Thirty-four Peace Corps volunteers remain in Russia after it refused in August to renew visas for 30 other volunteers and alleged over the weekend that the 30 were involved in spying, an allegation the U.S. denies.
The accusations may reflect a view of the volunteers as "a tool of U.S. developmental policy," said Blair Ruble, director of the Kennan Institute, a policy research organization in Washington. ``They're less welcoming of Westerners telling them what to do.''
Successful Western programs "tend to be ones that explicitly make Russians partners," Ruble said.
Volunteers in Russia perform jobs that include teaching English and business skills to both government-employee and private audiences, according to the agency.
The agency in recent years had as many as 200 volunteers in Russia. They serve two-year terms and are required by Russian law to leave the country after one year to seek a visa renewal.
Nikolai Patrushev, the head of Russia's security service, yesterday accused the 30 volunteers of collecting information on Russian officials, politics and economy, the Associated Press reported.
"We reject any allegations that Peace Corps volunteers were engaged in spying as outrageous, untrue and harmful to the important and difficult work being carried on by Peace Corps volunteers worldwide,'' Toner said.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Washington didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. Background on the Russia Story
Read these background stories on what has led up to this situation at:
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