Peace Corps Online: January 3, 2003 - Peace Corps Press Release: Peace Corps responds to Russian suggestions of intelligence gathering

January 3, 2003 - Peace Corps Press Release: Peace Corps responds to Russian suggestions of intelligence gathering

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: 01 January 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: January 3, 2003 - Peace Corps Press Release: Peace Corps responds to Russian suggestions of intelligence gathering

By Admin1 (admin) on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 7:12 pm: Edit Post

Peace Corps responds to Russian suggestions of intelligence gathering

Read and comment on this Peace Corps Press Release made on their web site today which responds to comments made December 15 by Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB) head Nikolay Patrushev suggesting that volunteers in Russia were engaged in intelligence gathering activities.

“Peace Corps volunteers serve to train men and women in their host countries and nothing more. The suggestion that volunteers are engaged in any information gathering that is not related to their volunteer work is groundless and irresponsible,” said Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez.

Well said. Now if the Peace Corps and Russia can conduct a graceful and dignified graduation that honors the volunteers and staff who served in Russia and recognizes the Russian agencies, NGO's, and individuals who have supported Peace Corps in Russia over the years, they will be well on their way to putting this incident behind them.

Read the story at:

After a Decade of Success -- Peace Corps Completes Work in Russia*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.

After a Decade of Success -- Peace Corps Completes Work in Russia

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 3, 2003 -- The government of the Russian Federation recently determined that Peace Corps programs are no longer necessary for its country and has communicated officially its intention to withdraw from the 1992 agreement between Russia and the U.S. for Peace Corps programs.

The Russian government expressed its gratitude for the assistance Peace Corps has provided through the work of the volunteers and said their work in Russia’s regions through the decade has been positive and useful. However, the government believes that many changes have occurred in Russia since 1992 and that the country has reached a point in its development that it has outgrown the need for Peace Corps programs.

Peace Corps is disappointed that the work of its volunteers will come to an end, but the agency respects a host country's right to make that determination. Following a decade of conducting successful programs in Russia, the Peace Corps will begin to phase down its presence in Western Russia and Russia Far East.

Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez expressed appreciation to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education for support over the 10 years that Peace Corps volunteers have worked in Russia. Vasquez also expressed disappointment with comments made recently by a Russian official that suggested volunteers were engaged in intelligence gathering activities.

“Peace Corps volunteers serve to train men and women in their host countries and nothing more. The suggestion that volunteers are engaged in any information gathering that is not related to their volunteer work is groundless and irresponsible,” Vasquez said.

Since the signing of the agreement between the two governments in 1992, more than 700 Peace Corps volunteers have assisted the Russian Federation in such areas as Teaching English as a Foreign Language and business education. Currently, 19 volunteers serve in Western Russia and eight are conducting programs in Russia Far East. The two groups were scheduled to complete their service in summer 2003.

Since 1961, more than 165,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health and HIV/AIDS education, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

Read background on the situation in Russia

Read and comment on this editorial and background material that was posted on the PCOL web site before the Peace Corps' Press Release above:

Peace Corps leaving Russia amid allegations of "suspicious activities"

Like the script from some bad 60's spy movie, the Russian government announced its intention to abandon the ten year agreement with the Peace Corps amid allegations of "suspicious activities" by the head of Russia's Federal Security Bureau (FSB) previously known as the KGB.

One problem was that since Russia's refusal in August to renew visas for almost half the Peace Corps Volunteers already serving in Russia, it appeared the Peace Corps had been hoping against hope to salvage a dying program. Peace Corps either couldn't or wasn't allowed to deal with the reality that the Russian government really didn't want the Peace Corps any longer and the matter escalated from visa problems in August to KGB spy allegations in mid-December and finally to the Russian announcement December 27 of the end of Peace Corps Programs in Russia.

Why has the Peace Corps yet to make any official announcement challenging the assertions of the FSB? Why has Peace Corps deferred to the State Department for all public responses and what does this say about Peace Corps independence? Finally, why didn't Peace Corps read the handwriting on the wall, respond to the situation responsibly and conduct a graceful and dignified graduation that honored the volunteers and staff who served in Russia and recognized the Russian agencies, NGO's, and individuals who have supported Peace Corps in Russia over the years?

Peace Corps disappointed with Russian decision
Exclusive: Peace Corps disappointed with Russian decision 27 December 2002

Moscow to abandon Peace Corps agreement
New York Times: Russia bars future U.S. Peace Corps workers 28 December 2002

Pravda: Moscow informs Washington of intention to abandon Peace Corps agreement 27 December 2002

Associated Press: Russia Rejects U.S. Peace Corps 27 December 2002

What RPCVs say about the situation

Exclusive: Read the advice RPCVs gave the Peace Corps in August 18 August 2002

US Ready to Remove Peace Corps From Russia
U.S. Ready to Remove Peace Corps From Russia, Citing Disputes 17 December 2002

Russian Spy claims "groundless" says US
Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" says US Embassy 16 December 2002

KGB accuses PCVs of "suspicious activities"
Update: KGB Chief says PCVs involved in suspicious activities 15 December 2002

KGB chief accuses Peace Corps workers of spying in Russia 15 December 2002

Russia cooling to outsiders
Russia refuses visas to religious workers 2 November 2002

The Case for the Peace Corps
Radio Free Europe makes the Case for the Peace Corps in Russia 18 August 2002

Secretary of State Powell makes no progress on Peace Corps visas with Russian foreign minister 14 August 2002

Russia refuses visas for Peace Corps Volunteers
Peace Corps Moscow chief denies allegations of non-professionalism 13 August 2002

Russia Ousting Dozens Of Peace Corps Volunteers 12 August 2002

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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Russia

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