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around the world.
I began today by reflecting on the accomplishments of our refugee programs over the past six years, accomplishments made possible only by the generosity and commitment of the American people through their elected representatives in Congress.
I urge you to support the president's recommended refugee admissions ceiling which I have presented here today. At the same time, I must remind you that a generous refugee admissions ceiling is nothing but numbers on a piece of paper without the money to fund the programs that these numbers represent. And so in closing I ask for your support not only of the proposed ceiling, but also the president's budget request for the refugee program, so that together We are able to continue this great, national humanitarian endeavor.
Thank you. (end text)
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STORY: EU2070916
DATE: 09/16/86
SLEU2070916
BI*EUR207 09/16/86
DANILOFF CASE HAS PROFOUND AFFECT ON U.S.-SOVIET TIES (Article on Ridgway remarks to conference) (1,160)
WASHINGTON - A high-ranking State Department official says the Soviet Union's arkest of Nicholas Daniloff, the U.S. News and World Report correspondent in Moscow, has had a profound impact on U.S. -Soviet relations and will be at the top of the agenda for the September 19-20 meeting between Secretary of State Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze in Washington.
"The weekend meeting between Secretary Shultz and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze will, of course, have one obvious priority item, and that is the situation of Nick Daniloff," Rozanne Ridgway, assistant secretary of state for European and Canadian affairs, told the Senior Business Executives Conference at the State Department September 16.
"We are prepared for a business-like discussion if the Soviets want to go on from that topic, Ridgway added.
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"The outrage perpetrated against Nick Daniloff in Moscow reminds us afresh that U.S.-Soviet relations are difficult, and it reminds us why they are difficult," she said
"There are profound differences in approach and in attitude between the United States and the Soviet Union, and those profound differences measure the difficulty and the distance that we are going to have to go before we and the Soviet Union ever are able to put our relations on a stable and constructive basis for the long term, Ridgway said.
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She would not discuss details of what she called "diplomatic negotiations" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union concerning the Daniloff situation. But she repeated "what the Secretary of State had to say last week when he announced the release of Nick Daniloff from prison: 'Nick Daniloff is not a spy. He has never had any connection or employment with the United States government, nor has he undertaken tasks on instructions of any U.S. government agency. His continued detention on false charges is unacceptable, and we will continue to make every effort to secure his prompt departure from the Soviet Union and his safe return home. '*
"Has this had an impact on U.S.-Soviet relations? Of course
a profound impact," Ridgway said.
Ridgway said that the administration's policy towards the Soviet Union for the past five years has been based on "Realism, strength, dialogue or negotiation."
"We are realistic about the Soviets and we are realistic about the prospects for forward movement in the relationship. We know what we are and we know what they are," Ridgway said.
"And you know our practice as Americans, we call a spade a spade. And if Nick Daniloff is taken as hostage, we say so, || she said.
Ridgway said progress in identifying areas "where the United States and the Soviet Union can cooperate, as well as compete, is likely to be slow and incremental. Frankly, if there ever was of breakthroughs, it's over.
an age
She said the administration also knows that in order to have a
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