Cox to chair U.S. task force on Russia

-- Greg Risling

Rep. Christopher Cox [R-Newport Beach] was appointed Wednesday to chair a

task force reviewing the nation’s foreign policy with Russia.

Cox, who heads the House Policy Committee, will form a select group to

delve into a wide-ranging inquiry about United States-Russian relations.

The announcement was made by Speaker of the House Dennis Haster

[R-Illinois].

“The relationship between the Russian people and Americans is rich with

unfilled promise,” Cox said in a statement. “The United States must

pursue policies that help the Russian people consolidate democracy,

peace, and a free market. Such a policy is in the common interest of both

nations.”

Given the economic turmoil and its bloody war with Chechnyan separatists,

Russia has had a difficult time converting from Communism to a democratic

state. The announcement comes two weeks before presidential elections are

scheduled to take place in Russia. After Boris Yeltsin stepped aside at

the beginning of the year, Vladimir Putin has acted as Russian president.

Cox has visited Russia several times and met with Yeltsin in 1991. He

hopes some of the same principles evident in the United States can be

applied in Russia as well.

“For Russia to prosper as a nation, the people of Russia must prosper,”

he said. “The United States has been fortunate to develop an environment

in which prosperity can be achieved. We ought to do everything we can to

help the Russian people enjoy similar opportunities.”