America's foreign policy agenda in 1988. (George P. Shultz's statement before the House Foreign Affairs Committee ) (transcript)

Secretary Shultz's statement before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on February 2, 1988.

I welcome this opportunity to share with you my thoughts on America's foreign affairs agenda for the new calendar and fiscal years (FY). This is the sixth time we have met for this purpose, and the budget you will soon be considering will provide the resources and lay the groundwork as the next Administration implants its foreign policy initiatives.

Progress in Foreign Policy

America's broad foreign policy interests and objectives are as old as our nation itself: promoting domestic prosperity; protecting the safety of our nation against aggression or subversion; combatting those activities which would undermine the rule of law and domestic stability; furthering our democratic values and the cause of human rights.

As we review these foreign policy interests and objectives and measure the progress the President has made toward their achievement, we can see that this Administration has developed an impressive legacy. These achievements would not have been possible had the President not understood from the outset that America's democratic values, economic vitality, and military strength are the keys to success.

In 1987, we made significant progress on the President's foreign policy agenda. When President Reagan signed the INF [intermediate-range nuclear forces] agreement with General Secretary Gorbachev in December, he fulfilled a major arms control objective of the NATO alliance and realized the goal he set in 1981 when he first presented the zero option. And we continued our high-level dialogue with the Soviets on our key concerns of human rights, regional, and bilateral matters. The President has laid the groundwork for a more stable and constructive U.S.Soviet relationship based on strength, realism, and dialogue.

Throughout the world, democracy continued to take root and grow on an impressive scale, and the United States has encouraged the vital process of democratic institution-building. In the Philippines, we have supported the Aquino government in its efforts to consolidate its achievement of democracy by promoting economic recovery and helping to defeat the communist insurgency. In Korea, the elections clearly demonstrated the depth of democratic feeling within Korean society and the determination of the new leadership to establish a solid base for democratic processes in government. An interim civilian government has been restored in Fiji that has committed itself to producing a new constitution and returning the nation to parliamentary democracy. In Argentina, in Brazil, and throughout Latin America, we have worked hand in hand with new democratic forces. In Central America, the Guatemala agreement would not have been possible had the United States not combined diplomatic perseverance and military strength in behalf of democracy.

In Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, and Nicaragua, our determined support for those fighting for their freedom has foreed our adversaries to understand that expansionism and aggression are costly and that alien and repressive regimes will be challenged.

With the reinforcing strengths of power and diplomacy, we have managed difficult crisis situations in the Middle East and elsewhere. In the strategic area of the Persian Gulf our renagging policy is protecting basic U.S. interests while we are leading the way in the UN Security Council to help end the Iran-Iraq conflict. This approach has been successful in preserving the security and stability of friendly states and averting the spread of Soviet influence in the gulf. At the same time, it has ensured the free flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Allies have followed our lead (France, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium).

We are more determined than ever to continue helping countries eradicate narcotic crops and interdict drug shipments through our international narcotics program, and we are educating our own public and others about the dangers of narcotics. At least 20 countries eradicated narcotics crops in 1987. Worldwide interest and broader support from our allies was generated by the very successful UN conference on drug abuse and trafficking last June. The National Drug Policy Board is completing work on a new national strategy, including a strengthened international program in which we are emphasizing chemical destruction of coca plants.

We are severely challenged by the scourge of international drug trafficking-not only by the sheer volume of narcotics production but by the combined assault of drug traffickers and insurgents on the governments whose cooperation is vital to our success in combatting this menace. Only last week, the Government of Colombia once again paid the price of narcotics control when traffickers murdered their attorney general. Make no mistake; this is a long-term effort.

We must remain determined and vigilant as well …