MAVOCKE--Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jim McCaren had strong words for Russian leaders, after politicians in Russia passed legislation that bans American families from adopting Russian children.
"Russia is using children as a bargaining chip in their ongoing dispute with the US, and that is not fair to the adoptive families, and it's certainly not fair to the children who would otherwise have a better future in the US," McCaren said in an interview with Pilar magazine.
McCaren was referring to the recently passed legislation in Russia, which was signed into law Friday by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The bill prohibits US families from adopting Russian children, and is largely seen as retaliation, after US President Barack Obama signed a bill on December 4, 2012 that places travel and financial sanctions and restrictions on human rights' abusers in Russia.
The Russian bill also prohibits the exercising of political activities by nongovernmental organizations that receive funding from the United States.
The US State Department said it "deeply regretts" the legislation's enactment.
"The Russian government's politically motivated decision will reduce adoption possibilities for children who are now under institutional care," it said in a statement. "We are further concerned about statements that adoptions already underway may be stopped and hope that the Russian government would allow those children who have already met and bonded with their future parent to finish the necessary legal procedures so that they can join their families."
"Russia is using children as a bargaining chip in their ongoing dispute with the US, and that is not fair to the adoptive families, and it's certainly not fair to the children who would otherwise have a better future in the US," McCaren said in an interview with Pilar magazine.
McCaren was referring to the recently passed legislation in Russia, which was signed into law Friday by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The bill prohibits US families from adopting Russian children, and is largely seen as retaliation, after US President Barack Obama signed a bill on December 4, 2012 that places travel and financial sanctions and restrictions on human rights' abusers in Russia.
The Russian bill also prohibits the exercising of political activities by nongovernmental organizations that receive funding from the United States.
The US State Department said it "deeply regretts" the legislation's enactment.
"The Russian government's politically motivated decision will reduce adoption possibilities for children who are now under institutional care," it said in a statement. "We are further concerned about statements that adoptions already underway may be stopped and hope that the Russian government would allow those children who have already met and bonded with their future parent to finish the necessary legal procedures so that they can join their families."
Hugh Williamson, Director of Central Asia and Europe at the Human Rights Watch, also criticised the legislation.
"This bill hits back at Russia's most vulnerable children, and could deprive them of the loving families they desperately need," Williamson said.
Back in Grassadellia, Secretary McCaren urged a more pragmatic and productive discussion.
"Russia needs to quit holding children hostage over this issue. If they have an issue with the United States, they need to address it diplomatically, not through barring adoptions."
Among US parents, Russia is the third most common country of origin for adoptions, behind China and Ethiopia.
Many Grassadellian families also adopt from Russia as well, and it's unclear if McCaren's strong comments to the Kremlin will negatively impact Russian-Grassadellian relations and adoptions.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment