Bipartisan Group Urges Hagel Not to Purchase from Rosoboronexport
Amid Reports of New Contract with Firm Arming SyrianRegime
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) led abipartisan group of members today urging Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel notto purchase additional helicopters from the state-owned Russian arms dealerRosoboronexport. That company has continued to transfer weapons to the Assadregime, enabling mass atrocities. The group sent the letter amid reports thatthe Department of Defense is considering purchasing 20 helicopters for theAfghan National Security Forces from the firm.
Last year DeLauro authored an amendment to the DefenseAuthorization Act prohibiting the use of funds to enter into any contracts oragreements with Rosoboronexport. That provision is now law. However, there isan exemption if the Secretary of Defense deems it to be in the interest ofnational security. The members asked Secretary Hagel to explain his justification,writing "What is the national security justification of continuing businesswith Rosoboronexport? Relatedly, last year, DoD notified Congress of plans topurchase 33 Mi-17s from Rosoboronexport for the Afghan National SecurityForces. What is the national security justification for the additional20 helicopters this year?"
The full letter follows:
The Honorable ChuckHagel
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Hagel,
We write to oppose any continuationof the Department of Defense's (DoD) business relationship withRosoboronexport, Russia's primary arms exporter and an enabler of the ongoingmass atrocities in Syria. In January, Section 1277 of the NationalDefense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13 NDAA; P.L. 112-239), whichexpressly prohibits the use of funds to enter into any contracts or agreementswith Rosoboronexport, was enacted into law. Further, during consideration ofthe Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013, the House ofRepresentatives overwhelmingly approved an amendment prohibiting furthercontracts with Rosoboronexport by a vote of 407-5. We urge you to uphold thislaw and clear expression of Congressional intent by ensuring that any furtherDoD procurement of helicopters for the Afghan National Security Forces is notconducted through Rosoboronexport.
Russia continues to transferweapons through Rosoboronexport to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.Since the Syrian uprising began, Russia has continued to serve as the Assadregime's chief supplier of weapons, enabling the mass murder of Syrian citizensat the hands of their own government. According to the United NationsHigh Commissioner for Human Rights, approximately 70,000 Syrians have beenkilled since the Syrian conflict began nearly two years ago. Despite theongoing atrocities, Russia's special envoy to the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov,announced on February 13 that Russia would continue to supply weapons toAssad's regime. In addition, Rosoboronexport Director Anatoly Isaikin toldreporters that "in the absence of sanctions, we are continuing to fulfill ourcontract obligations." As you know, it is Russia's veto power as a permanentmember of the United Nations Security Council that has blocked the impositionof sanctions on the Syrian regime to this point.
Last summer, DoD notified Congressof plans to exercise an option in an existing contract to purchase additionalMi-17s from Rosoboronexport – plans that Members of Congress on both sides ofthe aisle and human rights groups opposed. Despite these clearobjections, DOD proceeded, and in response Congress enacted Section 1277 of theFY13 NDAA.
Despite this new law, we learnedthat the Army intends to enter into a new contract with Rosoboronexport in thecoming weeks to procure 20 additional helicopters for the Afghan NationalSecurity Forces. This plan runs in direct contravention to both the spirit ofthe FY13 NDAA and the clear legislative intent of Congress – to ban furtherbusiness dealings with Rosoboronexport. In our view, any attempt by DoD toutilize prior-year funds would constitute a direct subversion of existing law.
The United States Government hasimposed punishing sanctions on Syria and invested precious diplomatic resourcesto end the conflict there. The NDAA provision is intended to bolster U.S.policy and ensure that U.S. contracts with Syria's primary arms dealer do notundermine it. In order to make certain that U.S. policy on Syria isclear, consistent, and effective, we strongly urge you to certify that no newcontracts are concluded or options acted upon between DoD and Rosoboronexport. Moreover, we urge you to hold an open competition for any further purchases ofhelicopters for the Afghan National Security Forces.
Accordingly, we request that yourDepartment prepare a detailed briefing focusing on the following questions andpresent it to us before the Army takes any action on the pending contract.
§What steps hasDoD taken to ensure compliance with Section 1277 of the FY13 NDAA and toconsider alternative suppliers of helicopters for the Afghan National SecurityForces?
§Section 1277requires DoD, in order to exercise its waiver authority, to certify to Congressthat conducting further business with Rosoboronexport is "in the nationalsecurity interests of the United States." What is the national securityjustification of continuing business with Rosoboronexport? Relatedly, lastyear, DoD notified Congress of plans to purchase 33 Mi-17s from Rosoboronexportfor the Afghan National Security Forces. What is the national security justification for the additional 20 helicoptersthis year?
§The GovernmentAccountability Office and the Defense Contract Audit Agency are undertaking aCongressionally mandated examination of the Army's existing contract withRosoboronexport. How is DoD planning to address and incorporate the review'sfindings into its practices and protocols?
§What steps isDoD taking to ensure that it does not support – financially or otherwise –enablers of mass atrocities?
Thank you for your seriousattention to this request. We appreciate your prompt response.
Sincerely,
ROSA L. DeLAURO
KAY GRANGER
JAMES P.MORAN
JACK KINGSTON
KEITHELLISON
MARTHA ROBY
CHELLIE PINGREE
WALTER B. JONES
FRANK R. WOLF
JAMES P. McGOVERN