Topics of discussion in 1980 were: assessment of trip to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kenya and Somalia by State Department Director of Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (February); U.S.-Egyptian military relations (2 briefings); U.S.-Yugoslavia relations; economic conditions and food assistance programs in Egypt; recent developments in the Middle East, especially in Iran concerning the hostage crisis (4 briefings); Israel's energy supply requirements; European views and actions regarding the crises in Afghanistan and Iran; recent developments in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; Western European policies and initiatives in the Middle East; the June 1980 Venice summit and President Carter's trip to Europe; the situation in Iran (July); the situation in Poland (4 briefings); preparations for the Madrid review meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (September). In 1980, the subcommittee also met with Ambassador Linowitz (2 briefings) to discuss the status of the autonomy talks for the West Bank and Gaza; Ambassador Lane, to discuss U.S.-Yemeni relations: Ambassador Philip C. Habib, to discuss his May trip to the Middle East. 2. Briefings with the Department of Defense: All briefings were informal and off-the-record. (a) Egypt.-On September 26, 1979, a briefing was held for the members by Robert J. Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern, African and South Asian Affairs, and Mr. Henry H. Gaffney, Vice-Chairman of the Middle East Task Group, NEŠA region, to review Department of Defense team visits to Egypt and discussions with Egyptian authorities on military matters, and on the U.S.-Egyptian military relationship. (b) Army Corps of Engineers.-On March 10, 1980, a meeting was held to review the activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Saudi Arabia. This briefing updated the information provided at a hearing held in 1979. (c) Rescue Operation.-On May 8, 1980, Lt. General John S. Pustay, Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed Members on the April 1980 attempted rescue operation in Iran. (d) Conflict Areas in the Middle East.-On June 10, 1980, representatives from the Defense Intelligence Agency reported on potential conflict areas in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula and along the Libyan-Egyptian border. (e) Greece and NATO.-On August 27, 1980. General Bernard Rogers, U.S. Army, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, briefed the subcommittee on the status of negotiations concerning Greek re-entry into NATO's integrated military command. He also discussed related NATO issues of concern to the Alliance. (f) Soviet Defense Expenditures.-On September 23, 1980, economists from the Defense Intelligence Agency discussed Soviet defense expenditures and how the United States government calculates them. 3. Other Briefings: (a) Briefings with the Department of Energy.-In April 1979, the subcommittee held an off-the-record briefing with representatives of the International Affairs Division, Department of Energy, to dis cuss the Middle East oil supply and price issues, Israel's oil supply problems and United States agreements regarding supply of oil to Israel. (b) Briefing on Saudi Arabia.-In May 1979, the subcommittee met informally with a former senior U.S. official in Saudi Arabia, to discuss U.S.-Saudi relations. (c) Meeting with AID Mission directors.-In November 1979, the subcommittee staff and the staffs of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee met with AID mission directors from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen and Syria to review AID programs in those countries. (d) Anthony Lewis.-The subcommittee met with New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis on June 17, 1980 to discuss his recent trip to the Middle East. (e) Trident and other European security issues.-On July 31, 1980, the subcommittee met jointly with the Subcommittee on International Security and Scientific Affairs to receive a closed briefing on the sale of TRIDENT missiles to the United Kingdom. The briefers were Reginald Bartholomew, Director, Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, Department of State, and Walter Slocombe, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy Plans). On August 21, 1980 a staff briefing was held on the NATO decision to modernize its long-range nuclear forces. (f) Meetings with foreign dignitaries.-The subcommittee chairman hosted several meetings during the 96th Congress with many visiting dignitaries from Europe and the Middle East. CRS Studies 1. U.S. Relations With Portugal and Spain.-Besides reviewing the status of U.S. policy towards and relations with Portugal and Spain, this report examines some of the issues that may be raised by Congress regarding Spain and Portugal, including the important question of how the United States can support the development of democracy in these two Iberian countries. The study entitled "Issues in United States Relations with Spain and Portugal", was published on February 16, 1979. 2. The European Communities. This report was issued on the eve of the first direct elections to the European Parliament (June 1979) and surveyed the purpose and effectiveness of the various institutions of the European Communities (EC), including the Parliament itself. The report also analyzes the nature of United States-European Communities Relations. This study, entitled "Aspects of the European Communities: A Survey Prior to the European Parliamentary Elections," was published on May 31, 1979. 3. Eastern and Central Europe. This study on U.S. relations with the countries of Eastern and Central Europe takes a general look at the region while also treating each country individually. It sets the historical and political context in which to assess our foreign policy and other current problems there, such as the increasing debt and the energy crisis. Throughout, the report reviews issues in relations which have either stimulated congressional oversight or required legislative action. Foreign policy issues between the U.S. and these countries which may require future congressional attention are highlighted. The study, entitled "U.S. Relations with the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe" was published on December 3, 1979. 4. Middle East Documents.-In view of the importance of the Middle East events to U.S. foreign policy, the CRS prepared a compilation of documents on Middle East peace efforts since 1967. The compilation does not pretend to be all-inclusive, but does seek to provide major documents and key statements which are continually referred to as the search for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East continues. The compendium was published in December 1979 under the title, "The Search for Peace in the Middle East: Documents and Statements, 1967-79." 5. West Bank-Gaza Economy.-This study examines the economic situation in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza and surveys measures needed for sustained growth. It examines the major economic trends in an area which continues to be the subject of crucial Middle East peace efforts. This report was published under the title "The West Bank Economy: Problems and Prospects" in January 1980. 6. Turkey. This report scrutinizes the strategic, political, and economic interests of the United States in Turkey and analyzes some of the critical political, economic and military challenges confronting this Eastern Mediterranean state. This study was published on March 3, 1980 under the title "Turkey's Problems and Prospects: Implications for U.S. Interests." 7. NATO. This study was prepared to examine the status of the Atlantic Alliance in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The report examines in some detail what the European contribution to individual and collective defense is and can reasonably expected to be. At the same time, it outlines some of the elements of an effective and proper alliance response to instability in Southwest Asia. This report, entitled "NATO after Afghanistan," was published October 27, 1980. 8. Theater Nuclear Forces.-This work examines the political and military factors surrounding the decision by the NATO alliance to deploy long-range theater nuclear forces (LRTNF) in Western Europe. It also contains a discussion of the history of alliance nuclear strategy; reactions on the part of the Soviet Union to the TNF decision; and prospects for arms control agreements. This report, dated December 31, 1980, was published under the title "The Modernization of NATO's Long-Range Theater Nuclear Forces." GAO Studies In furtherance of both his legislative and oversight responsibilities, the chairman of the subcommittee requested the General Accounting Office (GAO) to prepare studies on several issues of interest to the subcommittee. 1. Defense Department Accounting Procedures. This unclassified report was a broad review of the Department of Defense's accounting procedures for foreign military sales. The study states that over $1 billion in inconsistencies and errors in accounting had been identified for fiscal year 1977 arms sales. GAO makes several recommendations on how to improve the Department of Defense's accounting procedures. This report was published March 16, 1979, under the title "The Defense Department's Systems of Accounting For The Value of Foreign Military Sales Need Improvement." 2. U.S.-Saudi Joint Commission. This study examines the operations, composition, mandate, activities and achievements of the U.S.Saudi Arabian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation. The GAO recommends that more detailed information about commercial opportunities needs to be provided to U.S. businessmen. The study entitled "The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation," was issued on March 22, 1979. 3. Arms Sales Oversight.-This report analyzes the implementation of the President's conventional arms transfer policy, the decisionmaking process for individual foreign military sales and the congressional oversight role. In order to improve Congress' oversight role with regard to arms sales, the GAO recommended that the executive branch submit an annual country-by-country plan outlining overall total sales to recipient countries and the specific policy justifications for country sales programs. The report, entitled "Opportunities to Improve Decisionmaking and Oversight of Arms Sales," was issued May 21, 1979. Hearings D. Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs 1. Foreign Assistance Legislation: (a) Fiscal Year 1980.-Five days of hearings were held in February and March, 1979 to discuss the Administration's economic and security assistance requests for the nations of East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Subcontinent. With the exceptions noted, the Administration's requests were approved. In the East Asian series, special emphasis was placed on monitoring human rights and the announced policy of U.S. troop withdrawal from the Korean Peninsula. Witnesses testified on the interaction between U.S. concern for human rights in the Philippines and the desire to consummate the agreement for bases at Clark and Subic. The subcommittee directed ÄID and the Department of State to provide it with a number of reports on the effectiveness of U.S. programs in the Philippines. The status of Taiwan in the wake of normalization of relations with the People's Republic of China (also covered in an ongoing, separate series of hearings and briefings) was extensively probed. In the Southeast Asian series, the subcommittee examined the continued U.S. policy of non-recognition of Vietnam, and the implications for Thailand of the growing Chinese-Vietnamese emnity, and the invasion of Cambodia (also covered in an on-going, separate series of hearings and briefings). The subcommittee increased to $40 million the security assistance request for Thailand to help meet the growing threat from Vietnam. In South Asia, the subcommittee emphasized growing U.S. concern over deteriorating relations with Pakistan and |