TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
Report 55
June 16, 1993
Dear Friends:
Response to the last NEWSLETTER, Number 54, which narrates "Sergey's Miracle" has been more extensive than to any of the previous 53 reports. There is something special about a complicated story that plays out better than one's wildest dreams. To read about that delightful young man having been given his life back left a happy song in the hearts of many. Such positive feedback is greatly appreciated. Another humanitarian effort, which will be mentioned later, is now underway.
In reviewing Sergey's case, it occurs to me that FINNAIR may not have been given proper credit for its part in the project. New members on our mailing list may not realize that FINNAIR joined me as a partner eight years ago. Working with Soviets in those early days, as now, requires face-to-face contact. The cornerstone of my FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES has been "commuting" on FINNAIR to Moscow and Tallinn. The FINNAIR partnership also brought the cost of travel for Sergey's group within my means.
THANKS AGAIN, FINNAIR! YOU ARE ONE CORPORATE BODY WITH A HEART!
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TALLINN HAS AN MRI UNIT!
The children of Tallinn have a state-of-the-art piece of diagnostic equipment, an MRI. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit was from Germany and cost 7 million DM.
When I first met Dr. Adams, Sergey's referring doctor, he mentioned his desperate need for modern equipment. I asked what he needed and he gave me a prospectus on two CT Scanner units, one manufactured by GE, the other produced in Europe.
The General Electric facility in Schenectady is near my home, so I offered to mention the need to my GE friends. Acquiring a GE Scanner for Tallinn would have been a win/win project. Tallinn children's need would have been met, and the "flat" US economy would have benefited by a sale of over a million dollars!
Through friends in Schenectady I located the leadership of the GE medical equipment unit in Michigan. My letter was simple and direct: "How much would the model needed cost, and when might it be available?" I mentioned Estonian hard currency credits were available, and if costs were above credits, funding sources in the States could be used.
My letter to the GE medical headquarters was never answered. As a backup, I sent a parallel letter to the company's CEO in Connecticut, who sent me a printed card saying their benevolences were over-committed for the next few years.
What a perplexing and unexpected response! Over 40 years ago, as a beginning teacher I served on the Business-Industry section of the National Science Teacher's Assoc. Since then I've enjoyed warm rapport with industry colleagues, serving as a consultant to some.
Dr. Adams' references to my unsuccessful efforts were generous.
Construction is underway for housing the MRI. Soon Tallinn children will have diagnostic protection.
GOOD NEWS!!!
On December 6th I sent a plea to Warren Christopher, Chairman of the Clinton Transition Team, requesting that Ambassador Robert F. Frasure remain "on station" in Tallinn to maintain continuity. Bob had been in Tallinn only a short time to establish the US Embassy, and was just becoming effective. A replacement after January 20th might cause slippage in efforts to help the Republic of Estonia in the transition to its rightful place among the western community of nations.
It was GOOD NEWS to learn during my February trip to Tallinn that Ambassador Frasure's appointment was to be continued by President Clinton. I communicated with the President, complimenting him on his nonpolitical decision to retain a Republican Ambassador to Estonia saying his appointment "represents US STATESMANSHIP at its very best!" (This unusual action befits a Rhodes scholar!)
Many good things are being brought about by our government through effective action by Ambassador Frasure. For eight years I was one American frequently visiting Tallinn with the primary mission of being helpful. My accomplishments took great effort. A partial listing of these efforts is found on page five, and became a part of the package shared with the Estonian Members of Parliament who requested information on "Sergey's Miracle".
US resources, through the Embassy, are meeting Estonian needs quicker with far less effort than can be accomplished by an individual.
A "HUEY with a BAMBY BUCKET"
Last fall an emergency FAX arrived from Tallinn asking for assistance in acquiring a fixed-wing aircraft for fighting forest fires.
I dropped everything and made a quick trip to Tallinn to investigate the problem. The small geographic size of Estonia with its many lakes suggests helicopters as far better tools for fighting forest fires.
Modification of Soviet helicopters left in Tallinn would have been complicated and perhaps unsafe, so the venerable "HUEY" was suggested to Tallinn officials.
Inappropriate equipment for fighting Estonian forest fires.
In discussing the Estonian "Plan of Operation" it was revealed that a critical need in effective forest fire control is the installation of a new radio communication system linking the 12 districts which make up the country.
Efforts were undertaken in December to effect delivery of a US military HUEY with a water bucket, as well as a new communication system, during the final hectic weeks of the Bush administration. This did not happen.
Ambassador Frasure was kept informed of my work with Estonian officials, and in February as I discussed with him the forest fire risk and the equipment needed, he said that the "HUEY with a BAMBY BUCKET", and new radio system, would be "folded into" ongoing US support for Estonia.
HIJACKED AIRCRAFT LANDS IN TALLINN
I was in Tallinn when the Russian TU-134 was hijacked to the Tallinn Airport in February. What a tense time! Thanks in large part to Ambassador Frasure, it ended the way we all prayed it would. On page six is a copy of my report to President Clinton on this event.
THE LASER GOES TO TALLINN
My primary "wheels" for the last seven years have been a 1986 Plymouth Laser. It's been a comfortable, reliable machine which has provided 125,000 miles of excellent service. Last fall I decided it was time to replace the trusty vehicle. High mileage made its US value low, so I decided it would be a good gift for Vello and Rite Kesa, my friends in Tallinn.
As many of you know, the Kesas have been our guests here in Delmar twice in recent years. I've known them for ten years and consider them to be my "adopted" Estonian family.
Vello is an excellent mechanic, and with any luck should be able to keep the Laser running for another 100,000 miles. What he does with it is his business; he may use it to supplement his income, or he might trade it for an apartment. The Kesas now live in Vello's mother's apartment, and could use more room and their own home.
The trusty Laser has found a new home in Tallinn with the Kesas!
The Laser arrived in Tallinn on May 13th and I arrived on the 14th -- a stroke of luck since a major goal of that trip was to oversee arrival and custom clearance, and handle any ancillary costs.
Delivery was smooth, but there was an unexpected 25% additional cost in Helsinki which I thought had been covered by prepayment to WILSON LINES in NYC.
The Laser was a "gift in process" for over a year. An unexpected advantage coming with its delivery is the convenience it provides me in Tallinn. Vello insists on being my chauffeur!
UNDERSTANDING HALTS A NEAR RIOT!
I returned to my hotel at 11:30 p.m. one evening on the May trip to face nearly 50 people in the lobby with a near riot in progress. A gentleman was yelling at the top of his lungs and was close to fisticuffs with a member of the hotel security force. He wanted the security man arrested.
It took a moment to assess the situation. I picked my way through the crowd to the agitated gentleman, thrust my hand into his, and said, "Hi - my name is Mil Harmon. What's yours?", as I gave him one of my TEN ROMEO post cards. He told me his name and read the back of the card as I said, "Let's walk over here and talk." His miniskirt-clad wife had been physically accosted by hotel security as a prostitute.
I continued, "I recently invited two beautiful young women (Sergey's mother and Ludmila) for lunch here to plan a trip to the States. They, also, were accused of being prostitutes. Security attempted to throw them out as well. I demanded to see Andres, the Hotel Director, who said a guest had faced a death risk in the hands of a prostitute recently.
"Well, Doc, what should I do?"
"Take your beautiful wife up to bed and forget the whole thing! Your wise choice 30 years ago brought you a compliment tonight!" He smiled, put his arm around his wife, and they left with a chuckle.
NEW DIRECTIONS?
My best work was done with Estonian leaders during pre-and post-coup times. Elections have brought in new set of leaders, and the "bonding" which occurred in those difficult earlier times does not happen easily these days.
Sergey's miracle, the Laser to Tallinn, the MRI acquisition, the HUEY with a water bucket (to be provided by our government along with a new radio communication system), and the linkage established for US financial assistance for building a Baptist church in Keila, are great accomplishments. Another exciting story is on page eight!
A few projects remain to be brought to successful conclusions, such as meeting the need for medicines and "Eaton blocks" in Tallinn. This and other interests can be wrapped up soon. New projects may be handled better by the recent influx of Westerners backed by governments sympathetic to Estonian needs because of proximity, such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, etc.
Activity often occurs which gets no visibility. Many pilots call me asking advice on flying Russian airspace. This is pleasant but takes time. There is the constant task of communicating with Congress and government leaders on directions that my 35 years and 49 trips to Moscow suggest. I continue to remind Congress that the quickest, surest way to remove Russian soldiers from Estonian soil is to provide TITAN prefab homes in Moscow for military officers and their families. Another concern appears on page seven.
My efforts in Tallinn may be winding down. Those at the US Embassy are generous in suggesting that my assistance may continue to be helpful in the near future. The new currency is remarkably stable, and small, but effective, steps are being made toward a market economy. As Estonia returns to the ranks of the western community of nations, increased support will be forthcoming from Western Europe. My Tallinn efforts of the last eight years may be coming to a close.
I don't view this possibility with regret or unhappiness. My "Partner" will point me toward new tasks.
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TALLINN-ESTONIAN SERVICES
provided
by
Dr. Millard Harmon
Harmon first came to Estonia in 1984 at the suggestion of a friend who said custom clearance into the USSR was a more pleasant experience in Tallinn than Sheremetyevo. This turned out to be true, and he has visited Tallinn more than 40 times since then.
In the fall of 1990, the leadership of the Moscow "think tank", INSTITUTE OF THE USA AND CANADA, suggested that Harmon find his way to the Estonian government leadership and offer to mediate a number of difficulties between Moscow and Tallinn. This has been done with considerable success.
- Structured an organizational plan for creating ESTONIAN AVIATION ASSOCIATION (EAA) which was accepted by the board of directors.
- Negotiated for a radio telephone as a gift from Motorola to ESTII RADIO, for secure communication as back up for antiquated and vulnerable telephone lines to better serve ESTII RADIO's important work.
- Negotiated for a gift of KING TRAINING FILMS covering the full Private Pilot course for the Estonian Civil Air Board.
- Provided format information and instructions for registration of Estonian Air Traffic Controllers with ICAO.
- Arranged the rescheduling of the cancelled 1991 METHODIST SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN in Tallinn by acquisition and delivery of 750 pounds of food which were required by the 305 participants.
- Located and purchased maintenance manuals for PA-311350 aircraft, engines, and propellers for AVIES AIR COMPANY and delivered them to Tallinn.
- Worked closely with former Deputy Minister of the Interior Arved Taaska in considering options for the protection of Estonian borders.
- Served as liaison between Rev. Olav Parnamets, pastor of the TALLINN METHODIST CHURCH, and Rev. Dr. Donna Meinhard, pastor of the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH in Delmar, New York, USA, with the hope of establishing a warm partnership between these two congregations.
- Put Dr. Ursel Vagur, President of the ESTONIAN RED CROSS, in touch with the leadership of the AMERICAN RED CROSS for future cooperative ventures.
- Brought Sergey Zezulin, his mother, and an interpreter to the US for a complete US medical and developmental reevaluation of his condition. Sergey, at five years of age, had undergone five major brain operations, and it had been medically determined that he had suffered sufficient brain damage to never progress beyond the mental age of three. Sergey was declared normal by US tests, and returned to Tallinn to undertake a normal life.
- Harmon is currently working through proper US and Estonian government channels to acquire a US Military HUEY helicopter with a BAMBY BUCKET for Estonian use in fighting forest fires.
- Has initiated steps to acquire a modern GE CT SCANNER for the Emergency Hospital in Tallinn to serve the diagnostic needs of Estonian children.
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Harmon Associates
34 Elsmere Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
(518) 439-7166 FAX (518) 475-0434
March 1, 1993
President William J. Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On Saturday morning, February 20th, I was in Tallinn, Estonia, having breakfast with my friend Rev. Olav Parnamets and his wife. When we heard over Estii Radio News that a Russian Jet had been hijacked and flown into Tallinn I immediately called aviation colleagues to offer my mediation services and learned that my friend, Director General Mati Sormus of the Estonian Civil Aviation Administration, was in the States attending a Senior Crisis Management Course with Estonian colleagues.
Further telephoning revealed that aviation personnel were factored out of the airport situation with all control in the hands of the Tallinn police, whom I've worked with previously. As I prepared to depart for the airport, I learned that Ambassador Frasure was at the airport with his interpreters, so withdrew my offer of assistance.
Col. 0chovik's cool handling of the situation in the aircraft resulted in the release of a number of passengers, including women and children.
However, Ambassador Frasure's skillful mediation of the situation played for time while alternatives were considered and the final acceptance of the flight In Stockholm was arranged.
The next morning as I attended the service in Rev. Parnamets' church in Tallinn, the largest Methodist Church in Europe, he said, "Millard, it was a God-given miracle that there was no loss of life yesterday at our airport!"
I agreed with Rev. Parnamets, but I knew, although Rev. Olav did not, that Col. Ochovik and Ambassador Frasure were the instruments of the Lord's grace that Saturday morning.
It is my recommendation that you award Col. Ochovik the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM next July 4th, or sooner if possible.
As for Ambassador Robert C. Frasure, I recommended on December 6th to your transition team that he remain "on station" in Tallinn for at least the next 24 months to maintain continuity. Your decision to allow him, and other diplomats serving the former Soviet Republics, to remain in place represents government leadership at its very best.
In my estimation, Ambassador Robert C. Frasure earned his salary for the next four years on the Tallinn ramp on February 20, 1993.
Respectfully,
Miller Harmon
cc: The Honorable Lennart Meri, President of
the Republic of Estonia
The Honorable Warren Christopher, US
Secretary of State
The Honorable Robert C. Frasure, US
Ambassador to Estonia
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Harmon Associates
34 Elsmere Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
(518) 439-7166 FAX (518) 475-0434
June 16, 1993
President William J. Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am distressed by President Yeltsin's continuing allegations of "discrimination" against ethnic Russians by the Estonian Government.
It is difficult for ANY American to understand the depth of feeling Estonians have toward Russia as the result of 50 years of occupation.
However, I have worked closely with the Estonian government for several years, both pre- and post-coup, and have closely monitored the Estonian passport evolution.
The ethnic Russians' hope, in those early days independent Estonian republic was but a dream, was the option of dual Estonian/Russian passports. This was properly, from the view of Estonian leaders, an impractical possibility since it would provide a built-in "Fifth Column" with allegiance to Moscow.
A second objection by ethnic Russians, and the basis of claimed discrimination, has been the language requirement for an Estonian passport.
The original 750-word vocabulary requirement did not seem that formidable to some of us. I have ethnic Russian friends in Tallinn who, with two day's study, passed the language test for their Estonian passport.
However, there may not be general knowledge in US government circles of the increased modifications and reduction of the language requirement as Estonia becomes more secure in its newly found status as an independent republic.
Furthermore, THE BALTIC INDEPENDENT newspaper reports that the international review of discrimination claims in Estonia are baseless. Those of us "on scene" have known this claim has been a fabrication from the start.
Please lift State Department pressure for our Embassy in Estonia to "sign on" to Yeltsin's claim of discrimination. Momentary advantage such a stance might bring to US long-term potential economic partnership with Russia is not worth Estonian disappointment such a position would generate. Estonian view of any such US position will be interpreted as a lack of US government sensitivity to 50 years of oppressive occupation, and will further indicate a lack of knowledge of modification steps taken and underway.
Warmest regards, and thank you for your recent note!
Respectfully,
Millard Harmon
cc: The Honorable Warren M. Christopher
The Honorable Robert C. Frasure
Others as Appropriate
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Harmon Associates
34 Elsmere Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
(518) 439-7166 FAX (518) 475-0434
May 26, 1993
President Elizabeth Dole
AMERICAN RED CROSS
National Headquarters
431 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Dear President Dole:
I've just returned from the former USSR, with a special message for you and your wonderful AMERICAN RED CROSS staff.
Dr. Galina Vasiljevna Gracheva is one of the few honest government leaders in Tajikistan, and she wanted me to tell you what a wonderful job the AMERICAN RED CROSS is doing in her country. She said that what your people are accomplishing in her war-torn country is a miracle beyond imagination!
How I became the bearer of this good news is a special story in itself.
You will remember the report recently sent to you of little Sergey Zezulin from Tallinn, Estonia whom we restored to a normal life following an American developmental and medical review. I brought my friend Ludmila Bobkina to the States with the Zezulins to serve as interpreter. Ludmila has the greatest English skill of any Russian I've met in my 49 trips to Moscow.
Ludmila is Dr. Galina's daughter, and the doctor came to Tallinn during the American review of little Sergey to baby-sit Ludmila's seven-year-old son while she was in America with me and the Zezulins.
By the time Ludmila had recounted to her mother the numerous mediation successes I've had in Tallinn, Dr. Galina invited me to come to Tajikistan to serve as mediator between the warring factions. I said I'd be happy to serve the interests of Peace in her troubled part of the world, and if my Partner, the Lord, wanted me in that role, doors would open!
Dr. Galina returned home, but following two months of serious consideration determined that the risk to which I'd be exposed in Dushanbe was too great for her to tender a formal invitation to me through her government.
For those of us "on business for the King", isn't it interesting the way things turn out for the best? Your people went to that troubled part of the world with a focus the local population had never seen before - concern for the well-being of ALL people, regardless of political or religious viewpoint, and with the resources to make things better. Your people have accomplished more than dozens of skillful mediators could have.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Respectfully
Millard Harmon
P.S. Thank you for your warm note of February 11th.