May 13, 1999
Web posted at: 2:21 p.m. EDT (1821 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 13) -- In an effort denounced by the Clinton Administration as "uncoordinated free-lance" diplomacy, a bipartisan group of House members asked for congressional support Thursday for a Kosovo peace plan they negotiated privately with a delegation of Russian lawmakers.

"If we don't take this opportunity, we're going to continue to drive the Russians away from us," Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pennsylvania), leader of the group of 11 U.S. representatives that met with Russian parliament members, told the House International Relations Committee.

The committee is considering a nonbinding resolution to back the alternative peace plan negotiated by the U.S. and Russian legislators in Vienna.

The blueprint mirrors many of NATO's demands, but would also give both Russia and China a say in the composition of a peacekeeping force and calls for an end to NATO's bombing campaign and attacks by Kosovo's rebels.

Both the proposal, and the manner in which it was negotiated, caused some sparks at the day's committee hearing.

Rep. Sam Gejdenson of Connecticut, a senior Democrat on the House committee who called the plan bad policy that would "straitjacket" Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, accused the congressional members of overstepping their bounds, saying negotiating is "an executive function."

"If Democrats and Republicans had done this during the Gulf War, there would have been charges of treason," Gejdenson said. Federal law prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.

That remark prompted angry responses from committee Republicans and one Democratic member of the delegation that met with the Russians.

"I am not a 'gentlewoman.' If anyone thinks I was involved in treason, I would ask them to step outside," said Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Florida).

The State Department has publicly maintained that it opposes such free-lance peacemaking missions. In prepared remarks, Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering called the initiative "uncoordinated free-lance efforts."

Albright met the Weldon delegation Wednesday.

"Our agreement was not meant to constrain a negotiation but to permit an agreement," said Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Maryland), a member of the delegation.

But Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Indiana), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called it "far-fetched to think that members of our House are trying to negotiate peace for Kosovo with the Duma while the Duma is trying to impeach (Russian President Boris) Yeltsin."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thursday, May 13, 1999

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• Transcript: Clinton justifies U.S. involvement in Kosovo
• 'Free-lance' diplomacy by House group comes under fire
• How did George W. Bush make his millions?
• Senate Republicans backtrack on 'gun-show loophole' votes
• New Documents: Results of two Willey polygraphs differ
• Reno defends computer-search caution in spy case
• Bargainers reject steel program, near completing Kosovo spending bill
• Clinton consults with congressional Democrats on Social Security
• GOP senators slam Clinton administration over Miranda rights
• Clintons to take a vacation in Florida
• House passes intelligence budget
• Washington Post columnist Meg Greenfield dies
• Impeachment foes join on tax bill
• Rubin pushes strong decision-making
• Ventura autobiography boasts of losing virginity, visiting prostitutes
• GOP backs bill to aid foster kids
• House vote sends Y2K lawsuit issue back to Senate
• In aftermath of Littleton, gun lobby does old-fashioned work
• White House letterer dies at age 91
• Clinton picks admiral to be ambassador to China

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