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February 3, 2005
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C.
RE: International adoption of Russian orphans
Dear President Bush:
We are writing to bring to your attention current issues regarding the adoption of Russian orphans by American families. We know that you and President Vladimir Putin are compassionate leaders who care deeply about children, and that you want the best possible future for children who are in need of families. Both the United States and Russia have declared their support for the Hague Adoption Convention (Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption). Sadly, there are interests within Russia who would rather see children raised in an orphanage in Russia than have a family in America – or Italy or Germany or other countries.
Each year, international adoption assists less than 1% of the more than 700,000 children living in Russia’s orphanages, but for those few children, it changes their lives forever. Over the past six months, a number of developments in Russia have made it increasingly difficult for orphans to be adopted by foreign families. Our adoption agencies have repeatedly worked to have these issues addressed by the appropriate governmental authorities, but no resolutions have been reached and abandoned children are suffering as a result.
We know that there are many issues of extreme gravity on your agenda to discuss with President Putin during your meeting in late February, but we urge you to bring up – however briefly – the issue of intercountry adoption between Russia and the United States. We have attached a background document prepared by our agencies so that your staff might be current on the specific issues involved in creating obstacles to children coming to their new families.
Our request to you is very basic – please request that President Putin reaffirm his support of the Hague Convention on Adoption and instruct the accountable individuals to conduct adoptions in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. We are not asking for special privileges and agree that the first opportunity to adopt should be given to Russian citizens. But the actions of the Russian government so far this year has already sentenced thousands of children to a longer time without a family.
President George W. Bush
February 3, 2005
Page 2
Thank you for taking a few minutes to bring this matter to the attention of President Putin. We know that the thousands of children who will soon become U.S. citizens because of your compassion will look at this time as monumental indeed.
Sincerely,
Families of Adopted Russian Children
and Families Standing Ready to Adopt
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This petition is posted on behalf of all waiting children and adoptive parents as part of a multi-agency initiative. If your agency has asked you to sign a similar letter, fine; otherwise, please consider signing this one. Responses from all agency letters will be forwarded together to President Bush.
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This petition will close on Wednesday Feb. 16, 2005, so do not delay. |
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