ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS
                      CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
                 COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                           WASHINGTON, DC 20515
                          TELEPHONE (202) 225-5021

June 18, 1999

Lord Russell-Johnston
President
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Palais de l'Europe
Strasbourg

Dear Mr. President:

We were gratified that Members of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe and of the House of Representatives were
able to meet in Washington recently.  The frank exchange of views
between the two sides was important, and for our part we look
forward to additional exchanges with the Parliamentary Assembly.
In the spirit of candor which is essential to these exchanges,
we write on a matter of some importance.

We would like to underline a concern that was raised by
colleagues in the executive and legislative branches of the
United States government during your visit about a draft Report
on "The Illegal Activities of Sects" and associated
recommendations that are scheduled to be voted on in the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Monday, June 21.

Our view, expressed by Representative Christopher Smith in
last week's meeting, stresses the inconsistency between 
provisions of the draft report and the international standards to
which Member States of the Council of Europe have committed
themselves to adhere.  We are concerned both by several of the
recommendations, most notably those recommending the creation of
sect "information centres" and by the prospect that several of
the amendments proposed by the Social, Health and Family Affairs
Committee (and others that may be circulating) would make things
even worse, among other things by deleting clauses intended to
promote understanding between members of new religions and
governments.

We are very much aware of, and support, the work of the
Council of Europe in the field of human rights, and we are deeply
conscious of the important role that Europe plays in modeling and
exemplifying human rights ideals.  We fear that exaggerated
concerns growing out of isolated incidents may lead to
overreactions that would compromise religious freedom for many
respected and legitimate smaller religious groups throughout
Europe, and for groups that do no proven harm, but are merely
different enough to be labeled "cults."

There are grave risks that encouraging the formation of
"information centres" will in fact result in the dissemination of 
misinformation that will reinforce unfair stereotypes and
contribute to the growth of intolerance rather than
understanding.  These risks are particularly grave in the context
of countries in transition, where such centers could easily be
used to fan intolerance and to justify discrimination against all
but traditional religions.  Experience demonstrates that most
problems with new religious movements are best addressed by
applying time-tested principles of religious freedom:  tolerance,
understanding and respect.  As the Council of Europe has
recognized in the past, genuine problems are adequately addressed
by existing criminal and civil laws.

     We accordingly urge the Parliamentary Assembly to reject the
draft recommendations, and to continue to rely on Recommendation
1178 (1992), which amply addresses the issues.

                               Sincerely,

TOM LANTOS                               BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
Co-Chairman                              Chairman
Congressional Caucus on                  Committee on
Human Rights                             International Relations

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH
Chairman
Commission on Security
and Cooperation in Europe