to that in my opinion truly historic and perhaps underestimated meeting between governor bush in helsinki where you've said that you've been working with him for twenty seven years now how has term affected your perception of events he turns eighteen now how would you assess his legacy to russia and the world. oh well i think you know i was working with him in those years because i believed in what he was doing i was a foreign ministry official and had i for example wanted an appointment somewhere abroad it was you know past time it was past due services so i could've asked in a seventy eight to be posted somewhere abroad i didn't do that i worked for him because i had a commitment for what he and his associates were doing to treat the country and then of course it turned out of there to change not only our country changed the world that appreciation that opinion i think is very much still with me it has been confirmed by subsequent events i frankly always believed that it would not be easy that it would not be for our country or for the world it would not be a feast or celebration everyt

weight that really stands out in my mind even more than mild the meeting between governor bush in helsinki even more than malted stands out as the and of the cold war because that was the first time when it was not the dynamics of confrontation of opposition of the two major powers but the dynamics of corp corp in stopping the aggression that really worked for both countries showed that they are able to do it that they're able to take certain steps to make compromises to make that cooperation work so to me that was an enormously important event. of another was there and i remember by the way it's not about the governor but i do remember during the meeting between shevardnadze and baker could see how the news came and how it was brought in by baker's associate about saddam hussein's invasion of kuwait and it was totally unexpected they did not spend much time discussing it but they agreed that they would be in contact and then those contacts led to that in my opinion truly historic and perhaps under estimated meeting between governor bush in helsinki well you've said that you've been workin

everything stands out reykjavik stands but it's not it's not washington it's the meeting in helsinki right after the aggression of saddam hussein against kuwait that really stands out in my mind even more than multiple meetings between gorbachev and bush and helsinki even more than malted spans of the of the cold war because that was the first time when it was not the dynamics of confrontation of our position of the two major powers but the dynamics of corporation corporation and stopping the aggression that really worked in both countries show that they are able to do it that they're able to play certain steps to make compromises to make that corporation work so to me that was an enormously important event. but not was there and i remember by the way that's not about the coverage of but i do remember during the meeting between shevardnadze and baker in puts the news came and how it was brought in by a baker's associate about saddam hussein's invasion of kuwait and it was totally unexpected they did not spend much time discussing it put the agreed that they would be in contact and th

because when some packer is the helsinki commission of loyalty who alcee hastings harassed tormented when after despite being told repeatedly no. despite other people on the staff being asked to please intercede and stop they have him you know since this behavior towards her is unrelenting and unapologetic and so i say you let me interrupt you real quick you know we have a statement from congressman hastings i just wanted to put out he says quote i have never sexually harassed anyone in fact i am insulted that these ludicrous allegations are being made against me i will win this lawsuit saw that why is he so confident really look forward to discovery and taking his deposition in that regard and that of other employees at helsinki commission i think will be very illuminating when all the details come out about his particular behavior and if you go to mr packer there may be other folks who decide that as the time to step forward i think will be very illuminating about how he's comported himself and actually hell he's conducting business within the commission you know this is a snapshot

the helsinki commission has been in the forefront of many related initiatives. during the 100 of cock picture to commission a which we heard from special representatives from the osce, specifically to monitor and report on discrimination. among those testifying was the osce personal representative on combating intolerance, discrimination against muslims. the senate is taking another important step in comply with our osce commitment by holding this hearing. we need to encourage the muslim community in the united states to engage with them. and i applaud the chairman for holding this hearing. we cannot allow individuals or groups to pit americans against another based on our religion, religious beliefs. this only weakens our country and its freedoms. let us hold dear the protections of the constitution that safeguard these rights to freely practice their religion. our country's strength lies in diversity and our ability to have strongly held beliefs and differences of opinion while the able to speak freely. we need to stand up against intolerance and injustice. le

yesterday a modern art festival in helsinki was set to screen what it believes is the world's longest film with a running time of 240 hours. that means they will still be screening it this time next week. thanks, but no thanks. >>> coming up, the magic cast a spell over the knicks, the grizzlies gobbled the shamrocks and some last-second heroics for the ducks. >>> plus detroit looks to quench the heat. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. >>> the storm system that brought wild weather to the ohio valley exiting the east coast today. now our focus goes to the west coast. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today." >>> good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, new york city sports fans and sports writers are not known for their patience. what little they do have may have run out with the knicks. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. >>> good thursday morning. it's hard to believe that a team could get worse with the addition of a superstar, but that is exactly what happened with the new

so, i think in helsinki, they are going to be watching "bonfire ofitievanities" over and over again.n with one red shoe." the only universal hit is "turner and hooch." >> jimmy: everyone loves dogs. we, we have exciting stuff to go over. including your children and some things in your life and of course your movie, coming out on july 1st. >> this beginning the official celebrity mule train kickoff. >> jimmy: it begins right here. tom hanks. more with tom when we return. we'll be right back. ♪ [ male announcer ] these keys open doors to opportunity... ♪ ...build communities... ♪ ...and know how to have a good time. ♪ it's chevy truck month. get your keys. qualified buyers get 0% apr financing for 72 months on all 2011 silverado half-ton models. ♪ grab yours today. so delicious you won't want to wait till morning to eat it. ♪ [ beep ] ♪ ♪ the perfect blend of sweet and nutty in every crunchy bite. ♪ go ahead... it's morning somewhere. the phone that changed everything. but think about it. how can you make one of the most amazing phones the world has ever seen even more amazing? make it

>> they need more handsome men in the helsinki chapter, which is doing really well. >> jimmy: i'm being? >> if you want. >> jimmy: that's a kind offer but i think i'm going to stay here. i'm through traveling for awhile. very snazzy in that suit. good looking suit. >> thank you. i've been getting a lot of compliments. [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: not used to seeing you in clothes, you know what i'm saying? >> occasionally. >> jimmy: everything going well? >> super, man. >> jimmy: mcconaughey, obviously you are irish, right? do you celebrate? >> sure do. >> jimmy: your whole life is st. patrick's day. >> the 17th is a big day for us. i got a brother named pat. he's out there, named after the saint. and many good st. patrick's days. >> jimmy: are you doing something tonight? >> i'll have a little bit of jamison in the name of. i've got some work to do at 5:00 a.m., so -- >> jimmy: you do? you have to be up at 5:00 a.m.? oh that's no good. i'm surprised your contract rider doesn't prevent that sort of thing from happening. >> when i scheduled that i wasn't thinking that it was the day

last friday in helsinki. so we have to share the burden, as deputy higgins said, with those banks who lent to allied irish and anglo-irish so irresponsibly so many years ago over such a long time. renegotiation means renegotiation. it does not mean going into europe and negotiating a cut in the interest rate which we already know has been conceded. that is not good enough. we need a government which is prepared to send people out to brussels or strasburg or anywhere else. we're armed with a referendum given to them by the irish people saying that deal is not acceptable. we are not getting that. we are getting a government who is going in with the same deal and the same mandate as the last government. the second point is this: the promises which were made about cronyism and about an end to that, on that issue the program for government is silent! we have a vague promise and a diluted promise that there will be a substantive reduction in -- [inaudible] where are the 145 which were in the program for government

helsinki commission.n that capacity i've raised human rights issues in other countries, such as in france in the name of national security the parliament banned burkas and wearing of all religious articles or when the swiss restricted buildings of mosques or minerets. these policies were restrictive not only to religious practices of muslims, but also christians, jews and others who would seek to wear religious symbols and practice their religion as they saw fit. i have also raised human rights issues in the united states when we were out of compliance with our helsinki commitments. in that spirit, i find it necessary to speak out against the congressional hearing chaired by congressional congressman peter king. rather than constructively using the power of congress to explore how we as a nation can use all of our tools at our disposal to prevent future terrorist attacks and defeat those individuals and groups who want to do us harm, this spectacle crossed the line and chipped away at the religious freedo

helsinki commission since 1993, i have discussed the possibility of a helsinki-like process for the regionith middle eastern leaders, a process that could result in a more open democratic society with a free press and fair elections. the helsinki process now embodied in the organization for security and cooperation in europe bases relations between countries on the core principles of security, cooperation and respect for human rights. these principles are implemented by procedures that establish equality among all the member states through a consensus-based decision-making process, open dialogue, regular review of commitments and engagement with civil society. we have seen the helsinki process work before, and the region has gone through generations without personal freedom or human rights. countries that have been repressed under the totalitarian regime are now global leaders of democracy, human rights and freedom. one need only look as far as the thriving baltic countries to see what the eoce can help countries become leaders in their regions. lithuania now chairs both the osce and the