UPDATE:  RUSSIA AND U.S. TALKS MOVE FORWARD

Russia and the U.S. issued a joint statement yesterday, on the progress of their talks related to intercountry adoption.  In addition, the U.S. Department of State has published a separate statement on intercountry adoption in Russia.  Both statements can be found in full below.

Both statements indicate that significant progress has been made and agreement on basic principles of an accord has been reached.  At this time it appears that the future agreement will most likely include the specific responsibilities of each government, protocols for direct communication between each country’s primary adoption authority, increased post-adoption reports and responsibilities and the utilization of only those U.S. based adoption service providers accredited by the U.S. government (Hague accreditation). 

May 13, 2010 - Joint Statement Issued by Russia and U.S.

On May 12-13, U.S.-Russian consultation on adoption were held in Moscow.

‘Generally, we very positively assess the atmosphere of the talks. In the course of a substantial dialogue we’ve managed to move forward on a wide range of complicated issues,’ says Alina Levitskaya, Director, Department of State Policy on Upbringing, Supplementary Education and Social Protection of Children, Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

"Both teams are committed to reach an agreement to increase safeguards for intercountry adoption between Russian and the U.S.’ adds Mary Ellen Hickey, the head of American delegation, Managing Director, Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. State Department.

The participants of the meeting shared their views on existing difficulties in intercountry adoption and the way to resolve them. The discussions were detailed and concerned specific issues including domestic laws and international obligations of both countries.

In particular, the delegations acknowledged that any agreement being discussed would be legally binding. Each country will define its competent bodies responsible for coordinating bilateral cooperation in adoption.

Among other things, we discussed the role of authorized adoption agencies, and the possibility of further regulating their activities.

During the talks the participants reached broad understanding on overall goals and principles and discussed how to proceed toward those goals.

The delegations also agreed to exchange their revised drafts as soon as possible.  

Due to the significant number of issues under discussion and the mutual commitment to resolve them as soon as possible, the consultations will continue on May 14.

Further, the U.S Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues issued the following announcement today, May 13.

A U.S. interagency team held meetings to discuss an adoption agreement with their Russian counterparts on May 12.  The meetings are ongoing and will continue on May 13.  The initial talks were positive, productive and conducted in a spirit of cooperation.  Both sides are interested in taking steps to increase the safeguards for adopted children.  The discussions were technical in nature because they involve domestic laws of two countries.  There is still important work to be done and this continues to be a high priority for both governments.

It is our understanding that there has been no change in the status of on-going inter-country adoptions originating from Russia.  Many thousands of Russian children, who were not adopted by Russian families, have found loving, safe and permanent homes in the United States through inter-country adoption.  We are pleased to be discussing with the Russian government a future approach to ensure intercountry adoptions continue.

CHI RUSSIA ADOPTION STATISTICS 2010

 For a more complete breakdown of Children's Hope adoption statistics, please contact your adoption consultant if you did not receive this Program Update by email.   

HEART OF THE MATTER SEMINARS DISCOUNT

If you have not completed your required 10 hours of Hague training, and considering going with Heart of the Matter Seminars, you can receive a $10 discount on your courses.  Just sign up before May 31, 2010 and enter the code MAYSAVE10 to take advantage of this offer.Seminars, you can receive a $10 discount on your courses.  Just sign up before May 31, 2010 and enter the code to take advantage of this offer.

If you have any questions and/or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact your adoption consultant, and you may also reach me via email at Andrei.Skurtu@ChildrensHope.net

Best wishes,

The Russia Team