Thank you very much.
We'll now get to our witnesses.
Gentlemen, we're starting a little bit of a study on the whole issue of eastern Europe and central Asia and their relationship with Russia. I've looked at both of your bios, and both are—I won't say “overqualified”—very distinguished. We're looking forward to hearing from both of you today.
What we normally do is start with your opening testimony, and then we'll go around the room asking questions back and forth between the opposition and the government.
I have Chris Westdal, who is a former ambassador. We're very much interested in hearing what you have to say. Then we have Piotr Dutkiewicz, who has extensive knowledge on Europe and its relationship with Russia.
We'll start with your opening comments, sir, then we will move over to Chris, and then we'll have questions.