Slava Stetsko visits Washington (08/17/97)

Slava Stetsko visits Washington

by Myron Jarosewich
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - Following her election to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in March, Slava Stetsko, leader of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (CUN), traveled in June to Washington to participate in an intensive two days of meetings.

Beginning on June 23, Mrs. Stetsko met with a variety of officials from the administration, Congress and non-governmental organizations, including Carlos Pascual, director for economic policy for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia at the National Security Council; Bruce Connuck and Nicholas Greanias, Ukraine desk officers at the Department of State; Randa Fahmy, counselor for Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.); Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.); Richard D. DeBobes, counsel to the Senate Committee on Armed Services; representatives from the International Republican Institute (IRI); and Herman Pirchner Jr., president of the American Foreign Policy Council.

Mrs. Stetsko stressed several key points during her meetings, including the need to strengthen U.S.-Ukrainian bilateral relations in order to prevent Russia from exerting its imperialistic tendencies on Ukraine, the need for Ukraine to further its relationship with NATO, the importance of free and fair democratic Parliamentary elections in 1998 and the presidential election in 1999, and economic reforms.

In meetings with representatives of the administration, Mrs. Stetsko stressed issues related to the U.S.-Ukraine strategic partnership, the need to increase high-level visits between the two governments, and ways to better utilize the NATO information service which recently began operating in Kyiv.

During an extended meeting Rep. Levin emphasized the importance of enacting economic reform as soon as possible. Rep. Levin urged Mrs. Stetsko to work with other democratic, reform-minded parties to pass tax legislation this year, as well as to establish a favorable business environment for increased foreign investment

Discussions with members of the IRI focused on next year's elections. The institute will continue its work in educating reform-minded political parties and candidates on how to operate and be more effective during the election campaign. Mrs. Stetsko expressed interest in cooperating and offered to provide a list of members from the CUN who could be instrumental in the campaign

Concluding the series of meetings was a discussion with Mr. Pirchner which covered issues ranging from the current political situation to next year's elections. Mr. Pirchner stressed the importance of immediate economic reforms and the need to further political ties between the two countries.

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