Turning the pages back... September 9, 1991 (09/08/96)

Turning the pages back...

September 9, 1991

"Ukraine seeks diplomatic ties with U.S., 22 other states" was the headline in The Ukrainian Weekly in mid-September 1991. Datelined Jersey City, N.J., the story went on to note how Ukraine's independent statehood was beginning to effect its diplomatic relations. Following is an excerpt of that report.

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Ukraine's representative to the United Nations, Gennadi Udovenko, announced on September 9 Ukraine's intention of seeking direct diplomatic relations with the U.S. and 22 other states. On September 10 Mr. Udovenko announced that Ukraine plans to open an embassy in Washington.

Diplomatic recognition is expected to be discussed during Chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Council Leonid Kravchuk's visit to the United States and Canada beginning on September 23, reported RFE/RL Daily Report.

The Washington Post reported that Mr. Kravchuk, in a letter to President George Bush, had asked that the U.S. grant diplomatic recognition to Ukraine. The letter stressed the sovereignty of Ukraine, and the primacy of its Constitution and laws in that republic, and sought an exchange of missions with the U.S. once voters approve independence in the referendum scheduled for December 1.

Meanwhile, in Kiev, Canada's External Affairs Minister Barbara McDougall reiterated the Canadian government's policy of recognizing an independent Ukrainian state after the December 1 referendum. Minister McDougall had officially opened her government's Kiev Consulate on September 9 while defending accusations from Dmytro Pavlychko, chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, that Canada was "being too slow" in recognizing Ukraine's independence.

Referring to a statement read by Chairman Kravchuk announcing Poland's intent to open full diplomatic relations with Ukraine in tacit recognition of its independence, Mr. Pavlychko stated that "Canada must decide whom to support, Mikhail Gorbachev or Ukraine. For our neighbors like Poland, it's no longer a problem because the Soviet Union doesn't exist," The Toronto Star quoted Mr. Pavlychko as saying.

Minister McDougall responded by stating: "I believe Canada is moving quite appropriately. Indeed, we're moving in advance of other Group of Seven countries. We have absolutely nothing to apologize for as Canadians."

Source: The Ukrainian Weekly, September 15, 1991; Vol. LIX, No. 37.