Talbott, Kostenko to address Washington conference (09/22/96)

Talbott, Kostenko to address Washington conference

WASHINGTON - U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will be the keynote speaker at the Washington Group's Annual Leadership Conference to be held on Columbus Day weekend, October 11-13. He will deliver the keynote address during a reception at the Ukrainian Embassy on Friday, October 11, at 7 p.m.

Ukrainian Minister for Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety Yuriy I. Kostenko, Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Yuri Shcherbak, National Security Council Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs Carlos Pascual and other experts will discuss this year's conference theme, "Ukraine at Five: A Progress Report."

An analysis of Ukraine's progress since independence will be made in five panel discussions, dealing with Ukraine's geostrategic position in the world as well as its economic, legal, social, health and energy reforms. The three-day event also features a reception at the Ukrainian Embassy, an awards banquet and dance, as well as a cultural program.

The Washington Group is the country's largest association of Ukrainian American professionals. This year's conference is being co-sponsored by the Embassy of Ukraine, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America.

During the conference banquet, The Washington Group will present its "Friend of Ukraine" award to Hobart Earle, the American-born conductor who has led the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra as its music director and principal conductor for four years. The banquet will be followed by a dance, featuring the Tempo orchestra.

The conference also includes a presentation of past productions by the Yara Arts Group from New York and a presentation of the Project on the Oral History of Independent Ukraine. Representatives to the Federation of Ukrainian American Business and Professional Associations will use the conference venue to hold their organizational meeting.

An all-inclusive conference package, including all sessions and meals, is $225 ($195 for TWG and UMANA members) if registered before September 30. For detailed registration information and application form see the September 15 issue of The Ukrainian Weekly, or call Lida Bihun, (202) 347-4264 (days) or George Masiuk at (703) 960-0043 (evenings).