Ukraine's independence anniversary marked on Capitol Hill (09/29/96)

Ukraine's independence anniversary marked on Capitol Hill

by Yaro Bihun
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - The fifth anniversary of Ukraine's independence was marked in the U.S. Congress on September 18 with warm praise for its accomplishments and assurances of support from the U.S. lawmakers who addressed the anniversary luncheon reception in the Senate Russell Office Building.

The more than 250 people attending the event also heard a progress report on Ukraine's development from Volodymyr Horbulin, secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, who was the luncheon's keynote speaker.

The reception was sponsored by the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC), the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) as well some 30 other U.S. senators and representatives.

Mr. Horbulin, who was visiting Washington for talks with Clinton administration officials, said Ukraine has laid down a "sound foundation" for a market economy. It has a "clear economic reform strategy," brought into effect soon after President Leonid Kuchma's election in 1994, which seeks to achieve and maintain financial stability, control inflation, denationalize and develop a private sector, and create a favorable climate for foreign investment.

The process was helped by the adoption of Ukraine's new Constitution, which, among other things, ensures various economic and ownership rights, including the right to private property, to own land and the right of entrepreneurship. Mr. Horbulin said that Ukraine "could hardly have been able to achieve such changes" without the assistance of other countries, including the United States.

On foreign relations, Mr. Horbulin stressed that Ukraine is striving to maintain friendly relations with all countries. "We have no territorial claims on anyone and at the same time we decisively reject any attempts to question the existing frontiers of our state." Having rid itself of its nuclear weapons, he said, Ukraine is proposing the establishment of a nuclear-free Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine's relations with NATO have reached a "qualitatively new level, one of profound and extended collaboration," he said, and suggested that the "gradual evolutionary enlargement of the alliance should be parallel to the development and extension of ties between NATO and Ukraine on the basis of special partnership principles."

Mr. Horbulin said Ukraine is satisfied with the state of the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship, which he characterized as being "of top importance" to Ukraine. He expressed Ukraine's gratitude for assistance through the Nunn-Lugar program, for the $225 million of U.S. economic aid this year, and for the almost-unanimous passage in the House of Representatives of House Concurrent Resolution 120, supporting Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. (The Senate passed the resolution later that evening.)

As did many lawmakers who spoke after him, Mr. Horbulin expressed his gratitude and that of President Kuchma to Ukrainian Americans, "who never lost the dream of an independent Ukraine" and continued working on its behalf after independence.

Sen. Levin noted in his remarks that Ukraine has much to celebrate on its fifth anniversary: it has a new democratic Constitution and it plays an important role in European and world security. He pointed out that Ukraine has become the third largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance. "And that is not a coincidence - it represents the tremendous work of the Ukrainian American community in bringing to our attention the security needs of Ukraine."

UCCA President Askold Lozynsky; said that, since achieving its independence in 1991, "Ukraine has managed to make the most of it," pointing out that some 40,000 enterprises have been privatized, that inflation is at 1 percent per month, and that the Ukrainian currency - the old karbovanets and the new hryvnia - have been stable vis-à-vis the dollar. "Clearly, the Ukrainian people would never have been able to do this alone. It is precisely because of our friends on the Hill and within the administration that the Ukrainian people have persevered and are now building a democratic and just society," he said.

Mr. Lozynsky said it was largely because of the efforts of people like Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Carl Levin, and Reps. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.) and others, that Ukraine has been able to make it through the period between President George Bush's so-called "Chicken Kiev" speech in 1991 and President Clinton concluding his speech in Kyiv with the words "Slava Ukrayini!" "In observing today the fifth anniversary of Ukraine's independence, we need to manifest our heartfelt gratitude to those staunch supporters of the Ukrainian state," Mr. Lozynsky said.

UACC President Ulana M. Diachuk could not attend the luncheon, but in a written statement read by UACC Washington Bureau Director Ihor Gawdiak she noted that over the past five years Ukraine assumed a leadership position in promoting democracy and peace, successfully began its integration into international and European structures, and changed the geopolitical character of Europe. "Ukraine is poised to play a pivotal role in an evolving new Europe," she said.

Ukraine needs assistance, however, and she called on the world community and international organizations to help Ukraine. "It is vital," she said, adding that the United States, "as the world's pillar of democracy should play a leading role in giving Ukraine the friendly support it needs, particularly at this critical time as the five-year-old democratic state of Ukraine searches for its place among the free and democratic nations of the world."

Sen. McConnell, who chairs the Senate Foreign Appropriations Subcommittee largely responsible for earmarking $225 million in aid for Ukraine, said his panel also earmarked an additional $35 million for Ukraine's agriculture, $5 million to treat the children of Chornobyl, $5 million for small business development, $25 million to help decommission the Chornobyl nuclear plant and $50 million for nuclear safety. He thanked the Ukrainian American community "for all that you do for America, and for the Ukrainian-American bilateral relationship, which is one of the most important bilateral relationships that we have in the entire world."

Sen. Lautenberg, who received a warm welcome from his many constituents in the audience, in his brief remarks commended Sen. McConnell for his leadership in "trying to honor a commitment that we have to a freedom-loving society."

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), a longtime member of the Helsinki Commission, compared Ukraine's first five years of independence to that of the United States and added: "Frankly, my friends, if they had a ceremony like this, a luncheon, on July 4th, 1781, they would have found that there was not really as much progress as there has been in Ukraine in the last five years."

Commenting on Rep. Hoyer's comparison, Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.) pointed out that Ukraine "has taken major steps to both political and economic reform, realizing that its future peace and prosperity depend on the success of those efforts." By ridding itself of nuclear arms, he said, "Ukraine is setting a very fitting and appropriate example for the rest of the world, moving into the forefront in terms of showing leadership on the world scene."

Rep. Gilman said he had received a letter from President Kuchma, thanking the House for passing the resolution on Ukraine and expressing the hope that it will promote "a deeper partnership interest between our two countries." The future development of these relations will depend on the future Congresses and administrations as well as on the Ukrainian American community, which must continue to let the Congress - especially its new members - know about Ukraine and its importance.

It is also important, he added, for Ukrainian Americans to serve as a "bridge" between the U.S. and Ukraine - "to speak frankly to Ukrainians from an American perspective" about the problems they need to focus on such as developing energy self-sufficiency, a vibrant market economy and in fighting corruption. The two countries have resolved to build a stronger bilateral relationship, Rep. Gilman said, and Ukraine "does have a good friend in the United States."

Speaking on behalf of President Clinton and his administration, Melanne Verveer, deputy assistant to the President and deputy chief of staff to the first lady, reaffirmed "America's strong support and commitment to a free and prosperous Ukraine." Ms. Verveer, a granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants, quoted from a recent letter to President Kuchma in which President Clinton noted that Ukraine's recent actions advanced its sovereignty and prosperity and positioned it as a "stabilizing force in an evolving and undivided Europe."

"In its five years of independence, Ukraine has emerged as a leader for peace and democracy," the president wrote. "We respect your achievement. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine through its ambitious and far-sighted reforms and to working with you with our European partners to promote Ukraine's integration into the European family."

Also expressing their greetings during the luncheon were Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.), the former chairman and now ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Reps. Levin, Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), John Dingell (D-Mich.), Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) and Constance Morella (R-Md.).

Archbishop Anthony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America began the reception with an invocation. The Rev. John Bura, rector of the St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington, concluded with a benediction. Michael Sawkiw, Jr., the director of the Ukrainian National Information Service in Washington, was the master of ceremonies, while the Jubilate String Quartet performed the national anthems and musical interludes.