New York congresswoman meets with Verkhovna Rada counterpart

WASHINGTON - Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) recently met Yulia Tymoshenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada and president of Ukraine's largest natural gas company, United Energy Systems, to discuss relations between the U.S. and Ukraine.

"This is an extraordinarily important time for people in Ukraine as they move from a planned economy under communism to a free market economy," said Ms. Slaughter. "The Ukrainian people deserve a better quality of life, and I am committed to helping them move forward."

Ms. Tymoshenko requested the meeting with Rep. Slaughter because of her close ties to the Ukrainian American community in Rochester, N.Y. Ms. Slaughter told Ms. Tymoshenko of the close connection that had formed between Ukrainians in Rochester and those in their ancestral home.

"I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet and work with many in the Ukrainian community in my district," said Ms. Slaughter. "I look forward to working with Ms. Tymoshenko in the future and visiting Ukraine to see first hand the challenges that the people of Ukraine face."

The two discussed Ms. Tymoshenko's plans to introduce legislation to hasten privatization of the Ukraine's energy sector. Ms. Tymoshenko said these reforms will help to permanently relieve the burden of debt owed to Russia for energy, and will result in a more efficient delivery of energy to residences and industries.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 11, 1997, No. 19, Vol. LXV

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