Ukraine's Embassy to U.S. marks first anniversary of Constitution (07/06/97)

Ukraine's Embassy to U.S. marks first anniversary of Constitution

by Yaro Bihun

WASHINGTON - Ukraine's Embassy to the United States marked the first anniversary of Ukraine's Constitution with a special ceremony here on June 26. The program included the dedication of the George Washington Memorial Room at the Embassy, greetings and presentations, and a recital by Ukrainian soprano Oksana Krovytska.

"The adoption on June 28, 1996, of the Ukrainian Constitution was one of the most significant events for our country since Ukraine regained its independence," Ukrainian Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak said in his opening remarks. He pointed out that it made a "substantial departure from the Soviet political system and Communist ideology toward the creation of a free-market economy and a multi-party state, [and] became the most important act of reconciliation and consolidation of the Ukrainian people."

Important pieces of implementing legislation are now on the agenda, Ambassador Shcherbak said, including new civil and criminal codes. And these, he added, should be based on the principle introduced in the United States by George Washington - "a government of laws and not of men."

As a "special gift to Washington and the American people" on the occasion of the Constitution's first anniversary, the Ukrainian Ambassador announced the opening of the George Washington Memorial Room at the Embassy. George Washington had worked in the Marbury House, a historic building that is part of the Ukrainian Embassy complex in the Georgetown section of the nation's capital.

The George Washington Memorial Room exhibit includes copies of historical documents written by Washington, his portrait and that of Taras Shevchenko the "Bard of Ukraine" who, the ambassador noted, more than 100 years ago called out, "When will we get our own Washington, with a new and just law?"

Richard W. Soudriette, president of the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), which co-sponsored the Embassy event, called on those present to read the Ukrainian Constitution in order to appreciate its importance, "because it recognizes the ballot box and the will of the people as the ultimate source of power."

During the ceremony, Ambassador Shcherbak presented the Ukrainian Embassy's Certificate of Honor to Mr. Soudriette and former U.S. Rep. Charles Dougherty of Pennsylvania for their "personal contributions to the strengthening of ties between Ukraine and the United States."

Dr. Shcherbak praised the work of IFES in helping to prepare the Ukrainian Constitution and for assisting Ukraine in carrying out legal and judicial reforms. In mid-May IFES presented President Kuchma with its annual Democracy Award during the Ukrainian president's visit to Washington.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Judge Bohdan Futey, of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, who has helped IFES in its efforts in Ukraine over the past few years and was a recipient of the Ukrainian President's Award for Merit for his efforts in 1995.

Judge Futey pointed out that the Embassy building is historically important not only for its connection with the first American president, but in the evolution of the principle of judicial review. It was the home of William Marbury, who was party to one of the keystone cases in American constitutional law, Marbury v. Madison.

U.S. Rep. Jon D. Fox (R-Pa.) and Dan Schaefer (R-Colo.), who a few days earlier had formed the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, which they co-chair, spoke about their efforts for improving U.S.-Ukrainian relations. They presented Ambassador Shcherbak with an American flag that flew over the Capitol earlier that day in honor of the Ukrainian Constitution's anniversary.

Rep. Fox announced that the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus would soon travel to Ukraine "so that we can increase understanding and support for Ukraine .... [We] want to do all that we can to forge that partnership and lead us to even greater heights for freedom and democracy."

A representative of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association presented the Embassy an original engraving of Mount Vernon, George Washington's original home in Virginia.

The evening was capped with a recital by Oksana Krovytska, the Ukrainian soprano who returned for her fifth season with the New York City Opera. Accompanied by pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, she sang a number of Ukrainian folk songs as well as arias from her operatic repertoire.

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