Ukrainian independence marked on Capitol Hill (09/28/97)

Ukrainian independence marked on Capitol Hill

by Yaro Bihun
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - Praising Ukraine's accomplishments in the sixth year of its independence, the speakers at this year's congressional Ukrainian Independence Day reception called for further strengthening America's strategic partnership with Ukraine, and continued support of its political and economic reform process.

The reception, held on September 17 at the Rayburn House Office Building, was co-sponsored by the newly formed Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC) and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).

The estimated 150 members of Congress and their staffs, diplomats, military officers and Ukrainian Americans who came to the event heard a cautionary note from Ukraine's ambassador that the failure by Congress to pass the earmarked $225 million aid package for Ukraine "will play into the hands of Ukrainian anti-reform forces" in the 1998 parliamentary elections. They were the first to hear the news that First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton would visit Ukraine in November. And they also heard from Slava Stetsko, Verkhovna Rada national deputy and head of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists.

Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Yuri Shcherbak, thanked the members of the House and Senate for their support of Ukraine. In what he termed this "crucial moment" in Ukraine's history, he appealed to U.S. lawmakers to continue their support of President Leonid Kuchma's reform efforts and approve the $225 million earmarked assistance package for Ukraine.

"In case the earmark is not adopted," he cautioned, "it will play into the hands of the Ukrainian anti-reform forces who strongly oppose the political reforms and seek to change the political course of Ukraine.

"Your support would help the reform and democracy forces to win the parliamentary election in Ukraine next year," said Dr. Shcherbak.

Ambassador Shcherbak also read a message from Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Hennadii Udovenko, who could not attend the reception because of his new duties as president of the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In his message Mr. Udovenko noted Ukraine's role as "an important stabilizing geopolitical factor" and as "a link between the post-Soviet states and the developed Western European democracies."

"Our strategic goal is to fully integrate into European and trans-Atlantic structures and to play an important role in the economy of Central and Eastern Europe," he added.

Mr. Udovenko "highly assessed" the development of U.S.-Ukrainian relations into a strategic partnership and the "significant role" in this process of the U.S. Congress, which, through various assistance programs, contributed to the building of a sovereign and democratic Ukraine.

He also used the occasion to "wholeheartedly congratulate Americans of Ukrainian origin who managed to carry through all those years the Ukrainian national idea and whose generous support has always been felt in Ukraine."

Most of the evening's speakers were members of Congress, among them three of the four co-chairs of the newly formed Congressional Ukrainian Caucus: Reps. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.) and Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.).

Rep. Slaughter characterized the past year for Ukraine as "exciting and challenging," with two milestones in the development of U.S.-Ukrainian relations: the cementing of their strategic partnership through the Binational Kuchma-Gore Commission and the signing of the NATO-Ukraine charter.

"As exciting as these developments are," she added, "over the next year, we - the friends of Ukraine in the United States - must redouble our efforts to help Ukraine continue to move forward, particularly in the economic sphere.

For her part, the New York congresswoman promised to do her share to secure continued U.S. aid to help Ukraine make this transition and to work with Ukrainian Americans and others engaged in humanitarian aid for Ukraine. "Yes, there is much to do," Rep Slaughter said, "but Ukrainians in America have much to celebrate as well."

Rep. Levin pointed to a few areas in which he, his democratic colleague from Michigan, Rep. David E. Bonior, and others in the Ukrainian caucus had worked to strengthen U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation: in helping preserve and improve Ukraine's environment, and increasing the participation of young people in the electoral process.

The Congressional Ukrainian Caucus was formed to ensure that Ukraine receives American assistance "as it develops its free-market, democratic way of life," Rep. Levin said.

"We cheered as Eastern European countries became free. We cheered the heroes, many of whom had their lives threatened, when they stood up to the former Soviet Union and demanded freedom," he said. "And it was just a small measure on our behalf to say to people who had struggled for freedom that we, Americans, are still with you in spirit and some small amount of resources."

Ukraine's friends in Congress won that battle last year and this year, Rep. Levin said, and will win it next year "because the cause of the growth of democracy and the free market in Ukraine is worth every measure of reasonable American support."

Rep. Schaffer read a statement on Ukrainian independence he had inserted that day into the Congressional Record, in which he praised Ukraine's political and economic progress over the past six years.

He also relayed greetings from the fourth co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Rep. Jon D. Fox (R-Pa.), who was back in his district that evening.

Caucus member Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) said that as someone who comes from an ethnic community (Cleveland) he understands the importance of a strong relationship between the United States and Ukraine, and of U.S. assistance in fostering peace and prosperity in Ukraine.

"We are a great nation," he added, "and as long as we stay true to our commitment to peace, to liberty, to justice, we are going to continue to be a great nation."

Another caucus member, Rep. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), said that as a Cuban American he understands the yearning of the Ukrainian people, and as a member of the House International Relations Committee he recognizes "very clearly what is in our mutual strong interest."

"As a member of the International Relations Committee," he said, "I want you to know that you have my hand in friendship and the power of my office to make sure that we keep the Ukrainian people on the path that they have decided they want to be on - free, independent and moving continuously in the democratic tradition."

The only senator in attendance, Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who witnessed the last airlift of assistance for the children of Chornobyl, said he was impressed with the Ukrainian American community's commitment to helping the children who suffered in that tragedy. He also spoke about the successful effort to stop the deportation of the family of Volodymyr "Vova" Malofienko, the only survivor in a group of eight Chornobyl children brought to the United States in 1990 for cancer treatment.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) assured Ukrainian Americans that they have "many friends" in Congress and its committees, and thanked the community for its efforts to move Ukraine towards a democracy, a free market and denuclearization.

Also attending the reception were U.S. Rep. David E. Bonior and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.).

The news about the first lady's planned visit to Ukraine was announced by her deputy chief of staff, Melanne Verveer. With no firm dates set yet, the 10-day trip would be in early November, with stops also in Russia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, she said.

Commenting on the meaning of Ukraine's sixth anniversary, Ms. Verveer, who is of Ukrainian descent, said that it is "a time for all of us to recommit to what this represents ... to help build the democracy, which - we know after 220 years in our own country - is a very difficult process and a never-ending process."

Ukrainian National Information Service Director Michael Sawkiw Jr., who was master of ceremonies of the reception, expressed the Ukrainian American community's gratitude to the administration, the Congress and especially the members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus.

"We thank you for your support and dedication for the expansion of ties between the United States and Ukraine. Your work is truly appreciated by the Ukrainian American community, and our extreme thanks to you for your continuing efforts to provide Ukraine a spark of hope for a better and brighter future," Mr. Sawkiw said.

Ihor Gawdiak, Washington Office director of the co-sponsoring UACC, also thanked the administration, Congress and the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus for their support and commitment to Ukraine. Even though Ukraine still faces many obstacles ahead, he said, Ukrainian Americans celebrate each anniversary "with optimism and faith in the future."

"We also hope that our friends in Congress will also remain steadfast in their commitment towards Ukraine, for we believe that a politically stable and economically prosperous Ukraine serves the best interests of the United States and world peace," Mr. Gawdiak said. "We, in turn, pledge our support to those members of Congress who will continue to help us achieve these goals," he added.

Speaking on behalf of the UCCA and its president, Askold Lozynskyj, Federal Judge Bohdan Futey applauded Ukraine on its many accomplishments during the past year, and especially the adoption of the Constitution, which, he said, "serves as a fitting tribute to this year's anniversary of Ukraine's independence."

"We are also mindful of the number of difficulties that Ukraine is facing at the present time, especially in the area of economic reform," Judge Futey said. "But we are optimistic and confident that President Kuchma and his government will overcome these challenges. The Ukrainian people depend on the government's firm commitment to, and implementation of, reforms in order to improve their quality of life."

He, too, expressed the gratitude of Ukrainian Americans to President Clinton and the U.S. Congress for their support of Ukraine, which he said is in the national interest of both countries. Judge Futey also commended Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak for his work on behalf of Ukraine in the United States.

The last speaker of the evening, Ukrainian National Deputy Slava Stetsko said Ukrainians are very grateful to the United States for all it has given to Ukraine. "But, above all," she added, "we are grateful to God, (who) gave us such a beautiful country and great wealth."

Its greatest wealth, she said, is the "Ukrainian nation - this unconquerable, this heroic nation ... now very conscious of its heroic past." The nation is now venerating its heroes, she said, which gives it the strength to carry on their work.

"And I can assure you that (the) Ukrainian people (are) conscious of (their) responsibility" to become, as the entire world expects of it, a large, strong and democratic country, and to be the guarantor of peace and stability of this part of the world, Mrs. Stetsko said.

In addition to Ms. Verveer, also attending the reception from the Clinton administration were Ambassador William Courtney, the recently appointed special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council; Jack Segal, director of the State Department's Office of Ukrainian, Belarussian and Moldovan Affairs; and Christine Stanek of the White House's ethnic outreach office.

Also among the guests were Maria Shcherbak and members of the Ukrainian Embassy staff in Washington; Polish Ambassador Jerzy Kozminski; about 20 senior officers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces Academy who were visiting military schools and installations in the United States; Col. Ilona Kwiecien, military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv; and the former American naval attaché in Kyiv, Cmdr. Stephen Szyszka.

The Rev. Petro Semenych of the Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Shrine delivered the invocation.

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