New Yorkers bid a fond farewell to ambassador (11/15/98)

New Yorkers bid a fond farewell to ambassador

by Roma Hadzewycz

NEW YORK - New Yorkers bid a fond farewell to Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, and his wife, Maria, during a November 3 reception in their honor at the stately Ukrainian Institute of America. The evening was sponsored by the Ukrainian Institute of America, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council.

In his introductory remarks before an audience of some 60 invited guests, UIA Vice-President Walter Baranetsky summed up the illustrious career of the honoree: service as a people's deputy of the USSR and independent Ukraine's minister of the environment and ambassador to Israel, work as an epidemiologist and writer, and contributions as a public activist and intellectual.

As well, he pointed to Ambassador Shcherbak's role as founder and leader of the Green World environmental association, which was later transformed into the Green Party of Ukraine, and his work documenting the Chornobyl catastrophe, as well as speaking out on behalf of the disaster's victims and for the well-being of the population of Ukraine in the aftermath of the world's worst nuclear accident.

Mr. Baranetsky also pointed out that Ambassador Shcherbak served as Ukraine's envoy to the United States during a particularly critical period that saw a sea change in relations between the U.S. and Ukraine and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two states.

Speaking on behalf of the UCCA was its executive vice-president, Eugene Ivashkiv. "The Ukrainian community is bidding you farewell with sadness, as we have become well-acquainted with you," he stated. Mr. Ivashkiv also thanked the ambassador for his support and cooperation with the UCCA and its Washington office, the Ukrainian National Information Service.

Ulana Diachuk, president of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, began her address by commenting "it is easier to welcome someone than to bid farewell ... and it is difficult to say farewell since the future of contacts is unknown."

She went on to describe Ambassador Shcherbak as a true statesman and to underline his contributions toward the establishment of a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States.

She also noted the regular meetings with community leaders that the ambassador had convened to promote "a two-way exchange of ideas," and his participation in Ukrainian American community life. "We firmly believe that, in the future, history will value your contributions to Ukraine," she concluded.

Farewell remarks were offered also by Anna Krawczuk, president of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, and Dr. Stepan Woroch, head of the Foundation in Support of Diplomatic Missions of Ukraine.

A special presentation was made by Walter Nazarewicz, president of the Ukrainian Institute of America, who explained that, as a reminder of this country, the UIA had decided to give Ambassador and Mrs. Shcherbak a gift of antique American glassware.

Last to speak was the visibly moved ambassador, who acknowledged that "it is difficult to say farewell, and it is sad."

"I would like to convey sincere words of thanks to everyone here," he said, adding "I look out and see friends seated here in each row."

"I had an opportunity to meet with you, to learn about your opinions and to see Ukraine through your eyes: the eyes of UPA [Ukrainian Insurgent Army] veterans, displaced persons, émigrés," he continued.

Noting "the unrelenting passage of time," Dr. Shcherbak said, "so much has happened in four years, politically and economically. It was a difficult four years of brutal change, of daily political battle to shape what Ukraine will be like."

He went on to note, "I have had the great fortune to have worked in full agreement with my moral principles," and he characterized the past four years as "a period especially active in the foreign affairs realm, during which Ukraine's geopolitical importance was confirmed."

After reviewing some of the accomplishments of the past four years and providing statistics on the numbers of meetings and conferences he attended, bilateral agreements signed and delegations from Ukraine hosted by the Embassy during his tenure, Ambassador Shcherbak quoted a staffer of the Embassy of Ukraine who recently completed his tour of duty in the U.S. Second Secretary Vasyl Zorya, he recalled, said "We are returning to Ukraine as different people, changed by the experiences we had here." Indeed, that is true, the ambassador emphasized, adding, "we felt your [the Ukrainian community's] support."

Dr. Shcherbak told his audience, "I deeply respect the fact that we engaged in a dialogue - this exchange was very useful. I would like to share with you my dream of what the diaspora could do for Ukaine. We need a symbol of our unity: a museum of Ukrainian national achievements, a magnificent building on the banks of the Dnipro River, where our nation could proudly display what it has created."

After thanking his colleagues at the Embassy of Ukraine and Ukraine's other diplomatic missions in the U.S., the outgoing ambassador vowed to continue serving Ukraine "as long as my heart beats."

"I am leaving a portion of my heart here, but I am taking with me your good will and your warmth," Ambassador Shcherbak concluded.

That feeling appeared to be mutual, as many well-wishers lined up to say their last good-byes to independent Ukraine's second ambassador to the United States following a toast and a resounding "Mnohaya Lita."

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