Anton Buteiko appointed Ukraine's third ambassador to United States (11/29/98)

Anton Buteiko appointed Ukraine's third ambassador to United States

Pledges to concentrate on economic matters

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anton Buteiko was appointed Ukraine's third ambassador to the United States on November 20 by presidential decree.

During a brief appearance at a regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 24, Mr. Buteiko emphasized that as the new ambassador to the U.S., he will concentrate his efforts on economic matters and will work to deepen the still new strategic partnership between the two countries.

Ukraine has been troubled by the fact that it has not been able to establish an economic presence in the United States, even as it develops a special political partnership with Washington.

Mr. Buteiko said he will make improved economic relations his goal. "I will work for the interests of our businessmen and entrepreneurs and to improve economic relations," said Mr. Buteiko.

He said that one of his goals will be to open the U.S. market to Ukrainian goods, including the Ukrainian steel industry, which has been thwarted in its attempts to enter the U.S. market amid accusations of dumping. Mr. Buteiko said he has already held discussions on this issue with Ukrainian steel producers.

Asked what he sees as the major problem in U.S.-Ukrainian relations, Mr. Buteiko answered that he sees many "questions" that need to be resolved in almost all aspects of the relationship. "These touch economic issues, consular matters and other things," said the new ambassador.

Mr. Buteiko also expressed a desire to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian diaspora of the U.S.. "I place high value on the contributions of our U.S. community. I will continue to develop relations with the community that my predecessors began," said Mr. Buteiko. "I hope that I can be as effective as they were."

Mr. Buteiko, 51, has served in the Ukrainian diplomatic corps since 1974. He held the post of first secretary of the General Secretariat of the Ukrainian SSR in 1978-1980. In 1980-1986 he was assigned to the United Nations Secretariat in New York, where he was responsible for developing legal documents on international treaties.

After Ukraine declared independence, he was appointed advisor to President Leonid Kravchuk on foreign policy matters. He was elected to Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada in 1994 and served on the Committee on Finance and Banking.

Mr. Buteiko, who hails from the Volyn region of Ukraine, graduated with an international law degree from Kyiv State University in 1974 and is fluent in English and French. He is married and has a son.

Mr. Buteiko will replace Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, who held the post of ambassador for four years, and whose time in Washington was marked by the development of the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine, and improved relations with the large Ukrainian diaspora in the U.S.

On November 23 Dr. Shcherbak was appointed advisor on foreign affairs to President Leonid Kuchma.

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