FOR THE RECORD (05/16/99)

FOR THE RECORD

UCCA letter to Secretary of State Albright

Following is the full text of the letter sent by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America on May 3 to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright.

Dear Madame Secretary:

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) wishes to express its dismay at the comments of State Department spokesman James Rubin on a televised program on Sunday, May 2, 1999. Broadcast on "CNN: Late Edition," Mr. Rubin's response to a question posed by CNN correspondent Wolf Blitzer was slanderous and deeply insulting. The ill-considered characterization by Mr. Rubin of a Ukrainian role in a possible peacekeeping force in Kosovo has clearly endangered U.S.-Ukrainian relations at a time when U.S. policy warrants the utmost respect for Ukraine's strategic role.

Thus, on behalf of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and its member-organizations, we respectfully ask for the immediate dismissal of James Rubin as assistant secretary for public affairs for the State Department. Such gratuitous statements by a representative of the U.S. Department of State are inexcusable, especially during this critical period of U.S. involvement in the Kosovo crisis. Ukraine's attempts to mediate and broker a peace settlement in the region signify a willingness to enhance the security of the European continent, and ultimately the U.S. and its allies. Unfortunately, Mr. Rubin underestimated the significance of the efforts of the Ukrainian government, as well as the strategic importance of its independence, thereby demonstrating his unfitness to carry out the sensitive duties extended to him.

The Ukrainian American community is offended and shocked by the statement of Mr. Rubin, and believes his immediate removal is warranted. The UCCA is willing to meet with you, Madame Secretary, at your earliest convenience to discuss this troubling situation.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Askold S. Lozynskyj
President

Rubin's letter to ambassador of Ukraine

Following is the text of a letter sent by James P. Rubin, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, to Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Anton Buteiko. The letter was dated May 4 and was nearly identical to one sent a day earlier to Michael Sawkiw Jr., director of the Ukrainian National Information Service. (The key difference between the texts was Mr. Rubin's concluding paragraph: in the letter to the embassy he asked that his "deep personal regret" be conveyed by Ambassador Buteiko to "your government and the people of Ukraine" and in the letter to UNIS by Mr. Sawkiw "to the Ukrainian American community.")

Dear Ambassador Buteiko:

I would like to apologize for remarks I made on Sunday, May 2, that have been seen as reflecting negatively on Ukraine and Ukrainians. My reference to Ukrainian soldiers was not intended to belittle their capabilities and courage, but rather to explain the rationale for an international security force with NATO at its core.

Ukrainian soldiers are highly respected members of several peacekeeping missions, including in Bosnia, and they have conducted themselves with honor and skill. We look to Ukraine as an important partner in our efforts to restore peace in Kosovo. We have consulted frequently with senior Ukrainian officials and appreciate Ukraine's efforts to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis. We believe that the Kosovar Albanians will have the confidence to return to their homes only under the protection of an effective international peacekeeping force with NATO at its core. We very much hope that Ukrainian troops will be a part of such a force, and this would be a significant contribution to peace and stability in the former Yugoslavia.

Please convey to your government and the people of Ukraine my deep personal regret for any unintentional offense I have caused.

Sincerely,
James P. Rubin

Statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Following is the full text of the statement issued on May 6 by the Press Center of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (The text was translated by The Ukrainian Weekly from the original Ukrainian.)

On May 2 the spokesman of the U.S. Department of State allowed himself to make a derogatory statement regarding the possible role of Ukrainian peacekeepers in resolving the crisis centered on Kosovo. This statement could not but elicit concern, inasmuch as it cast a shadow on Ukrainian peacekeepers, and on the fruitful cooperation that has developed and is being realized today between the military of both Ukraine and the United States in the sphere of peacekeeping operations.

Since the first years of its independence, Ukraine has played an active role in peacekeeping activities conducted under the aegis of the United Nations and other international organizations. During this time more than 8,000 military and civilian peacekeepers have joined in this honorable mission. Ukraine is one of the guarantors of a political resolution to the Transdniester problem (Moldova). And, wherever Ukrainian peacekeepers may be found - in Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Guatemala and other countries around the world - they fulfill the tasks assigned to them with dignity, and command the great trust and esteem of the local population. The unbiased and realistic position of Ukraine has gained respect and authority among various sides in regional conflicts.

On the third day after the beginning of air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ukraine became the first among all the countries of the world to send a high-level delegation of mediators to seek a political-diplomatic solution to the conflict. The mediation initiative of the president of Ukraine found support and was highly valued in European capitals, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Ukraine continues to take an active part in the political-diplomatic resolution of the Kosovo crisis. In the event that the U.N. Security Council adopts a decision to send peacekeepers to Kosovo, and in the event that authorities in Ukraine adopt an appropriate decision to that effect, our peacekeepers will be ready to participate in safeguarding the return of Kosovo refugees and resolving the situation in that region.

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