U.S. aids "Odessa, Russia" (04/02/00)

U.S. aids "Odessa, Russia"

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Unbeknownst to the world - perhaps even under cover of darkness - U.S. officials have turned the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa (sic) over to Russia.

Could this be an April Fool's joke?

Well, not exactly ... Odesa - the official spelling used by Ukraine - has been turned over to Russia only in press releases distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. In reality, Odesa remains part of Ukraine.

Let's backtrack.

A March 17 press release was headlined "U.S. Awards Grant to Odessa, Russia, to Study Heating Renovations." A summary of the release noted: "The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) awarded a $400,000 grant to the municipal council of Odessa, Russia, March 17 to develop plans for producing and delivering heat to buildings throughout the city."

Thankfully, the press release itself made no mention of Russia. "The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a $400,000 grant to the Odessa Municipal Council to develop plans for improving the city's district heating system. The grant was signed today in Odessa by the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven K. Pifer, and the city's Mayor, Ruslan Bodelan," it reported.

For the record, there are at least six other Odessas: four in the United States, in Texas, Washington, Minnesota and New York; as well as two in Canada, in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

There is no Odessa or Odesa in Russia.

Perhaps the U.S. State Department could use some good maps?

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