Senate candidate James Florio speaks on international affairs (06/04/00)

Senate candidate James Florio speaks on international affairs

by Bozhena Olshaniwsky

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - James Florio, former New Jersey governor and congressman, addressed the International Affairs Forum of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations of Seton Hall University here on May 14.

He pointed out that in shaping foreign policy and decision-making the U.S. government first and foremost measures its own benefits. The geopolitical picture, the waging of wars, the timing of decisions is very relative and very fluid. Thus there is one set of rules for Russia and China, and a different set for, say, East Timur, Bosnia, Kosovo and Chechnya.

He expounded his views on how America's influence can help shape Russia's political and economic attitudes, which have a direct bearing on the Baltic states and Ukraine and other independent countries formerly a part of the USSR. He also addressed Turkish-Greek Cypriot problems.

Among those present in the audience from the Ukrainian American community were: the Rev. Bohdan Lukie, pastor of St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, N.J.; Alexander Kuzma, Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF); Walter Bodnar, League of Ukrainian Voters (LUV); Roman Pyndus; and Bozhena Olshaniwsky, Americans for Human Rights in Ukraine (AHRU).

The program was opened by Marilyn DiGiacobbe, associate dean for external affairs. The introduction of Mr. Florio was by Dean Clay Constantinou, retired U.S. ambassador. Ms. DiGiacobbe is well known to the Ukrainian American community from her service under President Bill Clinton in the White House Office of Public Liaison. While there she organized and coordinated many meetings and discussions between representatives of the U.S. government and ethnic groups. In April of this year Ms. DiGiacobbe organized and hosted a program at Seton Hall on Chornobyl and its effects.

Best known to Ukrainian Americans as the initiator of the Ukrainian Famine bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Florio is vying for the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate against newcomer Jon Corzine in the June 6 primary.

In response to a question regarding Russia's war and disregard for human rights in Chechnya, Mr. Florio agreed that the United States should apply more pressure to peacefully resolve the conflict and admitted that if this were a country other than Russia the U.S. response might be different.

Questions were also put forth by representatives regarding Turkish, Greek and Estonian concerns.

In addition to practicing law and being one of the advisors to President Clinton, Mr. Florio teaches at Rutgers University and is a prolific public speaker. Having a history of public service since 1969, Mr. Florio served three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, then served 16 years from 1974 to 1990 as congressman from the 1st Congressional District of New Jersey and four years (1990-1994) as the governor of the state of New Jersey.

While serving as a congressman, Mr. Florio was in the forefront of support for Ukrainian issues. He spoke out in defense of political prisoners and human rights in Ukraine and as the main sponsor in the House of Representative of the Ukraine Famine Bill (HR 4459), which established the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine.

While serving as New Jersey governor, Mr. Florio developed and raised the Ethnic Advisory Council to a meaningful level that was instrumental in many cooperative efforts with the state's ethnic groups.

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