Pascual sworn in as envoy to Ukraine (10/15/00)

Pascual sworn in as envoy to Ukraine

by Yaro Bihun
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - Carlos Pascual was sworn in on October 6 as the next U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, promising continued U.S. support for Ukraine's quest to build a democratic, free-market society for its people and to become a part of the European community.

The swearing-in ceremony took place in the ornate Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department in the presence of close to 300 of his colleagues, friends and family, including the president's and vice-president's national security advisors, Samuel Berger and Leon Feurth, and Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.

In remarks after taking the oath, Ambassador Pascual spoke about his government's vision for Ukraine's future.

Much has been accomplished, he said, during the period of Ukraine's transition from the Soviet authoritarian, command society: independence, a new constitution, presidential and parliamentary elections, and the ending of a one-party state. The process, however, is not complete, and only Ukraine can make the difficult choices necessary to complete it, he added.

Ambassador Pascual said that in this endeavor the United States will support Ukraine's stated quest to shape its destiny as a European state. This is not question of foreign policy but a domestic issue, he added. "If Ukraine wants to be part of Europe, it must look like Europe" in its political, economic and social systems, which must include the freedom of the press, an independent judiciary, the rule of law, a fair tax system and less corruption.

The new ambassador quoted a recent statement by a senior Ukrainian official who indicated that there is a "crisis of confidence" in Ukraine and that its future will be shaped "by actions and not promises."

Ambassador Pascual said that Ukraine has the opportunity to show the international community as well as its own people that "it is not business as usual" by the way it handles a number of measures coming due in the near future: the privatization of its electricity system, instituting sound management of its gas transit system, passing the law on the judiciary and implementing its military reforms program.

The United States also will support the Ukrainian people in building a stronger civil society, in which communities will have a greater chance to take control of their own lives and build a better future for themselves, he said.

Ambassador Pascual stressed the importance of Ukraine having a clear vision of its future, the "strength to dream, and the courage to turn those dreams into reality."

The new ambassador was introduced at the ceremony by Deputy Secretary Talbott and National Security Advisor Berger, both of whom praised his personal qualities and skills as a diplomat.

Supporting Ukraine's aspirations at this time will require "patience, resilience and determination," Mr. Talbott said, adding that Mr. Pascual has all of these attributes "in abundance."

He also noted that Mr. Pascual's wife, Aileen Marshall Pascual, who held the Bible on which he took the oath, is known for her work on behalf of human rights and against corruption during her work with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Africa and the Global Coalition for Africa.

National Security Advisor Berger, for whom Mr. Pascual worked before President Bill Clinton nominated him to be ambassador to Ukraine, called the new ambassador "one of the finest" he has worked with at the NSC, "enormously creative" and "restless and impatient in a very patient way."

"We send to Ukraine a man who is eminently up to the task and worthy of the importance we place on him," Mr. Berger said.

Among those witnessing the ceremony were Ambassador Pascual's parents, Carlos and Gladys Pascual, who brought him to the United States when they fled Cuba in 1961.

Also on hand were many representatives of the Ukrainian American community.

Ambassador Pascual is due to depart for Ukraine in mid-October.

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