Ukrainian Americans' open letter to Ukraine's leaders

Printed below is the full text of an open letter to President Leonid Kuchma, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ivan Pliusch and Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko sent on February 18 by leading members of the Ukranian American community.

As preparations for the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence are being made, we, the undersigned, recognize the many achievements of the people of Ukraine. Ukraine's treatment of minorities, its record of religious tolerance, its positive relations with the West and with its neighbors have given us great pride. At the same time, however, we are gravely concerned about the recent developments in Ukraine. We are most distressed by the continued reports, both in Ukrainian and in the media worldwide, of the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press in Ukraine by the authorities. We fear that the scandal of the Gongadze affair, the widely disseminated revelations of the Melnychenko tapes, and the spreading public demonstrations against the handling of these developments have besmirched Ukraine's image in the world and may lead to an increasing public crisis of confidence in its government.

Since Ukraine became independent, we Ukrainian Americans have spared no effort to convince our U.S. government that the government of independent Ukraine is firmly committed to achieving full democratic freedoms and economic reforms for its people and that it is in the best interest of the United States to support Ukraine politically and economically. Our task may become even more difficult now with a new administration re-examining foreign policy priorities for the United States. Unless the ongoing scandals in Ukraine are dealt with expeditiously and with the most diligent respect for individual legal and human rights, our work on behalf of Ukraine will be severely hampered.

We, therefore, appeal to you to do everything in your power to assure that the investigation of the Gongadze case is carried out in a transparent, objective manner and brought to a speedy resolution. Equally important for the future of Ukraine is respect for a free press. We, therefore, also urge you to show the world that Ukraine understands that freedom of the media in all its forms and the people's right to peaceful demonstrations are hallmarks of all true democracies. Moreover, strengthening the rights of the individual and further implementing the rule of law are likewise indispensable elements for the future of a democratic Ukraine.

The resolution of these matters will allow Ukraine to continue the political and economic reforms that are so necessary for the well-being of its people.

List of signatories:

Andryczyk, Vera,
public relations director, Ukrainian Federation of America

Baranetsky, Walter,
chairman of the board of directors, Coordinating Committee, to Aid Ukraine (U.S.A)

Baranowsky, Roman,
president, Ukrainian American Association

Bilaniuk, Oleksa,
member, Ukrainian National Academy of Arts and Sciences

Board of directors, The Washington Group

Burachinsky, Bohdan,
member, board of directors, Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine (U.S.A.)

Chernyk, Zenia,
chairman of board of directors, Ukrainian Federation of America

Deychakiwsky, Orest,
member of the board of directors, The Washington Group

Diachuk, Ulana,
president, Ukrainian National Association

Dyhdalo, Roma,
chairman of the National Committee, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council

Gawdiak, Ihor,
president, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council

Humesky, Assya,
president, Ukrainian American Association of University Professors

Ichtiarow, Jury,
acting head, Research Institute of Modern Ukrainian History

Iwaniw, Natalie,
president, Ukrainian Gold Cross

Kaczaraj, Stefan,
treasurer, Ukrainian National Association

Kozenioski, Bohdan,
president, Ukrainian Federation of America

Lastowecky, Andrew,
president, Association for Democratization of Ukraine

Lysko, Martha,
national secretary, Ukrainian National Association

Maksymjuk, Stefan,
member, Auditing Commission, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council

Nazarewicz, Walter,
president, Ukrainian Institute of America

Oleksyn, Ivan,
president, Ukrainian Fraternal Association

Pashchuk, Andriy,
member, board of directors, Ukrainian Institute of America

Prociuk, Oleksander,
president, Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine

Shevchenko, Andrij,
member, executive committee, Association of American Youth of Ukrainian Descent (ODUM)

Trush, Joseph,
president, United Ukrainian War Veterans in America

Wolowodiuk, Wolodymyr,
president, Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine (U.S.A.)

Woroch, Stephan,
president, Foundation in Support of the Diplomatic Missions of Ukraine

Wynar, Lubomyr,
president, World Scholarly Council, Ukrainian World Congress

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 4, 2001, No. 9, Vol. LXIX

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