Ukrainian and Jewish groups meet to discuss Jackson-Vanik restrictions on Ukraine

Ukrainian American Coordinating Council

WASHINGTON - Action Ukraine Coalition leaders, Dr. Zenia Chernyk, chair of the Ukrainian Federation of America, and Ihor Gawdiak, president of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council - met in Washington on February 14 with Jewish leaders to discuss the removal of the Jackson-Vanik restrictions that hamper extension of normal trade relations to Ukraine.

Among the Jewish community leaders at the meeting were Rabbi Andrew Baker, director of international Jewish affairs in the American Jewish Committee; Mark B. Levin, executive director, and Shai A. Franklin, director of governmental relations, of the Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Eurasia (formerly known as the National Council for Soviet Jewry); and Guy Billauer and Leonard Grossman from the American Jewish Committee.

During a frank and open exchange of views that lasted well over an hour, the Ukrainian leaders expressed their concerns about the recent introduction in the U.S. Congress of a bill which would free only Russia from Jackson-Vanik restrictions. They pointed out that the Jackson-Vanik Amendment aimed at the Soviet Union was enacted during the Cold War days and that its provisions should not be binding on Ukraine, a free and independent state not responsible for Soviet violations of human and religious rights.

Furthermore, they argued that Ukraine's present record on ethnic and religious rights, including its treatment of Jews, is far better than that of any other state on the territory of the former Soviet Union, including Russia. Finally, they asked if American Jewish organizations would support a bill freeing Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik restrictions. The bill was introduced on March 13 in the House by Rep. Bob Schaffer, one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus.

The Jewish leaders agreed in principle with the arguments put forward by Dr. Chernyk and Mr. Gawdiak, but raised the question of the restitution of Jewish communal property in Ukraine. The Ukrainian leaders responded that the Ukrainian government has in fact passed legislation mandating the restitution of communal property to its legitimate owners and that the great difficulties - political, social and economic - that hinder the Ukrainian government from carrying out this program, apply not only to the restitution of Jewish property but to the return of the communal property of other religious denominations as well.

When asked whether the Jewish American community would oppose such a bill in Congress today, the Jewish leaders stated that they need to poll their member-organizations before they could give a definitive response. Subsequently, on March 7, representatives from the Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Eurasia and the American Jewish Committee informed the Ukrainian American community that their organizations would not oppose extension of permanent normal trade relations to Ukraine.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 17, 2002, No. 11, Vol. LXX

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