USAID administrator meets with coalition of Central and East European organizations (07/21/02)

USAID administrator meets with coalition of Central and East European organizations

WASHINGTON - Dr. Kent R. Hill of the U.S. Agency for International Development, assistant administrator of its Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, on July 10 hosted member organizations of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC). He discussed a number of issues of mutual concern with the group, which comprises member-based organizations representing Americans of Armenian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Georgian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak and Ukrainian descent.

"This Bush administration and USAID are committed to continued dialogue with the diaspora groups of Americans most concerned with USAID's mission in the former Communist world. It is organizations like the CEEC that help keep Americans focused on the goals of USAID and the continued success of the countries of Europe and Eurasia. I look forward to a continued discourse between the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia and the CEEC on promoting democracy, market economies and the values necessary to sustain both," Dr. Hill noted.

The Central and East European Coalition was established to coordinate the efforts of ethnic organizations whose members continue to maintain strong cultural, economic, political and religious ties to the countries of Central and East Europe. The coalition serves as a liaison among these national ethnic organizations.

These organizations cooperate in calling attention to issues of mutual concern, especially as regards U.S. policy toward Central and Eastern Europe. The coalition has cooperated on a wide range of issues, including calling attention to Russia's policies toward its neighbors, NATO expansion and the Partnership for Peace program, and U.S. assistance programs for the region.

The CEEC has ongoing policy discussions with administration officials. As part of its program to ensure greater openness, efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. assistance programs for Central and East Europe, the coalition has long been involved in helping stage the debate about these programs.

The CEEC was represented by the leadership of the American Latvian Association in the U.S., Armenian Assembly of America, Association Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis, Congress of Romanian Americans Inc., Czechoslovak National Council of America, the Slovak League of America, Estonian American National Council Inc., the Georgian Association in the USA Inc., Hungarian American Coalition, Joint Baltic American National Committee Inc., Lithuanian American Council Inc., Polish American Congress Inc., and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

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