FOR THE RECORD: UWC appeal to member-organizations (05/11/03)

FOR THE RECORD: UWC appeal to member-organizations

Below is the text of the Ukrainian World Congress appeal to Ukrainian National Central Representations in the diaspora. The document is dated March 3.

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) urges its member national central representative organizations to use their good offices in order to improve Ukraine's relationships with countries in the West. For almost one and one-half years, we have been witnessing a puzzling reversal in relations between the United States of America as the leader of the Western world and Ukraine. In particular, this perceptible change has occurred since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and the commencement of the U.S. war against terrorism. Unfortunately, Ukraine has been singled out as one of the most corrupt and abusive countries in the world.

Certainly, the newly formed Ukrainian state has had its share of growing pains. In particular, its Soviet legacy has weighed heavily upon the people of Ukraine and its political leadership. Nevertheless, since independence Ukraine has held three reasonably democratic and free parliamentary and three separate presidential elections. Ukraine has unilaterally disarmed the world's third largest nuclear arsenal. Ukraine has closed down its nuclear reactors at Chornobyl as agreed upon with the international community despite the community's default on its obligations and Ukraine's continued energy shortage.

Ukrainian society includes a vibrant and outspoken group of journalists and members of government in opposition and critical of the current administration. While demonstrations have not been particularly populous, still they have been consistent.

Recent criticism has focused upon Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma. Leonid Kuchma is a Soviet man with inveterate deficiencies. While he or most others from his generation are not the long-term solution for Ukraine, today he is the legitimately elected president of Ukraine. The level of corruption in Ukraine exceeds reasonable norms for a democratic society. Still corruption itself is not exclusively a post-Soviet phenomenon. One need only consider Western phenomena such as the treasure trove of incumbency, patronage, influence peddling or stockholders' fraud and self-enrichment.

On September 11, 2001, the U.S.A. as well as the rest of the world were traumatized. What ensued was a justifiable war against terror. Unfortunately, war results in innocent victims and collateral damage. In this case, Ukraine, and with it the Ukrainian people, have become casualties of political expediency and shortsightedness. Unfortunately, current U.S. policy seems to be that Ukraine falls within Russia's sphere of influence. We believe that such a policy is shortsighted and erroneous.

By geographic location alone Ukraine is pivotal to the West. Additionally, Ukraine is the 24th largest country in the world. While Ukraine's current per capita Gross Domestic Product does not measure up to European Union standards, its vast resources including its educated population both as producer and consumer have great potential. Militarily, Ukraine is currently a valued member of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, and certainly, a more formidable potential contributor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union security than a majority of current or candidate members of NATO or the EU. Losing Ukraine as a potential ally should be cause for concern to most Western countries, particularly Europe and the U.S.

The UWC feels that the Ukrainian diaspora, and its national central coordinating representative organizations, in particular, can and should play a pivotal role in fostering better Ukraine-West relations. Despite ongoing Russian intimidation, Ukraine continues to manifest its desire to integrate politically and economically into European and trans-Atlantic alliances and structures. Even with current U.S.A.-Russia collusion, much can be done in the West since U.S. policy has become very unpopular in segments of the global village. We urge our member organizations to work towards a just and enlightened treatment of Ukraine by the international community, as we also urge them to work towards the establishment of Ukraine as a truly democratic and prosperous state of the Ukrainian people.

For the Ukrainian World Congress:

Askold S. Lozynskyj
President

Victor Pedenko
General Secretary

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