Central and East European Coalition leadership meets with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (09/14/03)

Central and East European Coalition leadership meets with Sen. Joseph Lieberman

WASHINGTON - The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) met on Monday, September 8, with presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) to discuss issues related to U.S. foreign policy. CEEC member-organizations discussed U.S.-Russian relations, NATO and the Euro-Atlantic relationship, foreign aid and U.S. public diplomacy, including the status of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasting to the region.

The Ukrainian National Association's Second Vice-President Eugene Iwanciw outlined Russia's political and economic pressure on its neighbors, citing Moscow's attempts on the life of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and attempts to purchase the key national assets of Ukraine, Georgia and Lithuania as examples. He suggested that Russia's foreign policy flows from its domestic one, which includes denial of political and human rights for minorities, the genocidal war against Chechnya, elimination of freedom of the press, and persecution of religious groups other than the Russian Orthodox Church.

As to the latter, he noted that the 11 million Ukrainians living in Russia have been prohibited from registering a Ukrainian Orthodox or Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Sen. Lieberman stated he was unaware of the persecution of Ukrainian Churches in Russia.

Stressing the importance of holding Russia to the same standards as the United States holds other countries, Mr. Iwanciw inquired what changes in U.S. policy toward Russia would be instituted in a Lieberman administration. The senator stated that he believes U.S. foreign policy must be based on principles and that Russia needs to be dealt with from a position of strength.

John Karch of the Slovak League of America urged the senator to support restoration of funding for international broadcasting in the Fiscal Year 2004 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Bill. Sen. Lieberman remarked that, if we stop broadcasting to Central and Eastern Europe, "we take the people for granted."

Thanking the senator for his long-time support of NATO enlargement, Frank Koszorus of the Hungarian American Coalition, urged support for continued enlargement to those nations that express a willingness and commitment to NATO principles.

Sen. Lieberman thanked the CEEC for taking the time to brief him on issues of concern and expressed his hope that this meeting would be the beginning of an ongoing foreign policy discussion with the group. The senator said, "American foreign policy at its best is all about American principles - freedom and democracy."

He noted that if elected president, his foreign policy would be based on "our best values, strength of alliances and assistance to the newly independent states of Central and East Europe."

Karl Altau, the Joint Baltic American National Committee representative to the CEEC commented: "Our meeting with Sen. Lieberman was informative and useful. We thanked him for taking the time to meet with us. The CEEC plans to invite other 2004 presidential hopefuls to meet with the organization and to discuss issues of mutual concern. We will also closely track the major party platforms as the process develops."

The Central and East European Coalition represents 20 million Americans of descent from that region of Europe. The CEEC comprises 18 national organizations in the U.S., including the Ukrainian National Association and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and has been actively involved in U.S. foreign policy issues for the past decade. Also attending the meeting was UCCA President Michael Sawkiw.

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