New U.S. envoy arrives in Kyiv (09/21/03)

New U.S. envoy arrives in Kyiv

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - With little fanfare, Ambassador John Herbst arrived in Kyiv on September 13 to assume his duties as the fifth United States chief diplomat to Ukraine since the country gained independence in 1991.

In his first official meeting with Ukrainian officials, the former ambassador to Uzbekistan held a brief discussion on September 16 with Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostyantyn Gryshchenko - formerly Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. who was appointed to his new post on September 3 - and presented a copy of his credentials.

Afterwards, the two met briefly with the press. Reading in Ukrainian from a prepared text, the new ambassador stated that he seeks to improve relations between Kyiv and Washington.

"My main goal is to improve our bilateral relations in all aspects," explained Mr. Herbst.

Ambassador Herbst encouraged Ukraine to move toward Euro-Atlantic integration and held out hope that the 2004 presidential elections would prove that Ukraine is a solidly democratic country. He also praised Ukraine's participation in the U.S.-led stabilization force in Iraq.

At his first public appearance at a conference on human rights and freedom of speech, held on September 18 at the post-graduate school of Kyiv State University, the new U.S. envoy commented during a meeting with the press on the fact that nearly a week into his job he had yet to officially present his credentials to President Leonid Kuchma. Diplomatic tradition calls for a new ambassador to be received by the head of state before beginning his work.

"I understand that the president is a very busy man. I just arrived in Kyiv and I have not yet been in Crimea," explained Mr. Herbst, referring to the fact that President Kuchma had been in Yalta for most of the week preparing for the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Mr. Herbst stated during the press conference that he would continue to involve himself in human rights issues, as he had done while ambassador to Uzbekistan, and to interact with all participants in the country's political processes, including non-governmental organizations and the mass media.

"In Uzbekistan the Embassy and I stayed in close contact with human rights supporters. The U.S. is strongly supportive of democracy movements around the world," explained Ambassador Herbst. "I intend to maintain the same contacts here."

The new envoy to Ukraine said he also would continue to support efforts to find the murderers of Heorhii Gongadze, the Ukrainian journalist whose death caused the development of an opposition movement after state leaders were implicated. He mentioned that he would continue the policy of his predecessor, Ambassador Carlos Pascual, to support the development of a free press in the country, as well as other democratic institutions.

Mr. Herbst again noted at this appearance that Washington wanted to see Ukraine more closely tied to European and Western international structures and warned that Kyiv's entry into an economic union with Moscow, Miensk and Astana could hurt the process.

He also emphasized that Kyiv is high on Washington's list of diplomatic and foreign policy priorities.

"The Embassy in Kyiv is one of the most important U.S. embassies in the world," explained Mr. Herbst. "The work that is to be done between Ukraine and the U.S., particularly at this time, is extremely important not just for Ukraine but for the U.S. as well. I consider it a great honor that President [George] Bush and Secretary [of State Colin] Powell chose me for this position."

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