Members of U.S. Congress and Verkhovna Rada hold videoconference (12/21/03)

Members of U.S. Congress and Verkhovna Rada hold videoconference

by Michael Sawkiw Jr.
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - A videoconference between members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives and members of the Parliament of Ukraine was held on November 20 simultaneously in the Library of Congress and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

Participating in the videoconference were Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) from the U.S. legislature, while National Deputies Yuri Pavlenko, head of the Youth Party of Ukraine (member of the Our Ukraine coalition) and deputy chairman of the U.S. - Ukraine Group in the Verkhovna Rada and, Vitalii Khomutynnyk, representing the Regions of Ukraine party.

Michael Sawkiw Jr., president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), as well as Oksana Patriaeva, first secretary of the political section of Ukraine's Embassy in the United States, were also present at the conference. Serhii Zhykharev, director of congressional relations at the Ukrainian National Information Service (UCCA Washington bureau), translated at the conference.

The main topics of discussion at the hour-long videoconference included

"graduation" from the Jackson-Vanik amendment, restitution of religious properties in Ukraine and the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine in October 2004.

Regarding the Jackson-Vanik amendment, National Deputy Pavlenko stated that this amendment is an anachronism of Soviet times and that now is the appropriate time to cancel it for Ukraine. According to Mr. Pavlenko, "the restrictions on trade imposed by this amendment do not significantly influence the economy of either Ukraine or the United States, thus excluding Ukraine from the amendment [Jackson-Vanik] would constitute a positive gesture symbolizing the warming of relations between Ukraine and the United States and reflect U.S. gratitude to Ukraine for sending our military contingent to Iraq."

Mr. Pavlenko also indicated that elimination of the Jackson-Vanik amendment would stimulate incumbent politicians in Ukraine to further cooperate with the United States and strive to achieve new privileges for Ukraine (e.g., recognition of its market economy status, accession to WTO, NATO, EU, etc.) Otherwise, even after making a difficult decision to send Ukrainian troops to Iraq to participate in restoration of peace and order, the government of Ukraine does not have any proof to show its people that it is advantageous to cooperate with the United States. The conversation continued with the national deputies from Ukraine insisting that the U.S. should be a better partner with Ukraine, in light of Ukraine's voluntary efforts, and not harbor new requirements in order to be excluded from this amendment.

Rep. Weldon agreed with Mr. Pavlenko on this issue and expressed his opinion that the U.S. government is applying double standards. "While on the one hand the administration continues to state that the Jackson-Vanik amendment is no longer necessary and Ukraine should be excluded from the list of states to which it applies, on the other hand the U.S. Congress leadership continues to receive messages that the time is not yet ripe," he emphasized.

Rep. Weldon stated that he had received letters from major Jewish American organizations, as well as chairmen of various congressional committees responsible for U.S. trade policy, all of whom advocate Ukraine's exclusion from the amendment.

Rep. Kaptur expressed concern regarding problems with restitution of religious property, in particular to minority religious faiths in Ukraine. "Although technically, the Jackson-Vanik amendment is related only to the issues of free emigration of the Jewish community and trade issues, there is a more general spirit of this amendment, which includes freedom of religion, freedom of speech and other issues," she said.

Regarding the presidential elections in Ukraine, all conference participants agreed that they must be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner. Mr. Pavlenko expressed concern regarding obstacles the representatives of "Our Ukraine" coalition have encountered in various areas in Ukraine while trying to organize meetings and rallies. "Nevertheless, I hope that the elections will proceed freely and openly," he said.

Also, together with National Deputy Khomutynnyk, Mr. Pavlenko invited the members of the U.S. Congress to visit Ukraine during the elections as international observers in order to monitor the campaigning and the voting procedures.

At the close of the video-conference, the members of both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian Parliament wished each other success in their work and expressed hope that such contacts become more regular and frequent over the next year.

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