Chicago-area congressman visits Kyiv with his constituents (10/17/04)

Chicago-area congressman visits Kyiv with his constituents

by Michael R. Kos

CHICAGO - Rep. Danny Davis, a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus in the U.S. Congress who represents the Chicago area known as "Ukrainian Village," visited Kyiv on August 23-25.

Michael R. Kos, chairman of the board of Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, and board members Oresta Fedyniak, Oleh Karawan and Ihor Laszok, accompanied the congressman during his stay in Ukraine.

Rep. Davis arrived in the Ukrainian capital on August 23. Petro Kozynetz, president of the Ukrainian National Association of Savings and Credit Unions, and Mr. Kos, met him at the airport. Rep. Davis, who has been a long-time supporter of the credit union movement, was briefed on the credit union movement in Ukraine.

Directly from the airport they proceeded to Palats Ukraina to attend a concert celebrating the 13th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. The concert began with a speech by the President Leonid Kuchma, and concluded with two hours of spectacular Ukrainian music, songs and dances.

Afterwards Rep. Davis, Mr. Kos and Mr. Laszok attended a reception hosted by President Kuchma. Many Ukrainian and foreign dignitaries attended this reception, among them, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst and Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, who is a former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States.

The day finished with a roundtable discussion on building bridges between the United States and Ukraine, which took place at a local restaurant with the entire group participating. Once again, the group was entertained by the wonderful music of Ukraine. Mr. Kos was especially moved when the musical trio played songs composed by his uncle, Anatol Kos.

The August 24 began with the whole party attending the Independence Day parade, which consisted of various military units marching and military bands playing.

After the parade, Rep. Davis and Mr. Kos attended a luncheon that was organized by Victoria Hubska, director of the Kyiv Bureau of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and Markian Bilynsky, vice-president of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, Kyiv.

Eight former U.S. congressmen who were in Ukraine to observe the forthcoming presidential election also attended the luncheon. Ms. Hubska made a very moving presentation to the luncheon attendees regarding the Ukrainian "Holodomor," or Famine Genocide of 1932-1933, and requested that the United States declare that horrible tragedy a genocide.

After the luncheon Rep. Davis laid a wreath of flowers at the Famine memorial, which was broadcast on Ukrainian television that evening. The local press and Channel 5 television also interviewed him. Afterwards he met with a number of members of the Verkhovna Rada to discuss issues of mutual concern.

On August 25, Rep. Davis departed Ukraine, after stating to Mr. Kos that what he experienced and saw in Ukraine was very moving and worthwhile.

The reason that the visit of Rep. Davis was a success is the great work of a number of very dedicated people. These people are: Mykhailo Reznik, ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; Borys M. Bazylevskyi, consul general of Ukraine in Chicago; Michael Sawkiw, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; Danylo Yanevsky and Marta Kolomayets of Kyiv; and the aforementioned Mr. Kozynetz, Ms. Hubska and Mr. Bilynsky; as well as Bohdan Watral, president and chief executive officer of Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, who coordinated the whole visit.

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