EDITORIAL: Yushchenko in Washington (03/20/05)

EDITORIAL

Yushchenko in Washington

It is now known that President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine will be visiting Washington and several other U.S. cities in early April. An announcement of Mr. Yushchenko's official visit issued by the White House on March 11 said official meetings in Washington are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 4-5, with the first day featuring a meeting at the White House with President George W. Bush.

Supporters of Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans who would like to see this first visit by Ukraine's newly elected president become a truly memorable and historic event are now pushing for President Yushchenko to address a joint session, or more precisely joint meeting, of the U.S. Congress. Such a joint meeting, the traditional forum for foreign leaders and dignitaries to address both houses of Congress, could take place no earlier than April 6 as Congress is in recess until then. But, in order for that to happen, an invitation must be issued by Congress. (An Action Item by the Action Ukraine Coalition in last week's issue first noted the campaign.)

Leading members of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission), Co-Chairman Rep. Christopher H. Smith and Ranking Member Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, as well as the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, have added their voices to this campaign by writing to the speaker of the House, Rep. Dennis Hastert, to request that President Yushchenko, like other extraordinary leaders before him, be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. (Most recently, joint meetings of Congress, have been addressed by Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Spain's President José Maria Aznar and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.)

The Helsinki Commission leaders quite appropriately pointed out that President Bush himself, speaking during the recent NATO summit in Brussels commented that Mr. Yushchenko "led a revolution, a peaceful revolution, based upon the same values we hold dear." They added: "President Yushchenko showed incredible personal courage, persistence and dignity as he led the struggle for democracy and freedom in Ukraine's Orange Revolution, despite the many attempts to keep him from achieving his vision for that country's democratic future."

The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, in an Action Item sent to its e-mail list wrote: "Since fall 2004, the world has watched the people of Ukraine and their leader become modern heroes and examples of peace, courage, persistence and the victory of democracy over tyranny. Many peoples in the region and around the world - as far as Beirut - are inspired by the example of Ukraine's Orange Revolution as they forge out the futures of their own countries. ... we believe that it is fitting - and needful - for the U.S. Congress to demonstrate its commitment to freedom and democracy everywhere by inviting President Yushchenko to address a joint session in Congress."

As time is of the essence, we urge all our readers to get on the phone to their senators and representatives to request that they call on Rep. Hastert to invite President Yushchenko to address a joint meeting of Congress. In addition, we urge our readers to call Rep. Hastert (202-225-2976) directly to state their case.

President Yushchenko, as the representative of the millions who took to the streets of Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine to stand up for democracy, should be accorded the honor of addressing a joint meeting of Congress as a tribute to the Ukrainian nation's triumph. After all, as the White House statement announcing President Yushchenko's visit said, his election was "a victory for democracy and a landmark event in the history of liberty." It is a victory seen around the globe that should be honored and celebrated by the foremost champion of freedom around the world - the United States - as President Yushchenko makes his first visit to this country.

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