Addressing D.C. banquet, Yushchenko calls for unity, service to Ukraine (04/17/05)

Addressing D.C. banquet, Yushchenko calls for unity, service to Ukraine

by Yaro Bihun
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko concluded his first presidential visit to the United States with an earnest call to Ukrainian Americans to unite and to help, in concrete ways, their native land achieve what was launched in the Orange Revolution on the "maidan" - Kyiv's Independence Square - during the recent presidential election.

His call - echoed also by his wife, Kateryna (née Chumachenko) Yushchenko - was made during a banquet in his honor organized by the Ukrainian American community on April 6, the last evening of his three-day visit.

The event was attended by more than 1,200 Ukrainian Americans from around the United States, representatives of American organizations, the U.S. government and Congress.

Speaking about the events and accomplishments of the maidan, President Yushchenko said that "this was what our parents had always wanted to do." His own father, he recalled, who had yearned for the unity and independence of the Ukrainian people, never saw it come to fruition; he died 20 days before Ukraine gained its independence.

The events on the maidan had energized the Ukrainian people, especially young people, many of whom earlier had no interest in political activity, he said, and in this he saw the awakening of a nation.

President Yushchenko expressed his gratitude to all who were on the maidan, as well as those who were there in spirit. "We can be proud of what we achieved," he said. "We did the job that millions of others would have wanted to do."

He called on Ukrainians living in the diaspora to help Ukraine in an active and concrete way.

"If a Ukrainian heart beats within you," he said, "I beg of you to devote two years of your life to Ukraine, with whatever and however you can." Ukraine's problems are not unique, he said. Other nations - the United States included - have had and overcame similar challenges. "And so shall we," he added.

Noting that the Orange Revolution was victorious because the people were united, he called on the Ukrainian diaspora to be united as well. First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko expressed a similar call to action for Ukrainian Americans as she concluded her remarks to the banquet audience just preceding her husband. She told them to enjoy their dinner because this should be their last evening "of just having a nice time and celebrating the victory of freedom in Ukraine."

"Starting tomorrow, I want you to roll up your sleeves and start working toward making sure that this victory lasts in Ukraine," she said, receiving a standing ovation.

"We need you all - writers, politicians, doctors, lawyers - we need you to come back, to continue the work, to share your expertise, to share everything you've learned in the United States and to bring it to Ukraine," she said.

The senior representative of the U.S. government at the banquet, Deputy Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky spoke about the meaning of President Yushchenko's victory and how the United States views his plans for Ukraine's future.

"Your victory is a victory for democracy," she said. "Your victory is a model for peaceful change." Washington looks forward to a "strong U.S.-Ukraine bilateral relationship," she said, adding that the United States is, moreover, looking forward to "a very strong strategic partnership" with Ukraine.

Noting that in his speech to a joint meeting of Congress earlier in the day, President Yushchenko outlined a "bold, far-reaching and strategic agenda" for Ukraine, Deputy Secretary Dobriansky stressed that "in that, we will support you."

Also welcoming President Yushchenko that evening was U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), who co-chairs the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. To the delight of the busloads of Ukrainian Americans from Philadelphia at the banquet, the congressman presented President Yushchenko with an orange-and-white Philadelphia Flyers hockey jersey embroidered with the visiting president's name and the number 1.

Among the numerous honored guests at the banquet - Ukrainian and American - were the current and all of the former U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine: Roman Popadiuk, William Miller, Steven Pifer, Carlos Pascual and John Herbst. And, sitting among the dignitaries at the dais was Ukraine's world heavyweight boxing champion Vitalii Klitschko.

The banquet was organized and sponsored by a committee of Ukrainian American organizations, led by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and The Washington Group. Among the many other sponsoring groups was the Ukrainian National Association.

The evening's invocation was delivered by Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Bishop Walter Paska of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The national anthems and the musical program were performed by soprano Oleksandra Hrabova and bass-baritone Stefan Szkafarowsky, with piano accompaniment by Oksana Protenic. The Voloshky dance ensemble performed the traditional Ukrainian welcome dance for the president and his entourage.

Vera Andrushkiw of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and Adrian Karatnycky of Freedom House were the masters of ceremonies.

Earlier in the day, while her husband was meeting with congressional leaders following his address before the joint meeting of Congress, the first lady was the guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by a number of American organizations interested in helping Ukraine solve its many social problems: Vital Voices Global Partnership, the Kaiser Family Foundation, Love the Children and the Coca-Cola Co.

Mrs. Yushchenko focused on some of the more troubling aspects of life in Ukraine: it is among the most affected countries in the world with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and drug abuse, while orphans and homeless children are a sad reality of life.

"I am deeply convinced that all these problems can be and will be solved," Mrs. Yushchenko said, as she appealed to the representatives of organizations and foundations in attendance for their help.

"Help us to build a state-of-the-art hospital to treat cancer, stop HIV, return family values back on track," she said.

Sonya Soutus, Coca-Cola assistant vice-president, who introduced Mrs. Yushchenko at the luncheon, attested to the seriousness of the first lady's commitment.

"I can tell all of you that she will be a committed partner if any of your organizations have the honor to cooperate with her on projects in Ukraine," Ms. Soutus said.

Present at the luncheon, which was held at the Cosmos Club, near the Taras Shevchenko monument, were representatives of many U.S. non-governmental organizations, the corporate sector, media and government.

Among the special guests welcomed by Melanne Verveer of Vital Voices in her introductory remarks was the first lady's mother, Sophia Chumachenko, Alma Powell, the wife of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Mr. Klitschko.

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