Peace Corps volunteers urge lifting of Jackson-Vanik restrictions

WASHINGTON - In a letter delivered on February 28 to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 85 former and current Peace Corps volunteers who served in Ukraine urged the Congress to graduate Ukraine from the provisions of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment.

Jackson-Vanik is a 1974 amendment that imposed trade restrictions on the Soviet Union in response to its poor human rights policies, particularly restrictions on the emigration of religious minorities.

However, as the letter notes, "Ukraine has clearly more than fulfilled the requirements necessary for graduation from Jackson-Vanik. Ukraine has built a strong record of allowing open emigration and has created conditions for religious minorities to pursue their beliefs freely. As such, Ukraine is a success story for Jackson-Vanik and it now merits graduation from the Amendment's provisions."

Following his January 2005 inauguration, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko announced that Ukraine's graduation from the provisions of the U.S. Jackson-Vanik Amendment would be at the forefront of his economic and foreign policy objectives for 2005.

Last April, following their Washington meeting, U.S. President George Bush joined President Yushchenko in expressing support for "immediately ending application of Jackson-Vanik to Ukraine."

Most recently, on November 18, 2005, the U.S. Senate approved repeal of the Jackson-Vanik restrictions on Ukraine.

The matter now lies entirely in the hands of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Peace Corps volunteers' letter concludes that "politically, legally and morally, graduating Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik provisions is the right thing to do. As Ukraine prepares for its parliamentary elections in late March [t]here is no better way for the United States to further democracy and promote economic growth in Ukraine than to graduate it from Jackson-Vanik as soon as possible. We therefore urge you to lend your full support to efforts to make this a reality."

The full text of the letter follows.

* * *

Dear Representative:

As Ukraine prepares for its parliamentary elections in late March, we are writing to urge you to lend your support to efforts to reinforce democratic and free-market developments in that country.

These efforts include working with Ukrainian officials in their quest to eventually join the World Trade Organization, NATO and the European Union.

However, foremost among these efforts is an issue that is almost entirely in the hands of the members of the U.S. Congress. That is supporting legislation, such as HR1053, to graduate Ukraine from the 1974 Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions.

Ukraine has clearly more than fulfilled the requirements necessary for graduation from Jackson-Vanik. Ukraine has built a strong record of allowing open emigration and has created conditions for religious minorities to pursue their beliefs freely. As such, Ukraine is a success story for Jackson-Vanik and it now merits graduation from the amendment's provisions.

Moreover, this step is urgently needed as a symbolic affirmation of Ukraine's successful democratization. Graduating Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik would provide powerful support for the Ukrainian government's efforts to stabilize and expand its economy, promote trade and investment, and participate in the international marketplace.

Politically, legally and morally, graduating Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik provisions is the right thing to do. Furthermore, it poses no economic or other costs to the United States.

There is no better way for the United States to further democracy and promote economic growth in Ukraine than to graduate it as soon as possible - preferably within the next few weeks - from Jackson-Vanik.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 5, 2006, No. 10, Vol. LXXIV

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