Philadelphia-area community welcomes Ambassador Shamshur (03/26/06)

Philadelphia-area community welcomes Ambassador Shamshur

by Vera Andryczyk

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Dr. Oleh Shamshur, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, on February 26 visited the Philadelphia-area Ukrainian American community here at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center.

The event was hosted by the Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA) and the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC). Joining in welcoming Ambassador Shamshur to the area were Auxiliary Bishop John Bura of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia; the Rev. Protopresbyter Frank Estocin, secretary of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.; Sister Lydia Sawka, OSBM; Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) chief sponsor of HR 1053 to graduate Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment; Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), a co-sponsor of the resolution; and the community's loyal friend and advisor, former Congressman Charles F. Dougherty.

The Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble welcomed the ambassador upon his arrival to the center with the traditional greeting with bread and salt.

During the reception, representatives of the area organizations had the unique opportunity to meet and speak to Ambassador Shamshur and the other special guests, including Natalya Holub, second secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine.

On behalf of both sponsoring organizations, Vera M. Andryczyk (UFA president) welcomed Ambassador Shamshur, guests and community leaders.

Former Congressman Dougherty informed the audience about the current status of the Jackson-Vanik Resolution and introduced Rep. Gerlach, who expressed his commitment to ensure the passage of his HR 1053 prior to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Rep. Schwartz added her support to the resolution. (The resolution was passed by the House of Representatives on March 8.)

The participants appreciated the ambassador's frank and comprehensive overview of priorities and goals, which included the graduation of Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, constitutional reforms, World Trade Organization and NATO membership, integration in the European Union and several cooperative projects with the Ukrainian American community. A lively question and answer period followed, which was moderated by Borys Zacharczuk, UECC president.

At the conclusion of his visit, the ambassador was presented with a set of the Encyclopedia of Ukraine (University of Toronto Press) by Bohdan Korzeniowski and Dr. Volodymyr Bandera of the UFA. A book on historic Philadelphia and Poor Richard's Almanac were presented by Mr. Zacharczuk.

Earlier in the day, Ambassador Shamshur had an opportunity to have a guided tour of historic Philadelphia and visited several area museums escorted by Dr. Renata Holod, curator of the Islamic Art Collection at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.

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