State Department official visits Ukraine (04/09/06)

State Department official visits Ukraine

Embassy of the United States

KYIV - U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs David Kramer visited Ukraine on March 12-14. Within the Department of State, Mr. Kramer is responsible for U.S. bilateral relations with the countries of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Moldova.

During meetings on March 13, Mr. Kramer discussed a wide range of bilateral issues with Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, Presidential Chief of Staff Oleh Rybachuk, Defense Minister Anatolii Hrytsenko and the director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Second Territorial Division Anatolii Ponomarenko. He also met with the leader of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc.

In addition, Mr. Kramer held a roundtable discussion with students from the graduate school of journalism at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA). Mr. Kramer had requested meetings with Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn and former Prime Minster Yanukovych, but they were traveling and unavailable.

In his meetings, Mr. Kramer noted the progress the Ukrainian government has made in the areas of free speech, human rights and political freedom. He stressed that free and fair parliamentary elections on March 26, and a transparent process for forming a new government - one that represents the will of the Ukrainian people - is critical to solidifying Ukraine's democratic credentials.

In his discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to bilateral relations, Mr. Kramer expressed strong U.S. support for Ukraine's implementation of a trade and customs agreement with the Republic of Moldova. He said the measure helped to reinforce the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova and was a positive step toward resolving the problem of the separatist region of Transdniester.

Mr. Kramer expressed dismay over the recent detentions of two Ukrainian journalists and a number of student activists in Miensk, Belarus, and noted this was the latest step backward by authorities in Miensk.

| Home Page |