First lady hosts Chornobyl commemoration at White House (05/12/96)

First lady hosts Chornobyl commemoration at White House

by Roma Hadzewycz

WASHINGTON - Ten years after the fateful May Day when children in Kyiv marched down the Ukrainian capital's main boulevard, the Khreshchatyk, unaware that deadly radioactive fallout was coming down upon them, the first lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton, hosted a special commemorative program whose aim was to focus attention on the continuing devastating effects of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.

Billed as "A Call to Healing and Prevention," the afternoon program at the White House brought together activists from both the private and government sectors who had worked to help the victims of the Chornobyl disaster, and the ambassadors of the three republics most affected by the accident's fallout, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Included among the nearly 200 guests were many Ukrainian American community members representing charitable, women's, fraternal, religious and other organizations, as well as individual activists.

The 10th anniversary commemoration (originally scheduled for April 10, but postponed due to funeral services for Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown) featured speeches by the first lady and Vice-President Al Gore, as well as Alexander Kuzma of the Chornobyl Challenge '96 coalition and 11-year-old Vova Malofienko, one of the first "children of Chornobyl" brought to this country for medical treatment in the aftermath of the world's worst nuclear accident.

The program in the East Room of the White House was convened by Mrs. Clinton, who acknowledged that "it is a great privilege for me to serve as honorary chair of Chornobyl Challenge '96" and explained that the assembled were "rededicating ourselves to the healing and recovery that must continue into the future."

"Today's event," she continued, "is one both of mourning and also of hope." Mourning because "the people of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia have suffered so much in the 10 years since the explosion and fire at Chornobyl's unit 4 reactor," and hope because, "as we so often see when tragedies occur, here and around the world, Americans and others respond with concern and compassion."

"The private voluntary organizations, including those represented in this room, have supplied well over 1,000 tons of medicine and medical equipment and supplies to people in affected areas. Those donations alone are worth more than $100 million," the first lady observed. "Today, these efforts convey a message of compassion and healing that tells the victims of Chornobyl that the world will not forget them or the tragedy they have endured."

Speaking of her own visits to hospitals in Kyiv, Miensk and Moscow, Mrs. Clinton hailed the "extraordinary work being done by health care professionals under extremely trying circumstances." She added that, "Thanks to the contributions of our government and many organizations - and to the partnerships that our hospitals have established with hospitals in these three republics - lives are literally being saved every day."

"We are very grateful for all of you in this room, and for the many, many others you represent, who through your work, your prayers and your continued commitment to this important effort have already made a difference and will continue to do so," she continued.

The first lady made special mention of Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak of Ukraine, who was present along with his wife, Maria, Ambassador Serguei Martynov of Belarus and his wife, Marguerita, and Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov of Russia. Turning to Dr. Shcherbak, Mrs. Clinton said: "Ambassador Shcherbak, we are particularly indebted to you. You were one of the first medical doctors to respond to the tragedy at Chornobyl. And in the years since, few have done as much as you, Mr. Ambassador, to educate people around the world about the medical and scientific realities of the Chornobyl disaster and what they portend for humanity's future."

Vice-President Gore, introduced by Mrs. Clinton as "a man whose attention to Chornobyl and its aftermath has never wavered, who in many respects tried to warn all of us about some of the issues we are now dealing with because of his commitment to the environment," spoke about the lingering effects of the 1986 accident.

Those effects, he said, "are measured in the anxiety of young Ukrainian and Belarusian and Russian parents who hope and pray that their newborns will grow healthy and whole. The effects are measured by the degraded natural resources that trace a poisoned arc across Ukraine, through Belarus, into Russia, and reaching as far as Scandinavia. They are measured by the uncertainty that we all share as we wonder whether one day another Chornobyl might once again unleash its fury."

But, he noted, "out of this mire of tragedy also have emerged great stores of hope, and deep reservoirs of resolve. Selfless men and women - thousands upon thousands of them - risked their lives to protect those of others. And courageous leaders like so many of you here today are working tirelessly still to relieve suffering. Leaders like young Vova Malofienko who have taught the world so much about courage and constancy."

The vice-president went on to speak of President Clinton's determination "to do whatever our nation can to overcome this tragedy, and to help ensure that all reactors everywhere are safer, cleaner and forever free from the sort of catastrophe we remember on this important anniversary."

He referred as well to the recent anniversary airlift sent by the United States to Belarus and Ukraine, bringing nearly $12 million in aid and medical relief to those two countries.

Vice-President Gore also hailed Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma's "courageous decision" to close down the Chornobyl plant by the year 2000.

Finally, Mr. Gore reflected on "the most enduring lesson of Chornobyl": "that only in freedom can people claim their rightful destiny to live in safety and security. Only in freedom can people insist on public health systems that work and on natural resources that are safeguarded and clean. Only in freedom can people hold bureaucracies accountable for how they manage potentially dangerous technologies."

Mr. Kuzma, coordinator of Chornobyl Challenge '96, expressed thanks to the first lady for hosting the day's event and for her interest in the issue, as exemplified by her personal visits to children's hospitals in Belarus and Ukraine; to the vice-president "for helping restore America's global environmental leadership"; and to President Clinton and his administration "for keeping Chornobyl on the international agenda."

He then commented on the composition of "the Chornobyl relief community," describing it as "a remarkable microcosm of America, including medical professionals and environmentalists, corporate sponsors and student volunteers, ethnic communities and religious congregations, women's and veterans' groups."

"None of us could have taken on this mission - this monstrous challenge - without the help and guidance of others. We have made some hard-won progress only by pooling our talents and resources, and by working together." He added, "Just as the disaster of Chornobyl defied borders, so too has our response to it broken down barriers and stretched our capabilities beyond what we thought was possible."

In conclusion he enjoined those involved in Chornobyl relief to continue their work. "We wish that we could say the worst is over. Unfortunately, many of the health effects and genetic damage will only become evident in the years to come. Chornobyl cannot be overcome by half-hearted or fleeting measures. It requires a long-term, passionate commitment. It will be a true test of our maturity as a nation if we can sustain our commitment during the next decade."

Mr. Malofienko, whose leukemia is now in full remission (his health continues to be supervised), occupied a place of honor next to the first lady. With his parents, Olya and Alexander, in the audience, the poised 11-year-old confidently walked up to the podium, taking a step up onto the platform that had been placed there for him.

He focused his remarks on those less fortunate than he. "In the city of Chernihiv, where I come from, everyone does not have the medical care they need. I wish that all of them could have the kind of medical care that I received. ... My treatment was very hard, but [my doctors in the U.S.] had the right training and all the medicine and all the equipment they needed to make me better. In Ukraine, there are many wonderful doctors and nurses, too, but they don't have the materials they need to treat their patients properly."

He went on to thank Mrs. Clinton, "because you and the president did not forget the children of Ukraine and Belarus. You have reminded us that many children here in the United States and many children around the world are in danger."

"I know you have written a book that says 'It Takes A Village' to raise a child. It also takes a village to heal a child," Vova added.

He also thanked the people gathered in the East Room and those who could not be present. "I know that you have worked hard. You may be tired and you may want to work on other problems, but please do not stop now. Let us make sure that an accident like Chornobyl never happens again, and let us do all we can to make this world a safer, healthier place."

After the conclusion of the official part of the commemorative program, the audience was invited into the State Dining Room for a reception and into the Blue Room, where the first lady personally greeted each guest in a receiving line.

For full texts of remarks by the first lady and the vice-president, see page11.

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