First graduation held at Ukraine's National Armed Forces Academy (07/21/96)

First graduation held at Ukraine's National Armed Forces Academy

by Petro Matiaszek

KYIV - On June 27, literally on the eve of the Parliament's ratification of Ukraine's first Constitution since independence was restored in 1991, Ukraine graduated its first class of officers from the National Armed Forces Academy in Kyiv.

President and Armed Forces Comman-der-in-Chief Leonid Kuchma and Defense Minister Valeriy Shmarov presented diplomas to the nearly 180 graduates - all officers in Ukraine's Armed Forces. Also in attendance were National Security Council Secretary Volodymyr Horbulin, Armed Forces General Staff members and foreign military attachés accredited in Kyiv.

The ambassador of the United Kingdom, Roy Reeve, presented a special commemorative sword from Queen Elizabeth II to the academy's first top graduate, Col. Mykola Kovba. While the presentation of such a sword in the United Kingdom is a standing tradition, Ukraine is the only foreign country to enjoy such a privilege, a tradition that will be repeated each year.

The gesture, according to Ambassador Reeve, was designed to represent the United Kingdom's commitment to Ukrainian independence and democratic reform, particularly in the armed forces.

During the ceremony, by executive order, President Kuchma renamed the academy the Petro Sahaydachny armed forces Academy of Ukraine in honor of the 17th century Kozak hetman renowned for the wars he waged to secure Ukrainian independence and his contribution to the development of a Ukrainian Black Sea naval force.

The president also used the occasion to deliver a keynote address on the development of Ukraine's armed forces and the constitutional process, which at the time of the graduation was still headed towards a national referendum in September. (Uk-rainian MPs worked through the night to ratify the document by the next morning.)

Following the ratification of the new Constitution on June 28, the president and Parliament Chairman Oleksander Moroz attended a special graduation ceremony at the Mariyinsky Palace in honor of the graduates of Ukraine's various military schools.

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