Philadelphia groups focus on issues in Ukrainian-Jewish relations (06/22/97)

Philadelphia groups focus on issues in Ukrainian-Jewish relations

PHILADELPHIA - Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yuri M. Shcherbak, recently met with representatives of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee (PC-AJC) and the Ukrainian Federation of Greater Philadelphia (UFGP) to discuss issues of Ukrainian-Jewish relations. The session and reception, held on April 5 at The Union League of Philadelphia, was arranged by the UFGP as part of an ongoing Ukrainian-Jewish dialogue program begun in 1992.

In his remarks Ambassador Shcherbak, who had been Ukraine's ambassador to Israel in 1992-1994, stressed that the improvement of relations between Ukrainians and Jews, and between the new Ukrainian state and Israel is vitally important for Ukraine and that President Leonid Kuchma and the Ukrainian leadership share this viewpoint. Moreover, he pointed out that Ukraine has "abolished the so-called 'Paragraph 5' in [the] Ukrainian passport where people had to indicate their nationality" and that "even under severe economic crisis, the government of Ukraine tries to create all conditions for developing national and religious life of the Jewish community in Ukraine."

Ambassador Shcherbak went on to review the current state of Jewish communities in Ukraine and the current policies of Ukraine's government in fostering "friendship and confidence-building between the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples." He also outlined the work to be done by the Joint Cultural Heritage Commission under the Ukraine-U.S. Agreement on the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, particularly as it refers to issues concerning Jewish cemeteries in Ukraine and "sites of Ukrainian interest in the United States, including churches, archives and other landmarks of the Ukrainian American immigration."

The ambassador concluded his remarks with the statement that he wishes to promote good relations between Ukrainians and Jews, and supports initiatives aimed at fostering mutual understanding between the two groups. A lively and informative question-and answer session, dealing primarily with current concerns, followed.

UFGP President Dr. Alexander Chernyk opened the session by welcoming the ambassador and the dialogue participants, among whom were Rep. Jon D. Fox, member of the International Relations Committee, and former Rep. Charles F. Dougherty, a longtime friend of the Ukrainian community. Leonard E. Grossman, past president of the PC-AJC, concluded the formal part of the program by thanking the ambassador for meeting with the Jewish-Ukrainian dialogue group and especially for his frank and encouraging remarks.

Participating in the dialogue were representatives of Jewish and Ukrainian academic, legal, medical, technical and other professions. Dr. Albert Kipa, UFGP board member, served as the event's moderator.

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