EDITORIAL: The third ambassador (01/18/98)

EDITORIAL

The third ambassador

The swearing in of Steven Pifer as the third U.S. ambassador to Ukraine gives us reason to pause and reflect somewhat upon the course of this bilateral relationship since the U.S. recognized Ukraine's independence on Christmas Day 1991, and the U.S. and Ukraine formally established diplomatic relations on January 23, 1992.

The first U.S. ambassador to newly independent Ukraine was Roman Popadiuk, a "favorite son" in some respects, a career foreign service officer named to the post by President George Bush. After arriving in Ukraine on June 8, 1992, he served amid the difficult circumstances of political crises in Ukraine and, above all, international pressure on Ukraine to "denuclearize." Nonetheless, this hard-working diplomat laid a solid foundation for those who would follow him.

The second U.S. ambassador, William Green Miller, who assumed the top job in Kyiv on October 20, 1993, was cut of a different cloth, as he was not a career diplomat but a political appointee of President Bill Clinton. Observers say he deserves high marks for furthering U.S.-Ukraine relations and for being truly understanding of Ukraine's many real problems. Bilateral relations advanced during his tenure from a state of misunderstanding, as a result of which Ukraine was seen through the prism of Moscow, to that of a strategic partnership.

Now comes Steven Pifer, a career foreign service officer for 20 years - more than half of that, as he himself emphasizes, spent working on the Soviet Union and the newly independent states. He previously served as special assistant to the president and senior director of the National Security Council staff for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian affairs. His testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing on October 29, 1997, was reassuring: "Ukraine's development as an independent, democratic, market-oriented and prosperous state is of critical importance to the United States. Such a Ukraine will be a key partner as we tackle today's international challenges, expand trade and investment, and shape a more stable and secure Europe."

Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said in a speech during the new envoy's swearing-in ceremony on January 5 that Mr. Pifer "has impressive credentials as a master-builder of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship" and "has been, quite literally, present at the creation of the U.S.'s relationship with the new, independent Ukraine" - including influencing Ukraine to rid itself of nuclear weapons and helping to launch the Kuchma-Gore Commission. Mr. Talbott underlined: "If I had to sum up Steve's abilities in one phrase, it would be 'problem solver.'" Those abilities, coupled with his résumé, give us reason to expect that this ambassador may be the right choice at this point in the U.S.-Ukraine partnership.

The problems in Ukraine are many, including those listed by the new ambassador himself: implementing market reform, promoting foreign investment and fighting organized crime. He explained the U.S. role as follows: "As Americans we will offer our advice as Ukraine chooses its path to build a modern state; and some of our advice may suggest difficult solutions." But, he added, "this is the advice of a friend and partner who wishes to see Ukraine succeed and realize its full potential as a democratic, market economy - which is in the interests of Ukraine, and of the United States and Europe." (To be sure, much is up to Ukraine itself, as it must take concrete action.)

Ukraine's partner has dispatched Steven Pifer to Kyiv. We wish him well in his new assignment to Ukraine, where he has said "much potential remains for further growth." And we look forward to his "candid counsel" aimed at enhancing the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and securing Ukraine's place in today's world.

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