LETTER TO THE EDITOR (12/27/98)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Recommit yourselves to cause of free Ukraine

Dear Editor:

Now that Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak has concluded his duties as the ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, I want to take this opportunity to express my respect and best wishes for him and to urge Ukrainian American community members to recommit themselves to the cause of a free and democratic Ukraine and to an unquestioned and substantial commitment by the United States government to the cause of democracy and prosperity in Ukraine.

Having founded the Ad Hoc Congressional Committee on the Baltic States and Ukraine during my service in the United States Congress, I clearly remember those dark days of Soviet occupation and persecution when the thought of a free and independent Ukraine was a flickering candle of hope. Ukraine is free today because people in Ukraine and America kept the faith and continued the commitment to that goal.

Today, while Ukraine is free, the storm clouds that threaten its future as an independent democracy hover on the horizon.

Ambassador Shcherbak provided insightful and determined leadership to the cause of a strong, strategic relationship between Ukraine and the United States. I was privileged, working in cooperation with the Ukrainian Federation of Greater Philadelphia, to arrange personal meetings for the ambassador with key members of Congress, including Sen. Arlen Specter, Rep. Benjamin Gilman, Rep. Frank Wolf and others.

It became obvious at these meetings, which I attended with the ambassador, that the need existed to re-establish a "Friends of Ukraine" in the Congress. Working with the ambassador and the Ukrainian Federation, we initiated this congressional organization under the leadership of our good friend Rep. Jon Fox of Pennsylvania. Regrettably, the defeat of Rep. Fox in the recent election has been a major loss to the Ukrainian American community.

Nonetheless, our efforts will continue to ensure that there is a strong and committed presence in the Congress of an advocacy group for Ukraine. I look forward to working with Ambassador Anton Buteiko in this endeavor.

Charles F. Dougherty
Philadelphia

The writer is a former member of Congress.

| Home Page |