NEWS AND VIEWS: Year 2000 elections (04/16/00)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Year 2000 elections

by Arthur Belendiuk and R.L. Chomiak

Whether Ukraine is viewed as a young nation struggling to establish democratic institutions or as a corrupt ex-Soviet state that only pays lip service to democracy will depend - to a large degree - on how it is perceived in the halls of Congress.

The person elected from your Congressional district will help shape the U.S. relationship with Ukraine. Do you know what his or her position is on the important issues concerning Ukraine?

Before Ukraine won its independence, opposition to communism was the primary Eastern European issue facing Congress. Each year, to commemorate January 22, the Ukrainian community would hold a reception on Capitol Hill and members of Congress would come to tell us that they were opposed to communism and that Ukraine, as a captive nation, should be free and independent. While we were reassured to hear this from our elected officials, no member of congress had to risk voter disapproval to declare that he or she was opposed to communism and supported human rights in Ukraine.

Today, Ukrainian issues are much more complicated. They require a thorough understanding of the rapid changes taking place in Ukraine, as its citizens are learning to build a new nation, with a totally different political and economic system in a changing world. Today, many more nations are competing for the attention of American legislators. Today - more than ever - it is important for us to win and cultivate informed friends of Ukraine on Capitol Hill.

Over the past eight years American developmental assistance to Ukraine has done a lot, especially in the areas of governance and election systems, judicial and military reform, privatization, accounting, health care, housing, agricultural, small business and media development.

While significant reforms have taken place in Ukraine, there is still a great deal to do. Unfortunately, Ukraine is perceived as sluggish and half-hearted in its attempts to reform its political and economic systems. When it comes to assistance for Ukraine, within a shrinking U.S. foreign aid budget, a negative perception is what blocks it.

But Ukraine has a new government made up of people who not only are serious about reforms, but who also know how to carry them out. They merit increased U.S. assistance. An economically strong and stable Ukraine is in the U.S. national interest. Many more members of Congress must be made aware of this.

Your member of Congress will vote on the amount of the appropriation for Ukraine. Do you know his or her position on foreign aid to Ukraine? Does he or she know your views on the subject?

We, as Ukrainian Americans, should participate in the policy debates that will shape Ukraine's role in the world community. We should use our available resources to influence our elected officials in Ukraine's favor.

What should we do? At a minimum, we should support those Ukrainian organizations that are active on Capitol Hill. No one disagrees that the resources of these organizations are woefully inadequate. Nonetheless, they have managed to make great progress. The members of the House of Representatives and senators who have joined the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus meet regularly with our community leaders to discuss issues concerning Ukraine. They are regularly briefed about Ukraine, including at meetings with the ambassador of Ukraine and other Ukrainian diplomats and government officials. These members of Congress are well informed and highly supportive of Ukraine. Unfortunately, they represent only a fraction of all the legislators.

Clearly, there is a need for the Ukrainian community to get involved on the grassroots or local level. Our elected officials need to know that we live in their districts. They need to know that we care deeply about Ukrainian issues. But they also need our financial support to be elected.

Get to know your representative and senators and get to know their staffs. Next time your community has some special event - a church banquet or a festival - invite your legislators to attend. Form a delegation of community leaders and ask to meet with your member of Congress. Go to a function sponsored by your representative or senator and let him or her know that you are Ukrainian American and that you are interested in his or her views on U.S. relations with Ukraine. Suppprt the members of Congress that are friends of Ukraine by giving them financial contributions and some of your time to work for their election.

Last November, for example, about 20 Ukrainians attended a fund-raiser for Rep. Curt Weldon in Philadelphia. Rep. Weldon was clearly impressed that so many Ukrainians were willing to support his good work. That evening, when he spoke about Russia, Ukraine and the former republics of the Soviet Union, he repeatedly emphasized the need to support Ukraine, financially and politically. These were not just empty words. Rep. Weldon has been and continues to be a good friend of Ukraine.

Another good friend of Ukraine is Charlie Dougherty. He has consistently and for many years supported Ukrainian issues. From 1979 to 1983 he represented a Philadelphia district in Congress. As a Congressman he formed and chaired the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Baltic States and Ukraine.

He helped focus the attention of the Congress and the United States on the plight of Ukrainian political prisoners. As part of an adopt-a-prisoner program he adopted Lev Lukianenko and thus helped focus the attention of the Congress, the public and the Soviet authorities on the fate of this prisoner of conscience. He helped organize Ukrainian events on Capitol Hill, including a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Great Famine in Ukraine.

His Congressional office was always open to Ukrainian groups. In his home district Rep. Dougherty attended every key Ukrainian function. He was always available to address demonstrations and conference, such as the Chornobyl conference and Famine commemoration.

After he left Congress Mr. Dougherty continued to support Ukrainian causes. He used his contacts in Washington to open doors on a number of key issues. He helped to organize the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. He has worked closely with the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, setting up meetings with the ambassador and key U.S. legislators. For his efforts he received an award from Ambassador Anton Buteiko acknowledging the extraordinary service he provided for Ukraine.

This year Mr. Dougherty is running for Congress again. The race is going to be tough. To win, Mr. Dougherty needs and deserves - the support of the entire Ukrainian community, not just those living in his Philadelphia district who can also vote for him.

Members of the Ukrainian community are planning to have fund-raisers in several cities to help Mr. Dougherty's campaign.

Win or lose, Mr. Dougherty is going to stay a friend of the Ukrainian community. He has proven himself time and time again for nearly 30 years. In Congress he will be an effective pro-Ukrainian voice. Let's each do what we can to help elect Mr. Dougherty. And let's also work for our own elected officials - federal, state and local.

Arthur Belendiuk is a Washington attorney and a Republican. R.L. Chomiak is a Washington journalist and a Democrat. Both are members of the Action Ukraine Coalition.

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