Ukraine's ambassador attends U.N. meeting, visits with Ukrainian American community (06/04/00)

Ukraine's ambassador attends U.N. meeting, visits with Ukrainian American community

by Irene Jarosewich

NEW YORK - Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was at the United Nations on May 23-24 to attend a meeting of the recently established United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). The body is mandated to develop a strategy for the disarmament of Iraq, as an advisory group to the U.N. Security Council.

Mr. Gryshchenko, who has extensive experience in arms control and disarmament, having worked on U.S.-Soviet arms control treaties and representing Ukraine's positions on arms control and disarmament, was appointed by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to serve as one of 15 UNMOVIC commissioners.

While in New York, Ambassador Gryshchenko also met with the Ukrainian American community on the evening of May 23 at the Ukrainian Institute of America - his first meeting with the community here since his appointment to Washington in February. He noted that other than Washington, and a brief meeting in Philadelphia with Archbishop Stephen Sulyk, metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, he hasn't had the opportunity to visit many cities or communities, though his plans for this summer include a visit to the Midwest.

Ambassador Gryshchenko expressed his support and thanks to Ukrainian Americans, stating that he understands that good relations with Ukrainian American communities and organizations are essential to Ukraine's good relations with the United States "since you influence the politics of this country" with regard to Ukraine.

The success of the recent referendum and the re-election of President Leonid Kuchma are positive signs that there is real change under way in Ukraine, he stated, giving as further examples the recent presidential decree to dissolve collective farms, the success of Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko during his visit to the United States in assuaging skeptics of Ukraine's ability to maintain the course with regard to economic reform, and consistent reductions in the size of the government. "Despite our problems," the ambassador stated, "we can't ignore the progress that has been made."

On the other hand, according to Ambassador Gryshchenko, persistent claims that Ukraine is on the verge of joining a "Slavic union" with Belarus and Russia simply must be ignored. "We're heading West," he said, "but we need to be smart and not fight, as this will only cause us harm. However, let me assure you, we are not planning to join any Slavic union. The strategic plan is foreign policy development towards Europe - this won't be quick ... As for this constant discussion of a Slavic union - there are many Slavic countries, Slovakia, Poland - not just Belarus and Russia - why isn't there discussion of unions centering around these countries?"

He also noted that the slow but steady approach to increasing the use of the Ukrainian language is seen as the most successful method "to put Ukrainian into its proper place." He offered Canada as an example where in the 1960s no Anglophone Canadian spoke French, whereas now they do. "It is a process that takes time," he said.

Within regard to U.S. foreign aid for Ukraine, Ambassador Gryshchenko explained that the funding from the United States goes to projects that the U.S. Congress believes Ukraine needs, and not necessarily to the programs that the government of Ukraine would choose. He pointed out that though it is popular to claim that Ukraine is the third largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, the difference between $176 million, the amount authorized for Ukraine, and the approximately $3.5 billion given to each of the first two countries, makes the claim a bit disingenuous.

Walter Baranetsky, chairman of the institute's board of directors, introduced Ambassador Gryshchenko, who was also greeted by representatives from the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

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