Congressional subcommittee hears Ambassador-designate for Ukraine Carlos Pascual

by Michael Sawkiw Jr.
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - Ambassador-designate for Ukraine Carlos Pascual, as well as three other nominees for envoys to Croatia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, appeared before the European Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 21.

During the confirmation hearing, Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), chairman of the European Affairs Subcommittee, emphasized that much progress has been made in Ukraine since its independence, though complaints from American businessmen about corruption remain prevalent.

Ambassador-designate Pascual began his testimony by acknowledging that Ukraine faces many challenges on its road to reform, but most importantly, Ukraine "must overcome its Soviet legacy to achieve these goals." Mr. Pascual added that outreach to the Ukrainian population on a grassroots level will be a key to his work in Ukraine, while simultaneously remaining in direct contact with the Ukrainian American community. "Advances in democracy, the rule of law, relationship with NATO and other European countries," continued Mr. Pascual, are signs of progress in Ukraine that must be sustained.

Mr. Pascual was nominated earlier this year by President Bill Clinton to be the fourth ambassador to Ukraine. The present U.S. ambassador, Steven Pifer, is scheduled to return to the United States in July.

Ambassador-designate Pascual is familiar with Ukraine, having worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in the European and New Independent States (ENIS) bureau, and having served as director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 25, 2000, No. 26, Vol. LXVIII

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