Senate and House pass resolutions marking Ukraine's 10th anniversary (08/12/01)

Senate and House pass resolutions marking Ukraine's 10th anniversary

WASHINGTON - As one of its last acts before the summer recess, the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on August 3 passed a resolution marking the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 62, "Congratulating Ukraine on the 10th anniversary of the restoration of its independence and supporting its full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community of democracies," was introduced on July 31. It was sponsored by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

A day earlier, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 222, "Congratulating Ukraine on the 10th Anniversary of Re-establishment of Its Independence." The measure had originally been introduced as House Concurrent Resolution 203 on July 27 by Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.) and had 30 co-sponsors.

The Senate resolution refers to the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine, notes that "fulfillment of the vision of a Europe whole, free and secure requires a strong, stable, democratic Ukraine fully integrated in the Euro-Atlantic community of democracies," and recognizes Ukraine as "an important European nation."

It mentions Ukraine's involvement in various international organizations and structures and underlines notable events in Ukraine's decade of independence - such as the 1994 presidential elections which "marked the first peaceful and democratic transfer of executive power among the independent states of the former Soviet Union" and the adoption of a new Constitution in 1996 that "upholds the values of freedom and democracy" - and cites Ukraine as "a paragon of inter-ethnic cooperation."

The resolution expresses the "sense of Congress" that "the United States congratulates the people of Ukraine on their 10th anniversary of independence and supports peace, prosperity, and democracy in Ukraine" and that "the president, prime minister and Parliament of Ukraine should continue to enact political reforms necessary to ensure that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Government of Ukraine transparently represent the interests of the Ukrainian people."

It also refers to the need for promotion of freedom of speech, assembly and the press; investigations into violence against journalists; maintenance of international standards in the parliamentary elections of March 2002; acceleration of efforts to transform the economy based on free market principles; and a deepening of Ukraine's relationship with NATO.

The House resolution refers to the 1994 Charter for Ukrainian-American Partnership, Friendship and Cooperation and points to Ukraine's distinctive partnership with NATO since 1997.

It emphasizes that since its independence Ukraine "has successfully transferred from a colony of the Soviet empire into a viable, peaceful state, which established exemplary relations with all neighboring countries and consistently pursues a course of European integration with a commitment to ensuring democracy and prosperity for its citizens."

It calls on the president and Parliament of Ukraine to "continue their efforts to maintain the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government and ensure that their cooperation is aimed at furthering democratic reforms and strengthening civil society based on the rule of law."

As well the House measure calls on the United States to "continue to assist in building a truly independent Ukraine through encouraging and supporting democratic and market-economy transformations in Ukraine, keeping the doors of European and Trans-Atlantic institutions open to this nation."

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