Chicago community launches 25th anniversary celebration of UNIS

by Pavlo T. Bandriwsky

CHICAGO - Two of America's largest Ukrainian directed financial institutions, 1st Security Federal Savings Bank and Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union joined forces to co-sponsor a benefit banquet in commemoration of the silver anniversary of the opening of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) office in Washington.

This event launched a yearlong celebration and fund-raising effort to support the UNIS office, which was founded by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) 25 years ago. The banquet was held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center on May 1.

Julian E. Kulas, president of 1st Security, served as the master of ceremonies. He informed those present that UNIS has been representing the Ukrainian American community before the United States government since its inception. UNIS provides timely information about Ukraine to the media and academia through policy papers and backgrounders, and produces newsletters and action items to inform and rally the community's support on important issues.

"The importance of UNIS' presence in Washington," said Mr. Kulas, "cannot be stressed enough at a time when U.S. assistance and good relations with Ukraine are critical in the economic and democratic reform process and Ukraine's integration into Europe."

Mr. Kulas then introduced Steven Pifer, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000) and currently the assistant secretary for the European Bureau at the State Department, specializing in Ukrainian, Belarusian, Moldovan and Russian affairs. Ambassador Pifer spoke of U.S.-Ukraine relations, their evolution over the past ten years and other topics of interest to the audience. After his presentation Ambassador Pifer addressed various community concerns, such as perceived double standards being applied by the United States to Ukraine versus other countries.

Michael Sawkiw Jr., UCCA president and UNIS director, was then introduced. Mr. Sawkiw presented a historical context for the UNIS office, noting the significant differences in Ukrainian and world affairs over the past 25 years and how the mission of UNIS has evolved to remain vitally important today.

"At UNIS' inception: there was détente with the USSR; Ukraine was a subjugated part of the USSR; political prisoners were common; and UNIS was the voice of a subjugated people whose opinions, desires, and wishes for independence were suppressed," stated Mr. Sawkiw. Ukraine has been independent for over a decade. "There exists a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States; all the while, the Ukrainian community is growing with more immigrants coming to our shores. This added influx of immigrants postures the community to grow its political influence in Washington and throughout the country," Mr. Sawkiw explained.

Key issues the UNIS director reviewed included: U.S. foreign assistance to Ukraine and its necessity to continue reforms in the economic and political spheres; the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, which maintains bilateral relations with the Ukrainian Parliament; the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Ukraine, as UNIS is actively pursuing a bill in Congress that would eliminate the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Ukraine and improve bilateral relations; the Ukrainian American Veterans' federal charter; a Ukrainian leadership program that would bring young talented parliamentarians, regional leaders and political party workers to the U.S. to experience first-hand how civic society interacts with various forms of American government; and the State Department Human Rights Report for 2001, which contained a controversial criticism of Ukraine.

The UNIS director also answered questions from the community regarding the differences in relations with Ukraine between the Clinton and Bush administrations; the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance programs to Ukraine; and the current goals of the Bush administration vis-à-vis Ukraine.

In closing the event, Mr. Kulas thanked the contributors who generously donated over $61,000 to the UNIS Fund and his fellow-members of the event organizing committee, the Friends of Ukrainian National Information Service in Washington, which included Orest Baranyk, Volodymyr Bratkiv, Bohdan Watral, Ivan Derkach, Yaroslaw Hankewych and Nestor Popowych.

Other Ukrainian communities are being encouraged to organize commemorative fund-raising celebrations in recognition of UNIS' silver anniversary to support its important mission. Contributions can be made to the UNIS Fund by making checks payable to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, 203 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003. All donations are tax-deductible.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 23, 2002, No. 25, Vol. LXX

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