UCCA delegation discusses U.S.-Ukraine relations in Washington (11/23/03)

UCCA delegation discusses U.S.-Ukraine relations in Washington

by Serhiy Zhykharev
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - As events in the Kerch Strait unfolded, demonstrating the infringement on Ukrainian territory by the Russian Federation, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America expressed the concerns of the Ukrainian American community by meeting with U.S. officials in Washington.

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, UCCA President Michael Sawkiw Jr. and UCCA Vice-President Orest Baranyk visited the office of Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), the National Security Council and the U.S. Department of State. The meetings reflected the concerns of the community in the wake of the Tuzla incident, but also addressed other matters of importance in U.S.-Ukraine relations.

In a meeting with Rep. Levin, co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (CUC), the UCCA delegation earnestly thanked the congressman for his many years of support of Ukrainian American issues, and for his introduction of congressional resolutions commemorating the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. The discussion then quickly centered on the status of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide memorial, as well as other aspects in which the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus may be helpful in observing this solemn tragedy in Ukraine's history. Of particular importance, Rep. Levin expressed the Caucus' willingness to pen a letter to the Pulitzer Prize Board to seek the revocation of the prize from the New York Times correspondent Walter Duranty. "This is a very timely issue and one that goes to the heart of recognition of the atrocities of the man-made Famine," stated Rep. Levin.

Concerning Tuzla, the UCCA delegation informed Rep. Levin of House Concurrent Resolution 315 introduced by CUC co-chair Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), which calls upon the U.S. government to assure Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. On the suggestion of Rep. Levin, further actions call for the CUC to write a letter of protest to Yuri Ushakov, Russia's ambassador to the United States.

Messrs. Sawkiw and Baranyk spoke of the community's concern about the events in Tuzla, as evidenced by the demonstrations organized in New York, Washington and Chicago to bring attention to the situation.

Other organizations weighing in on the Tuzla affair included the Hollywood Trident Foundation, which in cooperation with the UCCA penned a letter from its chairman, world-renowned actor Jack Palance, and president, Peter Borisow, to President George W. Bush, requesting him to intercede on Ukraine's behalf should the events in the region escalate further.

At the National Security Council, Walter Andrusyszyn, Director of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova desk, greeted the UCCA delegation, later to be joined by Ambassdor Dan Fried, director of the NSC's Bureau for European Affairs. During the lively exchange of ideas, the two sides discussed issues pertaining to Tuzla, the upcoming Ukrainian presidential elections, the Jackson-Vanik amendment, Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933.

Both Ambassador Fried and Mr. Andrusyszyn spoke of the improvements in U.S.-Ukrainian relations, particularly within the past six months as Ukraine has supported the 'coalition of the willing' during the Iraqi conflict and sent its peacekeeping forces to the region.

UCCA Vice-President Baranyk accentuated the "community's growing perception that the close relationship between Presidents Bush and Putin have stymied U.S.-Ukraine relations, thus giving Russia a greater 'sphere of influence' in the former Soviet Union."

The UCCA delegation reinforced the notion that U.S. strategic interests are best served through improved relations with Ukraine and repeated its call to the U.S. government to be vigilant of border infringement by the Russian Federation and to assure Ukraine's territorial integrity, as part of the 1994 trilateral memorandum on nuclear safety. NSC personnel reassured the UCCA delegation that the matter is being carefully reviewed and handled in an appropriate manner.

A meeting at the U.S. Department of State with Mark Taplin, Director of the Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Desk, continued the themes touched upon in the U.S. Congress and at the NSC. Joining the meeting was Julie Nutter, economic attachè for the above-mentioned State Department desk. A lengthier discussion ensued about the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine and the Ukrainian population's readiness to ensure that the elections transpire in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Additionally, the UCCA delegation appealed to the U.S. government for increased funding geared towards "fostering a fairer election process based on the principles of democratic values and openness to the Ukrainian society," as described to State Department officials by UCCA President Michael Sawkiw Jr.

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