FOR THE RECORD: Peace Corps volunteers' letter on supporting Ukraine (01/30/05)

FOR THE RECORD: Peace Corps volunteers' letter on supporting Ukraine

Following is the full text of the letter by Peace Corps volunteers who formerly served in Ukraine that was sent on January 18 to President George W. Bush and members of the U.S. Congress. The number of signatories to the letter, which was reported in the previous issue of The Ukrainian Weekly, has grown from the 78 reported last week to 82.

Dear President Bush, Senators, Representatives:

As former volunteers who served in Ukraine with the U.S. Peace Corps (RPCVs), we are writing to urge you to act now to actively support the historic and dramatic development of a true democracy in Ukraine.

Many factors have contributed to the evolution of a strong and vibrant civil society in Ukraine that manifested itself recently in the successful demands by its citizens for free, fair and transparent elections. These include more than 12 years of American investment, both public and private, in a wide variety of programs to train and support Ukrainian students, teachers, government officials, business leaders, journalists, NGOs and others. Recent events confirm that these investments in democracy were not only wise but also effective. Consequently, all Americans can take pride in Ukraine's success.

However, we realize that conducting a relatively free and peaceful presidential election is only the first step on Ukraine's road towards a stable democracy. To cement and build upon the gains already made by Ukraine's citizens, it is essential that the United States back up its congratulatory statements with solid financial, programmatic and policy support.

We recognize and fully appreciate the challenges facing the administration and the U.S. Congress as it grapples with a major budget deficit. Nonetheless, we believe that increased funding for targeted programs that have been demonstrated to be particularly effective in helping Ukraine to make the transition from a former Soviet republic to a Western democracy to be not only appropriate but absolutely essential.

As former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer recently observed: "The administration's aid request for Ukraine for fiscal 2005 is less than $80 million. That compares with $225 million per year in the late 1990s, when the opportunity to promote change was not as real as it is now."

Accordingly, we are offering the following recommendations.

Among the many Ukrainian citizens who were in the forefront of the effort to overturn the fraudulent election results of November 21 were hundreds who had studied in the United States during the past 12 years thanks to various educational exchange programs. Consequently funding that has been cut recently in such programs as Muskie, Freedom Support Act-Undergraduate, Junior Faculty Development Program, Fulbright and Contemporary Issues, among others, should not only be restored but also be increased. These programs are one of the best ways to expose Ukrainian students and young professionals to American culture and civil society and to facilitate its transfer back to Ukraine.

Other professional exchange and training programs, such as the "Assistant to Member of Parliament" and those directed at training local government officials in Western-style principles of management, public administration, and democratic governance should likewise be expanded. In many ways, these officials will be the persons who ultimately will be responsible for translating Ukraine's newfound democracy into action at the municipal and regional levels. Similarly, continued funding and technical support for non-governmental civic organizations is important for sustaining the growth of a nationwide civil society. Other U.S.-sponsored activities such as the TEA program (U.S.-Ukraine Awards for Excellence in Teaching) for secondary school English and American studies teachers should likewise be maintained and enhanced.

One of the most exciting developments in recent weeks in Ukraine has been the dramatic demand by Ukrainian print and broadcast reporters to be allowed to report the news freely and fairly; the United States should aggressively support this. Consequently, funding for media development programs, including journalism training and exchange programs, should be expanded. Similarly, financial support for the Voice of America broadcasts in Ukraine should be strengthened.

With one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, coupled with a highly educated population of nearly 48 million people and extensive natural resources, Ukraine offers great investment potential for not only small and middle-sized Ukrainian businesses but also American and other international investors. In fact, stock prices in Ukraine reportedly have risen 30 percent since November 21. Tapping that investment potential, though, will require the continuation and expansion of programs such as BISNIS and SABIT and other U.S. Department of Commerce programs that help train Ukrainian entrepreneurs, support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and facilitate U.S. investment in all sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

More than 1,200 Americans have served as volunteers with the U.S. Peace Corps in Ukraine and have worked as English language, environmental, youth development, and business teachers and/or facilitators since 1992 with over 300 currently serving. This has perhaps been one of the best, lowest-cost, and non-political cross-cultural programs supported by the U.S. government. Yet, funding restrictions have made it difficult for Peace Corps-Ukraine to operate at full capacity. The program should be fully funded.

Ukraine suffers from extensive air and water pollution, soil contamination by industrial and military wastes, the lingering effects of the 1986 Chornobyl accident, and myriad other environmental and related public health problems. Moreover, its economy is highly energy inefficient - using 10 or more times energy per unit of GNP than its European neighbors - making its economy not only less competitive but also more dependent on imports from the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan. Therefore, environmental remediation programs, including those targeted at Ukraine's industrialized eastern sector such as the recently launched U.S. EPA Methane Partnership, should be greatly expanded.

Similarly, Ukraine suffers one of the highest rates of HIV infection in Europe which threatens to undermine the ability of the nation's inadequate public health infrastructure to cope. Other social problems, such as extensive human trafficking, also pose serious problems to Ukraine's long-term stability. Accordingly, U.S. programs designed to address these concerns need to be sustained and strengthened.

Beyond providing financial assistance for the above-mentioned and related programs, the United States should be prepared to strongly support Ukraine's aspirations to secure market-economy status from the U.S. Department of Commerce, to end the Jackson-Vanik Amendment restrictions and confer permanent most-favored-nation trading status, and to join the World Trade Organization. Assuming it is the wish of Ukraine's elected leadership, the United States should also assist Ukraine to further integrate into other major Western institutions such as NATO and the European Union.

We appreciate your consideration of these recommendations and we thank you for your past support for those programs that have helped Ukraine to develop its own democratic form of government and civil society.

| Home Page |