Congressional Ukrainian Caucus sponsors briefing on Ukraine's future (02/13/05)

Congressional Ukrainian Caucus sponsors briefing on Ukraine's future

by Serhiy Zhykharev
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - The Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (CUC), in co-sponsorship with the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), hosted a congressional briefing on Wednesday afternoon, January 25, titled "Ukraine: Then and Now."

The two-hour briefing was dedicated to the results of the Ukrainian presidential elections and the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations. Attended by representatives of nearly three dozen congressional offices and held at the Rayburn House Office Building, the briefing featured several members of Congress and a handful of international election observers who spoke about their experiences in Ukraine.

Michael Sawkiw Jr., UCCA president, opened the briefing, describing the feeling of elation that dominated the streets of Kyiv and all of Ukraine on Sunday, January 23, when President Viktor Yushchenko was inaugurated the third President of Ukraine. "That day of celebration, however, was preceded by a peaceful struggle as the nation protested the corrupt and rigged electoral results of the November 21 run-off elections and took on the popular movement described as the "Orange Revolution," stated Mr. Sawkiw. "In one unifying voice," he said, "the Ukrainian people ended the rule of lawlessness and corruption."

The UCCA president also invited the Bush administration, the U.S. Congress and American businesses to re-affirm their dedication to working with Ukraine and helping to transform Ukraine into a full-fledged democracy by granting Ukraine market-economy status, revoking the Jackson-Vanik amendment, increasing U.S. foreign assistance, supporting Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), expanding trade and business investment in Ukraine, and working towards a Member Action Plan (MAP) for NATO accession.

Since the hearing was largely dedicated to the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations, all of the speakers agreed that with the change of governments in Ukraine and Ukraine's new image in the world, U.S.-Ukraine relations are bound to develop more steadily.

The deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, Serhiy Korsunsky, stated that Ukraine has now entered a new phase of cooperation with Western countries. "The United States, could help Ukraine immensely by granting it Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, as well as recognizing it as a country with a market economy. This would pave the way for Ukraine to accede to the WTO and other Euro-Atlantic structures," he said.

Mr. Korsunsky also thanked the UCCA for its useful work in coordinating international election observers during the election and recommended the UCCA as the point of contact between congressional offices, the greater Ukrainian American community, parliamentarians in Ukraine, as well as Ukraine's civic society.

Rep. Steven Rothman (D-N.J.), a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, spoke about the new course of U.S.-Ukraine relations. "The Ukrainian nation stared down tyranny," he said, "and stared down the forces of evil - now comes a great opportunity for the Ukrainian people."

The northern New Jersey congressman pledged his support for U.S.-Ukraine issues and encouraged his fellow members of Congress to join the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus.

In thanking Rep. Rothman for his participation, the UCCA president acknowledged the congressman's initiation of a bi-partisan letter to request that President George W. Bush invite President Yushchenko for an official state visit to Washington.

Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, also acknowledged the resourcefulness of the Ukrainian people as he exclaimed: "In the long-run, the Ukrainian people won!"

In particular, Rep. Weldon mentioned the issue of the Jackson-Vanik amendment and the need for its revocation. Rep. Weldon mentioned that this issue has been on the table for several years; the main condition - free emigration of Ukraine's citizens - has been fulfilled, and now Ukraine should be granted permanent normal trade relations status. "Give Ukraine a gift - something of substance to the Ukrainian people for their stellar defense of democratic values," stated Rep. Weldon.

Many of the speakers at the briefing focused on the dynamic role of the Ukrainian American community in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and agreed that the role of community-based organizations should be expanded.

In a statement distributed to the participants at the briefing, UCCA's Executive Director Tamara Gallo Olexy described the UCCA pre-election civic education program, as well as the methods used to organize its 2,408-member delegation of international election observers for the three rounds of the Ukrainian presidential elections. "Foreign assistance should be undertaken by USAID, USIA and other funding agencies to initiate outreach programs to Ukrainian American community organizations and procedures should be streamlined to facilitate their participation," she stated.

David Lorello, one of the UCCA observers who monitored the elections in the eastern city of Kremenchuk, spoke of his experience in Ukraine during the final two rounds. He concluded his observations by challenging the U.S. Congress on those items mentioned earlier in the briefing to help Ukraine during this crucial period in its history. He also pointed out the important role that youths and young professionals played in the Orange Revolution, and insisted that exchanges would be exceptionally useful for Ukraine and beneficial for the United States as well.

UCCA election observers Bohdanna Urbanovych and Ulana Mazurkevich shared their experiences in monitoring Ukraine's elections. They also offered their opinions as to the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations. Ms. Urbanovych stated: "We ask that the United States and the Paris Club of donor countries assist President Yushchenko and the people of Ukraine with implementing new initiatives." Ms. Mazurkevich underscored the importance of expanding U.S.-Ukraine relations in order to demonstrate "that we are here to assist [Ukraine] on this road toward true democracy and free enterprise."

Also attending the congressional briefing was Rep. Timothy Murphy (R-Pa.) who mentioned how "refreshing and rewarding [it is] that democracy has spoken in Ukraine." He mentioned the enthusiasm in his district, which encompasses the greater Pittsburgh area, from the Ukrainian community as the dramatic events in Ukraine were unfolding. The congressman also reflected upon the opportunities that lie ahead for Ukraine.

Concluding the briefing, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, remarked on the need for exchange programs between Ukraine and the United States. She described the cooperation that already exists between the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian Parliament as being "crucially important in the past few months in allowing the transition to true democracy to happen and working toward enhancing those critical relations between our two countries." She emphasized the importance of exchanges, not only for the development of the state, but on a personal level, to help the general public in both countries learn more about each other's societies and their cultures. The congresswoman from Ohio thanked the UCCA "for helping to facilitate our [U.S. Congress] cooperation with the Rada."

The attendance at the briefing of a large number of staffers from various congressional offices that are not yet members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (CUC) indicated a growing interest in Ukraine.

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