PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO OF UKRAINE VISITS U.S.: Meets with President Bush at White House (04/10/05)

PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO OF UKRAINE VISITS U.S.

Meets with President Bush at White House

by Andrew Nynka

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush of the United States welcomed Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to the White House on Monday, April 4, stating that the visit marked "a new era of strategic partnership" between the two states.

Mr. Yushchenko's visit to the United States - a four-day trip that included stops in Washington, Chicago and Boston - marked a dramatic shift in the relationship between the two countries. That relationship had steadily deteriorated over the last five years but took a new turn with Mr. Yushchenko's invitation to the White House. The two leaders issued a joint statement following their meeting in which they stressed that the relationship had indeed turned a sharp corner.

"Today, the United States and Ukraine affirm a new era of strategic partnership between our nations and friendship between our peoples," a portion of that statement read.

In addition to affirming a new partnership, the two leaders met in the Oval Office prior to briefing reporters in the White House East Room. The two said they discussed Ukraine's future in the World Trade Organization, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Standing at a podium to Mr. Yushchenko's left, Mr. Bush said he supports Ukraine's aspiration to join the WTO and to lift trade restrictions that he said "were created in a different era."

Mr. Yushchenko, whose face and ears still appear deeply scarred following his dioxin poisoning last year, appeared earnest and focused, though relaxed and at ease, and smiled only when Mr. Bush welcomed Mr. Yushchenko's American-born wife, Kateryna.

White House Press Spokesman Scott McClellan told journalists after Messrs. Bush and Yushchenko briefed the press that the discussion between the two presidents was "very good," adding that "it lasted more than an hour."

"They spent a good bit of time talking about the importance of reform, the importance of Ukraine continuing on a path of democratic reform and economic reform," Mr. McClellan said. "They talked about the importance of fighting corruption and rule of law. And the president made it clear that as Ukraine moves forward on democratic and economic reforms, the United States will be there to support them in those efforts."

But their discussion also touched on the neighborhood around Ukraine. "They spent some time talking about relations between Ukraine and Russia," said the White House spokesman. "And they touched on Iraq, as well, and spent some time talking about the importance of cooperating on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction."

Additionally, Mr. McClellan said the sale of cruise missiles to Iran by Mr. Yushchenko's predecessor did not come up. "First of all, on the sale of the missiles, President Yushchenko has spoken out on that matter and the government of Ukraine has been investigating the matter. This occurred before he was in the presidency. And they are acting in a responsible manner to address those issues."

The two presidents also spoke briefly about Mr. Yushchenko's health and discussed who might have poisoned him, Mr. McClellan said, but did not elaborate further on the matter.

"I mean, the president wanted to know how he was doing. And beyond that, I'd leave it to Ukraine, the government of Ukraine to discuss," the White House spokesman said.

Following their briefing in the East Room, the two presidents and their wives ate lunch together.

In addition to his wife, Kateryna, Mr. Yushchenko was accompanied on the trip by State Secretary Oleksander Zinchenko, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko, Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk, Defense Minister Anatolii Hrytsenko, Economy Minister Serhii Teriokhin and Transport Minister Yevhen Chervonenko.

During his trip to Washington, Mr. Yushchenko also met with Vice-President Dick Cheney of the United States. That meeting was attended by Messrs. Zinchenko, Poroshenko, Tarasyuk, Terekhin, Hrytsenko and Chervonenko.

The two sides discussed Iraq-related issues. Mr. Cheney thanked Mr. Yushchenko for Ukraine's contribution to stabilization and peacekeeping operations in Iraq and expressed his understanding with regard to withdrawal of the Ukrainian contingent. They also spoke about ways to settle the crisis in Transdniester region and discussed a series of energy projects and cooperation in hi-tech areas. Messrs. Yushchenko and Cheney then held a private meeting.

President Yushchenko also met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday, April 4, discussing the process of democratization in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president stressed that his country is ready to play a more active role in maintaining stability in the region.

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