FOR THE RECORD: Departing ambassador's message (07/03/05)

FOR THE RECORD

Departing ambassador's message

Following is the text of a statement issued on June 24 by Ambassador Mykhailo B. Reznik on the occasion of the conclusion of his tenure in the United States.

Dear Friends:

I wish to extend to you my sincerest gratitude and deepest appreciation for the many years of cordial relations, fruitful cooperation and sincere friendship I enjoyed during my long-lasting tenure abroad, a significant part of which I dedicated to the United States.

My tenure in the U.S.A., during which I had the unique opportunity to be involved in the formation and implementation of the U.S.-Ukrainian relations agenda, has become both the most honorable, and the most important in more than a decade of my diplomatic career.

At this job I gained great experience, many ideas and, what is most valuable, a good personal and business relationship with American partners - all these I will use in my future work for the benefit of the people of Ukraine. I'm glad that even in the hardest times a couple of years ago, when an active political dialogue was impossible, the people of both countries remained respectful of one other, maintained their personal connections, improved economic ties. Bilateral trade performed at record growth rates - trade turnover increased twice a year. I'm proud of contributing to these.

During my stay in America, I had the honor and pleasure to work with numerous representatives of the Ukrainian community, among which I was lucky to find not only reliable partners, but sincere and faithful friends. I'm grateful to each of you for your support and understanding.

I want to address all Americans who have Ukraine in their hearts: your motherland remembers and deeply appreciates your sincere assistance and contribution to the establishment of an independent Ukrainian state. However, dear friends, your work, your word, your patriotic spirit are still greatly needed for our young country as it paves its challenging path towards strengthening its civil society, triumph of freedom, democracy and human rights.

I deeply respect each of you and look forward to joining you in the future development of the Ukrainian American partnership. This new age in Ukraine's modern history provides unique opportunities in bilateral cooperation that must be realized not only for the development of dialogue between our states, but also for the well-being of our two nations. A great deal of this depends on us.

God bless Ukraine!

Ambassador Mykhailo Reznik

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