On fifth anniversary of 9/11, U.S. envoy lauds Ukraine's role in fighting terrorism (09/17/06)

On fifth anniversary of 9/11, U.S. envoy lauds Ukraine's role in fighting terrorism

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - On the fifth anniversary of the devastating Al Qaeda terrorist attacks, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor Jr. lauded Ukraine for its strong support in the global fight against terrorism.

"Ukraine immediately on September 11, 2001, offered support for the United States in its fight against extremist terrorists in Afghanistan," Mr. Taylor said. "Ukraine contributed logistical support, ammunition, military support to the coalition that fought against the Taliban and defeated the Taliban in Afghanistan."-To honor all victims of terrorism throughout the world, Mr. Taylor placed a wreath at the Victims of Terrorism monument on Mechnykov Street near the Klovska metro station entrance.

After observing a moment of silence with the dozen or so journalists present, Mr. Taylor commended Ukraine's contributions to fighting terrorism, noting the 18 Ukrainian troops who died in the war in Iraq.

Ukraine itself is under no specific terrorist threat, Mr. Taylor said, though terrorist extremists have attacked throughout the world.

The Victims of Terrorism monument, which was unveiled on September 11 last year, is a 15-foot-plus metal sculpture in the shape of a broken heart, bearing the words "Thou Shalt Not Kill" in about 120 languages.

In the heart's fissure is a tuning fork, symbolizing the central role ethnic harmony should play in society.

Also placing wreaths at the monument were Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Naomi Ben-Ami and Russian Federation Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin.

Lydia Matiaszek, a Kyiv resident whose brother, Oleh Wengerchuk, died in the World Trade Center attack, said she participated in a September 11 morning liturgy with family members who had arrived from Canada and Siberia. In the evening, they laid flowers at the Victims of Terrorism monument.

Ms. Matiaszek was in Ukraine with her sister to adopt children when the terrorists struck.

"My brother was late everywhere," she said. "I said there's no way he could've been at work at that time in the morning."

After seeing the first strike, Mr. Wengerchuk was exiting the second tower when a Port Authority representative told the evacuees it was safe to return their offices.

Mr. Wengerchuk worked on the 92nd floor.

"He went up to get his things before leaving, and that's when the second plane hit," she said, recalling what his co-workers told her.

Mr. Taylor was in Bucharest, Romania, attending an international conference when the September 11 attacks occurred, he told reporters. "Everyone who was with me, and with all of us here, knew that the world was changing right then," Mr. Taylor said.

Ukraine is a good example of how the citizens of a post-authoritarian state can handle the ability and responsibility of self-government, the U.S. ambassador said.

"Ukraine is an example of how a democratic movement and democratic principles can be a very important model in other parts of the world, in particular in the Middle East, for self-government," he said.

When asked whether newly selected Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych would assist Ukraine in integrating with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Mr. Taylor repeated the firm U.S. government position that it's strictly a decision for Ukrainians to make in a referendum.-"We want to be sure that Ukraine understands the responsibilities, the benefits and the costs of being a member," Mr. Taylor said. "And after that discussion, after that debate here in Ukraine, if the people and the government of Ukraine decide that they want to be members, that they want to be a member of NATO, then we will fully support that decision."

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