March 12, 2015

Ukrainian American activists demand implementation of Freedom Support Act

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Recently elected Rep. Ryan Costello (fourth from left), Republican of Pennsylvania, meets with Ukrainian American constituents from his district in Pennsylvania.

WASHNGTON – Since President Barack Obama signed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act (UFSA) into law on December 18, 2014, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and its Washington public affairs bureau, the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), have been monitoring the implementation of the law. On March 4, UNIS organized a Ukrainian Day advocacy event on Capitol Hill to express concerns about the negligible implementation of the law, as well as to establish better contacts with Ukrainian Americans’ elected representatives in Washington.

Nearly 50 community activists from throughout the United States participated in the event, which began with an opportunity to attend a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC).

Testifying that morning at the HFAC hearing titled “Ukraine under Siege” was Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland. Members of Congress questioned the Obama administration’s implementation of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, inquired about military assistance to Ukraine, and probed about additional sanctions against Russia for the illegal annexation of Crimea and the continuous invasion of eastern Ukraine.

During the day, community representatives split into groups and held meetings at the congressional offices of their senators and representatives, among them: Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).; and Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Chaka Fattah (D-N.Y.), Robert Brady (D-Pa.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Michael Hanna (R-N.Y.),

Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Ryan Costello (R-Pa.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.).

A special meeting was arranged with Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, at which UNIS Director Michael Sawkiw Jr. and Andrew Horbachewsky, chairman of the board of the SUM-A Yonkers Federal Credit Union, presented the ardent supporter of Ukraine the Friend of UNIS award. The award is an opportunity to recognize and thank those who have provided leadership and have shown unwavering support of the Ukrainian American community’s concerns.

At an evening reception at the Embassy of Lithuania, Ukrainian Day participants were warmly welcomed by Zygimantis Pavilionis, Lithuania’s ambassador to the United States, who urged them to continue their advocacy for the implementation of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act. Mr. Pavilionis requested the advocacy participants to make a short video clip titled “We believe in freedom.” The video was broadcast throughout Lithuania to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The director of UNIS presented the Friend of UNIS award to Ambassador Pavilionis for his unwavering support of Ukraine.

Rep. Louise Slaughter (third from left) meets with constituents from Rochester/Buffalo, N.Y., area.  On the left are Andrij Dobriansky, UCCA executive board member, and Ivan Radichenko, volunteer from the Kyiv Rus’ Battalion.

Rep. Louise Slaughter (third from left) meets with constituents from Rochester/Buffalo, N.Y., area. On the left are Andrij Dobriansky, UCCA executive board member, and Ivan Radichenko, volunteer from the Kyiv Rus’ Battalion.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olexander Motsyk, also took to the podium to deliver a few remarks. “We have a common goal before us. We are all striving to integrate Ukraine in Euro-Atlantic structures and return its former status of a prominent European state. Together, I am confident we will successfully resolve our issues,” he stated.

The second Friend of UNIS award was presented to the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) for its strong support of Ukraine throughout the Euro-Maidan – the Revolution of Dignity – and the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Coalition members took turns at the podium expressing their solidarity with the Ukrainian community expressing such sentiments as: “We are in this together” and “Your fight, is our fight.” The CEEC embodies 18 national ethnic organizations that represent nearly 22 million Americans of Central and East European descent. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America was a founding member of the CEEC in 1994. Together, the CEEC and the UCCA have co-sponsored advocacy events in Washington and issued policy briefs on issues the CEEC ardently advocates.

UNIS Director Sawkiw also introduced Ivan Radichenko, a volunteer with the 25th Volunteer Battalion Kyiv Rus’, who spoke about the role of volunteers in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.

Following the formal presentations, Ukrainian Day participants were hosted to traditional Lithuanian fare, and sampled Lithuanian beverages and Georgian wine.

In all of their meetings on Capitol Hill, the participants of Ukrainian Day presented members of Congress with various policy papers on issues related to the implementation of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, as well as informational brochures about the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the Ukrainian National Information Service and the Ukrainian Genocide of 1932-1933. Policy paper topics included: an overview of the UFSA law; military assistance to Ukraine; economic sanctions against Russia; lists of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and the newly formed Senate Ukraine Caucus; and an overview of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Russia’s human rights violations, as evidenced by the detention of Nadiya Savchenko and other Ukrainian POWs. A complete lists of congressional actions to support newly introduced bills and resolutions in support of Ukraine was also included in the advocacy folder.

Understanding that not everyone was able to attend the Ukrainian Day on March 4, UNIS is urging Ukrainian American community members to make every effort to meet with their elected officials at their respective district offices. Copies of the policy papers presented at this latest advocacy event may be obtained at the Ukrainian National Information Service.

Due to a snowstorm in the Washington region that closed the U.S. federal government, the second day of what was scheduled to be a two-day advocacy event had to be postponed for a future date. The second day’s program was to include a breakfast meeting with the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, as well as a rally in support of Ukraine in front of the White House. A new date for the White House rally is pending.

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