Throughout most of its history Ukraine has been isolated from the rest of the world. With independence that has changed. Ukraine is a meaningful member of the United Nations, of Partnership for Peace, of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and many other international organizations. But how well is Ukraine prepared to enter the global community? What is Ukraine's strategy for navigating these opportunities to join the world community? Furthermore, there is also another important development - globalization. Just as Ukraine is emerging as a nation-state, the whole notion of the centrality of the nation-state in international relations is being challenged by globalization.

How should Ukraine, Ukrainians, and Ukrainian Americans assess these issues and react to them? These topics will be discussed by an all-star line-up of panelists: Dr. Roman Solchanyk, Rand Corporation; Dr. Oleh Havrylyshyn, IMF; Dr. Anders Aslund, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Professor George Grabowicz, Harvard University; and Dr. Olexander Potiekhin, Embassy of Ukraine.

A prerequisite for building a modern nation-state and for effective participation in the opportunities presented by globalization is the establishment of democracy and a civil society. How Ukraine is faring in these areas will be discussed by Ambassador William Taylor, Coordinator for Assistance to the Newly Independent States; Ambassador Nelson C. Ledsky, National Democratic Institute; and Ms Judy Van Rest, International Republican Institute. Orest Deychakiwsky, a staff advisor to the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commisssion), will serve as moderator.