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BRAMA, June 11, 2002, 10 am ET


Press Release


UCCA President Submits Testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee

Washington, D.C. - On May 9, 2002, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) president Michael Sawkiw, Jr. submitted testimony to the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Subcommittee of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee regarding foreign assistance to Ukraine for FY 2003. In his testimony, Mr. Sawkiw remarked that "Albeit comprising only 1% of the total federal budget, U.S. foreign assistance is critical to promoting expansion of democracy and building lasting peace throughout the world. U.S. global leadership has become even more critical in the context of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001… Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the UCCA continues to work in order to ensure that the United States remains involved in the political and economic development of the independent states of Central and East Europe and assists them in their difficult transformation into democratic states with vibrant market economies."

In his testimony before the Subcommittee, Mr. Sawkiw outlined the significant progress that Ukraine has made in little over a decade since regaining its independence, including economic stabilization, achievements in the international arena, democracy building, and changes in the legal climate. Mr. Sawkiw continued by providing recommendations regarding U.S. foreign assistance to Ukraine for FY 2003. The UCCA president addressed the most important problems facing Ukraine today underscoring the need for a sustained civic society in Ukraine aimed at the successful development of a mature democracy; the importance for continued legal reform, which would improve the investment climate in Ukraine and render the fight against corruption more effective; the necessity of supporting enhanced law enforcement procedures in its struggle against corruption and establishing mechanisms for more expedient enforcement of Ukrainian laws; as well as the critical need for support of the agricultural and energy sectors of Ukraine's economy. Among other issues addressed in the testimony is support of a business exchange program between U.S. and Ukrainian entrepreneurs, aimed at familiarizing Ukrainians with international business practices and improving their business culture.

In conclusion Mr. Sawkiw stated: "Measuring dividends, both political and economic, from continued U.S. foreign assistance to Ukraine is an almost impossible task. Improving foreign investment climate and establishing a vibrant and robust democratic rule in Ukraine would open a large and growing market for the United States and open limitless possibilities for cooperation and mutual gain…The Ukrainian community in the U.S. lauds the effort that the United States Congress has invested in Ukraine in the past years. We admire the foresight in recognizing Ukraine as a fertile environment for democratic development and economic growth and appreciate the sustained effort to ensure that Ukraine continues to move the right direction. It is our hope that Congress will continue America's commitment to Ukraine in FY 2003."

In addition to the testimony before the Subcommittee, the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), the UCCA's Washington, D.C. office, has been meeting with Members of the Foreign Operations Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate highlighting support for President Bush's request to allocate $159 million dollars to Ukraine for FY 2003. During the meetings, UNIS informed the Members of Congress about the results of the recent Ukrainian parliamentary elections, and distributed a copy of the UCCA's Preliminary Conclusion on the Ukrainian parliamentary election results, as well as a compilation of statistical data illustrating economic progress that Ukraine has achieved in the past few years. These handouts highlighted the results of U.S. assistance programs to Ukraine, as well as reasons why Ukraine still needs this foreign assistance to continue.


June 3, 2002
UNIS ACTION ITEM
Vol. VII, No.5

Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR)

One of the most important pieces of legislation this year is to promote graduation of Ukraine from the 1974 Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which limits trade between the United States and countries that do no allow free emigration of their citizens. Despite the significant progress in Ukraine in satisfying the conditions set forth in the Amendment, Ukraine is still subject to an annual presidential review and certification process. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) has introduced a comprehensive bill (H.R.4723) to graduate Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik amendment and grant it Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.

The Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) urges the Ukrainian American community to contact their Members of Congress and bring this issue to their attention. Please write, fax, call, or email your representatives asking them to co-sponsor the PNTR bill for Ukraine. A sample letter is provided below for your assistance. Please refer to http://www.house.gov/writerep to contact your Member of Congress via e-mail. Should you have any further questions, please contact UNIS at (202) 547-0018 or email to unis@ucca.org.


SAMPLE LETTER

The Honorable (name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (name):

I would like to draw your attention to Rep. Levin's bill (H.R.4723) regarding Ukraine's graduation from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. This bill is crucial to Ukraine's further economic progress and strengthening of the U.S. - Ukraine strategic partnership. Receiving Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status would increase confidence of Western investments in the Ukrainian market and allow Ukraine to join the World Trade Organization. Ukraine has made strong efforts to comply with the conditions of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. Since its independence in 1991, Ukraine has one of the best records of religious and national tolerance in the former Soviet Union.

As a Ukrainian American, I am interested in the improvement of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States. Furthermore, I am also concerned in seeing Ukraine develop into a truly free, democratic, and economically viable state. As your constituent, I ask you to support H.R.4723. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Bill to Graduate Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik Amendment Introduced in Congress

Washington, D.C. (UNIS) - On May 14, 2002 Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) introduced House Resolution 4723 (H.R. 4723), proposing to graduate Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik amendment of the 1974 Trade Act, which limits U.S. trade with countries that do not allow free emigration of their citizens. This legislation was designed to protect the interests of the Jewish communities in totalitarian regimes and ensure that they have the freedom to emigrate. As a successor of the former Soviet Union, Ukraine, too, must adhere to the Jackson-Vanik Amendment with a yearly waiver enacted by the President. But, since re-establishing independence in 1991, Ukraine has reformed its laws significantly and has successfully eliminated the obstacles to emigration of its citizens, imposed by the, then, Soviet Union.

Rep. Levin's H.R. 4723 proposes to relieve Ukraine from the required evaluation process. This resolution would allow Ukraine to expand trade with the United States, as well as to remove the legacy of the Cold War era, a stigma that is connected with the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. "Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has taken important steps toward the creation of democratic institutions and free-market economy and, as a member state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), is committed to developing a system of governance in accordance with the principles regarding human rights and humanitarian affairs that are set forth in the final act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the "Helsinki Final Act")," states HR 4723.

House Resolution 4723 is a result of Ukrainian National Information Service's (UNIS) active work on the Capitol Hill advocating this issue. UNIS has met with members of the House of Representatives Trade Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, as well as members of Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and provided them with information regarding the economic achievements and democratic reforms in Ukraine. UNIS also provided information on the tremendous improvements in the current life of the Jewish community in Ukraine: government-sponsored Hebrew schools; multiple local and nation-wide Jewish publications; revival of religious life; and gradual restitution of Jewish communal property to the rightful owners. The NCSJ (formerly known as National Council on Soviet Jewry), a U.S. organization dealing with the problems faced by Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union, agreed with UNIS during a meeting in mid-January of 2002 that the Jewish Ukrainian community is indeed experiencing a renaissance, while expressing hope for a speedier process regarding restitution of former synagogues and communal property.

UNIS calls upon the Ukrainian American community for your assistance. For information on what community members can do to expedite the passage of this legislation, please see related UNIS Action Item #5.


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