October 25, 2002

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The recently authenticated voice recordings of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, approving the sale of the "Kolchuga" aerial surveillance system to Iraq is of extreme concern to me and other members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. President Kuchma clearly expressed his intention to violate United Nations sanctions imposed on Iraq, and in doing so approved an effort to subvert the national interests of his country and its people.

The question of whether the Kolchuga system has actually been deployed in Iraq is an important one, however distinct. If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to receive the same briefings I have from your staff regarding the system's presence in Iraq. Regardless, the disposition of Ukraine's president in this matter is firmly established. It is upon this fact, that I hereinafter base my recommendation for your immediate consideration.

President Kuchma's consent to the sale of the Kolchuga system to Iraq is the epitome of reckless behavior. Its fulfillment directly threatens the lives of U.S. soldiers and those of our allies. Moreover, the date upon which the president's approving conversation was recorded coincides with his personal assurances of cooperation in non-proliferation issued directly to U.S. officials, including the President of the United States of America, and to me. This disappointing and unfortunate episode calls the Ukrainian leader's credibility into question and places his personal integrity within reproach.

Therefore, I urge you to insist that all U.S.-Ukraine dialogue throughout the November NATO Summit in Prague be strictly limited to ministerial-level meetings. To welcome Mr. Kuchma to the same table with the U.S. President and other democratic world leaders would understate the severity of the Kolchuga scandal. It would signal America's tolerance for those who have reinforced the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and improved the lethality of his military architecture. Furthermore, it would undermine the objectives of authentic reformers in Ukraine who are today succeeding in their earnest struggle for a permanent, durable, and representative democracy.

As the strongest advocate for improved U.S.-Ukraine relations in the Congress, and as a long-time acquaintance of Kuchma's, I regretfully recommend Kuchma be denied state visits at Prague. President Kuchma's approval of the Kolchuga sale, and the subsequent denials by him and his administration despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary, indicate he has no serious intention of rectifying the crisis he has created. His denial also threatens the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic community.

In my capacity as co-chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I have been one of Congress' most ardent supporters of Ukraine's integration with the West. My personal extensive interaction with the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian leaders and witnessing Ukraine's impressive progress has convinced me the majority of Ukrainians support peace, democracy and free markets. However, it has become abundantly clear, the worthy goal of Ukrainian integration will remain in jeopardy so long as this and other issues overwhelm the Ukrainian president's agenda. Under the circumstances, isolation of the president and his associates, while improving relations with other Ukrainian officials, is the only logical diplomatic course for the United States. We must do all we can to avoid alienating the people of Ukraine or dampening their enthusiasm for a civil society and democratic reform.

Ukraine is vital to the long-term security of the United States and to our NATO allies. It is in America's interest to support the people of Ukraine in their quest for permanent independence. Our government should further clarify its position by ending all foreign assistance funding to the central government, redirecting it toward grassroots democracy programs, small and medium enterprise development and health initiatives. One only needs to meet an average Ukrainian to know the return on this type of foreign aid investment will be tremendous.

Very truly yours,

Bob Schaffer
Member of Congress
from Colorado

cc:
The Vice-President
The Honorable Collin Powell
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
The Honorable Joseph Biden
The Honorable Jesse Helms
The Honorable Henry Hyde
The Honorable Tom Lantos
The Honorable Jim Kolbe
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
The Honorable Carlos Pascual
H.E. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko

Schaffer to Bush: Don't meet Kuchma
Approving sale of anti-aircraft system to Iraq warrants isolation of Ukrainian president

Washington, DC — U.S. Congressman Bob Schaffer (R-CO) today urged President George W. Bush against meeting Ukraine's president Leonid Kuchma at the November 21, NATO summit in Prague. NATO members and partner countries will discuss key issues affecting Euro-Atlantic security and stability, terrorism and membership enlargement.

"President Kuchma's consent to the sale of the Kolchuga system, an aerial surveillance system manufactured in Ukraine, to Iraq is the epitome of reckless behavior," wrote Schaffer in a letter he tendered to the American president and submitted in the Congressional Record. According to Schaffer, Kuchma's approval is a clear and direct violation of United Nations sanctions.

The Kolchuga system is a passive, aerial surveillance system, which tracks radio emissions of airplanes. The transfer of this technology to Iraq, according to Schaffer, "threatens U.S. forces patrolling the no-fly zone in Iraq and jeopardizes the security of the region. "President Kuchma's approval of the Kolchuga sale, and the subsequent denials by him and his administration despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary, indicate he has no serious intention of rectifying the crisis he has created," Schaffer wrote. "His denial further threatens the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic community as well as subvert the national interests of his country and people."

"Under the circumstances," Schaffer told President Bush, "isolation of the president and his associates, while improving relations with other Ukrainian officials, is the only logical diplomatic course for the United States. We must do all we can to avoid alienating the people of Ukraine or dampening their enthusiasm for a civil society and democratic reform. As the strongest advocate for improved U.S.-Ukraine relations in the Congress, and as a long-time acquaintance of Kuchma's, I regretfully recommend Kuchma be denied state visits at Prague."

Schaffer suggested the U.S. government should further clarify its position by ending all foreign assistance funding to the central government of Ukraine, redirecting it toward grassroots democracy programs, small and medium enterprise development and health initiatives. "One only needs to meet an average Ukrainian to know the return on this type of foreign aid investment will be tremendous," said Schaffer.

# # #

Congressman Schaffer was first elected to Congress in November of 1996. He is a member of the Committees on Agriculture, Resources, and Education and Workforce. He is Vice Chairman of the Education Subcommittee on Education Reform, Co-Chairman of the Ukrainan Caucus, President of the Republican Junior Class, and the Speakers appointee to the House Republican Policy Committee. His official Internet website address is www.house.gov/schaffer.