BRAMA, Sep 29, 2003, 1:00 pm ET
Press Release
APPEAL OF THE UKRAINIAN AMERICAN COORDINATING COUNCIL
TO THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, LEONID KUCHMA
PRIME MINISTER VICTOR YANUKOVYCH
VERKHOVNA RADA CHAIRMAN, VOLODYMYR LYTVYN
The Presidium and membership of the UACC are deeply disturbed by the
Ukrainian government’s announced intention to sign an agreement on September
18, 2003, between Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to establish a common
economic zone. Such an agreement would strike a serious blow to Ukraine’s
national interests. While understanding the importance of Ukraine’s
developing commercial ties with the above-mentioned countries, the UACC nevertheless
wants to call attention to the fact that, on the basis of the declarations of the
President’s Administration, the Members of the Cabinet, and the Verkhovna
Rada, Ukraine has set itself on the path of integration into European structures,
with the aim of becoming a full member of the European Union. Establishing a
common economic zone with the above-mentioned nations, therefore, will bring
Ukraine no benefit and will serve only to allow interested parties a means of
manipulating Ukraine’s foreign economic policies. Such a step may mark the
beginning of the end of Ukraine’s control over its own independent economic
development.
Over the course of Ukraine’s 12 years of independence, the direction for
the development of its economic and political infrastructure has never been
clearly specified. Meaningless promises and empty phrases have continually
characterized the pronouncements issued by the highest echelons of power.
Ukraine has led a zigzag course between the CIS, NATO, and a stance of
supposed complete neutrality. This lack of a clearcut policy has played into the
hands of those who have been undermining Ukraine’s national interests for their own
enrichment. The only path for Ukraine to reach economic independence is to
clearly define its foreign economic and political aims and to hold firmly to
the chosen course of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. For these
reasons, integration into a Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh common economic zone ought to
be resolutely rejected.
For the Presidium of UACC
Ihor Gawdiak
President
Dr. Roman Baranowskyj
Secretary
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