EMBASSY OF UKRAINE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

3350 M Street, NW · Washington DC 20007 · 202/333-0606 · 202/333-0817 (fax)

21 January, 1999
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Remarks to the President of the United States by Dr. Anton Buteiko, Ambassador of Ukraine on the occasion of presentation of his credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the USA
(Washington, D.C., January 21, 1999)

On behalf of the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, I have the great honor to present to you my credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States of America and the Letter of Recall of my predecessor.

It gives me the great pleasure to convey to you and the American people President Kuchma’s best wishes of peace and prosperity.

My country has deeply rooted democratic traditions which by the twists of destiny have been interrupted for centuries. Now Ukraine is in the process of affirming its rightful place in the family of independent nations.

It is a great responsibility and honor to represent the new democratic Ukrainian state in the country that over the years has become the embodiment of democracy and a source of inspiration for many people around the globe.

Ukraine highly values its constructive relations with the United States and believes in good prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between our friendly nations. It is remarkable that in recent years this cooperation has grown into a strategic partnership. We hope that this partnership will be further reinforced in economic, scientific, technological and other spheres, improving access to each other’s markets and creating opportunities for bigger US investment projects in Ukraine, broadening business-to-business dialogue, as well as cultural and human contacts.

Ukraine remains committed to political, social and economic reforms, the highest standards in democracy, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We are convinced that this can be best achieved through our full integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, building up friendly relations with all neighborly states.

Entering the 21st century Ukraine sees itself as a constituent part of a new architecture for the European security system in which NATO, EU and other institutions will play an important role. In recent years Ukraine has established special relations with NATO and looks forward to develop mechanisms for extended cooperation with the Alliance and the Union, preventing creation of new dividing lines on European Continent going along the Western borders of Ukraine. In this regard, we attribute great importance to the forthcoming NATO summit.

Naturally, Ukraine is interested to actively participate, within our resources, in resolving all burning issues that the world community encounters today. We are certainly aware of the US leading role and its efforts to adequately meet the challenges of the present and the future. Therefore, we would hope for continued US understanding and support in accomplishing our commitments and aspirations. This hope is based not only on shared values and common goals. There are strong spiritual and cultural bonds that link us, in particular, through a large community of Ukrainian Americans who have always been instrumental in building up confidence and understanding between Ukraine and the United States.

As Ambassador of Ukraine, I intend to spare no efforts in promoting our friendly relationship, cooperation and genuine strategic partnership between our two nations and would be grateful for your support in accomplishing this mission.


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