On June 23, the UCCA sent its warmest greetings to the participants of the III International Congress held at Lviv National Polytechnic Institute.
22 June 2010
Dear Ms. Kluchkovska and Members of the International Congress!
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), greets the organizers, delegates and guests of the III International Congress entitled “Diaspora as a factor in establishing the state of Ukraine in the international community: its current dimension, and future prospects.” We wish you fruitful deliberations and positive resolutions for the good of the Ukrainian people, wherever they may reside.
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), is America’s oldest umbrella association of Ukrainian organizations. In its 70th year of service to the Ukrainian American Community, as a not-for-profit, educational and charitable institution, the UCCA works through various committees to preserve and disseminate the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine. In the early years, the UCCA worked for the enactment of the law admitting displaced persons from Europe, which was adopted by Congress in 1948 and resulted in over 100,000 Ukrainians being admitted into the United States; it published The Ukrainian Quarterly, the only English-language scholarly journal about Ukraine, that is still in publication today, supported the establishment of Ukrainian language services at both the Voice of America and Radio Free Liberty; and initiated a Public Law within the U.S. Congress to erect a monument to Taras Shevchenko, which was unveiled in 1964 by former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C.
During the height of the Cold War, the UCCA spoke out against Soviet human rights violations and advocated for the liberation of Ukrainian intellectual, religious and political prisoners. It was also instrumental in authoring and promoting the Captive Nations Week Resolution (Public Law 86-90), which is still marked annually.
Following independence in 1991, the UCCA redirected its efforts toward supporting Ukraine’s democratic development and encouraging free-market reform while sustaining a vibrant Ukrainian community in the United States. It advocated for sustained support of U.S. foreign assistance to Ukraine under the Freedom Support Act; initiated the formation of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus; co-produced three feature films that illuminate chapters of Ukraine’s history long-buried by Soviet historians; conducted various international civic education programs including hosting over 2,400 International Election Observers to monitor the historic Orange Revolution elections; and advocated for a Resolution in Congress granting federal land in Washington, D.C. to erect a monument to the victims of Ukraine's Genocide of 1932-33 (Holodomor).
As the largest umbrella organization representing the interests of Americans of Ukrainian descent, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America firmly believes that the Diaspora, which is scattered throughout the world, can serve as Ukraine’s best ambassadors by spreading the truth about Ukraine’s rich history and culture. The UCCA stands with you in your work and looks forward to our future cooperation.
Once again the UCCA wishes you much success in your important work. Slava Ukrayini!
