08 жовтня 2009

On October 8, 2009 the UCCA submitted the following testimony to support the nomination of Amb. John Tefft as the next U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

Mr. Chairman and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, thank you for the opportunity for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) to comment on the nomination hearing for Ambassador-designate to Ukraine, John Tefft.

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, an umbrella organization representing the interests of Americans of Ukrainian descent for nearly 70 years, would like to express our community’s gratitude to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for your continued support in strengthening bilateral relations between the United States and Ukraine.

The UCCA would also like to take a moment to express the Ukrainian American community’s support for our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We pray for the safe return of our soldiers and the speedy and successful establishment of democracy in both countries.

Reforms in Ukraine

Throughout its thousand-year history, the traditional values of the Ukrainian people have always included self-reliance and individual responsibility.  In the years of renewed independence, these values have guided that nation on the way to integration within the community of economically-developed democratic states.  Ukraine has achieved many of the reforms needed for it to become an equal member of the Western community.  The 2004 presidential elections, which history will remember as the “Orange Revolution,” demonstrated to the world that democratic practices and values have been internalized at the grass-roots level and that the people of Ukraine are dedicated to the tenets of democracy.  Since then, several democratic and transparent elections have been held reconfirming Ukraine’s commitment to democratic governance and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Having regained its independence eighteen (18) years ago, Ukraine has been determined to move along the difficult path of transition – from a communist controlled economy to a stable democracy with a market economy. It has achieved some significant successes during this time.  In March 2006, the United States “graduated” Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a legacy of the Cold War era, which limited trade between the two states.  Both the United States and the European Union (EU) have recognized Ukraine as a country with a market economy and signed agreements to access markets for goods and services, which opened the door for Ukraine’s eventual WTO membership in 2008.

The institutional reforms taking place in Ukraine since the “Orange Revolution” and the transformation in Ukraine’s economic policy go hand-in-hand with political changes.  Hit hard by the recent worldwide economic recession, the international community has recognized the drastic measures that Ukraine needed to undertake to prevent economic collapse and continues to work with Ukraine to help it stabilize its market and increase the living standards of its citizens.  This process is far from over yet, but there is no doubt that it will be successful.  

International Arena

Ukraine’s strategic geographic position is an impetus for its integration with the international community of democratic states.  Situated on the border between modern Eastern and Western Europe, with easy access to the Middle East and oil-rich nations on the Caspian Sea, Ukraine is geared toward becoming an important actor in its region, as well as a conduit between Russia and the West.  This position creates additional difficulties for Ukraine as the major actors in the international arena are securing their strategic interests in the region, evidenced by gas pipeline cutoff in January 2009 and the Russian invasion of the sovereign country of Georgia in August 2008.  The current government of Ukraine has fully proclaimed its intentions of a Western integration course.

Indeed, from Ukraine’s recent history, it signed a Charter on Strategic Partnership with the United States in December 2008, which outlined a disciplined agenda for constructive dialogue on a range of economic, political, cultural, and security-related issues.  The partnership agreement documents the vital interest in “deepening Ukraine’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.”  To that effect, the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership is guided by the communiqué adopted at the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit, “which reaffirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO.”

Since May 2002, Ukraine announced its intentions to join the NATO Alliance.  While at the Prague Summit, the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan was created, the purpose of which “is to identify clearly Ukraine’s strategic objectives and priorities in pursuit of its aspirations towards full integration into Euro-Atlantic security structures, and to provide a strategic framework for existing and future NATO-Ukraine cooperation under the Charter.”  It is imperative that the United States remain engaged with Ukraine to enhance our strategic partnership with that country and have it become a strong U.S. ally in the region.

Recommendations

It is clear that Ukraine is at a critical juncture in its true Euro-Atlantic integration.  Prior to the upcoming presidential elections in January 2010, while political parties are struggling to bring forth their issues to the electorate, it is essential that the international community, in particular the United States, remain actively involved and continue to advocate democratic principles and a strategic outlook for enhanced relations with that country.  We have a chance to assist Ukraine to be a strong, albeit young, democratic nation, with all the devices and technologies to continue self-improvement.

Eighteen years of Ukrainian independence have brought five U.S. ambassadors as envoys of American diplomacy.  These envoys have secured a lasting partnership between our two countries, and we believe that President Obama’s recent nomination of Amb. John Tefft, a career foreign service officer, will only enhance our cooperation/partnership with Ukraine. At this time when more opportunities exist for the advancement of U.S. strategic interests in Central Europe, Ambassador John Tefft will be a great asset, given his recent role and function as ambassador to Georgia during the turbulent Russian invasion of that country in August 2008 and his previous work as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America lauds the experience and commitment Amb. Tefft has shown in his years of diplomatic service.  Thereby, the UCCA highly favors the nomination of Amb. John Tefft as the next U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian American community praises the efforts and commitment of the previous U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine in ensuring that Ukraine develops into a truly democratic state grounded in a prosperous market economy.  It is our hope that Amb. John Tefft will continue assisting Ukraine at this most important junction of transformation into a state where people hold the power and elites serve and protect their interests.