[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          UKRAINE CELEBRATES SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 1997

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, as a cochair of the Congressional 
Ukrainian Caucus, I am proud today to recognize the sixth anniversary 
of the Independence of Ukraine. The actual anniversary was celebrated 
on August 24, but today, we in Congress are commemorating the occasion 
with a reception hosted by the caucus, the Ukrainian Congress Committee 
of America, and the Ukrainian-American Coordinating Council.
  The past year has been an exciting, but challenging one for Ukraine. 
As the representative of a large and active Ukrainian community in 
Rochester, NY, I particularly want to note two milestones over the past 
year in United States-Ukrainian relations.
  This year we cemented the Ukrainian-American strategic partnership 
through the first session of the Ukraine-United States Binational 
Kuchma-Gore Commission. I am hopeful and confident that this 
partnership will continue to strengthen over the coming years.
  Even more significantly, on July 9, the unprecedented Charter on the 
Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine was signed at the 
Madrid NATO summit. This ground-breaking agreement will serve as the 
basis for Ukraine's security into the 21st century and demonstrates the 
close relationship that President Kuchma has built with Europe and the 
United States.
  As exciting as these developments are, over the next year, we, the 
friends of Ukraine in the United States, must redouble our efforts to 
help Ukraine continue to move forward, particularly in the economic 
sphere. We must do what we can to support President Kuchma's ongoing 
efforts to reform Ukraine's economy, as he moves to integrate it into 
the world market economy. In Ukraine itself, the March 1998 elections 
will be an opportunity to elect a reform-minded Parliament to aid in 
this effort. Here at home, I have been working in Congress to secure 
continued United States aid to help Ukraine make this transition.
  In addition, the Ukrainian community and other caring persons in the 
United States are challenged to continue their magnificent, 
humanitarian efforts to help relieve the still troubling health 
conditions for many Ukrainians, particularly children. We must do what 
we can to work together to lower infant mortality and to reverse the 
troubling trends toward lower life expectancy.
  Yes, there is much work ahead, but Ukrainians in America have much to 
celebrate as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in saluting and 
congratulating Ukraine and Ukrainian-Americans, as we commemorate the 
sixth anniversary of Ukrainian independence.

                          ____________________