[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 1997

  Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to give 
tribute to a nation that has succeeded in it's struggle to be a free, 
democratic nation. On August 24th, Ukraine celebrated it's 6th year of 
independence.
  Since August 24, 1991, When Ukraine declared independence from the 
former Soviet Union resuming its journey down the path to freedom and 
democracy, she has achieved success in many domestic and international 
arenas. Ukraine has worked hard to develop a target-oriented and 
balanced policy to achieve economic stability and build a truly 
democratic, economically developed state. The nation has worked to 
establish a solid foundation on which to build a true democracy. The 
foundation of a free market system has been established. The 
liberalization of prices, the currency rate, a mechanism of foreign 
trade, and privatization have all contributed to a developing market 
economy. The policy has resulted in a reduction in the annual inflation 
from 10,000 percent in 1993 to a projected 25 percent in 1997; the 
privatization of nearly 50,000 enterprises; and the adoption of a 
democratic constitution.
  On the international front, Ukraine has worked hard to improve 
foreign policy by signing many important agreements with the 
international community: A joint Statement of the President of Ukraine 
and Poland on Accord and Unity; the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation 
and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation; the 
Agreement on the State-Border lines between Ukraine and Belarus; the 
Treaty on Good Neighborly Relations and Cooperation between Ukraine and 
Romania; and lastly, the Charter on a Distinct Partnership between 
Ukraine and NATO. They have participated in the first session of the 
Ukraine-United States Binational Commission Kuchma-Gore, which is a 
visible embodiment of a Ukrainian-American strategic partnership. 
Ukraine has also unilaterally and voluntarily disarmed all tactical 
nuclear weapons to continue the dream of a stable democracy.
  To help foster freedom and democracy in Ukraine, the Congressional 
Ukrainian Caucus has been established. Representative John Fox, 
Representative Louise Slaughter, and Representative Sander Levin, and I 
serve as cochairs. The primary purpose of the caucus is to organize an 
association of Members of Congress who share a common concern for 
building stronger bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United 
States. The caucus wants to support Ukraine in its process of 
democratization and market-oriented reforms.
  I stand here today to congratulate Ukraine on another year of freedom 
and progress in the quest for democracy.

                          ____________________