[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E176-E177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MILESTONE FOR DEMOCRACY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2005

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I wish to submit this article from my 
predecessor Representative Bob Schaffer detailing his experiences in 
the recent Ukrainian elections. Thank you.

                 [From the Denver Post, Jan. 25, 2005]

                        Milestone for Democracy

                           (By Bob Schaffer)

       A milestone in the democracy movement occurred Sunday as 
     Ukrainians inaugurated Viktor Yushchenko, their third 
     president since declaring independence from the Soviet Union 
     in 1991.
       He succeeded outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, whose 
     administration, with the help of Russian President Vladimir 
     Putin, went to extraordinary lengths to steer the election 
     outcome toward Viktor Yanukovych. This time, their attempts--
     legal and otherwise--were just not enough.
       The inauguration of Yushchenko caps an unprecedented 
     marathon election marked by rampant election fraud, voter 
     intimidation, assassination attempts, the presence of Russian 
     troops and appeals to the nation's top court. Last Thursday, 
     the end became certain as the Supreme Court rejected 
     Yanukovych's last desperate appeal. Yushchenko is Ukraine's 
     former prime minister. His performance established him as a 
     leader with pro Western leanings. His penchant for 
     privatization, free markets and private-property rights put 
     him in the crosshairs of Ukrainian and Russian oligarchs

[[Page E177]]

     whose tremendous wealth is built upon exclusive government 
     deals and on the backs of Ukraine's working class.
       These same Ukrainian commoners define the ``Orange 
     Revolution,'' named after Yushchenko's campaign color. I was 
     in Ukraine as an election monitor during the start of the 
     revolution and witnessed millions of Ukrainians pouring 
     into Kiev's Independence Square.
       The protest was sparked when the government announced 
     fraudulent election results and tried to hand Yanukovych a 
     false victory. Demonstrators stayed in the streets for weeks 
     in sub-zero weather demanding a new election and an end to 
     corruption.
       Yushchenko's election is important for two reasons. First, 
     with the help of international observers (including several 
     Coloradans), Ukrainians conducted a legitimate election in 
     the face of difficult odds.
       Given the history of oppression in Ukraine, the election is 
     a triumph of courage. Today's Ukrainians are the 
     grandchildren, children and survivors of Stalin's engineered 
     famine of 1932-33. For generations, they have seen that 
     Ukrainians who challenge governing authorities often die 
     untimely deaths.
       The election is also a triumph for women. In 35,000 polling 
     stations throughout Ukraine, it was the women who insisted on 
     a transparent election. They were the brave volunteers who 
     stood up to thugs, dressed down armed government agents and 
     enforced the rules to protect the ballot box.
       Indeed, the Patrick Henry of Ukraine is Yulia Tymoshenko, a 
     parliamentarian who marshaled the masses in the peaceful, 
     purposeful and well-organized Orange Revolution. Tymoshenko 
     is emblematic of Ukrainian women. Their leadership has made 
     the greatest difference in Ukrainian politics, business, 
     academia and culture.
       For Ukrainians, Yushchenko represents unleashed 
     opportunity. Ukraine's massive underground economy has the 
     potential to become one of the most powerful economies in 
     Europe. Yushchenko understands this.
       He has charted an ambitious agenda for reforming Ukraine's 
     economic institutions with an emphasis on attracting foreign 
     investment and improving domestic productivity. Ukraine's 
     economy is quite strong. Last year's increase in its gross 
     domestic product was among the highest in the world.
       A country of 48 million, Ukraine has a highly educated 
     workforce and nearly 100 percent literacy. It is the second-
     largest country in Europe, has abundant natural resources, 
     contains the planet's richest soil and enjoys a geographic 
     location conducive to trade.
       In anticipation of a Yushchenko presidency, foreign 
     investors have been busting down the doors of Kiev in search 
     of ground-floor opportunities. Yushchenko's promise to 
     accelerate NATO cooperation, European integration and Western 
     economic standards is underscored by his immediate travel 
     schedule. This week he heads to a meeting of the Council of 
     Europe, then to the World Economic Forum in Davos, 
     Switzerland.
       Colorado shares many common features with Ukraine which 
     have led to partnerships in agriculture, mineral extraction, 
     medicine, space development and education. Strengthening 
     these partnerships in the Yushchenko era presents a solid 
     opportunity for Coloradans to help secure democracy and 
     freedom in Ukraine while expanding trade here at home.

                          ____________________