[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S4438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR OLEH SHAMSHUR

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee, I wish today to mention the outstanding work of an 
ambassador who is leaving Washington after 4 years of distinguished 
achievement--Ambassador Oleh Shamshur of Ukraine.
  There is little doubt that he has made a major contribution to 
strengthening bilateral relations between our countries. Ambassador 
Shamshur was one of the senior negotiators of the United States-Ukraine 
Charter on Strategic Partnership signed on December 19, 2008, which 
elevated relations between the United States and Ukraine to a new 
level. The charter is a living document and continues to guide 
cooperation between the two countries. On April 12, 2010, President 
Obama and President Yanukovych reaffirmed their commitment to the 
charter and expressed their intention to realize its full potential.
  Ambassador Shamshur also played an important role in the 
establishment of the United States-Ukrainian Strategic Partnership 
Commission and participated in its first inaugural session in December 
2009. The commission has reinvigorated relations between the United 
States and Ukraine with an ongoing dialog and program of cooperation on 
issues of democracy, economic freedom and prosperity, security and 
territorial integrity, energy security, defense-related cooperation, 
the rule of law, and people-to-people contacts.
  During Ambassador Shamshur's tenure in Washington, Ukraine once more 
demonstrated its important leadership on the question of 
nonproliferation and arms control issues. Cooperation on these issues 
between Washington and Kyiv has been significantly enhanced. These 
efforts were conspicuous in the positive outcome of the Nuclear 
Security Summit in Washington.
  While in Washington, Ambassador Shamshur's accomplishments were not 
limited to issues of international security or geopolitics. Early on in 
his service here, the United States reinstated tariff preferences for 
Ukraine under the Generalized System of Preferences and granted Ukraine 
market economy status. The Ambassador was instrumental in the efforts 
that led to Ukraine's graduation from the Jackson-Vanick Amendment on 
23 March 2006. The United States and Ukraine were also able to sign a 
bilateral agreement on market access issues, which became a key step in 
Ukraine's eventual joining the World Trade Organization. The 
establishment of the United States-Ukraine Council on Trade and 
Investment in March 2008 was also a result of Ambassador Shamshur's 
tireless efforts. This year, Ambassador Shamshur can also claim credit 
for the resolution of difficulties surrounding the operation of the 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation in Ukraine and its return to 
the Ukrainian market.
  Many of us on Capitol Hill and in the administration share an 
appreciation for Ambassador Oleh Shamshur's achievements. He leaves 
relations between Ukraine and the United States immeasurably stronger 
for having served here these 4 years. We wish him and the Ukrainian 
people well on the occasion of his departure.

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