[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 22572]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           CELEBRATING THE ARRIVAL OF THE ``BAT'KIVSHCHYNA''

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to speak of a special event 
taking place in my home State on Saturday. After much hard work and 
preparation, the people of the City of Norwich and the State of 
Connecticut will proudly welcome the Ukrainian schooner, 
Bat'Kivshchyna, and her dedicated crew to their winter port at The 
Marina at American Wharf in Norwich Harbor.
  It is a great honor for the State of Connecticut to host the 
Bat'Kivshchyna and her crew. This past summer, the Bat'Kivshchyna was a 
popular participant in Operation Sail 2000, a millennial event that 
showcased numerous tall ships from around the globe in eight North 
American ports from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Portland, Maine. I had 
the opportunity to view these vessels when they visited New London, 
Connecticut, between July 12 and July 15. I was deeply impressed with 
the immense and graceful design of these ships and enjoyed visiting 
with the crews who hail from across the world.
  The Bat'Kivshchyna hails from the Ukraine, a country which only ten 
years ago shed Soviet domination and embraced the principles of 
democracy. Led by her captain and owner, Dmytro Birioukovych, the 
Bat'Kivshchyna is on an ambitious multi-year mission called ``Discover 
Ukraine.'' The goal of this mission is to arouse local awareness and 
interest in Ukrainian culture and in the Ukrainian economy. Thus, the 
Bat'Kivshchyna, which is Ukrainian for ``Fatherland,'' has become an 
important ambassador for her nation as she makes ports-of-call in 
Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.
  Much of the Bat'Kivshchyna's success is owed to Captain Birioukovych. 
Having purchased the Bat'Kivshchyna in 1988, he transformed an aging 
fishing vessel into a world-class tall ship. Encouraged by Ukrainian 
independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, Captain Birioukovych 
co-founded ``Discover Ukraine'' with his Canadian son-in-law, Roy 
Kellogg, and decided to use his vessel to promote his nation's history 
and culture. When asked about his global expedition, Captain 
Birioukovych proudly calls himself, his crew and his ship ``folk 
ambassadors of good will.''
  The Bat'Kivshchyna had a difficult journey from her home port in 
Kiev, Ukraine, to the Americas for the commencement of Operation Sail 
2000. Regional political tensions, rough seas, and numerous technical 
difficulties threatened the Bat'Kivshchyna's mission in several 
instances throughout the late spring and early summer. However, the 
dedicated crew persevered and overcame each hurdle to arrive for their 
first OpSail2000 event in Miami, Florida.
  In July, Captain Birioukovych put forth an appeal for a North 
American port in which to dock the Bat'Kivshchyna during the winter. 
With plans to attend the 2001 Great Lakes Sailing Expedition, it was 
economically unfeasible for the Bat'Kivshchyna to sail back to Kiev 
only to return to the United States in the following spring. With 
numerous offers from ports across the Northeast, I am proud to say that 
Captain Birioukovych chose the great city of Norwich as his ``winter 
refuge.''
  Connecticut's honor of hosting the Bat'Kivshchyna in Norwich could 
not have been possible without the tireless effort of those in the 
Constitution State dedicated to providing a winter home for the vessel. 
I would like to thank especially Mr. Michael Lamperelli of the 
Connecticut Friends of the Ukraine Expedition, Mr. Ron D. Aliano of The 
Marina at American Wharf in Norwich, and City Council President Mr. 
Richard Abele of Norwich. I would also like to thank all of those who 
are helping to prepare for Saturday's arrival of the Bat'Kivshchyna in 
Norwich Harbor: the Norwich Fire Department, the Norwich Police 
Department, the American Ambulance Service, Inc., the United States 
Coast Guard Academy, the Integrated Charter School of Norwich, and the 
Norwich Adult Education Center.
  I know that Saturday's event will be a great day for the people of 
the City of Norwich and the State of Connecticut. The Bat'Kivshchyna's 
visit to the city will provide for a rich cultural exchange between the 
Ukraine and the State of Connecticut. I am proud that we, as a State, 
could provide a winter refuge for the Bat'Kivshchyna as she continues 
her global expedition, and I wish her crew success in future 
voyages.

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