    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [June 5, 2000]
    [Pages 1099-1100]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing a Ukraine-United States Joint Statement in Kiev,
    Ukraine
    June 5, 2000

        Thank you very much. Mr. President, Mr.
    Prime Minister, leaders of the government,
    leaders and Members of the Rada, leaders of the court, distinguished
    citizens. I am delighted to

    [[Page 1100]]

    be back in Ukraine and delighted to be again with President Kuchma to
    work on our strategic partnership, because the success of Ukraine as a
    free and prosperous nation is very important to the United States.
        Of course, succeeding in the future requires learning from the past.
    I am very proud and moved to be here today--this is World Environment
    Day--for this historic announcement by President Kuchma that the final reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear
    powerplant will be shut down and the entire plant closed forever on
    December the 15th. This is a hopeful moment. It is also a moment when we
    remember those who suffered as a result of the accident there.
        The President and I agreed that we can
    grow our economies and protect the environment and public health at the
    same time, and so we must. I am pleased to announce that the United
    States will pledge $78 million for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund to contain
    radiation from the destroyed reactor, and another $2 million to expand
    efforts to improve safety at Ukraine's other nuclear powerplants.
        The President and I also discussed his
    plan for economic reform. He and his team have an economic plan that can
    put Ukraine on a path towards sustainable growth and much higher living
    standards. President Kuchma has moved to give his people their own land,
    to reduce government bureaucracy, to promote entrepreneurship. He has
    taken recent steps to enhance Ukraine's protection of intellectual
    property rights and the rule of law. And these things improve the
    climate for investment in Ukraine and will attract more investment
    dollars from the United States and other places across the world.
        In that spirit, I am pleased to announce a new 5-year, $25-million
    business development program for small and medium-sized businesses in
    Ukraine to help them participate in the growing economy.
        Finally, I want to take another important step today. Because of
    Ukraine's strong efforts to prevent missile proliferation, I am
    announcing our decision to eliminate commercial space quotas and open
    the door to expanded U.S. cooperation with Ukraine's space program. This
    decision will have a positive, long-term impact on Ukraine's economic
    prospects, creating more high-tech jobs and positioning Ukraine to be a
    leader in a cutting-edge area of 21st century commerce. It will also
    enhance the ability of American companies to compete in space. This
    represents the kind of high-level partnership our countries can look
    forward to as we enter the new century together.
        Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's
    been a good day.
        Thank you.

     Note:  The President spoke at 5:20 p.m. in the White Room at Mariinskiy
    Palace. In his remarks, he referred to President Leonid Kuchma and Prime
    Minister Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.