    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
    [Pages 1303-1304]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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

    [[Page 1304]]

    of the court, distinguished citizens. I am delighted to 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.