06/20/2003 | peter byrne

Confirmation hearing, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
> >
> >Statement of John Herbst, Ambassador-Designate to Ukraine
> >
> >Washington, D.C.
> >June 18, 2003
> >
> >Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I am honored to appear before
> >you today to discuss my nomination as Ambassador of the United States to
> >Ukraine. I deeply appreciate the confidence that President Bush and
> >Secretary Powell have placed in me. If confirmed by the Senate, I pledge
> >to work closely with this Committee, along with your colleagues elsewhere
> >in Congress, to advance U.S. interests in Ukraine and in the region as a
> >whole.
> >
> >In some ways, I have spent much of my career preparing for this
assignment.
> > Approximately half of my twenty-four years in the Foreign Service have
> >been devoted to working on first the Soviet Union and then the Newly
> >Independent States (NIS). As Deputy to the Ambassador for the NIS from
> >1994 to 1997, I worked with the Government of Ukraine on a host of issues
> >such as the NATO-Ukraine relationship. I have also accumulated
substantial
> >management experience from service as Chief of Mission at our Consulate
in
> >Jerusalem and our Embassy in Tashkent.
> >
> >
> >I am very excited about the prospect, with Senate approval, of serving as
> >Ambassador in Ukraine. Ensuring the integration of Ukraine into the
> >Euro-Atlantic community is a critical foreign policy goal, one with many
> >dimensions. It means building further our partnership with Ukraine in
> >promoting regional security and combating global terrorism. In this
> >connection, we deeply appreciate Ukraine's decision to join the coalition
> >to free Iraq and its contribution of a Nuclear, Biological Chemical
> >protection battalion to Kuwait. Ukraine's parliament recently approved
the
> >deployment of a brigade to Iraq as part of the coalition stabilization
> >force. Ukraine has also cooperated in intelligence-sharing and provided
> >material and logistical support to Operation Enduring Freedom.
> >
> >Achieving Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic community also
means
> >close cooperation to assist Ukraine in its transition from communism to
> >democracy and a free market. Of course, Ukraine has come a long way
since
> >independence, but much work remains to help this extraordinary land reach
> >its full potential. We will work closely with both the government and
the
> >Ukrainian people to expedite progress.
> >
> >While we experienced some difficult moments in our bilateral relations in
> >2002, the relationship is now moving in a more positive direction. A
> >critical concern remains the maturing of Ukrainian democracy. The
> >presidential election scheduled for late next year presents a critical
test
> >of the government's commitment to democracy. If confirmed, I will make
it
> >a priority to do what I can to ensure that the Ukrainian authorities
allow
> >for a level playing field for presidential candidates and that election
> >preparations and the election itself are carried out in a free and fair
> >manner. Having an electoral process that meets OSCE standards and a
> >result that reflects the will of the people is vital to the success of
> >Ukraine's ambition to join NATO and to move closer to the European Union.
> >The U.S. also strongly supports greater media freedom in Ukraine, and I
> >will work to make that a reality.
> >
> >We and our NATO allies stand ready to help Ukraine implement the
> >NATO-Ukraine Action Plan, which was approved at the November 2002 Prague
> >NATO-Ukraine Commission Ministerial. The Plan includes important
> >political, economic, and defense reforms, reflecting the fact that NATO
is
> >a community of shared values. The Action Plan is Ukraine's roadmap to
> >advance its goal of drawing closer to and ultimately joining the
Alliance.
> >
> >Non-proliferation is another strategic concern in our bilateral
> >relationship. We are working with the Ukrainian government and with
other
> >governments in a cooperative effort to strengthen Ukraine's export
control
> >enforcement and oversight of defense industries and transshippers. I am
> >pleased to note that the Ukrainian parliament recently passed a new
export
> >control law that, if implemented fully, would contribute to stronger
> >safeguards. We will work with the government on effective implementation
> >as we press for continued improvements to the export control system.
> >
> >On the economic side, we are pleased that the government of Ukraine has
> >stepped up its efforts to accede to the World Trade Organization. The
> >accession process will require Ukraine to change its trade regime in ways
> >that make its economy more open and transparent. We will continue to
> >support Ukraine's WTO efforts. It is also important for us to help
Ukraine
> >to combat trafficking in persons as well as HIV/AIDS, which, if left
> >unchecked, poses a serious threat to Ukraine and the region.
> >
> >I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts about Ukraine and its
> >relations with the United States. If confirmed, I will look forward to
> >working with you closely, and would welcome the opportunity to host you
and
> >other interested members of Congress in Kiev.
> >