"HOW I LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES FACING UKRAINE"

STATEMENT: U.S. Congressman Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
Representing the 12th Congressional District of Michigan
Conference On "Ukraine's Choice: Europe or Russia?"
The New Atlantic Initiative of the American Enterprise Institute
Washington, D.C., Friday, December 10, 2004

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for inviting me to join you today. When I first received the invitation last week, I approached it with both enthusiasm and some trepidation. Enthusiasm, because I like so many others have been focused every day on the exciting news coming out of Ukraine and I welcomed the opportunity to join the debate. Some trepidation, because I am not an expert on Ukraine.

My interest in Ukraine heightened when I began to represent 12 years ago an active Ukrainian community at home in Michigan. New relationships for which I am grateful spawned my participation the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus as a co-chair and sponsorship of legislative initiatives such as a bill to construct a memorial in Washington, DC to honor the victims of the Famine- Genocide of 1932/33, resolutions commemorating the Famine-Genocide, a bill to grant a federal charter to the Ukrainian American Veterans, Inc, and legislation extending permanent normal trade relations to Ukraine.

Most recently I participated on the day before Thanksgiving in a demonstration in front of Ukraine's Embassy in Georgetown. Ukrainian Americans from across the country came to Washington to protest the widespread election fraud in Ukraine. We gathered together in the rain just as the AP Wire announced that Ukraine's Election Commission had certified the election of Victor Yanukovych. Ukraine has come such a long way since then.

During the last few weeks the Ukrainian people have crossed what history hopefully will record as a milestone. One reflecting the will of the Ukrainian people, to stand-up for democracy and genuine liberty for their country. It has been stirring to watch the hundreds of thousands braving the bitter cold and snow in Independence Square in Kyiv and throughout the country, demanding to have their voices heard and their just demands met, namely, free and fair elections.

It also was encouraging how quickly and resolutely critically important elements of the government have joined in supporting the protesters demands, including the formerly government controlled media and the police and security services. The media is now increasingly reporting honestly about developments and the police, by and large, are truly performing admirably.

The single most important act was by Ukraine's Supreme Court, which unanimously determined that the November 21 election was irrevocably flawed and called for the second runoff election on the 26th of this month. This was a watershed decision that truly put the country on the right course for rectifying the gross injustice perpetrated on October 31 and November 21.

In recent years, I have focused on the challenges of international trade and globalization. On these issues my aim has been to find within an active internationalism a creative and consistent approach reflecting broadly-based American interests. Within that same screen, let me indicate how I look at the challenges facing Ukraine. I group them as to, in my view, what are NOT the issues and what ARE the issues.

WHAT THE ISSUES ARE NOT
A. East vs. West Ukraine
As a non-expert on Ukraine, I have read reports in recent days about the divisions within the country and I have talked with knowledgeable people about the demographic divisions within Ukraine. Having just completed an election in our own nation where there were significant geographical divisions, we should not lightly dismiss their existence. But as is true in our nation where the common bonds remain strong, I think we should be wary of those in Ukraine who magnify differences and minimize common heritage for their own short term political purposes. I believe that Ukraine as a whole prefers to look to Kyiv, not Moscow. Further, it is hard to believe that the Russian Government does not understand what would be the consequences of
a break-up, in terms of resulting turbulence, both for Ukraine and for Russia.

B. Ukraine's choice is between Europe and Russia I know this is the title of this meeting and I would surmise that people more knowledgeable than I am have earlier today commented on this as a theme.

There clearly is truth to it. Ukraine has strived for ages, surely in the Soviet era, to throw off the yoke of its neighbor. Memories remain vivid and emotions appropriately remain very deep about the Soviet repression, about the horrendous horrors and loss of life from the Famine/Genocide. Ukraine has long been part of Europe, and we want to encourage further integration. At the same time, because of its geographical position and its economic and cultural relationships with Russia, Ukraine hopefully can both help provide some constructive bridging between Russia and the rest of Europe, and as Ukraine evolves further as a free society, help move and pressure Russia to follow a similar path toward full democracy and freedoms.

C. An example of a new era for the use of American unilateral rather than multilateral action The story of the unfolding of democracy in Ukraine remains being written, and clearly the outcome to date was shaped more by internal forces than
external action. But it does seem clear that, if not determinative, there surely was a significant impact from the collaborative, common response and pressures from the U.S. and the E.U. acting in consonance. When it came to Ukraine's steps towards real democracy, rekindling of America's traditionally common bonds with Europe and other democracies was a major asset. Recent American relationships with President Putin that were driven substantially by our approach to Iraq, and search for support of that approach may have led President Putin to miscalculate how far he could interfere and the reactions which would come from democratic nations about his heavy interference with democratic forces within Ukraine.

The collaborative international response to the attempt to rig the Ukrainian election should serve as a clear sign to all nations, including Russia, that the vital war against terrorism requires more not less concern about the development of democracy everywhere

WHAT THE ISSUES ARE
A. Will a momentous step be pursued?
On the heels of the landmark Supreme Court decision, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted, by an overwhelming majority, changes to the election law, including the appointment of a new Central Election Commission that includes in equal numbers representatives of both candidates. The changes will help prevent the more egregious forms of tampering and fraud that marred the first two rounds of the election. The Ukrainian Parliament is to be commended for taking this important step in regaining the confidence of the Ukrainian electorate that the vote on the 26th will be fair and
transparent.

There must also be a substantial increase in the number of international observers at the 33,000 polling sites across Ukraine. It is important for the Ukrainian people to see that the international community, particularly the United States, not only provides declaratory statements encouraging fair and free elections, but actively participates in the elections as observers. The U.S. State Department has announced it will seek a $3 million obligation for observation of the run-off election.

With some regions reporting voter turnout as high as 96 percent, as in the Donetsk district, there must be strict controls in place to manage ballot production and distribution. Observers noted people being bused from one district to another and repeatedly casting ballots with the use of absentee voting certificates. Observers should be allowed to view the ballot printing, and a record needs to be kept of the number of ballots printed and distributed to the polling sites.

In addition, both candidates must have an equal opportunity to express their views in the media, and the media, in turn, needs to be protected from the intimidation and coercion that has marred previous election coverage.

B. Will the U.S. and other nations provide consistent support for evolving democratic institutions?
In large measure the scenes of thousands taking to the streets for democracy is the result of a civil society taking hold in the country - the nurturing of a sense of personal responsibility and social awareness. Institutions like NDI, IRI, NED and so many others, including the UCCA on behalf of the Ukrainian American community, have been working in Ukraine over the course of the past decade and a half, helping to develop civic organizations and institutions that are the wellspring of a democratic society.

United States financial assistance to Ukraine and these institutions has been steadily declining over the past several years. From 2001 to 2004, U.S. aid to Ukraine dropped 42 percent, from $183 million to $106 million, and even less will be provided in 2005. These funds are not only used for democracy initiatives, they also go toward small business development, cultural exchange programs and nuclear safety efforts.

The U.S. should be doing more, not less, to help build a civil society in Ukraine. There needs to be a more consistent, persistent structure of support.

In the event that international observers deem the election on the 26th fair, the US and Europe should make available to the new government of Ukraine additional assistance in implementing the long pending democratic and economic reforms.

Based on my discussions with the Ukrainian-American community over now many years, an effective structure of support also needs to include more systematic involvement of the Ukrainian-American diaspora, with all of its skilled personnel in so many fields. Many would like to help and surely initiatives by individuals are vital. But it cannot work well enough if it is helter skelter. To be organized and effective, it takes continuing attention and resources.

c. Will Ukraine build a democratic society blessed with justice and pluralism?
In the years that I have represented Ukrainian-American constituents, we have shared many cultural and important commemorative events. We also have discussed Ukraine's past and their fervent hopes for the future of their nation of origin about which there remain strong feelings of concern, pride and identity. This interaction has intensified these last few weeks as all of us American have witnessed the incessant outcry, including among the youth of Ukraine, for democratic rights.

This would seem to provide, in terms of the shape of its evolving society, a chance for Ukraine to combine a fresh start along with its long history. Victor Yushchenko in a recent Op Ed said: "The people of Ukraine recognize that an economically prosperous nation-state tolerant of its bilingualism and multiethnic society, and respectful of all religious confession, is Ukraine's strength and not her weakness".

May Ukraine live up to these words in the days ahead. Its doing so is vital for Ukraine; it also would will send an important message to all the world, including to the people of our nation.