70 Years Since Babi Yar the Holocaust Still Has a Lesson to Teach

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

“Shoah by Bullets: Mass Shootings of Jews in Ukraine 1941-1944” Exhibit

On September 8th,I attended the opening of the exhibit “Shoah by Bullets: Mass shootings of Jews in Ukraine 1941–1944” at the Ukrainian House in central Kyiv. Although the Shoah by Bullets  exhibit has been shown in Paris, Brussels, New York and other cities, this is the first time it has appeared in Ukraine. Establishing the exhibit in Kyiv was truly an international effort. The Victor Pinchuk Foundation provided key support, in partnership with the Memorial de la Shoah, Yahad – In Unum and the Embassies of Israel, France, Germany and the United States. Other contributors included the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies, University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, and the Center of Studies of History and Culture of Eastern-European Jews.

This year the international community will join Ukraine in commemorating the 70^th year since the massacre at Babi Yar. The opening of the Shoah by Bullets exhibit in Kyiv provides a rare space for Ukrainians to learn and reflect upon a difficult and searing moment in their nation’s history that received short shrift or was outright censored in the Soviet era. That Ukraine experienced staggering human losses during World War II is well documented, but the impact of the Holocaust, and particularly the mass murder of Jews and other victims by Nazi soldiers in Ukraine, is still a relatively new subject for history books and an uncomfortable moment in history for many. It is really only through events such as the Shoah by Bullets exhibit that public awareness and understanding of the Holocaust can be introduced to younger generations.

 

Ukraine: 20 Years of Independence

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

 “Only in your own house can you have your truth, your strength, and freedom.”

-Taras Shevchenko

“In view of the mortal danger surrounding Ukraine in connection with the state coup in the USSR on August 19, 1991,

Continuing the thousand-year tradition of state development in Ukraine,

Proceeding from the right of a nation to self-determination in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international legal documents, and

Implementing the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine,

The Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic solemnly declares the Independence of Ukraine and the creation of an independent Ukrainian state – UKRAINE.”

- Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, August 24, 1991

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

-American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

This year marks 20 years of independence for Ukraine. I’m proud to be here representing the United States during this important anniversary. Ukraine has gone through a long and difficult historical journey to achieve independence as a modern nation. It’s easy to be distracted by the immediate problems and daily challenges that Ukrainians face, but we should always remember that Ukraine’s existence as an independent nation is a triumph of the human spirit.

Americans proudly remember the events that led to our own independence, including a revolutionary rallying cry for human freedom, the Declaration of Independence. Although independence is sometimes ultimately achieved by force of arms, as in the American Revolution, it’s the power of ideas that truly spurs people into action. Thomas Jefferson’s immortal words in the Declaration of Independence gave voice to the nascent desire of a people to be free and equal on their own terms with the other nations of the world.

 

Independence Day, Hawaiian Style!

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

Ambassador Tefft and Mrs. Tefft greet former President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk

Last Wednesday, Mariella and I had the honor to welcome over 600 Ukrainian guests to our residence for our annual Independence Day celebration. By the way, please click here to see our newly-produced brochure about the historic residence.

U.S. Marines ceremony “Post the Colors”

Keeping with our Hawaiian theme, we had a brief rain shower but the extended sun and the warmth of our guests helped maintain the good cheer throughout the celebration. We were grateful to have talented students from the Glier Kyiv Institute of Music sing the Ukrainian and American national anthems before the U.S. Marines posted the colors.

I then spoke to the audience. Here is an excerpt from my remarks:

Ambassador Tefft speaks to the audience

“Today we celebrate our independence and freedom. Today Americans pause and remember all those who have given so much to make the United States the nation that it is today. And we especially remember today all those Americans — military and civilian — who are protecting our freedom, often in dangerous places.

 

Pinchuk Foundation Scholarship Winners Join the Ranks of Students Studying in the U.S. and Abroad

From center right: U.S. Ambassador John Tefft, Viktor Pinchuk and British Ambassador Leigh Turner with the winners of the 2011 WorldWideStudies Scholarships. Victor Pinchuk Foundation (c) 2011. Photographed by Sergii Illin

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft 

Last week I visited the Pinchuk Art Center to address this year’s winners of the Pinchuk Foundation’s  WorldWideStudies (WWS) scholarship.  I was joined by British Ambassador Leigh Turner and other representatives of the diplomatic corps who turned out to celebrate this important program.  Now in its second year, WWS sends promising young Ukrainians to study for their advanced degrees at top international universities.  Students pursue degrees in fields selected by the Foundation as being a top priority for further development of Ukraine, fields such as: agricultural studies, environment and ecology, law, and public administration.

In 2010 the Pinchuk Foundation awarded scholarships to 17 bright, young Ukrainians. This year the number of scholarship winners has grown to 19 and I’m happy to say that three of them will be studying at U.S. universities.  After an exciting awards ceremony, I had a chance to talk with the U.S.-bound scholarship winners.  Andrii Kril and Natalia Shcherbynska will pursue Masters of Law degrees at University of Pittsburgh and New York University respectively.  Anastasiya Prymovych will attend Harvard University for a Masters in Regional Studies.  I should mention that, as it turns out, Anastasiya is also an alumna of one of our U.S. Government sponsored exchange programs.  She spent a year studying in the U.S. on our UGRAD program which, incidentally, is about to send 28 Ukrainians to study at U.S. colleges and universities for the 2011-2012 school year.

 

Odessa in June: Sea Breeze, Talented Children at Lastochka, and a Busy Schedule Make for a Wonderful Four Days in One of Ukraine’s Greatest Cities

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft 

Like most people, I like to think weekends are best when they offer time to relax with my family, but there are times when my job requires me to fill the time with a full schedule and travel and I do not mind. A wonderful example occurred June 3-7, when Mariella and I visited Odessa, one of my favorite cities in Ukraine.  This was my third time in the famed seaside town. Like last summer, the main purpose of the visit was to support the joint U.S.-Ukrainian naval exercises known as Sea Breeze, but our time was spent doing much more.  We had a very busy weekend, joining a group of Ambassadors for part of a program organized by the Ukrainian Directorate General for Services of Foreign Missions (GDIP).  For example, on Friday evening we were treated to a performance at the Odessa Opera House, which I have been told is a close architectural cousin of the opera in Vienna.  Mariella and I are both great fans of the ballet, and seeing Odessa’s young ballet stars up close was a wonderful experience.

The next morning, I joined the diplomatic corps in a call on the Governor and the Odessa Oblast Council.  We were briefed on investment plans for the Odessa region.  Later I had private meetings with Mayor Kostusev and Governor Matviychuk.  Both of them stressed the importance of investment in Ukraine and in the Odessa region.  This is a topic I work on closely, and I expressed some of our concerns about the investment climate, and about fighting corruption at all levels.  The Mayor and the Governor both agreed that these are important issues, and I am looking forward to working with them to help promote economic development in the Odessa region.

 

“Passing the Comfort:” Quilt Exhibit at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

On Friday April 11, 2011, with partners from the Museum of the Great Patriotic War and the Ministry of Culture, and alongside representatives from the Dutch, British and German embassies in Kyiv, I participated in the opening ceremony for the exhibit “Passing on the Comfort”. Other project sponsors include the International Menno Simons Centre of the Netherlands and the Mennonite Central Committee of the United States.

This exhibit brings together three stories with a common thread – an international network of Ukrainian, American and Dutch individuals who provided relief and supplies during and after World War II. Original hand-made quilts are displayed alongside never-before-seen archive materials from the Museum of the Great Patriotic War including photographs, letters and other objects sharing the stories of individuals who took great risks to help others. 

 

Library Innovations and eGovernance Fair

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft 

“LEAP, and the net will appear.” John Burroughs

Ambassador Tefft speaks to media at Library Innovations and eGovernance Fair

I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the first ever Library Innovations and eGovernance Fair at Ukrainian House on April 11, 2011. It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight for the 800 librarians in attendance our robust commitment to libraries and free access to the internet in Ukraine. Below is an excerpt from the speech I delivered on Monday. You can watch the full speech here and browse photographs here of the 40+ library booths that showcased their activities at the fair.

I would like to thank the organizers of the event, Bibliomist, represented by Deborah Jacobs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and my good friend Ambassador Bob Pearson, IREX President, as well as Deputy Minister of Culture Victoria Liznicha, and Representative Volodomir Yavorisky, Head of the Rada Committee of Spirituality and Culture.

While we may come from different backgrounds and organizations, I can say with confidence that we all share a love for the written word, and for libraries and librarians. My President shares this sentiment. In 2005 – then still a senator from Illinois – President Obama said of librarians, “Guardians of truth and knowledge, librarians must be thanked for their role as champions of privacy, literacy, independent thinking, and, most of all, reading.” More recently, in his State of the Union address, President Obama mentioned his ambition to make wireless internet available to 98 percent of Americans within the next five years. He believes – and I couldn’t agree more – that this universal internet access will help businesses to grow faster, students to learn more, and is even is an important public safety infrastructure. 

 

Government of Ukraine Takes a Key Step toward Transparency and Accountability to Its Citizens

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

 

 

James Madison, 4th U.S. President

“A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and the people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

 

 

-          James Madison, the fourth U.S. president and author of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution

On February 3, Ukraine joined the community of democracies that recognize citizens’ right to be informed of their government’s activities so that they can hold it accountable.  President Yanukovych’s signature on the law on Access to Public Information is a promise to the Ukrainian people – journalists and civil society in particular – that their right to know and report on what the authorities do in their name will be legally enshrined and honored. Now comes the hard part: implementing the law and ensuring that politicians and bureaucrats do not weaken the law by hiding improper behavior behind self-serving claims of government confidentiality.  While no government can do its job of protecting the security and prosperity of its country without secrets, the key is to ensure that protected information is only applied according to legitimate rules.  Political and personal embarrassment – or criminal activity! – are not valid grounds for classifying information.

 

Scuppering SCUDs: Helping Ukraine Safely Dispose of Obsolete Weapons

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

On November 30, I traveled to Kalynivka in Vinnytsia Oblast to observe a very important project that is safely eliminating SCUD missiles and demilitarizing related equipment.  The U.S. is funding a project to assist in this effort, which is a concrete example of the very positive benefits that come from close U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation.  The same program is helping to eliminate toxic mélange fuel (a highly toxic fuel used for missiles) at a base near Lviv.

Amb. Tefft observes missile disposal methods

When we arrived at the base, I received a warm welcome from Deputy Minister of Defense Omelyanchuk and base commander LTC Andriy Ostrenko.  The green SCUD missiles were large, imposing, and quite ugly when seen up close.  As I watched the team demonstrate disposal methods, I reflected on the recent history of arms control efforts in this part of the world, on which I’ve spent a good part of my career.  After working hard to reduce and eliminate weapons like these, it’s heartening to see them being cut apart and turned into useful scrap metal.  I was reminded of the biblical injunction to beat swords into plowshares.

Significant progress has been made since work began on the project in September, with approximately three missiles and four warhead vans destroyed every day, in addition to a launch vehicle approximately every other day.  As of last week, nearly two-thirds of the work had been completed on the missile airframes and missile launchers, in addition to about half of the demilitarization work on truck units and missile carriers.

Workers demonstrate disposal methods

We left Kyiv early on a cold, snowy morning for the three-hour drive to Kalynivka.  Vinnytsia Oblast reminded me of my home state of Wisconsin – the flat landscape of rich soil, light snow, and many stands of trees along the highway brought to mind the American Midwest in winter.  After our visit to the base, our traveling party enjoyed a fine luncheon – in the sunshine – with Governor Mykola Dzhyha, who shared his local pride and told us that the oblast is known for its bountiful agriculture, including dairy products (cheese!), excellent apples, and good fishing – more similarities to Wisconsin! They sure know how to make a visitor feel at home in Vinnytsia – even when we’re there for serious work.

 

Remembering the Orange Revolution

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

This week, many Americans are recalling the events of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine six years ago.  For Americans, the Orange Revolution was fundamentally a symbol of hope – hope that Ukraine was turning toward democracy and a society where law was the rule.    Like the earlier Rose Revolution in Georgia, the peaceful protests on the Maidan showed to the citizens of my country a Ukrainian civil society that wanted to turn against corruption and electoral manipulation and build a nation of laws and good governance. 

Large crowd in the Maidan on Nov. 22, 2004

Politicians, historians, and analysts will debate the history of the Orange Revolution and its aftermath.  I believe most Ukrainians recognize that much remains to be done.  My point today is to reiterate that American policy remains unchanged – our hopes for Ukraine remain as consistent and strong today as they were six years ago.  Building democracy and rule of law are at the core of our approach to this country, or as I sometimes say, the overarching umbrella over everything we do here.  Indeed , I would argue that those goals of American policy have been fundamentally unchanged throughout the almost twenty years of Ukraine’s independence.

On December 19, 2008 the United States and Ukraine put those goals into a written document, our Charter of Strategic Partnership.  Section IV of that Charter pledges both sides to work together to strengthen democracy in Ukraine and sets out concrete areas where we agreed to work together.  On April 12, 2010, President Viktor Yanukovych and President Barack Obama reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States and “their intention to realize its full potential”.   According to the Joint Statement issued after that meeting, the two Presidents “recognized their countries’ common interests and shared values mirrored in the Charter: democracy, economic freedom and prosperity, security and territorial integrity, energy security, cooperation in the defense arena, the rule of law and people-to people contacts.  President Yanukovych outlined for President Obama his goals for reforming Ukraine and President Obama reaffirmed our strong support in helping achieve those goals. 

So this is why America cares about democracy in Ukraine, this is why all of us at the American Embassy work so hard to achieve these policy goals.  This is why we devoted so much time and so many of our resources to monitoring the recent local elections, and why we are working to support true reform in this country.  We are determined to support Ukrainians in their continuing efforts to secure for themselves and future generations the freedoms that so inspired the brave Ukrainians on those cold days and nights back in 2004 on Maidan Nezalezhnosti and throughout the country.

 

Successful NATO Summit Increases Potential for Cooperation With Eastern Neighbors

President Barack Obama chats with Turkish President Abdullah Gul before the official photo at the NATO Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

The NATO Lisbon Summit this past weekend is of major significance for all countries of Europe including Ukraine.  Major decisions were reached regarding European missile defense, NATO’s new strategic concept and NATO’s commitment to assist Afghanistan.  The key documents are posted on our Embassy website and merit a close reading.

For many years I have been an active participant in my country’s relations with Eastern Europe, beginning with my days on the State Department’s Soviet desk, and through my tour as Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow and my time as US  Ambassador to Lithuania, Georgia and now Ukraine.  So I have watched with interest the last few days as President Obama joined European leaders in Lisbon for the historic NATO Summit, followed by a U.S.-EU Summit. 

 

Congratulations to Exchange Alumni and American Councils!

Amb. Tefft presents photo book to an exchange alumna

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

I love this part of my job. Spending time talking  with some of Ukraine’s brightest young students is such a positive affirmation of the country’s amazing potential and that the work we are doing really matters. As an ambassador, most of my days are filled with meetings with ministers and government officials, visits to technical assistance projects, reading and writing diplomatic cables, and hosting receptions.  To be sure, these are all serious and important things.

Honestly though, one of my favorite parts of the job – and no less important – is meeting the very impressive Ukrainian students, scholars, and professionals who have participated in our many exchange programs.  Having spent anywhere from a few weeks to two years in very diverse parts of the United States, they return home brimming with interesting insights into American society, fond memories of newfound friends, and ideas for how to improve their communities. Exchange program participants see all sides of my country, as the famous Clint Eastwood movie title puts it:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  We are not perfect, but I always hope they have discovered some part of “The Good” that they will use in some way when they return home.