24 November 2009
Washington, DC (UNIS) – After months of waiting for his Senate hearing and then a floor vote for his confirmation, on Friday evening, November 20, 2009, Amb. John Tefft, former U.S. ambassador to Georgia and Lithuania, was confirmed as the United States’ next envoy to Ukraine. Pursuant to protocol requirements, Ambassador Tefft did not hold any official meetings prior to his confirmation. Ukrainian American community organizations were privileged to meet with the ambassador on Tuesday morning, November 24, 2009 prior to his departure to Kyiv in early December. Also present at the State Department meeting were Lawrence Silverman, Director – Office of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Affairs; Mark Bocchetti, Deputy Director - Office of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Affairs; and, Elisabeth Zentos, Ukraine Desk Officer.
The meeting with Amb. Tefft, organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, included representatives from the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Churches; the Ukrainian National Association, The Washington Group, the World Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, the Ukrainian National Credit Union Association, and the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Due to the quick turn-around of the meeting and the soon-to-be-Thanksgiving holiday, other organizations that were also invited unfortunately could not attend.
Ambassador Tefft warmly greeted the Ukrainian community representatives and proceeded with a few opening remarks. His goal was to hear concerns from Ukrainian American community organizations about the plight of U.S.-Ukraine relations. After initial introductions, the community representatives mentioned various issues of concern: USAID projects in Ukraine; the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission; upcoming presidential elections and international elections monitoring; unity of the Ukrainian churches and interjection from foreign churches; the fight against corruption; energy reform and diversification of the energy sector; and reforms associated with NATO’s Annual National Program. Each topic prompted a dialogue with the newly confirmed ambassador.
After more than an hour-long discussion, the community representatives thanked the ambassador for his time and expressed their sincerest wishes for his future endeavors in Ukraine. In commenting on the meeting, UCCA President Tamara Olexy noted: “Ambassador Tefft is knowledgeable of the region and, in particular about the current political situation in Ukraine. Our forthright discussion today was a unique opportunity to share our concerns with him and develop a working relationship. We look forward to our community’s cooperative efforts with the ambassador while he is stationed in Kyiv.”
