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Embassy News Archive - 2003
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 December 12, 2003
U.S. Presents State-of-the-art
Inspection Unit To Ukraine Customs Service
On Friday, December 12, in Odesa, U.S. Ambassador John Herbst formally
transferred to State Customs Service Chairman Mykola Kalenskiy a new
crime-fighting tool. This new tool is a state-of-the-art truck capable
of detecting hidden cargo in truck trailers and seagoing containers
without opening them.
While in Odesa, Ambassador Herbst also toured Pivdennyi oil terminal,
opened the Odesa branch of the ProCredit bank, and met with the Mayor
Ruslan Bodelan and Oblast Council Chairman Volodymyr Novatskyi. He also
met with people living with HIV/AIDS.
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 December 10, 2003
Ambassador Herbst Attends Opening
Ceremony of the Special Olympics of Ukraine
Ambassador John Herbst attended the opening ceremony of the Special
Olympics of Ukraine national basketball tournament December 10. The Special Olympics is a
worldwide organzation founded for the benefit of the mentally retarded
in order to demonstrate the gifts and abilities that these athletes
possess.
"Although the Special Olympics are American in origin, their spirit is
universal," Ambassador Herbst said. "Special Olympics celebrates the
potential of all its athletes to become fulfilled members of their
communities, and our world is united in the universal values of
equality, respect, and courage."
Photo (right to left): Ambassador Herbst, Special Olympics Managing
Director for Europe and Eurasia Mike Smith and Alexander Volkov, former
NBA player and President of "Kyiv" Basketball Club.
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 December 6, 2003
Ambassador Herbst Meets First
Group
of Ukrainian Open World Program Participants
Ambassador John Herbst met a group of 20 Ukrainian journalists and NGO
leaders on December 6 before their departure to the U.S. as the first
participants in the new Ukrainian Open World Program. A second group of
20 Ukrainian civic leaders departed for the U.S. on December 10 to take
part in the Open World Program. At the Department of State they met
with Amb. Pifer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Europe
and Eurasian Affairs, and former ambassador to Ukraine.
The groups are spending 10 days in American communities learning about
the election process, independent media, and NGO development in the
U.S. Among the participants are top journalists, representatives of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community leaders, education
professionals and lawyers.
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 December 1, 2003
The U.S. Joins Global Community in
Commemorating World AIDS Day 2003
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell addressed the nation with a message
for World AIDS Day.
"The people and government of the United States join you in
commemorating World AIDS Day 2003. With you, we renew our commitment to
combat this terrible disease that can rob hope from millions on every
continent," said Secretary Powell.
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 November 10, 2003
Iftaar Dinner At The U.S.
Ambassador’s Residence
Ambassador John Herbst hosted a Ramadan Iftaar dinner November 10 at
his residence. Muslim community leaders, religious leaders and
diplomats from Muslim countries were invited.
Iftaar is the traditional sundown meal that breaks the Ramadan fast
observed by Muslims around the world this month.
U.S. President Bush hosted an Iftaar in Washington, D.C., on October
28. At that dinner, he said, “For Muslims in America, and around the
world, this holy time is set aside for prayer and fasting. It is also a
good time for people of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold
common -- love of family, gratitude to God, and a commitment to
religious freedom. America is a land of many faiths --and we honor and
welcome and value the Muslim faith.”
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 September 30, 2003
Ceremony Marks Elimination of TU-22
Bombers in Poltava
Ambassador Herbst participated in a ceremony marking the dismantlement
of the last of twelve Tu-22M3 bombers located at the Poltava air base
Sept. 30.
Under the Heavy Bomber Elimination Program, which began in July 2002,
at least 55 bombers will be dismantled in accordance with the START I
and Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaties. The elimination is
funded by the U.S. Congress under the Cooperative Threat Reduction
Program (CTR). Also attending the ceremony was retired Brigadier
General Thomas Kuenning, Director of the Defense Threat Reduction
Agency's CTR office.
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 September 24, 2003
U.S. Ambassador Presents American
Film Collection to American Library at Kyiv Mohyla Academy
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst officially presented a
collection of American films to the American Library at the Kyiv Mohyla
Academy on September 24. The collection includes over 50 classic
American films on DVD as well as documentaries about U.S. history,
government, and society. The American Library recently launched an
American film series to promote a better understanding of the U.S. and
American culture. Every Friday evening, the American
Library hosts a showing and discussion of an American film for
American Library members.
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 September 20, 2003
Ambassador Herbst Presents
Credentials to President Kuchma
Ambassador John E. Herbst presented his credentials to
President Kuchma in an official ceremony at Mariinskyi Palace Saturday,
September 20. During the meeting Ambassador Herbst and President Kuchma
discussed bilateral relations and international issues. Ambassador
Herbst
stressed his intention to promote U.S.-Ukrainian relations. He also
thanked
Ukraine for participating in the Iraqi stabilization force.
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 September 18, 2003
Ambassador Herbst Opens Conference on Freedom of
Speech and Human Rights in Ukraine - 2003
Ambassador Herbst made opening remarks September 18, 2003 at the
Conference on Freedom of Speech and Human Rights in Ukraine – 2003,
organized by the US Embassy in Ukraine and Kharkiv Human Rights
Protection Group. The purpose of the conference was to analyze the
observance of human rights and media freedoms in Ukraine and to promote
a dialogue between civil society and government on these important
issues. Conference participants reported on the results of monitoring
human rights and media freedoms in Ukraine during the last year.
Conference participants included winners of the Media and Human Rights
Grant Competition announced by the U.S. Embassy on November 8, 2002.
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 September 15, 2003
New U.S. Ambassador Arrives in
Ukraine
Ambassador John E. Herbst arrived in Kyiv September 13 to assume his
duties as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Ambassador Herbst presented a
copy of his credentials to Foreign Minister Hryshchenko on September 15.
Following his meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Herbst made
remarks to the press.
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 July 17, 2003
U.S. Embassy Expands its Support
for
Internet Access in Ukraine
Nine Ukrainian public libraries opened free public Internet centers in
August with grants from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy.
The Internet centers are among 71 centers that have been opened
throughout Ukraine as part of the Embassy’s Library
Electronic Access Project (LEAP).
The LEAP Centers were opened in eight cities - Berdiansk, Kirovohrad,
Kramatorsk, Malyn, Oleksandriya, Rivne, Yasynuvata, and Zaporizhzhya -
with the goal of providing Ukrainian citizens with greater access to
information.
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June 14, 2003
Ukrainians meet with their Polish
counterparts to discuss media issues
More than 70 Ukrainain and Polish media representatives, government
officials, sociologists and political scientists met in Lviv June 14 to
discuss the role of the media in social transformation. The conference
was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow with
contributions from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
Polish participants, including a former minister of defense and
vice-chairman of the International Auschwitz Council, shared some of
the experiences of the Polish transformation since 1990, particularly
the media’s role in establishing democratic rule. Ukrainians discussed
barriers that make a free and independent media difficult to realize in
their country. The conference was part of the Consulate's “Bridges to
the East,” a series of programs designed to promote dialog and
cooperation between Poland and Ukraine.
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 June 11, 2003
Department of State releases
Worldwide Trafficking in Persons Report
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has released the third annual
worldwide Trafficking in Persons Report. The June 11th report is
presented to the U.S. Congress in accordance with the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000, and is an annual update on the fight
against trafficking in persons worldwide.
This year's report records the efforts of more than 100 countries, most
of which share concerns over this issue and, like Ukraine and the
United States, are actively working to combat trafficking in persons.
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Department of State releases Report:
"Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record"
The U.S. Department of State has released "Supporting Human
Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record" report. Speaking about the
report, Secretary of State Colin Powell said:
"U.S. policy to protect human rights springs from American ideals and
our sense of national interest. But even more important than our high
aspirations and purposes is the work and will that Americans have put
into achieving them. ... We are proud to present to you Supporting
Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2002-2003 – a report that
for the first time in a systematic way captures the tireless work of
the U.S. Government to promote democratic structures and respect for
human rights."
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Iraq: Photo of the Day
A young student from Basra unloads school supplies April 4, 2003. The
school supplies, stockpiled with other humanitarian aid by the Saddam
Hussein regime, are now finding their way to their originally intended
destinations.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Thomas
Mund. This image is available for public use. Please credit the
photographer when reproducing the photo.
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May 28, 2003
Ambassador Pascual: Implement the
Business Plan for Odessa-Brody Now
Speaking at the Sixth Annual Conference "Energy Security In Europe In
the 21st Century" May 28 Ambassador Pascual, in particular, said:
"Odessa-Brody represents a real opportunity for both Ukraine and Europe
to diversify its energy resources. Ukrtransnafta’s project development
team has outlined a concrete path towards commercial success to
transport oil to Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland and
beyond. Despite concerns that Odessa-Brody could never be commercially
viable, global market trends now favor development of this project."
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 May 28, 2003
Letter from Consul General
In the months since I have arrived in Kyiv, the Consular Section has
focused on improving the quality of service that we provide to American
and Ukrainian citizens in Ukraine. At the same time, as a result of the
terrorist attacks in America, we must give priority to implementing new
procedures designed to secure and protect America’s borders.
I would like to review our policies, positive changes that we have
implemented, and upcoming programs that will further improve our
service to American and Ukrainian citizens alike...
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 May 24, 2003
Third GUUAM Ministerial Meeting:
Joint Statement
On May 24, the third meeting of the Council of Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of GUUAM Countries (Georgia Ukraine Uzbekistan Azerbaijan
Moldova) took place in Tbilisi, Georgia.
At the meeting, the delegations from all member countries and the
United States continued their dialogue on their common goals of
combating terrorism and transnational crime, enhancing border security
and customs control, and encouraging trade. The United States was
represented at the meeting by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe.
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April 2, 2003
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Opens
"Window on America" Resource Center in Simferopol
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Marie Yovanovitch officially opened an
American resource center at the Crimean State Engineering and
Pedagogical University on April 2.
The center in Simferopol, called a “Window on America,” is one of seven
such resource centers in Ukraine. The U.S. Embassy has allocated more
than $270,000 to establish the Window on America centers in libraries
throughout Ukraine.
Ms. Yovanovitch also officially opened the photo exhibit “Ukraine
Through the Eyes of an American Peace Corps Volunteer” at the library
of the Crimean State Engineering and Pedagogical University. The
exhibit includes 53 photos by Richard Krauze, an American Peace Corps
Volunteer who spent two years teaching business development in Rivne.
His photos capture the beauty and diversity of Ukraine and its people
and depict the cooperation and friendship between Ukrainians and
American Peace Corps Volunteers.
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 March 29, 2003
Ambassador Pascual Opens Kyiv
Alumni
Resource Center
U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual officially opened the Kyiv Alumni
Resource Center on March 29.
The center, located at Melnykova, 63, is designed to be a place where
alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored programs will be able to gather,
share ideas, and work on various projects and events.
The center has a library of reference material, both printed and
electronic, to help alumni build on their U.S. experience; it hosts
training sessions and seminars in professional development and
community activity. The center activities are intended to support
continued democratization and economic reform in Ukraine, and will work
to create cohesive groups of alumni to focus on particular challenges
facing Ukraine.
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Available archives for other years:
2006 |
2005 |
2004
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