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Embassy News Archive - 2004
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 December 27, 2004
Powell Hails Ukraine Election as
"Historic Moment for Democracy"
At a press briefing on December 27, Secretary of State Colin Powell has
hailed Ukraine’s December 26 repeat run-off presidential election as
“an historic moment for democracy in Ukraine.”
"While the results of Sunday's election are not yet official, it
appears that the Ukrainian people finally had an opportunity to choose
freely their next president," he said.
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 December 8, 2004
Deputy Secretary Armitage
interviewed by Novyi Kanal
Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage in his interview for the
Ukrainian television station Novyi Kanal December 8 stated that a free
and fair election in Ukraine December 26 would open up the possibility
for "a much more invigorated relationship with the United States."
"We are not looking for any particular person to be
elected," Deputy Secretary Armitage said. "We are
looking to have a free, fair and open process, and one that is judged
so by the international community."
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 December 7, 2004
Colin Powell Speaks on Ukrainian
Elections at OSCE Ministerial Council
Addressing the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria on December
7, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said: "What we have seen in
recent weeks is the international community coming together to support
democracy. Democracy means free, fair, open elections that are
untainted, and that's what the Ukrainians deserve and that's what they
are going to get, we hope, by the end of the month."
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 November 24, 2004
Colin Powell Says US Cannot Accept
Ukraine Vote Result As Legitimate
In a briefing at the State Department November 24, U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell said that the United States cannot accept as
legitimate the result announced by the Central Election Commission in
Ukraine’s November 21 presidential run-off election between Viktor
Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych.
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 November 24, 2004
Senator Richard Lugar Comes to
Ukraine to Observe Elections
United States Senator Richard G. Lugar, Chairman of the U.S. Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, visited Ukraine November 19-23. Senator
Lugar came as the personal envoy of United States President George W.
Bush to observe the Ukrainian presidential elections.
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 November 4, 2004
U.S. Embassy hosts seminar for
Ukrainian firms interested in bidding on reconstruction contracts in
Iraq
In order to facilitate Ukraine’s participation in Iraq’s
reconstruction, the U.S. Embassy November 4 opened a seminar for
representatives of Ukrainian firms that may be interested in bidding on
U.S. Government procurement contracts.
“Iraq could certainly benefit from Ukraine's industrial and engineering
strength. Iraq greatly needs outside expertise in a diverse set of
areas - from heavy industry to health care", Ambassador John E. Herbst
said in his welcoming remarks to conference participants.
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 November 3, 2004
U.S. Election Watch in Kyiv
On November 3, guests from Ukrainian media, NGOs, local administration,
and the national government joined the U.S. Embassy community for a
pre-dawn watching of the results of the U.S. presidential elections.
In addition to watching the results on television, guests had the
opportunity to use one of several Internet terminals set up for the
occasion, participate in a mock election in two American-style voting
booths, and listen to speakers on a range of elections-related topics.
Several journalists at the event interviewed U.S. Ambassador John E.
Herbst on the U.S. elections, the Ukrainian elections, and the future
of U.S.-Ukraine relations.
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 October 25, 2004
Ambassador Herbst Visits
Dnipropetrovsk
During an October 25th visit to Dnipropetrovsk, Ambassador Herbst
called for an honest, transparent election during an address to
students and faculty of the National Mining University. Ambassador
Herbst also met with city and oblast senior officials, toured
Yavornytskyi History Museum, opened the Window on America Center at the
Oblast Library, and held a press conference at the Dnipropetrovsk press
club.
Answering a press question about the impact the upcoming Ukrainian
election -- and possible violations -- may have on Ukraine's relations
with the U.S. and with Russia, Ambassador Herbst responded: "If the
election is falsified, that would be an impediment to our bilateral
relations. But we hope -- and there is a good chance -- that this won't
happen. I'd add that a true democratic election here serves the
intersts not only of your people and the U.S, but also those of the
neighboring nations, including Russia."
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 October 8, 2004
Ambassador Herbst Calls for
Transparent Elections, Underscores U.S. Neutrality in Election Process
Speaking in Kyiv on Oct. 7 and Donetsk on Oct. 8, Ambassador Herbst
ñalled for transparent elections and underscored U.S. neutrality in
election process:
"The future of Ukraine is a large topic of great importance to the
Ukrainian people, obviously, but also to the region and to the
Euro-Atlantic community, which includes the United States. This topic
has particular meaning this year, the country's fourteenth year of
independence and the year of its fourth presidential election. We have
seen dramatic statements about the meaning of this election. Some
observers suggest that this is the most important vote since the
referendum on independence. Still other observers speak of the election
in Manichean terms as a struggle between good and evil."
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 September 22, 2004
Free Internet Connections Now
Available in More than 90 Public Libraries
With the recent opening of two new centers in Lutsk and Bila Tserkva,
Ukrainians now have access to free Internet at more than 90 public
libraries across the country. These centers are funded through the U.S.
Embassy's Library Electronic Access Program (LEAP), which is now
focusing on Ukraine's medium-sized cities.
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 September 11, 2004
9/11 Memorial Service at St.
Andrew’s Church
On Saturday, September 11, Metropolitan Mefodiy of Ternopil and Podil,
spiritual head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, held a
memorial service for the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York
and Washington at St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv.
Ambassador and Mrs. Herbst, Deputy Chief of Mission Sheila Gwaltney,
Col. and Mrs. Connell, and other members of the American community
attended.
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September 10, 2004
Visits by U.S. Officials
Several high-ranking U.S. visitors, representing both the legislative
and executive branches of government, traveled to Ukraine in late
August and early September. They met with senior Ukrainian government
officials and other political and public figures to discuss bilateral
relations and current affairs in Ukraine including the upcoming
presidential elections and Ukraine's participation in the coalition in
Iraq. Among the visitors were Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, a
U.S. Senate delegation headed by John McCain, Senator Richard Lugar,
and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs John Tefft.
Additional photos and transcripts of media availabilities during those
visits can be accessed via the links below.
Earlier
visits:
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 August 6, 2004
Internet Access Centers Opened in
Public Libraries
Internet centers in Zdolbuniv, Rivne oblast, Okhtyrka, Sumy oblast,
Dolyna and Vyhoda, Ivano-Frankivs'k oblast' public libraries were
opened on July 29, July 30, and August 6 as part of the Embassy s
Library Electronic Access Project (LEAP.) At the opening in
Zdolbuniv, Public Affairs Officer Janet Demiray underlined that the
goal of the project is to provide Ukrainian public libraries with free
public access to the Internet and to support the free and open exchange
of information that is essential for the development of democracy in
Ukraine.
Many local officials spoke at the openings, praising the centers' role
in providing new sources of information to citizens and pledging to do
more to bring Internet access to local schools and
libraries. These public libraries are among other 76
Ukrainian libraries have received grants for computer equipment,
software, Internet access, and training. Local government,
business and public support the project.
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 May 18, 2004
Ambassador Herbst Speaks on
Democracy and Economic Development in Ukraine
U.S. Ambassador John Herbst delivered a speech on democracy and
economic development in Ukraine at the National Academy of Public
Administration May 18. The Ambassador also took questions from the
audience and the press at the conclusion of his remarks.
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 April 28, 2004
U.S. Embassy awards grants to
Ukrainian libraries to open Internet centers
The U.S. Embassy awarded grants to 16 Ukrainian public libraries to
open free public Internet centers as part of the Library Electronic
Access Project (LEAP) April 28. The goal of this program is
to provide Ukrainian citizens with free and open access to information.
Since 2001, the U.S. government has devoted more than $1.4 million to
improving Ukrainian citizens' access to information by opening free
Internet centers in public libraries. Libraries receive
grants of up to $24,000 for computer equipment, software, two years of
Internet access and training. These 16 grants bring the
total number of Ukrainian libraries that have received LEAP grants to
76.
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 April 27, 2004
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Pifer visits Kyiv
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Steven
Pifer visited Kyiv April 24-27 to meet with Ukrainian officials in
order to follow up on the visit of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
Richard L. Armitage. Pifer, a former U.S. Ambassador to
Ukraine, also reinforced the U.S. position on the importance of free
and fair elections here.
Mr. Pifer also met with alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange
programs to discuss U.S.- Ukraine relation in the election year and
conducted a press-conference March 26.
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 April 19, 2004
U.S. Embassy begins immigrant visa processing for
adopted Ukrainian orphans
U.S. Ambassador John Herbst issued the first immigrant visas processed
in Kyiv to orphans adopted in Ukraine by U.S. citizens April 19. U.S.
immigrant visas were issued to children adopted by five American
families from the states of Texas, Virginia, Florida and Pennsylvania.
The processing of immigrant visas for adopted children is the first
stage in the phased transfer of all immigrant visa processing for
Ukrainian nationals from Warsaw to Kyiv. At this time, the U.S. Embassy
in Warsaw, Poland, will continue to process immigrant visas for
children adopted in Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as well as
other types of immigrant visas for Ukrainian citizens, other than
orphans.
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 April 15, 2004
Consular Section begins fingerprint
scans
The Consular Section began collecting digitally scanned fingerprints
from U.S. visa applicants April 15. "This is the latest step in our
efforts to secure the visa issuance process and assure that only
legitimate visitors enter the United States," said MaryKay Carlson,
Consul General. U.S. Ambassador John Herbst and Consul General Carlson
held a press conference to demonstrate the new scanning equipment April
14.
The collection of electronic fingerprint scans in U.S. Embassies and
Consulates follows the implementation of the US-VISIT program. Under
this program, fingerprint scans and digital photographs have been taken
of all travelers arriving in the U.S. with visas since January 5.
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 April 14, 2004
U.S. Embassy presents concert performance of Porgy
and Bess
The U.S. Embassy presented a concert performance of American composer
George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in Kyiv April 14. Two
American musicians from the American Voices Foundation - pianist John
Ferguson and baritone soloist Ira Spaulding - performed the concert
together with the chamber choir from the Glier Kyiv State Music College
and Ukrainian soprano soloist Irina Vezhnevets.
Porgy and Bess is one of the most famous and most successful American
operas of the 20th century. Based on DuBose Heyward’s novel Porgy
and the play that was adapted from the novel, it has long been
considered the crowning achievement in the stellar career of composer
and conductor George Gershwin.
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 March 11, 2004
Teachers honored for excellence in teaching English
March 11 in Kyiv the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Marie Yovanovitch
presented awards to regional finalists in the eighth annual
U.S.-Ukraine Awards for Excellence in Teaching Program (TEA) from
central and northern oblasts of Ukraine at an awards ceremony.
Ninety-five Ukrainian secondary school teachers will receive teaching
materials worth $200 and equipment worth up to $2,000 for their
schools. In round three, 17 winners will be selected to travel to the
United States for a seven-week professional development course.
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 February 25, 2004
Ambassador Herbst Opens American
Roadside Architecture Exhibit in Kyiv
U.S. Ambassador John Herbst officially opened the American Roadside
Architecture Exhibit on February 25 at the Contemporary Art Museum
"Soviart" in Kyiv. The exhibit is a photographic chronicle of the
roadside architecture of America during the 1940s and 1950s, when gas
stations, restaurants and hotels were built in fanciful shapes to
attract the attention of passing automobiles.
The photographs represent an interesting era of American history, when
the invention and mass production of the automobile transformed the
lives and landscape of the United States. Architectural historian John
Margolies spent 25 years criss-crossing the country to document this
vanishing tradition in American commerce. His work has been collected
by the State Department for a special exhibition that will tour Europe
in 2004. Ukraine is the first stop of this exhibition on its tour of
Europe.
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 February 21, 2004
Former U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright Visits Ukraine
From Feb. 19- 21, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
visited Kyiv to take part in the conference "Ukraine in Europe in the
World." While in Kyiv, she met with political and government leaders
and scheduled a special visit with alumni of US government exchange
programs.
When speaking with alumni, Dr. Albright stressed her roots in this
region of the world and her continuing interest in the democratic
development of Ukraine. Noting that democracy "is a process and not an
event", Dr. Albright voiced her concerns over the appearance of
patterns of harassment of the media and opposition candidates during
the Ukrainian election campaign. She criticized authoritarian regimes
who misuse the vocabulary of democracy and added that democracy can't
be imposed, but must be worked on by all the people.
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 February 13, 2004
Ambassador Herbst Opens American Roadside
Architecture Exhibit in Lviv
U.S. Ambassador John Herbst officially opened the American Roadside
Architecture Exhibit on February 13 at the Lviv Museum of Ethnography.
The exhibit is a photographic chronicle of the roadside architecture of
America during the 1940s and 1950s, when gas stations, restaurants and
hotels were built in fanciful shapes to attract the attention of
passing automobiles.
The photographs represent an interesting era of American history, when
the invention and mass production of the automobile transformed the
lives and landscape of the United States. Architectural historian John
Margolies spent 25 years criss-crossing the country to document this
vanishing tradition in American commerce. His work has been collected
by the State Department for a special exhibition that will tour Europe
in 2004. Ukraine is the first stop of this exhibition on its tour of
Europe.
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 January 28, 2004
U.S. Embassy Expands the Window on America Program in
Ukraine
On January 28, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Janet Demiray
officially opened a "Window on America" resource center and the
American Roadside Architecture exhibit at the Kherson Oblast Library.
The event drew a large crowd, including representatives of the oblast
and city governments, heads of the city's two leading churches, and
nearly a dozen members of the press.
The U.S. Embassy has allocated more than $400,000 to establish 12
Window on America Centers in libraries throughout Ukraine. Each of the
centers is open to the public and contains a variety of information
about the U.S. government and American culture, literature, history,
universities and businesses.
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 Teacher-singer Carolyn Graham in Ukraine
Carolyn Graham was a singer and piano player specializing in early
American jazz from the turn of the century through the 1940s. She is
known by English language teachers as the creator of "Jazz Chants," a
methodology for teaching English that combines the rhythm of American
English with the rhythm of American jazz.
She was in Ukraine for two weeks, conducting workshops and performaning
in Kyiv, L'viv, Odesa and Horlivka for not only English language
teachers but also for musicians and all lovers of music. In Horlivka
she was the keynote speaker at the 9th Annual TESOL-Ukraine
Conference.
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 New Resource Center in Crimea
Opened
by RELO
As a part of an on-going project to bring English language books and
materials to teachers in Ukraine, RELO Sullivan presented the Crimean
Republican Institute of In-Service Pedagogical Education in Simferopol,
Crimea 160 books, many of them accompanied by video or audio cassettes.
On hand to receive the books and examine the collection were the Rector
Alexander Rudyakov, Vice Rector Ivan Dovgopol, English Language Fellow
Chuck Crowther, and 17 teachers from 12 nearby institutions. The
opening of this Resource Center is the final one of a series of
RELO-supported centers. Others are in Odessa, Luhansk, Horlivka,
Khmelnytsky, and Rivne.
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Available archives for other years:
2006 |
2005 |
2003
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