October 12, 2016 at 02:57PM

This past September, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s (UCCA) newly-elected President Andriy Futey and immediate past President Tamara Olexy traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine for a 4-day working visit. In addition to a packed schedule of meetings, both were invited by the Government of Ukraine to participate in the solemn commemorations honoring the victims of the Babyn Yar tragedy 75 years ago. On September 27th, Mr. Futey and Ms. Olexy joined the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) delegation headed by UWC President Evhen Czolij at a signing ceremony with Prime Minster of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman, to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ukrainian World Congress. On September 28th, the UCCA Delegation, along with representatives of the UWC, met with the Chair of the External Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, MP Hanna Hopko, to discuss ongoing efforts to maintain US and European sanctions on Russia and continued support of the US Administration, Congress and Ukraine’s Parliament in the current crisis in Eastern Ukraine. Afterwards, Chair Hopko invited other members of the Committee to present their concerns and priorities. The conversation focused on continued Russian aggression, the current situation in Crimea and the coordination of efforts to extend sanctions on Russia. Chair Hopko reiterated the importance of a visit from the newly elected President of the United States to Ukraine and the UCCA’s assistance in that effort. That same day, Mr. Futey and Ms. Olexy met with acting Minister of Health, Ulana Suprun, who thanked the UCCA for its efforts in continuing to coordinate humanitarian aid to Ukraine and discussed the need for direct assistance in some areas, most notably with children’s health. She discussed her priorities and the systematic and legislative changes she will be pursuing to completely restructure the Ministry and the delivery of health care in Ukraine. The UCCA then joined UWC for a meeting with Vice Prime Minister on European and Euroatlantic Integration, Ivanna Klympusch-Tsintsadze. Among key issues discussed where the continuation of European sanctions against Russia and the aftermath of the referendum vote by the Netherlands as to Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. On September 30th, Mr. Futey and Ms. Olexy met with U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, who congratulated the UCCA on its successful XXII Congress and reconfirmed the Embassy’s continued cooperation. During the meeting key issues were discussed including continued US leadership in maintaining sanctions on Russia, further humanitarian and economic assistance for Ukraine, civic and social community programs that the UCCA is planning to spearhead, and the most recent developments in Ukraine. During their stay in Ukraine, Mr. Futey, Ms. Olexy, and Askold Lozynskyj, former UCCA President and current Chair of the UCCA Film Committee, were invited to attend a celebration for renowned film director Oles Yanchuk at the Dovzhenko National Film Studio. The reception, in honor of Mr. Yanchuk’s 60th birthday, was also attended by Ukraine’s Minister of Culture, Evhen Niszczuk who expressed his support for the upcoming UCCA co-produced film “The Secret Diaries of Symon Petlura”, which chronicles the life of the famous Ukrainian statesman and nationalist leader. Throughout their 4 day working visit, UCCA also held meetings with Vyatautas Landsbergis, First Head of State of Lithuania after it’s independence from the Soviet Union, Valdis Zatlers, former President of the Republic of Latvia, Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Paul Shapiro, Director of the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, MP Volodymyr Ariev, Chair of the Ukrainian delegation to Parliament Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), as well as several members of Parliament including Hryhoriy Nemyria, Viktor Kryvenko, Pavlo Kyshkar and Ostap Yednak.
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