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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO FOREIGN, NATIONAL, AND RELIGION EDITORS:
AJC Delegation Meets with Ukrainian Prime Minister in Kiev
KIEV, Ukraine, April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amid dramatic
and still unfolding developments in Ukraine, a five-member AJC
leadership delegation is visiting Kiev for three days to meet with top
government officials, Western diplomats, and leaders of the Jewish
community.
The visit included a 70-minute meeting today with Ukrainian Prime
Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who spoke about the many challenges facing
his government, including especially what he described as substantial
Russian activity in the east and south of the country, as well as the
country's pressing economic challenges and the need for sustained
American and European support and commitment.
In addition to the meeting with the Prime Minister, the delegation met
with Chief of Security Services Valentin Nalivaichenko; Deputy Foreign
Minister Danylo Lubkivsky; U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt;
Israeli Deputy Ambassador to Ukraine Itzhak Carmel Kagan; and Member
of Parliament Petro Poroshenko. The group also held sessions with
leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and the Ukrainian Jewish
Committee, as well as with other Jewish representatives.
"Since 1991, AJC has staunchly supported an independent Ukraine
aligned with democratic values and free to chart its own destiny,"
said AJC Executive Director David Harris, who has visited Kiev many
times and was honored by the pro-Western government of Prime Minister
Viktor Yuschenko in 2008. "We applaud the progress following the
dramatic Maidan protests, even as we fully recognize the myriad
challenges facing the country each and every day. It's vitally
important for the world to grasp just what's at stake -- and not just
for the country itself, but also far beyond -- in ensuring that
Ukraine remain free and united."
Several government officials condemned unequivocally the recent acts
of anti-Semitism in Donetsk and Nikolayev. "The current Ukrainian
government stressed to us its commitment to combating anti-Semitism
and all forms of racism and xenophobia," Harris said.
"There is real concern about the dangers posed by outside provocateurs
playing the 'anti-Semitism card' and also about far-right,
ultra-nationalist groups in Ukraine. In response, we were told, the
clear message from the government is that acts of anti-Semitism are
intolerable, are contrary to the 'new Ukraine,' and will not go
unpunished," Harris added.
The group visited the imposing Maidan Square, which became the symbol
of the successful Ukrainian effort to oust President Viktor
Yanukovich's government, and where over 100 people lost their lives.
Bullet holes can be seen in buildings surrounding the square, the
result largely of sniper fire by the forces deployed by Yanukovich
against the massive crowds of protesters.
The AJC visit will conclude on Tuesday, when Vice President Joe Biden
is scheduled to hold meetings with top Ukrainian officials.
This is the second AJC fact-finding and solidarity mission to Ukraine
in the past seven weeks alone.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO
SOURCE American Jewish Committee
-0- 04/21/2014
/CONTACT: Kenneth Bandler, AJC Director of Media Relations, 212.891.6771, bandlerk@ajc.org
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.ajc.org
CO: American Jewish Committee
ST: Ukraine
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