Press Conference
with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), Senator Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire), and Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina)
Kyiv, Ukraine
April 13, 2006
Senator Frist: My name is Bill Frist, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and I lead a delegation of two of my colleagues, who I ask to join behind me: Senator Richard Burr and Senator Judd Gregg.
We have had very productive meetings here in Ukraine over the past two days. Meetings that began -- or a visit which began -- with the laying of the wreath at the Holodomor Memorial yesterday.
We find ourselves in Ukraine at a very interesting time in terms of the formation of your government and have had wonderful meetings this morning with the President, Ms. Tymoshenko, and Mr. Yanukovych.
The United States and Ukraine have a strong relationship that continues to grow and strengthen. The deep ties between our two people are the foundation of this partnership.
We congratulate the people of Ukraine for their free and fair, recent elections. We witness Ukraine strengthening its democracy through such elections and further democratic reforms as to civil society and the judiciary.
Our conversations over the morning have centered much on the formation of coalitions and the formation of a government. We just wish to reassure the people of Ukraine that we look forward, as a nation, to working with whoever emerges in that government.
With that I'll turn to my colleagues for a brief statement and then we would be happy to answer your questions.
Senator Gregg: Thank you Senator Frist and our entire delegation wishes to thank the people of Ukraine and the various members of your political parties for the very warm and friendly reception we've received since we've been here.
America is excited about your move towards democracy and just in the few hours we have been here, the energy and enthusiasm for democracy is infectious. We look forward to continuing to work with you as it grows and expands.
Senator Burr: Though this has been a short stay in Ukraine, I will assure each and every one of you who are in this room, that we understand how much progress has been made in Ukraine just by the freedom of press that is displayed here today.
We have had discussions on issues that are not only crucial to your country, but to the world. And we leave shortly with a great confidence that the leadership exists -- not only Ukraine to address those issues -- but for the world to create even a stronger partnership in this area of the world.
Senator Frist: We also wish to thank our outstanding Ambassador for the tremendous leadership he provides here in Ukraine representing the United States of America.
With that, we would be happy to take your questions.
Question: A couple of months ago, there was a vigorous discussion on who will join WTO first, Ukraine or Russia. And now Ukraine has the advantage of having the bilateral Market Access Protocol signed with the United States while President Putin complains that the U.S. advances artificial conditions and slows the pace of Russia accession to the WTO. In your opinion, who will join WTO first and what obstacles on still there on the way of both Ukraine and Russia to joining this organization?
Senator Frist: Thank you. We strongly support Ukraine's membership in the WTO. That is why our body, the United States Congress, lifted the Jackson-Vanik restrictions on Ukraine and designated it very specifically as a market economy. We believe that further integration into institutions such as the WTO will help Ukraine's economy grow -- will help the creation of jobs. In respect to the question on Russia, I'll turn to the Ambassador who is maybe a bit more involved with that.
Ambassador Herbst, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine: Of course, I am only responsible for the U.S. relationship with Ukraine. But of course, we would like to see Ukraine get into WTO as quickly as possible -- as soon as it meets all of the conditions. And the same is true for Russia. We would like to see the same for Russia. Thank you.
Question: The question is about a draft legislation on immigration and illegal migrants that is currently being discussed in the Congress. What is your position towards this legislation that promises tougher treatment of illegal migrants? And also, whether this will have any impact on Ukraine? My thinking here is that Ukraine can offer for seasonal workers -- laborers -- a qualified labor force that could go to the United States as temporary workers. So what is your position on this?
Senator Frist: The issue of migration or immigration to the United States is on the forefront of our national agenda. The President has clearly spelled out his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform, which includes border security at our borders; secondly, interior work site enforcement of the laws of the land; and thirdly, a strong temporary worker program.
We are a nation of the rule of law and a nation made rich with our culture of immigrants. The challenge we have is that about 3 million people enter our country illegally each year and that grew last year by 25%.
As for Ukraine, we support a strong immigration program that would allow people from Ukraine to work through a legal, temporary worker program.
Senator Burr: Let me just add to that that the reason that we're so anxious for comprehensive reform is that regardless of where you are in the world, if you want to work in America through a legal process, we want to be able to accommodate that. If you want to get educated in America, we want students to have the opportunity to experience that. If in the end, people want to choose to come to America and possibly seek citizenship, we want to have that option to be open. Today's system will not allow it.
Question: I wanted to ask, from your conversations with political leaders today, did you get a chance or get a sense of whether Ms. Tymoshenko is going to be the next Premier? What is the U.S. view on that? And, back to the WTO, what are the chances, that Russia and the U.S. will work out a deal before the G-8 Summit this summer? Thank you.
Senator Frist: With regard to your second question on Russia and the WTO, we have no information on that. We support and welcome all nations who meet the criteria for membership.
As to your first question, we did have the opportunity to meet with all three entities, as I mentioned. What is clear to us is that democracy is thriving and that these most recent elections capture the very best of that evolving democracy. From what was said this morning, we are not in a position to predict the outcome.
It is clearly an issue that the people of Ukraine and the elections will ultimately determine. But what is also clear to us is that multiple voices will be represented and also reflected in the government, whatever the final shape of that.
And finally, that a major role will be played by the media. Like this room filled of media -- with cameras, reporters, video media, print reporters -- all asking the right questions.
And the United States will be working with whoever emerges in that government.
Thank you very much.