U.S. STATEMENT ON UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST HEORHIY GONGADZE

United States Mission to the OSCE
Ambassador David T. Johnson

Vienna, January 25, 2001

I would like to thank our Ukrainian colleague for updating all of us in the Permanent Council on developments in connection with the case of Mr. Gongadze.

As we made clear in our statement on December 14, we urge the Government of Ukraine to conduct a full, prompt and transparent investigation for their own interest as well as ours.

We have also urged, and continue to urge the Government of Ukraine to preserve and foster an environment that allows open discussion and expression on this issue -- within the Parliament, in the media, and in the form of peaceful demonstrations. I am grateful that our Ukrainian colleague's remarks to us this morning, in fact, covered this issue.

We believe that a thorough and transparent handling of the Gongadze case can serve as a positive demonstration of Ukraine's commitment to OSCE principles and its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. We look forward to further updates on this important case as developments merit.