The following is the text of a press release issued in Kyiv on February 23 by a U.S. Congressional delegation led by Congressman Curt Weldon.

U.S. DELEGATION CONDUCTS WHIRLWIND FACT-FINDING VISIT OF RUSSIA, MOLDOVA, AND UKRAINE

Delegation Urges Peaceful, Democratic Resolution to Current Crisis
Delegation Establishes Historic US Congress-Verkhovna Rada Parliamentary Exchange

A Congressional delegation of seven members of the US Congress led by the Honorable Curt Weldon (R-PA) is completing a three-nation visit including Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The purpose of this visit was to continue the relationships established seven years ago between the United States House of Representatives and the Russian Duma, and to establish similar relationships with the parliaments of Moldova and Ukraine. The other members of the delegation include: Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Representative Bob Schaffer, (R-CO), Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Representative Joe Hoeffel, (D-PA), and Representative Ander Crenshaw, (R-FL).

The Congressional delegation participated in over 40 scheduled meetings in the three countries that included meeting with the Presidents of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the leadership of the parliaments, senior civilian cabinet level officials and military leaders in all three countries. In Russia and Ukraine, the delegation met with prominent media figures concerned with press freedoms in their respective countries.

While meeting with President Leonid Kuchma and other officials in Kyiv, the delegation expressed its serious concerns with the Heorhiy Gongadze incident, and believes the subsequent investigation must be pursued regardless of where it may lead. That pursuit must be compatible with the following principles:

• The freedom of speech, press, and assembly.
• The rule of law.
• Nonviolence.

The delegation also:
• extends its sincere sympathy to the families and associates of Mr. Gongadze.
• reiterates the offer of technical support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• expresses its strong belief and recommendation that a credible and independent investigation is essential in order to earn the confidence of Ukraine and the rest of the world community.
• affirms the principle that those accused must be considered innocent untilproven guilty.
• intends to introduce a resolution in the House of Representatives to express the sense of Congress that this incident should be resolved peacefully.