PRESS BRIEFING EXCERPT: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN RICHARD BOUCHER ON RECENT EVENTS IN UKRAINE, March 1, 2001

Q: Do you have anything to say about Ukrainian police pulling down a tent camp of anti-Kuchma protestors?

MR. BOUCHER: We regret the actions by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities this morning. They disbanded what we saw as a peaceful demonstration, which has been in place along Kyiv's main street for several weeks. We would call upon the Ukrainian authorities to observe their international commitment to freedom of assembly.

The Ukrainian Government has stated its commitment to resolve political issues using constitutional means, to engage in dialogue with the opposition, and to take steps to conduct and conclude a transparent investigation of the Gongadze case. And we would strongly urge the government to honor those commitments.

Q: There was also a report in Kyiv that President Bush had sent a letter to President Kuchma preceding this. Can you give any clarification on that?

MR. BOUCHER: Our Ambassador conveyed an oral message from President Bush to President Kuchma on February 27th. He covered in that message three main themes that will, I think, be familiar to you. The first is the present situation in Ukraine presents Ukraine and its leaders with a test of their commitment to the rule of law, democracy and human rights; second, the United States and Ukraine share the long-term goal of seeing Ukraine become an independent, democratic, market-oriented state committed to the rule of law and integrated with the Euro-Atlantic community; and, third, success in reaching that goal and our ability to provide support towards that goal depend on the Ukraine's taking concrete steps toward meaningful reform.

Q: It's slightly coded. I mean, it's not specific. Has the Administration come to any conclusion about these allegations of corruption, and when you're talking about – I mean, they are repressing journalists, but are there any instances of anti-democratic activities? I guess theft would be one, if true. But what's behind your concern?

MR. BOUCHER: There are a lot of allegations. A lot of them have to do with these audiotape recordings. Some of them talk about repressing journalists, some talk about attitudes towards opponents, some talk about undermining elections. We have no basis for speculating as to which ones of those might be true and which ones might not be.
As you know, the Government in Ukraine has pledged an investigation. I think we have pledged to help with that investigation in some ways. But in the end, what we want to see is an investigation and respect for constitutional process. And our ability to help this government, to help with the process of reforms, depends on their honoring their commitments to respect the constitution and democracy and the rule of law.

Q: Any consideration of assistance, which is what, the third largest? They are our third biggest recipient of US aid. Anybody thinking of maybe using aid as leverage to get a little more democracy in Kyiv?

MR. BOUCHER: There is no change in our aid program at this point, but I think the message that we delivered makes quite clear that our ability to help them in the future depends on their ability, on their willingness, to abide by the constitution, abide by the commitments to the rule of law.

Q: Are you concerned that this crackdown of the protestors, and some of the press incidents, that perhaps President Kuchma doesn't have the moral authority to govern?

MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't make a statement like that.

Q: Can you confirm that Ukraine is still the third largest recipient of US aid? Do you know the numbers?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't have the numbers in my head. I have to check.