MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BUSH TO PRESIDENT KUCHMA

The following is the text of an oral message from President George W. Bush delivered by Ambassador Carlos Pascual to President Leonid D. Kuchma at a February 27 meeting in Kyiv.

Thank you for your letter of February 2. Please let me take this opportunity to assure you of the important place Ukraine holds in American foreign policy and express my conviction that Ukraine has an important role to play in building a stable and prosperous Europe.

You have often spoken of an independent, democratic, and market-oriented Ukraine, committed to the rule of law and integrated with the Euro-Atlantic community. I believe these goals are in the interests of both our countries. They will advance the prosperity of the Ukrainian people, while at the same time serving America's interest in a Europe whole, free and secure.

Our mutual success in pursuing these goals will depend in large part on the steps that Ukraine is willing to undertake in moving toward meaningful reform. Your decisions and actions on reform, will, in effect, define the very nature of the future Ukrainian state, and these decisions and actions can only be taken from within.

Ukraine did very well in 2000 in economic reform, especially in such areas as finance and energy. You know how critical continued progress is and I urge you to continue the reforms now begun.

I know that the political atmosphere in Ukraine is strained at the moment. This is just one of many tests that Ukraine and its political leaders will face as to their commitment to the rule of law, democracy and human rights. I trust you will do your utmost to ensure that Ukraine passes this test.

I look forward to working with the people of Ukraine on the challenges our countries face together. If we proceed on the basis of common values and common goals, I am confident that our efforts will be successful.