Ukrainian President (Yushchenko)to Visit White House

WASHINGTON (AP) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko will meet with President Bush at the White House early next month, the White House announced Friday.

Bush will host Yushchenko at a working lunch on April 4, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. Yushchenko's victory last Dec. 26 in a repeat election was a ``landmark event in the history of liberty,'' McClellan said in a statement.

The two leaders will discuss Yuschenko's ``efforts to implement reforms, including strengthening rule of law, accelerating economic reforms and integrating Ukraine with the global economy, and combatting corruption,'' McClellan said.

Earlier Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk met at the White House with Vice President Dick Cheney to discuss details of Yushchenko's upcoming visit.

``In the course of this visit, he's going to inform the president and the American people about a new beginning in Ukraine...in terms of democracy, and also he's going to discuss the issues of reactivation of a strategic partnership with the United States,'' Tarasyuk said.

Among issues he discussed with Cheney, Tarasyuk said, was Ukraine's phased withdrawal of its 1,650 troops from Iraq.

"Among issues he discussed with Cheney, Tarasyuk said, was Ukraine's phased withdrawal of its 1,650 troops from Iraq. "

In related news:

Ukraine begins Iraq pullout

Sounds to me, that Yushchenko is about as much a friend to us as Chirac is: he wants a one way friendship -- he wants us to help him join EU and NATO, while he is sticking his thumb in our eyes, by withdrawing the Ukrainian troops from Iraq from our coalition.

I'm glad that Yuschenko is withdrawing the troops as had been planned. We need for him to get that Nation under him and get everything within his borders decently ordered.

This is a road of wisdom and it is a really prudent means of governing; perhaps even with the entire approval of our own leaders.

People who complain about this are likely trying to establish or create a chasm between our Nations. We don't need Ukrainian troops in Iraq as much as the Ukraine needs for them to be in Ukraine. The Nation isn't even a fledgling in this thing of freedom or self government yet. It is enough that the government has been in favor of the action.

It is easy to forget that that election, barely won constitutes a trial period with a rule of a government that decreases or eradicates the former corruption. He still has people ensconced in positions he can't challenge, waiting to drop that Nation back into the Russian hell. In fact it is their entire purpose to do just that!

Is it that we are so self-centered about our role and our opinion and our stake and our will in Iraq that everything else in the World has to be bowed to it?

If he leaves the troop in Iraq contrary to a huge segment of public opinion (both Russian and Islamic) and loses the political and corruption battles at home it will be a smear on this embryonic attempt at some form of freedom in a region in which their neck is being breathed upon incessantly by the hot blast of Russia.

When we were in Ukraine before the wall came down most of the Nation did not even speak the language. Russia has so filled that country (once called the "bread basket" of the world") with Russians and took over the education of the young so that in schools Russian was used. The standard Russian bilge view of their history has been taught to the young until they don't even understand who they have been.

Call it indoctrination or whatever have you, those who once knew freedom in that country are largely dead because of the privations they have suffered. Freedom is just a vague dream to them.

Are we so crass that we cannot extend a hand of understanding to encourage a very tiny flame/hope of freedom rather than the sickle of criticism to curse it?

May those who use the curse experience that very curse themselves until they become willing to pursue peace with God and with men of good will.

May those who put out their hand to strike it--whether Nation, group or individual-- find their hand met and deflected by the arm of the God who, by answered prayer, raised up that Nation so very recently.

There is plan to replace them by Iraqi forces if they would be ready. Actually also Ukrainians are training those Iraqi soldiers.

I think that it is important gesture towards US if Ukrainians withdrawing these forces in so long periods. That is not the same what Spain did when they withdrew own troops immediately after socialist won the elections. Yushchenko also still supports this mission, Ukrainian instructors still will train Iraqi troops. This visit in White House isn’t incidental, he wasn't invited because his has beautiful face...

Yes, Lukasz, those to whom you addressed your comment should already know that the Ukraine is training Iraqi troops because it has been well documented here but they may have forgotten or missed the post.

On the other hand they simply may not trust their own President to have enough wisdom to avoid inviting someone some feel free to characterize as a turncoat or shirker and equate to Spain or France.

Then there can be those who are intent on commentary to create misperseptions and by that means cause a rift between the US and other Nations for their own ulterior motives. (The Islamic strain of the Ukraine and Russia would rejoice to do that, for one example.)

There is plan to replace them by Iraqi forces if they would be ready. Actually also Ukrainians are training those Iraqi soldiers.
I think that it is important gesture towards US if Ukrainians withdrawing these forces in so long periods. That is not the same what Spain did when they withdrew own troops immediately after socialist won the elections. Yushchenko also still supports this mission, Ukrainian instructors still will train Iraqi troops. This visit in White House isn’t incidental, he wasn't invited because his has beautiful face...

Hey, you're preaching to the choir here. I'm on Viktor's side. After all, he married American woman. Good taste! Da! :o)

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