UCCA "condemns the recent infringement of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty by armed Russian troops in the South Ossettia region of Georgia." |
Help the victims of the July Floods that ravaged Western Ukraine with donations to: MB FINANCIAL bank – account 101546893 Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union – account 104040 UCCA, Inc. c/o Flood Victims 203 Second Avenue New York, NY 10003 Donations of clothing and supplies can be made at: CYM - Chicago (M-F after 4 PM, Sat. after 12 PM) American Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) 2457 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 Telephone – (773) 486-4204 Volunteers are desperately needed to help sort and pack donations for shipment to Ukraine! Please contact Orysia Kolyasa to help at: (773) 328-7500 |


| Copyright 2008 UCCA- Illinois Division Katya Mischenko-Mycyk, webmaster |

| "Chicagoland is home to over 85,000 Ukrainians." |
| UCCA - Illinois Division |
| Chicago Tribune - 12/27/04 |
| Current Affiars Current Affairs & UCCA Action Items |
| Interesting Fact: |
|
|
| Find out about upcoming events in the Illinois Ukrainian-American Community! Illinois Ukrainian Community Events Calendar Submit your Illinois Ukrainian Community event to the calendar using our Online Event Submission Form! |

| 1932-1933 We remember the 10,000,000 victims of the Soviet genocide in Ukraine |


| RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST GEORGIA Statement of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America August 8, 2008 The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the largest representative organization of the Ukrainian American community, condemns the recent infringement of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty by armed Russian troops in the South Ossettia region of Georgia. This assault across the internationally recognized Georgian border is a clear violation of worldwide norms and an affront to the peaceful Georgian nation. Past tensions between the two sides, which until recently have been handled in a diplomatic manner, have now risen to a Russian- imposed armed military conflict with untold devastation and loss of Georgian lives. As the Russian troop movement across the Georgian border escalates, the UCCA calls upon the world community to condemn the violence and encourages both sides to return to the negotiating table. Unfortunately, such recent acts of Russian aggression have been paramount to increased tensions not just in South Ossettia, but also within Ukraine - in Crimea and specifically the port city of Sevastopil - where Russian claims to Ukrainian territory are also of vital concern. Since the latest NATO Summit in Bucharest in April 2008, whereby Ukraine and Georgia received a positive endorsement for future NATO membership, Russian acts of aggression - whether economic, political, or militaristic - have increasingly grown against the two aspirant NATO countries. The Russian government must heed to internationally recognized borders and preclude its aggressive actions against its neighboring countries. A democratic Russia that respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors, as well as domestically upholds the principles of equal human rights and freedoms of press and conscience for its citizens, is the best alternative to a peaceful, stabile, and secure Europe. The world must condemn the recent attacks against Georgia and prevent such hostility in the future. On behalf of the UCCA Executive Board, Michael Sawkiw Jr. Orest Baranyk President Chairman - External Affairs |
| UCCA SUBMITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO U.S. CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION ON GEORGIA/RUSSIA CONFLICT August 13, 2008 "RECOMMENDED U.S. ACTIONS IN THE RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) has been monitoring the Russian invasion of Georgia with a keen interest. This aggressive act by Russia has consequences for other countries in the region, in particular Ukraine, as Russia tries to re-build its hegemony in the region. As the largest representative organization of the Ukrainian American community, the UCCA recommends the following steps to the U.S. government for their immediate action and mobilization in dealing with the military conflict imposed by Russia in the Republic of Georgia: . Stipulate an immediate withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the Republic of Georgia, including the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, thereby instilling the territorial integrity and sovereignty of that country. Further monitoring of the situation in Georgia should be accomplished through UN or OSCE peacekeepers; . Provide a U.S./NATO naval presence in the Black Sea to monitor the situation off the coasts of Georgia and Ukraine. A strong showing of military hardware will signal to the Russian naval forces that their actions against the Georgians are being closely scrutinized; . Offer a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to the countries of Georgia and Ukraine. Following the April 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit, the member states declared their intention that Georgia and Ukraine will eventually be members of the Alliance. In order to protect the territorial sovereignty and integrity of the two countries from a Russian `sphere of influence', NATO must act immediately to provide MAP to Georgia and Ukraine; . Bolster diplomatic relations and support with countries in Central and Eastern Europe who have, and might inevitably, experience increased Russian economic and political pressure. The United States should reaffirm its assurance of Ukrainian territorial integrity and independence, as accorded in the trilateral agreement of 1994 by Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation in exchange for relinquishing Ukraine's stockpile of nuclear weapons; . Table passage of the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Russia in the United States Congress. Passage of the JV amendment would signal a willingness of the United States to support Russia's eventualaccession to the World Trade Organization (WTO); . Revoke Russia's membership in the Group of Industrialized Nations (G-8). The G-8 is reserved for a group of industrialized nations who adhere to the principles of a freemarket economy, democratic governance, and the rule of law. The intentions of the Russian government towards the sovereign country of Georgia prove its lawlessness and non-democratic tendencies; . Impose economic sanctions and limit trade with the Russian Federation; and, . Compel the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rescind the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, as that city is near the current conflict zone. The United States along with the world community must confront the aggression of the Russian Federation with a strong and unified response. Through intervening and enacting these recommendations, the United States will preclude Russia from advancing upon its peaceful neighbors, in particular Ukraine, and proliferating their hostile acts. In order to ensure continued Euro-Atlantic stability and prosperity, it is imperative that the United States promote and assist the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in warding off attempts at Russian hegemony in the region. The UCCA strongly urges the U.S. government to enact these recommendations. August 13, 2008" |
| Conference & Exhibit Sept. 12 -13, 2008 Chicago, IL |

