Monday, June 12, 2000

 

Volume 36, Issue 23; ISSN: 0511-4187

 

Remarks on signing a Ukraine-United States joint statement in Kiev, Ukraine

William J Clinton

 

 

� June 5, 2000

 

 

� Thank you very much. Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, leaders of

the government, leaders and Members of the Rada, leaders of the

court, distinguished citizens. I am delighted to be back in Ukraine,

and delighted to be again with President Kuchma to work on our

strategic partnership, because the success of Ukraine as a free and

prosperous nation is very important to the United States.

 

 

� Of course, succeeding in the future requires learning from the

past. I am very proud and moved to be here today-this is World

Environment Day-for this historic announcement by President Kuchma

that the final reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant will be

shut down and the entire plant closed forever on December the 15th.

This is a hopeful moment. It is also a moment when we remember those

who suffered as a result of the accident there.

 

 

� The President and I agreed that we can grow our economies and

protect the environment and public health at the same time, and so

we must. I am pleased to announce that the United States will pledge

$78 million for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund to contain radiation from

the destroyed reactor, and another $2 million to expand efforts to

improve safety at Ukraine's other nuclear powerplants.

 

 

� The President and I also discussed his plan for economic reform. He

and his team have an economic plan that can put Ukraine on a path

towards sustainable growth and much higher living standards.

President Kuchma has moved to give his people their own land, to

reduce government bureaucracy, to promote entrepreneurship. He has

taken recent steps to enhance Ukraine's protection of intellectual

property rights and the rule of law. And these things improve the

climate for investment in Ukraine and will attract more investment

dollars from the United States and other places across the world.

 

 

� In that spirit, I am pleased to announce a new 5-year, $25-million

business development program for small- and medium-sized businesses

in Ukraine to help them participate in the growing economy.

 

 

� Finally, I want to take another important step today. Because of

Ukraine's strong ef forts to prevent missile proliferation, I am

announcing our decision to eliminate commercial space quotas and

open the door to expanded U.S. cooperation with Ukraine's space

program. This decision will have a posifive, long-term impact on

Ukraine's economic prospects, creating more high-tech jobs and

positioning Ukraine to be a leader in a cutting-edge area of 21st

century commerce. It will also enhance the ability of American

companies to compete in space. This represents the kind of

high-level partnership our countries can look forward to as we enter

the new century together.

 

 

� Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's been a good day.

 

 

� Thank you.

 

 

� NOTE: The President spoke at 5:20 p.m. in the White Room at

Mariinskiy Palace. In his remarks, he referred to President Leonid

Kuchma and Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.