Douglas Alexander: “I wish to comment on the majority leader's remarks about Viktor Yushchenko, who will be addressing a joint meeting at 11…”

“I wish to comment on the majority leader's remarks about Viktor Yushchenko, who will be addressing a joint meeting at 11 o'clock. Two weeks ago, I had the privilege, with the Democratic leader, of visiting with Mr. Yushchenko for an hour. We also were in Georgia, Iraq, Palestine, and Israel. We saw emerging democracies across the country. One of the most vivid impressions I had was after meeting with Mr. Yushchenko, we met with students in Ukraine. Senator Reid asked them how long before they expected results. These were the ones who Senator Frist described as being among the hundreds of thousands in November and December waiting outside in the bitter cold causing this change. Some of the students said a year. Others disagreed and said 9 months. It seems to me one of the greatest dangers we have with these emerging democracies is reminding them that there is no such thing as an instant democracy in Ukraine or anywhere else. So I said to the students with respect: In the United States, it took us 12 years to write a constitution after the Declaration of Independence, and we had to lock the press out to do it. It took us 130 years to give women the right to vote. It took us 200 years before African Americans could vote in every part of our country. So in Iraq, in Georgia, in Ukraine, in emerging democracies, patience is important, and that is one of the examples we have. ____________________”