William Helms: “the current leadership in Ukraine, led by President Leonid Kuchma, has been one of unmet promises. Failed efforts at…”

“the current leadership in Ukraine, led by President Leonid Kuchma, has been one of unmet promises. Failed efforts at economic reform, violent repression of independent media; and a rise in government corruption and cronyism has robbed the citizens of Ukraine of the bright future they deserve. Ukraine is a vital country of 48 million people in the heart of Europe. A Europe whole, free and secure cannot be achieved without Ukraine's integration into Europe. However, I have become convinced that the actions of Ukraine's President Kuchma have demonstrated to the people of Ukraine and the world that their integration cannot be achieved with Kuchma at the helm. Secret recordings made by a former security guard, who is now seeking asylum in the United States, raise suspicions that President Kuchma had knowledge of or involvement in the brutal murder of journalist Gyorgi Gongadze. This callous act shows that he will stop at nothing to repress the opposition and independent media who challenge his control. As the United States and the international community are striving to eliminate the threat posed by Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, evidence shows that President Kuchma approved the sale of the Kolchuga radar--an advanced system whose purpose is to threaten U.S. aircraft in violation of United Nations sanctions.”