U.S. - Ukraine Policy Dialogue

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POLICY DIALOGUE 2006

POLICY DIALOGUE 2005

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Participants June 05

Participants November 05

Action Plans

Notable Quotes

In the Press

Feb. 17, 2006 -Foreign Policy Task Force Press Release

U.S.-Ukraine Policy Dialogue

The U.S.-Ukraine Policy Dialogue is a practical and effective approach to facilitating democratic reform in Ukraine and assisting in the restoration of a genuine and meaningful strategic partnership between our two countries. This two-year, State Department-funded project hosts four week-long working sessions, held alternately in Washington and Kyiv, at which government officials, members of the Verkhovna Rada and Congress, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, the media and the business community engage in action-oriented, focused discussions to find paths in policy-making that address important problems and issues.

The project held its first working session from June 5 - 10, 2005 in Washington, DC. U.S. and Ukrainian policy makers and issue experts met with each other to discuss issues in U.S.-Ukraine relations and Ukraine's democratic transition and also met with key players in the U.S. Government involved in U.S.-Ukraine policy making. The second working session was held in Kyiv from November 13-17, 2005.

The dialogue is coordinated by four Task Forces managed by U.S. and Ukrainian institutional partners and experts:

Foreign Policy & National Security: Managed by the Atlantic Council and Razumkov Centre for Economic & Political Studies.
Politics & Governance: Managed by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, George Washington University, and Razumkov Centre for Economic & Political Studies.
Economics & Business: Managed by SigmaBleyzer and the International Centre for Policy Studies.
Media & Information: Managed by the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the "Europe XXI" Foundation.

The partners' diverse areas of expertise and public policy experiences serve to broaden and deepen the dialogue and also encourage new and creative approaches to problem-solving. As required by the project, Task Forces produce "action plans" of policy recommendations to be distributed to American and Ukrainian government officials at the conclusion of each working session. Though the partners could indeed work alone, the project and these recommendations are strengthened by the voice of many working together. The Task Forces' recommendations are available on the left menu under "Action Plan Reports."

The June session was attended by a variety of American and Ukrainian NGO, business and media leaders; former Members of the U.S. Congress and of the European Parliament; and former and current government officials, including three former ambassadors and seven individuals from the Government of Ukraine. Others in the U.S. Government joined the dialogue throughout the week, including representatives of the National Security Council, Federal Communications Commission, Senate Ethics Committee, and Departments of Commerce, Treasury, State, and Defense. Participants were also pleased to meet with Members of Congress and the Ambassadors of Georgia and Lithuania.

Project activities throughout the week consisted of frank and candid discussion on issues in U.S.-Ukraine relations and Ukraine's democratic reform. As noted in the quotes at the end of this brochure, difficult topics were not passed over as insurmountable obstacles, but were considered as challenges to be addressed by committed participants. Discussion also included a look at helpful examples of the U.S. and European experiences in light of Ukraine's current needs.

Project activities are funded by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended, and the FREEDOM Support Act.