President Viktor Yanukovych on Sept. 20 published the text of a letter addressed to members of the The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Inc, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that has represented the interests of America’s ethnic Ukrainians since 1940.
The 800-word letter defends the president’s efforts since taking office to bolster freedom of speech and human rights. It emphasizes that the authorities have done everything in their power to ensure opposition parties have equal opportunities in local election scheduled for Oct. 31.
The president denies allegations that he does not recognize The Great Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 in the letter. He says he favors turning over secret documents chronicling the crime to the Institute of National Heritage, where historians can objectively study the matter.
Yanukovych, who is leaving on Sept. 21 for a 2-day working visit to the U.S., also says he wants to have a constructive dialogue with all members of the Ukrainian diapsora and asks foreign election observers to monitor the upcoming poll.
