
On 9 June 2017 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij fulfilled a working visit to Washington, U.S.A., where he met with high-ranking officials and representatives of civil society and addressed the Annual General Meeting of the Ukrainian National Credit Union Association (UNCUA).
The UWC President met the Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Edward Royce, and encouraged him to support the adoption by the United States of Draft Bill H.R. 830 – Stand for Ukraine Act which stipulates that it is the policy of the United States to further assist the Government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine. Eugene Czolij also called for the U.S. President to first meet with the President of Ukraine before any meeting with the President of the Russian Federation to fully understand the challenges facing Ukraine that is currently fighting Russian aggression and, at the same time, stopping the advance of Russian imperialism to the West.
In addition, UWC President Eugene Czolij and Executive Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and Director of the Ukrainian National Information Service(UNIS) Michael Sawkiw joined the Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S.A. Valeriy Chaly and his spouse Liudmyla Mazuka in the Tenth Annual Roll Call of Nations Wreath Laying Ceremony, which took place at the Victims of Communism Memorial. Eugene Czolij also greeted the first head of state of Lithuania after its independence declaration, Vytautas Landsbergis.
The UWC President had meetings with Ambassador of Lithuania to the U.S.A. Rolandas Kriščiūnas, Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council Damon Wilson and former Ambassador of the U.S.A. in Ukraine John Herbst to discuss further support for Ukraine.
Eugene Czolij also met with the President of the World Council of Credit Unions, Brian Branch, and addressed the UNCUA Annual General Meeting, and presented Ukrainian cooperatives in the U.S.A. and the UNCUA with Certificates of Recognition.
During the meetings the UWC President was accompanied by Michael Sawkiw, Executive Vice President of UCCA, a UWC member organization.
“The Ukrainian World Congress is grateful for the long-standing support of the U.S.A. for Ukraine and calls for the U.S.A. to continue safeguarding peace and security in the world, including Ukraine,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
In the photo from left: M. Sawkiw, E. Royce and E. Czolij