Freedom and self determination...two gifts from the divine...
Posted on 01/26/2005 1:56:45 PM PST by lizol
Cheney Calls New Ukraine President Ally
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
KRAKOW, Poland - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is an "ally of freedom's cause," Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) said Wednesday in toasting the new leader, who leans toward the West yet plans to maintain his nation's historic ties with Russia.
Echoing President Bush (news - web sites)'s inaugural address, Cheney talked about overcoming tyranny and hatred in his remarks during a meeting with the new leader of the former Soviet republic and, earlier, at a reception with survivors of the Holocaust.
"What President Yushchenko has accomplished is remarkable and inspiring and there are great tasks ahead," Cheney said in an appearance with the leader, who survived a nearly fatal poisoning to emerge victorious in a bitterly disputed election. "Free nations stood with him as he made his just demands that the voice of the people be heard."
Standing side-by-side with the Ukrainian leader at dual podiums in a cultural center, Cheney said, "President Yushchenko is an ally in freedom's cause and President Bush and the American people stand with him."
Initially, the two leaders were scheduled to have a brief meeting and then eat dinner. But their meeting lasted for more than an hour — more than twice as long as scheduled — and they skipped dinner.
"The U.S. as well as Russia, as well as the European Union (news - web sites), as well as Poland belong to the strategic partners of Ukraine," said Yushchenko, his chalky complexion bearing scars from the still-unsolved poisoning.
"We want to pursue the processes of liberalization and democratization in all aspects of life that are so badly needed in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries, shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners," he said.
Earlier, Cheney, who is on a three-day trip to southern Poland to attend the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps at nearby Auschwitz and Birkenau, told Holocaust survivors: "We must face down hatred together. We are dedicated to the task at hand and we will never forget."
In his inaugural and again during a news conference Wednesday in Washington, Bush said recent elections in the Ukraine, in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and by the Palestinians — as well as the upcoming elections this weekend in Iraq (news - web sites) — make him optimistic about the advance of freedom.
"Look what's happened in a brief period of time — Afghanistan, Palestinian elections, which I think are incredibly hopeful elections, as well as the Ukraine and now Iraq," Bush said. "We're witnessing amazing history."
On Thursday, Cheney will be among delegations led by leaders of more than 40 nations at the commemoration in Auschwitz.
On Jan. 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the death camps where between 1 million and 1.5 million prisoners — most of them Jews — perished in gas chambers or died of starvation and disease. In all, 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.
At a reception for Holocaust survivors who are now U.S. citizens, Cheney noted that the horrors of World War II took place not in a remote section of the globe, but in the middle of the civilized world.
"Today, many Holocaust survivors have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren," Cheney said. "That I believe is the greatest victory of all. Evil did not have the final say.
"You survived terror. You have let the world know the truth and you have preserved the memory of those who perished."
Air Force Two landed during a heavy snowstorm with wind that drifted snow on the tarmac. Cheney's first official stop was at Wawel Royal Castle, where he met with President Aleksander Kwasniewski, a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq who is facing increasing pressure from the public to bring Polish troops home.
While some European nations have refrained from committing troops, Poland has been a trustworthy partner in the war in Iraq. However, Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski has said that he thinks Polish troops should stay in Iraq only until the end of this year.
Poland has taken command of a multinational security force in central Iraq that currently includes about 6,000 troops — among them more than 2,400 Polish soldiers. Leaders have previously said they hope to scale down the Polish presence significantly after elections scheduled for Sunday.
Yushchenko has said he will not reverse outgoing President Leonid Kuchma's decision to withdraw Ukraine's 1,650 troops by the end of June, but it is still being discussed.
Destro, it is your American business what person you sending in AMERICAN delegation. Yuschenko father was survivor of holocaust, he was prisoner in Auschwitz. He wrote biography but I don’t know it is available in English version. This visit has also personal character for Yuschenko.
So what's our take on the people of Chechnya who have been fighting Russia for years to try to win their freedom? Doesn't the President's speech last week indicate that we will now support their struggle and stand with them as they try and bring freedom and liberty to their country?
Some Chechens are indeed allied with Al-Qaeda, but many more have died simply for standing up for their freedom and liberty.
By what right did Russia have to crush the Chechnyan independent movement and kill 100,000 people?
BTW, don't you think the best way to get rid of Al-Qaeda influences in Chechnya is to promote freedom and liberty to the people of that country? When they have no hope, it is no surprise that they would turn to terrorism.
Yup, they said the same thing once about Shevernazde, Kuchma, Noreaga, etc. Welcome to diplo speak, it lasts while we like you and your policies fall in line with ours.
That's why Yushchenko is beating down the EU's door to join in their Socialist/Fascist Koombaya:
Here's an example of a dozen such headlines:
Ever been to Ikcheria or read their websites regularly? If Russia gave these people independence they would turn the entire place into a Wahhabi den of torture and snuff films would become their primary industry. And then begin (again) invading neighboring countries to rule them with Sharia.
It was after they invaded Dagestan, while independent, in their oft-stated quest to turn the entire Caucasus into a Wahhabi Islamic state, that Russia went back to war with them.
These people can be trusted to create a democracy for themselves in another life perhaps, but not in this one.
Keep going.
Chechens??? You mean the same terrorist that held an entire school hostage???
That's funny you should say that, since their recently assassinated leader, Kodorov was the grand mufti and one of the leaders against Moscow in '93. He said that was the biggest mistake they ever made and switched sides by '99. He stated that all the Arabs arrived and took over everything. Most of the fighting in Chechny is between Chechin militias allied to the Federal forces against the Islamics, whom Turkey supports and Georgia turns a blind eye too and the majority of who's recruits are Arab.
Putting aside the exagerated number (soon they will claim that Americans killed 200,000 Iraqis) Russian government had DUTY to intervene after Wahabis infected Chechnya, established Sharia system with slave trade and started to INVADE regions OUTSIDE of Chechnya. That is when it became clear that the experiment with independence failed.
Do you understand the above?
Al-Qaeda/Wahabis entered Chechnya AFTER the Russian troops left Chechnya in 1996.
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