retary of State Colin Powell to conduct an investigation of Kuchma_s financial dealings. The following is an excerpt from the letter, whi
ch was signed by CSCE chairman Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, co‑chairmam Rep. Christopher H. Smith, and ranking members Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D‑CT) and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, (D‑MD).
It is difficult to see Mr. Kuchma_s approval of [the Kolchuga] sale as anything other than a hostile and reckless act presumably undertaken for personal financial gain. …
In her testimony to the commission on Oct. 10, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Jones informed us that, in Kyiv, she recently conveyed to President Kuchma the administration_s great unhappiness with his behavior.
Apparently he did not dispute the authenticity of the evidence, as he has done previously, but insisted the equipment in question had never been delivered. Ms. Jones told us a team of U.S. and British experts would soon visit Ukraine in an attempt to ascertain whether [these] assertions are true.
While we support sending this team of investigators, particularly given the threat to our military personnel, we feel that stronger action is warranted to demonstrate to Mr. Kuchma, as well as to other foreign officials, that such reckless and criminal behavior will have the most serious consequences.
As an initial step, we urge that the Department of State establish an inter‑agency group to develop concrete measures focused on the Ukrainian leader, members of the presidential administration, and other state officials. Among other things, such a group should closely examine any financial benefit Mr. Kuchma or his associates might have derived from this sale, money laundering schemes, as well as any other possible illegal activities. We further urge that the United States initiate contacts with foreign governments in an attempt to identify the money trail from sales to Iraq or possible sales to other rogue regimes. In addition, we believe official contacts with Mr. Kuchma should be kept to an absolute minimum and be conducted at the lowest possible levels.
While we continue to endorse strong U.S. support for Ukraine and its people, given the evidence at hand it is hard to see how we might resume a normal relationship with Mr. Kuchma or place our faith in any assurances he might offer us. We believe that U.S. policy toward Ukraine must be crafted with these goals in mind.
