On October 15 and 16, 2008, the annual roundtable series titled Ukraine’s Quest for Mature Nation Statehood was held at the Library of Congress, also the event’s principal sponsor. AFPC is a longtime partner and co-sponsor of the series, and as a member of the event’s Steering Committee, AFPC’s Jeff Smith worked with the conference organizer, Center for US-Ukrainian Relations founder Walter Zaryckj, to plan and coordinate the two-day event.
AFPC President Herman Pirchner, Jr. presented the opening remarks at the event, hosted in the Library of Congress’ grand Montpelier Room. He spoke about the dangers of Russian aggression following its surprise invasion of Georgia just six weeks earlier and warned of the implications for Ukraine’s quest for democracy. AFPC Vice Presdent for Policy Ilan Berman, also participated in the roundtable, chairing a day-two panel on Ukraine’s Regional Commitments– Reviving the Great Silk Road.
The event drew several dozen distinguished speakers, academics, and ambassadors from both sides of the Atlantic, including the Ukrainian, Latvian, Georgian, Moldovan, and Azeri Ambassadors to the United States, and representatives
from the European Commission, and several prominent think tanks and universities. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Oleh Shamshur, hosted a welcome reception at Ukraine’s embassy in Washington.
