Three U.S. Democratic senators \u2013 Elizabeth Warren, Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Durbin have underscored the importance of Ukraine’s fight against corruption.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to the issue of Ukraine there is unity between Democrats and Republicans, the Administration and Congress,\u201d Durbin said. Then, referring to the EuroMaidan Revolution that sent Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych fleeing last year, the senator said: \u201cWe are in solidarity with Ukraine in terms of rebuilding this nation and protecting it from the invasion of the Russians. The spirit of Maidan lives on in terms of reform and change, which was the message of Maidan.”<\/p>\n
President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk are received \u201cwarmly\u201d in Washington, D.C., while skepticism against the nation’s leaders is growing at home. Durbin said that the leaders have made \u201creal progress\u201d in such areas as energy and reforms.<\/p>\n
But corruption in Ukraine is an impediment to better U.S.-Ukraine relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe jury is still out, the questions are still being asked,about real reform when it comes to corruption,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cThe people of Ukraine are still looking for modernization and reform when it comes to this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Warren (Democrat of Massachusetts) said legal reform in Ukraine is essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith weak rule of law, with a system rife with corruption, with a judiciary that is not independent and reliable, it is very difficult to build an economy going forward,\u201d Warren said. A former law professor at Harvard Law School, Warren said that reducing corruption should be a priority in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support for this government from within the country and from without depends on real progress toward rooting out corruption,\u201d Warren said. \u201cMany countries around the world had to deal with the issue of corruption and it\u2019s time for a best practices approach here,\u201d Warren said. \u201cIt is time to try all measures, as vigorously as possible. And that is for two reasons: one is because some of them won\u2019t be effective, the second is because the government must demonstrate in a very public way that it is committed to rooting out corruption no matter how painful, no matter how difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Warren said that, while reform is hard, “I also recognize from my time here that the people of Ukraine want reform, that the economy requires reform and that the U.S.A. will stand strong with those who fight for reform.<\/p>\n
Durbin, whose state of Illinois has had many public officials who went to prison because of corruption, said that prosecution of lawbreaking politicians is essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the state of Illinois we have had our share of public corruption,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cWe have responded to it by indicting, prosecuting and incarcerating those responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. will stand behind Ukraine as long as the dedication to fight corruption is \u201cvery clear,\u201d the Illinois senator said.<\/p>\n
Shaheen (Democrat of New Hampshire) said that Ukrainians must stop tolerating corruption.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about how members of the public deal with corruption,\u201d Shaheen said. \u201cCorruption exists everywhere, but if we refuse to tolerate it, then it\u2019s going to be hard to continue to exist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Warren said that bringing rule of law will instill confidence in Ukraine’s government.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not give up, this is a very hard fight,\u201d Warren said. \u201cIf it were an easy fight, we would have already won\u2026ultimately you will make the government work for you and not the reverse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three U.S. Democratic senators \u2013 Elizabeth Warren, Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Durbin have underscored the importance of Ukraine’s fight against corruption. \u201cWhen it comes to the issue of Ukraine there is unity between Democrats and Republicans, the Administration and Congress,\u201d … Continue reading ![\"Corruption](\"http:\/\/www.w-t-w.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Corruption-in-Ukraine.jpg\")
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