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Kateryna Yushchenko Takes Part in a Memorial Service for Lev Dobriansky

February 19, 2008, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko took part in the memorial service for Prof. Lev Dobriansky at the Georgetown University where professor had been teaching for many years. Also present were Georgetown University President Dr. John DeGioia, United States Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Lee Edwards, and Dobriansky’s daughters Larisa and Paula. The University faculty and administration members, former students and colleagues of Prof. Dobriansky in his academic and diplomatic career also came to honor his memory.

Addressing the audience, Mrs. Yushchenko said, “Dr. Dobriansky helped millions of people who for decades had been imprisoned behind the walls erected by Communist regimes in Europe, Asia, and all over the world. For years, even decades, while numerous politicians, diplomats, journalists, and experts were declaring a certain reality, Lev Dobriansky was saying openly and fearlessly that all people have an integral right to be free and, which is equally important, that nations also have their right for independence and sovereignty. Dr. Dobriansky boldly became a champion of enslaved nations, millions of people in the gripe of terror and slavery. As a scholar and economist, he analyzed the economic defects of Communism, as an intellectual – spoke openly about the advantages of democracy, freedom, and human rights. He spoke about the Holodomor Manmade Famine in Ukraine. He spoke about GULAG, dissidents, and freedom fighters, about nations’ right for independence.”

Lev Dobriansky was born in New York in 1918. He was a scholar, teacher, and frenowned public activist. For 35 years he had been teaching at leading American Universities, including New York and Georgetown. In 1982-1986, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, he was the Ambassador of the United States in the Bahamas.

Lev Dobriansky is famous mostly as a politician dedicating himself to the fight against totalitarianism and communism. Dr. Dobriansky was the author in 1959 of the Captive Nations Week Resolution, celebrated annually by Congress and the White House for nearly five decades. He was the first President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and was a strong advocate for Ukrainian independence. He also played a leading role in having legislation passed to erect a statue of Taras Shevchenko. In his last years he was involved in establishing the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and a memorial to the victims of Communism.

Lev Dobriansky died January 30, 2008, being 89.

Paula Dobriansky was appointed Under-Secretary of State in 2001. She is responsible for a wide range of foreign policy issues, such as development and establishment of democracy, human rights, fight against drugs, cooperation with law enforcement bodies, refugees’ problems, humanitarian aid, and environment protection. Besides, she is the Special Coordinator for Tibet. Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko had a series of meetings with Ms. Dobriansky, dedicated to various medical issues.

Georgetown University is one of the US oldest Catholic universities founded in the late 18th century. Today, it’s an eminent private school situated in Washington downtown. Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko graduated from Georgetown University in 1982.

Mrs. Yushchenko and Ukraine 3000 Fund representatives are staying in the United States for a working visit. Earlier they met with President and CEO of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions Lawrence McAndrews and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt.