New goals for John Herbst

In late spring US Ambassador John Herbst will leave Ukraine to head the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the US Department of State. US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice recently approved a corresponding decision. Herbst will replace Carlos Pascual, who also served as US ambassador to Ukraine and was the first to head the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization two years ago.

There is nothing unusual about the fact that Herbst is ending his ambassadorial stint in Kyiv: he has served in Ukraine for nearly three years as envisioned by US diplomatic practice. The name of the new ambassador is secret. Although The Day’s sources claim that a candidate for the vacancy has been already selected, he must first finalize all the necessary formalities before traveling to Kyiv.

According to some sources, the new ambassador will be a career diplomat, who is familiar with the problems of the post-Soviet space. According to American regulations, the ambassador’s name cannot be disclosed until his appointment is final. This way the US government safeguards its prospective ambassadors from coming under the influence of lobby groups.

The US has a complex mechanism for appointing ambassadors. First, a candidate for the ambassador’s post is selected by the State Department, a structure that is functionally similar to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then a decision is approved by the president and the National Security Council. At the same time, the FBI closely examines the future ambassador’s biography to make sure it contains no “black spots.”

Then the candidate addresses a session of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Only then does the president sign an order to appoint the ambassador. Clearly, such procedures take longer than a week. Judging by this timeframe, it is clear that the name of the new ambassador is already known, but only to a limited number of people.

Ukraine will remember John Herbst. The ambassador, who arrived in Kyiv in the fall of 2003, will probably never forget the Ukrainian chapter of his career either. During his first news conference the diplomat stressed: “My main goal is to improve our bilateral relations in all aspects.”

There is no denying that he has accomplished his goals. On Herbst’s watch in Kyiv the Orange Revolution took place, President Yushchenko visited Washington, the Jackson-Vanik Amendment was revoked, and our country was granted market economy status. The ambassador has every right to be pleased with his accomplishments. In a recent statement he said that the March 26 elections are the fairest elections in Ukraine’s history.

It has not been ruled out that Ukrainian government representatives will continue to maintain contacts with Herbst, but in a different sphere, namely during the process of rebuilding Iraq or Afghanistan. After all, the purpose of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization is to help countries through post-conflict periods of reconstruction.

COMMENTARY

Yuriy SHCHERBAK, former Ukrainian ambassador to the US:

“I have a high regard for the work of Ambassador John Herbst, who was destined to serve during a dramatic period of Ukrainian history. Each of his predecessors faced challenges that he had to overcome. But one of the greatest challenges was probably the period of the Ukrainian presidential elections in 2004 and the Orange Revolution.

I think that Ambassador Herbst responded to them in an adequate fashion. Many people are aware of his efforts to prevent bloodshed during the Orange Revolution. Accusations that he interfered in our internal affairs are unacceptable. Ukraine itself proclaimed a democratic path of development. In fact, the ambassador urged the Ukrainian leadership not to stray from this path.

It is very good that Ukraine was not abandoned to its own devices, but instead was kept safe from the influence of certain forces and states that wanted to play out their own scenario and install their ‘own’ people. John Herbst is an active ambassador. He is not reserved, as is often the case with other diplomats. Nearly every day he met with different social groups: members of the opposition, pro-government structures, and public figures. Herbst deserves high praise. I think that the Ukrainian government should thank him warmly.”

INFORMATION OF THE DAY

John Edward HERBST is a career diplomat in the US Department of State. He arrived in Kyiv on Sept. 13, 2003, in the capacity of US Ambassador to Ukraine. Before that he served as US Ambassador to Uzbekistan. His record of service includes a stint as general consul in Jerusalem, advisor at the US Embassy in Tel-Aviv, and the US embassies in Moscow and Saudi Arabia. He joined the diplomatic service in 1979.