Anton Buteiko, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, and Yaroslav V. Voitko, the trade representative of the Ukrainian Embassy, will visit The Ohio State University Columbus campus Tuesday (5/18). Two public presentations and a media availability are planned during their visit:

   -- 9:30 a.m.: Buteiko will give a public lecture, “U.S.- Ukrainian Relations in the 21st Century,” in 131 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave., in the classroom of George Kalbouss, associate professor of Slavic and East European languages and literatures.
   -- 3:30 p.m.: Buteiko and Voitko will discuss “Ukrainian Trade and Business Prospects” in 200 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave.

   A media availability with Ambassador Buteiko will be scheduled from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m. in 122 Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Ave. Reporters wishing to meet with Buteiko must call Emily Caldwell in University Communications, 292-8309, by 3 p.m. Monday (5/17) to schedule interview time.

   Buteiko has been ambassador since November 1998. After working for 17 years in posts for the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for the United Nations Secretariat, Buteiko in 1992 was appointed as an adviser to the president of Ukraine on foreign policy, chief of the President’s Office for International Relations. In that post, he was instrumental in establishing a new diplomatic service.

   He won a seat in the Parliament of Ukraine in 1994. As a member of the Constitution Commission, he was responsible for elaboration of several chapters of the draft Constitution of Ukraine and participated in its adoption. Buteiko also was the head of the parliamentary group that worked with the U.S. Congress (American Caucus). In October 1995, Buteiko was appointed the first deputy minister for foreign affairs of Ukraine. He was also the representative of the Government of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Contact: Bill Wolf, Center for Slavic and East European Studies, 292-8770