Ukraine-US inter-regional cooperation and sister city ties
The last few years of Ukraine-US relations marked by the climate of mutual trust and intensive political dialogue between paved the way for increased bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation. Consequently, the above developments contributed significantly to the momentum of interregional ties and sister-city cooperation, notably in business, research, educational, cultural, humanitarian and social areas.
Between 1991 and present, 26 bilateral interregional agreements on partnership relations between the cities and regions of the two countries have been signed. These documents have become the basis for regular exchange visits of Ukrainian and American local officials dealing with municipal issues, businessmen interested in investment projects, scholars tackling problems of history, experts in local self-governance, as well as representatives of NGOs, members of non-profit groups that seek to promote excellence in citizen diplomacy.
A wide network of Ukrainian and U.S. governmental and non-governmental organizations provide effective functioning of the local and regional partnership bodies between the two countries. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the U.S. State Department with its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs are the main entities supervising this process. There are also non-profit units, public organizations, funds and associations, tens of thousands of volunteers that make the flow of Ukraine-U.S. sister-cities contacts progress further. They are National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) that has its 91 regional centers all around the USA; US-Ukraine Foundation covering democracy, human rights and market economy issues; United States Agency for International Development (USAID) providing economic and humanitarian assistance, American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS) servicing academic communities and administering a variety of cultural exchanges, study and research programs; Open World Leadership Center with the Library of the U.S. Congress enabling emerging leaders from Eurasian countries to experience American democracy and civil society in action; U.S. Sister Cities International creating opportunities for all people to experience and explore other cultures through long-term partnerships; and the Association of Ukrainian Cities and Communities (AUC) contributing to the strengthening of democratic principles, constitutional rights of the territorial communities, fostering local self-government and advocating the interaction and cooperation with local governments of foreign countries.
Ukrainian-American inter-regional cooperation has been consistently facilitated by visits made by Ambassador of Ukraine Oleh Shamshur to a number of U.S. States, in particular: Los Angeles, California (February, 2006); Chicago, Illinois (February, 2006); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (February, 2006); Passaik, New Jersey (March, 2006); Sacramento and San Francisco, California (June, 2006); Cincinnati, Ohio (July, 2006); Cleveland, Ohio (August 2006); Warren and Detroit, Michigan (September, 2006); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (October, 2006); Omaha, Nebraska (October, 2006); Atlanta, Georgia (November, 2006); Birmingham, Alabama (January, 2007); Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah (February, 2007); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (March, 2007); Chicago, Illinois (March, 2007); Seattle, Washington (April 2007); Rochester and Irondequoit, the State of New York (April 2007); San Francisco, California (June-July, 2007); Jackson, Mississippi (September, 2007); Somerset and Bound Brook, New-Jersey (October, 2007); San Diego and Irwin, California (October, 2007); New Orleans, Louisiana (November, 2007); Seattle, Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, Detroit, Michigan, Boston, Massachusetts, and Hartford, Connecticut (all in May 2008), Denver, Colorado, and St. Pauls, Minnesota, (August 2008), and Cleveland, Ohio (October, 2008).