Ukraine's Foreign Minister Meets Ukrainian Adopted Children And Their Families In NYC

Last week, in his first visit to the United States as Ukraine's
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister Kozhara took the time to
meet with parents who have adopted from Ukraine and their
children.



He expressed a warmth and gratitude towards the parents for
offering these children "a better life".



He stated that it would be ideal for all children to be adopted
within the country, but that that is not realistic.



The Minister started his career at the newly independent
Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, DC and holds a warm place in his
heart for America.



His wish is that Ukrainian adopted children grow up proud of both
the United States and their original motherland, Ukraine.



He mentioned how important it was for parents to file their
obligatory reports on their adopted children.



There was a lot of press at the event and both the press and
other Ukrainian officials expressed that the fact that the
minister made this meeting a priority (after all he met with
Secretary of State Kerry and was slightly late to this meeting
because he was with the General Secretary of the UN) shows how
positive he is toward international adoption in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara met with adopted
Ukrainian children and their American families in the Consulate
General of Ukraine in New York

Today, 01:55

On May 7^th, 2013, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Ukraine Leonid Kozhara met with adopted Ukrainian children and
their American families in New York.

The meeting was held at the Consulate General of Ukraine in New
York.

During the meeting the Minister informed of Ukraine's policy in
the sphere of inter-country adoption, stressed on the importance
of ensuring the children's rights, as well as timeliness of
submitting post-placement reports on wellbeing of adopted
Ukrainian children.

The meeting was held in a warm, friendly atmosphere. The families
shared their happy stories of adoption of Ukrainian children.

At the end of the meeting, the children launched balloons of
Ukrainian flag's colors into the sky and got Ukrainian souvenirs
on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

In the photo: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara meets
with adopted Ukrainian children and their American families