"Do not expect anything you do not work for", said Colin L. Powell, the 65th US Secretary of State during a lecture to the Kyiv School of Economics

On October 24, 2007, as part of the KSE Public Lectures project hosted by the Kyiv School of Economics, Colin Powell, the 65th US Secretary of State gave a press briefing and a lecture "Democracy and Global World Challenges". In his humorous presentation littered with personal anecdotes, the former Secretary of State discussed the confrontation between USA and USSR during the Cold War, from the beginning of Perestroika to the fall of the Iron Curtain. He also expressed his view how to overcome challenges facing the world while building a democratic and prosperous country and gave an evaluation of recent changes in Ukraine stating his hope that Ukraine would steadily pursue its democratic and economic development.   

The former US Secretary of State pointed out that the Ukraine has enjoyed buoyant economic growth in the last two and a half years. "I think that this growth will continue and I hope that your current situation will soon clarify and that political development will catch up with the economic development. There are people who are interested in Ukraine and in the talent of its people and there are investment opportunities. However, they may only want to take advantage of these opportunities if you have transparent legislation, an effective judicial system and no corruption", - said Colin Powell.  

Furthermore, he believes that the government should take into consideration three major factors underpinning successful development: economy, energy, and environment and to provide for conditions promoting the economic growth of its citizens.

Speaking about Ukraine's development prospects, Colin Powell said:  "Do not expect anything you do not work for". He also stressed that it would be young people who would ensure liberalization of the country and make necessary changes. In particular, as he was talking about the Kyiv School of Economics, he pointed out: "KSE students are one of the forces that will move Ukraine forward in the right direction".

In his address to the KSE students Colin Powell emphasized: "Any resources and human talent that you have belong to the nation. Always give back to your people and never forget where you learnt it.  In his turn, Victor Pinchuk, honorary president of the Kyiv School of Economics thanked Colin Powell and said to the young people attending: "I am glad that young people, our future leaders, have a chance to gain valuable experience from the very beginning.   I hope you can take full advantage of these lessons for you personally and for your country".

Over 350 people from all generations attended Colin Powell's lecture at the Kyiv School of Economics, including KSE students, businessmen, politicians, and diplomats from Ukraine and foreign countries.

Photo report on Colin Powell's visit to Kyiv on October 24, 2007:  http://pinchukfund.org/ru/media/photo-gallery/2007/513.html

EDITOR'S NOTE

General Colin L. Powel, the 65th United States Secretary of State arrived in Ukraine  on October 24, 2007.  The purpose of Collin Powell's visit to Ukraine was to participate in the KSE Public Lectures Project hosted by the Kiev School of Economics (KSE) during which he gave a lecture entitled "Democracy and Global World Challenges". The last time Colin Powell came to Ukraine was in 2005 to visit the inauguration ceremony of President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko. General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) became the 65th Secretary of State on January 20, 2001. Before becoming Secretary of State, Colin Powell served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defence and as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. He also served 35 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Four-Star General and serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 - 1993).

The KSE Public Lectures are organized on a regular basis by the Kyiv School of Economics for Ukraine's political and business community, inviting world-known scientists, economists, politicians and public figures to Ukraine. The goal of these events is to enlarge the economic debates on the topics most relevant for Ukraine and the world at large.  During the first year KSE Public Lectures project arranged public lectures delivered by 2003 Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Robert Engle, Dr. Francis Fukuyama, Professor of International Political Economy at the Johns Hopkins University, co-author of "Microeconomics" Dr. Robert Pindyck, James Wolfensohn, the ninth president of the World Bank Group. Furthermore, in January 2007, a round-table session entitled "Economic prospects of space exploration for Ukraine and the World" was held with Ukrainian-born US astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Pipper (NASA, USA), Henry Hertzfeld, Research Professor of Space Policy and International Affairs at George Washington University, and others.

The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) was established by the Economic Education and Research Consortium (EERC- www.eerc.kiev.ua) and by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation (www.pinchukfund.org). KSE helps to improve the economic, business, and policymaking environment of Ukraine and its neighboring countries. It offers an internationally recognized two-year, full time English language Master's Program with focus on Financial Economics, Economic Policy and Economics of companies, consumers and the market structure. The program is taught by international and Western-trained Ukrainian teachers with a strong research background. The curriculum is modelled on the best business and economics graduate programs in North America and Western Europe and provides students with unrivalled access to economic literature and resources.

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