Stand With Ukraine

By: Heidi PP- Editor in Chief iF Magazine

On Wednesday, April 20th, Randy Czarlinsky regional director of the AJC and Rabbi Steve Gross of the Congregation for Reform Judaism hosted a conversation with the governments of France, Poland, and Ukraine on the situation on the ground in the Ukraine and refugees and the European Union

The consuls attending and participating in the panel discussion were: 

Hon. Valerie Baraban, Consul General of France

Her diplomatic career began in 2005 in the policy branch of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, in the Strategic Affairs sector, where she oversaw arms export control and arms control.  In 2009, she was assigned to the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, and dealt, among other things, with emerging topics such as climate refugees. She was then appointed to the French Embassy in Beijing, as Deputy Head of Cooperation and Cultural Service, one of France’s most important cooperation services in the world.

In 2013, she was assigned to Brussels as negotiator at the French Delegation to NATO and monitored the Alliance’s military operations as well as the reform of intelligence governance. In the summer of 2017, she joined the Elysée Palace as diplomatic advisor of the National Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Coordinator.

Hon. Robert Rusiecki, Consul General of Poland

Robert Rusiecki has been the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Houston since October 1, 2018.  Prior to the posting in Houston, he served as the Consul General of the Republic of Poland / Head of Embassy’s Consular Section in London and Deputy / acting Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago.  He graduated from the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Modern Languages. Most of his earlier professional career he worked for Warsaw based financial institutions.

Hon. Vitalii Tarasiuk, Consul General of Ukraine

Vitalii Tarasiuk arrived in Houston in December 2021.  He has served in the Ukrainian foreign ministry for 18 years, including two assignments at its Embassy in Washington. He has served as deputy director of the Ministry and as Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

After the conversation with the consuls a proclamation was presented by Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner R. Jack Cagle which begins with ” County Commissioner R. Cagle humbly Stands with the Nation of  Ukraine.” 

AJC’s Stand with  Ukraine fund has allocated over $2 million to:

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), IsraAID, Jewish Agency for Israel, Jewish Community of Warsaw, Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, Polish Center for International Aid (PCIA), Ukrainian House of Poland

Anyone wishing to make a donation, contact the Consulate General of Ukraine Houston