Embassy update

I thought you might like to see this! It is straight from the embassy's website. Jennifer Dear Members of the American Adoption Community Interested in Ukraine: As we reported earlier, a new law came into effect December 22, 2005, transferring authority over intercountry adoptions in Ukraine to the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports, which will establish a new central authority called the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children. Unfortunately, since the former central authority (the National Adoption Center under the Ministry of Education) no longer had jurisdiction over adoptions as of December 22, and the new adoption authority under the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports had not yet been established, a jurisdiction and processing gap was created, with no Ukrainian ministries having the authority to handle adoptions. The Embassy has raised the U.S. GovernmentҒs concern about the sudden stoppage of adoption processing and has asked the Government of Ukraine to take steps so that families can conclude their adoptions in the best interests of the children and families affected. According to the information we have learned, a legislative solution is required under Ukrainian law to resolve this issue. The Ukrainian parliament (Rada) is scheduled to review a draft law on this subject that would allow the NAC to retain interim authority over adoptions until May 1, 2006, at which time the new authority is expected to be in place. The Ukrainian version of the draft law is available on the official Rada website: [url]http://www.rada.gov.ua:8080/pls/zweb/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=26612[/url]. Please continue to monitor the Embassys web page for the current status of adoption processing in Ukraine: [url]http://kiev.usembassy.gov/[/url]. The Embassy will continue to track this and other adoption-related issues closely, and provide updates as appropriate. Any American adopting parents who are currently in Ukraine and affected by this abrupt closure are requested to e-mail us adoptionskievREMOVE@REMOVEstate.gov and provide your points of contact, if you have not already done so. American prospective adoptive families who have January appointments to travel to Ukraine should not do so until such time as the Embassy has confirmed to the extent possible whether you will be able to complete the adoption process and return to the U.S. with your children in a timely manner. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Adoption Unit/Immigrant Visa Section Consular Section American Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine Tel: 38-044-4904422 Fax: 38-044-490-4570 adoptionskievREMOVE@REMOVEstate.gov