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Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko made a speech to the US Congress on Wednesday.

    WASHINGTON, April 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko made a speech to the US Congress on Wednesday, an honor reserved for Washington's closest allies such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

    During the speech, Yushchenko hailed that "freedom continues towin" and said the United States and Ukraine are united by "shared democratic values."

    "I perceive your eagerness to hear the new Ukraine as a token of partnership of the two nations united by shared democratic values," he said.

    US President George W. Bush held talks with Yushchenko in the White House on Monday and they declared "a new era of strategic partnership" between the two countries.

    Bush also said he supported Ukraine's desire to join the World Trade Organization and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

    Washington strongly supported the pro-Western Yushchenko duringthe mass protests that he led last November after a controversial presidential election was initially won by the pro-Russia candidate. The nation's supreme court eventually annulled the disputed ballot and Yushchenko won the new poll.

    Yushchenko was inaugurated in January. Enditem