Devon D. Archer
Thanks. Otherwise, everything else is OK?
FYI, apparently the NYT has now reached out to FTI inquiring about Burisma too. Ryan is going to get more information about the inquiry and we will let you know more when we get it.
Eric D. SchwerinAdd something like this:"If we speak seriously about energy independence in Ukraine we must support such independent companies as Burisma."Or something like that per Pres. K.s request
RHB202-333-1880As you all know, the WSJ has gotten back to us and plans to run their article “in the coming days”. They’d like to get a response from Hunter related to the potential conflict between his father’s anti-corruption message and his role on the board.
The collective advice of Ryan Toohey, David Wade and Blue Star (Sally and Karen) is that we not give them a quote from Hunter but instead give them a statement from a “company representative”. The draft quote is below.
“Hunter Biden joined the Board to strengthen corporate governance and transparency at a company working to advance energy security for Ukraine. These are also goals of the United States. Far from being out of sync with the policies of the United States, the Board is working to bring this privately held energy company into the kind of future that is critical for a free and strong Ukraine. These are goals that attracted not just Hunter to the effort, but respected American and European political and business leaders.”
In addition, the group’s advice is that the company prepare a statement that can be posted on Burisma’s website and be used with other media outlets if there are further inquiries. We think this statement should be forward thinking and not directly responsive to any allegations that may be made against MK. In that statement we’d like to include a quote from President Kwasniewski. If you could discuss tomorrow and get the President’s approval and/or edits for the below draft quote that would be great. Ryan/Sally/Karen are drafting the positive part of the company statement that will talk about good Burisma is doing and hopes to do going forward. This quote below would NOT be given to the WSJ.
Here is a proposed statement for Kwaśniewski to be used reactively after the story.
“I joined the board of Burisma to highlight that this is a new era in Ukraine, where companies can be organized around sound business principles and free of corruption. I support a democratic Ukraine, one that has a functioning and independent energy sector with best practice corporate governance. Burisma, its management and its Board are committed to these same goal and I am proud of my role with the company.”
Paul would like our responses by first thing tomorrow DC time. If you could approve or send edits to the two quotes so we have them when we wake up tomorrow morning that would be great.
Thanks,
Eric
Eric D. SchwerinRosemont Seneca Advisors, LLC1010 Wisconsin Ave., NWSuite 705Washington, DC 20007(202) 333-1880P Consider the environment befo re printing this email.