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Inside: • More on Yanukovych in Moscow and Brussels – page 3. • Ukaine’s new Cabinet of Ministers – page 10. • Noted Ukrainian writer Yuri Andrukhovych – page 13.

ThePublished U by thekra Ukrainian Nationali Association n i a Inc., a n fraternal Wnon-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXVIII No.11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 $1/$2 in Ukraine Changing the rules, factions Yanukovych travels to Moscow form a new majority coalition after being welcomed in Brussels Mykola Azarov is PM in pro-Moscow Cabinet

by Zenon Zawada held view in the Ukrainian political estab- Kyiv Press Bureau lishment that they’ve violated the coun- try’s Constitution. KYIV – Ukraine’s pro-Russian parlia- National deputies of the pro-Russian mentary factions on March 11 formed a forces spent the last two weeks passing coalition government that will work in legislation that allows rogue deputies – tandem with the newly elected president, those expelled from their respective par- Viktor Yanukovych, ignoring the widely liamentary factions – as well as defectors to help form the coalition. Only with their participation was it possible to form a majority of 235 national deputies. Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and former President Viktor Yushchenko declared that the parliamentary coalition and the Cabinet of Ministers were illegal Official Website of Ukraine’s President and illegitimate. “It’s very shameful that Ukraine’s newly inaugurated president, Viktor Yanukovych (left), meets with Yanukovych is starting this way,” said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow. Ms. Tymoshenko. Their claims were supported by politi- by Zenon Zawada ing Europe first and then offered gener- cal and legal experts, who agreed that the Kyiv Press Bureau ous concessions – demonstrated he’s inef- Constitution of Ukraine only allows par- fective in defending Ukraine’s interests liamentary factions, not individuals, to KYIV – European leaders welcomed before the Russian government. form coalitions. President Yanukovych Viktor Yanukovych with their hands “The negotiations, as well as the signed the regulation-bending legislation warmly extended on his first foreign visit on March 10, the day after Parliament accompanying public messages, practi- to Brussels, but it was in Moscow four cally followed a Russian scenario,” said approved its second reading. days later that the newly elected The first reading was approved on Volodymyr Fesenko, an expert at the Ukrainian president demonstrated a will- Kyiv-based Penta Center for Applied March 4. Party of Regions of Ukraine ingness to bend over backwards. deputies admitted that the legislation Political Research. The consensus among Ukraine’s lead- served as a convenient avenue to avoid “To compare, recall the themes raised UNIAN ing political experts was that Mr. dealing with the Our Ukraine-People’s by [Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev Prime Minister Mykola Azarov address- Yanukovych’s March 5 visit to Moscow – es the Verkhovna Rada on March 11. (Continued on page 10) in which he all-but-apologized for visit- (Continued on page 8) Travel to Ukraine promoted at New York Times Travel Show WASHINGTON – For the second cornerstone of regional stability and as a consecutive year, Ukraine was repre- full partner in the community of nations. sented through the Discover Ukraine The foundation has been supporting exhibit at The New York Times Travel Ukraine’s travel industry since 2005, Show, the largest consumer and travel when it launched the travel site, www. trade show produced in the United traveltoukraine.org. Since then the web- States. The convention, featuring nearly site has become the No. 1 Google, 500 exhibitors representing more than Yahoo! and Bing “Ukraine travel” site 150 countries, was held at the Jacob K. on the Internet. Javits Convention Center in New York Over the past 12 months, the U.S.- on February 26-28. Ukraine Foundation has conducted a The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation orga- wide array of public relations activities nized the Discover Ukraine exhibit and in support of Ukraine’s international the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, the image, including promoting Kyiv largest non-profit trade association rep- through “Cities: Capitals of the Mind,” resenting the interests of U.S. businesses an international London summit and active in Ukraine, was the sponsor. through The Communication Group’s The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation widely distributed report, “Cities: The (USUF) is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) Destination Identity.” non-governmental organization estab- The USUF’s growing presence on the lished in 1991 to facilitate democratic Internet, along with its business sector U.S.-Ukraine Foundation development, encourage free market e-newsletter, BizLinks, distributed to reform and enhance human rights in 5,000 subscribers, complements its trav- At The New York Times Travel Show (from left) are: U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Ukraine. The USUF is dedicated to el show efforts. Board Member Iryna Kurowyckyj, Consul General of Ukraine in New York strengthening the mutual objectives of Serhii Pohoreltsev, USUF President Nadia McConnell and USUF Program both nations and advancing Ukraine as a (Continued on page 12) Assistant Oksana Yakovenko. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS

Yanukovych’s election opens up Yanukovych: no second state language effect, and they are not accepted in both Ukraine and Europe.” He said that it was not Crimean separatist threat KYIV – The Ukrainian language will be by accident that the European Parliament the only state language in Ukraine, President had asked the new Ukrainian leadership to by Taras Kuzio 2002 and 2004. Viktor Yanukovych said on March 9. cancel President Yushchenko’s decree to “Ukraine will continue to promote the Eurasia Daily Monitor Mr. Yanukovych’s real persona became posthumously honor Bandera. Mr. evident only after the Orange Revolution Ukrainian language as its only state lan- Yanukovych added that a decision to repeal Viktor Yanukovych’s inauguration as and Viktor Yushchenko’s election. In guage,” he said at a meeting with Taras the decrees would be made before Victory Ukrainian president on February 25 forced 2005-2006, the Party of Regions reversed Shevchenko National Prize winners in Kyiv. Day, May 9, which marks the victory of the him to face the fact that the Party of the marginalization of Russian nationalists He added that Ukraine would implement the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany during Regions that he leads has re-opened the and separatists in Crimea, in effect assist- European Charter for Regional or Minority World War II, known in Soviet parlance as Pandora’s Box of Crimean separatism. ing Russian covert intelligence support for Languages. (Interfax-Ukraine, Ukrinform) the Great Patriotic War. (Ukrinform, National Institute of Strategic Studies ana- separatists on the peninsula, in Zakarpattia Returned Shevchenko papers on display Reuters) lyst Petro Burkovsky asked, “Will and in Odesa. Mr. Yanukovych said during President Yanukovych open up the path to the second round of the presidential elec- KYIV – Ambassador John F. Tefft and Nationalists threaten mass rallies the separation of the Crimea?” in tion that “GUAM has lost its importance” his wife, Mariella, participated in the open- KYIV – Ukraine’s nationalist forces have Ukrayinska Pravda before the second (Ukrayinska Pravda, February 4). ing of an exhibit of returned Shevchenko threatened to hold mass protests if President round of voting (Ukrayinska Pravda, The Party of Regions united with two papers at the National Museum of Literature Victor Yanukovych annuls the decree award- January 26). Russian nationalist parties in the For Mr. of Ukraine on March 2. The Ambassadors A similar warning was published in ing the Hero of Ukraine, the country’s high- Yanukovych bloc that won the 2006 Fund for Cultural Preservation is helping to est honor, to Stepan Bandera and Roman Nezavisimaya Gazeta (February 19): “The Crimean parliamentary elections. New restore the original manuscripts, photos, rare Crimea could become a major problem for Shukhevych. “The Ukrainian president Crimean parliamentary elections will be publications and graphics of Shevchenko’s made pledges to Russia concerning the lan- the new Ukrainian president.” The author held this year that will provide an opportu- collection, now on public display. The most pointed to the first example of this pending guage, church, Shukhevych and Sevastopol. nity for Russian nationalists to mobilize. precious part of the collection was saved This is something he will run against before threat to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The The For Mr. Yanukovych bloc included the during World War II by the former director Crimean Parliament voted to change its he learns to run the state in the interests of Party of Regions, Russian bloc and the of the Taras Shevchenko museum and sub- the state itself. What are we going to do? name from Crimean Supreme Rada Russian Community of Crimea (ROK). sequently moved from Europe to the United (Ukrainian for Council) to Soviet (the Definitely, we will stage serious protests,” The Russian bloc is financed by Moscow’s States in 1951. The unique collection was commented Ihor Mazur, leader of the Kyiv Russian equivalent). “The Crimean depu- Mayor, Yurii Luzhkov, and has close links preserved by the Ukrainian Academy of Arts ties had de facto voted for the move to a branch of the Ukrainian National Assembly- to Russian intelligence. ROK, led by the and Sciences of the U.S., and returned to Ukrainian Self-Defense organization, speak- Russian name of the Parliament of the First Vice-Chair of the Crimean Ukraine. In 2009 the U.S. government, autonomous [republic] by infringing on ing at a press conference on March 9. “I Parliament, Sergei Tsekov, is the most through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural think Yanukovych’s mistakes will encourage the Ukrainian Constitution” (Nezavisimaya influential Russian nationalist group on the Preservation, provided a grant to the Gazeta, February 19). The central authori- differentiation between the liberals and peninsula, and is financed by Mr. Luzhkov, Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the nationalists. Nationalists remain strong ties, in the middle of a transfer of power, Konstantin Zatulin, the Russian Foreign National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine did not react to this illegal move in enough to stage mass rallies. If the issue of Ministry and the Russian presidential for the restoration and creation of a cata- Sevastopol were raised, hundreds of thou- Crimea. administration. logue of the returned Shevchenko collection. sands of people would be ready to take to The election of Mr. Yanukovych is seen Mr. Yanukovych’s revival of Russian Since its establishment in 2001, the the streets. We could organize serious rallies in the Crimea as “opening up new possi- nationalists has had three ramifications. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation in Kyiv during the week,” he added. bilities for distancing the peninsula from First, joint annual military maneuvers with has supported over 500 projects worldwide, (Interfax-Ukraine) the center” (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, NATO in Crimea were disrupted by the including eight in Ukraine, the largest num- February 19). Russian nationalists believe Party of Regions and Russian nationalist ber of projects among European countries. Yushchenko on Europarliament’s ‘complex’ Mr. Yanukovych’s election campaign rhet- protesters. These maneuvers had been held The exhibit is open through April 15. (U.S. oric advocated policies that make him annually under President Kuchma. The Embassy in Ukraine) LVIV – The European Parliament has “a appear more pro-Russian than Leonid Party of Regions blocked votes in historical complex” with respect to Stepan Kuchma. These included promoting a gas Parliament to permit the entrance of for- Yanukovych to reverse hero status Bandera, former President Viktor consortium with Russia and joining the eign military units on to Ukrainian territo- Yushchenko said at a meeting with intellec- Single Economic Space customs union of MOSCOW – President Viktor tuals in Lviv on March 10. “The European ry (UNIAN, August 8, 2009). Yanukovych said on March 5 that he would the Commonwealth of Independent States Second, the Crimean Parliament voted Parliament has demonstrated that is has a (CIS), opposition to close cooperation reverse a decision by his predecessor, Viktor historical complex with respect to Bandera in September 2008 to recognize the inde- Yushchenko, proclaiming Stepan Bandera with, or membership of NATO, and sup- pendence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. and has not looked at history through the port for an extension of the Black Sea and Roman Shukhevych as “Heroes of eyes of the present,” he said. Mr. A similar Party of Regions resolution (No. Ukraine.” Mr. Yanukovych, while visiting Fleet base beyond 2017. 3076-1) in the Ukrainian Parliament, Yushchenko noted that the dialogue on this President Yanukovych may ignore the Moscow, said: “Of course, these decrees by denouncing Georgia and calling upon Yushchenko have produced a resounding (Continued on page 16) illegal actions of Crimean deputies and in Ukraine to recognize the independence of so doing act very differently from Mr. both territories, failed. Pro-Russian leaders Kuchma, who was first elected on a more in the CIS refused to follow Mr. moderate “pro-Russian” platform in 1994. Yanukovych’s pro-separatist position. Mr. FOUNDED 1933 Mr. Yanukovych and Mr. Kuchma are very Yanukovych’s defense of his pro-separatist Th e Uk r a i n i a n We e k l y different. President Kuchma was more position by drawing on an analogy with successful in destroying Russian separat- Kosovo (mimicking Russia) was ridiculed. An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., ism in Crimea in a non-violent manner Third, Crimea became emboldened to a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. than his predecessor, Leonid Kravchuk. In demand greater rights as an autonomous Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. 1995, Mr. Kuchma banned the institution republic. Mr. Yanukovych’s support for the Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. of the Crimean presidency and through extension of the Black Sea Fleet base will (ISSN — 0273-9348) economic blockades and intelligence oper- further embolden Crimean Russian nation- The Weekly: UNA: ations undermined the separatist move- alists. Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 ment. Two other factors also worked in The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Mr. Kuchma’s favor that are now absent: had petitioned the justice ministry to ban Postmaster, send address changes to: Russian passivity and internal rivalries in three organizations “controlled from The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz the separatist camp. abroad” that threatened Ukraine’s territori- 2200 Route 10 Editors: Matthew Dubas Russian separatists were marginalized al integrity: the Donetsk Republic, Peoples P.O. Box 280 Zenon Zawada (Kyiv) over the following decade. Mr. Kuchma Front “Sevastopol-Crimea-Russia” and Parsippany, NJ 07054 supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity pro-Russian Rusyn organizations in and made this a cornerstone of his foreign Zakarpattia. The Odesa prosecutor’s office The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] policy. The GUAM regional group, estab- had opened a criminal case against the For lished in 1997 by Georgia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia (ZUBR) Azerbaijan and Moldova, had among its The Ukrainian Weekly, March 14, 2010, No. 11, Vol. LXXVIII organization for inciting ethnic and reli- Copyright © 2010 The Ukrainian Weekly main aims combating separatism and pro- gious hostility (Interfax-Ukraine, moting territorial integrity. December 2, 2009). The GUAM members, other than Funding for Russian nationalist-separat- ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Ukraine, had frozen conflicts on their ter- ists is transferred through Russian covert ritories. Since August 2008, Georgia has assistance using grants from the Rusky Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 faced a Russian occupation of South Mir (Russian World) government-funded e-mail: [email protected] Ossetia and Abkhazia. In 2002-2004, foundation. Mr. Luzhkov’s influence over Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Prime Minister Yanukovych did not ques- the Moscow City Council also provided fax: (973) 644-9510 tion the president’s foreign policy on donations of $20 million to Crimean proj- e-mail: [email protected] GUAM, arms supplies to Georgia, sending ects and in 2010 will spend $10 million on Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 Ukrainian troops to Iraq or seeking a e-mail: [email protected] Membership Action Plan from NATO in (Continued on page 20) No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 3

NEWS ANALYSIS President Yanukovych promises ‘new page’ in Ukraine’s ties with Russia by Gregory Feifer More Russia-friendly RFE/RL Moscow is gleeful over Mr. Ukraine’s new president, Viktor Yankovych’s election, which exposed a Yanukovych, on March 5 promised to country split between its Russian-speaking restore relations with Russia during his east – which overwhelmingly supported first trip to Moscow since Ukrainians last him – and its European-looking west. month voted out their former pro-Western Moscow openly campaigned for Mr. leadership that took power in the Orange Yankovych during Ukraine’s presidential Revolution. election in 2004, when the opposition Western countries are closely watching accused the Kremlin of meddling in the the March 5 visit for signs of just how far country’s internal affairs. But Russia’s bid to help elect the old pro-Moscow Mr. Yanukovych aims to reposition administration’s candidate backfired after Ukraine, a strategic energy-transit route Mr. Yankovych won an election the over which Russia and the West are tus- Supreme Court later ruled had been sling for influence. rigged. Speaking at a chummy joint news Hundreds of thousands of protesters conference after meeting Russian spilled out onto the streets in what President Dmitry Medvedev, Mr. became the Orange Revolution, whose Yanukovych said he wants to make a pro-Western leaders came to power fol- “sharp turnaround” in relations after the lowing a new election. Offi cial Website of Ukraine’s President drastic deterioration in ties that followed Kyiv’s relations with Moscow crashed. the Orange Revolution. Russia vehemently objected to Ukraine’s Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meets with Ukraine’s new president, Viktor “The new authorities in Ukraine will new drive to join NATO and other poli- Yanukovych, on March 5 in Moscow. change relations with Russia so they’ll cies it saw as giving the West influence never again be what they have been for over former Soviet territory in its own No word on gas He could entice Moscow by offering to the past five years,” Mr. Yankovych said. prolong the lease for the Russian navy’s backyard. The Kremlin feared the Orange The latest turnaround in relations with He also praised Russia’s “political stabili- controversial Black Sea Fleet base in the Revolution would provide a model to Russia comes after Mr. Yankovych – ty.” Ukrainian city of Sevastopol. The current those Russians chafing under its own democratically elected this time – nar- A satisfied-looking Mr. Medvedev wel- deal is set to expire in 2017, a date authoritarian rule. rowly defeated his rival, Orange comed Mr. Yankovych’s words. The Moscow temporarily shut off natural Yushchenko had insisted was firm, but Revolution heroine Yulia Tymoshenko. Russian leader said Mr. Yankovych’s gas to Ukraine after Kyiv refused to pay over which Mr. Yankovych today indicat- The new president has pleased Moscow election was an “indisputably positive many times more for supplies the Kremlin ed he’d seek compromise. by indicating he’d put an end to Ukraine’s signal” for relations, which he said would said it had provided at Soviet-era subsi- “We’ll very soon [reach a resolution] drive to join NATO. be “reborn on all levels” on the basis of dized rates. A second shutoff last year that will satisfy both Ukraine and Russia,” But although Ukraine pays more for “warm feelings and pragmatism.” He lasted three weeks, disrupting deliveries the new president said. added, “I hope the black streak that exist- to millions in other European countries. gas than most European countries, the ed in relations between Ukraine and Last year, Mr. Medvedev accused Kremlin on March 4 appeared to preempt Delicate balance talk of a renegotiation, saying the latest Russia will come to an end.” then-President Viktor Yushchenko of Despite tilting Ukraine back toward agreement shouldn’t be revised. He singled out energy as a key sphere being “anti-Russian.” He recalled Moscow, Mr. Yankovych has said he Mr. Yankovych has proposed creating for cooperation, but didn’t indicate Russia’s ambassador to Ukraine, saying wouldn’t “dramatically change” Ukraine’s a consortium with Moscow and the whether Moscow was open to reducing Moscow wouldn’t speak to Mr. foreign policy. His first trip abroad as European Union that would control its high prices for natural gas, an impor- Yushchenko, who accused the Kremlin president earlier last week was to Ukraine’s pipeline network, which some tant issue for crisis-stricken Ukraine. of trying to kill him in a poisoning dur- Brussels, where he said European integra- Mr. Yankovych was set to also meet ing the 2004 presidential campaign that believe would establish closer ties with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. dramatically disfigured his face. Russia’s Gazprom. (Continued on page 20)

Brussels ready to work with Viktor Yanukovych for Ukraine by Vladimir Socor economic reform criteria to qualify for ly relations with Russia, development of Eurasia Daily Monitor Brussels has now such assistance. relations with other neighboring countries, Brussels has now opened, for the first and strategic partnership with the United Ukraine’s newly elected President opened, for the time, the prospect of Ukraine’s eventual States” – in that order. He singled out the Viktor Yanukovych chose Brussels as his accession to the EU. According to Mr. “key priority, European integration” for first destination for a working visit abroad. fi rst time, the pros- Barroso, “If the process [of Ukrainian involving foreign policy and internal Inaugurated on February 25, Mr. reforms] advances, we see Ukraine’s future reform strategy in equal measure. Alluding Yanukovych held talks with European pect of Ukraine’s very clearly as a European future, and to east-west political fault lines in Ukraine, Union leaders on March 1, ahead of a Ukraine in the European integration pro- Mr. Yanukovych (the eastern candidate March 5 visit to Moscow. This chosen eventual accession cess… Ukraine’s possible accession to the repositioning as president) defined sequence, as well as the tenor of Mr. to the European EU has always been on the agenda,” Mr. European integration as a unifying factor Yanukovych’s remarks in Brussels, con- Barroso was cited as saying at the joint for Ukrainian society (UNIAN, March 1). trasted with his pronounced tilt toward Union. briefing with Mr. Yanukovych (Interfax- At a minimum, such remarks demon- Russia, by which he had mobilized his Ukraine, March 1). strate that President Yanukovych has electoral base in the recent presidential This statement entails a degree of posi- learned to talk the talk, before walking the campaign. European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, held tive reinterpretation of earlier EU posi- walk of reforms. His acknowledgments Unsurprisingly, Mr. Yanukovych shifted out to Mr. Yanukovych clear prospects for tions. In fact, Brussels had traditionally that European integration involves external toward a more even-handed posture stopped short of giving Kyiv the much- an EU-Ukraine association agreement, as and internal policy in equal measure and between Russia and the West in the post- desired political signal that Ukraine’s well as a deep and comprehensive free that it can unify society, echo almost ver- election period. He moved more promptly eventual accession figured on the EU’s trade area (DCFTA) and a visa-free travel batim the statements of Moldova’s former than might have been expected of him, agenda. In their turn, Ukrainian leaders – agreement. The DCFTA would broaden President, Vladimir Voronin, another apparently in response to EU leaders’ particularly Viktor Yushchenko, the now- “eastern”-leaning politician repositioned broad overtures to Ukraine through him as the access of Ukrainian products to the departed president – often solicited such European market and would encourage as European from 2004 onward, with mod- the new president. These overtures appar- political signals from the EU, to incentiv- erately encouraging results. ently reflect intentions in Brussels to com- European investments in Ukraine. As key ize Ukrainian reforms. In the event, incen- parts of a possible Ukraine-EU association The European Parliament marked pete patiently with Russia for Ukraine’s tives as well as reforms fell short. The President Yanukovych’s inauguration with future (even if the EU finds it unpalatable agreement, the DCFTA and visa-free travel EU’s Eastern Partnership program, agreements could be signed by 2011, con- a resolution underscoring that Ukraine is a to acknowledge the reality of competition). launched in 2009 following a Swedish- European country that can, by adhering to ditional on Ukraine’s performance on During this visit, EU leaders as well as Polish initiative, is starting to overcome principles of freedom and democracy, internal reforms (Interfax-Ukraine, March Ukraine’s new president decided to avoid this impasse by accelerating the negotia- apply for EU membership in the future 1, 2). (at least in public) those issues on which tions toward an association agreement and (Eurasia Daily Monitor, March 3). The The EU leaders have already agreed to Mr. Yanukovych had promised major con- opening the prospect of ultimate member- resolution demonstrates that the European draw up a road map toward visa-free travel cessions to Moscow during the electoral ship contingent on performance. Parliament (now with substantially with Ukraine this year. The commission is campaign. In Brussels, Mr. Yanukovych listed the enlarged powers under the Lisbon treaty) The presidents of the European also prepared to disburse 500 million foreign-policy priorities of his presidency will work with this president for Ukraine’s Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, EU Euros in assistance funds, if Ukraine meets as: “Integration with the European Union, Council, Herman van Rompuy, and the International Monetary Fund’s macro- resumption of friendly and good-neighbor- (Continued on page 20) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11 Ambassador John Tefft opens renovated American Library by Marta Farion The American Library is named in memory of Victor Kytasty, who dedi- KYIV – U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft participated in a cated himself to the development and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the re-opening of the new- growth of the National University of ly-renovated American Library at the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NUKMA) Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Kyiv on February 18. and was instrumental in developing The ceremony was hosted by university President Serhiy the American Library. Kvit. Mr. Kytasty moved to Ukraine from The American Library, established over 10 years ago, the United States and worked in vari- strives to provide current and reliable information on U.S. ous governmental and academic posi- government, history, culture, society and values, the educa- tions, among them as senior consultant tional system and the economy. The library offers readers to the Economics Education and up-to-date English-language resources, free Internet access, Research Consortium’s M.A. program and fun events like Friday night film showings. in economics and as faculty member Its holdings include more than 10,000 items, a multi- of the Department of Philology at media collection and various Internet services, including NUKMA. He received an honorary access to more than 50,000 electronic publications. The doctorate from the university in 1998. Olesia Trachuk/U.S. Embassy in Ukraine American Library is open to the public and is a resource for On September 22, 2000, Victor John F. Tefft, ambassador of the United States to Ukraine, with Dr. all visitors, including the public at large. It currently boasts Kytasty died of a sudden hear attack. Serhiy Kvit of President of the National University of Kyiv Mohyla more than 4,500 members. The library is also accessible via The American Library’s renovation Academy. its website. at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy was financed through a grant from the U.S. Embassy OBITUARIES in Ukraine. The American Library is one of the libraries that form the Kyiv Mohyla Library network, which includes the Omeljan and Tetiana Yaroslav-Miguel Flys, 81 Antonovych Library, the Research Library, the Philology Library, the Spanish literature expert Library of the School of Public Health, the Library of Pre-University Studies, by John S. Kark the Omelan Pritsak Library and Archives of Oriental Studies, and the PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yaroslav-Miguel Flys, a specialist forthcoming Library of Fine Arts. in contemporary Spanish literature and professor for The Kyiv Mohyla Library collection over 50 years at various universities in the United States, includes over 650,000 printed books, died in Phoenix, Ariz., on November 9, 2009, after a over 50,000 electronic titles, 85 donat- lengthy battle with cancer. ed archival collections and over 50 pri- He was born on February 13, 1928, in Ivano- vate printed books collections, bearing Frankivsk, Ukraine, and began his education in that the names of their individual donors. western Ukrainian city. He matriculated from the The library hosts approximately 1,850 Ukrainian Real Gymnasium in Salzburg, Austria, in Valentina Pashkova, director of Informational Resources Center of the visitors daily. It serves primarily the 1947. While at the school, he was an outstanding stu- U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and president of Ukrainian Library Association; dent, and was elected president of his class and, later, John F. Tefft, ambassador of the United States to Ukraine; Christopher president of the entire student body. Fitzgerald, counselor for public affairs at U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. (Continued on page 20) Mr. Flys graduated from the University of Madrid in 1951 and received his Ph.D. from that university in 1954. His field of expertise was contemporary Spanish literature and he published several books on the subject. The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: February He immigrated to the United States in 1951 and Amount Name City $20.00 Walter Bilynsky Baldwinsville, NY taught for over five decades at U.S. universities, includ- $100.00 Roma and Andrew Morristown, NJ Andrew Fenchak Dublin, OH ing Catholic University (Washington), Loyola University Hadzewycz (in memory $15.00 Helen Duda Hawthorne, NJ (Chicago), Bowling Green University (Bowling Green, of Roman Kupchinsky) Luba Klachko Murray Hill, NJ Ohio), and Arizona State University (Tempe), where he Cami Huk Rutherford, NJ Ksenia Kolcio Seattle, WA taught for 25 years. (in memory of Roman Zenia Kuzel Rochester, NY A highly respected scholar, Prof. Flys was chairman Kupchinsky) S. Lule Glenn Ellyn, IL of the Foreign Languages Department at Arizona State R. Prynada Carteret, NJ R. Melnyk Indianapolis, IN for eight years, until he retired in 2001. He also oversaw Wolodymyr and Irma Rochester, NY Wasyl Sosiak Forest Hills, NY the Study Abroad in Spain Program. Pylyshenko (in memory Pauline Stasiw Spencerport, NY Surviving are his wife, Felisa, and their daughter, of Roman Kupchinsky) $10.00 Olena Bankston La Mesa, CA Tamara; four children from a previous marriage, N. Wasylko Endicott, NY Andrew Boyko Cleveland, OH Carmen, Marisol, Ana and Carlos; nine grandchildren, Mulak Yatzkivsky Los Angeles, CA Larissa Fox Stirling, NJ Laura, Elena, Marisa, Monica, Karina, Daniel, Paul, $55.00 John Husiak New York, NY N. Kropelnyckyj Warren, MI Victoria and Natalia; as well as a cousin, Roman Flys, of Zenon and Dozia Cleveland, OH Stefan Kyrylenko Beloit, WI Deliatyn, Ukraine. Krislaty O. Rybak Berlin, MD Memorial donations may be made to: St. Joseph Victor Omelczenko Los Angeles, CA Joseph Sachno Flushing, NY Foundation (Children’s Health Center), 350 W. Thomas Nadia Topolnicki Pompano Beach, FL Eugene Sagasz Mt. Pocono, PA Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013. (in memory of Roman Julie Sydorowych Dewitt, NY Kupchinsky) Bohdan Vitvitsky Summit, NJ $50.00 Orest Deychakiwsky Beltsville, MD Zenon Wasyliw Ithaca, NY (in memory of Roman $5.00 Bohdan Dombchewskyj Monroe, NC Vera Rich, translator, Kupchinsky) John Dumka Calgary, AB S. and H. Jakubowycz Merle and Bonnie Toledo, OH journalist, poet, 73 Ihor and Olga Sydor Cos Cob, CT Jurkiewicz $45.00 John S. Kark San Diego, CA H. Kowalchek West Newton, PA LONDON – Vera Rich, a noted translator of Ukrainian $30.00 Joseph Levitzky Hamden, CT W. Lysko Cranbury, NJ literary works and herself a poet and journalist, died of can- (in memory of Roman Millie Pochtar Pequannock, NJ cer in London on December 20, 2009. Kupchinsky) Zoriana Siokalo Newtown, PA She was known also for her translations of Belarusian $25.00 W. Balko Ledgewood, NJ Michael Solonynka Minneapolis, MN literature, as well as translations from the Polish, Russian, L. Baltarowich Warren, MI Oksana Wolchuk Cherry Hill, NJ Czech, Croatian, Norwegian and Spanish languages. Ihor Chorneyko Dundas, ON Anna Zador Las Vegas, NV As noted by Dr. Mykola Zhulynskyi, director of the L. Chornodolsky Timonium, MD Institute of Literature at the National Academy of Sciences L. Keske Woodland Hills, CA TOTAL: $1,685.00 of Ukraine, for decades Ms. Rich functioned as a Ukrainian M. Lomaga Wethersfield, CT Academy of Sciences in Great Britain. Dr. Zhulynskyi and Yurij and Zorianna Montreal, QC Sincere thanks to all contributors to The Ukrainian other literature experts from Ukraine noted of Ms. Rich’s Luhovy (in memory Weekly Press Fund. passing: “Ukraine has lost its spokesman, an extraordinary of Roman Kupchinsky) ambassador of Ukraine in the world of English-language L. Sawchyn Morristown, NJ The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only fund culture.” N. Schultz Bronxville, NY dedicated exclusively to supporting the work of this She translated the works of noted Ukrainian literary fig- N. Trojan Dobbs Ferry, NY ures Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko and Pavlo Tychyna, Peter Yaremko Cape Girardeau, MO publication. (Continued on page 17) No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 5

The Ukr a ini a n Nationa l Asso c iation For u m

Branch 13 holds yearly meeting Branch 173 holds annual meeting, WATERVLIET, N.Y. – Members of St. United States and is among the earliest Nicholas Brotherhood Society (Bratstvo) brotherhoods in the country to join the elects delegate to UNA convention and Ukrainian National Association Ukrainian National Association. by Eugene Serba acclamation, all in attendance commend- Branch 13 re-elected their officers at the After the presentation of officers’ ed the elder Mr. Serba. yearly meeting held at the Ukrainian- annual reports and the acceptance of the WILMINGTON, Del. – Ukrainian American Citizens Club in Watervliet, A discussion of branch savings and an Auditing Committee’s proposal for a vote National Association Branch 173, also explanation of how branch funds are N.Y., on Sunday, February 21. of confidence, Bratstvo members chose known as St. Vladimir’s Society, held its The Bratstvo will mark its 115th year now on deposit with the UNA followed. by acclamation to return the prior year’s annual meeting on February 21 after the Members opted to not disburse any funds of continuous service to its members and officers and committee chairs. 9 a.m. divine liturgy here at St. Nicholas the community on December 5, 2010. at this time. Returning for one more year as Bratstvo Church. The meeting was originally Next on the agenda was the election Founded in 1915, the Bratstvo is one of scheduled for February 7, but had to be the oldest Ukrainian organizations in the (Continued on page 20) of delegates to the UNA Convention to rescheduled due to snowstorms. be held in May. Peter Serba was elected At St. Nicholas Church, the tradition as a delegate; Joanne Dimon was voted is for parishioners to have coffee hour in as an alternate delegate. the church hall as a parish family after Also elected were Branch 173 offi- divine liturgy. As a gesture of good will, cers: President Wasyl Wasylysyn, Peter Serba, secretary of Branch 173, Secretary Peter Serba and Treasurer sponsored the coffee and Danish for all Eugene Serba. parishioners of the parish. During the discussion that followed, The meeting was called to order at 11 among the topics discussed were: UNA a.m. by UNA Auditor Eugene Serba. The annuity rates; problems with postal Rev. Volodymyr Klanichka began with delivery of both Svoboda and The an opening prayer. On behalf of the Ukrainian Weekly; ideas for increasing UNA, Mr. Serba officially congratulated the involvement of younger potential the Rev. Klanichka on the birth of his UNA members; and the financial status twins in January and wished the family of UNA. all the best. Thank-yous were expressed by a num- Afterwards, a moment of silence was ber of members concerning articles and held for all members of Branch 173 who or pictures that have appeared in both passed away during the year since the the Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly. last annual meeting. The minutes from At the yearly meeting of the St. Nicholas Brotherhood, President Slavko Tysiak These included St. Nicholas Church the prior year’s meeting were approved. (seated, center) is joined by several senior members who attended (seated, from activities, erection of a Ukrainian flag on Auditor Serba congratulated his left) Stephen Denish, John Zendran, John Demczar, Gregory Ilnytsky, Sam permanent display in North Wildwood, Ksenych and Stanley Mochulsky. Surrounding them are some of the new mem- father, Peter, for having been branch sec- bers, brotherhood officers and others in attendance. retary since 1951 – for 59 years. By (Continued on page 20)

The UNA: 116 years of service to our community 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

WINDOW ON EURASIA Th e Uk r a i n i a n We e k l y Moscow expert says international community Yanukovych’s first steps It’s only two weeks into the Yanukovych presidency and already it is marked not bound to support states’ territorial integrity by egregious violations of the Ukrainian Constitution, political cronyism and kowtowing before the Kremlin. by Paul Goble The formation of the so-called Stability and Reforms Coalition blatantly vio- Valery Tishkov, an influential Moscow Ever more Russian lates the Constitution of Ukraine, and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is specialist on ethnicity and politics, says entirely justified in declaring the new government illegitimate. The law requires in an interview posted online on February commentators are parliamentary factions, not rogue or defecting deputies, to form the coalition 23 that every government must seek to discussing the government. Should the Constitutional Court of Ukraine allow this misbegotten defend its country’s territorial integrity coalition to stand on appeal out of political convenience, it too will lose its legiti- because, in the wake of what he calls “the further partition macy. destruction” of the 1975 Helsinki Final Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency is marked by even more violations of Act, the international community is not of Georgia and the Ukrainian law. bound to do so. On February 16, the Party of Regions of Ukraine led Parliament in illegally Mr. Tishkov’s comments come not possible division canceling city and village council elections scheduled for May 30 without re- only in the wake of Moscow’s recogni- scheduling them. Then, on March 1, Parliament Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn tion of the breakaway republics of of Ukraine or the announced that a parliamentary majority didn’t exist, relying on yet more regula- Abkhazia and South Ossetia but also at a absorption of some tion-bending legislation – approved after the presidential elections – that requires time when ever more Russian commenta- coalitions to prove their existence with signatures from all its members. It’s a tors are discussing the further partition of or all of that coun- basic legal tenet that laws are not retroactive, yet Mr. Lytvyn applied the new Georgia and the possible division of procedural rules to force Ms. Tymoshenko’s coalition to prove its existence. Its Ukraine or the absorption of some or all try by the Russian failure to do so gave him the opening to declare it doesn’t exist. of that country by the Russian Federation. Mr. Yanukovych flouted the law not only in Kyiv, but abroad as well. And, while Mr. Tishkov has many ene- Federation. Speaking with Russian leaders, he left the door open for the Russian Black Sea mies because of his own longstanding Fleet to remain in Sevastopol beyond the 2017 withdrawal deadline. That blatantly commitment to civic rather than ethnic violates the intent of the Constitution of Ukraine, which is to free Ukrainian soil of nationalism and because of his oft- All this permits only “one conclusion: foreign troops. His pursuit of non-alignment with NATO contradicts Ukrainian law, expressed belief that the division of states all states, even those who have a crisis of which declares Euro-Atlantic integration as a national security goal. only creates new problems, his argument governance – the collapse of their econo- All that is now happening could be expected given Mr. Yanukovych’s shady is worth noting as it undoubtedly both mies, total emigration, internal wars and background. reflects and will have an impact on dis- chaos in civic life, the absence of central When he became prime minister in 2006, Ms. Yanukovych did exactly what cussions in the Russian policy communi- administration [and so on] must them- he’s doing now – cobbling together an illegal coalition with the goal of usurping ty. selves guarantee their sovereignty on their power. Former President Viktor Yushchenko was forced to dismiss Parliament Mr. Tishkov told Russky Zhurnal jour- own if they do not have allies who are before Mr. Yanukovych achieved his goal. nalist Lyubov Ulyanova that “the unity of obligated by treaty to help.” More recently, Mr. Yanukovych was accused of stealing the 350-acre states in the sense of assertion of territori- Moreover, Mr. Tishkov says, “if anoth- Mezhyhiria complex, previously a state-owned residential estate on the outskirts al integrity and the solid loyalty of the er state is not interested by treaty condi- of Kyiv that mysteriously fell into his family’s ownership in September 2007, population are guaranteed above all by tions or other reflections such as the secu- during his second prime ministership. the states themselves” rather than by sup- rity of its own border areas, historical- When a politician flagrantly disregards the law, breaking campaign promises port from outside forces however often it cultural ties of the population, economic is but a minor-league infraction. is declared (www.russ.ru/pole/ interests, etc., in the preservation of this Mr. Yanukovych vowed to implement reforms by choosing only the most Gosudarstvo-nikto-ne-obyazyvaet-byt- or that state formation, it is correct for qualified candidates for government posts. Yet, he’s reportedly stacked the edinym). that state to do nothing for guaranteeing” Procurator General’s Office with his Donbas homeboys. Not by chance, those According to the director of the the territorial integrity of the other. same prosecutors reached a decision on March 10 to drop all criminal charges Moscow Institute of Ethnology and Those “realist” reflections, he says, do against Vasyl Tsushko, the former police chief who led a raid on the Procurator Anthropology, “no external imperatives not mean that states should welcome the General’s Office in 2007 and allowed assaults on its employees, all before televi- for the preservation of the [territorial] division or collapse of states because such sion cameras. Mr. Tsushko is now Mr. Yanukovych’s economy minister. His integrity of states exist, especially after events often “generate more problems career jump from police chief to chief economist in a three-year span doesn’t the destruction of the Helsinki Final Act, than the improvement in [those states] of inspire confidence in Mr. Yanukovych’s claim that only the most qualified will which called for the inviolability of the the system of administration and other serve. Furthermore, the oligarchs who made up the government of Leonid existing borders in Europe.” positive transformations.” Indeed, “divi- Kuchma are back. Russian-born geologist Mykola Azarov is prime minister, and Despite that accord, Mr. Tishkov con- sion almost always leads to new minori- the chair of the Security Service of Ukraine is mega-millionaire Valerii tinues, “at the time the USSR came apart, ties and new ‘divided peoples.’ ” Khoroshkovskyi, someone with no law enforcement experience. no one opposed it – instead and even Had the international community acted European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was utterly mistaken more almost every player on the interna- on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act in when stating that the newly elected president has the legitimacy to promote sta- tional arena did everything to promote the early 1990s, Mr. Tishkov argues, “it bility in Ukraine. Mr. Yanukovych failed to earn 50 percent of the vote in the that outcome, and the USSR did not have would have been completely legitimate” run-off, and he did not win a majority of the oblasts – hardly evidence to support any external argument in defense of its for it to seek to maintain the unity of the Mr. Barroso’s words. Now President Yanukovych has failed to legally form his own integrity.” USSR under Mikhail Gorbachev – and to Cabinet of Ministers. Where’s the legitimacy? At the same time, of course, he says, do far more than make statements like The Venice Commission ought to heed Hryhoriy Nemyria’s call to review all “external interference in the splitting up, U.S. President George H.W. Bush did in the questionable legislation passed to bring these politicians into power. Western disintegration or seizure of state forma- his Kyiv speech. governments ought to support Ukraine’s pro-Western opposition forces in tions or parts of their territories is not rec- But having failed to do that and having defending the nation’s institutions of law and order. ognized by international law, if again in fact done just the opposite in the cases there do not exist certain internal agree- of both the USSR and Yugoslavia, the ments on the division and external divi- international community has taught sions on interference at the highest level” Russia and other countries some “harsh such as decisions by the United Nations. lessons” about the need to promote their March Turning the pages back... own immediate interests rather than fol- low any general principle. Paul Goble is a long-time specialist “Russia, having put down an effort at 18 on ethnic and religious questions in armed secession in Chechnya and consti- Two years ago, on March 18, 2008, Ukraine’s Parliament Eurasia who has served in various tutionally excluded the right of departure 2008 approved the first draft of a bill aimed at overturning the con- capacities in the U.S. State Department, from the [Russian] Federation,” Mr. stitutional amendments of 2006 that reduced the powers of the the Central Intelligence Agency and the Tishkov says, nonetheless “recognized president and transferred these powers to the Verkhovna Rada. International Broadcasting Bureau, as the results of session without permission The law on the Cabinet of Ministers received 246 votes in favor out of the 449 pres- well as at the Voice of America and (self-proclaimed independence) in ent and eligible lawmakers. The bill was supported by the Our Ukraine–People’s Self- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Abkhazia and South Ossetia.” Defense (OU-PSD) bloc, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) and the Volodymyr the Carnegie Endowment for As far as Ukraine is concerned, the Lytvyn Bloc. The Party of Regions of Ukraine (PRU) and the Communist Party of International Peace. He has also been Moscow scholar and political figure says, Ukraine (CPU) abstained from voting. director of research and publications at it is “in fact a two-community (Ukrainian- The changes, originally tailored for Viktor Yanukovych when he served as prime the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Russian) state with several influential minister, allowed the coalition to appoint the ministers of defense and foreign affairs if vice-dean for the social sciences and minorities, very much like Canada.” And the president had not done so within a two-week period. Presidential nominees for humanities at Audentes University in “the integrity of the state can be ensured Cabinet posts would be approved by the Verkhovna Rada, and proposals to dismiss the Tallinn and a senior research associate only by official bilingualism” and by the defense or foreign affairs ministers would be permitted for submission to Parliament at the EuroCollege of the University of proclamation that “the nation in Ukraine only after the president’s initial consent. The amended law gave ministers the right to Tartu in Estonia. Mr. Goble writes a blog includes not only ethnic Ukrainians.” called “Window on Eurasia” (http://win- nominate their deputies but would deprive the prime minister of the power to coordi- “If Ukrainian ethnic nationalism remains dowoneurasia.blogspot.com/). This arti- (Continued on page 23) cle above is reprinted with permission. (Continued on page 24) No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 7

From a Canadian Angle by Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

Moving forward with the new president Moscow patriarch’s ‘Westpolitik’ Conclusions from some 300 Canadian to receive blessings exclusively from the Once again, the Ukrainian Greek- enough, upon Kirill’s election the young, observers overseeing the second round of Moscow patriarch rather than from lead- Catholic Church has proved to be the Oxford-educated Bishop Ilarion took the presidential election in Ukraine were ers of all Ukrainian Churches. This is the stumbling block for relations between over his post at the DECR. He was sub- that, in general, international standards same patriarch who, while visiting Rome and Moscow. Russian Orthodox sequently appointed archbishop of were met. They also said that it was Ukraine last summer, undermined the Patriarch Kirill will only meet with Pope Volokolamsk, then metropolitan. important for observers to have been independence of the Kyiv Patriarchate Benedict XVI after the issue of over 500 The Russian proposal of cooperation there to make sure this happened. and tampered with the democratic notion formerly Orthodox churches in western sounds reasonable. Working together, the But does an acceptable elections pro- of separation of Church and state. Ukraine now held by the Greek-Catholics world’s two largest Churches might cess translate into good government? In Troubling signs about the new presi- is resolved, said Metropolitan Ilarion indeed reverse the tide of secularization; Canada, citizens measure a leader’s per- dent as the guarantor of the Constitution (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk in January such trends, after all, are cyclical. While formance against election promises. were in evidence in Donetsk, his home (“Ukraine blocking Vatican, Russian Rome seeks to revive Catholicism among The new president’s past record is base. Observers were told that Yulia church meet,” Reuters, January 12, pub- the French, Spanish and Italians, Moscow mixed. Most see Viktor Yanukovych as Tymoshenko’s election commission lished in the Kyiv Post, January 13). can concentrate on Bulgaria, Romania pro-Russian, and nearly half of the popu- members, doctors at a local psychiatric For those who remember the Vatican and Greece. lation considers him a criminal. Yet this institution, were threatened with job loss Ostpolitik and Catholic-Orthodox ecu- True, one may ask whether the may be a fine opportunity to show that he for their political affiliation. Another menism of the 1960s and 1970s, this Moscow Patriarchate doesn’t have can change. He has done so before. He Tymoshenko official was accused of sounds familiar. The issue of the enough to do evangelizing the Russians, recast himself from a thug into a front- stealing blank ballots and publicly dis- Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, forci- who for all their formal allegiance have line politician, and he overcame his credited. Although cleared of wrongdo- bly dissolved and joined to the Moscow an abysmally low rate of religious prac- image as a fraudster from the days of the ing by appropriate legal bodies, the Patriarchate in 1946, was the bane of dip- tice. But that’s their business. Orange Revolutin of 2004 to become name-calling and personal harassment lomats and ecumenists alike until its More legitimately, one may ask by president in 2010. from Party of Regions supporters contin- legalization in 1989-1991. Now it seems what right Moscow should be leading the Now President Yanukovych needs to ue, she claimed. And, a post-election that its retention of recovered parish Orthodox world in this effort. Why not move forward again: he must uphold story out of neighboring Dnipropetrovsk churches stands in the way of Vatican- the Ecumenical Patriarchate in democracy, unity and independence in has it that several government officials Moscow relations. Constantinople, as the Vatican’s partner Ukraine. were fired for speaking Ukrainian. These relations, however, have taken a and equal? His early steps are contradictory. In his If Ukraine is to go forward under the new turn. The accession to the European There are several reasons. Unlike the first post-election statement in both new president, this must stop. National Union of Orthodox Romania, Bulgaria Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Russian Ukrainian and Russian – significant, as independence requires decisions motivat- and Cyprus, as well as several other Church has the support of a powerful making Russian the second official lan- ed by a country’s national interests, not countries with large Orthodox popula- state. It is the largest Orthodox Church. It guage is a divisive issue – Mr. than those of its neighbors. Democracy tions, has provided Russia with a new evidently has a core of faithful ready to Yanukhovych promised to reach out to demands respect for political choice, and mission. dedicate their best and brightest to its all Ukrainians, even those who did not tolerance of former opponents is proof As Paul Goble commented over five service. And in the view of Metropolitan vote for him. This was a hopeful gesture that it works. years ago, the growing influence of Ilarion, it is supranational, being the in the best of democratic tradition. A Canadian approach, for instance, Orthodoxy in Europe has allowed the Church not only of Russia, but also of His campaign material was conciliato- would be to leave divisive, no-win issues Russian Church to expand its activity in several countries with Orthodox popula- ry too. It avoided controversy and prom- – like the revocation of honors bestowed pursuit of both its own interests and those tions including Belarus, the Baltics – and ised good things: an improved standard on nationalists or official language status of the Russian state. In this, Ilarion, then Ukraine (SEIA No. 171, pp. 6-7). of living, social assistance, national changes – on the back burner. Mr. bishop of Vienna and Austria and head of Has the accession of a German pope health care. His inaugural speech com- Yanukovych might wish to state, at home his Church’s representation before the improved the chances for Vatican- mitted to deal with corruption, an impor- and abroad, that his uppermost priorities European institutions, has figured promi- Russian cooperation? In a recent inter- tant matter in Ukraine. And his first for- are national unity and the economy. Other nently (Paul Goble, “Eye on Eurasia: An view the papal nuncio to Ukraine, eign trip to Brussels carried an even- matters will have to wait. Orthodox Christian European Union,” Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, confirmed the keeled message: good relations with both A strong democracy watchdog is criti- UPI, October 5, 2004). common Catholic-Orthodox interest in Europe and Russia. cal for Ukraine. Ms. Tymoshenko, poised How does this involve the Catholic opposing European secularism But will fine words be transformed to head the opposition, has already vowed Church? The late Pope John Paul II, (Ukrainskyi Tyzhden, January 22). But into action? Can Ukrainians look forward to watch the president to ensure he is not responding to the rapid deterioration of will common goals once again be pur- to a political maturation of their president undermining Ukraine. Western European Christianity, called for sued at the expense of the Ukrainian comparable to the maturation of the elec- Canada and others can help too. a “new evangelization” of the continent. Greek-Catholics? Will Moscow expect tion process that got him there? Ottawa has been supporting Ukraine’s In response, the Russian Orthodox have Rome to neglect Catholics in Russia, Mr. Yanukovych’s trip to Russia raises transition to democracy since 1991, proposed that the two Churches work Belarus and Ukraine? doubts. devoting in 2008-2009 alone over $20 together to defeat Western post-Christian The Moscow Patriarchate follows Many are perturbed with his commit- million in technical assistance. Other secularism. Archbishop Ilarion recently Russian law in not recognizing ment to allow the Russian Black Sea democracies, especially the United elaborated his views in his introduction Catholicism as one of the nation’s tradi- Fleet to remain in Ukrainian waters after States, have also been generous. Now, to a Russian edition of Pope Benedict’s tional religions. It habitually protests 2017 – the feeling is he was giving away they need to ensure that their funding has speeches (SEIA Newsletter No. 171, Catholic inroads in Ukraine. But it too much too soon. His undertaking to a positive impact on Ukraine’s society by December 2009, pp. 17-18). The revival reserves special enmity for the Uniates. withdraw Hero of Ukraine status from calling on the president to operate in a of full diplomatic relations between Thus, Moscow may seek to squeeze the Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych political climate that is favorable to all Russia and the Vatican, announced last Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian negates his offer to embrace all of citizens and to deliver on election prom- December 3, should facilitate such coop- Greek-Catholic Churches out of exis- Ukraine. (Such a divisive strategy was ises. This is critical until the next parlia- eration. tence, demanding that they choose employed by former President Viktor mentary elections, when Ukrainians will Probably no one in Russia is better between Latin Catholicism and Russian Yushchenko in the reverse direction for Orthodoxy. In this context, its perennial directly once again decide their political positioned to promote a joint evangeliza- unclear ends.) If President Yanukovych complaints about Orthodox churches fate. Their choice is clear: if they want tion with the Roman Catholics than the follows through, western Ukraine will be allegedly seized by Ukrainian Greek- Mr. Yanukovych to have more power, current patriarch. In 1971-1974, furious. The award so infuriated Poland – Catholics suggest a policy goal beyond they will give the Party of Regions a Hieromonk Kirill (Gundyaev) represent- at a time when Ukraine needs all the the mere recovery of real estate. majority in Parliament. However, if they ed the Moscow Patriarchate at the World friends it can get – that it demanded, via To be sure, legal procedures must be are unhappy with him, they need to give Council of Churches in Geneva. As chair- the EU no less, a withdrawal of the followed in the allocation of church prop- Tymoshenko forces their vote. man of the Patriarchate’s Department of honor. Russia did likewise, precipitating erty. In most cases since 1989, they have Will there be pre-term parliamentary External Church Relations (DECR) from a united anti-Ukraine position. been. If Ilarion is claiming that certain elections? The next few weeks may pro- 1989, he impressed Europeans with his Furthermore, it did not go unnoticed to churches are held by the vide the answer. command of languages and his familiari- the Ukrainian World Congress, a global Ukrainian Catholics illegally, he should ty with the West. After Patriarch Aleksii umbrella organization of diaspora enti- identify them and point out the illegality. II (Ridiger) died on December 5, 2008, ties, that Mr. Yanukovych is the first Oksana Bashuk Hepburn may be con- Then the issue can be resolved in the Kirill was elected patriarch of Moscow post-independence president of Ukraine tacted at [email protected]. courts. the following January 27. Yet Moscow’s real objection may lie Mr. Goble has characterized Kirill’s elsewhere. The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic general approach as “authoritarianism at Church poses a challenge to its leader- home and ecumenism abroad” (Paul ship of the new evangelization of Europe Goble, “New Russian Patriarch Kirill to Visit our archive online: far exceeding the loss of a few hundred push nationalist agenda at home, ecu- parishes. Stumbling blocks have a way of www.ukrweekly.com menism abroad,” The Ukrainian Weekly, February 22, 2009, p. 2). Logically (Continued on page 24) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

and Security Policy Catherine characteristic of a person without an Yanukovych travels... Ashton. ascertained worldview or knowledge. He (Continued from page 1) European leaders went to didn’t defend Ukrainian national interests in August last year to the public messgag- great lengths to extend their and we don’t have any leader capable of es in Friday’s negotiations. They practi- support to Mr. Yanukovych being a Euro-Atlantic president.” cally coincided. The larger part of prob- after his election, immediately Indeed, the topics they discussed – the lems, which were raised last year, were extending an invitation for his Russian Black Sea Fleet, NATO, interpre- voiced now in a form quite favorable to visit in what observers tations of history, the Russian language – Moscow,” Mr. Fesenko commented. described as attempts to estab- were those hammered upon by Mr. The Yanukovych foreign policy was lish communication and dia- Medvedev in his notorious August 2009 first revealed on February 24, when his logue, and prevent his possi- video statement condemning President team released a draft of the parliamentary ble tendencies to recoil Viktor Yushchenko’s policies as an coalition agreement calling for “securing towards Moscow. unprecedented provocation. Ukraine’s non-aligned status on a legisla- Mr. Barroso warmly greeted Mr. Yanukovych indicated he’s open to tive level, meaning non-participation of Mr. Yanukovych, expressing renewing the Russian government’s lease, allowing the Russian Black Sea Fleet to Ukraine in the military-political alliances “delight” that the new presi- remain on Ukrainian territory beyond of other states.” dent’s first foreign visit was to 2017. This violates the current It called for extending constructive Brussels. Developing relations Constitution of Ukraine, which requires cooperation with NATO on all matters of with the EU isn’t detrimental common interest and ensuring the U.S.- that the fleet be withdrawn that year. to Ukraine’s relations with Another breech of Ukrainian law was Ukraine Strategic Partnership Charter, as Russia, he stressed, encourag- Official Website of Ukraine’s President Mr. Yanukovych’s assurances to Mr. well as establishing relations with Russia ing Mr. Yanukovych’s attempts on the basis of strategic partnership, Medvedev that Ukraine would not align to make amends with the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is wel- friendship, good neighborliness and itself with NATO, whereas the established Kremin. comed by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. national security policy states that entry mutually convenient trade cooperation. In turn, the Ukrainian pres- Experts have labeled this approach as a into NATO is a goal of Ukrainian national ident assured his European counterparts treatment from Europe as Belarusian “multi-vector” foreign policy, similar to security. that European integration was a top prior- President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, he what former President Leonid Kuchma “His statements in Russia cross out the ity for him, stating his goal of concluding said. pursued, but only with a far more overt whole road that Ukraine underwent the Association Agreement by the end of “It wasn’t necessary to meet with him,” orientation towards Russia. towards NATO,” Dr. Soskin said. “It’s the year. said Dr. Soskin, who served as an eco- “Kuchma never even dared to legally unprecedented and unacceptable for a As part of the Association Agreement, nomic advisor to former President Leonid secure Ukraine’s non-aligned status, president to say such things. He took Kuchma. “The EU leadership doesn’t which is what the Regions are proposing a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade authority in Russia that is not granted by understand criminal logic and rules. They now,” said Alyona Hetmanchuk, director Area and visa-free travel agreements the Constitution.” need to learn the KGB code, its criminal of the Kyiv-based Institute of World could be signed by 2011, conditional on Mr. Yanukovych also vowed to cancel law. The first rule is to fool the most gull- Policy, which advocates Ukraine’s inte- Ukraine’s performance on internal former President Yushchenko’s decree ible. Everyone else is a fool to be manip- gration into Euro-Atlantic structures. reforms, Interfax-Ukraine reported. granting the Hero of Ukraine title to ulated. And they will be manipulated like “Legally ensuring the non-aligned sta- Mr. Yanukovych also asked for a road Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan fools. Yanukovych fed Barroso a pack of tus is so much the royal gift for the map, setting conditions and deadlines, for Bandera and said he would do so in time lies.” Kremlin, and possibly the most desired at securing visa-free travel for Ukrainians to for the May 9 celebrations of Victory Day. Yet, Ivan Lozowy, director of the the given stage, that a whole lot could the EU by the end of the year, as well as a Revoking the Hero of Ukraine title Institute of Statehood and Democracy in have been traded for only this single “technical assistance mission” of experts granted by a previous president would be Kyiv, said the Party of Regions and its potential possibility. The Regions aren’t to consider ways to streamline govern- an unprecedented step for a Ukrainian sponsoring oligarchs have genuine inten- stingy – they’re giving away everything ment spending. president, observers pointed out. tions of deeper EU integration because it left and right for free,” she said. The EU is considering extending The Ukrainian and Russian presidents will provide them with more trade for Furthermore Mr. Yanukovych’s foreign Ukraine more than 500 million euros in agreed that Russia, Belarus and Ukraine their raw material exports, as well as policy contradicts itself, as non-alignment economic support should Ukraine meet will jointly organize parades and festivi- investment opportunities. is incompatible with ensuring the fulfill- the International Monetary Fund’s macro- ties celebrating the victory of Soviet forc- ment of the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic economic reform criteria to renew its The Party of Regions’ biggest financial es against Nazi Germany. Partnership Charter, which calls for loans, Mr. Barroso said. sponsor, Donbas industrial magnate Rinat Upon Mr. Yanukovych’s suggestion to Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration. The Portugese leader’s embrace of Mr. Akhmetov, is especially interested in take a “sharp turn” in Russian-Ukrainian Non-alignment also contradicts the Yanukovych – and his statement that “we European integration for those same rea- relations, Russian Prime Minister Yanukovych administration’s alleged believe he has the legitimacy now to pro- sons. Vladimir Putin extended to Ukraine an commitment to pursue EU integration, mote stability in his country” – drew criti- “Brussels was deliberate, partly as a offer to join the customs union being she said, since membership involves a cism from many of Ukraine’s leading result of Yanukovych being passed over formed between Russia, Belarus and military commitment to the European political experts, who doubt very much the last couple of years by the Kremlin,” Kazakhstan. Security and Defense Policy. that he was legitimately elected. Mr. Lozowy. “There’s a genuine push Ukrainian priorities were “peripheral, “I am utterly dumbfounded by the EU towards Europe because that’s where peo- particularly a review of [natural] gas First stop: Brussels bureaucracy,” said Dr. Oleh Soskin, direc- ple see real progress. They go shopping agreements,” Mr. Fesenko said. “Moscow in European capitals and send their kids Mr. Yanukovych’s first foreign visit as tor of the Institute of Society promised a review, but offered no decla- to European universities. That’s where president was on March 1 to Brussels, Transformation in Kyiv. “Barroso accept- rations in terms of deadlines, prospects the Party of Regions is looking.” where he and his entourage met with ed on such a level a person with a crimi- and the nature of the review. Therefore, I European Commission President Jose nal background, a practical KGB agent, “All roads lead to Moscow” consider the visit to have followed a Manuel Barroso, European Parliament which is not accepted by two-thirds of Muscovite script.” President Jerzy Buzek, EU Council Ukraine. Their analytical centers work While Europe may be on the horizon Mr. Lozowy wasn’t as pessimistic as President Herman van Rompuy and EU poorly.” for Ukraine’s oligarchs, they still can’t other experts, believing that Mr. Yanukovych High Representative for Foreign Affairs Mr. Yanukovych deserves the same shake off their Soviet mentality. Mr. made some general statements in Moscow, Yanukovych was almost apologetic to and left certain options open, which he has Russian President Dmitry Medvedev little intention to follow up on. when Moscow reporters confronted him For example, it’s impossible for Need a back issue? about why he chose Brussels over Ukraine to join the Russian-Belarus- Moscow for his first visit. Kazakhstan customs union, having If you’d like to obtain a back issue of The Ukrainian Weekly, “Dmitry Anatoliyovych views with already joined the World Trade send $2 per copy (first-class postage included) to: understanding – as a person, not just as Organization. Administration, The Ukrainian Weekly, president – that the first days of work of a “It’s political petting for the Russians new president of any country is always that he knows that he doesn’t have to 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280 complicated from the point of view of deliver,” Mr. Lozowy said. Parsippany, NJ 07054. where to go,” he said during his March 5 In discussions with Mr. Putin broadcast joint press conference, laughing as if on television, Mr. Yanukovych expressed there was a need to break the tension. “I admiration for the government he has am gaining experience, but as they used established. He stressed the need for a to say – all roads lead to Moscow.” “serious revision” to Russian-Ukrainian Want to see That quip was part of an entire series relations and for the removal of “artificial of flattering comments Mr. Yanukovych barriers.” your name in print? made in attempts to ingratiate himself He assured Mr. Putin that he will with the Russian president, much to the “establish order in the literal and figura- Then why not become a correspondent of disgust of Ukraine’s pro-Western political tive sense” in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Weekly in your community? establishment. “The Russian people still don’t under- Mr. Yanukovych behaved like a stand the price of the stability that exists We welcome submissions from all our Ukrainian communities, no matter Russian vassal, said Oleksander Paliy, an in Russia,” Mr. Yanukovych said. “If you where they are located. Let the rest of us know what you’re up to in your expert at the Institute of Foreign Policy at were given a few politicos from Ukraine, corner of the Ukrainian diaspora! the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine. you would understand what politicking “Even worse than a vassal, he looked is.” Any questions? Call The Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext. 3049. like a provisional governor, like a ser- “Send us salo [pork fat] instead,” Mr. vant,” said Dr. Soskin. “His conduct was Putin retorted. No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 9 Unloved but unbowed, Viktor Yushchenko leaves office by Gregory Feifer die,” Mr. Rybachuk says. “The doctors addressing a joint session of Congress. an obsession with undermining Ms. RFE/RL implanted the strongest painkiller in his Back at home, President Yushchenko Tymoshenko that bordered on the “para- back, but at some level they were hesitating. cultivated the image of a patrician, a man noiac.” PART I They were afraid that his heart would stop. who dressed impeccably – his tie always “Ms. Tymoshenko became his only sub- Therefore, they were really balancing on the matching his pocket square – but who ject,” Mr. Rybachuk says. KYIV – Five years ago, hundreds of edge of life and death.” remained connected to the land. He kept But Mr. Yushchenko’s criticism only thousands of Ukrainians chanted Viktor With Mr. Yushchenko physically unable bees at his “dacha” and was known to added to Ms. Tymoshenko’s popularity. It Yushchenko’s name on Kyiv’s Independence to travel, it was his main ally, Yulia leave ministers waiting on important mat- also helped open the way for Mr. Square during mass protests prompted by Tymoshenko, who did most of the cam- ters of state while he watered the plants in Yanukovych, the villain of the Orange widespread anger over his defeat in a rigged paigning. The fiery orator adopted her now- his office. Revolution, to emerge from political exile presidential election. Braving snow and tem- familiar image, dressing in glamorous white Mr. Rybachuk, who later became Mr. to take up the role of opposition leader. peratures well below freezing, the demon- outfits and wearing her newly blonde hair in Yushchenko’s chief of staff, says the presi- After parliamentary elections in 2006 strators set up tents, sang and waved the a fairy-tale braid crown. Her impassioned dent could have used his great popularity to gave Ms. Tymoshenko’s political bloc far orange campaign flags that gave their move- appearances catapulted her to political star- carry out desperately needed reforms. more votes than Mr. Yushchenko’s party, he ment its name. dom, but they also helped ensure Mr. “He could have done anything,” Mr. restored Mr. Yanukovych as prime minister, On stage, rock bands gave concerts and Yushchenko’s victory. Rybachuk says. “He could have changed joining forces with his old foe rather than opposition leaders rallied the crowds. The new president continued to suffer the constitution, called for early parliamen- seeing Ms. Tymoshenko return to power. Tensions between the opposition and the searing pain for years. Rybachuk says, in tary elections if he had used that peak of his That, too, backfired. authorities ran high, overshadowed by the addition to the enormous damage Mr. popularity for the top priorities for the coun- Mr. Yushchenko dismissed Mr. possibility of a violent police crackdown. Yushchenko’s poisoning caused his nervous try. But what actually happened was that the Yanukovych only months later, accusing Mr. Yushchenko promised to ensure the system, it had a tremendous psychological best time of his presidency was almost him of trying to usurp power. law would prevail and the election results effect on a man with Hollywood good wasted.” Ms. Tymoshenko made even greater would be overturned. As their struggle looks. advances in the next round of snap elec- Tymoshenko obsession played out on television screens around the “He said many times in public that when tions, this time leaving Mr. Yushchenko world, the protesters stayed out day after he woke up in the morning, every time, for Almost immediately after his election, with no option but to agree to join her in day, giving the opposition crucial momen- years after that,” he says, “he couldn’t put Mr. Yushchenko became mired in infighting a new Orange coalition. Still, he objected. tum. up with the thought that the reflection he with Ms. Tymoshenko, whom he had Dmitry Vydrin, then a close adviser to It was Mr. Yushchenko’s biggest triumph. was seeing was actually himself. For anyone named prime minister. He fired her in Ms. Tymoshenko, says Mr. Yushchenko The Supreme Court annulled the victory of – forget about a public figure or candidate September 2005, after she had set price disappeared during the negotiations. Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Moscow prime for the presidency – it might totally destroy caps on basic goods and demanded the re- “Ms. Tymoshenko was calling him minister and chosen successor of hard-line your identity, your personality. It affected privatization of state assets, which prompt- every five minutes,” Mr. Mr. Vydrin says. President Leonid Kuchma, under whose him very seriously.” ed accusations of populism and authoritari- “It turns out he was at his dacha with his regime opposition figures and journalists “First real president” anism. mobile phone switched off, turning over were assassinated. Mr. Yushchenko went on The first public clash between President mint leaves drying in the sun. That was to seal the Orange camp’s victory by win- But the man whose pockmarked face Yushchenko and his most important ally more important for him than the coali- ning a new election. became the symbol of the fight against ushered in a bitter five-year standoff. Mr. tion.” But the man who overcame great odds to authoritarianism wasn’t always fated to Rybachuk says it also ended Mr. “Mint represents the eternal for Mr. lead Ukraine during a pivotal time in its his- become an opposition leader. As head of Yushchenko’s vital political role of a uniter Yushchenko, the soul,” Vydrin says. “The tory leaves a deeply contradictory legacy. Ukraine’s central bank in the 1990s, Mr. who’d brought Ukraine’s fractious opposi- coalition was just temporary.” Mr. Yushchenko exits the presidency with Yushchenko was known as a centrist – loyal tion together. No longer allied with the Ukraine in economic crisis and paralyzed by to then-President Kuchma – who ushered in woman Ukrainians saw as an integral part The article above is reprinted from a bitter political standoff that has Ukrainians a national currency and other reforms that of the Orange duo, Mr. Yushchenko saw his Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission disillusioned and wondering what the drew praise in the West. After his unexpect- popularity plummet. from its publisher, the Jamestown Orange Revolution was all about. ed appointment as prime minister in 1999, Mr. Rybachuk says he soon developed Foundation, www.jamestown.org. Life-and-death struggle the former collective-farm accountant rebuffed attempts by some of the country’s Mr. Yushchenko’s Orange Revolution fractured opposition to become their leader. victory was a breathtaking achievement in a But Mr. Yushchenko changed his mind former Soviet republic whose neighbors had after he was removed from office amid bit- slid back toward authoritarianism. Russia ter opposition to his government’s reforms had campaigned hard for Mr. Yanukovych, from powerful business oligarchs. but the odds against pro-Western Mr. After winning the presidency, Mr. Yushchenko were far more than merely Yushchenko called himself Ukraine’s “first political. real president.” He was fighting for his life and in terrible “We were independent for 14 years, but physical pain, his handsome face grotesque- not free,” he said at the time. ly disfigured by a massive dose of dioxin The new leader vowed to attack rampant poison he accused Moscow-backed govern- corruption, arrest criminals and put Ukraine ment agents of administering. At times, Mr. on a path toward Europe. He urged Yushchenko was able to appear in public Ukrainians to “roll up our sleeves and work only because Austrian doctors had threaded honestly from morning until night for this a tube under the skin of his back to deliver a country.” constant flow of painkillers. But Mr. Yushchenko himself spent most Oleh Rybachuk ran Mr. Yushchenko’s of his first year in office traveling around campaign and later became his presidential European capitals receiving awards. Warmly chief of staff. He says Mr. Yushchenko’s welcomed in the United States, which had pain was “unbearable.” quietly backed him during the Orange “He was begging doctors just to let him Revolution, he was given the rare honor of Quotable notes “… a Yanukovych presidency is committed to the integration of European val- ues in Ukraine. Ukraine should make use of its geopolitical advantages and become a bridge between Russia and the West. Developing a good relationship with the West and bridging the gap to Russia will help Ukraine. We should not be forced to make the false choice between the benefits of the East and those of the West. As president I will endeavor to build a bridge between both, not a one-way street in either direction. We are a nation with a European identity, but we have historic cultural and economic ties to Russia as well. The re-establishment of relations with the Russian Federation is consistent with our European ambitions. We will rebuild relations with Moscow as a strategic economic partner. There is no reason that good relations with all of our neighbors cannot be achieved. “…my agenda — to restore economic vitality and calm the political turbu- lence that has plagued our nation; to enable Ukraine to take advantage of its nat- ural positioning as a thriving bridge between Russia and the West; and finally, to prepare a free and open Ukraine, economically and politically, to join the European Union when the time comes. …”

– President-elect Viktor Yanukovych, writing in the February 17 issue of The Wall Street Journal, Opinion Europe. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

cedural changes in the Constitutional Changing the rules... Court of Ukraine. Rada forms new Cabinet (Continued from page 1) Mr. Lozowy said the court isn’t likely to overturn the legislation, regardless of After approving Mykola Azarov as prime minister of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Self-Defense faction, which consists of as many as 15 groups that were negotiating how egregiously it fails to conform to the Rada on March 11 appointed a new government. Ukrinform reported the follow- Constitution. ing composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. separately and making their own demands. “The courts are like hired prostitutes, Upon opening the March 11 parlia- used and abused for so long that they’ll First Vice Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev agree to anything, including flagrant vio- Vice Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov mentary session, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn declared lations of the Constitution,” he said. Vice Prime Minister Volodymyr Semynozhenko that the Stability and Reforms Coalition “They’re paid well, particularly in situa- Vice Prime Minister Volodymyr Sivkovych had been formed by the Party of Regions, tions like this.” Vice Prime Minister Viktor Slauta the Communist Party of Ukraine, the After Mr. Lytvyn announced the new Vice Prime Minister Sergey Tigipko Lytvyn Bloc, four rogue deputies and 17 coalition, its members voted to approve Vice Prime Minister Viktor Tikhonov defecting deputies from the Tymoshenko the new Cabinet of Ministers. They mustered 242 votes to elect as Environmental Protection Minister Viktor Boiko and Our Ukraine blocs. Ukraine’s new prime minister Mykola Fuel and Energy Minister Yurii Boiko Critics of the coalition derisively Azarov, the geologist-turned-accountant Transport and Communications Minister Kostiantyn Yefimenko dubbed it the “Koalitsiya Tushok,” or who served as first vice prime minister in “Coalition of Animal Carcasses,” refer- Industrial Policy Minister Dmytro Kolesnikov the 2006-2007 Cabinet led by Prime ring to the rogue deputies who were Culture and Tourism Minister Mykhailo Kuliniaka Minister Yanukovych. tossed from their factions and, in theory Justice Minister Oleksander Lavrynovych He got his political debut in Kyiv serv- at least, aren’t supposed to influence Health Minister Zynovii Mytnyk ing as chair of Ukraine’s State Tax events in Parliament. Internal Affairs Minister Anatoli Mohiliov Administration between 1996 and 2002, With the amendment, the revised law Labor and Social Policy Minister Vasyl Nadraha during which he drafted a notorious tax on parliamentary rules of procedure code that was used to persecute govern- Housing and Public Utilities Minister Oleksander Popov states, “The coalition of deputies’ factions Agrarian Policy Minister Mykhailo Prysiazhniuk ment opponents, observers said. in the Verkhovna Rada is formed by the The phrase “Azarovschyna” emerged Minister for Families, Youth and Sports Ravil Safiullin election results and on the basis of Education Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk in early 2004 when Mr. Azarov served as agreed-upon political positions and on the first vice prime minister and finance min- Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Anatolii Tolstoukhov basis – established by the Constitution ister to Prime Minister Yanukovych. It Economy Minister Vasyl Tsushko and these rules of procedure – of unifica- was coined by National Deputy Inna Finance Minister Fedir Yaroshenko tion of deputies’ factions, national depu- Bohoslovska to denote “disdain for one’s Regional Development Minister Volodymyr Yatsuba ties [editor’s note: the legislation inserts own country’s citizens and dislike Coal Industry Minister Yurii Yaschenko the words “national deputies”], into which towards Ukraine itself.” Emergencies Minister Nestor Shufrych the majority of national deputies from the Mr. Azarov had persecuted, dismissed Foreign Affairs Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko Verkhovna Rada’s constitutional compo- and ruined numerous government oppo- Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel sition enter.” nents by then, including opposition publi- Yet, Kyiv political expert and lawyer cations and politicians such as Ms. Ivan Lozowy said the law must conform Tymoshenko, through his access to vari- to the Constitution. In this case, the law ous government levers. violates both its letter and its intent. Ms. Tymoshenko has begun using the The procedural amendment of the reg- term “Azarovschyna” in her attacks on To subscribe to The Ukrainian Weekly, call 973-292-9800, ext. 3042 ulations was unprecedented since the con- the Yanukovych government. stitutional changes that took effect in “Azarovschyna is the disposal of budget- January 2006, requiring factions to form ary funds as your own, with large kick- coalitions. (Elected parties or blocs of backs,” Ms. Tymoshenko said in early parties automatically assume the status of February. factions, from which deputies can’t leave “Azarovschyna is the complete disre- or switch over based on an imperative gard for the law, including tax violations. mandate.) Azarovschyna is the first time in Throughout his difficulties in dealing Ukrainian history that minimum wages with the governments led by Prime were lowered to the base indicators for Ministers Yanukovych and Tymoshenko, pension payments. That’s what happened President Yushchenko never resorted to in 2003 and 2004.” sidestepping the constitutionally estab- The third-place finisher in Ukraine’s lished rules. presidential election, Sergey Tigipko, Outraged by the maneuver, the former agreed to become a vice prime minister in president called for a national “defiance” the new government. to the coalition. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s opposition will Lawyers from the Tymoshenko Bloc, consist of two separate forces – those par- as well as National Deputy Arseniy ties led by the Tymoshenko Bloc and Yatsenyuk, said they will appeal the pro- those parties led by Mr. Yushchenko.

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As a fraternal insurance society, the Ukrainian National Association reinvests its earnings for the benefit of its members and the Ukrainian community. No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 11

Students from Ukraine spend two weeks in the United States by Yulia Moroziuk before this trip she had been writing in Ukrainian for two years, but to speak in NEW YORK – Five teenagers from her native Ukrainian language in com- central and eastern Ukraine spent the first pletely Russian-speaking surroundings two weeks of the New Year with seemed to her to be unrealistic. “And now Ukrainian American families in the north- in the U.S., I feel as if I visited western eastern United States thanks to a new Ukraine. Among relatives of Mrs. Graves program called SDI American Winter. there were Sichovi Striltsi [Ukrainian Conceived and promoted by the Social Sich Riflemen] and soldiers of the UPA Development Institute Inc. of New York, [Ukrainian Insurgent Army], about whom and its president, Michael Kazarenko, a she told me a lot,” Nadiya commented. native of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the program enabled five students from Program’s beginnings Ukrainian schools in Kramatorsk and The genesis of this unique program can Kyiv to be invited to spend the first two be traced to the Ukrainian American weeks of January with Ukrainian Youth Association’s School of Ukrainian American host families. Studies in New York City. Five years ago Sofiya Lukyanchuk, 16, Nadiya the school community initiated a program Students from Ukraine (from left, beginning with second from left) Nataliya Rokytyanska, 16, and Oleksander for youths of Ukrainian descent to study Sydoruk, Uliana Sydoruk, Oleksander Vasiliev, Nadiya Rokytyanska and Sofiya Vasiliev, 16, from Kramatorsk participat- the Ukrainian language, history and cul- Lukyanchuk, with Natalia Brandafi (left) and Melanie Reuter (right) from their ed in the program as winners of the Petro ture at the National University of Kyiv host families in the United States. Jacyk International Ukrainian Language Mohyla Academy (KMA) in Ukraine. Competition; while the Syroduk sisters, This was an intense immersion and study other, how they learned to respect each used to American life, but don’t forget Uliana, 17, and Natalia, 14, of Kyiv were program, with four weeks of classroom other, to live together, to work together.” about their motherland,” Mr. Kazarenko recognized for their talents in, respective- work and multiple cultural excursions. It Mrs. Olson offered Oleksander the underscored. ly, singing and painting. was also an inclusive program, open to opportunity to visit her parents, who live Almost all the donors were born in the The young Ukrainians spent their time any American, Canadian, Australian or in Ivano-Frankisvk, western Ukraine. western areas of Ukraine, and have no in New York, New Jersey and the European student of Ukrainian heritage They will gladly show him the connections to the Donbas. What influ- Washington area, in Falls Church and who sought a learning-by-immersion Carpathians during the summer. enced them to support this project? Vienna, Va., and Laurel, Md., residing experience. According to Mrs. Olson, “As these stu- One of the sponsors answered: “My with the Reuter, Olson, Graves and The Social Development Institute, a dents share their personal experiences, understanding is that a degree of Brandafi families. Their travel to the U.S. not-for-profit charitable organization they will find that this is the best way to Ukrainian proficiency is required of the was facilitated by Ukraine’s Consulate founded in 2007, has been collecting move beyond stereotypes.” student participants in the program. This General in New York, Consul General funds so that American students could Supporters of the program probably puts them in a very uncomfort- Serhiy Pohoreltsev and Consul Bohdan participate in this program at reduced Movchan. able position where they live. Some cost. Money for airline tickets and medical reward and encouragement to such stu- Bridging the gap Last summer Mr. Kazarenko became insurance for the Ukrainian students was dents is appropriate.” acquainted with Marta Kowalczyk- donated by Ukrainian immigrants to the Some of the financial sponsors’ origi- While western Ukrainians are closely Reuter, who along with her daughter, U.S. Many of them came as displaced acquainted with European and American nal donations were matched by the com- Melanie, attended the KMA Summer persons after World War II, while others panies where they work. Support was also lifestyles and thinking, many citizens in Program. Later that year, after the SDI came more recently as students or as eco- the central, eastern, and especially south- provided by the Jersey City, N.J., branch American Winter program was estab- nomic refugees. Many eventually earned of Selfreliance Ukrainian American ern regions of Ukraine continue to think lished, it was necessary to locate host positions of responsibility in American of the United States in terms of stereo- families willing to provide a memorable corporations. “They are working, getting (Continued on page 24) types promoted by various mass media. experience for the visiting students. Mrs. At the same time, in the most Russified Reuter was particularly successful in territories of the east and south, western identifying host families from the Ukrainians are often considered to be Washington area. “hostile” towards the east. Mrs. Reuter was born in the United Representatives of the Ukrainian States to an ethnically mixed family long diaspora in the United States suggested a separated from the territory of present- new program for Ukrainian youth that day Ukraine. Her father was born in was designed to help bridge the gap, Krakow, Poland, into the Lemko- counter these stereotypes and build dia- Ukrainian community that suffered a high logue. degree of Polonization between the two “We invited a girl from eastern Ukraine world wars and afterwards the forced not only to show her American life, but to resettlement of Akcja Wisla. Her mother show her the life of Ukrainians in is German, not Ukrainian. Mrs. Reuter America. Above all, we wanted her to learned Ukrainian well enough to become know that there are Ukrainians outside of a teacher of Ukrainian as a second lan- Ukraine who keep the traditions, lan- guage in the Washington-area School of guage and culture even in mixed-heritage Ukrainian Studies. couples. My husband is American, but he Mrs. Reuter’s guest in January was learns Ukrainian, already sings our liturgy Sofiya Lukyanchuk. “Although my father from memory, and tries to speak with our always speaks only in Ukrainian, I began son only in Ukrainian,” said Iryna to follow his example only two months Yasynska-Graves. before coming to the U.S., confessed Nadiya Rokytyanska confessed that Sofiya. “It seemed to me that I spoke Russian before, because I loved that lan- guage. However, when I was in the States, all the Ukrainian friends of the Reuters were surprised that in the Donbas people spoke Ukrainian so well. I under- stood then that, during all those years, despite having a mother tongue, I was using a foreign one. Now I do not want to be considered a Russified Ukrainian.” Each host family planned an ambitious agenda according to the preferences of their young guests. For example, Sofiya had an opportunity to study for a week at an American high school together with Melanie Reuter. The two girls are similar in age and both attend the ninth grade. “Most children from eastern Ukraine have never been in its western regions, and vice-versa, and that is why they are afraid of each other,” noted Natalya Olson, whose guest was Oleksander Marta L. Kowalczyk-Reuter bids fare- Vasiliev. “If only more Ukrainians saw well to Sofiya Lukyanchuk from how American people of different nation- Kramatorsk, Ukraine. alities and religions live alongside each 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

English version of “Bereza Kartuzka” documentary is released MONTREAL – The English-language commentaries by prominent historians version of the feature documentary film and scholars. Some camp survivors now “Bereza Kartuzka,” by award-winning live in Canada and the United States. Montreal filmmaker Yurij Luhovy, has Along with other former prisoners, they now been completed and released on speak out and many tell their story for the DVD. first time. “Bereza Kartuzka” tells the story of the Upon viewing the documentary, infamous Polish concentration camp in Canadian filmmaker Alec MacLeod which thousands of Ukrainian patriots called it “a remarkably compelling and were imprisoned between 1934 and 1939. little-known story about the suffering by The documentary recalls the political sit- western Ukrainians at the hands of the uation in western Ukraine under Polish Poles between the Wars.” occupation between the first and second Journalist Yaroslav Bihun of world wars. Washington, whose father was taken to The English version is narrated by well- Bereza Kartuzka, stated “Bereza is part of known Canadian filmmaker and writer Ukrainian, Polish and world history, and Paul Almond. Voiceovers are by Canadian should not be ignored or forgotten.” actor Lubomir Mykytiuk, known for his To arrange for a film screening readers television, film and stage appearances, and may contact [email protected]. writer Fran Ponomarenko. DVDs of “Bereza Kartuzaka” are avail- “Bereza Kartuzka” incorporates rare able by calling 514-481-5871 or online at footage of the concentration camp com- www.yluhovy.com. Price: $34.95 plus Actor Lubomir Mykytiuk (left) with film director Yurij Luhovy preparing for the pound, unique archival film material and shipping. English voice-over of “Bereza Kartuzka” in the sound booth.

talented dancers culinary expertise on- Travel to Ukraine... stage and distributed varenyky to a large (Continued from page 1) crowd of attendees. Discover Ukraine’s Print materials, like the the “Discover cultural program component included the Ukraine” brochure and “Discover Ukraine talented dancers of the Iskra Ukrainian Travel Guide,” promote numerous travel Dance Ensemble of Whippany, N.J. agencies, hotels and airlines involved in The Iskra Ukrainian Dance Academy Ukraine travel and are distributed to trav- was founded over 10 years ago as one of el show attendees. the studios of the late Roma Pryma Ukrainian cultural and culinary presen- Bohachevsky, a renowned teacher and tations are typically included by the choreographer. Iskra is currently under USUF at its travel events. Banner display the artistic direction of Andrij Cybyk, and stands advertise “Discover Ukraine … consists of over 80 students ranging in the unexpected” and illustrate beautiful age from 6 to 21. Under Mr. Cybyk’s sights of Ukraine. Hi-tech-computer mon- tutelage, the students learn and perform U.S.-Ukraine Foundation itors also display colorful sights of folk dances from various areas of Ukraine. Ukraine, always with careful attention to Volunteers and visitors at the Discover Ukraine booth at The New York Times The New York Times Travel Show, one ethnographic details in both costumes and Travel Show. of North America’s premier travel shows, choreography. attracting a unique global representation The USUF noted the interest and sup- of the world’s leading tourism markets, port of Serhii Pohoreltsev, consul general including Africa, Asia, Australia/the of Ukraine in New York, who visited the South Pacific, Canada, the Caribbean, Discover Ukraine booth at The New York Central America, Europe, Mexico, South Times Travel Show. America and the United States. Andriy Godovanets of the Voice of It is the fourth travel-related convention America also attended and filmed a por- in which the Discover Ukraine exhibit has tion of the Discover Ukraine activities. participated. Several weeks ago the exhibit U.S.-Ukraine Foundation staff and vol- was presented in Canada at Toronto’s unteers, including Mike Buryk, Stephan Ultimate Travel Show. The Canada Buryk, Ken Davis, Iryna Kurowyckyj, Ukraine Foundation was the sponsoring Nadia McConnell and Oksana Yakovenko, organization at the Toronto show. worked the exhibit over the course of The USUF will continue its interna- three days. tional exposure for Ukraine through Readers who wish to learn how to upcoming travel shows, notably the JATA participate in the U.S.-Ukraine presents World Tourism Congress and Travel Fair Foundation’s Discover Ukraine activi- in Tokyo during September. ties, may contact Ms. McConnell, presi- Pianist For the second year at The New York dent of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, via Times Travel Show, the Veselka telephone, 202-223-2228 or e-mail, ANGELINA GADELIYA Restaurant of New York City displayed [email protected].

Performing solo piano works of Brahms, Carter, Revutsky, Schumann & Scriabin

and the LVIV DUO SOLOMIYA IVAKHIV, violin MARIANNA HUMETSKA, piano Peforming works of Bartok, Kosenko and Ravel

Saturday, March 27 at 8 pm

Tickets: $30, UIA members and seniors $25, students $20.

The Ukrainian Institute of America 2 East 79th Street (corner of 5th Avenue) New York City 212-288-8660 www.ukrainianinstitute.org U.S.-Ukraine Foundation The Iskra Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Whippany, N.J. No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 13 A 50th birthday: Writer Yuri Andrukhovych, patriarch of Bu-Ba-Bu by Michael M. Naydan duced me to him, as well as to the poet Mr. Neborak. I bought an autographed UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – On March copy of Mr. Neborak’s ground-breaking 13, Yuri Andrukhovych, patriarch of collection “The Flying Head” then, which Bu-Ba-Bu, turns a fabulous 50. I eventually published in English transla- If you somehow happen to be unaware tion nearly a dozen years later. of the phenomenon of Bu-Ba-Bu (the first While our first encounter was pleasant syllables of the words meaning burlesque- but very brief at the Philharmonic, Yuri sideshow-buffoonery), it is the extraordi- and I were to meet in subsequent years narily popular and innovative avant-garde many times both in Ukraine and in the literary performance group that Mr. U.S. I later was to publish several of his Andrukhovych created in 1985 along poems and his novel “Perverzion” in my with the poet Viktor Neborak and the English translations. comedic writer Oleksander Irvanets. Yuri spent 10 months at my university The group helped to transform the (Penn State) in 2000-2001 on a Fulbright Ukrainian literary scene by attracting an Grant with his wife, Nina, and their two entirely new generation of young and then teenage children, Sophia and Taras. young-at-heart Ukrainians to a new Sophia herself has since become a prose Ukrainian literature that was free, inven- writer of note. Yuri was invaluable to me tive, wild and most of all – fun. both as a friend and as a helpful resource It was a literature that was linked to for me, and I would say that on occasion popular rock groups such as Plach he even acted as a co-conspirator in my Yeremiyi (Jeremiah’s Cry) and Mertvyi translation of his brilliant but extremely Yuri Andrukhovych in his home in Ivano-Frankivsk in March 2007. Piven (Dead Rooster), who turned works complicated novel Perverzion, which by the Bu-Ba-Bu writers into extremely came out in 2005 with Northwestern delivered invited lectures to the European (1993), “Perverzion” (1996), “Twelve popular songs, and to artists such as University Press. I document some of our Parliament and continues to be a thought- Rings” (2003) and the largely autobio- Yurko Kox, Volodya Kaufman and collaboration on the translation in my ful and articulate voice for the Ukrainian graphical “A Mystery: Instead of a Volodymyr Kostyrko, who took part in 2003 article published in Yale Journal of nation, although he would be the first to Novel” (2007). (“Recreations” is avail- multi-media performance-events, Criticism, “Translating a Novel’s Novelty: insist on his right to aesthetic freedom and able in Mark Pavlyshyn’s translation, designed book covers, penned illustra- Yuri Andrukhovych’s ‘Perverzion’ in to express what he feels he must write and “The Moscoviad” in Vitaly Chernetsky’s, tions and created paintings in a carnival- English.” say, to be a citizen of the world. and “Perverzion” in my translation. izing style that playfully interacted with Together with my actor friend Michael While some of the more conservative “The Moscoviad” is a biting satire of the works and irreverent attitude of Bernosky, Yuri and I also performed numer- elements in Ukrainian culture have criti- the last throes of the crumbling Soviet Bu-Ba-Bu. It was a literature of perfor- ous bilingual public readings of excerpts cized Mr. Andrukhovych for his use of empire as experienced by the Ukrainian mance for ever-increasing crowds of from the novel and his poetry throughout scatological language and candid depic- poet Otto von F. in its Moscow capital. admirers. Bu-Bu-Ba’s height of populari- the U.S. and Canada. We currently have tions of sex in his works, he has been able “Perverzion” to my mind remains the ty culminated in the Chrysler Imperial plans to create a CD of dramatic readings to help reinvigorate the Ukrainian literary most imaginative and brilliantly written multi-media “happening” at the Lviv from the novel in English with Yuri’s autho- language and to draw an extraordinary of his novels, though it is not particularly Opera House in 1992 staged by Mr. rial introductions and with improvisational amount of attention to Ukrainian litera- easy for the casual reader. It is also the Kaufman. musical accompaniment. This, we hope, ture and to bring it into dialogue with the most playful of his works, though it does The essence of Bu-Ba-Bu and the will help serve as a kind of guide for read- contemporary world. As many writers, deal with quite serious philosophical Bu-Ba-Bu generation was the expression ers to show them how to read the novel as a Yuri began as a poet. His poetry collec- questions such as good vs. evil, mortality of aesthetic freedom – freedom from performative text. tions include “The Sky and City Squares” and immortality, and love. When I teach oppressive government controls over the Mr. Andrukhovych has always promot- (1985), “Downtown” (1989), “Exotic the novel to students, I often compare its arts and literature, as well as freedom ed a Western, European orientation for Birds and Plants” (1991), “Exotic Birds inherent complexity and multiplicity of from having to conform to the conserva- Ukrainian literature, and has been an and Plants with ‘India’ Added” (1997) narrative voices to James Joyce’s tive Ukrainian literary past. The call was extraordinary ambassador for Ukrainian with imaginative illustrations by Yurko “Ulysses.” to reinvent, re-energize and modernize culture, traveling throughout Europe and Izdryk, and “Songs for a Dead Rooster” Yuri invariably links his transition from Ukrainian literature as something more becoming particularly popular in neigh- (2004). Many of his poems are even more universal that was attuned better to what poetry to prose by always depicting poets boring Poland and the German-speaking popular as songs, such as “The Griffin” as the main heroes of his novels. Bohdan was happening throughout the world. The countries. His excellent speaking skills in and “The Viper” by Plach Yeremiyi. call has been heeded and, in fact, has Ihor Antonych, for example, provides the Polish, German, Russian and English He also has translated into Ukrainian model for “Twelve Rings.” At times Mr. turned out to be greatly influential on allow him to communicate directly with the poems of American Beat and New other writers and the reading public in Andrukhovych even includes poems in his diverse audiences. Many of his writings York School poets that came out in the prose texts. The style of his writing is ele- Ukraine. have been translated into English, volume “The Day Lady Day Died” This writer has known Mr. gant and often times poetic. He has a pen- German, French, Italian, Czech, Russian, (2006). (Lady Day was the nickname for chant for using a great amount of irony, Andrukhovych for 17 years and I had Polish, Serbian, Bulgarian, Finnish and the prominent jazz singer Billie Holliday). read some of his works before we met. I parody, wit and verbal play in his writings. other languages. He also translated Shakespeare’s Hamlet These all comprise common characteristics first encountered him after a literary eve- The positive reception of Yuri and his into Ukrainian, which had great success ning at the Lviv Philharmonic during the of post-modernist writing. works can be attested to by his frequent on the Ukrainian stage and was published Mr. Andrukhovych has also made enor- World Congress of Ukrainian Studies in invitations to be a writer in residence in in 2008. Lviv in 1993. Oksana Zabuzhko intro- mous contributions to Ukrainian culture Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well Mr. Andrukhovych is perhaps best in the genre of the essay, focusing in large as by his numerous European literary priz- known as a prose writer and novelist. His part on Halychyna and the Austro- Dr. Michael M. Naydan is Woskob es, including the Herder Prize (2001), the first prose publications included a cycle Hungarian Empire, as well as on the Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies Erich Maria Remarque Prize (2005), the of realistic short stories on Soviet military return of Ukraine back to its European and professor of Slavic languages and Leipzig Book Fair Prize for European life, “To the Left Where the Heart Is” roots. His collections of essays include literatures at The Pennsylvania State Understanding (2006) and the Angelus (1989), which was followed by University. Prize (2006). Mr. Andrukhovych twice has “Recreations” (1992), “The Moscoviad” (Continued on page 18)

Yuri Andrukhovych with the members of Mertvyi Piven just before a book pre- On the streets of Lviv spring 1999 (from left): Viktor Neborak, Volodya Kaufman sentation and performance at Hnat Khotkevych Palace of Culture in Lviv in and Yuri Andrukhovych. April 2007. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11 No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 15 Dumka Chorus prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary by Helen Smindak Special to The Ukrainian Weekly NEW YORK – The sound of a mixed chorus singing a capella in Old Church Slavonic swelled to a crescendo, hushed to a whisper, then rose again, carrying the glori- ous notes of a sacred concerto by Dmytro Bortniansky through the lower halls of St. George Church in the East Village. Conductor Vasyl Hrechynsky lowered his hands, and the men and women of the 50-voice Dumka Chorus sat back in their chairs, enjoying a few moments of conver- sation before the conductor’s brisk handclap called them back to rehearsal mode. “Now let’s try [Andriy] Hnatyshyn’s kolomyika,” he called out. With tenors Oleh Kukil and Borys Kekish as soloists, the ensemble swung into the exuberant dance music of the Carpathian Mountains’ Hutsul region. It was a wintry Sunday afternoon, a time The Dumka Chorus of New York. when most people were enjoying a quiet family gathering, watching televised which he received a degree in choral con- Rehearsal for March 28 concert cal heritage. “We try to hold to that pur- ducting and choral music. He completed pose; sometimes we test our mettle on Olympic Games, or clearing snow-laden The march-tempo “Battle Hymn of the advanced studies in conducting at Moscow other music as well,” he noted. walks and driveways. For the members of Republic” received a stirring rendition as New York’s Ukrainian Chorus Dumka, it Conservatory and holds a master of music Besides Messrs. Kekish and Kukil and the practice session continued, contrast- was a four-hour span of practicing Ukrainian degree from Rider University’s Westminster Ms. Vashchenko, soloists include ing vividly with the reverential tones of folk songs, sacred music and excerpts from Choir College in New Jersey. Sviatoslava Kaczaraj, Ronald Liteplo, “Ave Maria,” beautifully sung by soprano operatic works, honing their voices in prepa- Mr. Hrechynsky continues a tradition of Mykola Lutsak and Ihor Stasiuk. Tamara Vashchenko with violin accompa- ration for a milestone event – Dumka’s 60th illustrious conductors who have served the Concertmeisters Larisa Gutnikevich and niment by Mr. Kukil. anniversary concert, scheduled for March 28 company from the time of its founding as a Natalia Vashchenko, both of whom studied During a short break, Mr. Hrechynsky at the prestigious Merkin Hall on the periph- male chorus in 1949 to the present: Leonty in Lviv, will provide piano accompaniment. chatted with me about the concert pro- ery of Lincoln Center. Krushelnycky, Alexander Bernyk, Appearing as guest artists, Lviv-born Preparing for this significant occasion, gram, which will spotlight various facets violinist Iryna Kit and pianist Sviatoslav Oleksander Mykytiuk, Ihor Sonevytsky, of Ukrainian culture, including folk songs two branches of the chorus came together to Ivan Zadorozny, Ivan Zukowsky and Demochko, a native of Zbarazh, Ukraine, blend voices as a single unit. New Jersey like Stanislav Liudkevych’s “As the Night will perform the composition “Melody” Semen Komirny. (Mr. Komirny led the cho- Embraces Me” and Mykola Leontovych’s members, who meet for Wednesday night rus for 17 years.) from the movie “The High Pass,” a Soviet rehearsals at the Ukrainian Orthodox “Oh, Grey Cuckoo,” a work to be offered film about Ukrainians fighting for Cultural Center in South Bound Brook, N.J., An impressive record by the women’s chorus. The cherished Ukraine’s independence who are por- poetry of Ukraine’s national bard, Taras joined the main force, which gathers for Since its transformation to a mixed cho- trayed as bandits. Shevchenko, will be heard in two selec- Ms. Kit, 19, a senior at LaGuardia rehearsals on Friday evenings at the spa- rus in 1959, Dumka has racked up a highly tions: his exalted “Dumy Moyi,” with High School of Music, Art and cious Dumka quarters in the St. George impressive performance record, including music by Mykola Kolessa, and “The Performing Arts and a member of Ukrainian Catholic Church complex. appearances at New York City’s venerable Dnipro River Roars,” set to music by Kaufman Center’s Young Artist Program, St. Patrick’s Catheral and Carnegie Hall, the Music and camaraderie Denys Sichynsky. often appears as soloist with New York John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, and As singers mingled around a food-laden “We’re also doing the unforgettable City chamber groups. Mr. Demochko, 15, the Garden State Arts Center in New Jersey. ‘Va Pensiero,’ the chorus of the Hebrew also a member of the Young Artist buffet table during a refreshing luncheon The chorus has also performed in Detroit, break, brothers Ronald and Paul Liteplo said slaves from Verdi’s opera ‘Nabucco,’ ” he Program, who has appeared at Merkin Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto and that a gratifying combination of music and said, “and the finale from Lysenko’s Hall, the Ann Goodman Recital and other Montreal. camaraderie has kept them in Dumka’s Cantata “Rejoice, Ye Unwatered Field.” venues, will give a solo performance of Observing its 35th anniversary with a ranks for over 20 years – and they don’t plan Folk songs will include Anatol Kos- “Dumka-Shumka,” Lysenko’s second European concert tour in 1985, Dumka gave to retire just yet. Anatolsky’s “Oh, My Beloved,” set to the rhapsody on Ukrainian themes. Baritone Volodymyr Kornaha, a member performances in England, Austria, Germany poetry of Ivan Franko, and two works of Dumka executive members see the of the choir of Holy Cross Ukrainian and France. Three years later, for the cele- Yevhen Kozak – his exciting “Fantasy on young artists as the future of Ukrainian Catholic Church in Astoria, Queens, bration of the Millennium of Ukrainian Ukrainian Folk songs” and the enchant- music who will continue to preserve the declared “I absolutely love singing,” to Christianity, the chorus presented concerts ing song “The Shepherd.” Ukrainian musical heritage. explain why he’s been attending Dumka of Ukrainian religious music in leading cit- “Nineteen years is a significant por- The 60th anniversary celebration is rehearsals and performances without pause, ies in England, Germany and France. tion of Dumka’s history,” Mr. Hrechynsky organized by Ronald and Paul Liteplo also for more than 20 years, like 18 other Dumka’s crowning achievement came in said. “Those years have been filled with and Mr. Jadlicky, assisted by Mr. Kekish chorus members who have dedicated more 1990, when the chorus gave its first perfor- different repertoires and programs. and executive board members Alexandra than two decades of service to Dumka. mances in Ukraine, appearing before cheer- What’s most important are the members, Jablonskyj, Larissa Lawrynenko, Svitlana “Most of our members sing in church ing audiences in Kyiv, Lviv and Poltava. who decided to cultivate Ukrainian music Makhno, Roxolana Podpirka, George choirs,” said Ihor Jadlicky, former Dumka The chorus performs at summer festivals in the U.S.” Semeniuk and Mr. Kornaha. president. “The men and women who at the Ukrainian National Association’s Mr. Kekish, who heads the chorus’s Concert tickets may be purchased in belong to our chorus come from New York Soyuzivka resort, and presents Christmas executive board, said Dumka’s founders advance exclusively through Merkin Hall City’s five boroughs, from towns in New concerts in January at Ukrainian churches in were intent on preserving and cultivating at 212-501-3330, or at the box office on Jersey, and even from as far away as the Greater New York and New Jersey area. Ukraine’s rich secular and religious musi- the day of the performance. Yonkers and Tarrytown north of New York, as well as Connecticut. Many of them spend countless hours to get to a rehearsal, and just as long to return home – but their commit- ment to Dumka is unshakeable.” He said some of Dumka’s male members gained their early vocal training with the Young Dumka Chorus, which was active in the 1950s. Mr. Hrechynsky, who has served as Dumka’s conductor and music director for 19 years, is seen as the linchpin that keeps the chorus on track and in perfect pitch. A quiet-mannered man who (according to his flock) turns into a “very demanding conduc- tor because his standards are extremely high,” he is greatly admired by the choristers for his professionalism and deep commit- ment to Ukrainian music. Before coming to New York in 1991, Mr. Hrechynsky was choirmaster of the Lviv Theater of Opera and Ballet, conductor of several Lviv choirs, and an instructor of conducting at Lviv Conservatory, from Violinist Iryna Kit. Pianist Sviatoslav Demochko. Conductor Vasyl Hrechynsky. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

conscious one, and said that Bandera and political grounds with a majority of national to consider and produce a verdict on the NEWSBRIEFS Roman Shukhevych had brought Ukraine deputies of the constitutional composition of legality of the coalition and government, (Continued from page 2) closer to its independence, so, in his opinion, the Verkhovna Rada.” At the same time, a being formed amid new conditions, as issue “was only starting” for the European they were heroes. (Interfax-Ukraine) motion concerning the formation of a coali- soon as possible. The ambassadors also tion with deputies’ factions was removed pointed out that Ukraine’s partners need Parliament, and he thanked the regional Rada OKs new way to form coalition councils of Ukraine’s western regions, from the Verkhovna Rada regulations. A stability; President Yanukovych empha- which asked the European Parliament to KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on March coalition agreement on the creation of the sized the Ukrainian nation also needs sta- cancel a clause of its resolution on Bandera. 9 amended Article 61 of Ukraine’s Law on parliamentary majority will be attached with bility. That, he said, is the main prerequi- He added said that, in passing such a clause the Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada, giv- a list of national deputies who enter the site for successful introduction of changes of the resolution on the situation in Ukraine, ing the go-ahead to the formation of a coali- coalition. The time periods for the formation and reforms. Therefore, he stressed, it is there was “an active side that initiated and tion by not only factions, but also by indi- of a coalition remain unchanged: a coalition important to quickly form an effective [provoked] them [members of the European vidual national deputies. A total of 235 dep- must be formed within a month after the day and professional government. The foreign Parliament] in every way possible,” but he uties voted in favor of the change. According of the first meeting of the newly elected diplomats said the international commu- declined to specify who that was. Mr. to the amendment, a coalition is “a union of Verkhovna Rada, or within a month after the nity is ready to cooperate with Ukraine’s Yushchenko described his decision to award deputies’ factions, national deputies formed day of the break-up of a previous coalition. new leadership in order to achieve stabili- the Hero of Ukraine title to Bandera as a on the basis of election returns and common It is foreseen that the Party of Regions ty and implementation of reforms. intends to form a coalition with the (Ukrinform) Communist Party of Ukraine and the Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc. (Ukrinform) Tymoshenko declared opposition leader CLASSSSIFIEDSS Yanukovych signs Rada regulations law KYIV – The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, CLA IFIED (YTB), the People’s Movement of TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych Ukraine (Rukh), the Christian Democratic met leaders of the parliamentary factions Union (CDU), the Party of the Defenders or e-mail [email protected] on March 10, the presidential press service of the Fatherland (PDF) and the public reported. He stated: “It is necessary to find movement People’s Self-Defense (PSD) SERVICES a political will to create a majority in the formed an opposition at a March 9 rally Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. And the in Kyiv. Participants in the meeting dedi- Ukrainian community and our world part- cated to the 196th anniversary of Taras ners expect political stability in our state. Shevchenko’s birth elected Yulia That is why I ask you to decide.” After the Tymoshenko a leader of the united demo- discussion, which also involved Verkhovna cratic opposition. (Ukrinform) Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Tymoshenko on partnership with U.S. president signed the Law on Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and KYIV – Meeting on February 25 with reiterated the importance of early forma- Gen. James L. Jones, national security tion of a parliamentary majority and effec- advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama, tive government. (Ukrinform) Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said she will maintain the Tigipko comments on rules change strategic partnership with the United States KYIV – Changing the way a parliamen- irrespective of her further political activity tary coalition is formed is a political raider – either as a government official or as an attack, said Sergei Tigipko, who came in oppositionist. Gen. Jones was in Kyiv to third in the first round of the presidential attend President Viktor Yanukovych’s elections. Speaking in a March 5 interview swearing-in ceremony. “I would like all with the TBi channel, he was commenting achievements between our states to be on the adoption in its first reading of the continued regardless of whether I and my amendments to the Verkhovna Rada’s reg- team are in office or in opposition. We will ulations. “This is going to be a colossal always maintain the strategic partnership,” mistake of Yanukovych, too, should he Ms. Tymoshenko stated, adding that the sign this law, as well as of the majority and Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership Charter the Party of Regions, if they resort to this, and the Road Map for Cooperation are key because this is a direct violation of the instruments for efficient cooperation. Constitution,” Mr. Tigipko said. “Not a (Ukrinform) single fair person will support this authori- PROFESSIONALS Azarov is acting head of PRU faction ty, which means no real changes will be made, because reforms take the support of KYIV – Party of Regions National the public. And if they [politicians] do so, Deputy Mykola Azarov was appointed they will immediately lose the support of acting chairman of the party faction in the TRAVEL the West, Western investors. I mean the Parliament, Oleksander Yefremov, the International Monetary Fund and the deputy head of the PRU faction, said on World Bank, and then we will have a weak March 1. “As Viktor Yanukovych took hryvnia and other aftereffects,” he added. office, he is not entitled to combine jobs, “This will practically be a political raider so Mykola Azarov will hold this post attack.” Mr. Tigipko predicted a powerful until the party rally,” Mr. Yefremov consolidation of democratic forces against explained. Mr. Yefremov also added that President Yanukovych, the Party of the Party of Regions had not yet decided Regions and the majority coalition in the on the date of the rally, which is to elect a Verkhovna Rada. The way out of the situa- party leader and head of the party faction. Irene D. Rogutsky, D.D.S. tion, he suggested, are early parliamentary (Ukrinform) elections and a new Parliament, “which Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry Lytvyn: Rada will back consortium Invisalign Premier Provider will create a legitimate coalition and will not be afraid of making unpopular KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman 29 West 57th Street reforms.” He added, “A stable majority is Volodymyr Lytvyn said he is confident New York, NY 10019 possible only through new parliamentary that all political forces will support the 212-947-1665 elections.” (Ukrinform) creation of a gas transit consortium [email protected] Yanukovych meets G-8, EU ambassadors involving Ukraine, Russia and Europe on a parity basis. Speaking live on the Inter KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych TV Channel on March 9, he said: “If the FOR SALE on March 10 met with ambassadors to matter concerns a gas transit consor- Ukraine from the Group of Eight and the tium,... so that resources of every state European Union in order to inform them are invested proportionally, I am sure that Morris Twp, NJ about the process of forming a parliamen- MERCHANDISE both Our Ukraine and the Yulia 4 Bdrm, 3 Full bath HOME tary coalition and a new government, as Tymoshenko Bloc and all other political Gourmet kitchen, Park-like setting, well as share his vision of possible sce- forces will back such an approach. Patriot’s Path Close to NYC trains & Ukr Cultural Ctr. narios of political developments in Moreover, Ukrainian society will accept Whippany, NJ. Contact 973-727-3950 Ukraine. In turn, the ambassadors dis- this easily.” He said that, when such a closed their views on recent develop- consortium is set up, Ukraine must get ments in Ukraine. The diplomats wel- access to the development and use of gas comed the fact that President Yanukovych fields in Russia, as well as financial and Insure and be sure. met with them before signing the amend- technological support from the European ed Law on Regulations of the Verkhovna Union. According to Mr. Lytvyn, if such Rada of Ukraine. They also stressed the an agreement includes those provisions, Join the UNA! importance of Mr. Yanukovych’s decision its creation would not face criticism in to go to the Constitutional Court asking it Ukraine. (Ukrinform) No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 17

Ukrainian community of the United Kingdom. 1998 he was elected general secretary of the Ukrainian Obituaries... In 2007, with the support of the National Academy of World Congress (UWC). (Continued from page 4) Sciences of Ukraine, a volume of Ms. Rich’s translation As a UWC officer, from 1998 through 2008 he visited among others – 47 Ukrainian writers in all, according to the of selected Shevchenko works (with a foreword by Ivan Ukrainian communities around the globe and participat- Financial Times. Dzyuba), was published in Ukraine. ed in numerous international forums and conferences. Ms. Rich was the also author of several collections of As noted in the Financial Times, at the time of her He was the UWC representative to the Kyiv-based her own poetry, most notably “Outlines” (1960) and death Ms. Rich was working on completing a translation Ukrainian World Coordinating Council and he headed a “Portents and Images” (1964). of Shevchenko’s “Kobzar” in time for the 150th anniver- mission of election observers in Ukraine. She was born on April 24, 1936, in London as Faith sary of the poet’s death, which will be marked in 2011. The Ukrainian World Congress noted that Mr. Elizabeth Joan. An obituary in the Financial Times report- Pedenko “worked tirelessly throughout his life for the ed that she came into contact with post-World War II good of Ukraine and all things Ukrainian.” In recogni- Ukrainian refugees who settled in Britain through her tion of his work, he was received many awards. mother’s work with the Red Cross. From a young age, she Victor Pedenko, 72, officer In August 2009, the Ukrainian World Congress hon- translated Ukrainian and Belarusian works into English. ored Mr. Pedenko for his many years of exemplary ser- She studied at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, in of Ukrainian World Congress vice by presenting him its highest honor: the Medal of 1955-1957 and then at Bedford College in London in St. Volodymyr the Great. Mr. Pedenko was also honored by Ukraine, receiving the Order of Prince Yaroslav the 1958-1961. LONDON, Ontario – Victor Pedenko, former general Her first published translation, in 1957, was of the pro- Wise (third degree); by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church secretary of the Ukrainian World Congress, died on – Kyiv Patriarchate, being awarded the Order of Prince log to Franko’s poem “Moses.” In 1997, on the 40th anni- November 29, 2009. He was 72. versary of that publication, she was honored by the Volodymyr the Great (third degree); and by the He was born in 1937 in the Donetsk region of Ukrainian Writers Union with the Ivan Franko Prize. Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which awarded him the She was best known for “Song Out of Darkness,” a col- Ukraine. Taras Shevchenko Medal. lection of her translations of Shevchenko’s most signifi- In Canada, he was active in diverse Ukrainian communi- Surviving are Mr. Pedenko’s wife, Halyna, as well as cant poems that was released in London in 1961 on the ty organizations, and he held leadership positions in the their children and grandchildren. occasion of the centennial of the poet’s death. Ukrainian Youth Association It is an excerpt from Ms. Rich’s translation of “The of Canada, the Organization Caucasus” that appears on the monument to Shevchenko of Democratic Ukrainian erected in Washington in 1964. Youth of London, Ontario, Ms. Rich was known also as a human right activist who and the Ukrainian Canadian supported the activity of Solidarity in Poland and wrote Congress, Toronto branch. about Soviet abuse of psychiatry, including the case of Mr. Pedenko began his Ukrainian political prisoner Leonid Plyushch. work with the Ukrainian After Ukraine re-established its independence, Ms. World Congress (then know Rich traveled there regularly. In 2007 she was awarded as the World Congress of the state Order of Princess Olha for her contributions to Free Ukrainians) in 1976 as Fifth Anniversary Ukrainian culture. a member of its plenum and Since 2006, Ms. Rich was a contributor to Ukrainska on the World Educational Dr Wasyl Kostrubiak departed to God March 15 of 2005. Dumka/Ukrainian Thought, a newspaper serving the Coordinating Council. In He will be always remembered dearly by his wife, Regina.

Prayers for the rest of his soul, are requested by his family members in Ukraine, the United States and Spain.

The mass for the eternal rest of his soul will be celebrated at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Oviedo (Spain), on Sunday, March 14, 2010.

Death announcements

Deadline: Tuesday noon before the newspaper’s date of issue. Rate: $7.50 per column-inch. Telephone 973-292-9800, ext. 3040; e-mail, [email protected]. Please include the daytime phone number of a contact person. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE “Ridna Shkola” in Houston honors Taras Shevchenko

HOUSTON – Houston’s School of Ukrainian Studies (“Ridna Shkola”) and the Ukrainian community in Houston, honored Ukraine’s national bard, Taras Shevchenko, with a short program on Sunday, March 7, at the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church’s parish hall in Houston. The director of Ridna Shkola, Vasyl Dijak, opened the program with a brief his- tory about Taras Shevchenko and pre- sented a slide show of Shevchenko’s art. Students (seen on the right) took turns reciting poetry written by the revered bard. Guitarist Roman Cherwonogrodsky performed four songs written to words by Shevchenko and the program closed with the Rev. Mykola Dovzhuk commenting on the many talents of Shevchenko and his recognition around the world. A pot luck luncheon followed and was enjoyed by all in attendance. – Martha Noukas

Askold Melnyczyuk’s editorship. www.potyah76.org.ua), writes countless generous and a promoter of other younger A 50th birthday... A selected works edition of Mr. articles for the Ukrainian and European Ukrainian authors who seek out his coun- (Continued from page 13) Andrukhovych’s early works was recently press, and at times performs live with the sel. He and the other writers of his gener- “Disorientation in Locality” (1999), “My published by Piramida Publishers in Lviv Wroclaw-based experimental jazz band ation who have learned the languages of Europe” (with Polish writer Andrzej under the title “My Final Territory. Karbido. One of his most recent multime- Europe have become great emissaries for Stasiuk; 2001) and “The Devil is Hiding Selected Works: Poetry, Prose and Essays” dia releases is a CD titled “Criminal Ukraine and its culture, much more so in the Cheese” (2006). I published an (2009). Mr. Andrukhovych is currently Sonnets” (2008), which consists of Mr. than any of Ukraine’s insular politicians. English translation of one of his quite working on a book-length collection of his Andrukhovych reading poems accompa- He is truly the phenomenon of thought-provoking longer philosophical essays on 111 cities of the world. nied by Mertvyi Piven with its lead sing- Stanislaviv (the older name of his home essays under the title “Within Time, In addition to these aforementioned lit- er, Mykhailo Barbara, as lead vocal. town of Ivano-Frankivsk) and, of course, Yuri Andrukhovych has done much to the central figure in the so-designated Down a River” in issue No. 52 of the lit- erary activities, he edits the Internet jour- transform the image of the Ukrainian Stanislaviv Phenomenon, the group of erary journal AGNI when it was under nal of literature and ideas Train-76 (http:// writer and intellectual into someone cool truly outstanding writers, who have and hip, someone who experiences life to emerged from that particular hotbed of the fullest, someone who can be emulated creativity in Ukraine. On his 50th birth- and respected, someone who represents day we wish him continued great success an articulate voice on an equal footing and inspiration. May the Muses always with any other intellectual voices in the be kind to him, and may he repay them world community. He is also incredibly with many more of his fine works.

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COMMUNITY CHRONICLE St. Nicholas open house attracts new families CHICAGO – It was Open House day its disciplined, focused environment. at St. Nicholas Cathedral School in Many local families arrived for the Chicago on Sunday, January 31. open house, speaking with teachers, tour- A lot of effort had been made by parents ing classrooms and seeing the work of the and students to let family and friends know students, including submissions to the about the success of this community recent Science Fair. They also heard the jewel. Postcards were distributed in churches school’s talented choir perform Christmas promoting the academic success of the carols in several languages. school, its excellent record in graduate accep- Visitors commented on the knowledge tances at top local high schools, its dedica- and manners of the students and the tion to the Byzantine Catholic tradition, and enthusiasm and dedication of the faculty.

The school choir performs for open house attendees.

Kindergarten teacher Christine DiCosola explains her program. A view of the Science Fair projects.

Many talented people were responsible Krywusha, organized a group of volun- Western Union also presented a check Winter events for the performance’s success including teers who decorated every possible corner to the UECC for $5,000 for its English Vira Hubitska (scriptwriter), Oksana of the UECC. Language Program. This money funds the Hladio (director) and Maria Kaminska The annual Christmas Bazaar was held free English as a Second Language at Philadelphia (musical director). on Saturday, December 12, 2009. Guests Program (Levels I and II), which current- The Philadelphia branch of New couldn’t help wandering into the food ly has 47 students and meets on Monday area’s UECC Ukrainian Wave, founded in November court area off the main hall and sitting and Tuesday nights. 2008, became a member of the Ukrainian down to eat – the space was filled with Guests to the bazaar were entertained by Andrea Zharovsky Educational and Cultural Center in smells of borsch, varenyky, holubtsi, with a program that included the chil- February 2009. Nadya Petrik, president potato pancakes, kovbasa and kapusta. JENKINTOWN, Pa. – The Ukrainian dren’s choir of the Ukrainian Heritage of the Philadelphia branch, announced The upstairs “Khatynka” in the gallery School, the Vyshyvanka Quintet, the chil- Educational and Cultural Center, along that members of NUW had decided to had a small kitchen, reinvented as a typi- with co-sponsor New Ukrainian Wave dren of Svitlychka, members of the form a small drama troupe and that the cal Ukrainian village home and decorated Ukrainian American Youth Association, (NUW), invited the community on first official performance of the group to invoke memories of another time. As January 24 to celebrate one of the most the children’s choir of the Ukrainian would be during the Taras Shevchenko the head “hospodynia,” Ms. Krywusha Music Institute and a special appearance interesting Ukrainian holy days – the concert to be held in March at the UECC. tempted all with handmade canapés, pick- night before the old New Year. This cele- by St. Nicholas. There were also raffles In December 2009, the UECC had wel- led herring and shots of horilka. by Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization bration comes from ancient, pre-Christian comed winter and its beautiful Ukrainian The bazaar featured 35 vendors with customs and pays homage to St. Melania and MB Financial. Christmas traditions, as a group of UECC wares ranging from holiday crafts, jewel- The UECC greeted New Year’s on in particular. volunteers found time to make the ry, pysanky, Ukrainian holiday cards, fine On this night in Ukraine, carolers tra- Thursday, December 31, 2009, in the Christmas season special for the art and hand-embroidered items to cloth- main hall with 200 guests dancing to the ditionally went from house to house play- Ukrainian community. ing, scarves, t-shirts, DVDs, CDs and ing pranks or acting out a small play, with music of Fata Morgana. With the hall ele- The UECC physically was transformed books. Western Union supported the gantly dressed and sparkling with lights, a bachelor dressed in women’s clothing through decorations, as the Beautification bazaar with a raffle and prizes for UECC leading the troupe. Committee, chaired by Laryssa guests. (Continued on page 24) The event at the UECC began with a blessing by the Rev. Volodymyr Kostyuk of St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church and a community meal featuring the main dishes at Christmastime in Ukraine: borsch, vare- nyky, holubtsi, mushroom gravy, uzvar and kutia. Guests began the meal with a sip of blessed water. After the meal, guests were invited to a traditional Ukrainian home. The stage was transformed into that home with dec- orative kylyms, an old wood stove and embroidered ritual cloths. The theatrical performance, titled “Z Novym Rokom, Z Novym Schastiam…” (With the New Year, New Fortune…), featured humor- ous interpretative skits about St. Melania, the New Year and Schedryi Vechir. Thirty members of NUW’s Philadelphia branch, dressed in colorful costumes from every region of Ukraine, The New Ukrainian Wave Theater Ensemble with Borys Pawluk (far right), president of the Ukrainian Educational and took part in the performance on stage. Cultural Center. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

its devastating economic crisis. He’s keen 50 members. President... to restart talks with the International Branch 13... Bratstvo President Tysiak welcomed (Continued from page 3) Monetary Fund, which last year froze a (Continued from page 5) the new members as part of a broader tion would remain a priority. $16.4 billion bailout. officers are: President Slavko Tysiak, effort to grow membership and revise the “Our priorities will include integration But as he also recalibrates Kyiv’s for- Alternate President Peter Urban, Secretary organization’s mission and by-laws to reflect contemporary values. Vasyl into the European Union,” he said, eign policy, both Russia and the West are Taras Myshchuk, Alternate John Zendran, waiting to find out just how far east he Treasurer John Suchowacki, Alternate Hayvanovych, who is steering the “bringing up friendly and constructive By-laws Revision Committee, said he believes the balance lies for Ukraine’s Treasurer Michael Zavisky, Visitation relations with the Russian Federation, expects that very important project to be national interests. Committee member: Andrij Demczar, developing friendly relations with the completed in the coming year. Bohdan Bilica, Sam Ksenych and Stefan neighboring partners, and strategic part- Copyright 2010, RFE/RL Inc. In addition, at the yearly meeting of Gebuza, Auditing Committee members: ners like the United States of America, Reprinted with the permission of Radio Branch 13, eligible UNA members elect- and getting back on track our relations Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 John Urusky, Andrij Demczar and ed Mr. Suchowacki as a delegate and Mr. with the International Monetary Fund and Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC Olexsander Serdyuk, along with UNA Myshchuk as an alternate to the 37th other international financial organiza- 20036; www.rferl.org. (See http://www. Branch 13 Secretary Mykola Fil. UNA Convention to be held at Soyuzivka tions.” rferl.org/content/Ukrainian_President_ One of the highlights of the yearly on May 20-23. Mr. Yankovych’s most pressing task Yanukovych_Visits_Russia/1975007. meeting was the acceptance of five new Bratstvo President Tysiak, who serves remains at home: to pull Ukraine out of html/) members into the Bratstvo. They are: as chairman of UNA’s Auditing Peter Fil, John Fil Jr., Roman Povoroznyk, Committee, and UNA Branch 13 Boris Matviyiv and Victor Secretary Fil, who is a UNA advisor, will The family of Julian Kotlar would like to thank everyone for their generous donation Holovashchenko. The Bratstvo now totals also be attending the UNA Convention. In Memory of Julian “Levko” Kotlar

Born on July 4, 1924 in Dudynce, Lemkivschyna, Julian Russia’s shadow did not loom over Mr. “Levko” Kotlar died on October 17, 2009 in Clifton, New Brussels ready... Yanukovych’s Brussels visit. The EU takes Jersey, USA. He was a soldier in the Ukrainian Insurgent (Continued from page 3) the position that the resumption of Army – UPA, Tactical Sector “Danyliv” under Commander future. Significantly, European Parliament Ukrainian-Russian partner relations (as Volodymyr Sorochak “Voron”-“Berkut” and in recent years members who had earlier invested high Mr. Yanukovych formulates this goal) is was head of the Former Members of the Ukrainian hopes in the Orange project are ready to also in the EU’s interest. Mr. Yanukovych Insurgent Army (OKV-UPA) in the United States and work with Mr. Yanukovych after the final welcomes this thesis because it does not Canada, head of publishing for the Litopys UPA Orange collapse. require Ukraine to make stark choices (Chronicles of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army) and member Mr. Yanukovych told Brussels that he between Moscow and Brussels. of various Ukrainian community organizations such as the would adhere to the March 2009 agree- Such flexibility, however, will only be UNA, Branch 42, Passaic, NJ, Organization for the ment with the EU on modernizing sustainable if Russia does not make exces- Defense of Lemkivschyna, Self Reliance Federal Credit Ukraine’s gas transit system (EUObserver, sive demands on Ukraine (or Kyiv does Union, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Passaic. March 1). The outgoing government under not offer pre-emptive concessions to He was interred at the UPA memorial section in St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Cemetery, South Yulia Tymoshenko had entered into that Moscow, as Mr. Yanukovych signaled Bound Brook, NJ. agreement. By contrast, Mr. Yanukovych from electoral calculations during the cam- Litopys UPA campaigned on a promise to include paign). If Moscow does, however, start $1000 Daughters of Julian Kotlar: Nadia Dubanowitz & Family, Christina Kotlar, Petrusia Russia’s Gazprom in a consortium to oper- posing major demands, the new Ukrainian Paslawsky & Family, Lesia Kozicky & Family ate Ukraine’s system. He seemed noncom- president and his Party of Regions will $500 Ukrainian National Home, Passaic, NJ mittal about this issue while in Brussels. need to make some stark choices; and the $200 Michael Kowalczyn, Self Reliance Federal Credit Union of New Jersey and Self Regarding NATO, Mr. Yanukovych EU will need to support European choices Reliance Federal Credit Union Clifton, NJ Branch merely stated that he would continue the in Kyiv. $125 Natalie and Frank Salek existing programs, without expanding $100 Volodymyr Sorochak, Michael and Anna Migus, Roman and Anna Bajlak, Walter these, at least for the time being (UNIAN, The article above is reprinted from and Anna Kozicky, Dr. Peter and Lilia Kozicky, Dr. Orest and Maria Kozicky, March 1). That current level, however, Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission Organization for the Defense of Lemko Western Ukraine, Organization for the Defense compares unfavorably with the pre-Orange from its publisher, the Jamestown of Lemkivschyna Branch 3, Passaic, NJ; Lemko Research Foundation, Orest and Daria years. Foundation, www.jamestown.org. Temnycky, Mary Romancio, Roman Yasinsky, James Russo, Lida Prokop, Anna Ortynskyj and Jurij Rybak, Eugene and Natalia Luciw, Dr. and Mrs. Michael Lewko, Bohdan and Lida Kramarchuk, Andriy and Daria Horbachevsky, Larysa Dyrszka, Dr. In addition to the university libraries, George and Christine Demidowich, John Olijarczyk, Natalie Newmerzhycky Ambassador... Kyiv Mohyla Academy initiated the nation- $60 Tom Kotlar (Continued from page 4) wide Electronic Library of Ukraine project $50 Dmitriy and Maria Wozniak, Stephan Welhasch and Maria Proskurenko, Robert and members of the university, but the university (ELibUkr), which includes infrastructure Marta Torielli, Volodymyr and Melania Temnycky, Maria Szpynda and Nancy Zakotiria, allows all visitors to use the collections. and access to many of the world’s academic Roman and Joanna Swyntuch, Neonila Sochan, Ihor Shevchuk, Marta and Andy The Kyiv Mohyla Library is acknowl- databases for Ukraine’s universities – a proj- Shevchik, Lubko and Lesia Shchur, Ron Doll and Irene Sawchyn, Russ and Karen edged as the country’s leader in library ect that, it is hoped, the government of Chelak, Robert and Maria Sawchuk, Myron and Slawka Perich, Vera Mykolenko, reforms, introducing contemporary library Ukraine will finance for the good of the Michael Mulyk, Teodor and Erika Moskal, Michael Mimeli, Diana Mandicz, Roman Mac, management systems and the “novel” prin- country, as governments of other countries Zinaida Lewycky, William Lewycky, Lydia Lewycky, Myron and Tracey Kuzemczak, ciple of information-sharing that is inclusive do. Janyk and Basia Kuzemczak, Roman and Maria Kudela, Jan and Marta Krzywucki, in contrast to the traditional Soviet orienta- To date the E-Library project has estab- Tatiana Yasinsky, Bohdan Kowalyk, Irene Kotlar, Ihor and Antonina Kotlar, George and tion of information-guarding. With the lead- lished the technical and management infra- Wieslawa Kotlar, Peter and Oksana Korduba, Jaroslaw Kiciuk, Myroslaw and Martha ership of library director and university structure and services Kyiv-Mohyla Kachala, Camilla Huk, Oksana Hnatczuk, Kenneth Graves and Iryna Yasinska Graves, Vice-President Tetiana Yaroshenko, univer- Academy, the national universities of Steven and Maria Duplak, Oleh and Anna Denysyk, Tom and Olia Debruin, John and sity librarians participate in international Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Volyn, Donetsk, Sumy Lisa Bybel, Andrew and Valerie Burachinsky, Eugene and Zenia Brozyna, Wolodymyr conferences and lead continuous training and the Sumy National Academy of and Maria Uzdejczuk, Myron Daszko seminars and conferences for all the univer- Banking. The E-Library consortium of uni- $40 Markian Kolinsky, Theodore Kutzy, Brian and Irene Hreyo, Andriy and Dzvinka sities of Ukraine. versities is expanding and all universities are Burchak, welcomed to join. $30 Oksana Trytjak $25 Myron and Larissa Prawak, Bill and Chris Szpynda, Bohdan and Lida Moczula, Maruszczak Family, Teodor and Oksana Bodnar, Lesia Yaworski, Tom and Cathy request was made that activities in and Kanarsky, Michael and Oksana Tomaszewsky, Kateryna Laluk, Osyp Nazarenko, Olia Branch 173... around Wilmington, Del., continue to be Chervinsky, Mr. amd Mrs. Stefan Adamczuk, Mrs. Lyko (Continued from page 5) publicized in both publications. $20 Kateryna Seweryn, Alexander and Nadia Seweryn, Elaine Puzio, Walter and Lecia The meeting was concluded in a very Peltyszyn, Charles and Elaine Parodi, Antin and Irene Mykych, Mary Marsch, Cathy N.J., and the construction of a church in positive manner, with the realization that Kotlar and Mark Rutella, John Kosciolek, Mr. and Mrs. Karlicki, Peter Hula, Mr. and Mrs. Ukraine – all actions sponsored by mem- the UNA is in a better position financial- Rostyslaw Halaburda, Walter Hac, Helen Fedoriw, Maria Danylchuk, Irena Bilewicz, Olia bers of UNA Branch 173. A specific ly than a number of other fraternals. Zahnijnyj, Mrs. Nahorna, Mr. and Mrs. Teodor Kowalyk, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gres Friends of UPA $50 Paul and Olga Moncavage, Charles and Gail Dombeck resolutions adopted in 1992-1993 remain $30 John and Helen Henkel Yanukovych's... in place. These annulled the 1954 transfer $20 Nicholas and Jaroslawa Hordynsky, Roberta Holmes, Emil and Barbara Andrusko (Continued from page 2) of Crimea from the Russian Soviet Ukrainian Museum supporting the Russian “diaspora” in the Federative Socialist Republic to the former Soviet Union. Ukrainian SSR and questioned the “legali- $100 Taras and Olga Hunczak ty” of Ukrainian sovereignty over President Yanukovych has a constitu- LEMKIVSCHYNA Quarterly Journal Press Fund Sevastopol (Ukrayinska Pravda, January tional right to recognize foreign territories $50 Stefan Howansky, Ivan Zawada, Maria and Stefan Duplak 26). and, therefore, could follow through on his $25 Zenon Halkowycz, Myron Mycio, Stefan Maczuszak $20 Zenon Wojtowycz, Wolodymyr Blazejowskyj, Wasyl Harhaj, Teodor and Maria Pyz, party’s support in 2008 for South Ossetian The article above is reprinted from Pavlo Hura, Petro Wislocki, Anna Wojtowycz, Stefan Kosciolek and Abkhazian independence. Before tak- Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission $10 Wasyl Panchak, Petro Lukachyn ing this step, Mr. Yanukovych should be from its publisher, the Jamestown made aware that Russian parliamentary Foundation, www.jamestown.org. No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 21 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11 No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 23

Kinderhook is back Annual SUSTA conference Band to perform at UACCNJ, Soyuzivka by Christina Kotlar drawing band in the state, bringing some- to be in Boston on March 20-21 times as many as 2,000 people to clubs and by Bohdan Pechenyak the long-term consequences of their actions. WHIPPANY, N.J. – After twenty-seven performing six times a week. With this in mind, organizers have invited PHILADELPHIA – The executive board years, Kinderhook is back. The New Jersey The band played original music at a time distinguished speakers to talk about the edu- of SUSTA – the Federation of Ukrainian band that was instrumental in changing local when no other club band was doing any- cational reforms in Ukraine over the past Student Organizations in America – and the live bar band music into a rocking New thing but cover tunes. As Kinderhook’s orig- several years and to share experiences of Boston College Ukrainian Society invite all Jersey club scene with appearances at some inal music progressed, the band began open- studying in Ukraine, Western Europe and interested parties to participate in the annual of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan ing for national recording acts. The first was SUSTA conference, which will take place the United States. area’s biggest live performance venues is Conway Twitty, then came David Bromberg, on March 20-21 under the theme of In addition, the conference program pro- back with original band members for a solid Commander Cody, Poco and a host of oth- “Ukrainian Youth and Education.” vides for a number of workshops focused on country-flavored and highly infectious ers. By 1982, Kinderhook remained the only organizational and individual development, music set on Sunday, March 14, at the Organizers believe the theme of educa- unrecorded act to play the Central Park and time has been set aside for recreation, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New tion to be of utmost importance to Ukraine Schaefer Music Festival (1975), opening meeting other participants, sightseeing in Jersey in Whippany and at the Soyuzivka and its students both at home and abroad. before 25,000 people. Boston, as well as a performance by the Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, N.Y., in Ukraine’s and the world’s future depends on On Sunday, March 14, Kinderhook will Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. July. the ability to provide an adequate and well- be the opening act before New Riders of the Early registration ($20) is now open at Originally called Kinderhook Creek, but Purple Sage at the UACCNJ of Whippany, rounded education that can help foster inde- later shortened to Kinderhook, a Dutch word pendent, critically minded thinkers and lead- www.susta2010.org, and will be available N.J. until March 16, after which a full ticket price for “children on a hill,” the band began as a Opening show running time at the ers in various fields of life. Such education of $25 will become effective. Registration country quartet in 1973 at Rutgers UACCNJ is 45 minutes, starting at 7 p.m. is crucial for developing deep respect for includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday, University in New Brunswick, N.J. The ini- Doors open at 6 p.m. The Hoverlia Social intellectual excellence and theoretically March 20. For further information, readers tial members were Jerry (Yaropolk) Club will be open during the show and after- grounded practice, and for future leaders’ Kopychuk, banjo, guitar, lead vocals; Yuri wards. To reserve tickets for March 14, read- ability to understand both the context and may e-mail [email protected]. Turchyn, guitar, violin, vocals; Andy Fediw, ers may e-mail splatterconcerts@yahoo. bass guitar, vocals; and Stan Taylor, pedal com; for more information call the steel guitar. After a year, the band added UACCNJ, 973-585-7175. The UACCNJ is Craig Barry as its drummer to fill out the located at 60 North Jefferson Road, sound. Joe Breittenbach joined the band in Whippany, NJ 07981. 1975 as lead guitarist. The band is scheduled to perform at the In the 1970s and 1980s, Kinderhook had Ukrainian Cultural Festival at Soyuzivka in the ability not only to draw a full-house Kerhonkson, N.Y. on Saturday, July 17, and crowd but to move it to Southern rock at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury accoustic sound with three-part harmonies. Park, N.J., on Friday, August 6. Kinderhook’s country music brought out the More about Kinderhook can be found on crowds and the music industry suddenly Facebook – Kinderhook TwentyTen – became caught up in the same type of including rehearsal videos, photos and com- sound. ments from fans far and wide, past and pres- At its highpoint, Kinderhook was the top- ent.

Kinderhook (from left): John Greenaway, Jerry Kopychuk, Yuri Turchyn, Craig Barry, Andy Fediw.

reviewed by a parliamentary committee Turning the pages... for two weeks before being reintroduced (Continued from page 6) on the floor. nate the activities of various ministries On March 18, 2008, the Parliament by and other executive institutions. The a vote of 246-5 approved a resolution Cabinet would need to comply with the ordering pre-term mayoral and local elec- decisions of the National Security and tions in Kyiv, setting an important prece- Defense Council of Ukraine, which are dent that could decide the fate of all confirmed by presidential decrees. municipal governments across Ukraine. Passed with the support of the Lytvyn Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s Bloc, the vote was the first time that the support of the bill came with the condi- Verkhovna Rada had successfully voted tions that Parliament schedule a review of to remove an entire municipal administra- a report by an ad-hoc commission on the tion from office. privatization activities of Kyiv Mayor Although the YTB had a strong popu- Leonid Chernovetskyi, and that the larity in Kyiv, it was unable to remove OU-PSD would support a bill calling for Mayor Chernovetskyi from office in elec- the mayor’s dismissal. “No authority and tions held 70 days after the resolution power have any value if we keep corrup- took effect on May 25, 2008. Only 53.39 tion intact in the capital,” underscored percent of the city’s electorate cast their Ms. Tymoshenko. ballots, and Mr. Chernovetskyi won 37.72 The Cabinet bill failed to reach the percent of the votes. final reading after opposition forces pledged to draft their own amendments to Source: “Rada approves draft law on the bill following its initial reading and Cabinet and bill on pre-term elections in vote. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Arseniy Kyiv,” by Illya M. Labunka, The Yatsenyuk sent the draft law to be Ukrainian Weekly, March 23, 2008. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

information readers may log on to www. international community’ owes nothing to Students from Ukraine... sdinstitute.org.) Moscow expert... Ukraine, except those of its members who (Continued from page 11) An introduction to America (Continued from page 6) have treaties with it in which such obliga- Federal Credit Union and the New York at the foundation of statehood,” Mr. Tishkov tions are written.” office of AeroSvit airlines. Of the SDI American Winter program, says, “then this country can split apart with- “The preservation of integrity is above The organizers of the SDI American Nadiya Rokytyansklea wrote: out any external interference or become a all an internal affair of Ukraine itself – Winter program plan to continue to pro- “Having had the chance to be intro- federative formation on the basis of the that is, of its population, which must have vide this unique opportunity for eastern duced to America, none of us sat idly dur- Canadian formula of ‘multiculturalism on a all the possibilities for expressing its Ukrainian teenagers between the ages of ing those two weeks. Each of us now bilingual basis.’” That saved Canada, and it views and for a legitimate administra- 14 and 18. They will work with local knows Washington, the political and cul- could in principle save Ukraine. tion.” If the people living there agree on schools to identify students who study in tural center of the United States, as we Asked by his interviewer whether the how to live together, then they will; if Ukrainian schools or in Ukrainian classes know the five fingers on our hand. The international community is “obligated” to they don’t, then it is possible Ukraine will at Russian schools and who show out- staggering beauty and grandeur of the support the territorial integrity of Ukraine, come apart – without regard to what out- standing promise by becoming winners of Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington Mr. Tishkov responded bluntly: “ ‘the siders prefer. a city or regional level of the Petro Jacyk memorials, the White House, Capitol, International Ukrainian Language Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, National Archives, as well as tens of Competition. In order to be considered, would offer Europe the most convincing other memorials and buildings in the cap- students need to apply to the Social Moscow patriarch's... example of a revitalized Christianity. Development Institute through their local ital, will remain in our hearts forever as well as in the countless number of photo- (Continued from page 7) But Moscow need not fear the specter Prosvita organization. of a united Kyivan Catholic-Orthodox The program also claims to establish graphs we took during this trip. becoming cornerstones. Patriarch Patriarchate. As long as Ukrainian Ukrainian American youth clubs in towns “We were lucky also to have a few Lubomyr Husar’s vision of a Kyivan Christians are weak and divided, this will where former participants live. In days to walk around New York – a city of Patriarchate uniting Greek-Catholics and remain a pipe dream. Kramatorsk such a club already exists due skyscrapers, offices of world-renowned Orthodox, in communion with both Rome to the efforts of the head of the local Prosvita corporations, chic hotels and some of the and Constantinople, would not only side- organization, Mykola Konobrytsky. world’s largest stores. We will be glad for line Russia’s professional ecumenists. By Andrew Sorokowski can be reached at He is a former director of the Ukrainian a long time that we saw Times Square, uniting Eastern and Western traditions, it [email protected]. Lyceum and currently a teacher of histo- Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, ry. He established a local branch of Plast and Broadway and Fifth Avenue.” Ukrainian Scouting Organization, educat- Nadiya added, “As difficult as it was to Asked about the last few months, she ed young people in his lyceum as return, we are now home with our par- Winter events... stated, “From the day we start planning Ukrainian patriots, and initiated a tradi- ents, and we infinitely thank all those (Continued from page 19) for our winter events to the day we stop, tion for high school students to start wonderful people who gave us such an guests ate, drank and danced the night there is much hustle-bustle, many hours classes with the raising of the Ukrainian opportunity to see another world and to away, bidding farewell to 2009 and wel- of planning, excitement in decorating and flag and the singing of the national meet such nice people.” coming in 2010. The New Year’s Eve preparing. … I like to see the community come together, like a family does, for all anthem each morning. Unfortunately, as a Mr. Kazarenko underlined: “We hope Committee led by Marusia Shwed was that SDI American Winter will help to of these events that we plan for them.” result of his patriotic work, he has suf- responsible for this fabulous fund-raiser fered subtle, and not so subtle, persecu- break the Soviet views of people in The Ukrainian Educational and for the UECC. tion by the local authorities. Ukraine and to destroy the psychology of Cultural Center, founded in 1980, is a The Social Development Institute wel- fear and separation. And our hopes are The Ukrainian Educational and non-profit organization whose objective comes financial support, equipment and supported by the words of Nadiya and Cultural Center prides itself on giving is to preserve and promote awareness of computers for the Ukrainian-American Sofiya who reported, after coming back back to its community through language the Ukrainian heritage throughout the Youth Club in Kramatorsk in order to to Ukraine, that Ukrainian families in the courses, social services, programs and Philadelphia community. The UECC is organize Internet-bridges between United States helped them to feel that cultural events. None of these events located at 700 Cedar Road in Jenkintown, Ukrainian students and their American they are Ukrainians. And to be Ukrainians could be possible without Natalka Firko, PA 19046 and can be reached at peers, as well as teachers and well-known means not just to be selected; it means to UECC vice-president of programs and 215-663-1166 or [email protected]; social and cultural figures in the U.S. (For be yourself.” events. website: www.ueccphila.org. No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 25 OUT AND ABOUT

March 18 Book discussion by Serhii Plokhy, “Yalta: The Price Toronto Hyphenated Ukrainian” by Walter Kish, Ukrainian Washington of Peace,” Ronald Reagan Building and International National Federation hall, 416-960-3424 Trade Center, 202-691-4000 or 416-925-2770

March 20 Pysanka workshop, Ukrainian Homestead, March 27 Ukrainian Easter Traditions Workshop, The Lehighton, PA 610-377-4621 New York Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or [email protected] March 20 Pysanka workshop, Ukrainian Community of McKees Rocks, PA Western Pennsylvania, St. Mary Ukrainian March 27 Concert featuring pianist Angelina Gadeliya and Orthodox Church, 412-364-0968 New York the Lviv Duo of violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv and or www.ucowpa.org pianist Marianna Humetska, Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 March 20 Pysanka workshop with Olga Kobryn, Middlesex Piscataway, NJ County Cultural and Heritage Commission with the March 27 Fund-raiser, “Hip-Hop Hopak,” Concordia Ukrainian Folklife Program for New Jersey, East Jersey Montreal Students’ Union and the McGill Ukrainian Students’ Olde Towne Village, 732-745-4489 Association, Ukrainian National Federation hall, [email protected] March 20-21 Conference, Federation of Ukrainian Student Boston Organizations of America, Boston College, March 28 Easter Bazaar, St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic www.ukrainianstudents.net Baltimore, MD Church, 410-870-1720

March 21 Spring Sale of Attic Treasures, Ukrainian National March 28 Easter Bazaar, Ukrainian Homestead, Parma, OH Women’s League of America – Branch 12, St. Lehighton, PA 610-377-4621 Josaphat Astrodome, 440-887-1201 March 28 Lecture by Prof. Radoslav Zuk, “Key Characteristics March 21 Pysanka workshop and Easter bazaar, Ukrainian Montreal of Ukrainian Church Architecture of the Mazepa Washington Catholic National Shrine, 202-526-3737 Period and Their Sources,” Ukrainian Youth Center, 514-481-5871 March 21 Easter Bazaar and Concert, featuring the Levada Toronto Choir Ukrainian Youth Ensembles, St. Nicholas March 28 60th anniversary concert, Dumka Chorus of New Ukrainian Catholic Church, 416-233-9700 New York York, Merkin Concert Hall, 212-501-3330

March 22 Lecture by Nadia Diuk, “Democracy in Ukraine: Are March 29 Seminar by Oksana Kis, “Women’s Participation in Washington We There Yet?” Ronald Reagan Building and Cambridge, MA the National Liberation Movement in Western International Trade Center, 202-691-4000 Ukraine Region in the 1930s-1950s,” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 March 23 Lecture by Ihor Poshyvailo, “The Ecology of the New York Museum Sphere in Ukraine,” Columbia University, Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events 212-854-4697 or [email protected] advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors March 24 Book launch, “Here and There – Reflections of a and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 26 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11 UKELODEON FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Plast scout recognized by red cross of Northern N.J. CHESTER, N.J. – Thomas Warren counties. (Toma) Mandicz, 17, of Chester, Toma commented: “I thought it N.J., was presented with a certifi- would be useful for the Red Cross cate of appreciation from the workers and volunteers who arrive American Red Cross of Northern at the scene of an emergency to New Jersey in recognition of his have packaged sets of warm hats, donation of more than 350 hats, gloves and scarves to give to the gloves, mittens and scarves. victims during the cold weather.” A junior at West Morris Mendham During the fall of 2009, Toma High School, Toma has been an contacted the American Red Cross active member of Plast Ukrainian of Northern New Jersey to get Scouting Organization since age 7 approval for his idea; requested and is currently the leader (kurinniy) permission from several sites to of Troop 5 of the Newark Plast hold his collection of new hats, branch. He is working toward gloves, mittens and scarves; and achieving Plast’s eagle scout rank, advertised the project via posters, which requires the completion of fliers and e-mail. He then sorted nine separate projects based on spe- and packaged the gathered items Toma Mandicz receives a certificate of appreciation from Charles Maltbie, cific themes of Ukrainian scouting. into individual sets ready for distri- response manager and disaster services HR coordinator for the American For the community service bution to the needy and delivered Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. theme, Toma opted to help the the items to the American Red American Red Cross of Northern Cross. teers respond to one disaster each High School in Mendham, the New Jersey, which responds to Arthur Samaras, director of emer- day. These items will be given United Healthcare Office Complex disasters such as residential fires, gency services for the American directly to victims of disaster local- in Basking Ridge, and the floods, extreme temperatures, trans- Red Cross of Northern New Jersey, ly. Toma should be proud of his Ukrainian American Cultural portation accidents, hazardous said, “We are very grateful for the accomplishments.” Center of New Jersey in Whippany. material incidents and community initiative Toma has taken in orga- Toma’s collection sites were the In addition, he obtained a donation emergencies in Bergen, Essex, nizing this clothing drive. On aver- West Morris Area YMCA in towards the collection from Hudson, Morris, Passaic and age, across our region our volun- Randolph, West Morris Mendham Walmart of Ledgewood.

Cleveland high schooler excels in academics and the arts by Maria Flynn and work with young children. Alexandra says she would like to be a CLEVELAND – Sixteen-year-old Alexandra is now a counselor for the pediatrician. However, because of her Alexandra (Geega) Kwit excels in youngest girls (“novachky”) in the strong love for the arts, she would still all she does. In October 2009, she Cleveland Plast branch who belong to like to be involved in music and the- was inducted into the National the group called Dolphins. ater. She has set her sights on attend- Honor Society at her school, Walsh Asked about her future plans, ing Harvard. Jesuit High School. She also received an award for coming in third in her school for the highest Soccer player in national championships grade point average. She also excels in the arts and is a youth counselor DU BOIS, Pa. – Sixteen-year-old for Plast Ukrainian Scouting soccer player Gabriel Hrecznyj, a Organization. sophomore at Du Bois Area High Alexandra has danced with the School in Du Bois, Pa., will be play- Kashtan Dance Ensemble, and every ing for the Region 1 Champions in summer attended the Voloshky Dance the Olympic Development Program Camp. She also takes voice, piano, National Championships in violin and ballet lessons. Her passion Phoenix, Ariz., on March 11-14. Gabriel has attended summer however, is the theater. She prefers Alexandra Kwit musicals, since she loves to sing and camps at Soyuzivka and has played dance. While in junior high, she land- Vporiadnykiv,” a camp for future in the Ukrainian Nationals ed the role of “Dinah” in the play counselors of Plast cub scouts Tournament in the past. This “High Society,” and also the lead role (“novatstvo” – children age 6-11), past summer and fall he was with of Marian the Librarian, in the musi- which was held at the Cleveland-area the Eurosoccer Academy of the cal “The Music Man.” Currently she Pysanyi Kamin camp. Fifty boys and U.S.A. in Romania, Spain and is preparing for the role of Glinda the girls, mostly from the eastern and Portugal. He plans to travel to Good Witch, in the “Wizard of Oz,” a Midwestern states, attended the Ukraine and Poland to see the Gabriel Hrecznyj musical that will premier in March. 10-day camp, at which they learned Euro-2012 soccer championship. Last year in June, Alexandra earned how to prepare programs for their He is the son of Bohdan and ily attends St. George Ukrainian first place at “Vyshkil Novatskykh meetings, organize various activities Lorian Hrecznyj. The Hrecznyj fam- Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 27 Youngsters learn to be savers, thanks to Selfreliance CHICAGO – To promote good participate in the program and at savings habits among the young year’s end receives a “reward” from generation, Selfreliance Ukrainian Selfreliance for its work in promoting American Federal Credit Union good savings habits. (SUAFCU) started the SuperSavers Selfreliance staffers meet with the Club that is open to any SUAFCU students to explain the concepts of member under age 18. Among those thrift, ownership, responsibility and members are students of Chicago the need to save for the future. Several and New Jersey area schools of times each year Selfreliance holds Ukrainian studies who have savings drawings for mp3 players or other accounts at the credit union. awards for qualifying members of the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox SuperSaver Club who have made a Cathedral’s School of Ukrainian deposit during the designated time Studies in Chicago, which is attended period. by over 150 students, is one of five For information readers may con- schools in the Chicago area that par- tact their Ukrainian school director or Students of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral’s School of ticipate in the SuperSavers program. SUAFCU staff at any branch office, or Ukrainian Studies in Chicago school show off their SuperSavers Club gifts The school encourages students to e-mail [email protected]. from Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union. Krylati’s young soccer players are undefeated champions by Matthew Tomaszewsky A team is only as good as their game against Richards 2-0. They UAYA Yonkers for making it possible YONKERS, N.Y. – The Krylati soc- coaches, and Krylati had two this received a trophy to display at the for them to play a sport they love and cer team in Yonkers, N.Y., had a very year: Michael Tomaszewsky and Jay Ukrainian Youth Center, as well as proudly represent the Yonkers successful season this year. From Palylyk. These two coaches have been individual medals for the players. Ukrainian community. September to November 2009, the with the team for three years now, and The undefeated Krylati team prac- From now on, when the Krylati team members played games on they are loved by all the players. tices at St. Michael’s Ukrainian players and coaches go to the Saturday afternoons, including two During the season, Krylati won Catholic Church and at the Ukrainian Ukrainian Youth Center, they will see tournaments along the way. They every game they played, giving them a Center in Yonkers, and is sponsored their two trophies displayed with all played in the McGrail Youth Soccer perfect 7-0-0 record. The squad by the Yonkers branch of the the others in the glass cabinets. They Tournament at Tibbets Park and the played its games at Emerson Field, off Ukrainian American Youth will remember the tournaments and Bryn Mawr Thanksgiving Tournament of Odell Avenue in Yonkers. Team Association. Team members the undefeated season they are so very at Welty Park – and won both tourna- members always played with heart, expressed thanks to Father Phil and proud of. ments. and they were happy after winning The team is full of skilled players each and every game they played. who show up to every game ready to Krylati played three games in the mishanyna compete and, hopefully, win. The McGrail Tournament. They won their team roster for most of the season was first game, beating South Yonkers This month, we challenge UKELODEON readers and as follows: Mykola Duda, Taras Team One 7-0; they tied their second Mishanyna fans to find the names of the capitals of 13 of Halva, Michael (Myshka) Kuzemczak, game 2-2 against South Yonkers Team Ukraine’s 24 oblasts, which are hidden in the Mishanyna grid. Two; and they won their final game Nazariy Miniv, Stefan Palylyk, CHERNIHIV IVANO-FRANKIVSK KIROVOHRAD Matthew Tomaszewsky, Andrey against Richards 2-1. They were CHERNIVTSI KHARKIV KYIV Shmotolocha, Mykola Swyntuch, Igor thrilled to take home the McGrail Cup Pidhirny, Visar Hoxhal, Marko and individual medals in their first CHERKASY KHERSON LUHANSK Shmotolocha, Danylko Sydor, year at the tournament. The cup will DNIPROPETROVSK KHMELNYTSKYI LUTSK Matthew Mazzola, Martin Dedvukaj, be displayed at the Ukrainian Youth DONETSK Edward Fay, Inna Lemyzhanska and Center on Palisades Avenue in Vladyk Deputat. Yonkers. In the Bryn Mawr Boys and Girls Matthew Tomaszewsky, 12, is a Club Tournament, they won their first member of the Krylati youth soccer game against Bryn Mawr 1-0, beat team. Hillcrest 4-0, and won their final

The Krylati youth soccer team. 28 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 No. 11

PREVIEW OF EVENTS Th e Uk r a i n i a n We e k l y Saturday, March 27 for Help Us Help the Children. Proceeds will go towards helping orphaned children NEW YORK: Music at the Institute will in Ukraine. Featured will be the Syzokryli present Angelina Gadeliya, pianist, and the Dance Ensemble from New York and Lviv Duo – Solomiya Ivakhiv, violinist, Montreal’s Bboy crew. Prizes will be and Marianna Humetska, pianist. Ms. awarded. The event will be held at the Gadeliya will perform solo piano works by Ukrainian National Federation hall, 405 Easter Greetings 2010 Brahms, Carter, Revutsky, Schumann and Fairmount, beginning 8 p.m., with a wine Scriabin. The Lviv Suo will perform works and cheese reception from 6 p.m. Tickets by Bartok, Kosenko and Ravel. The con- are $10. For advance tickets and further cert begins at 8 p.m. and will be followed information contact [email protected]. by a reception at the Ukrainian Institute of Continue your tradition. America, located at 2 E. 79th St., corner of Sunday, March 28-Sunday, April 4 Fifth Avenue. General admission is $30; APOPKA, Fla: Holy Week and Easter UIA members and seniors, $25; students, services in Central Florida will be held at Send best wishes to your family and $20. Advance tickets may be purchased by St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic sending a check payable to UIA-MATI, or Church, Apopka, Fla. (near Orlando) as friends, colleagues and clients on the by calling 212-288-8660 with a credit follows: Sunday, March 28, 11 a.m., Palm card. Sunday liturgy and willow blessing; occasion of Easter with a greeting Thursday, April 1, 10 a.m., divine liturgy, MONTREAL: The Concordia Ukrainian and 5 p.m., reading of 12 Gospels; Friday, in The Ukrainian Weekly. Students’ Union (CUSU) and the McGill April 2, 10 a.m. Holy Sepulcher Service; Ukrainian Students’ Association with the Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m. divine liturgy; Ukrainian National Youth Federation is Sunday, April 4, 10 a.m. Paschal Matins organizing for the first time ever “Hip Hop and 11 a.m. Easter divine liturgy. St. Mary Hopak” – a Ukrainian dance versus Protectress is located at 245 Lake McCoy Breakdancing competition and fund-raiser Drive. Holiday Issue Publication Date Advertising Deadline

March 28 March 19 PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a 1/16 page – $35; 1/8 page – $50; service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the 1/4 page – $100; 1/2 page – $200; full page – $400 Ukrainian community.

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