www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Scholars comment on Ukraine’s constitutional crisis — page 3. • European soccer championships can unite Ukraine — page 4. • Spanish documentary “La Zona” about Chornobyl— page 9. HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXXV No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2007 $1/$2 in Ukraine Yushchenko unveils Chornobyl monument Yushchenko re-dismisses Rada, Press Office of Ukraine’s President on Wednesday, April 25, to unveil a mon- schedules elections for June 24 ument to the victims of the Chornobyl BILA TSERKVA, Ukraine – President disaster called The Chornobyl Bell. In a by Zenon Zawada “Undoubtedly, this decree just as the prior Viktor Yushchenko visited Bila Tserkva speech during the ceremony, he said it Kyiv Press Bureau one greatly surprised me, because it violated was incumbent on the government to all our reached agreements in regard to rela- KYIV – Coalition parliamentary tions between branches of government, and “adequately react” to the aftereffects of deputies initiated impeachment proceed- the world’s worst nuclear catastrophe. between men,” Mr. Yanukovych said. “This ings against President Viktor Yushchenko kind of thing isn’t done.” He noted that Ukraine had spent after he issued a second presidential decree more money on the issue in the past Speaking from the chairman’s tribune on April 25 that canceled his first dismissal in a Parliament that continues to ignore three years than in the decade before. decree in order to re-dismiss the Verkhovna “However, this response is not full, for the president’s dismissal decrees, Mr. Rada and re-set elections for June 24. Moroz said the president’s decree is a we need much more,” he said, urging In canceling the first decree, the the Cabinet of Ministers to introduce “strike at constitutional order, interfer- Ukrainian president prevented the ence in Parliament’s activity and an Chornobyl programs. Constitutional Court from ruling on its Mr. Yushchenko said the Chornobyl attempt at usurping power.” legality, enabling him to avoid what was During the April 26 session, national issue affected the whole country and widely expected to be a ruling in his oppo- insisted that the polluted zone should deputies representing various factions nents’ favor that would have placed him at registered the impeachment bill, accusing be developed, calling it “not only an a severe disadvantage in compromise talks. area of tragedy but also of opportuni- the president of flagrantly violating the Though successfully maneuvering Constitution of Ukraine in denying the ties.” He said it could be used to pro- through the latest phase in his fight for duce biological fuel, generate energy, Constitutional Court the chance to rule political survival, Mr. Yushchenko fur- on his first dismissal decree. open wildlife preserves and process ther extended the nation’s political crisis wood. “This territory must not be for- That morning, the Party of the Regions and didn’t improve his prospects for faction met to approve the bill for gotten. We want to see this land alive compromise with his opponents, who and revived,” he said, adding that the impeachment, a procedure that requires a may feel emboldened after what three-quarters vote of Parliament, or 338 Shelter Implementation Project is an appeared to be a desperate move. integral part of Chornobyl’s renewal. national deputies, to convict the president Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych of violating the Constitution. The Ukrainian leader expressed and Verkhovna Rada Chair Oleksander gratitude to those who had sponsored “In accordance with the Constitution, Moroz cut short their respective visits to the initiation of impeachment proceedings the creation of the monument in Bila Uzbekistan and Lithuania after learning Tserkva. of the second dismissal decree. (Continued on page 4) Participants of the unveiling ceremo- ny – including Bila Tserkva Mayor Official Website of the President of Ukraine Vasyl Savchuk and Kyiv Oblast State President Viktor Yushchenko and Kyiv Administration Chair Vira Ulianchenko How do you solve Ukraine’s political crisis? Oblast State Administration Chair – observed one minute of silence to Vira Ulianchenko at Bila Tserkva’s honor the victims of the disaster. They monment to Chornobyl victims. also planted trees around the monument. The key players offer their suggestions by Zenon Zawada Two days would allow enough time Kyiv Press Bureau for Parliament to approve at least 10 nec- essary amendments or new laws to Ukrainian American students hold KYIV – Ukraine’s political crisis resolve the current crisis, the president today remains just as unresolved as the said at an April 20 press conference. conference aimed at reviving SUSTA morning after President Viktor Among them are election reform, an Yushchenko’s April 2 decree to dismiss imperative mandate for national deputies, by Matthew Dubas explained to the students the role of Parliament and hold pre-term elections. a new Cabinet of Ministers law, new SUSTA in the past and the legacy that the The main players offer proposals as part PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Over 50 stu- Verkhovna Rada regimen legislation, a next generation is charged to maintain. A of larger strategies aimed at leveraging their dents from the United States, including parliamentary opposition law, a law major challenge for SUSTA, according to position in negotiations. Both domestic and some from Canada, attended the first organizing pre-term elections and legal- Dr. Procyk, is to maintain the push for international observers make statements conference since 2001 of the revived ization of the Universal of National Unity. Ukrainian studies on the Holodomor – casting themselves above the fray, or sup- Federation of Ukrainian Student “This is the working name, but it has a the Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933. port the position of those they’re allied with. Organizations in America (Soyuz single essence: the necessity of forming The defining moment of SUSTA was “its An inevitable compromise lies amidst key national priorities so that there aren’t Ukrainskykh Studentskykh Tovaryst investment in the preservation of the the various ideas and proposals. Ameryky, or SUSTA) held on April 21 at any attacks on language, sovereignty, ter- Ukrainian identity in the U.S.,” Dr. Procyk Much of what it will contain will ritorial integrity, a single border and form- Rutgers University. said. SUSTA was the first Ukrainian organi- depend on the Constitutional Court’s rul- Representatives from various organiza- ing the key foundations for foreign and zation to use an endowment fund as income ing, which can arrive by the end of April. domestic policy,” Mr. Yushchenko said. tions in the Ukrainian community spoke to set up the Harvard chair of Ukrainian If the court rules in the president’s at the conference on the role of SUSTA in The president likely presented these studies, the first of its kind. The establish- favor, the Verkhovna Rada is dismissed negotiating points to Mr. Yanukovych dur- the 21st century and presented opportuni- ment of the Harvard chair gave legitimacy and pre-term elections are a surety. ing a two-hour April 23 meeting, the results ties for students to get involved. to the discipline of Ukrainian studies. At Should it deem his dismissal decree of which weren’t disclosed to the public. SUSTA currently recognizes clubs from that time, continued Dr. Procyk, the recog- unconstitutional, Mr. Yushchenko loses Two days later, the Ukrayinska Pravda Rutgers, Villanova, Columbia, Stanford, nition of the Holodomor was equated to the much of his advantage in negotiations, as website reported the president had pro- Cornell, Princeton and Harvard universities, struggle for Ukraine’s independence. coalition leaders have threatened to posed 15 demands of the coalition. These the Ukrainian Seamen of the United States Dr. Procyk advised students to keep demand pre-term presidential elections or include unrealistic points such as Merchant Marines, New York University, informed by reading Ukrainian newspa- impeachment. Parliament recognizing the dismissal SUNY Stonybrook, the University at pers, journals, and other print or web President Viktor Yushchenko decree and canceling its resolutions con- Buffalo, the University of Pennsylvania, materials to remain current on the issues demning it; a proposed law enhancing the Michigan State University, University of facing Ukraine and Ukrainians. As For the first time, Mr. Yushchenko Ukrainian president’s authority, including Illinois and the University of Pittsburgh. (Our Ukraine People’s Union) offered to Keynote speaker Dr. Roman Procyk (Continued on page 11)temporarily cease his dismissal decree. (Continued on page 10) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2007 No. 17 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Is compromise possible in Ukraine? Court continues its hearings should adopt a law on the so-called impera- by Pavel Korduban impeachment. tive mandate that would prevent individual KYIV – The Constitutional Court of As Ukraine awaits a Constitutional lawmakers from changing their party affili- Eurasia Daily Monitor Ukraine on April 25 entered what was Court verdict, PACE, an international ations in Parliament. Mr. Yushchenko said April 24 referred to as the “final stage” of hearings moral authority respected by both sides he would like lawmakers to amend the law into whether President Viktor Radicalism is apparently giving way of the conflict, delivered its own, non- on the Cabinet of Ministers in line with his Yushchenko’s decree of April 2 on the to compromise in the Ukrainian political binding verdict on the crisis. On April 19 suggestions and adopt a new law on the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada is con- crisis. President Viktor Yushchenko, PACE passed Resolution 1549 summing rules of procedure in the Verkhovna Rada. stitutional, UNIAN reported. The aware of the impossibility of holding a up the results of its hearings on the The president also reiterated his proposals Constitutional Court’s session devoted to snap election as early as May 27, as pre- Ukrainian crisis.