The Ukrainian Weekly 2004, No.21
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Startling developments at the Lazarenko trial — page 3. • More on Duranty, The Times and the Pulitzer Board — pages 8-9. • Photography exhibit at Chicago’s UIMA — page 15. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXII HE KRAINIANNo. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2004 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine Crimean Tatars gather in Symferopol T U Brzezinski’sW advice in Kyiv: make to recall Stalin’s mass deportations the EU want Ukraine as a partner by Roman Woronowycz news show broadcast on Ukrainian televi- Kyiv Press Bureau sion, stated that Ukraine had to take the ini- tiative and not wait for an invitation from KYIV – Zbigniew Brzezinski, former Europe to become a member of the national security adviser to President Jimmy European Union. Carter, visited Kyiv on May 13-17 to speak “That which Romano Prodi said regard- with government and political leaders and to ing Ukraine is very typical for a European give a lecture on “Ukraine and the World” at bureaucrat,” explained Dr. Brzezinski during the National University of Kyiv Mohyla a press conference after his meeting with Academy. The message he brought during Prime Minister Yanukovych. his four-day stay in Kyiv: Ukraine should At the National University of Kyiv not wait for an invitation to enter the Mohyla Academy, Dr. Brzezinski told stu- European Union; it must make the EU want dents: “You must not wait for an invitation. Ukraine as a partner. You must create the conditions to make The Johns Hopkins University professor, Europe want you.” who is also an advisor at the Center for The former U.S. national security adviser Strategic and International Studies in used the case of the Baltic states several Washington, repeated his message several times to explain the degree to which remarks times – during his speech at the renowned by politicians and bureaucrats should be Ukrainian university and during separate taken with a grain of salt. meetings with Ukraine’s President Leonid “A few years ago the same was said of Kuchma, Prime Minister Viktor the Baltic countries, but today they are part Yanukovych and National Deputy Viktor of the EU,” explained Dr. Brzezinski to a Yushchenko. The latter two individuals are nationwide television audience on Sunday currently the favorites to succeed Mr. night. Kuchma in elections scheduled for October The visit by Dr. Brzezinski came as of this year. Ukrainian leaders were creating some dis- Dr. Brzezinski’s visit came after the pre- tance of their own between Ukraine and vious week’s comments by European Europe. A week prior to Mr. Prodi’s Commission President Romano Prodi that remarks, President Kuchma said that he had Ukraine had no prospects for joining the lost patience with the EU because of its fail- EU, which were echoed by Gunther ure to take the simple step of recognizing Verheugen, EU commissioner for enlarge- Ukraine as a free market economy, even ment, on May 12 during an interview on after five years of sustained economic Germany’s Deutsche Welle public radio. growth by Ukraine. Mr. Verheugen said that while Bulgaria Since the president’s remarks came just and Romania could expect to enter the EU after ratification by the Verkhovna Rada of in 2007 and Turkey, Serbia and Croatia the Single Economic Space treaty between might gain entry some time later, Ukraine, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakstan and Belarus, Moldova and Russia had no chance, “even political pundits in Kyiv have began to in the distant future.” The best they could believe the current administration has lost all expect would be “very close economic ties.” Roman Woronowycz interest in any tangible further moves toward Dr. Brzezinski, addressing students at the Europe. The lose of prospects was further A view of a portion of the crowd of 30,000 Crimean Tatars gathered on Lenin NUKMA, during his meetings with top Square in Symferopol to mark the 60th anniversary of their nation’s deportation leaders, as well as during a Sunday evening (Continued on page 5) from Crimea on the orders of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. by Roman Woronowycz The draft bill fell a mere eight votes Kyiv Press Bureau short of the 226-vote majority needed for passage. It was the fifth time over the last SYMFEROPOL, Ukraine – Speaking 10 years that the Verkhovna Rada had to journalists just before he was to rejected draft legislation that would codi- address a crowd of nearly 30,000 fy Crimean Tatar minority rights. Crimean Tatars who had gathered in The latest setback was to a piece of Symferopol’s central square to mark the legislation that had no politically contro- 60th anniversary of the Stalin-ordered versial riders attached to it, as earlier mass deportation of Tatars, Mustafa ones had. That fact had led many law- Jemilev, a national deputy in the makers to believe they would be able to Ukrainian Parliament and leader of the finally enumerate a special status for nearly 300,000 strong Crimean Tatar eth- Crimean Tatars a dozen years after they nic community in Ukraine, said that had begun to return home to the Crimean another injustice had just taken place. Peninsula after an extended time in exile. “We have just determined who stands Nearly 200,000 of them – mostly where and how some interests view our women, children and the elderly – were problems,” explained Mr. Jemilev in shipped in 76 freight trains out of Crimea response to news that Ukraine’s to Uzbekistan and Kazakstan by force UNIAN/Nikolai Lazarenko Verkhovna Rada had again found itself over a three-day period beginning at 4 unable to agree upon a law guaranteeing Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski at the Bykivnia Forest outside of Kyiv, one of the sites of Crimean Tatars certain specific rights. (Continued on page 13) mass graves of victims of the Stalin terror of 1937-1938. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2004 No. 21 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS European Union unveils details Prodi reiterates comments re Ukraine and that Tatar returnees be given land plots for settlement. (RFE/RL Newsline) of ‘European Neighborhood Policy’ BRUSSELS – European Commission President Romano Prodi on May 18 reit- Ukrainian wins Eurovision song contest erated his opinion that Ukraine has no by Ahto Lobjakas under the so-called European ISTANBUL – Ukrainian singer RFE/RL Newsline Neighborhood Policy. prospects of joining the European Union, Interfax reported. Mr. Prodi was speak- Ruslana (Lyzhychko) won the Mr. Verheugen summed up the EU’s Eurovision Song Contest held in The European Commission on May 12 goals as follows: “The final objective is ing at a joint news conference with made public a strategy document outlin- Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Istanbul, Turkey, on May 15, with a fre- very clear. As [Commission President] netic performance of her song “Wild ing ways of building closer ties between Romano Prodi has put it earlier, we want Yanukovych in Brussels. “We cannot the European Union and its “new neigh- now continue with EU enlargement, but Dances,” which she sang partly in to create a ‘ring of friends.’ We want to English and partly in Ukrainian, interna- bors” to the east and south. The paper – create a neighborhood in which we can there is a prospect that Ukraine can share which must still be formally approved at everything with us, apart from the partic- tional news agencies reported. Ruslana’s develop the same level of political and victory means that Ukraine will host the the EU’s summit in June – says the bloc economic stability that we have already ipation in EU institutions,” Mr. Prodi is ready to proceed quickly with Ukraine, said. “I consider this to be a colossal step 50th Eurovision Song Contest in May achieved in the enlarged European 2005. (RFE/RL Newsline) Moldova and a number of Mediterranean Union. This is strategically in our inter- in the right direction,” he added. Mr. countries. It also sees no hope of a closer est, and we believe it is also in the inter- Yanukovych reportedly expressed the Ruslana named “people’s artist” relationship for Belarus as long as its est of all our neighbors.” hope that the EU will at last decide on present government stays in power. The paper envisages “action plans” for granting Ukraine market-economy status KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma on The commission paper builds on a the quick development of ties with seven during its summit in The Hague in July. May 18 bestowed the title of a people’s concept first unveiled nearly a year ago. front-runners: Ukraine, Moldova, Israel, Mr. Prodi responded by saying the obsta- artist of Ukraine upon Ruslana Although it has undergone some the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, cles to Ukraine obtaining this status Luzhychko, who won last week’s changes, the premise of the strategy Morocco and Tunisia. include “firstly, the [country’s] pricing Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in remains that those neighbors willing to The European Commission says the policy and, secondly, law on bankrupt- Istanbul, Interfax reported. “This is not share EU values and respect its vital seven were picked because they already cy.” (RFE/RL Newsline) an achievement of one performer, this is interests will be offered closer links. an achievement of the entire country,” have in place functioning partnership PM wants to abandon ‘Euromanticism’ Presenting the paper on May 12, EU agreements with the EU. Mr. Kuchma told Ruslana at the award Enlargement Commissioner Guenter The action plans will be made public KYIV – Prime Minister Viktor ceremony. Ruslana’s victory means that Verheugen promised political dialogue, in early July, presumably after the EU’s Yanukovych on May 17 said Ukraine Kyiv will host the 50th Eurovision Song economic cooperation and possible even- June summit gives the commission strat- should give up “Euromanticism” in its Contest in May 2005.