Inside: l Interview with Ukraine’s youngest national deputy – page 5 l Genealogy specialist speaks in Edmonton – page 9 l PHOTO REPORT: NYC Ukrainian Festival – page 12

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXIX No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine Peace Corps inducts 41st group Resistance grows to government’s of volunteers for Ukraine regressive policies in education

by Mark Raczkiewycz teers serve for two year terms, with all Special to The Ukrainian Weekly expenses paid for by the U.S. govern- ment. KYIV – When the main hall in the That’s part of the reason why Ukraine Teacher’s Building in Kyiv erupted in is home to the world’s largest Peace thunderous applause on June 16, U.S. Corps contingent with 462 volunteers as Ambassador John Tefft urged the 103 of the June 16 swearing-in ceremony. newly inducted Peace Corps volunteers “Ukraine is a big country with 46 mil- to take that enthusiasm with them to their lion people, so that drives numbers,” community sites. explained Mr. Teschner. “There’s obvi- Mr. Tefft had just administered the ously a lot of need and we’ve a lot of oath to the 41st group of volunteers. The support from government agencies who ceremony coincided with two other 2011 want more teachers, more youth develop- milestones: Ukraine’s upcoming 20th ment and people to work for non-profit year of independence and Peace Corps’ organizations.” 50th anniversary. The majority of volunteers in Ukraine It was also a reminder that Ukraine teach English as a second language and still has a demand for Peace Corps vol- are mostly in small towns and rural areas unteers. It’s a need that has long been where communities need them the most. phased out in neighboring Poland and The newest group consisted of 41 National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy Slovakia, as well as the three Baltic English teachers who will be based in states to the north – all of which have At the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy (from left) are: Volodymyr schools and lyceums. Twenty-eight were made the transition to market economies Panchenko, Viacheslav Briukhovetsky, Serhiy Kvit, Volodymyr Morenets and community development volunteers who and joined the European Union and Andrii Meleshevych, authors of a collection of articles critical of the policies of also will work in schools and social cen- NATO. Minister of Education, Science, Youth and Sports Dmytro Tabachnyk. ters to promote healthy lifestyles, safe “Ukraine isn’t in the European Union, Internet usage, leadership skills, as well but we see Ukraine moving in that direc- by Yevhen Savvateyev Foundation of Regional Initiatives have as other activities. The remaining 34 vol- tion. We’re helping to support that staged protests, while education progres- unteers will be sent to civil society orga- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly through English language teaching; there sives such as National Deputy Lesia nizations and local city councils to work are programs in place that we offer to KYIV – Ukraine’s pro-Western forces Orobets are leading the opposition in on small to medium-scale community assist Ukraine to be more effective in the are stepping up their resistance to the Parliament. development projects. global environment,” said Douglass administration of President Viktor The National University of Kyiv “It’s a common misconception that Teschner, Ukraine’s Peace Corps director. Yanukovych, which is preparing legisla- Mohyla Academy on May 24 presented a TEFL [Teaching English as a Foreign or Mr. Teschner, himself a former Peace tion that critics expect will be a draconi- collection of articles – authored by its Second Language] volunteers are here to Corps volunteer in Morocco, said an, neo-Soviet overhaul of Ukraine’s uni- professors – critical of minister of Ukrainian government agencies have teach English,” said Sam Johnston, a vol- versity system. unteer in Haivoron, Kirovohrad Oblast. Education, Science, Youth and Sports been receptive to the idea of having Student groups such as Priama Diya Dmytro Tabachnyk. The book is called native-speaking English teachers of “I realize now that I’m doing something (Direct Action), the social movement English and youth development volun- (Continued on page 3) Vidsich (Resistance) and the youth NGO (Continued on page 10) Plast marks its 99th anniversary, prepares for centennial in 2012

by Illya M. Labunka friend and supporter of Plast Ukrainian Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Scouting Organization, expressed her gen- uine wish and intention to one day KYIV – Leaders and friends of Plast in become a full-fledged member of Plast. Ukraine marked the worldwide Ukrainian The honor of lighting the candle that scouting organization’s 99th anniversary – symbolized the evening’s vohnyk was and raised awareness of Plast’s upcoming bestowed upon the actor and National centennial in 2012 – by hosting an indoor Artist of Ukraine Bohdan Beniuk. Mr. “vohnyk” (campfire) in Kyiv. Beniuk, another of Plast’s supporters in The event was co-organized by the Ukraine, said that the country’s future Charitable Fund of Plast’s Chief Scout depends on Plast, because it’s a patriotic Lubomyr Romankiw and the Children’s organization that builds character. World National Charitable Fund. “Let this vohnyk instill in us the hope Co-hosted by honorary Plast member and future of our life on the territory of Sashko Polozhynsky, leader of the our country and homeland, enriched with Ukrainian hip hop, rap core and punk rock our own language and traditions,” stated band Tartak, and Maria Burmaka, singer Mr. Beniuk. As the candle began to glim- and National Artist of Ukraine, the mer ever so brightly, in the spirit of a typi- vohnyk took place on April 12, at the cal scouting campfire all present began Illya M. Labunka Teacher’s Building in the Ukrainian capi- singing traditional Plast songs. Dmytro Kolesnyk (left), interim head of Plast in Ukraine, and Yuriy Nakonechny, tal. Afterwards, Serhiy Letenko, president head of the organizing committee for the Centennial International Plast While co-hosting the event, Ms. Jamboree in Ukraine, hold a flag symbolizing Plast’s 100 years of activity. Burmaka, who is not a member but a great (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

ANALYSIS

Gas talks in Moscow Ukraine disposes of ammunition Russian Federation will depend largely on Ukraine’s decision. He said that, in the KYIV – Ukraine and the North current economic situation, Russia needs raise pressure on Kyiv Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to change its technology platform and, by Vladimir Socor However, Mr. Putin hinted at possible have successfully completed the first since for a long time the Russian and Eurasia Daily Monitor “options” for a mutually acceptable solu- stage of a project of the Trust Fund of Ukrainian technological platforms have tion, i.e., Ukraine joining the Russia-led NATO’s Partnership for Peace program been a single complex, the Ukrainian side On June 7 in Moscow, Prime Ministers Customs Union, or ceding control of on the disposal of conventional ammuni- should decide as quickly as possible Vladimir Putin of Russia and Mykola Naftohaz, in return for a second cut in the tion, small arms and light weapons, it whether it will upgrade the platform Azarov of Ukraine held tense negotia- price of Russian gas. Using an argument was reported on June 14. Ukrainian Vice together with the Russian Federation and, tions on the terms of Russian gas supplies that the German government will find par- Minister of Defense Volodymyr as a consequence, formalize the relation- to Ukraine. The government in Kyiv and ticularly interesting, Mr. Putin cited Omelianchuk said that, with the help of ship in a Customs Union. (Ukrinform) its Donetsk-based industrial interests are Gazprom’s jointly owned pipelines with the NATO Trust Fund, 15,000 tons of seeking a second round of gas price-cut- German companies on German territory as surplus ammunition, 400,000 units of Ukrainian, Russian PMs to meet often ting, after that agreed in April 2010. an example for Ukraine to follow. small arms and light weapons, as well as The concluding press conference “Moscow and Berlin have integrated with 1,000 man-portable air defense systems KYIV – During the closed part of the showed Mr. Azarov almost beseeching each other more than Russia with Ukraine,” had been disposed of in Ukraine since talks between the governments of Russia for yet another price cut, and Mr. Mr. Putin added (UNIAN, June 7). 2006. The Trust Fund allocated 10.8 mil- Ukraine and Russia, which took place in Putin refusing it. However, Mr. Putin Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller had lion euros for this stage of the project. Moscow on June 7, Prime Ministers hinted publicly that Ukraine could obtain ruled out a price cut for Ukraine on the “These joint actions by Ukraine, NATO Mykola Azarov of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin of Russia agreed to hold meetings price relief by joining the Russia-Belarus- eve of Mr. Azarov’s visit (Interfax, June and its partners are a significant contri- to discuss previously unresolved issues in Kazakhstan Customs Union; and he reit- 6). However, Gazprom is known to seek bution to the nonproliferation of weap- Russian-Ukrainian relations once every erated behind closed doors that “merg- some form of shared control over ons in the world,” Mr. Omelianchuk three to four weeks. “Vladimir Putin and ing” Naftohaz Ukrainy with Gazprom Ukraine’s gas transit system, which is said. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Mykola Azarov agreed [to hold] meet- would also result in a lower price for 100 percent Ukrainian state-owned Tefft, as a representative of a leading ings, including those of the prime minis- Russian gas to Ukraine (Interfax, through Naftohaz, in return for a second state in the framework of the project, ters, on specific issues of the agenda... UNIAN, June 7, 8; Kommersant, June 8). cut in the price of Russian gas. said he hoped that the Ukrainian govern- and to give an additional impetus to this Mr. Azarov’s arguments sounded naïve Under the Kharkiv agreements of April ment would soon sign an agreement on work approximately every three to four and likely to earn Russian disrespect for 2010, Russia granted Ukraine a 30 per- the second stage of the project, to which weeks,” Russia’s ambassador to Ukraine, his government. Stating that the terms of cent discount on the price of gas, relative the Trust Fund is to contribute for about Mikhail Zurabov, said. He stressed that Russian gas supplies were “unjust” and to the January 2009 agreement concluded 25 million euros. The second-stage plan during the meetings the sides will discuss “incomprehensible to Ukraine,” he asked by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s is to dispose of 76,000 tons of ammuni- issues from the six most difficult areas of Russia (and “Vladimir Vladimirovich” government with Mr. Putin and Gazprom. tion, 366,000 units of small arms and 3 relations between the two countries. “We [Putin] in particular) to “show under- In return, Ukrainian President Viktor million antipersonnel mines. The NATO would like to draw attention to the fact standing for our problems.” Yanukovych agreed with Russian project aims to demilitarize 133,000 tons that, in addition to gas problems, we have Mr. Azarov claimed (inaccurately, as President Dmitry Medvedev to prolong of ammunition and 1.5 million units of a wide range of issues on which over the he has done in previous negotiating the stationing of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet small arms and light weapons in Ukraine last year we have failed to achieve major rounds) that European countries as a rule on Ukraine’s territory until well into the within 12 years in four stages. The proj- breakthroughs,” the diplomat added. pay a lower price than Ukraine does for 2040s. ect was launched at Ukraine’s request. (Ukrinform) Russian gas. On the whole, Mr. Azarov’s Meanwhile, the price per 1,000 cubic (Ukrinform) tone is that of a disappointed but still meters of Russian gas is rebounding to 10th anniversary of papal visit obsequious Russophile. This sets the levels that threaten the survival of Russia wants answer on Customs Union wrong atmosphere for Ukraine’s further Ukraine’s inefficient chemical and steel KYIV – An exhibition in Kyiv titled KYIV – According to June 10 news negotiations with Russia, if Mr. Azarov industries. After a fleeting drop from “Pope, Ukraine, Me” will open events to reports, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine remains in charge of these negotiations. $306 in the first quarter of 2010 to $233 mark the 10th anniversary of the historic Mikhail Zurabov said that Russia wants a The Ukrainian team, with Energy in the second quarter (an immediate visit by Pope John Paul II to Ukraine. clear answer from Ukraine about joining Minister Yurii Boyko taking a back seat result of the Kharkiv agreements), the The exhibition at the Ukrainian House the Customs Union. “We have no desire to Mr. Azarov, proposed a range of price- price rose to $249 in the third quarter, will feature exclusive photos, books and to impose any solution. We just want to reduction solutions, including: $252 in the fourth, $264 in the first quar- works of art devoted to the pope, the clarify. We want this decision to be taken • 1. changing the pricing formula by ter of 2011 and $295 in this year’s second works of John Paul II and his personal decoupling the gas price from that of the quarter. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry fore- in the foreseeable future,” the ambassa- belongings. The press service of the Kyiv oil-products basket (the gas-to-oil price casts a further rise, to $350 in the third dor said at a meeting of the Ukraine- Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek- peg artificially raises the price of Russian quarter and $400 in the fourth quarter of Russia Friendship Society. Mr. Zurabov Catholic Church said the program of gas to many European countries); 2011. To raise the pressure on Kyiv, said the formation of the National • 2. raising the transit-service fee for Gazprom is publicly forecasting $500 per Program for the Development of the (Continued on page 14) Russian gas en route to Europe through 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas for the Ukrainian pipelines, and subtracting that end of 2011 (Interfax, May 26, June 3). fee from the price of Russian gas deliv- The main factor behind the upward ered to Ukraine; curve is the peg of the Russian gas price The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 • 3. allowing Central Asian gas (pre- to the surging world price of oil. At the sumably Turkmen) to reach Ukraine via concluding press conference, Mr. Putin An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Russia, in volumes of 20 to 25 billion blamed the surging oil-price largely on a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. cubic meters (bcm) per year. Western sanctions and military interven- Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. Mr. Azarov had already submitted tions in Iraq and Libya, as well as specu- Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. some of these proposals in a letter to Mr. lation in oil futures on Western commodi- (ISSN — 0273-9348) Putin ahead of the Moscow talks. ty exchanges. “You have to pay,” he told The Weekly: UNA: Mr. Putin dismissed these arguments. Ukraine (Interfax, The Moscow Times, Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 He rejected the claim that Russian gas is June 7, 8). priced higher for Ukraine than for many Mr. Yanukovych has now set the goal Postmaster, send address changes to: European countries. He ruled out a link- of cutting the price to $240 per 1,000 The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz age between transit-service fees for cubic meters of Russian gas. While ruling 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas Russian gas exports via Ukraine and the out a “merger” of Naftohaz Ukrainy with P.O. Box 280 price of gas supplied to Ukraine. And he Gazprom, Mr. Yanukovych is considering Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] announced (unverifiable) that Ukraine the possibility of selling portions of had saved $2.9 billion from its gas bill in Ukraine’s gas transit system to Gazprom The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com 2010, and $2.1 billion in January-April through “market-based, transparent priva- 2011, thanks to the price cut agreed with tization” (Interfax-Ukraine, May 24). The Ukrainian Weekly, June 19, 2011, No. 25, Vol. LXXIX Russia in 2010. Mr. Azarov’s government is studying Copyright © 2011 The Ukrainian Weekly The transit-service fee is regulated by another option – namely, some form of the bilateral agreement of January 2009. accession to the Moscow-led Customs It set the fee at $2.04 per 1,000 cubic Union, in return for a gas price cut. The meters of Russian gas moving through government has set up a commission to ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA 1,000 kilometers of Ukrainian pipelines study possible accession to some of the Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 for the year 2010. The same agreement Customs Union’s agreements (UNIAN, e-mail: [email protected] stipulates a floating rate from 2011 Channel 5 TV [Kyiv], June 9). Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 onward. It was last reported rising to fax: (973) 644-9510 $2.84 for 1,000 cubic meters through 100 The article above is reprinted from e-mail: [email protected] kilometers in the first quarter of 2011. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 Thus, Moscow claims that Ukraine is from its publisher, the Jamestown e-mail: [email protected] being compensated adequately. Foundation, www.jamestown.org. No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 3 NEWS ANALYSIS: Ukraine risks losing IMF support

by Pavel Korduban clear that assistance would not be (CIS) finance ministers in Kyiv last week resign if Parliament did not pass his pen- Eurasia Daily Monitor resumed without reform (Inter TV, May that Ukraine has enough resources to sion reform in June. Parliament is domi- 16). meet its obligations without IMF assis- nated by Mr. Azarov’s and Mr. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola This prompted Mr. Arbuzov to send an tance. He said last year’s domestic gas Yanukovych’s Party of Regions (PRU), Azarov looks set to sacrifice the economy angry letter to Mr. Azarov on May 19, price hikes boosted inflation, meaning and it was the president who advised for electoral considerations. Mr. Azarov is accusing him of derailing the IMF assis- there will be no more hikes this year Parliament to reject Mr. Tigipko’s earlier reluctant to meet the key conditions set by tance program. Mr. Arbuzov warned that (Interfax-Ukraine, June 4). This was con- pension reform drafts. the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to headline inflation could jump to 12 per- firmed by Yevhen Bakulin, the chief of The government’s reluctance to hike qualify for the continuation of its $15 bil- cent to 13 percent year on year by mid- the national oil and gas giant Naftohaz gas prices and streamline pensions is due lion assistance program: domestic gas summer. He said the government’s fore- Ukrainy, who said in a recent interview to the fear that the PRU could lose the price hikes and pension reform. cast of 9 percent inflation for this year that no more price hikes were planned October 2012 elections if unpopular This is because such unpopular mea- was unrealistic, undermining trust in its (Channel 5, June 6). reforms were continued. Neither Mr. sures are sure to spoil the ruling party’s economic policy. Mr. Arbuzov said the Mr. Bakulin must have said what Tigipko nor Mr. Arbuzov are members of campaign for the October 2012 parlia- government’s recent statements “about Prime Minister Azarov and President the PRU so they can afford to be honest mentary elections. As a result, after prices, tariffs, etc.” contradicted agree- Viktor Yanukovych, who is behind Mr. about the economy. receiving $3.4 billion from the IMF last ments with the IMF. He appeared to refer Azarov’s populist policy, wanted him to Mr. Azarov is repeating his predeces- year, Ukraine has not received any funds to the statements by government officials say. His Naftohaz is deep in the red sor’s mistakes. Ms. Tymoshenko’s reluc- this year. that there were no plans to hike domestic because of the government’s reluctance to tance to reform the economy ahead of the However, Mr. Azarov seems convinced gas prices. increase domestic gas prices. 2010 presidential elections prompted the that IMF loans are not important when the Mr. Arbuzov warned that if the govern- The Kommersant-Ukraine business IMF to freeze its assistance. As a result, economy is growing. This is despite ment failed to meet the IMF conditions, daily quoted an unnamed official from the the government had to take more expen- warnings that such a policy undermines sovereign ratings would be lowered, NBU Ukrainian Energy Ministry on June 6 as sive loans elsewhere to prevent the col- the country’s financial system which is reserves would shrink and Ukraine would saying that gas prices for households and lapse of Ukraine’s economy which shrank still very weak. not receive loans totalling $7.7 billion utility companies should be at least dou- by 15 percent in 2009. Ms. Tymoshenko Ukraine expected to receive $1.5 bil- expected from international financial bled. This is particularly important eventually lost the elections to Mr. lion each quarter from the IMF this year. institutions this year (UNIAN, June 2). because Russia’s Gazprom charges more Yanukovych amid accusations of eco- However, nothing was received this past This is a significant sum for Ukraine for gas each quarter as international ener- nomic incompetence. spring as Ukraine, contrary to its promise given that the NBU’s reserves barely gy prices continue rising. Mr. Azarov’s The PRU is in a better position ahead to the IMF, neither increased gas prices reached $38 billion by June. efforts to persuade Russia to lower gas of the 2012 elections as GDP was up 4.2 for utility companies and households nor Mr. Azarov’s team tried to downplay prices have proven useless thus far. percent last year and is expected to rise passed pension reform increasing retire- Mr. Arbuzov’s concerns. His press service Vice Prime Minister Sergey Tigipko, by another 4.5 percent to 4.7 percent this ment age for women from 55 to 60. said the text of the letter carried by one of the few genuinely pro-market poli- year on the back of global recovery. The governor of the National Bank of UNIAN was probably not authentic ticians in the government, told Inter TV However, there is a larger public debt to Ukraine, (NBU) Serhii Arbuzov, said in (www.liga.net, June 2). However, Mr. on June 3 that if cooperation with the cope with as it rose from 12 percent of April that if the two conditions were met, Arbuzov released a video statement later IMF were frozen, Ukraine could eventu- GDP in 2007 to 40 percent last year. Ukraine could receive two tranches total- in the day confirming the letter’s authen- ally face a default. This, he explained, is ing $3 billion at once this summer ticity (www.bank.gov.ua, June 2). because Ukraine borrowed too much in The article above is reprinted from (Ekonomicheskie Izvestia, April 29). Mr. Azarov clearly ignored Mr. 2008-2010, and creditors’ trust would Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission However, nothing has changed thus far. Arbuzov’s concerns, telling decline without IMF assistance. Mr. from its publisher, the Jamestown IMF envoy to Ukraine, Max Alier, made Commonweath of Independent States Tigipko also confirmed that he would Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

is 28 years and only 7 percent are aged Peace Corps... over 50. The Peace Corps wants to (Continued from page 1) change that to send more experienced volunteers abroad by invoking memories else, something that can’t be accom- of former President John F. Kennedy who established the organization in 1961. plished through a wire. I’m connecting The program – dubbed “The 50 Plus people with a world they may not have Initiative” – has no budget for advertis- known, showing them a way to forge ing, but it has dispatched recruiters to their own path by extending a hand.” conventions where older Americans con- The Peace Corps program for Ukraine gregate. It also launched a special web- started in 1992 after President George site designed to lure older volunteers. It H.W. Bush and President Leonid features photos of older volunteers in Kravchuk signed a bilateral agreement. exotic locales and words that deliberately More than 2,400 volunteers have served echo Kennedy’s: “Still asking what you in 1,200 communities in all 25 oblasts of can do for your country? The Peace Ukraine and Crimea. They’ve worked as Corps wants you. It’s not too late.” teachers, management consultants, envi- While it’s too soon to gauge whether ronmentalists and youth development this new initiative will succeed, specialists. Ukraine’s volunteers aren’t looking back. Peace Corps directly cooperates with “Go forth and set the world on fire,” the Ministry of the Economy and the Mr. Teschner told them, using his favor- Ministry of Education, Science, Youth, ite St. Ignatius quote. and Sports. Taras Tymchuk Volunteers initiate projects in During the swearing in of the 41st group of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers on June 16 in Ukrainian communities that include civic Kyiv (from left) are: Peace Corps Director of Programming and Training Thomas education, youth leadership training, Ross, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Tefft, Peace Corps Ukraine Director Douglass community development training and Teschner and Mykhailo Harmash of the Ministry of Economic Development and business development training; they Trade, as they listen to a live rendition of the American national anthem. establish libraries and resource centers, and strengthen NGO management and ly sent to Ukraine’s urban centers, today positive view of American’s standing in operations. the vast majority get sent to underdevel- the world. Applicants undergo a rigorous screen- oped rural towns. “Peace Corps volunteers around the ing and application process at home, with Since President Barack Obama took world, not only in Ukraine, serve to pro- only about a third of applicants being office, the Peace Corps has received mote American culture and better under- given “invitations” to serve. They then renewed attention. The number of Peace standing of America so this does contrib- undergo 11 weeks of intensive in-coun- Corps volunteers worldwide peaked in ute to our foreign policy,” said Mr. Tefft try, cross-cultural and language training – 1966, at 15,000. Today, it’s roughly half after the swearing-in ceremony. even more drop out during this phase – that amount. “Ukraine understands and appreciates before earning the honor of being called However, the State Department-run the contribution Peace Corps volunteers a volunteer. organization is currently taking a look make to strengthen our country, espe- In Ukraine, volunteers receive a month- inward with a comprehensive impact and cially its human potential,” said ly living allowance of 1,400 hrv paid for needs assessment. Mr. Obama’s adminis- Mykhailo Harmash, deputy director for by U.S. taxpayers. It’s enough to live on. tration secured more cash for the program international technical assistance and Significantly, that sum doesn’t allow vol- on June 30, 2010, when its budget was cooperation with international financial unteers to live much better than many upped by 11.5 percent, to $446 million. institutions of the Economic Ukrainians among whom they work. The Peace Corps is also what U.S. Development and Trade Ministry. Peace Corps volunteer Katherine Unlike in the 1990s and early 2000s Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls According to official statistics, the Lankford speaks during the swearing when Peace Corps volunteers were most- “smart power”— an attempt to revive a average age of a Peace Corps volunteer in ceremony in Kyiv on June 16. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

Illya M. Labunka At the event marking the 99th anniversary of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization (from left) are: Serhiy Letenko, president of the Charitable Fund of Plast’s Chief Scout Lubomyr Romankiw; Iurie Emilian, director, World Scout Bureau, Eurasia Regional Office; Yuriy Nakonechny, head of the organizing com- Dr. Lubomyr Romankiw, Plast’s chief Cover of the Ukrainian translation of mittee of the Centennial International Plast Jamboree in Ukraine; and Rafal scout, delivers a video address during the biography of Lord Baden-Powell. Wolski, head of the consular section, Embassy of Poland in Ukraine. the “vohnyk” (campfire).

Following Dr. Romankiw’s video address, a short but Providing a Polish perspective on scouting in Poland, Plast marks.. very informative contemporary British documentary, fea- Ukraine and the world, Rafal Wolski, head of the consular turing Ukrainian subtitles, provided a glimpse into the section of the Embassy of Poland, recalled his father’s (Continued from page 1) extraordinary life of 1st Baron Robert Stephenson Smyth pre-World War II activity in the Polish Scouting organiza- Powell, better known as Lord Baden-Powell – the founder tion known as Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (ZHP), as of the Charitable Fund of Plast’s Chief Scout Lubomyr of the world Scouting movement. well as his own scouting days during the Solidarity move- Romankiw welcomed all in attendance by expressing his The documentary was supplemented by an excellent ment of the 1980s. hope that the event would serve as a celebration of not Ukrainian translation of the biography of Baden-Powell, In his brief but inspirational speech, Mr. Wolski said he just Plast’s activities, but of the entire worldwide scouting originally written by Marguerite de Beaumont under the hoped that Ukraine and Plast will be able to attain their movement. title “The Wolf that Never Sleeps. A Story of Baden- rightful place in Europe. “As representatives of the The participants of the “vohnyk” then had the opportu- Powell,” and published in London by the Girl Guides Republic of Poland in the heart and capital of your beauti- nity to view a video address delivered by Dr. Lubomyr Association in 1944. ful country Ukraine, I would like you to know that we are Romankiw, Plast’s chief scout. As he recalled the historic The 72-page Ukrainian edition on the life of the father always ready and glad to help you achieve such goals,” oath of allegiance undertaken by Plast’s initial members of Scouting was translated by Olha Ruda and published in stated Mr. Wolski in flawless Ukrainian. “I wish the exactly 99 years earlier in Lviv, on April 12, 1912, Dr. Ternopil earlier this year to coincide with the 154th anni- Ukrainian scouting movement continued success over the Romankiw announced the commencement of the year- versary of Baden-Powell’s birth on February 22. The course of the next 100 years,” concluded Mr. Wolski. long worldwide celebrations commemorating Plast’s cen- book provides a historical narrative on Baden-Powell’s Eric Salzman, economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in tennial, officially scheduled to take place in nine coun- adventures as a youth, soldier, scout and elder statesman, Kyiv, extended his best wishes on behalf of the Boy tries on four continents and wherever members of Plast and includes 20 illustrations and a year-by-year chrono- Scouts of America (BSA). As a former 10-year member reside. logical survey of the major events in the life and times of of the Greater Southwest Council of the BSA, Mr. “Over the course of the last 99 years, the duties regard- scouting’s founder. Salzman said he was very inspired by how active the ing: 1) God and Ukraine, 2) helping others, and 3) In praising the translator and publisher of the Ukrainian scouting movement is in Ukraine. “I see that the spirit, Adhering to Plast’s leadership, have become an integral edition of Baden-Powell’s biography, Iurie Emilian, direc- challenge and adventure of scouting is still alive. It’s component of everyday life for over half a million tor of the World Scout Bureau, Eurasia Regional Office, something you carry with you throughout your life, and Ukrainians,” underscored Dr. Romankiw. emphasized that every scout is indebted to Baden-Powell I’m very grateful for having been invited to this event,” Despite a century of harsh challenges marked by two for creating a “universal family” of scouts. “I just arrived Mr. Salzman noted. world wars, persecutions and the banning of Plast’s activ- from Kishinev, but since we are all scouts, it doesn’t mat- As the evening’s activities began to wind down, all ity on Ukrainian soil by foreign occupants, followed by ter to me whether I find myself in Moldova or Ukraine, present gathered in a circle around the dimming flame of executions, deportations and the forced political emigra- because we are all family,” stated Mr. Emilian. the vohnyk and ignited the customary “iskra” (spark), tion of many of its members, Plast’s ideals and goals As a symbol of Plast’s unifying nature, one of the high- thus keeping alive one of Plast’s many traditions. remain steadfast and unwavering, according to the chief lights of the vohnyk was the oath of allegiance taken by For additional information about the Charitable Fund scout. “Today, thousands of members of Plast represent six novice scouts from the Vinnytsia and Donetsk oblasts of Plast’s Chief Scout Lubomyr Romankiw please check every facet of society, including community and political and the city of Kyiv. Dmytro Kolesnyk, as interim head of the website www.fond.plast.org.ua or contact Mr. activists, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists and church the National Plast Command in Ukraine, presided over the Letenko by telephone at 380-97-517-7870 or e-mail at leaders,” stated Dr. Romankiw. swearing-in ceremony as all of the other Plast members in [email protected]. As he concluded his greetings, Dr. Romankiw praised attendance declaimed the official oath in unison with and In order to receive the latest organizational plans about Plast’s leadership in Ukraine for making tremendous in support of the six new newly sworn members. the Ukraine-based Centennial International Plast strides in the last 20 years by nurturing the scouting orga- Serhiy Letenko then announced and read official greet- Jamboree scheduled to take place in August 2012, readers nization’s first post-Soviet generation, whose ranks now ings on behalf of the Yushchenko family and Dr. Bohdan may contact Yuriy Nakonechny, head of the organizing comprise over 30,000 members and can be found in every Hawrylyshyn, who sent their salutations in commemora- committee, by telephone at 380-50-431-5651 or e-mail at oblast of Ukraine. tion of Plast’s 99th anniversary. [email protected].

Actor Bohdan Beniuk ignites the anniversary campfire, Six novice scouts from the Vinnytsia and Donetsk oblasts and the city of Kyiv as they take Plast’s oath of allegiance. as co-host Maria Burmaka assists. No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 5 Interview: Lesia Orobets the youngest member of the Verkhovna Rada

Lesia Orobets, 29, is the youngest pected tendency. On average, students member of the Ukrainian Parliament, from rural areas scored higher than their having been elected in 2007 at the age of urban counterparts on exams. It seems 25 from the Our Ukraine political party. that young people from rural areas had She is currently an independent member higher motivation when they believed it of the Verkhovna Rada. She is a member was possible to enter the university of the Parliamentary Committee on through a fair and transparent process Education and the author of 14 legislative based on their knowledge and not on the acts, four of which were passed into law. size of their parent’s wallets. Ms. Orobets is currently working on the Obviously, motivation alone is not passage of a reformed law on education. enough to result in a significant change in Ms. Orobets was interviewed on May this area. We need radical steps to 12-13 by Marta Farion, an attorney from improve rural education’s administration Chicago, who is president of Kyiv and funding. We don’t have to reinvent Mohyla Foundation of America, chair- the wheel – we can use Western experi- person of the Electronic Library of ence. Ukraine project, past chairperson of the If there is a lack of resources to fund Chicago-Kyiv Sister Cities Committee all the schools with low attendance, let us and current member of Chicago’s concentrate on funding educational insti- Executive Committee on International tutions by guaranteeing high quality of Relations. teaching and programs for specialized training. With few children attending There is troubling news coming National Deputy Lesia Orobets. small village schools, the government from Ukraine. Freedom of the press is should pay for transportation of students being curtailed, an illegal economy is onstrate the power of civil society. The and of provoking intentional inter- from villages in close proximity and tolerated and flourishing, access to proposed bill would have eliminated the regional conflicts. bring them together at a larger school of education is less transparent, opposi- simplified tax provisions for small busi- In response, the minister accused this high quality. tion leaders are facing arrests and ness in Ukraine. This event awoke the respected professional of utilizing unoffi- To make this happen, we need political intimidation. Are there any signs of nation from the previous year’s state of cial data. But we now have the official will, administrative skills and the ability brighter colors in this black and white lethargy and proved that self-organiza- information and we are confident that the to lobby for increased funding for educa- picture? Is there enough power in tion can empower communities and bring minister of education will face responsi- tion. These are programs that the current Ukraine to resist this endless flow of victory. bility for his actions, sooner or later. Ministry of Education does not propose. political challenges? The president had to veto the bill and While the 2011 year is officially pro- You are a young national deputy of return it to the Parliament for revision. claimed as the “Year of Education and the Parliament of Ukraine and a leader Of course, there is. The current ruling The process resulted in a tax code Scientific Research,” funding for educa- of the young generation and national government can do nothing with the fact acceptable to the small and medium busi- tion was decreased by 1.5 billion hrv. By reforms. How can the young people of that the Orange Revolution provided ness community and benefitted the entire contrast, funding for the Ministry of Ukraine influence and change the Ukrainians with experience in democra- country. Internal Affairs (police agencies) political situation in the country? cy. Ukrainians might be disillusioned No less unifying was the nationwide increased by 1.7 billion hrv, and for the with certain politicians, but they won’t movement against [Dmytro] Tabachnyk’s prosecutor’s office it was increased by 1 Young people in Ukraine have signifi- ever allow the totalitarian past to return to appointment to the post of minister of billion hrv. What accomplishments in cant influence on changes needed in control them. education, against his Ukrainophobic education and research can we expect, if Ukraine. For example, young people con- During the last year Ukrainians statements and his destructive initiatives the amount of funding for the entire ducted four or five successful national showed their ability to respond at an ade- in the field of education, which included national budget for research in Ukraine civic campaigns during the last year. quate level when the government disre- new rules for student admission, elimina- equals a quarter of Yale University’s Without any funding, in spite of heavy gards their interests and their rights. tion of independent external grading and annual budget? administrative pressure, these young peo- There were many organized actions of ple forced the government to revise sev- other provisions that would return cor- Admission season for the 2011-2012 protest, such as student protests against ruption to the universities. eral of its proposed legislative bills, to degradation of education, a major protest academic year at universities is give up its attempts to limit peaceful The president had to consider stu- approaching. Do the young people of by entrepreneurs demanding a business- dents’ demands and instructed Tabachnyk meetings. And they succeeded in block- friendly tax code, and campaigns such as Ukraine have any chance for fair ing the ministry’s proposed legislative to cancel the demand for “payments for access to higher education? “Without Censorship” and “Our Money” services” from state scholarship winners bill about higher education. by journalists. – a situation which was a discriminatory Unfortunately, no. And there should be The single issue of corruption in uni- This type of organized protest is the economic barrier to access to higher edu- no illusions here. The latest data conduct- versities became the second matter of power you refer to – a power that forces cation for poor students. ed by sociology institutes reveals that national public attention after the protests politicians and government to change. The Now the government has to consider only 11.9 percent of respondents consider of entrepreneurs – 24,000 students came feeling of empowerment that the young the dramatic drop in public opinion poll that the Ukrainian government provides out to protest in 12 cities throughout generation feels cannot be taken away. ratings, a situation that is acknowledged equal opportunities to access to higher Ukraine. There are more examples of positive even by the most government-friendly education, while 64.6 percent disagree. The results were achieved by combin- news as well. We just haven’t learned yet polling agencies. This downward trend in This is the result of the minister’s ing the efforts of three sources: youth to publicly highlight successful good support is especially true for the south [Tabachnyk’s] work, who in one year non-profit organizations, experts in each projects and results. We need to learn to and east of Ukraine, where the victorious managed to institutionalize corruption to area and young members of Parliament. send that message. party usually had strong support. People the universities and to high schools as a Fortunately, the young generation gets For example, a new bill which expands are starting to see and to understand the way of life. the news from the Internet, where infor- provisions for charitable giving was main issues that affect their lives. mation is not yet censored, as it is on approved by Parliament on a first vote, It is widely known that education in television and other mass media. especially donations in the education You publicly stated that the govern- Ukraine’s rural areas is not adequate. Unlike their parents, young people field. Let us consider the 15,000 lives ment provides very low funding for This situation results in school closings, learned to see the world without colored saved annually as a result of the new education and that this funding is not lack of opportunities, poverty, an exo- glasses. They clearly understand the stark series of anti-tobacco laws. And what transparent. You wrote that the dus of the rural population to the cities reality that their future and the future of about the new legislation related to Ministry of Education did not answer and to other countries. What reforms their country depend only on them. access to public information, which your official request as a member of in education would you suggest to This is a different generation of citi- requires an officer from a public agency Parliament to provide information overcome such a difference in quality zens. They will not be bought and to respond to a citizen’s request in five about budget allocation among univer- between rural and urban education? swayed via TV screens. Besides, more days. And finally, consider the success sities as required by law within 10 Past results of independent external and more young people are using social achieved in blocking the proposed bill days, but delayed its response for nine grading showed an interesting and unex- media for self-organization. about higher education. months. Are you satisfied with the These are major accomplishments, but ministry’s answer? news about them is slow to reach the gen- Preliminary analysis of data I received erally accessible flow of information. shows that Mr. Tabachnyk had reason to Whether they’re 15 or 50, These positive steps are taking place, postpone his answer. Dr. Andriy power to resist grows with each success, Meleshevych, dean of the Kyiv Mohyla give your children a gift subscription to and we are encouraged. Academy School of Law, conducted a Can you mention three positive signif- detailed and broad research analysis icant events that took place in Ukraine based on available data from the minis- The Ukrainian Weekly. in 2010-2011 that brought important try. changes to Ukrainian society? Dr. Meleshevych is one of the most competent and independent experts in the To subscribe call 973-292-9800, x 3042 The protest of entrepreneurs against field. He was the first to reveal the infor- the proposed tax code last November is mation to the mass media and accused or e-mail [email protected]. one of the most visible events that dem- Mr. Tabachnyk of misuse of his office 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly Soyuzivka is 59 Kyiv urged to declare 1944 deportation There it was. Right on Facebook. Soyuzivka’s birthday was listed as June 14, 1952. And many Soyuzivka fans responded with heartfelt birthday wishes. That of Crimean Tatars an act of genocide day, this beloved venue turned 59. Or so we think… According to news reports in Svoboda, the agreement for the purchase of the by Paul Goble “In this way, the actions of the estate that became Soyuzivka was signed by the Ukrainian National Association The Georgian Parliament’s decision in Communist powers, in terms of the U.N. on Thursday, May 29, 1952. So, what is the significance of the June 14 date? late May to declare the Russian repression Convention ‘On the Prevention of the Well, we’ve searched, but have not found the answer. We can hazard a guess that of the Circassians 150 years ago a geno- Crime of Genocide and Punishment for It’ this might have been when ownership of the property was formally transferred to cide – a decision that has infuriated falls under the definition of genocide the UNA. (If anyone has the answer, please do let us know.) Moscow – could have a far broader since for the Crimean Tatars were inten- At any rate, the cost of the property once known as Nonkanahwa and later as impact than even its critics have suggest- tionally created conditions which were Foordmore was $72,000 for about 250 acres of land with one main building and ed. Indeed, it could lead other groups vic- calculated to lead to the full or partial seven additional buildings (plus a large garage, as well as a pool, a tennis court timized in the past to seek similar declara- destruction” of that people. and other amenities). Located about 90 miles north of New York City, the proper- tions from governments in the region now. According to researchers, during “only ty was once the site of a sanitarium owned by Dr. John Foord that was known for That possibility is suggested by the the first years” of exile in Central Asia, its “nature rest cures.” What became our Soyuzivka was a beautiful mountain proposal of the Ukrainian People’s Party Siberia and the Urals, “almost half” of the setting of forests, fields, a stream and a pond. that the Ukrainian government declare the Crimean nation was lost” to premature From the very beginning the UNA saw the unique property as a place of deportation of the Crimean Tatars by deaths. Moreover, that exile continued for retreat, a potential site for a seniors’ home, for vacation stays, and more. Stalin in 1944 “an act of genocide and a almost all until the end of 1989 and con- Svoboda, writing soon after the UNA acquired the estate, noted: “The property crime against humanity” – something for tinues for more than 150,000 to this day, has all the elements needed for it to become a representative Ukrainian center not which international law specifies that making genocide charges in this case only for relaxation but for cultural, artistic and social life during the summer there is no statute of limitations (http:// especially explosive. months.” That first summer the UNA graciously allowed Plast to use one of the www.qha.com.ua/haber2.php?id=6511). Moreover, for almost half a century, the buildings on the site for a camp for children age 8-12. Oleg Fomushkin, the head of the Crimean Tatars were “deprived of the But major renovations were needed. Therefore, the formal opening of Crimean section of that party, said that “at rights of ethnic self-identification” by the Soyuzivka was held a year later, during Independence Day weekend, July 4-5, the moment [of the deportation of the Soviet authorities, who refused to allow 1953. Nearly 2,000 attended the two days of festivities that included religious Crimean Tatars in May 1944], “51 percent them to call themselves Crimean Tatars services, concerts and dinners. Eager visitors arrived from New York, New of Crimean Tatar men had ben mobilized and who prohibited the use of the Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, and were fighting in the ranks of the Red Crimean Tatar language in schools and Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina and elsewhere. Army and [an additional] 11 percent kindergartens as part of an effort to Svoboda editorialized: “The older generation of Ukrainian Americans, who fought in partisan units.” destroy any future for that nation. arrived in great numbers for the celebratory opening of Soyuzivka, could not As a result, the Ukrainian People’s Russian media outlets have been full of believe their eyes that the Ukrainian National Association was able to achieve Party continued, Stalin’s deportation of attacks on the Georgian decision. (See, this. … They feel that this is one of the highest achievements of our community. the Crimean Tatars in the first instance among others, www.fondsk.ru/ … A place has been prepared [for the younger generation] for fun and relaxation, involved “older people, women and chil- news/2011/05/25/mifologija-genocida- and at the same time for cultural recreation with a Ukrainian book, with dren” rather than those who might as cherkesskij-vopros-i-plany-saakashvili. Ukrainian song and dance, with Ukrainian lessons and Ukrainian meals.” Moscow then charged have collaborated html, novopol.ru/-saakashvili-razyigral- Soyuzivka came to be a mecca for Ukrainians in North America and beyond, a with the invading German forces against cherkesskuyu-kartu--text101859.html, little piece of Ukraine whose motto was: “There’s no place like Soyuzivka.” the Soviet Union. www.win.ru/school/7268.phtml and www. Several generations have now grown up with Soyuzivka, and that could be seen politcom.ru/12010.html). But almost all of them have focused from the best wishes on Soyuzivka’s Facebook page this past week. “How we Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on love you Soyuzivka!!! I grew up there and now my children are growing up there only on the impact of Tbilisi’s decision on ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia the North Caucasus rather than discussing and may their children grow up with you!” were the words of one post. who has served in various capacities in In 2002, Soyuzivka celebrated its 50th birthday in grand fashion with special the ways in which the Georgian the U.S. State Department, the Central Parliament’s declaration that the Russian golden anniversary weeks for guests, an anniversary cabaret show and an exhibit Intelligence Agency and the International of 50 years of photos – and memories. The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda each Empire committed a genocide against the Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice Circassians has broader implications for printed special supplements highlighting 50 years of Soyuzivka. Everyone was of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio invited to “Come home to Soyuzivka” for the November 23-24, 2002, weekend the Russian Federation and indeed for Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for Eurasia as a whole. whose theme was “I Love Suzy-Q.” An elegant banquet not only celebrated the International Peace. Mr. Goble writes a anniversary but also served as a kick-off for fund-raising for Soyuzivka’s rede- An exception to this is an article by a blog called “Window on Eurasia” (http:// pro-Russian journalist in Ukraine who in an velopment, with Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union donating $50,000 windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/). This for “Soyuzivka Project Renaissance” and guests adding $20,000 more. article above is reprinted with permission. (Continued on page 21) Most importantly, there was discussion of a plan for Soyuzivka’s renewal in order to serve new generations. In recent years, visitors have seen innovations at Soyuzivka, such as the annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival and a growing number of camps to serve children of all ages and diverse interests. Today the catch- Ukrainian activists want sanctions phrase “Soyuzivka for all seasons” reflects the role that the Soyuzivka Heritage Center plays in our Ukrainian community life, not only as a place for summer- time relaxation and cultural programs, but also as a venue for myriad events, against officials for rights violations ranging from conventions and conferences of organizations to private events According to Ukraynska Pravda’s such as weddings and family reunions. It is an irreplaceable part of our lives. RFE/RL website, on the draft list of officials that On our dear Soyuzivka’s 59th birthday, our wish is that it may enjoy many, KYIV – Ukrainian rights activists have the opposition wants to have sanctions many more birthdays. “Mnohaya Lita!” called on “democratic countries” to intro- brought against are the procurator-gener- duce sanctions against Ukrainian officials al, several of his subordinates and a num- that they claim are involved in human ber of judges. rights violations, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Hanna Herman, an adviser to President Turning the pages back... Service reported. Viktor Yanukovych and head of the presi- June Yevhen Zakharov, a member of the dential administration’s humanitarian Ukrainian Human Rights Union, told department, compared the opposition ini- Six years ago, on June 19, 2004, the London-based newspa- RFE/RL on June 10 that a refusal by tiative to tactics during “fascist times.” 19 per The Independent claimed it had obtained Ukrainian gov- “democratic countries” to issue visas to Writing in a blog titled “Segregation?” ernment documents proving that President Leonid Kuchma Ukrainian officials implicated in infring- on June 10, Ms. Herman said the prepara- 2004 had a decisive role in the abduction of opposition journalist ing on human rights, as well as freezing tion of “blacklists” of officials who she Heorii Gongadze and the cover-up that followed, including their assets abroad, could help end what said displease opposition leader and for- the killing of a key witness. he called “human rights violations” and mer Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko Askold Krushelnycky, a British journalist of Ukrainian descent, asserted the news- “political persecution” in Ukraine. reminds her of “fascist methods” of seg- paper had received leaked confidential documents from Ukrainian law enforcement “One has to understand that in order to regation for different ethnic groups such authorities, “who are dismayed that their investigations, which pointed to high-level introduce such sanctions it is necessary to as Jews and Roma. involvement in the murder, have been suppressed.” have clear evidence that political persecu- On June 9, the European Parliament Documents included an autopsy report of a key witness who died while in police tion took place,” he said. issued a resolution that warned Ukraine custody that showed that the deceased, Ihor Honcharov, had been injected with Meanwhile, opposition factions in the to stop using criminal law as an instru- Thiopental, a lethal drug with no medicinal value. The body was cremated soon after Ukrainian Parliament are preparing their ment of pressure on the opposition. death, leaving no opportunity for further investigation of the remains. The PGO own appeal to Western countries regarding Copyright 2011, RFE/RL Inc. announced on June 22, 2004, that its findings showed Honcharov died as a result of sanctions against government officials. Reprinted with the permission of Radio spinal injuries suffered from a beating by the prison guards. Taras Steskiv, a national deputy in the Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Honcharov, a mid-level law enforcement official, was known for his leadership role in Verkhovna Rada and a member of the Our Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC “The Werewolves,” a band of rogue officers part of a criminal organization responsible Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense faction, 20036; www.rferl.org (http://www.rferl. told RFE/RL on June 10 that the final deci- org/content/ukraine_rights_violations_ (Continued on page 10) sion on the appeal will be made this week. sanctions/24233067.html). No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 7 UKRAINE AT 20: The things we do ... The language question by Orysia Paszczak Tracz

by Roman Solchanyk Let’s start with the language question, which for many people – especially in the “Where else in the world is there a diaspora – is an important marker of Parliament where deputies speak a for- national identity. eign language [Russian] except for the The first reality-based observation that Spending your money in Lviv Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada.” needs to be made is that people in You’ve dined, and supped, and drunk Pavuk (Spider) Internet café location on – Vasyl Kyrylych, spokesperson, Ukraine are not particularly concerned your fill around Lviv (“Enjoying culinary Independence Boulevard. The bookstore Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about language issues one way or another. Lviv,” June 5). Now for some serious is very contemporary, well-stocked, takes April 22, 2009. In a study conducted by the Institute of shopping. Then you can recuperate with credit cards and has a discount card for Sociology in 2007, when asked to rate more café lounging. frequent customers. It also holds literary Ukraine today is run by a gang of neo- problems that concerned them the most, Art and folk objects are usually the events. Soviet, mostly Russian-speaking cretins at “support for national culture and the most popular items to get for yourself or Speaking of Internet cafes, there is one the head of which stands an intellectually Ukrainian language” ranked 19th out of a as gifts. Also, as yours truly can attest, on Dudaeva (near Shevchenko Propekt), challenged, two-strike felon and “proffes- total of 25 issues; only 16 percent of you will probably have orders from back and the chain Chorna Medeya is found in sor.” That, briefly stated, is how critics respondents said that this was something home for particular things. I am now an a few downtown locations. view the current leadership of the country, that concerned them. experienced private custom shopper – Back to art and folk stuff (got carried which in a few short months will be cele- “Resolving the status of the Russian and love it. away with the books…). The first stop brating its 20th anniversary as an indepen- language” in Ukraine fared somewhat People were in a panic a few years ago for most shoppers is the area known as dent state. better, ranking 16th; 19 percent of respon- when the fine Khudozhnyk Gallery was the Vernissage, that piece of heaven Criticizing the powers that be in Kyiv is dents thought that this was important. forced out of its location on behind a building right near the opera, all well and good, and readers of The Overall, at the end of 2009 the majority Independence Boulevard. But they have bordered by Lesia Ukrainka, Nyzkyi Ukrainian Weekly do not need to be of Ukraine’s citizens, nearly 55 percent, bounced back beautifully with a new, Zamok and Teatralna streets. It is right reminded of the myriad reasons the felt that language was a non-issue. The possibly better, location nearby, on the next to the magnificent Andrey “khamokratiya,” to use the term coined by prevailing view was that people speak first block of Shevchenko Prospekt. Just Sheptytsky National Gallery of Art (not either Ukrainian or Russian, whichever Oksana Zabuzhko, richly deserves the crit- turn right at the Adam Mickiewicz statue to be missed). they want, and that there are way more icism that has been leveled at it, most and stop on the left side of the street The Vernissage is an outdoor market, important problems that need to be recently by the Parliament of the European before you hit the McDonald’s. This gal- open all year, with individual vendors addressed. Union. lery and gift shop carries fine and folk art selling everything from the ridiculous to That said, when asked last year about The latest installment in this dreary (including traditional and contemporary the sublime. There is a whole lane of their native language 65 percent opted for drama is the legislation, signed by the icons), sculpture, contemporary and tra- embroiderers, with their blouses and Ukrainian. This is still less than the pro- president, which legitimates the official ditional jewelry, and other elegant items. shirts, and runners and tablecloths draped use of a Soviet-era flag – that is, a symbol portion of ethnic Ukrainians in the popu- Definitely worth a visit – and they take for your selection. Many of the women of a non-existent state – in Ukraine, along- lation, but a respectable number nonethe- credit cards. sit and embroider as they await custom- side the national colors. less; 32.5 percent chose Russian. In 1992 Shevchenko Prospekt is a truly beauti- ers. This, after nearly 20 years of indepen- the corresponding figures were 62 percent ful street, with a long park down the mid- Petro and Olya have a stand where dence. and 35 percent – a small increase among dle of the two traffic lanes. A few years they sell antique “sorochky,” (blouses/ What we do need to be reminded of, those identifying with Ukrainian and a ago, the tall trees were replaced with shirts) and other pieces of the folk cos- however, is that the citizenry of Ukraine small decrease among those favoring shorter ones, so that the beauty of the tume, expecially from Borschiv and voted these people into office in perfectly Russian. From the standpoint of polling buildings – true architectural treasures – Bukovyna. Prices are not cheap, but the legitimate elections at the beginning of experts, these variations are probably sta- is visible. restored antique costumes are well worth last year. At the time, most Western com- tistically insignificant. Further on the Prospekt, on the right- it. Liuba sells real coral (getting more mentators and “experts” were falling over How is it then, that practically little or hand side of the street, are two book difficult to find) and amber, and each other in the rush to tell us that Viktor nothing has changed in terms of levels of stores, side-by-side, with the sign Vasylyna and Halia sell wonderful bead- Yanukovych’s victory in the presidential identification with the Ukrainian lan- Naukove Tovarystvo im. Shevchenka ed jewelry, both traditional and very election was incontrovertible proof of guage over the past two decades? (Shevchenko Scientific Society). Both modern. Not to be missed. Ukrainian democracy in action. Perhaps we can ignore these numbers. are now in private hands. They carry a Then there is the art. You can even Not only do we tend to forget that the This, after all, is people just saying how very good selection of adult and chil- find knock-offs of Hryhoriy (Gregor) khamokratiya was made possible by the they feel about a given language. Surely, dren’s books. It was emphasized to me, Kruk’s sculptures. There are some good declared will of the people. We also seem more important is what people actually do proudly, that staffers are emphatic about paintings on glass, as well as witty not to be particularly interested in critical- in terms of language usage. Moreover, speaking only Ukrainian to patrons. T-shirts. ly examining what kind of society – i.e., different people have different notions as Just a few doors down is a shop that Sofiya Fedyna, the singer, and her what kind(s) of Ukrainians – we are talk- to what constitutes one’s “native lan- has an enormous music selection, with mother, Tetiana, create beautiful tradi- ing about. guage.” very knowledgeable personnel. The tional (including museum copies) and If we had a clearer understanding of A better indicator would be the lan- watchmaker there is an expert, and peo- contemporary gerdany. You can order the what people in Ukraine actually think guage that people use in the home when ple wait until they’re in Lviv to get their Lemko wedding “krysa” (very wide about things like the Ukrainian language, interacting with other family members. watches repaired. Maybe a block later beaded collar necklace) from them. statehood, relations with Russia and other This would seem to be an optimal envi- there is another smaller bookstore carry- Slyvka at 24 Teatralna Street, just past national-cultural issues, perhaps we would ronment for gauging language usage, free ing textbooks, and also has a large music/ the Vernissage, is a great little boutique not be surprised that “We have what we of social or professional pressures from spivanyk (songbook) selection. have,” as former President Leonid that sells all kinds of one-of-a-kind art friends, co-workers, or bosses. Globus is a small bookstore on the Kravchuk famously observed. and crafts. Don’t miss it. And here, at first glance, the situation rounded corner of Halytska Ploscha and Some clever fellow once said some- Across from the Vernissage, on looks rather positive for the Ukrainian Kniazia Romana (Prince Roman Street). thing to the effect that “Every country has Krakivska Street, is the Church of the language. If in 1992 nearly 37 percent of They have a good selection of art and the government that it deserves.” Now, Transfiguration – Preobrazhenska, with a people in Ukraine said that they primarily culture books, and I found their prices I’m not entirely convinced that this is majestic interior. As usual, the singing spoke Ukrainian at home, in 2010 that lower than in some other bookstores. indeed the case, particularly insofar as during the services is glorious. figure increased to nearly 42 percent. At Even though I have rarely found any- Ukraine is concerned. Just sayin’. On Lesia Ukrainky Street, past the the same time, however, those speaking thing there, the used book open-air mar- But, in the interest of getting a clearer Vernissage, is a small antiques store. The primarily Russian at home increased from ket at the feet of the Ivan Fedorov statue, picture of Ukraine today, one might want delightful street sign directing you to it 29 percent to almost 35 percent. The near the Lviv Archives, on Pidvalna, is to take a look at the latest results of the includes the English “Antics.” increases in both groups came at the an experience. How appropriate that old annual poll conducted by the Institute of Back on Independence Boulevard at expense of those who used both languag- books are sold all around the monument Sociology of the National Academy of Hnatiuka Street, the Ravlyk shop and es at home, a category that shrank by 10 to the first printer in Ukraine. Sciences of Ukraine, which has been gallery on the first floor of the percent. Incidentally, if you’re a pin collector, you tracking the views of Ukraine’s citizens on Ethnographic Museum are worth a stop. will find some treasures here. all manner of things since the early 1990s. (Continued on page 18) They have a fine collection of jewelry, If you cross Pidvalna and go up past original and reproductions of folk art, the Porokhova Vezha (Gunpowder Which language (languages) do you primarily speak at home? (in percentages) unique plaques of some of the very many Tower), at 2 Lysenko Street, 2 is the lion statues and monuments in the “City Svichado Bookstore. The publisher is 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008 2010 of Lions,” books, icons and other exclu- connected to the Studite Monastery and sive art objects. Yuriy Hayda, the director produces fine religious material, as well Ukrainian 36.8 36.7 36.9 37.6 39.1 38.2 38.4 41.8 38.0 42.0 41.7 of Ravlyk, has a pet special project to as children, art and literary books. Vera collect and photograph all the lion imag- Russian 29.0 32.4 33.1 33.4 36.0 33.2 34.3 36.4 39.2 36.8 34.9 Manko’s wonderful pysanka and ethno- es in the city, to document them all in a graphic books are best sellers for publication. (I was told that this building Both (depending 32.0 29.4 29.6 28.4 24.8 28.0 26.3 21.6 22.6 19.9 22.1 Svichado. on circumstances) will be housing the museum of the city And, of course, the big new bookstore of Lviv, and the Ethnographic Museum Other 2.0 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.3 0.8 0.9 chain – Є [Ye] – has two locations in will be moving to some other building.) No answer 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 Lviv, and across major cities in Ukraine. The main Lviv store is in the former (Continued on page 18) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25 No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 9 Lectures on Ukrainian genealogy spark great interest in Edmonton EDMONTON, Alberta – Recent lectures on Ukrainian Home: Discovering Your Ukrainian Roots,” he focused genealogy by John Pihach of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, on practical aspects of genealogical research. attracted enthusiastic audiences in Edmonton. Unrestricted access to materials in Ukrainian archives, Mr. Pihach spoke at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian locally available microfilms of overseas parish registers Studies as part of a lecture series on Austrian records for and many online databases have transformed the field. Galician family history. Mr. Pihach is a well-known geneal- Mr. Pihach advised members of the audience how to ogist and the author of a best-seller, “Ukrainian Genealogy: begin research at home with family members, other rela- A Beginner’s Guide” (CIUS Press, 2007). In gathering tives and their friends. Information may be found in birth, materials for his research, he made many trips to archives marriage or death certificates, passports, letters, enve- in Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria. lopes, photos and other papers. Family histories written In his presentation on March 31, Mr. Pihach focused on by relatives may reveal not only the name of an ancestral records created during the period of Austrian rule over village but also the names of many ancestors. Galicia and Bukovyna (1772–1918) that provide ample Local and church histories often include the place of information for Ukrainians, Poles, Germans and others origin of immigrant ancestors. Provincial vital records, with roots in Galicia who wish to acquaint themselves with obituaries and funeral-home records are other possible the daily lives of many generations of their ancestors. sources. Naturalization records, as well as registration Instead of establishing a bureaucracy to maintain vital and military service records of the 1940s, are reliable records, the Austrian authorities issued a decree in 1782 sources for the place of birth of an immigrant ancestor. assigning those duties to the Catholic Church, and later Passenger lists compiled overseas (e.g., Hamburg depar- to other denominations as well. ture lists) provide the name of every passenger’s home Most metrical records begin in 1784 and, ideally, should village. If your ancestor arrived in Alberta before 1900, exist in two sets: the original parish register and a copy, the the name of his or her home village will probably be Bishops’ Transcripts. Church metrical records incorporate mentioned in Vladimir Kaye’s “Dictionary of Ukrainian much more than data on births, marriages, and deaths. Canadian Biography of Pioneer Settlers of Alberta, They can be used to study marriage patterns, mortality 1891–1900,” Mr. Pihach advised. rates, local epidemics, the occupations of villagers and Several websites facilitate the rapid search of many records other aspects of village life. Parish registers preserved in and databases: www.ancestry.com, www.familysearch.org Ukrainian state archives that are free of privacy restrictions and www.collectionscanada.gc.ca, to name just a few. have been microfilmed by the Church of Jesus Christ of John Pihach displays his CIUS Press best-seller, Once the name of the ancestral village has been deter- Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and can be borrowed locally. “Ukrainian Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide.” mined, gazetteers can guide you to its location on a map, The Josephinian Cadastre (1785–1788), the Franciscan including correct spelling and additional information, Mr. Cadastre (1819–1820), the Stabile Cadastre (mappings, eastern Poland and western Ukraine. Several topographi- Pihach continued. Google Earth can also be used to 1819–1830, 1841–1851), indemnification records (1840s) cal series of maps of the region were published and are locate the village on a map or to provide a current aerial and other land/tax records (1870s) reveal the economic available online at http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/ view of the location. The state archives in Przemyśl condition of Galician peasants and document the evolu- topo/3felmeres.htm. (Peremyshl) have expulsion records of those whose roots tion of the region over a long span of time. Austrian military personnel files prior to 1868 have are in southeastern Poland and who had relatives deport- Creating cadastral maps was a task of the Stabile also been microfilmed by the LDS and are held at the ed from their ancestral region after World War II. Cadastre, which was initiated by an edict of Emperor Military Archives (Kriegsarchiv) in Vienna. More recent “Ukrainian Genealogy” is still available in hardcover Francis I in 1817. The products of that mapping include personnel records appear to be lost. ($64.95) and softcover ($39.95) (plus taxes and shipping; cadastral maps (Katasterkarten), field sketches (Feldskizzen), On April 1 Mr. Pihach gave a second talk to an over- outside Canada, prices are in U.S. dollars). Orders can be indication sketches (Indikationsskizzen) and various texts. flow audience of more than 100 at the Provincial placed via the secure online ordering system of CIUS Both sketches and maps were drawn to scales of Archives of Alberta, at an event organized jointly by the Press at http://www.ciuspress.com or by contacting 1:2,2880, 1:1,440, or 1:720. They display the exact loca- Alberta Society for the Advancement of Ukrainian CIUS Press, 430 Pembina Hall, University of Alberta, tion of ancestral homes and fields. These cadastral Studies and the Alberta-Ukraine Genealogical Project. In Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2H8; telephone: 780-492- records are preserved in a number of archives in south- his presentation, “From Your Home to the Ancestral 2973; fax, 780-492-4967; e-mail, [email protected]. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

Education Ministry. For example, the legis- university’s own tests. These are merely Resistance grows... lation includes the concept of plagiarism, avenues of corruption, the roundtable’s (Continued from page 1) which is worth condemning. Additionally, participants said. the definition of a “classic university” is no In 2008 and 2009 standardized admis- “The Time of a Cheap Clown. Ukrainian longer determined by its number of stu- sions tests were the single criteria on the Education: Trials of Woeful Reform.” dents – a clause that threatened to classify government allowed universities to use in “The Education Ministry’s current legis- Kyiv Mohyla Academy and the National conducting admissions. Proponents said lation is all about money,” said Dr. University of Ostroh Academy as colleges. this significantly reduced corruption, while Viacheslav Briukhovetsky, the university’s Dr. Andrii Meleshevych, the dean of critics said it excluded other important fac- former longtime rector. “The word ‘ability’ legal studies, participated in the legisla- tors, such as high school grades. in this version of the law is lost. Why do tion’s preparation. Progress was made “There’s a very high threat of various students need ability? Fork over the since the first draft, he said, but it still con- corruption schemes in college admissions money! That’s the quintessence of this leg- tains significant flaws, such as the absence at the current moment,” Ms. Orobets said. islation. Everything is oriented toward con- of any concept of interdisciplinary studies. “The category of applicants has grown by trolling money streams.” “Why is this important? If we look at the who can gain admission beyond standard The university decided to publish the scientific achievements attained by Nobel testing, whether by [university] tests or book just as the ministry concluded prepar- Prize winners in the last 10 years, then we’ll through exemptions. The number of loop- ing its retrograde legislation, “On Higher see that this research brings together two or holes in the rules of college admissions has Education,” said Dr. Serhiy Kvit, the uni- more sciences,” he explained. grown.” versity’s rector. The articles and interviews The legislation also fails to provide Zenon Zawada Ms. Orobets read a letter she obtained were originally published in the mass media Ukrainian students with the means to have Dr. Serhiy Kvit, president of the National that was authored by Mr. Myroshnichenko, between 2010 and 2011. their academic degrees earned in the West, University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. who also serves as the president’s represen- “This book is valuable in the sense that recognized within the Ukrainian academic tative in the Verkhovna Rada, which com- practically all its articles were scattered bureaucracy, Dr. Meleshevych said. “The So far only one draft of the bill “On pares President Yanukovych’s priorities in throughout the Internet,” Dr. Kvit said. only option offered,” he said,” is the Higher Education” has been registered education reform with those in the “With all respect to the network, with time degrading procedure of ‘nostrification.’” with Parliament. Authored by Party of Education Ministry’s draft legislation. these publications would have stopped “Under Tabachnyk, the ministry became Regions National Deputy Yurii It cites “a complete absence of autono- drawing the attention of our readers. At an ideological center of Sovietization and Miroshnychenko, experts said it signifi- my of higher educational institutions,” she that, we’re the single university that’s real- Russification,” said Dr. Volodymyr cantly differs from the drafts revealed by related. “The Education Ministry is istically voicing its position, while others Panchenko, the university’s vice-president the Education Ministry, which is still work- increasing its influence on state higher edu- are doing it covertly. So for us, this book is of coursework. “During the time of [former ing on the final version. cational institutions and doesn’t support important as a certain symbol of the strug- President Leonid] Kuchma, Tabachnyk “I have the impression that this bill, like their independence, complicates and wors- gle.” wanted to create a structure that would be a a bride before marriage, is being hidden, so ens the situation. This is a significant wors- The derogatory reference to Mr. division of agitation and propaganda. It that it’s not stolen or cursed,” Pavlo ening of the situation, as compared with Tabachnyk as a “cheap clown” is borrowed didn’t happen then, but this division exists Polianskyi, board chairman of the the current law.” from fellow Party of Regions member and today. Only it’s called the Ministry of Education Monitoring Center, told a June 3 “That’s the general conclusion and current Infrastructure Minister Borys Education, Science, Youth and Sports.” roundtable discussion held in Kyiv on the slap on the face that the Presidential Kolesnikov, who coined the reference back topic “College Admissions: What Do the Administration is giving this reform in 2008. The articles in “The Time of a Cheap ‘On Higher Education’ Bills Offer Society?” being prepared by Tabachnyk,” Ms. Kyiv Mohyla Academy has led the lim- Clown” were penned by Drs. Kvit, Yet, some details have already leaked. Orobets said. It remains to be seen which ited opposition against Mr. Tabachnyk Briukhovetskyi, Meleshevych, Panchenko For instance, the legislation grants the legislation the parliamentary coalition because his retrograde policies threaten the and Dr. Volodymyr Morenets, the vice-pres- Education Ministry and its minister 80 new will ultimately support. university’s unique advantages, such as its ident of scientific-educational studies. Dr. spheres of authority, Ms Orobets said. [For an interview with Lesia Orobets, Western-style curriculum that embraces Briukhovetsky quipped that he’ll offer the The new legislation grants universities see page 5.] interdisciplinary studies and offers the book as a gift to Mr. Tabachnyk once he the ability to examine three factors when nation’s only Ph.D. programs. leaves the post: “While he’s still minister admitting applicants. Besides standardized Yevhen Savvateyev is a fourth-year stu- The resistance, according to its leaders, though, he needs to count money instead of testing scores, they can consider high dent majoring in history at the National has gained in some concessions from the reading books.” school grades, as well as scores from the University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Mr. Omelchenko asserted, however, that Turning... there was no evidence to suggest Mr. Kuchma was responsible for the journal- (Continued from page 6) Pilgrimage to Ukraine ist’s murder. for extortion and murder with ties to the The Independent also stated that State highest levels of the state militia. While in Militia Gen. Oleksii Pukach had ordered October 2-14, 2011 custody, Honcharov, who was in custody Gongadze’s abduction after a decision by for a year and died in August 2003, sent a Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii diary of his activities to a human rights Kravchenko, a close ally of Mr. Kuchma. Led by Archpriest Rodion Laskowski watchdog group, the Institute for Mass Mr. Pukach was arrested by Procurator General Oleksander Piskun, Mr. Vayliev’s Information. The diary was to be read only predecessor, but was released six days after his death. In the diary, Honcharov later, after Mr. Kuchma dismissed the alleged that the Ministry of Internal Affairs procurator general, accusing him of abuse — Kyiv Pecherska Lavra-St. Michael’s Monastery was involved in the abduction and murder of power for personal gains. of Gongadze. Other evidence presented by the news- Within days Ukraine’s Procurator — Holy Trinity Monastery, Kitayevo paper included statements collected by the General’s Office (PGO) denied that it had PGO made by witnesses, and the newspa- any evidence to support the newspaper’s — Rivne and Lutsk (Museum of Orthodox Icons) per claimed that Mr. Vasyliev would be allegations. It responded to the article by able to destroy the documents after they underscoring that its investigation was pro- became public in order to maintain the — Pochaiv Lavra viding results. cover-up. Witness statements showed they On June 21, 2004, the press office of the had feared for their lives, should their Procurator General Hennadii Vasyliev — Crimea-Sevastopol-Chersoneses- identities ever become known. Three issued a statement explaining that its sus- investigators stated that 25 investigators St. George Monastery-St. Clemen’s Cave Monastery- pect was a person who was incarcerated for were watching Gongadze before his previous murders by decapitation. Serhii abduction, and were told to forget the sur- Livadia Palace-St. Volodymyr Cathedral Rudenko, press spokesman for the PGO, veillance activity had ever taken place. who would identify the suspect only as “K,” The newspaper further asserted that doc- said the individual had admitted to murder- uments in its possession pointed to mem- ing the journalist and had described in detail bers of the Kisil crime family. Hryhorii how the killing, and particularly the behead- Serhienko, a state militia investigative Cost: $2700.00 ing, had taken place. No motive for the kill- agent, and his colleague Olexander Muzyka ing was provided by Mr. Rudenko. had infiltrated the crime family. The infil- (includes Boston to Kyiv round trip air fare, National Deputy Hryhorii Omelchenko, trators carried out the order to murder said on June 17, 2004, that his ad hoc par- all hotels, bus and train fees, and all meals). Gongadze with members of the Kisil crime liamentary committee would send a family. Kisil, leader of the family, died in request to Mr. Vasyliev that he open a 2003 when his bulletproof German-made criminal case against Mr. Kuchma to luxury car exploded with him inside while investigate his involvement in the parked in downtown Kyiv. For more information contact Tatiana Kukunova Gongadze case. The committee concluded that Mr. Kuchma “was the main figure Source: “London newspaper claims it at 781-320-0102, or e-mail [email protected]. behind the criminal activities aimed had proof of Kuchma’s role in Gongadze’s against Gongadze” and that he “was the abduction,” by Roman Woronowycz, The organizer of the journalist’s abduction.” Ukrainian Weekly, June 27, 2004. 260 No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 11 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

Christine Syzonenko Zolotyj Promin of Connecticut. Syzokryli Dancers perform their “Pryvit.” St. George Festival features multitude of performers

NEW YORK – St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church hosted its 36th annual Ukrainian Festival from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15. The festival took place on Seventh Street, between Second and Third Avenues. The festival featured over 100 performers, and throughout the weekend there were numerous vendors selling Ukrainian arts and crafts, foods, and music/video products. People who attended the festival had the opportunity to watch performing groups on stage while visiting the different vendors on the street. Performers included the internationally renowned Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of New York, the Iskra Ukrainian Dance Academy of Whippany, N.J., Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Schools, the Voloshky Dance School from Philadelphia, singer Kristina Shafranska, duet singers Lidia and Gabriella Oros, the Zolotyj Promin dancers of Connecticut, the St. George School of Ballroom Dance, St. George Academy Girls’ Chorus, Singers perform during the evening show on Saturday. singer Bogena Dergalo, singer Anna Smith, and more. The St. George School of Ballroom Dance.

Dancers from the Iskra Ukrainian Dance Academy of Dancers from the Voloshky Dance School in Dancers from the Iskra Ukrainian Dance Academy of Whippany, N.J., in a dance from the Volyn region. Philadelphia. Whippany, N.J., present their “Bereznianka” dance.

Young dancers patiently wait backstage for their chance to perform. The audience crowds the stage to watch the performances. No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 13 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

of the visit. Pope John Paul II made a after the reform of the State Department handful of small political parties realize NEWSBRIEFS... pastoral visit to Ukraine on June 23-27, for Adoption and the Protection of that they have no chance of being repre- 2001. (Ukrinform) Children’s Rights. The adoption of sented in Parliament and implement (Continued from page 2) Ukrainian orphans by individuals from their policy settings, they will start the Proposal supports adoptions by diaspora the Ukrainian diaspora could provide a unification process sooner. Because if events, which will last until June 26, strong impetus for solving the problems this does not happen, it will be KYIV – The president of the Alliance included the opening of a memorial of orphanages in Ukraine and could pro- ‘Yanukovych forever,’ ” Mr. Hrytsenko plaque in honor of the pontiff’s visit to for Ukraine without Orphans, Ruslan mote the upbringing in families of older said, according to June 13 news reports. Ukraine, the presentation of the Maliuta, told an Ukrinform reporter on orphaned children and children with spe- He noted that the opposition should Ukrainian edition of the book “Witness to June 14 that the organization is planning cial needs, he said. Mr. Maliuta noted that unite not only for the parliamentary Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul to initiate legislative benefits for adoptive the assistance being provided to vote, but also for the presidential elec- II” by George Weigel, and the discussion parents from the Ukrainian diaspora. Ukrainian orphans by the Ukrainian dias- tion. “Even the opposition’s victory in of the religious and political significance However, such proposals will be made pora in the United States, Canada and the parliamentary elections will not other countries is “very significant,” add- allow conducting a different policy, ing that it is not limited to the opening of because after the return of the child-care centers in Ukraine and the pro- Constitution of 1996 practically all pow- vision of financial and humanitarian ers are concentrated in the hands of the assistance. There are many families of president. It is necessary to form a man- TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 Ukrainians abroad who have adopted agement team that could win the presi- or e-mail [email protected] orphans from Ukraine, he said, therefore, dential election and implement the poli- “we will consider at the national level the cy it considers correct,” Mr. Hrytsenko issue of introducing during inter-state underscored. (Ukrinform) SERVICES PROFESSIONALS adoption special privileges or any special process of assistance when the adoption Ukrainian Forbes on best cities for business is carried out by the Ukrainian diaspora.” KYIV – Odesa, Kharkiv and Lviv took According to the State Department for first place in the ranking of the best cities Adoption and the Protection of for doing business in Ukraine, says the Children’s Rights, children’s services June edition of the Ukrainian Forbes have registered over 1,700 families wish- magazine. The rating included 32 cities. ing to adopt an orphaned child. In 2005 At the bottom of the list (in descending Ukrainians adopted about 1,400 children, order of importance) are Horlivka, while in 2010 that number was over Dniprodzerzhynsk and Kirovohrad. Kyiv 2,200; meanwhile foreigners adopted is not found on the list because the maga- 2,100 children in 2005 and 1,200 children zine looked at the regions “in terms of in 2010. (Ukrinform) capital or foreign investors.” Journalists PRU aims to attract young people judged the cities on five indicators: human capital, purchasing power, invest- Karpaty Construction Company KYIV – The youth wing of the Party ment climate, economic stability and All work, large or small: complete home of Regions of Ukraine (PRU) has infrastructure, and comfort. (Ukrinform) announced that the presentation of a renovations, bathrooms, basements, CPU says PRU supports Svoboda roofs, masinry work, exterior and special discount card for young people interior painting. Call Vasili Cholak: will be held at a Ukrainian news agency KYIV – According to June 10 news 718-392-0138; cell 347-515-5437. in Kyiv on June 16. Discounts assigned reports, the Communist Party of Ukraine to the members of the Young Regions has said that it is obvious the Party of public youth organization will apply to Regions provides assistance, including purchases at partner stores of the dis- MERCHANDISE financial, to the nationalist Svoboda All- count club, as well as recreational and Ukrainian Union. The first secretary of medical institutions throughout Ukraine, the Luhansk regional committee of the Ukrainian Book Store according to a press release issued by Communist Party, National Deputy Bibliography, encyclopedia, the party. Ukrainian news media that Spiridon Kilinkarov, was quoted by the pedagogics received the announcement have inter- party’s press service as saying: “The preted the innovation as the PRU’s invi- 50% off media have long said that the Party of tation to young people to join its ranks June 1 – 30, 2011 OPPORTUNITIES Regions is financing Svoboda. I believe through discount cards and discounts at www.ukrainianbookstore.com that this is the case, taking into account bars. (Ukrinform) Toll Free 1-866-422-4255 the indifferent reaction of the Party of Earn extra income! Communist Party has 35,000 new members Regions to inadequate actions of The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Svoboda members, which sometimes Run your advertisement here, for advertising sales agents. KYIV – According to June 13 reports, border on terrorism.” He said that, if the in The Ukrainian Weekly’s For additional information contact Communist Party leader Petro Svoboda Union posed any threat to the Maria Oscislawski, Advertising Manager, Symonenko said at a plenary meeting of CLASSIFIEDS section. Party of Regions, the latter would have The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. the Communist Party of Ukraine that the found arguments to put an end to the party’s policy to rejuvenate its ranks has “neo-fascist methods” of this party. “It brought positive results. “Over the past turns out that the government is promot- three years the party adopted 35,000 ing Svoboda as a rival to the opposition Communists for a total number of in the elections,” Mr. Kilinkarov said. Marko Lutzky, DDS 111,000 members of the Communist (Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv Post) Party,” the press office of the Communist General Dentistry Party quoted Mr. Symonenko as saying. Majority of labor migrants in Russia The Communist faction is part of the par- KYIV – According to unofficial data th liamentary majority with the Party of 30 East 40 St. #706 Regions and the Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc. released at the end of May, about 1.5 mil- New York, NY 10016 However, the leaders of the Communist lion Ukrainians work abroad. Most of Party are talking about a possible with- them are employed in Russia (700,000), drawal from the majority if the the Czech Republic and Italy (200,000 (212) 697-8178 Verkhovna Rada adopts pension reform each), and Poland (about 150,000). This in its present form, which the was reported during a conference in By appointment only Communists says is “anti-people.” Warsaw on circulatory migration in (Ukrinform) Central and Eastern Europe. As noted by Oleksii Pozniak, a senior fellow at the 5% threshold may prompt opposition unity Institute of Demography and Social Research of the National Academy of Copper Mechanic KYIV – Anatolii Hrytsenko, the lead- Sciences of Ukraine, the official er of the opposition party Civic Position, Ukrainian statistics gives a figure of admitted that his attempts in the past few EPDM Roofer & Shingle Roofer 85,000 Ukrainian migrants abroad, but months “to coordinate the actions of more detailed calculations show 1.5 mil- opposition parties and engage in the pro- lion migrant workers who go mainly to needed for a local construction co. cesses of unification” have not been suc- Russia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, cessful. But he suggested in an interview Spain and Portugal. He remarked that with the Odesa Daily that one of the men work mainly in construction and — 10 yrs experience required. incentives toward unification could be various trades, and do physical work. Please call the introduction of a 5 percent threshold — OSHA safety cards a plus. Women tend to care for older people or for the upcoming parliamentary elec- children, or work in agriculture. — Car is a must. 845-353-3000 tions, which is envisaged in a new draft (Ukrinform) election law prepared by the Justice Ministry. “I think that when many of the (Continued on page 15) No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 15

the 64th World Newspaper Congress, the NEWSBRIEFS... 19th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2012 in Kyiv comes at a (Continued from page 14) time that the Ukrainian press operates in conditions that are evident in many post- President introduces jubilee medal Soviet countries – support for press free- KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych dom but weak protections that allow for on May 31 signed a decree introducing a recurrent violations, WAN-IFRA said in a new honor to be presented by the statement. “We are delighted that Kyiv Ukrainian president, the jubilee medal will host our 2012 meetings,” said “20 Years of Ukraine’s Independence.” Christoph Riess, CEO of WAN-IFRA. The medal was introduced as an award to “The city provides an outstanding venue citizens on the occasion of the anniversa- with many attractions, and also offers us ry of Ukraine’s independence. The jubi- the opportunity to aid media development lee medal will be awarded to citizens “for and work with our colleagues in Europe’s their significant personal contribution to second largest country.” As of June 1, establishing the independence of Ukraine, UAPP membership comprised 88 pub- consolidating its sovereignty and lishing companies, among which 41 are strengthening its international prestige, companies headquartered in Kyiv and 47 regional companies. UAPP members achievements in state development, publish more than 350 newspapers, mag- socio-economic and socio-political activi- azines, reference books and online publi- ties, as well as faithful and perfect service cations. (Ukrinform) to the Ukrainian people.” (Ukrinform) Yanukovych on World Newspaper Congress Tabachnyk: way too many universities KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych KYIV – According to news reports of said the decision to hold the World May 31, Minister of Education, Science, Newspaper Congress in 2012 in Kyiv indi- Youth and Sports Dmytro Tabachnyk cates Ukraine’s movement towards democ- believes that, in order to meet the educa- racy. The decision of the World tional needs of the population, Ukraine Association of Newspapers and News needs only 90 institutions of higher educa- Publishers (WAN-IFRA) to accept the tion instead of the 900 that exist today. The invitation of Ukraine’s president and hold minister said he is sure that, in accordance its congress in Kyiv proves that Ukraine is with world standards, a successful univer- confidently walking the path of democratic sity corresponds to 500,000-800,000 resi- reforms, Mr. Yanukovych said, according dents. “That is, if about 48 million people to a June 10 release by his press office. The live in Ukraine, then about 90 institutions president said he hopes that the congress of higher education would have been will see an exchange of views and experi- enough for us,” he said. Mr. Tabachnyk ences among journalists and publishers expressed the opinion that the quality of from around the world. The event will pro- education in many schools is poor, particu- vide Ukrainian media with an opportunity larly in the training of journalists. The to get acquainted with the world’s best minister also said that the new wording of standards, he added. (Ukrinform) the law on higher education, which has already undergone public discussion in Attempt to denounce BSF deal fails 600 schools, was to be submitted to the KYIV – The opposition has failed to Cabinet in early June. (Ukrinform) put on the Verkhovna Rada’s agenda the Ukraine to host world’s press question of denunciation of the treaty between Ukraine and the Russian On the TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING KYIV – The executive committee of Federation on the extension of Russia’s of our unforgettable Mother and Grandmother the World Association of Newspapers and Black Sea Fleet presence in Ukraine until News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) at its 2042. The motion of National Deputy meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on June 9 Andrii Parubii (Our Ukraine – People LUDMYLA SHARA WOLANSKY decided to hold the next World Self-Defense), received only 113 opposi- Newspaper Congress, World Editors tion votes in favor, according to June 15 and the SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING Forum and Info Services Expo in Kyiv news reports. On April 27, 2010, the of our beloved Father and Grandfather on September 2-5, 2012. It is expected Ukrainian Parliament approved the exten- that more than 1,500 delegates represent- sion of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s ing influential international media will presence in Sevastopol until 2042. In DR. OLEH MYROSLAW WOLANSKY visit Ukraine in September 2012, accord- exchange for the extension of the lease, ing to the Ukrainian Association of Press Kyiv got a discount on the price of gas. A MEMORIAL MASS (Ukrinform) Publishers (UAPP). The decision to hold will be celebrated on June 25, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Church in Kerhonkson, N.Y.

They selflessly dedicated their lives, talents, efforts, knowledge, spiritual largesse, and passion to serve their Ukrainian nation and their local community, by their matchless example lighting the way for the next generation. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE! 263 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25 No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

home compared to 33 percent 20 years The language... ago. Not much of a change for an age group that was about 10 years old or (Continued from page 7) younger when the Soviet Union collapsed and who were educated largely in What remains somewhat puzzling Ukrainian. At the same time, the propor- about these figures, however, is that the tion of those speaking Russian increased proportion of those speaking Ukrainian is from 34 percent to 39 percent. not, in fact, considerably higher. After all, If one looks at the younger generation during the past two decades there has of ethnic Ukrainians, the situation is even been a pronounced shift in Ukraine’s edu- more perplexing. In 1992 the proportion of cational system, an about-face from Ukrainian teens and young people who Russian to Ukrainian as the language of spoke Ukrainian at home was 46 percent; instruction at all levels from pre-school to today it is 40 percent. For those who are university. middle aged, those speaking Ukrainian has In the 1991-1992 school year, 50 per- dropped from 51 percent to 46 percent. S AVE THE DATE cent of all pupils (general education Lastly, let’s take a look at the regions. schools) were taught in Russian; nearly 20 Interestingly, there has been an increase years later, that number has been sharply in the proportion of people speaking cut to 17.9 percent. In all of Kyiv, we are Ukrainian at home in the eastern part of Come join the Sisters told, there are only five schools in which the country, from 4 percent to 12 percent instruction is entirely in Russian. Today, between 1992 and 2010. That’s a three- of the Order of St. Basil the Great 81.4 percent of schoolchildren are taught fold jump, but the numbers are so small to in Ukrainian; 20 years ago the corre- begin with as to render them insignificant in celebrating sponding figure was only 49.3 percent. in the larger scheme of things. In western The Ukrainianization of the school sys- Ukraine, Ukrainian-speakers increased 100 Years of Service in America! tem has been quite significant, resulting in from 75 percent to 91 percent during the the majority of schoolchildren now being same period. But in central and southern taught in Ukrainian everywhere except for Ukraine there has been no change to Crimea and the Donbas region. Yet, speak of, insofar as use of Ukrainian is SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2011 apparently this has had little if any real concerned. But in both regions, Russian- impact on the practical use of the speakers have increased, as they have in Philadelphia, PA Ukrainian language in the intimate sur- the east. The only net loss for Russian- roundings of the home (or elsewhere, for speakers has been in the West. that matter). The breakdown by nationality in differ- Divine Liturgy at 2pm; One explanation may well be that in ent parts of the country is for the most Ukrainian-language schools outside of part in line with the overall numbers. Reception and Banquet following western Ukraine everything other than the Ethnic Ukrainians in the west and in (ticket required for Reception and Banquet) lessons themselves continues to be con- the east who speak Ukrainian at home has ducted in Russian. Ukrainian-language increased: in western Ukraine from 87 schools fully immersed in a Russian- percent to 93 percent and in the east from language environment. For fans of “diver- 7 percent to 15 percent. In the center and More details available in September; sity,” that has to be right up there with a the south, on the other hand, Ukrainian Russian-speaking Ukrainian Parliament. speakers have lost some ground: a 3 per- or email [email protected]. But these figures are for the population cent decline in the former and a 5 percent at large. What about ethnic Ukrainians? loss in the latter, with corresponding It turns out that slightly fewer increases of Ukrainians speaking Russian Ukrainians today use Ukrainian at home everywhere except Western Ukraine. than they did in 1992: 49 percent and 51 What conclusions can we draw from percent, respectively. Again, statistically the data? Overall, if anything has insignificant for the number crunchers. changed after 20 years of independence But the proportion of Ukrainians convers- in the language arena it has not been for ing in Russian has jumped from 13 per- the better. At the very best, things have cent in 1992 to 28 percent in 2010 – i.e., it remained static. has more than doubled since Ukraine Presumably, the khamokratiya has not became independent. extended its “sovok” (Soviet mentality) The conventional wisdom is that these reach into the private lives of people con- things take time and that the language sit- versing with their spouses, children, and uation will change when the older gener- parents in their kitchens and living ation is replaced by young people. Maybe rooms. not so much. Today, 36 percent of all So, who is to blame and what is to be youths (age 18-29) speak Ukrainian at done?

In addition to regular fabric, and the Spending... linen, there is also a selection of mill- (Continued from page 7) woven Ukrainian-motif weaving by the meter, good for “obhortky,” and other Virmenska Vulytsia – Armenian Street, folk costume needs. I have seen this fab- is one of the oldest in the city, and the out- ric sewn into contemporary outfits, and side buttresses on most of the buildings on sometimes the prices seem to indicate this street indicate this. The whole street is this is “hand-woven.” an architectural and artistic museum. If you have too much stuff to fit in Dzyga, the art gallery and café at the end your luggage, you can mail it back to of the street is very interesting, but the yourself – the post office has great ser- antique shop inside is no longer there. vice, and will even pack your items into At the beginning of Virmenska is a its trademark yellow boxes. There is also new shop, Mamyna Svitlytsia (Mother’s the Meest company in Lviv. You can Parlor), selling a fine selection of embroi- always buy another suitcase at the mar- dery, weaving, sorochky, jewelry, and ket. Of course, I have never been known even embroidered shoes and boots by to do any of these... Lviv designers. This shop also holds cul- Have I tired you out yet? Well, set tural and literary events. The owner used yourself down at one of the cafés, order a to sell her embroidery at the Vernissage. Ukrainian beer or coffee, and rest as you If you want to buy fine Ukrainian watch the truly beautiful and elegant peo- linen, there are at least two fabric stores ple strolling by. Hey, you may see that with a good selection (and the prices are friend from Vancouver or Philly you good, about 50-60 hrv per meter, about haven’t seen in a long time! $10-12). A small fabric store is near the And, there is much more to see and do, Globus bookstore mentioned above. but that’s up to you. Tkanyny, a large store with a big selec- tion, is at the corner of Ivana Franka and Kniazia Romana (a good walk from the Orysia Tracz may be contacted at ory- center, but worth it). [email protected]. 255 No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 19

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Ukrainian American Youth Association of Boston honors Ukraine’s heroes and Ukrainka, as well as documents per- taining to the other five anniversaries being noted. A multi-media presentation prepared by UAYA English-language secretary Maria Fedynyshyn Saxe accompanied all of the presentations throughout the program. The annual commemoration of the heroes of Ukraine was begun in 1941 by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) at its second plenum; originally, the date for commemoration was set as May 23. May was chosen because it marked dates related to Yevhen Konovalets, the founder of OUN; Mykola Mykhnovsky, the ideologist of national independence; and Petliura, the leader of the fight for independence during the war years, 1917-1921. The purpose of the commemoration was twofold: to honor Vsevolod Petriv the memory of Ukrainian heroes and to Members of the Ukrainian American Youth Association’s Boston branch with the Rev. Yaroslav Nalysnyk on the parish rekindle the heroic spirit among grounds of Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church. Ukrainians, particularly youth.

by Peter T. Woloschuk 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s indepen- Boston), and the Ukrainian Educational dence. Center of Boston, dramatic readings and BOSTON – The Boston Branch of the The day began with a memorial liturgy recitations, and musical interludes, and Ukrainian American Youth Association at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic concluded with a picnic on the eight-acre (UAYA) on Sunday, June 5, held its annu- Church, followed by a “panakhyda” for parish grounds. al commemoration of the Heroes of those who gave their lives for the inde- The formal program, which was put Ukraine (“Sviato Heroyiv”). pendence of Ukraine and the laying of a together by Anna Kurniawka, Anna Nosal The event also marked a number of wreath on a symbolic burial mound with and Maryanne Zozula, began with the major Ukrainian anniversaries, including participation by the Ukrainian American communal singing of the Ukrainian the 150th anniversary of Taras Veterans of Boston. national anthem and an invocation by the Shevchenko’s death; the 140th anniversa- After the religious services, a com- Rev. Yaroslav Nalysnyk. Welcoming ry of the birth of Lesia Ukrainka; the memorative program in the parish center remarks were delivered by the president 135th anniversary of the Russian tsar’s drew almost 70 people. It was conducted of the UAYA Boston branch, Michael Ems Ukaz which banned the Ukrainian under the slogan “We Stand on Guard for Nosal Jr., and the president of UCCA language; 85th anniversary of the death of Freedom” (taken from a poem by Nil Boston, Vsevolod Petriv. Chief Otaman Symon Petliura; the 70th Khasevych) which consisted of greetings Biographies or explanatory notes were anniversary of the renewal of Ukrainian from Christ the King Parish, the then read for each of the special anniver- statehood in Lviv; the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian Congress Committee of saries being commemorated, followed by The emblem used during the Heroes of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster; and the America – Boston Branch (UCCA – excerpts from the works of Shevchenko Ukraine commemoration.

Ukrainian Human Rights Committee hosts Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak PHILADELPHIA – The Ukrainian parallels between Chornobyl and the which condemned all the Soviet officials, earmarked for Chornobyl never reach community of Philadelphia continued to recent nuclear accident in Fukushima, starting with former President Mikhail their destination, but simply disappear. mark the tragic 25th anniversary of the Japan. He said that there are between Gorbachev. After his address, Ambassador nuclear disaster in Chornobyl with a lec- eight and ten similarities between the Ambassador Shcherbak also spoke Shcherbak opened the floor to questions. ture by Dr. Yuri Shcherbak on Sunday, two. about the corruption associated with the After a lively and interesting question May 1. However, he underscored that the clean-up of Chornobyl, noting that mass and answer period, a reception followed Former Ukrainian ambassador to the greatest difference between Fukushima corruption around Chornobyl is rampant. during which attendees were able to min- United States and an expert on Chornobyl and Chornobyl is the blatant cover-up by He said large sums which were and are gle and speak with the ambassador. was hosted at the Ukrainian Educational Soviet authorities of the nuclear disaster and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, where in Ukraine, while in Japan there was no the president of the Ukrainian Human cover up. Rights Committee, Ulana Baluch Ambassador Shcherbak informed the Mazurkevich, opened the meeting. audience that his organization Green Ukrainian American Writers: In his talk, Dr. Shcherbak drew some World held a “Chornobyl Nuremberg” Call For Submissions

Ukrainian American Writers: A New Generation of Literary Voices, will present their annual reading on November 5th, 2011 at The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago. Three writers will be selected to read their work through a juried reading process. If you are a Ukrainian American writer and would like to submit your work for consideration, please send 3-5 poems or a 2-3 page excerpt from a short story, novel, or play that you would like to read via e-mail to [email protected]. Please include your name in the subject line, along with the genre of work you are sending. Past readers will be considered, provided that new work is forwarded for our review. The submission period is June 1st through September 15, 2011, and selected writers will be contacted via e-mail by October 1st, 2011. Ukrainian Human Rights Committee members with Ambassador Dr. Yuri Shcherbak in front of the Chornobyl exhibit prepared by Chrystia Charyna For more information please contact organizers Sonya Arko or Anna Senyk and Oksana Woroch. With him (from left) are: Orysia Hewka, Yara Golash at [email protected]. Snylyk, Ms. Senyk, Ms. Woroch, Tonia Katruk, Lesia Chmelko and Ulana Mazurkevich. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25 No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 21

Kyiv urged... Yonkers UAYA hosts seventh annual volleyball tournament (Continued from page 6) article posted online on May 25 explicitly considers the ways in which the Circassian decision may have an impact on the Crimean Tatars and through the Crimean Tatars on other groups inside the borders of the Russian Federation and other post-Sovi- et states. In an essay posted on the Materik.ru por- tal, Vladislav Gulyevich, a commentator for Kyiv’s Chas Pik weekly, argues that “Crimea and the project of Greater Circassia are steps along the path to the conquest of the entire Caucasus region” by the Western powers with Russian influence there being excluded (www.materik.ru/ rubric/detail.php?ID=12688). The success of such an enterprise, he argues, would hurt “not only Russia but also Turkey which would find itself in the position of ‘a loser who had not fought.’” And that, Mr. Gulyevich argues, makes the ideas of Ismail Gasprinsky “about the unity of Slavs and Turks“ especially important and a possible barrier to the further unravel- ing of Russia and its neighbors. Winners in the men’s division of the volleyball tournament (from left): Team Black Not, Team Zaxid, Team Lys “A.” Mr. Gasprinsky’s name and works may not be widely known in many quarters, but by Natalka Horbachevska Whippany, N.J., and Philadelphia. won the match, winning against the that appears likely to change in the coming In the men’s division, team Black Not, Yonkers team. The MVP of the girls’ weeks, given his ideas on this point which YONKERS, N.Y. – On April 16 the led by Peter Kolinsky with players from tournament was Ivanka Iwaskiw. Mr. Gulyevich outlines with approval and Yonkers branch of the Ukrainian Hartford, Boston and Yonkers, won first Following the end of the tournament, given a May conference in Moscow on the American Youth Association held its sev- place, defeating Sports Academy Lys there was an awards ceremony held at great Crimean Tatar thinker on his 160th enth annual volleyball tournament. The birthday (www.islamrf.ru/news/russia/ tournament is an annual spring tradition “A” in final matches 21-14, 21-14. the Ukrainian Youth Center in Yonkers. rusanons/16178/). in Yonkers and turnout for players was Chicago’s team Zaxid won third place. The winners were awarded trophies, with That conference as well as Mr. once again high. The MVP for this division was Peter individual medals. Gasprinsky’s ideas are likely to make the This year, nine teams competed in the Kolinsky. The tournament was organized once issue of the Soviet genocide of the Crimean adult division, five teams in the boys’ In the boys’ division, team Passaic again by Sammy Warycha, with help Tatars not only the focus of political division and two teams in the girls’ divi- won first place, the Chornomorska Sitch from Michael Kapitula and the Yonkers debates in Kyiv and Moscow but also lead sion. More than 130 players competed in “2” team placed second and the Sitch “3” “druzhynnyky” (young adults over 18) of other peoples, themselves victimized by the all day tournament. Teams came team placed third. Peter Chudolij of the Ukrainian American Youth Russian imperialism, to seek recognition from a wide range of cities: Boston, Passaic was named MVP for the division. Association. Special thanks were from other governments of what was done Chicago, Hartford, Conn., New York, In the girls’ division, there were two extended to everyone that helped set up to them. Brooklyn, Yonkers, N.Y., Passaic and participating teams. The team from Sitch and referee the matches. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

Soccer funds, and the presence or absence of This was the Ukrainian’s fifth time win- 145 kg snatch and a 176 kg clean and such a sculpture will not help improve ning the tournament, scoring 6.5 points jerk, totaling 321 kg, one kilogram more • Shakhtar Donetsk won the Ukrainian life in Kyiv,” he said. out of 10. Ivanchuk was tied with Le than the previous world record. The com- Cup final against Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 in Quang Liem of Vietnam, but had a better petition attracted over 600 competitors Sumy on May 25. This was Shakhtar’s • Vitali Klitschko was appointed a record for the tie-breaker. from almost every country in Europe. seventh Ukrainian Cup win. After a Ukrainian ambassador for the UEFA Euro- Fencing Wrestling scoreless first half, Shakhtar came to life 2012 volunteer program, and urged people with a goal by Eduardo in the 64th min- in Poland and Ukraine to “join the team,” • Yana Shemyakina won the gold Koki Naya (Taiho), a sumo wrestler of ute and by Adriano in the 87th minute. when recruitment began on June 14. “I medal in epée at the Women’s Grand Prix Ukrainian descent, was awarded the know many people expect a miracle from in Nanjing, China, on June 11. In the Order of Merit (third degree) on May 29 • Andriy Shevchenko, 34, announced Euro-2012, but it will not happen unless final match the Ukrainian defeated Anna for his significant personal contribution he plans to retire after the 2012 UEFA each of us contributes to the success of the Sivkova of Russia 15-9. The competition to strengthening the international authori- European Championship. “I have decided football [soccer] festival,” he said. attracted 135 competitors. ty of Ukraine and developing humanitari- to retire right after the Euro-2012. This is Tennis an relations between Ukraine and Japan. my final decision. We are all set to per- • Ukraine’s women’s saber team won a The award was presented by Mykola form at our best at our home European • Illya Marchenko lost to Igor silver medal at the Women’s Saber Team Kulinich, ambassador of Ukraine to championships, and I believe we can Kunitsyn of Russia 3-6, 6-1, 2-6 in the World Cup in Gent, Belgium, on June 12. Japan, who praised the sumo wrestler for challenge the clear favorites in the battle round of 16 at the Aegon International Ukraine defeated Spain 45-31, Poland his contribution to the deepening of for the title if luck is on our side,” ATP World Tour 250 Series tournament 45-44, and Italy 45-43. In the final, friendship and mutual understanding Shevchenko was quoted on FIFA’s offi- in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on June Ukraine lost to Russia, 40-45. between Ukrainian and Japanese peoples. cial website. 12-18. In the first round Sergiy Billiard Futsal Stakhovsky lost to Rainer Schuettler of • Olena Khomorova tied for bronze in Germany 3-6, 2-6 and Alexandr individual competition with Daria Ukrainians Yevhen Talov and Pavlo Ukraine’s border guards won an inter- Dlgopolov lost to Carlos Berlocq of Schnieder of the U.S.A., at the Yves Radinov had a showdown in the finals of national futsal tournament on May 16 in Argentina 5-7, 2-6. The tournament is Brasseur Challenge World Cup Women’s the European Pyramid Championship Odesa, with teams from Moldova, played on grass. Saber in Gent, Belgium, on June 10-11. held on May 19-23 in Volgograd, Russia. Azerbaijan, Romania, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and Russia. In the finals, Talov won the tournament 7-5. Prize • Sergiy Stakhovsky and Alexandr • Anatoliy Herey won the silver medal money awarded totaled $27,000. Ukraine defeated Moldova in a penalty Dolgopolov advanced to the third round in the men’s epée event at the U-23 shootout. A tournament for the manageri- of the men’s singles in the Roland-Garros European Fencing Championship in Hockey al staff was also held, with Ukraine French Open tournament in Paris, France, Kazan, Russia, on May 27-31. In the defeating Russia. The event was orga- Ukraine’s press office of the Cabinet on May 17 – June 5. Stakhovsky (31st) final, Herey lost to Poland’s Mateusz nized by the State Border Service of of Ministers reported on Monday, May lost to David Ferrer (7th) of Spain 1-6, Nycz 14-15. Ukraine. 1-6, 3-6; and Dolgopolov (21st) lost to 30, the creation of a national hockey league in Ukraine. The aim is to foster Boxing Viktor Troicki (15th) of Serbia 4-6, 6-3, • Olga Kharlan won the bronze medal 3-6, 4-6. Alona Bondarenko was elimi- better competition between clubs, create at the Women’s Saber Grand Prix in more interest in the sport with the cre- • Maxim “Tiger” Bursak (22-0-1, 8 nated in the first round by Jelena Tianjin, China, on May 21. In the finals, KO) retained his WBO middleweight title Jankovic (10th) of Serbia 3-6, 1-6; and ation of new teams and enhance the com- the Ukrainian lost to Russia’s Julia petitiveness of the national hockey teams. against Carlos Adan Jerez (31-14-3, 17 Viktoriya Kutuzova was defeated by Gavlirova 14-15, Gavrilova lost to KO) of Argentina at Kobzov Concert Hall Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 3-6, China’s Min Zhu 15-14. Gymnastics in Kyiv on Sunday, May 29. Judges 6-4, 2-6, also in the first round. scored unanimously after 12 rounds in Martial arts Natalia Moskvina and Maryna Kyiko favor of Bursak 120-106 across the board. • Alexandr Dolgopolov lost to Victor won gold medals in Women’s Bursak is ranked in sixth place at 160 lbs. Hanescu of Romania in the semi-final • Viacheslav Densyov (100 kg) won Synchronized Trampoline event at the by the World Boxing Organization and in match of the Open de Nice Cote d’Azur the gold medal at the Men’s Judo World second Federation of International ninth place by the International Boxing tennis tournament held on May 15-21 in Cup in Talinn, Estonia, on June 11-12. Gymnastics World Cup on May 27-28 in Federation at 168 lbs. Nice, France, losing 3-6, 3-6. Along the Artem Bloshenko won bronze in the St. Petersburg, Russia. The next competi- way the Ukrainian defeated David Ferer same weight division. Serhiy Drebot (66 tion will be held in Wuxi, China, on July • Vitaliy Konstantinov (69 kg), Evhern of Spain 6-4, 1-6, 7-5; Pere Riba of Spain kg) tied for the bronze medal with Jasper 2-3. Krutko (75 kg), Enver Tuktarov (81 kg) 7-6, 7-6; and Filippo Volandri 7-5, 6-3. De Jong of the Netherlands. Diving and Dmytro Rudenky (+91 kg) won sil- Shushuana Gevondyna (52 kg) and ver medals at the Korotkov Memorial • Alona Bondarenko advanced to the • Ivanna Makukha (78 kg) won silver med- • Illya Kvasha and Oleksiy Prygorov Elite Men boxing tournament in quarterfinal round of the e-Boks Sony als at the Senior European Cup in won silver medals in the men’s 3-meter Khabarovsk, Russia, on May 17-22. The Ericsson Open tennis tournament held in Orenburg, Russia, on May 21-22. In team springboard synchronized event at the tournament attracted 100 boxers from 17 Copenhagen, Denmark, on June 4-12. classification, Ukraine finished in third final stage of the FINA Diving Grand countries. Bondarenko was eliminated by Perta Prix on June 10-12 in Bolzano, Italy. Martic of Croatia 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 on June place. The competition attracted 250 competitors from 23 coutnries. Anton Zakharov and Dmytro Mezhensky • Vitali Klitschko, a deputy of the 10. In doubles, Alona and her sister won bronze medals in the men’s synchro- Kyiv City Council, said he opposes the Kateryna Bondarenko lost to Alexandra Dance nized 10-meter platform event construction of a monument to him and Panova of Russia and Tatiana Poutchek Roman Gerbey and Vera Bondareva his brother, Wladimir, in the city of Kyiv. of Belarus 1-6, 3-6. Olga Savchuk and • Olena Fedorova and Anna Pysemska The capital city, he said, is currently fac- Kathrin Woerle of Germany lost to won the bronze medal at the International Dance Sport Federation World Cup Ten won bronze medals in the 3-meter spring- ing more urgent problems that need to be Johanna Larsson of Sweden and Jasmin board synchronized diving event at the immediately resolved. “We need to deal Woehr of Germany 3-6, 4-6. Dance in Szombathely, Hungary, on June 11. Dancers from 24 countries competed fifth stage of the FINA Diving Grand with the repair of roads and elevators, the Chess Prix held in Rostock, Germany, on May development of parks and squares, as in the event. The competition was part of the 46th Savaria Dance Festival Open. 27-29. Oleksandr Gorshkovozov and well as the upgrading of the entire utili- Vasyl Ivanchuk won the 46th Oleksandr Bodnar won silver medals in ties system. I hope that the city will find Capablanca Memorial chess tournament Athletics the men’s 10-meter platform synchro- the way how to better spend budget held in Havana, Cuba, on May 10-21. • Olesa Povh won the silver medal in nized event. women’s 100-meters and Olha Saladukha Rowing won tile silver medal in women’s triple Explore the archives of The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda online: jump at the fifth edition of the IAAF Ukraine’s women’s team (Kateryna www.ukrweekly.com Diamond League in Oslo, Norway, on Tarasenko, Olena Buryak, Anastasia www.svoboda-news.com June 9. Kozhenkova and Yana Demenyeva) won the quadruple scull event at the FISA • Vita Styopina tied for silver with Rowing World Cup in Munich, Germany, Our online archives are made possible by our generous sponsors: Nadezhda Dusanova of Uzbekistan and on May 27. Ukraine’s men’s team (Yuriy Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union Xingjuan Zheng of China in the women’s Ivanov, Ivan Futryk, Oleksandr Nadtoka Shevchenko Scientific Society U.S.A. high jump at 1.9 meters at the Dunlop and Ivan Dovhodko) won bronze in the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on May 15 same event. Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union in Shanghai, China. Shooting Anonymous donor Weightlifting Olena Kostevych won the 10-meter SUMA (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union Vasyl Martyniuk won the gold medal women’s air pistol event at the Heritage Foundation of 1st Security Federal Savings Bank at the European Masters Weightlifting International Shooting Sport Federation Championships in Heinsheim, Germany, Rifle and Pistol World Cup held at Fort Bahriany Foundation held on May 28–June 4. Martyniuk set a Benning, Ga., on May 14-23. More than and others world record for his age group (40-44) 600 competitors from 70 countries partic- and the 105 kg weight division, with a ipated. No.25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 23

June 23 General meeting and barbeque, Ukrainian Canadian July 9 Clam bake, Ukrainian American Educational Center of Ottawa Professionals and Businesspersons – Ottawa Branch, home Dedham, MA Boston, 508-245-1890 or www.ukrainiancenter.org of Bob Seychuk and Ilonka Bogish, 613-228-0990 July 11-22 Ukrainian Dance Workshop. Ukrainian Cultural Institute, June 25 Parish picnic and festival, St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Dickinson, ND 701-483-1486 Woonsocket, RI Church, 508-883-9952 or 508-883-7902 July 17-August 7 Dance Camp, Ukrainian Homestead, June 25-26 Lemko Vatra, Organization for Defense of Lemko Western Lehighton, PA 215-657-1758 Ellenville, NY Ukraine, Ukrainian American Youth Association resort, 845-647-7230 July 23 USCAK East soccer tournament, hosted by the Ukrainian Horsham, PA American Sports Center Tryzub, 215-343-5412 June 26 Taras Shevchenko monument unveiling, St. John the August 4-5 Ukrainian Youth Games, sponsored by the Ukrainian Ottawa Baptist Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine, 613-723-1673 Kerhonkson/ Sports Federation of the United States and Canada, or www.st-john-baptist-shrine.ca Ellenville, NY Ukrainian Youth Association resort and Soyuzivka Heritage Center, www.soyuzivka.com June 26 “Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers,” from Halifax to Ottawa Edmonton, arrives in Ottawa, 613-230-2961 or August 6-7 Soccer tournament, hosted by Kryla Sports Club, Camp [email protected] Baraboo, WI Baraboo — Ukrainian American Youth Association, 773-486-4204 June 27–July 2 Ukrainian Folk Dance Camp, Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA 570-708-1992 or www.ukrhomestead.com August 6-20 Kobzarska Sich bandura camp, All Saints Camp, Emlenton, PA [email protected] or 734-953-0305 June 30 Free concert, “Ukrainian American Night,” featuring the East Meadow, NY Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Eisenhower Park, August 13-21 International Ukrainian Football (Soccer) Tournament, [email protected] Toronto Ukrainian World Congress, Centennial Park Stadium, www.iuft.net July 2-3 Ivan Kupalo festival, Ukrainian National Federation – Hawkestone, ON Toronto Branch, Camp Sokil, www.unftoronto.com Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events July 2-3 Tennis tournament, Ukrainian Sports Federation of the advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Kerhonkson, NJ U.S.A. and Canada – East, Soyuzivka Heritage Center, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors www.soyuzivka.com and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

May we To reach The Ukrainian Weekly call (973) 292-9800, and dial the appropriate extension (as listed below). help you? Editorial – 3049, 3088 • Production – 3063, 3069 • Administration – 3041 Advertising – 3040 • Subscriptions – 3042 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 No. 25

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, June 25 ODUM Reunion will take place at the Ukraina grounds. Join us to celebrate WOONSOCKET, R.I.: St. Michael’s the 50th anniversary of camps of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will holds Ukrainian Democratic Youth its annual Ukrainian Festival at 11 a.m.- 216 Foordmore Road 1-845-626-5641 Association (known by its Ukrainian P.O. Box 529 6 p.m. at 74 Harris Ave., Woonsocket, [email protected] acronym as ODUM). The agenda for the Kerhonkson, NY 12446 RI 02895. There will be plenty of weekend activities includes a dance Ukrainian food, popular picnic fare and with the band Solovey reuniting, a bon- June 26 - Beginning of summer July 24 - July 29 - Heritage Camp cool refreshments. Admission is free. fire, concert, golf tournament, assembly season session 2 For more information call 401-762- and children’s activities. Check out the 3939. June 26 - July 2 - Tabir Ptashat July 24 - July 30 - Sports Camp website http://www.odum.org, which session 1 links to ODUM Camp Reunion for session 1 Friday-Sunday, July 1-3 more details or call Lisa Petrusha June 26 - July 7 - Tennis Camp Dance Camp July 24 - August 6 - LONDON, Ontario: Zustrich 2011 Hawkins, 434-841-2973. Fourth of July Weekend - session 1 Zabavas to be announced July 30, 9:30 pm - Zabava - Luna July 3 - July 8 - Tabir Ptashat session 2 July 31 - August 6 - Sports Camp PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES July 3 - July 16 - Dance Workshop session 2 Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a July 8 - To be announced August 6, 3 pm - Dance Camp Recital service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the July 15 - July 17 - 9:30 pm - Zabava - Na Zdorvya Ukrainian community. Ukrainian Cultural August 7 - August 20 - Dance To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, Festival Camp session 2 written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type July 17 - July 22 - Heritage Camp August 13, 9:30 pm - of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, session 1 Miss Soyuzivka - Zabava - and a phone number to be published for readers who may require additional July 17 - July 23 - Discovery Camp Svitanok information. Items should be no more than 100 words long; longer submissions are subject to editing. Items not written in Preview format or submitted without all July 22 - July 24 - Adoption August 20, Weekend 3 pm - Dance Camp Recital required information will not be published. July 23, 9:30 pm - Zabava - to be 9:30 pm - Zabava - Fata Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date announced Morgana of publication. No information will be taken over the phone. Items will be published only once, unless otherwise indicated. Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. Information should be sent to: [email protected] or Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, 973-644-9510. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments; simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message.