The Ukrainian Weekly 1997, No.4

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Radio Canada International gets extension — page 3. • Diversity Visa Lottery — page 5. • Ukrainian Free University marks 75th anniversary — page 10. HE KRAINI A N EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXV No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 1997 $1.25/$2 in Ukraine Defiant Moscow mayor travels The 53rd Presidential Inaugural to Crimean city he says is Russia’s features an ethnic perspective by Roman Woronowycz Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet that is by Michael Sawkiw Jr. Kyiv Press Bureau based there, which they claim is Russian Ukrainian National Information Service regardless of the fact that Soviet Premier KYIV – Moscow’s Mayor Yurii Nikita Khrushchev returned Crimea to WASHINGTON – The final inaugura- Luzhkov continued to test the patience of Ukraine in 1954 and that officially Russia tion of the 21st century, President William Ukrainian government officials with an has stated again and again that it has no Jefferson Clinton’s second, America’s unannounced and perhaps illegal visit to the claims on the city. Ukraine and Russia 53rd, was commemorated by three days of city of Sevastopol, located on Ukraine’s have been negotiating the split of the fleet festivities in the nation’s capital on Crimean peninsula, on January 17. more than four years. January 18-20. The theme of the week- There he again stated that the city “has Mr. Luzhkov proposed a resolution in end-long celebration was “An American been and will continue to be Russian” and December in the Russian Federation Journey,” a multi-faceted program that highlighted America’s strong ethnic and that the issue will be decided in Russia’s Council, the upper chamber of the cultural heritage through performances, favor by international courts. Parliament of which he is a member, exhibits, lectures and galas, and culminat- Lately Mr. Luzhkov has been at the which in essence declared that ed in the traditional oath of office, forefront of an onslaught of words by Sevastopol belongs to Russia. Inaugural parade and Inaugural balls. some Russian leaders over the status of The powerful mayor, who most politi- A Sunday afternoon brunch, “A cal analysts believe has presidential aspi- Celebration of the American Mosaic,” was rations and could win an election, hosted by the National Democratic Ethnic showed up at a ceremony in which an Democrats unite Coordinating Committee (NDECC), a sub- apartment building financed from the committee of the Democratic National budget of the city of Moscow was Committee (DNC), one of the main orga- for next elections opened for families of servicemen of the nizers behind many inaugural events. A Russian Black Sea Fleet. to Verkhovna Rada celebration of the strength of America’s There he stated that no documents exist ethnic diversity, the brunch was entirely that can prove that Sevastopol was ever produced by ethnic leaders and communi- by Roman Woronowycz turned over to the Ukrainian SSR in 1954. ties throughout America. Planned as an eth- Kyiv Press Bureau “Even after Khrushchev made up his mind nic salute to the victory of President while in a state of intoxication to turn over Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore, the KYIV – On January 22, the 79th Crimea, Sevastopol was a separate, inde- anniversary since the declaration of pendent administrative unit and was never (Continued on page 4) President Bill Clinton Ukraine’s independence by Mykhailo given to Ukraine,” said Mr. Luzhkov, Hrushevsky and the Central Rada of the according to Interfax-Ukraine. Ukrainian National Republic, close to It was another major headache for 1,000 people gathered to hear leaders of Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister O fficials describe U.S.-Ukraine ties the Ukrainian democratic movement Hennadii Udovenko, who days earlier had announce the formation of an electoral to deal with an alleged correspondence bloc for the next elections to the between Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry as “highest level of bilateral relations” Verkhovna Rada. and a presidential aide that mentioned a by R.L. Chomiak highest level of bilateral relations.” With blue-and-yellow flags flapping scheme to orchestrate the impeachment of Special to The Ukrainian Weekly It was also in September 1996 that the in a bone-chilling January wind, Ukraine’s President Leonid Kuchma Binational Commission headed by Vyacheslav Chornovil, Ivan Drach, Oles because of his “anti-Russia policies.” WASHINGTON – In the short span of President Leonid Kuchma and Vice- Shevchenko, Pavlo Movchan and a host This time Minister Udovenko sent a five years, diplomatic relations between President Al Gore was announced. of other political leaders mounted the message to Russia’s Ambassador to the United States and Ukraine have risen President Kuchma had suggested the cre- rear bed of a beat-up truck on St. Sophia Ukraine Yurii Dubinin. According to a from active non-recognition by the U.S. to ation of such a commission during his Square to declare that they would work spokesperson in the Foreign Affairs what a veteran Ukrainian diplomat calls February 1996 visit to Washington, and together to win a majority in the Ministry’s press office, that message “the highest level of bilateral relations.” within six months it became a reality. Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada in 1998. describes Mr. Luzhkov’s remarks as The diplomat, Valerii Kuchynsky, The Kuchma-Gore Commission was As Mr. Chornovil put it: “We expect to “unfriendly and aimed against Ukraine’s deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of established, the senior administration form one platform, to become one faction territorial integrity, which is recognized Ukraine to the U.S., spoke on January 17 official noted, “as a place to achieve in Parliament and later perhaps to form a by the international community and at the Center for Strategic and greater results.” Its four committees – single party, or at least a coalition.” Russia in particular.” International Studies (CSIS) during a Foreign Policy, Security, Trade and The union, called the All Ukrainian Mr. Udovenko said at a press confer- meeting of the American-Ukrainian Investment, and Sustainable Economic Council of National Democratic Forces, ence on January 21 that Mr. Luzhkov, Advisory Committee’s Political-Economic Cooperation – are headed by high-level sealed its compact earlier in the day at a for all his verboseness and potential Working Group chaired by Paula officials from both governments and congress at the National Opera House. It political power, does not speak for the Dobriansky and Richard Murphy. have been meeting in Kyiv and includes Rukh – the Popular Movement government of Russia. “Let us allow this A senior Clinton administration offi- Washington to tackle urgent issues in of Ukraine, the Prosvita Society of Taras issue to be resolved through diplomatic cial, who spoke on the record but not for unison. Shevchenko, the Organization of channels. Today our assignment is to attribution, reported on the latest U.S.- In the sphere of economics, the offi- Ukrainian Intellectuals, and the All- build relations with Russia on good Ukrainian initiatives. He recalled that cial said both sides agree that Ukraine Ukrainian Union of Veterans. neighborly terms. Luzhkov’s actions do diplomatic relations between the two needs a stable base for government rev- Their leaders, Messrs. Chornovil, not and should not reflect Ukraine- countries began in January 1992, and enue; in the Ukrainian case this should Movchan, Drach and Ihor Yukhnovsky, Russia relations,” said Ukraine’s foreign noted that they have been deepening be a consumption tax, such as the value- respectively, represent a cross-section of affairs minister. “Neither Luzhkov nor since then. added tax (VAT), because an income tax, the democratic movement. All were anybody else who makes such statements “1996 was a very important year in the under conditions of low profits and low members of the original Rukh before will derail this process. We await the development of those relations,” he contin- incomes, would not generate sufficient splits in 1991 and 1994. In fact, the return of Mr. Yeltsin to an active role. ued. “It was marked in September by the revenue. coalition has adopted the motto, “Rukh – We feel that then relations will again willingness of both sides to talk about the Ukraine, he said, has received an Together Again.” normalize.” U.S.-Ukraine relationship as a strategic “extraordinary level of support” from the partnership.” It is this strategic partnership (Continued on page 19) (Continued on page 19) that Mr. Kuchinsky characterized as “the (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 1997 No. 4 NEWS ANALYSIS Meager results at CIS ministers meeting would not approve half-finished docu- Russian legislature and politicians ments. However, the Verkhovna Rada has MOSCOW — The January 17 session not yet passed the tax-reform package of the CIS Heads of Government necessary for the government to revise the claim Ukrainian port of Sevastopol Council addressed 17 proposed econom- by Orest Deychakiwsky ritory, and condemning Ukraine’s refusal budget draft. U.S. economist Jeffrey ic agreements but approved only nine of to recognize Sevastopol’s “Russian sta- Sachs, following a meeting with President them, Russian and Western media Moscow Mayor Yurii Luzhkov, in his tus.” The Federation Council vote fol- Leonid Kuchma on January 13, said the reported. Russian Prime Minister Viktor latest provocative statement regarding lows an overwhelming vote (282-0) in Parliament’s repeated delays over adopt- Chernomyrdin declared that the council the status of the Ukrainian port city of October 1996 by the Duma, Russia’s ing tax-reform legislation were “danger- had approved an over-all concept for Sevastopol, stated during a visit there on lower parliamentary chamber, claiming ous,” Ukraina Moloda reported on CIS economic integration, but Russian January 17 that “Sevastopol was and is a Sevastopol for Russia.

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