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THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVII No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 $1/$2 in Monument commemorates 100th birthday of Verkhovna Rada approves by Zenon Zawada Press Bureau 2009 budget by slim majority KYIV – have already begun com- by Zenon Zawada memorating the 100-year anniversary of the January Kyiv Press Bureau 1 birthday of the 20th century Ukrainian liberation hero, Stepan Bandera. KYIV – Ukraine’s Parliament cobbled together the mini- More than 3,000 residents, defying mum 226 votes needed to pass the 2009 budget on snow and frigid temperatures, gathered across from December 26, 2008, before the New Year’s Day deadline. the State Oblast Administration building in Within three days, President put his Ternopil to dedicate the city’s statue to Bandera on signature on the nation’s chief financial document, but not December 26, 2008. without sharply criticizing it and the government of Prime Among those attending were Ternopil Mayor Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that drafted it, calling the bud- Roman Zastavnyi, State Oblast Administration Chair get “a tragedy,” among the worst in the last ten years. Yurii Chyzhmar, Oblast Council Chair Mykhailo “It’s lamentable that the nation has gotten used to the Mykolenko, Svoboda nationalist leader Oleh country’s budget being the subject of the hopes of one Tiahnybok and Bandera’s grandson, the 38-year-old person, who is painting a Fata Morgana with her unique acting skill,” President Yushchenko said, adding that city Stephen Bandera, a native Canadian who resides in budgets, which depend on the state budget, would be hit Kyiv. hardest. “The monument is for everyone who was called a Indeed the consensus among economists and political ‘banderivets’ because they spoke Ukrainian or had observers is the 2009 budget is a fragile document with sig- the desire to see a free Ukraine,” Mr. Bandera said. nificant flaws rooted in unrealistic economic expectations. The day’s speakers stressed Bandera’s role in the It projects Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 0.4 liberation struggle of Ukrainians, and noted that such percent, and an impossible inflation rate of 9 percent. It also statues were a sign of national consciousness being projects an exchange rate in the range of 7 hryvnia per $1 reborn in Ukraine. for the entire year. Ternopil sculptor Roman Vilhushynskyi created Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the former Verkhovna Rada chair the copper statue, which depicts a young Bandera and economics minister, said Ukraine’s GDP will decline decisively stepping forward, his right hand a closed by 3 percent at best. fist, as a massive flag flaps behind him. A responsible government would have decreased the The Ternopil dedication was the first of a series of budget’s social payments sharply and reduced the deficit statues to be erected, including a sculpture in Ivano- to zero in light of Ukraine’s steep economic decline, Mr. Frankivsk to be unveiled on January 1. Yatsenyuk said. The same day, Bandera’s native village of Staryi Instead, the budget consists of a $4.4 billion deficit, Uhryniv will host a museum dedication ceremony, or 3 percent of the projected GDP, above the recom- expected to be attended by President Viktor mended 2 percent. Yushchenko, who was vacationing in the Carpathian “No one will take on the responsibility of voting for a Mountains in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast for the realistic budget,” he said, expecting an amendment bill New Year’s holiday, the Presidential Secretariat in May 2009. “There is no political will for this, consid- reported ering everyone dreams of seeing themselves in the presi- The commemorations aren’t limited to statues. dent’s chair.” The Ukrainian government issued a commemora- The budget projects 238 billion hrv in 2009 revenue, tive postage stamp honoring the 100-year anniversa- Viktor Hurniak / UNIAN compared to 232 billion hrv in 2008, and 266 billion hrv in ry of Bandera’s birth, bearing the portrait created by spending, compared to 253 billion hrv in expenses in 2008. Ukrainian patriots at the December 26 unveiling ceremony (Continued on page 8) of the Stepan Bandera statue (background) in Ternopil. (Continued on page 9) Pittsburgh community welcomes Ukraine’s fi rst lady by Nickolas Kotow her at Pittsburgh International Airport were Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Dr. Oleh PITTSBURGH – First Lady Kateryna Shamshur, ambassador of Ukraine to the Yushchenko, wife of President Viktor United States, Dr. Daniel W. Pituch, the Rev. Yushchenko of Ukraine, arrived in Dr. Anibal and Sonya Hlutkowsky Soutus, Pittsburgh from Toronto on Friday evening, Peter Hlutkowsky, Bohdan Konecky, November 28, 2008. Alexander Konecky, Nickolas C. Kotow The reason for her visit was an invitation and Ashley Iddings from the University of by Bishop Robert M. Moskal to be the hon- Pittsburgh Medical Center publicity office. ored guest at the 20th annual bishop’s chari- Mrs. Yushchenko and her party then trav- ty gala of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of eled by motorcade to a nearby hotel. Her St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, which was to first night in Pittsburgh was spent at a pri- be held on Sunday, November 30, and to vate dinner hosted by the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. visit hospitals in Pittsburgh to acquaint them Soutus. with the Ukraine 3000 International On Saturday, November 29, was a busy Charitable Foundation and its medical work day for the first lady. A tour of Pittsburgh on behalf of the children of Ukraine. area hospitals, including the Oakland and Michael E. Haritan The first lady of Ukraine was greeted Lawrenceville sites of the Children’s Sharing a champagne toast to the United States and Ukraine (from left) are: with the traditional and salt by Luba Hospital of Pittsburgh, the Hillman Cancer Ambassador Oleh Shamshur, Bishop Robert M. Moskal, First Lady Kateryna Hlutkowsky, and Lesyk Konecky presented Yushchenko, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski and Msgr. Martin Canavan. her with a bouquet of flowers. Also greeting (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS

Ukraine beefs up defenses Landmark year for U.S.-Ukraine relations Medvedev to Ukraine: pay up KYIV – Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign MOSCOW – Russian President Dmitry with an eye on Affairs Volodymyr Ohryzko said on Medvedev has said Ukraine’s economy December 25 that he believes 2008 was a will face “sanctions and demands” from by Taras Kuzio marines, the best trained units in the armed landmark in the Ukrainian-American rela- Russia if Kyiv does not pay off its gas forces, as well as air force and anti-aircraft Eurasia Daily Monitor tions. The year, he said, was a “historical- debt. Mr. Medvedev’s remarks on Russian missile complexes (AMC). In the aftermath Since the Russian invasion of Georgia in ly active” one for the bilateral relation- television on December 24, 2008, came of the invasion of Georgia, these units would ship. In particular, U.S. President George August, Ukrainian President Viktor as the state-controlled gas giant Gazprom be strengthened and prioritized, Mr. W. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney Yushchenko has stressed the need to review warned Ukraine it would cut gas deliver- Yekhanurov said. and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defense priorities, with reference to the bud- ies on January 1 if new contracts were not The Pivdenmash company in all paid visits to Ukraine. Apart from this, getary allocations to the military (The signed for 2009. The Russian president Dnipropetrovsk, one of the largest military Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko Times, August 23). The president warned did not say what sanctions Moscow could industrial complexes in the former USSR, is and Foreign Affairs Minister Volodymyr that he would refuse to sign the state budget use against Kyiv, but warned that it had a developing a new AMC, the advantage of Ohryzko visited the United States. A road for 2009 unless it increased the military “whole arsenal of possibilities” at its dis- which is that it can be used to provide sup- map of the Ukraine-U.S. relations and budget for 2008. posal. Gazprom says Ukraine owes the port to both aviation troops and to infantry strategic partnership charter were signed Mr. Yushchenko’s demand for higher out- and naval forces. The new AMC, expected company more than $2 billion, including in 2008. The Council for Commerce and $805 million for November, $862 million lays came at a bad time, as Ukraine’s 2009 to enter production in 2010, will be used in Investments has proceeded to work. Mr. for December, and $450 million in penal- budget will be severely constrained by ground-to-air, ground-to-ground, and ship- Ohryzko noted that the United States was ties for late payment. Gazprom spokes- Parliament’s anti-crisis package adopted in to-ship anti-aircraft units and is undergoing active in promoting Ukraine’s Euro- man Sergei Kupriyanov told journalists October as a precondition for a $16.4 billion tests at Ukraine’s only test site near Atlantic integration. “I would say that this IMF standby loan from the International Feodosiya, Crimea. year was a breakthrough in terms of on December 24 that Ukraine’s state gas Monetary Fund. The president is unwarrant- Mr. Yekhanurov announced plans to development of Ukrainian-American rela- company Naftohaz told Gazprom officials ed in blaming the Yulia Tymoshenko gov- deploy new units to Ukraine’s long land tions, and we hope that this is proved by that they wouldn’t be able to pay the debt. ernment for the state of the military, inas- border with Russia. In the Soviet period, the outcome of my visit to the United Meanwhile, President Viktor Yushchenko much as it was starved of funds by all the eastern Ukraine had no military district; States, and the new administration will of Ukraine earlier in the day said the sides previous 13 governments. Ukraine’s two military districts were west- hold the same position as the previous had agreed to restructure the debt over Ukrainian Defense Minister Yurii ern and southern. A Northern Operational one did in this context,” the minister several months, and that Kyiv may return Yekhanurov announced plans to increase Command (NOC), headquartered in emphasized. (Ukrinform) some gas held in storage to Gazprom. “If Ukraine’s military presence in Crimea and Chernihiv on the Russian border, was creat- there is no contract signed for gas sup- to deploy new units on Ukraine’s border ed in the mid 1990s to cover Ukraine’s Ukraine mourns on December 26 plies to Ukraine in 2009 then we will not with Russia. Asked if he feared that the northern and eastern regions bordering KYIV – President Viktor Yushchenko be able to supply gas without contract on Crimea would become a “second South Russia. decreed a day of mourning in Ukraine on January 1,” Mr. Kupriyanov said. (Radio Ossetia,” Mr. Yekhanurov replied that The 8th Army Corps forms the basis of December 26, 2008, due to the explosion Free Europe/Radio Liberty) “Military provocation will not take place. NOC, which includes one airmobile, one in Yevpatoria, Crimea, that killed 27 peo- There are certain tendencies there, but we Rada votes no confidence in NBU artillery and three mechanized brigades, as ple. An explosion destroyed two sections have sufficient forces to localize a threat” well as the Army Aviation Regiment. The of a five-floor apartment block on KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada of (Tyzhden, November 7-13). Unlike South Army Aviation (air defense) Regiment was Nekrasov Street late on December 24. Ukraine on December 26 passed a no- Ossetia, Crimea has never been a frozen deployed in eastern Ukraine last year and According to Eduard Hrykovskyi, first confidence motion against the chairman conflict zone outside of Ukraine’s central provides a defense umbrella over economi- vice-chairman of Crimea’s Council of and the board of directors of the National control. cally important Donbas. In 2009 further Ministers, 19 people were found dead at Bank of Ukraine. The Rada also urged Mr. Yekhanurov pointed out that Crimea Ukrainian military units will be deployed on the scene on the day of the accident, but President Viktor Yushchenko to file a was different from South Ossetia because Ukraine’s land border with Russia (Delo, the Emergencies Ministry said that up to submission on NBU Chairman Volodymyr Ukraine had well-equipped security forces 40 people could be still under the rubble. based on the peninsula that included (Continued on page 14) Stelmakh’s dismissal to the Parliament. Twenty-one people were rescued. The resolution was adopted based on the According to preliminary reports, the results of a preliminary report issued by cause of the accident was an explosion of the temporary investigation commission cylinders filled with oxygen and acety- that is checking the NBU’s activity amid SBU stops separatism in its tracks lene that were kept in a cellar of the utili- the financial turmoil that hit Ukraine. The ty office building. President Yushchenko Verkhovna Rada resolved to submit the by Taras Kuzio asked the prosecutor’s office to file a and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko commission’s materials to the Procurator Eurasia Daily Monitor court order banning the organization, traveled to the scene of the accident. General’s Office. (Ukrinform) because its actions infringed upon Article (Ukrinform, Radio Free Europe/Radio The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) 110 of the Criminal Code. The organiza- Liberty) (Continued on page 14) has patted itself on the back for stopping tion has since been banned, and two of its separatism in three different regions: leaders have been charged with threaten- Donetsk, Crimea and Zakarpattia (www. ing Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The FOUNDED 1933 ssu.gov.ua, December 9). All three cases SBU is seeking the maximum legal sen- THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY involved pro-Russian organizations tence of five years imprisonment. financed from Russian sources. The Supporters of what the SBU called the An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., SBU’s statements do not provide details “so-called Donetsk Republic” have been a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. about the popularity of these separatist warned that their actions could lead to Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. movements or say whether they really charges. The SBU searched the homes Periodicals postage paid at Parsippany, NJ 07054 and additional mailing offices. constitute a threat to Ukraine’s territorial and workplaces of four of its leaders (ISSN — 0273-9348) integrity. where they confiscated a large volume of The Weekly: UNA: Separatism became a serious threat materials that could be used in trials, if Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 only in Crimea where it had the potential charges are filed. of turning into a frozen conflict, as in There is little information about the Postmaster, send address changes to: Moldova, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Unlike “Donetsk Republic” movement, but it The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz these three frozen conflicts, the Crimean probably includes those who support the 2200 Route 10 Editors: Matthew Dubas separatist movement was derailed in a ideals of the short-lived Donetsk-Krivoy P.O. Box 280 Zenon Zawada (Kyiv) non-violent manner by the SBU and from Rog Soviet Republic formed by the Parsippany, NJ 07054 internal splits within the separatist move- Bolsheviks on February 12, 1918. The ment. republic claimed territories in the Donbas The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] The SBU focused on the Sevastopol (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts), Kharkiv branch of the Institute for CIS Countries, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, and part of The Ukrainian Weekly, January 4, 2009, No. 1, Vol. LXXVII which was closed by a court order. The the neighboring Don region. Copyright © 2009 The Ukrainian Weekly Moscow headquarters of the institute is The republic was never recognized by headed by Konstantin Zatulin, who – anyone, including by the Russian SFSR. along with Liberal Democratic Party Today, neither the currently dominant leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Moscow Party of Regions in these four oblasts or ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov – has been banned the formerly dominant Communist Party from entering Ukraine. All three Russian is a separatist political force. Party of Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 officials have long espoused support for Regions oligarchs do not look favorably e-mail: [email protected] Russian territorial claims toward the port on Vladimir Putin’s Russia, as they see Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 of Sevastopol and Crimea. the Russian oligarchs facing imprison- e-mail: [email protected] A second threat neutralized by the SBU ment, exile or submission. Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 in Crimea was the People’s Front e-mail: [email protected] “Sevastopol-Crimea-Russia.” The SBU (Continued on page 4) No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 3 NEWS ANALYSIS: Little room for compromise with Russia over missile defense by Pavel Felgenhauer announced that it was “important for us to workplaces in Moscow, effectively incapaci- Eurasia Daily Monitor reset U.S.-Russian relations.” Mr. Obama tating Russia before a mass of other U.S. wants to cooperate with Russia on a “whole Moscow has wel- nuclear missiles from more distant locations Last-minute attempts by the outgoing host of areas, particularly around nonprolif- comed the message comes crashing in to destroy a helpless U.S. administration to reach some under- eration of weapons and terrorism” (“Meet Russia. The GBIs deployed in Alaska and standing with Moscow on outstanding arms- the Press,” NBC News, December 7). that a new dia- California could not possibly reach Moscow control issues have failed. Moscow has welcomed the message that a and therefore do not arouse any significant RIA-Novosti recently quoted “a high- new dialogue is possible, while talks with logue is possible Russian objections. ranking source” in the Defense Ministry as the outgoing Bush administration have been Mr. Rogozin recently told a Moscow saying, “The dialogue with the United States stalled, in hope of more concessions from with the incoming radio station: on arms control has been fruitless.” The Mr. Obama (Kommersant, December 9). “The missiles planned for Poland are ministry accused the United States of During repeated PowerPoint briefings in administration in double-purpose, very fast and modern weap- attempting to count only the so-called “oper- the past, Pentagon officials have explained the United States, ons. They can be guided by radar to inter- ationally deployed strategic warheads.” to their Russian counterparts that the cept ballistic and other flying targets, as well Moscow, on the other hand, wants to count ground-based interceptors (GBI) planned while talks with as targets on the ground. They would be able all existing strategic delivery systems for Poland and the radar in the Czech to reach Moscow in four minutes after take- regardless of whether they are equipped Republic are not aimed at Russia and do not the outgoing Bush off and are so precise they can hit the win- with nuclear warheads. The Russian military pose any threat. Indeed, the GBIs that have dow of our president’s office in the Kremlin. believes that the United States is seeking a been already deployed in Alaska do not administration I believe that their deployment is intended capability to secretly expand its nuclear seem to worry Moscow, though they have a for a disarming and disorganizing attack on potential “to undermine the control regime capability to hit Russian ICBMs over the have been stalled, the capital of Russia” (Ekho Moskvy, and strategic predictability” (RIA-Novosti, Arctic. Moscow feels threatened by the in hope of more November 28). December 9). planned MD deployments in Europe At present, it seems that Moscow will In early December NATO foreign minis- because the military assumes that it is not concessions from settle only for a full scrapping of U.S. mis- ters agreed to resume contacts gradually an MD system at all but a potent secret sile defense plans in Europe. Will the with Moscow; relations were chilled after attack weapon under the guise of a missile Barack Obama Obama administration be ready to concede Russian troops invaded Georgia in August, defense against Iran. Washington and its what Moscow would consider a major mili- and this thaw was welcomed by Russia’s European allies do not seem to fully appre- tary and political victory? Not only would ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin. At ciate this Russian anxiety. miles off target. The same nuclear intercep- the nightmare of a sudden U.S. attack be the same time, the NATO ministers said that The GBI missile is based on the so-called tors have a double use: They can be aimed curtailed, it would imply that in the future the planned U.S. missile defenses in Poland direct non-nuclear intercept: A solid metal at ground targets several thousand miles the U.S. and NATO would seek Moscow’s and the Czech Republic would make a “sub- warhead is directed to strike and pulverize away. approval before any significant deployments stantial contribution” to protecting the allies an attacking ballistic target on collision The Russian military believes that the of a “military infrastructure” in former from the threat of long-range ballistic mis- course. During the Cold War the Russian “direct intercept” concept that they aban- Warsaw Pact nations and the Baltic repub- siles (Associated Press, December 3). military also attempted to develop such doned during the Cold War is still technical- lics. This would establish a sphere of Russia’s official Foreign Ministry spokes- weapons but abandoned the program before ly impossible. The military tells its political Russian “privileged interests” and promote man Andrei Nesterenko insisted that such a 1980, deciding the goal was unachievable. masters that the American direct intercept the kind of stability predictability, and secu- missile defense (MD) system “would have Instead, the Russian military developed and concept or “bullet hitting bullet” is a hoax rity in Europe that the Kremlin is seeking. an anti-Russian potential” (www.mid.ru, deployed a less precise system around and cannot work in the real world. It is December 8). Moscow based on a so-called nuclear indi- assumed that the missiles in Poland will, in The article above is reprinted from President-elect Barack Obama, while rect MD: interceptor missiles are armed with fact, be nuclear-tipped and intended for a Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from deploring Russia’s invasion of Georgia in megaton warheads that may disable incom- surprise attack to annihilate the Russian its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, August as “contrary to international norms,” ing enemy nukes even if exploding several political and military leadership in their www.jamestown.org.

Our Ukraine party takes action against dissident members KYIV – The second stage of the sixth established on December 16 and called that does not meet the ideology of Our lated the party’s decision. congress of the Our Ukraine People’s the National Development, Stability and Ukraine. He also urged the OUPU to seek con- Union took place in Kyiv on December Order Coalition. The new coalition has Mr. Yushchenko underscored that the solidation starting from the first days of 27, 2008, and among the main topics on been described as a de facto coalition Our Ukraine People’s Union is “the politi- the new year with pragmatic forces in the the agenda was what to do with dissident because it lacks a 226-vote majority in cal force that today asserts: the things that Verkhovna Rada. Only in cooperation members of the party who voted for the the Verkhovna Rada and does not have take place in the area of corruption, block- with these forces can an adequate answer establishment of a new parliamentary legal standing due to the manner in which ing the capability of the court system, and be found to Ukraine’s current economic coalition proposed by Prime Minister it was formed – with the participation of populist policy, both economic and social, crisis, he added. Yulia Tymoshenko. only a part of the OU-PSD faction. can never be our policy.” Therefore, such a The congress was closed to outsiders; The congress adopted amendments to position means that the party must keep its Sources: Ukrinform, Kyiv Press Bureau therefore, journalists could not find out the Our Ukraine People’s Union statutes distance from national deputies who vio- of The Ukrainian Weekly. the details of the agenda. However, it was that created two managing positions in known that the congress would make the party: the party chair and the chair of decisions on further fate of Our Ukraine the party council. The party chair is a national deputies who backed the creation political leader elected by the party con- Authorities suspect gas leak of the current parliamentary coalition of gress; it is an honorary post and is not the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, the included in the party’s statutory authori- Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc and a portion of ties, but the party chair does have a vote in Crimean apartment explosion the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense among the party’s central leadership. This PARSIPPANY, N.J. – A suspected gas for the blast, including the explosion of (OU-PSD) bloc. is the position currently held by President leak caused a five-storey apartment block oxygen canisters in the basement of the A participant in the Our Ukraine con- Yushchenko. The chair of the party’s in the Crimean resort town of Yevpatoria building. Neglect of safety precautions gress told an Ukrinform correspondent council is elected by the council, not by to explode on Wednesday, December 24, has led to frequent explosions in apart- that the delegates adopted a decision to the party congress, and is the head of Our 2008. ment buildings and public facilities con- exclude from the party council seven dep- Ukraine. The death toll had risen to 27 people, structed during Soviet times, particularly uties who backed the establishment of the President Yushchenko had been elected including two children, Ukraine’s ministry in winter when residents use more heat- parliamentary coalition with the party chairman on November 29, 2008, of emergency situations said. Salvage ing. Last year a blast in Dnipropetrovsk Tymoshenko Bloc. The seven are: Mykola during the first stage of the Our Ukraine teams found 21 people alive amid the rub- killed 15 residents. Martynenko, Oleksander Tretiakov, congress. Presidential press-secretary ble. Ukraine held a national day of mourn- President Viktor Yushchenko and Valerii Borysov, Eduard Zeinalov, Yurii Iryna Vannikova noted at the time that ing on Friday, December 26, with flags Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko were Kliuchkovskyi, Olha Herasymiuk and this decision of the congress was evi- across the country lowered at half-mast. in Yevpatoria on December 25 to inspect Ruslan Kniazevych. They will remain dence of Mr. Yushchenko’s recognition as Chances of finding more survivors was rescue efforts and talk to survivors. Ms. party members but when the new compo- a political leader of the party. Earlier slim, as rescuers had picked their way Tymoshenko, who visited the site on sition of the political council is elected Viktor Yushchenko was the party’s honor- through all the floors in the rubble and December 30 to monitor progress by local they will not be among its members. The ary chairman. reached the basement. Nighttime temper- authorities, said that survivors would be ultimate fate of the seven senior members Speaking at the second state of the atures dropped to 21 degrees Fahrenheit. given free housing before the end of the of Our Ukraine, none of whom were pres- party congress, President Yushchenko Officials are considering several causes year. ent at the party congress on December 27, called the original decision of the Our will be decided by the party council. Ukraine congress on non-alignment in a Twenty deputies of Our Ukraine had parliamentary coalition with the To subscribe to The Ukrainian Weekly, broken ranks with President Viktor Tymoshenko Bloc a matter of principle. Yushchenko and joined with all 17 He noted that, being a leader of Our national deputies of People’s Self- Ukraine, he cannot direct the party to take call 973-292-9800 x 3042. Defense to support the new coalition responsibility for implementing policy 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 Recent poll shows Ukrainians’ attitudes toward the West and Russia by Maria Kulczycky minus 2.2 percent. Asked whether Ukraine should join CHICAGO – Ukrainians as a whole NATO, 19 percent of respondents agreed, are not in favor of NATO membership for while 61 percent disagreed. In contrast, Ukraine, are more favorably inclined 70 percent of Georgians agreed that towards European Union membership, Georgia should join NATO. Even in and support some type of union with Serbia, which in the 1990s had been Russia and . bombed by NATO, the support was 30 These were among a number of attitu- percent for NATO membership, Mr. dinal positions captured in a poll con- Martyniuk observed. ducted in September by InterMedia, a On the question of Ukraine joining the global media and opinion research firm European Union, Ukrainians were more based in Washington. An overview of the amenable, with 42 percent agreeing and poll results was provided by Jaroslaw 27 percent disagreeing. Martyniuk, regional research manager for Another interesting question was Eurasia at the firm. He spoke in mid- whether Ukraine should have some kind December at a presentation and holiday of union with Russia and Belarus. Sixty reception in Chicago hosted by the percent agreed that it should, while 21 Ukrainian Business and Professional percent disagreed. In this instance, sup- Group of Chicago. port could be interpreted as an economic InterMedia, formerly the Open Media rather than political union, Mr. Martyniuk Research Institute funded by George explained. When asked if Ukraine should Soros, has been conducting media form a union with Russia and Belarus as Anya Mostovych (left), president of the Ukrainian Business and Professional research for more than a decade, accord- a single state, 38 percent agreed, while 40 Group of Chicago and Maria Kulczycky (right), vice-president, with Jaroslaw ing to Mr. Martyniuk. Before joining the percent disagreed. Mr. Martyniuk, speaker at the December presentation and holiday reception of firm, Mr. Martyniuk worked for Soviet Asked how favorably they were the Ukrainian Business and Professional Group of Chicago. Area Audience and Opinion Research in inclined towards various countries, Paris and the Radio Free Europe/Radio Ukrainians responded that they were attended church only during religious explained. Asked about the most serious Liberty Research Institute in . favorably inclined towards Belarus (91 holidays or special occasions. problems facing Ukraine, 73 percent of Mr. Martyniuk explained that, for percent), Russia (90 percent), Germany “The Ukrainian media environment is respondents cited increasing food prices, years, polling of East European and (82 percent) and Great Britain (79 per- essentially free and open, in stark contrast 42 percent said low salaries, 27 percent Soviet bloc citizens consisted of inter- cent). In contrast, less than two-thirds with Belarus, Russia and Central Asia,” increasing energy prices and 26 percent views with visitors (tourists, diplomats, (64 percent) were favorably disposed noted Mr. Martyniuk. However, among unemployment. Issues such as corruption sailors and émigrés) who had temporarily toward the U.S. unresolved legal issues are transparency (14 percent), lack of rule of law (13 per- or permanently exited the region. With Eighty percent of respondents declared of ownership, the privatization of state cent) human rights violations (8 percent) the fall of the Soviet Union, in-country their ethnic background or nationality as media and public access to information. and environmental problems (5 percent) research became possible. Most Ukrainian, but were evenly divided on Most troubling is a resurgence of the phe- ranked much lower on the scale. InterMedia national surveys are conduct- the language spoken at home: 42 percent nomenon of “paid for” journalism, The Ukrainian Business and ed by the Kyiv International Institute of Ukrainian and 42 percent Russian. Nearly referred to by the Ukrainian slang word Professional Group of Chicago sponsors Sociology (KIIS), an affiliate of the all of the respondents said they are able to “jeansa.” In addition, the media is largely networking events and seminars that fea- National University of Kyiv Mohyla controlled by a few wealthy individuals. understand radio broadcasts in both ture a balanced discussion of issues per- Academy. Russian and Ukrainian, and are roughly Asked how Ukrainians get their news taining to Ukraine, the Ukrainian diaspora “In September 1991 our polls indicated equally split on the issue of whether and information, 97 percent said from and the post-Soviet world. Members are that 90 percent of the Ukrainian popula- Ukrainian should remain the state lan- television, followed by friends and family tion would vote ‘yes’ in the December 1 guage of Ukraine (43 percent agreed and (81 percent), proportions significantly primarily Ukrainian American profession- referendum on independence,” Mr. 41 percent disagreed). greater than for radio (59 percent) and als interested in establishing new personal Martyniuk noted – a result that initially The Orthodox Church dominates in newspapers (61 percent). Heavy reliance and professional contacts while support- was hard to believe. Actual results, how- terms of respondents who consider them- on friends and family suggests skepticism ing Ukraine’s economic development and ever, confirmed this finding. “That was selves members or feel close to it (52 per- about the media among Ukrainians, Mr. democratization. our first indication that Ukrainians want- cent), but considerably more said they Martyniuk noted. A fast-growing source Recent speakers included Adrian ed their own country.” were closer to the Ukrainian Orthodox is the Internet (17 percent use it weekly), Karatnycky, the Atlantic Council; Roman The latest poll conducted by Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (31 percent) he observed. The Internet and mobile Kupchinsky, AZ East Group; Anne InterMedia was based on a nationally rep- than to the Moscow Patriarchate (21 per- phones were particularly effective in the Applebaum, The Washington Post; and resentative sample using 2,011 face-to- cent). Another 5 percent identified them- organization of the Orange Revolution. Alexander Motyl, Rutgers University face interviews throughout Ukraine. The selves as Russian Orthodox. Two-thirds The attitudes of Ukrainians are strong- For additional information and a sched- maximum sampling error with a 95 per- of Ukrainians consider themselves to be ly influenced by the prevailing difficult ule of upcoming events readers may write cent confidence interval was plus or believers, but half (54 percent) said they economic situation, Mr. Martyniuk to [email protected].

Serbia. In March 2007 Ukraine became backed by Russia. This was an infringe- mid-1990s after the Crimean presidency SBU stops... the last of these countries to recognize ment of the legislation that separates was abolished by President Leonid (Continued from page 2) them as a separate ethnic group, when the Church and state. Kuchma. Crimean separatism is still a The SBU has taken action only against Zakarpattia Oblast council voted in favor The UOC supported the 75th com- potential threat, however, because it is the aggressively pro-Russian minority of this question. The vote was held on the memoration of the Ukrainian Famine in continually being fueled by Moscow, wing of the Rusyn movement in instructions of presidential chief of staff the last week of November with UOC which, for example, issues Russian pass- Zakarpattia. Earlier this year the majority Viktor Baloha, who hails from the center primate Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan ports to Ukrainian citizens. Russia justi- mainstream World Congress of Rusyns of the Rusyn area, the Transcarpathian issuing a condemnation of the “geno- fied its invasion of Georgia by claiming it headed by Prof. Paul R. Magocsi, who is town of Mukaciv. Mr. Baloha is widely cide.” Among Ukraine’s major political was defending “Russian citizens” after it Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the believed to be seeking an alternative base leaders, only Party of Regions leader Mr. had distributed passports to South University of Toronto, condemned the of support in the Rusyn movement in the Yanukovych was conspicuously absent, Ossetians over the last two decades. activities of Dmitry Sydor and his organi- likely event that he is removed by following Russia’s opposition to On a visit to Lithuania, Mr. zation, the Transcarpathian Rusyn President Viktor Yushchenko. Ukraine’s commemoration of the Famine. Yushchenko called Moscow’s new plans Parliament. Mr. Sydor is a priest in the Ukrainian The SBU’s self-congratulation for its for issuing “Russian cards” disturbing. Orthodox Church (UOC), which is under success in combating separatism was Ukrayina Moloda (November 10), Meanwhile, the issuing of passports is an the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox used to lobby for a higher budgetary allo- which supports President Viktor “infringement of international law and Church. The UOC – Moscow Patriarchate cation next year (www.pravda.com.ua, Yushchenko, published details of the demonstrates disrespect to other sover- (UOC-MP) is the largest Church in December 9). The SBU claimed that the funding given to Mr. Sydor by a Russian eign states whose territories do not permit government-funded NGO in Moscow. Transcarpathia, which, like the three intelligence services received an average dual citizenship” (www.pravda.com.ua, Political technologist Viacheslav Nikonov oblasts of the Halychyna region, has tra- 1 percent of the GDP in Western democ- December 10). headed the Politika Fund in Moscow with ditionally been a stronghold of the racies; the SBU is lobbying for an alloca- which Mr. Sydor has been cooperating Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. tion of 0.5 percent of the GDP. The anti- Separatism in Zakarpattia Trans- since 2005. In 2007 President Putin The UOC-MP has a checkered rela- crisis measures introduced by the govern- carpathia and Donetsk are on a different appointed Mr. Nikonov head of the newly tionship with Ukraine. A majority of its ment as a requirement for the scale, as they do not constitute serious established Russkii (Russian World) parishes are in western and central International Monetary Fund’s stand-by threats. eastern and western Ukrainians organization, which Ukrayina Moloda “Orange Ukraine”; and during the 2004 loan in October include plans to cut the remain strong supporters of Ukrainian describes as “a sub-structure of the presidential elections more Orthodox SBU by 15 to 20 percent. Mr. territorial integrity. Foreign Intelligence Service of the believers voted for Mr. Yushchenko than Yushchenko, however, has called for Russian Federation.” for the “pro-Russian” candidate Viktor greater budgetary allocations to the mili- The article above is reprinted from Rusyn activists claim to be a fourth Yanukovych. At the same time, the UOC- tary and SBU following the Russian inva- Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission eastern Slavic nation living in four coun- MP officially supported Mr. Yanukovych, sion of Georgia. from its publisher, the Jamestown tries: Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and the candidate of eastern Ukraine and Separatism in Crimea collapsed in the Foundation, www.jamestown.org. No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 5 Columbia University conference “visualizes” the Holodomor by Oksana Zakydalsky NEW YORK CITY – An international conference – “Visualizing the Holodomor: the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 on Film” – was organized by the Ukrainian Studies Program at Columbia University on December 2, 2008. The pro- gram included the North American pre- miere of the documentary film “The Living” (Zhyvi) by Ukrainian director Serhiy Bukovsky. In the past few months, as Ukrainians around the world marked the 75th anniver- sary of the Holodomor, several conferences took place, but this one had its own per- spective, focusing on film and filmmaking as a means of understanding the Holodomor and its consequences. Yuri Shevchuk, lecturer at the Department of , director of the Film Club and organizer of the confer- Oksana Zakydalsky) ence, drew attention to the fact that the Serhiy Bukovsky Natasha Mikhalchyk Dr. Roman Serbyn Ukrainian Studies Program is international- ly recognized as the leading center of document, “Soviet Genocide in Ukraine,” Ukrainian film studies in North America. described the Holodomor as an act of geno- Dr. Shevchuk explained that the scarcity cide. of film documentation on the Holodomor Natasha Mikhalchyk, film student from was due to the fact that the USSR had the Parsons New School for Design, who denied the existence of the Famine in was born in Odesa and came to the U.S. at Ukraine in 1932-1933 and any mention of it the age of 10, showed her film “Kolky” – meant punishment. By the end of the 1980s, the story of her father’s village in the it was officially admitted in the USSR that, Podillia region of Ukraine. although there had been a famine, it was In order to understand her heritage, Ms. due to natural causes and its man-made Mikhalchuk went to Kolky, met with the nature continued to be denied until the first villagers and filmed their memories of the years of Ukraine’s independence. It was not continuous chain of disasters they have had until May 15, 2003, that the Verkhovna to live through – collectivization, the Rada barely passed a resolution declaring Holodomor, Nazi occupation and slave the Great Famine of 1932-1933 an act of labor in the Third Reich and the post-war genocide against the Ukrainian people. famine. Her short film, an example of oral Roman Serbyn, professor emeritus of the history, showed a deeply personal experi- University of Montreal, in his presentation ence. “Historical Background on the Holodomor” Crispin Brooks, curator of the Shoah pointed out that December 9 would be the Foundation Institute Visual History Archive, 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ at the University of Southern California, adoption of the Convention on Prevention spoke on references to the Holodomor iden- Dr. Crispin Brooks Dr. Yuri Shevchuk and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. tified in testimonies of Ukrainian Jews, sur- Prof. Serbyn asserted that the Holodomor vivors of the Holocaust, which are found in he directed the film “Spell Your Name” University. He explained that “We set our- should include not only the Famine itself the archive. Of the archive’s testimonies, (Nazvy Svoye Imia) – a feature documenta- selves two aims: to include our events of but the whole Soviet campaign against videotaped in 56 countries, there are 3,500 ry about the Holocaust in Ukraine, pro- 1932-1933 into a world context and to Ukrainians that included four criteria which that were done in Ukraine in the period duced by Steven Spielberg that premiered secure on video in time and space the last of identify a genocide: destruction of the intel- 1995-1999. Dr. Brooks explained that of in September 2006. He was approached by the witnesses, for the heroes of this film are ligentsia, destruction of the Orthodox these, 750 witnesses bring up the the International Charitable Fund the children of the Holodomor.” The film Church, forced deportation of Ukrainians Holodomor and he showed portions of Ukraine-3000 run by Ukraine’s First Lady presents the Famine through the reading of during de-kulakization and finally, elimina- about 10 such interviews. Most intervie- the diary of Gareth Jones (1905-1935), a tion of the peasantry through famine. wees, spoke in Ukrainian, even when the Kateryna Yushchenko to direct a feature documentary on the Holodomor for its 75th Welsh journalist who went to Ukraine three Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jew and interviewer spoke Russian. times in the period 1932-1933. He chal- anniversary. Holocaust survivor, who coined the term Mr. Bukovsky is the director of the nine- lenged Walter Duranty’s infamous articles Mr. Bukovsky, together with his wife, genocide and worked on the development part TV documentary series “War. A denying any famine that were published by of the Genocide Convention had, in the Ukrainian Account” (Viina. Ukrainskyi Victoria Bondar, co-producer of “The 1950s, according to a recently discovered Rakhunok) made in 2002. More recently, Living,” presented the film at Columbia (Continued on page 11) 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1

CHRISTMAS PASTORAL THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Stalin as hero The star of Bethlehem Pastoral letter of the Permanent Russia’s shameful rejection of the historical truth regarding the Holodomor of the star of Bethlehem was not an ordinary Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox 1932-1933 was much in the news in 2008. Now, just as 2008 was coming to a close, star, for it moved not as do other stars in Hierarchs Beyond the Borders of Ukraine there was news from Russia that Joseph Stalin – responsible for the deaths of some 20 the firmament, from East to west, but million people during his reign of terror from 1929 to his death in 1953 – has been issued on the Feast of the Nativity of our from the north of Jerusalem to the south voted by the Russian public as the third greatest Russian of all time. The poll was con- Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ to Bethlehem; the wise men from the east ducted by Rossiya, one of the country’s biggest television stations, over a period of six 2009. saw it throughout the day and the night, months. During that time 500 original candidates for the greatest Russian were win- until it stood over the Bethlehem cave, nowed to a final dozen; over 50 million people voted by phone, over the Internet or To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics “where the young child was” (Matthew via text messages. and Faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox 2:9). On December 27, on the eve of the final round of voting, the BBC News reported Church beyond the Borders of Ukraine St. John Chrysostom states that this the incongruous news: “The former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin may have killed mil- and to our Brothers and Sisters of the was not an ordinary star, but an invisible lions of his own people but this weekend he could be chosen by Russians as their Faith in Ukraine: power, which appeared in the form of a greatest-ever countryman.” star. Other holy fathers note that it was On December 28, the final results were in and Stalin came in third, receiving Peace be with you from the Christ- the Archangel Gabriel, who assumed that 519,971 votes, following Alexander Nevsky, medieval warrior prince, who earned Child – born of God’s Love for us! form of a star and who, after the wise 524,575 votes, and Pyotr Stolypin, pre-revolutionary statesman, with 523,766. Poet Christ is Born! men worshipped and presented gifts to Alexander Pushkin was fourth with 516,608 votes, Tsar Peter I was in fifth place with Once again, we experience, by the the newborn Christ the Savior, appeared 448,857 votes, and Vladimir Lenin was sixth with 424,283. grace of God, the Great Feast of the to them in a dream in his true form, warn- The BBC’s report, filed from Moscow by Richard Galpin, pointed out that Stalin Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior ing them not to return to Herod. was high in the polling for many months and at one point was in first place, until the Jesus Christ in the midst of Winter, bring- More than 2,000 years ago the star of show’s producer appealed to viewers to vote for someone else. The BBC quoted one ing to us a spring-like joy, the joy of the Bethlehem guided the wise men to wor- of the contest’s judges, Nikita Mikhalkov, as saying: “We now have to think very seri- birth of the Infant, “a great joy which will ship the newborn Savior and today that ously why the nation chooses to put [Joseph] Stalin in third place.” be for all people ... for there is born to star guides all of us to our parish churches It is troublesome that the citizens of Russia hold history’s most brutal dictator in you this day in the city of David, a Savior, to worship Him, Who is “the Way, the such high regard. But, it is not surprising. After all, in recent times the figure of Stalin Who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 10-11). Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). For more has been resurrected by Russian authorities, including Vladimir Putin, former presi- Today is born the One whose advent than 1,020 years this star of Bethlehem dent and current prime minister, as a positive one. the righteous men and women of the Old has enlightened the way traveled by our There is a campaign to rehabilitate Stalin and there are even calls from some circles Testament hoped for, the One proclaimed God-loving Ukrainian people in Ukraine to declare him a saint, the BBC reported, citing the comments of a Communist Party by the prophets of the nation of Israel, the and beyond her borders. This path of life leader, who said Stalin could be forgiven his “mistakes” because of his role in defeat- Creator of the world, the Almighty and in Christ, followed by our people was at ing , and the act of a Russian Orthodox priest, who displayed an icon of Sustaining God is born of the All-Holy times similar to the times of martyrdom Stalin in his church. Virgin Mary as a weak human child. The experienced in the early ages of Moreover, new textbooks in Russia portray Stalin as a positive figure, and a manual Second Person of the Holy Trinity Christianity. for history teachers says Stalin acted “entirely rationally” in transforming the USSR becomes the Son of man, to make us chil- For over 70 years the satanic into a superpower and that he had to resort to force to ensure “maximum efficiency.” dren of God by grace, so that we may, Communist empire sought to replace the The BBC spoke with the editor of the manual, historian Alexander Danilov, who said with boldness and without condemnation star of Bethlehem with its red star, but the the initiative for the makeover of Stalin “came from the very top.” Mr. Danilov added: call upon our Heavenly God, as Father. light of the star of Bethlehem never did “I believe it was the idea of former president, now prime minister, Vladimir Putin. It The Son of God descends from heaven and never will grow dim and will never fits completely with the political course we have had for the last eight years, which is to raise all to heaven, to grant us life eter- cease to enlighten the way traveled by our dedicated to the unity of society.” nal, “For it pleased the Father that in Him God-loving nation for “God is with us,” At the same time, Russian authorities are also targeting those who – inconveniently all the fullness should dwell, and by Him Who is born today in Bethlehem of for the official line – seek to tell the truth about the Stalin regime. Just last month, for to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, Judea. example, riot police raided the St. Petersburg office of the human rights organization whether things on earth or things in heav- We wholeheartedly greet all of you – Memorial and seized 12 computer hard drives that contained digital archives about the en, having made peace through the blood our spiritual children and our brothers murderous Stalin regime. “They knew what they were taking,” Irina Filge, the office’s of His cross (Colossians 1: 19-20). By and sisters in the faith and by blood lin- director, told the Chicago Tribune. “Today, the state tries to reconstruct history to His birth the Son of God humbles Himself eage, who reside in Ukraine and in the make it appear like a long chain of victories. And they want these victories to be seen as the Apostle Paul says: “...being in the diaspora, with the great feast of the as justifying Stalin’s repressions.” form of God... made Himself of no repu- Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Add to the above the museum in Volgograd that celebrates Stalin as a national hero tation, taking the form of a bondservant Christ and we pray that the blessings of and the 40-part TV drama about that dictator-cum-Russian savior and you can clearly and coming in the likeness of men” the newborn Christ the Savior will remain see, as analyst Taras Kuzio has noted, that “Stalin is back in vogue” in Russia. (Philippians 2:6-7) with endless love for with you at all times unto the ages of What does it say about Russia, its leaders and its people that Stalin is considered a us. ages. hero and Stalinism is viewed as an overall positive development? Today heaven and earth rejoice, “the fullness of time has arrived” (Galatians In His abundant love and with great 4:4), anticipated for centuries, promised joy, by God – “So all this was done that it + Constantine might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Jan. Turning the pages back... the Lord through the prophet, saying: Metropolitan, Ukrainian Orthodox ‘Behold, the Virgin shall be with child, Church of the U.S.A. and in Diaspora and bear a Son, and they shall call his + John 4 Two years ago, on January 4, 2006, Ukraine and the name Emmanuel,’ which is translated Metropolitan, Ukrainian Orthodox Russian Federation reached a consensus for gas supplies for ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:22). Angels Church of Canada 2006 and humans spiritually rejoice. Today we 2006 after Russia disrupted supplies to Ukraine and Europe + Antony because Ukraine refused a fourfold increase in price. sing with the Holy Church: “Christ is Archbishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church Under the agreement, Gazprom, the Russian state-owned born – glorify Him! Christ has come from of the U.S.A. monopoly, sold natural gas to RosUkrEnergo for $230 per 1,000 cubic meters, which heaven – welcome Him!” Christ is on was the price Gazprom insisted Ukraine pay. earth – exult Him! (Irmos of the Nativity +Ioan RosUkrEnergo combined the Russian gas with cheaper gas from Turkmenistan and Matins Canon). Archbishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church then charged Ukraine $95 per 1,000 cubic meters, the price Ukrainian officials sought. The world, which after the sinful fall in Diaspora Previously, Ukraine paid $50 per 1000 cubic meters. of Adam and Eve, was veiled in sadness When Gazprom cut the natural gas supply on January 1, 2006, Italy lost 25 percent and darkness and because of sin lost its + Yurij of its natural gas supply, France lost 30 percent and Poland lost one-third. Europe filial relationship with God, rejoices Archbishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church receives one-quarter of its natural gas supply from Russia, of which 90 percent crosses today for the Son of God, by His nativity, of Canada Ukraine by pipeline. again renews to humanity the path of rec- onciliation with God, which leads to + Jeremiah European leaders blamed the crisis on President Vladimir Putin’s political motiva- Archbishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, tion for destabilizing the Ukrainian government ahead of March elections. adoption by God and to Theosis (becom- South America Eparchy Moscow is “using political brute force on countries that are moving outside its ing one with God). sphere of influence, and this risks creating instability,” said Walt Patterson, an energy On the eve of this Holy Day, more that + Ilarion expert at the Royal Institute for International Affairs in London, as quoted by the 2,000 years ago, the new Bethlehem star Bishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of International Herald Tribune. shone above the world to guide the wise Canada Gazprom Exports Director Alexander Medvedev accused Ukrainian authorities of men from the East to the newborn Christ siphoning off 100 million cubic meters of natural gas worth $25 million from the the Savior in a Bethlehem cave. As the + Andrij pipeline in the first 24 hours of the cut off. Evangelist Matthew records, among the Bishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Alex Danilyuk, a natural gas advisor to the Ukrainian government, admitted to the first to arrive and welcome the newborn Canada God-man were the wise men from the Financial Times that Ukraine had no choice but to take some of the Russian gas + Daniel because Turkmenistan had also cut supplies to Ukraine. East, “who saw His star and came to wor- ship Him” (Matthew 2:2). Bishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of (Continued on page 10) St. John Chrysostom comments that the U.S.A. No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR faces and places by myron b. kurpoas Middle Eastern touch to this song about the Faces and Places “Time traveling” Holy Mother. As an unexpected parting gift, the by Myron B. Kuropas at the museum Koliadnyky ended by singing a special koli- ada to the “hospodynia,” Maria Shust, the Dear Editor: director of The Ukrainian Museum. I recently had the opportunity to experi- These were two wonderful events. Yes, Mila and Mervusya ence two events that could only be they took place now, but they felt like they described as involving “time shifts” or were happening in another time’s forgotten Mila (Lyudmila) is the daughter of Kravchenko, and others. In doing so, “time traveling.” place. Boris Lvovich Bibikov, a loyal Jewish however, he includes as one of the The first event was at the “Songs of Ihor Slabicky Ukrainian Bolshevik. He was erased in cities which experienced the Holodomor. Truth: The Art of the Kobzari” concert at Portsmouth, R.I. 1937. An unfortunate error. The Ukrainian Museum on Friday, Mervusya is Mervyn Matthews, born “Bibikov must have seen the hunger November 14. This program was orga- into a poor, working-class Welsh family too,” concludes his grandson, “the nized by the Center for Traditional Music who decided to learn Russian because, as pinched faces, the bloated bellies and and Dance and by the New York Russia’s paranoia he later told his son, it was the “most empty eyes. He traveled often on Party Ensemble as part of the Bandura exotic possible thing I could think of”. and factory business in his black Packard Downtown series. – 007-style He attended Manchester University, per- or in first class train carriages with guards The concert featured Julian Kytasty per- fected his Russian skills (he read War and in the corridors. He must have known forming songs that would have been per- Dear Editor: Peace in the original) and ended up a that special trucks... patrolled the cities of formed by kobzari 90 or 100 years ago, or researcher in the British Embassy in Recently, Russian reaction to Ukraine’s the Ukraine at night to collect the corpses more – psalms, prayers, laments of the Moscow. “To the embassy cold warriors embrace of Western values has many won- of peasants who had crawled there from Kozak captives, moralistic songs, dance with whom he worked,” his son writes, dering if Russia is bordering on mass para- the villages. Many must have made it to tunes. Accompanying him was a multime- “Moscow was the heart of all the dark- noia. The latest bizarre symptom to manifest the barbed-wire perimeter of the dia presentation of the translated songs with ness in the world.” This portrayal did not itself is the row over a Ukrainian-born KhTZ...” images of the kobzari that had performed stop Mervyn, however. He happily actress’s role in the 007 James Bond movie Owen believes his grandfather’s enthu- them, and readings by George Drance. attended lavish, clandestine dinners host- “Quantum of Solace,” which recently siasm for Sergei Kirov – a popular leader The setting itself was quite unique. Mr. ed by Vadim, an NKVD agent, eager to opened in London. and a threat to Stalin – at the 1934 All- Kytasty, seated, a table and lamp close by, recruit the Welshman for the Bolshevik The Communist Party of St. Petersburg Union Party Congress proved to be his his instrument (a reproduction of a cause. Mervyn never joined. branded her a “traitor.” Her crime: playing undoing. Comrade Bobikov’s arrest in Nedbaylo bandura from 1740, made by Bill Realizing that his tenure at the British the role of a Latino who falls for the James 1937 marked the end of the good life for Vetzal), some papers on the table – it was as Embassy was about to end, Mervyn used Bond character in a fictional movie. The Mila, and her older sister Lenina. if we were not at the museum but at his Vadim to finagle his acceptance as an Communist Party is convinced that the 007 Mervyn’s six-year-long, carefully own home, allowed to watch him playing exchange student at Moscow University. character is a CIA/M16 psychological secret planned, often frustrated, ultimately for himself. The feeling was overwhelming. While a student, Mervyn met and fell in weapon that is being used by Western media successful struggle to marry Mila and to At times I closed my eyes and imagined love with Mila Bobikov. The story of to defame Russia. The next psychotic mani- bring her to the United Kingdom is faith- what it would have been like a hundred their tumultuous love affair is recounted festation of this paranoia may be the Russian fully chronicled by the son in fascinating years ago – maybe a hot summer day, dusty, by their son Owen in his captivating Communist Party’s banning of the Beatles detail. Their correspondence and their noisy, as all marketplaces tend to be, and book, Stalin’s Children: Three song “Back from the USSR.” They may be emotional ups and downs battling Soviet there, under a tree, a kobzar, singing, enter- Generations of Love, War and Survival. offended by the phrase “Those Ukraine girls bureaucratic intransigence is especially taining, preaching through his repertoire of Like his parents, Owen is fluent in really knock me out, they leave the West poignant. “For years Mervin and Mila songs. In that one evening we were treated Russian. A journalist, he accepted a posi- behind,” considering it as proof that had been superhuman creatures to each to just such an event – an event that did take tion at the Moscow Times in 1995 and Ukraine’s effort to join the European Union other, bounding over mountains and val- place so many years ago. later became the Moscow bureau chief is only at the instigation of British agents. leys, beating on the doors of heaven, Incidentally, Mr. Kytasty has recently for Newsweek. “I came to Moscow to get As amusing as this 007 paranoia is, confronting the juggernaut of history,” released a CD “Songs of Truth: The Art of away from my parents,” writes Owen. unfortunately, it also testifies to a trouble- writes Owen. “When they finally came the Kobzari” that includes some of the old “Instead I found them there... This is a some deep-seated resentment toward together as real, living people, they found and original kobzar songs that he performed story about Russia and my family, about Ukraine that many in the Russian political themselves having to invent something that evening. a place which made us and freed us and community harbor. Examples of this para- neither of them had ever known – a The second event was on December 7, inspired us and very nearly broke us. And noia are legion. happy family.” It was difficult but the also at The Ukrainian Museum, when the it’s ultimately a story about escape, about Last year, Vladimir Putin told President marriage survived, despite months of Koliadnyky from Kryvorivnia, Ukraine, how we all escaped from Russia – even Geroge W. Bush that “Ukraine really isn’t a indecision, loneliness, and homesickness arrived to perform their koliady at the my father, a Welshman, who has no country.” In October 2008 at the United on Mila’s part. “Nostalgia for a lost “Koliada and Hutsul Music: Winter Songs Russian blood, even me who grew up in Nations, United States and British support homeland is a particularly Russian afflic- from the Carpathian Mountains” program England.” Nevertheless, we “still carry for the proposed Ukrainian resolution on the tion,” reflects Owen. organized by Virlana Tkacz and the Yara something of Russia inside ourselves, “Holodomor,” the 1932-1933 genocidal Especially intriguing are Owen’s rec- Arts Group. Usually, koliady are sung at infecting our blood like a fever.” Owen’s Famine in Ukraine, was vehemently con- ollections of Russia during the decadent Rizdvo (Christmas); here they were just a memoir is a fascinating, beautifully writ- demned by Russia’s ambassador as anti- Yeltsin years. “Moscow’s rich young little early. ten odyssey through Russia and his fami- Russian behavior. foreigners were the conquistadors of cap- The Koliadnyky were Ivan Zelenchuk – ly history. Regrettably, one can with reasonable cer- italism”, he writes, “living in vast apart- the “bereza” (leader), Petro Zelenchuk, The narrative begins in the former tainty anticipate that Russia’s aggressive ments once occupied by Stalin’s minis- Mykola Zelenchuk, Mykhailo Tafiychuk KGB headquarters of the ancient city of actions toward Ukraine will continue – if ters, throwing epic parties in what had and Dmytro Tafiychuk. Appearing with the Chernihiv in north central Ukraine. Owen not accelerate – into the future. It is self evi- been the politburo’s most luxurious Kolidanyky was one-half of the women’s is reading his grandfather’s dossier dent that Ukraine’s independence is vital to dachas, scooting off for weekends in which contains his confession – “enemy vocal group Svitanya (from Philadelphia) world security and is in the national interest Ibiza, taking their pick of the conquered of the people” – and the date of his sum- consisting of Anne Ehrhart, Laura Howson, of Europe and the United States. Toward land’s womenfolk and generally reaping mary execution. Prior to his death, Boris Mary Kalyna and Chrissy Steele, along this end, Ukraine must choose with care – so the fruits of a hundred billion dollars’ Bibikov had been “a noted political agi- with Mr. Kytasty (bandura) and Valeriy it can successfully defend itself – those con- worth of Cold War NATO military spend- tator, a rising star within the Party, a Zhmud (violin). frontational issues that will certainly stir ing which allowed them to be there. By holder of the Order of Lenin... serving The Koliadnyky performed the full cycle Russia’s paranoia. day they would trade stocks and buy his apprenticeship in a provincial admin- of koliady that would be sung at one’s home Likewise, it is the West’s obligation, companies...making fortunes selling istration as a prelude to a powerful post – from announcing themselves via two whenever possible, to help Ukraine ward Tampax, Marlboros and deodorant. By trembity (Carpathian mountain horns) and in Kiev or Moscow.” He had earned his off the more serious paranoid attacks night they cruised around Moscow in the rih (horn), then singing songs to the party stripes by terrifying thousands of from Russia that can destabilize the polished black SUV’s, guzzling cocaine “hospodar” (master of the house), the young displaced, illiterate Ukrainian peasant Ukrainian state and the European conti- and accumulating an entourage of aston- woman of the house, the young man, and men and women into constructing KhTZ, nent as a whole. ishingly beautiful girlfriends.” One of even a “kruhliak,” a round dance for the a giant tractor factory in Kharkiv, “quite Owen’s acquaintances became a million- bees so that they may make lots and lots of Myroslaw Smorodsky literally from the mud on which it stood.” aire, cozying up to the Russian Orthodox honey in the coming year. These koliady Mahwah, N.J. While the Bobrikov family was living Church and its monopoly of the sale of hearken back at least several hundred years, the privileged life reserved for Soviet duty-free, imported alcohol and ciga- if not back to pre-Christian days. nomenklatura, the Holodomor was raging We welcome your opinion rettes. As the “residents” of the house visited by all around them. “Despite the horrors While millions of Stalin’s children the Koliadnyky – Svitanya, along with The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters which were being played out in the coun- ended their lives in horrible torment, Messrs. Kytasty and Zhmud – responded to to the editor and commentaries on a vari- tryside”, Owen writes, Comrade Bibikov Mila’s and Mervusya’s love story had a the Koliadnyky, in turn, with their own ety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian and others building the great tractor fac- American and Ukrainian Canadian com- happy ending. Owen’s odyssey also songs and Christmas carols. Of special note tory pressed on, completing construction munities. Opinions expressed by colum- ended well. He married the beautiful should be Svitanya’s performance of in just fifteen months. nists, commentators and letter-writers are Xenia K ravchenko. L ucky f ella. “Zamuci se Bozha majka,” for which they their own and do not necessarily reflect Owen describes the Holodomor in accompanied themselves on lute, dumbek the opinions of either The Weekly edito- great detail, contrasting the lies of Walter and tambourine, with Mr. Kytasty on flute rial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian Duranty with the candor of Malcolm Myron Kuropas’s e-mail address is and Mr. Zhmud on violin, adding a subtle National Association. Muggeridge, Arthur Koestler, Victor [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 Monument... pamphlets to cultural and educational insti- tutions, with support from the Organization Stepan Bandera Timeline (Continued from page 1) of Ukrainian Nationalists (Revolutionary), Vasyl Vasylenko. led by Andrii Haidamakha of Belgium. January 1, 1908 – Stepan Bandera is born in the village of Staryi Uhryniv in the The Shevchenko National Opera in Kyiv “We are trying to get away from an earli- Kalush District of the Austrian Hungarian Empire, 10 kilometers from Kalush. His hosted a December 22 ceremony, featuring er practice – commemorate tomorrow, but parents are Andrii Bandera, a priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and addresses by Institute of National Memory forget after a week,” Mr. Rondzistyi said. Myroslava Glodzinska, the daughter of a Ukrainian Catholic priest. Chair Ihor Yukhnovskyi and Ukrainian The Krushelnytska State Academic Opera Insurgent Army expert and Security Service and Ballet Theatre in Lviv will host its com- May 1919 – with the onset of Polish soldiers, the Bandera family moves east to the of Ukraine advisor Volodymyr Viatrovych. memoration on January 9. village of Yaholnytsia near Chortkiv in the Ternopil Oblast. A letter from President Viktor Yushchenko In late January, the Banderite and was read. Melnykite wings of OUN will join to com- October 1919 – Bandera begins his studies at the state gymnasium in Stryi. The National Symphony Orchestra per- memorate the 80-year anniversary of OUN’s formed music to accompany a photograph inception. 1922 – At age 14, Bandera joins Plast. slide show compiled by Andrii Saniv. Officials in Lutsk said they plan to erect a The first full-length documentary on statue in 2009, which is not always a safe 1927 – Bandera successfully passes his matura exam and joins the Chervona Bandera’s life debuted on the national state- proposition. The Lviv government has post- Kalyna Detachment (Zahin) kurin. owned television network on December 28, ed a 24-hour guard of its Bandera statue, directed by Taras Tkachenko and sponsored located near the city’s central train station, 1928 – Bandera joins the Ukrainian Military Organization (UVO) by Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc National Deputy after threats made by the Ukrainophobic Viktor Shvets, Eurasian Youth Movement to target it. September 1928 – Bandera moves to Lviv and begins studies at the Agricultural Meanwhile, Lutsk government officials, “The best monument to Bandera, the Department of the Higher Polytechnical School. (UPA) veterans generation that he symbolized, would be a and members of civic and youth organiza- strong, flourishing Ukraine that is a Early 1929 – Bandera joins the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists tions, such as Plast, honored Bandera at the European country, with the same standards Prosvita Ukrainian Home (Narodnyi Dim) in quality of life,” Mr. Bandera said at the 1931 – Bandera joins the leadership of the propaganda review division of the OUN on December 30. Ternopil unveiling. Regional Executive Politicians are already expressing their Next year will also mark the 50-year willingness to support 2009 commemora- anniversary of Bandera’s assassination in 1932 – Bandera is appointed OUN regional leader and UVO regional commander tion efforts. On December 25, the Verkhovna Munich on October 17, 2009. A Divine in western Ukraine Rada mustered 236 votes to approve a list of Liturgy and commemoration ceremony is government-recognized historical dates to planned in Munich for that date, Mr. 1932 – At 24 years old, Bandera is arrested and imprisoned for three months for his commemorate next year, which included the Rondzistyi said. role in the assassination of the Polish Lviv Police Commissioner Emilian Czechowski. 100-year anniversary of Bandera’s birth. This year’s ceremonies are marred by the Ukrainian patriots expect President passing of Oksana Bandera, the last surviv- June 1934 to the end of 1935 – Bandera is arrested and imprisoned by the Polish Yushchenko will declare 2009 the “Year of ing sibling of the Ukrainian legend, who police for organizing OUN and UVO events. Bandera” through a president decree estab- died the day after she celebrated her 91st lishing national events and programs to birthday on December 22. Early 1936 – Along with 11 other suspects, Bandera is prosecuted in the Warsaw commemorate the 100-year anniversary of After spending 48 years in Siberia, Ms. District court with the crime of his OUN membership and organizing the assassination Bandera’s birth, including educational and Bandera spent her twilight years in Stryi. of Polish Internal Affairs Minister Bronislaw Pieracki, notorious for his persecution of Her last wish was to be buried in her native information campaigns. Ukrainians. He is given the death penalty, which is later reduced to a life sentence. Meantime, the Bandera National village of Staryi Uhryniv. Renaissance Center in Kyiv, directed by The oldest surviving Bandera child is Summer 1936 – Bandera is prosecuted for his OUN-UVO activities as the regional Taras Rondzistyi, announced it will lead its Lesia, who resides in Canada. There are five OUN leader. He receives his second life sentence. own yearlong educational campaign about Bandera grandchildren, the oldest being Bandera, distributing compact discs and Stephen, an editor with the Kyiv Post. September 13, 1939 – While imprisoned in Brest (present-day Belarus), Bandera is freed by fellow Ukrainian prisoners amidst heavy German air-bombing of the city. By this time, Bandera spent five years in Poland’s harshest prisons, most of it in strict isolation. He staged three hunger strikes, for 9, 13 and 16 days.

October 1939 – After reaching Lviv from Brest through the OUN network, Bandera leaves for Krakow, a hub of Ukrainian activity, with his brother Vasyl, also freed from prison.

January 1940 – Bandera meets with the OUN leadership in Rome, including Ukrainian Nationalists Command (Provid) Head Colonel Andrii Melnyk, who rejects Bandera’s proposals, including planning the anti-Bolshevik struggle inde- pendent of the Nazi Germans.

February 1940 – Bandera forms the OUN Revolutionary Command (Provid) under his leadership.

February 1941 – The Revolutionary Command (Provid) calls OUN’s Second Great Conference, which selects Bandera as its leader.

June 30, 1941 – Bandera and the Command (Provid), including Yaroslav Stetsko, declare Ukrainian independence in Lviv, naming Stetsko prime minister. In five days, the Nazis arrest Bandera.

July 1941 - September 1944 – Bandera is imprisoned in Berlin and in 1943, trans- ferred to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg. He is freed by the Germans, who hope he will cooperate with them in forming a front with the Ukrainians against the Bolsheviks. He flees in early January 1945.

February 1945 – The OUN Command’s Regional Wider Council (Krayova Shyrsha Narada) selects Bandera, Stetsko and Roman Shukhevych to the Command Bureau.

1947 – The OUN Foreign Part (Zakordona Chastyna) conference selects Bandera as the OUN Command Chair.

December 1950 – Bandera resigns his post as OUN Foreign Part Command Chair in reaction to accusations of dictatorial ambitions, but remains as OUN Command Chair.

May 1953 – The OUN Foreign Part Fourth Conference re-elects Bandera as OUN Foreign Part Command Chair.

October 15, 1959 – Bandera dies in Munich from a poison ampoule shot at his face by KGB agent Bohdan Stashynskyi.

October 19, 1962 – the German courts sentence Stashynskyi to eight years impris- onment, commuted to four years for his cooperation with American authorities. No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 9 Holodomor Awareness Week marked in Winnipeg by Dr. Roman Yereniuk shown included “Harvest of Despair: The 1932-1933 Famine in Ukraine” (by WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Winnipeg Slavko Novytski and Yuri Luhovy of marked Holodomor Awareness Week on Toronto); “Holodomor: Ukraine’s November 16-22, 2008, with some 1,000 Genocide of 1932-1933” by Marta people attending the official opening cer- Tomkiw and Bobby Leigh of Los emonies held at the Manitoba Legislative Angeles; “Famine ’33” by Oles Yanchuk Building on Sunday, November 16. of Ukraine; and “Holodomor – Let Their The master of ceremonies for the offi- Memory Be Eternal” by Mr. Ledohowski cial opening event was a member of the of Winnipeg. Manitoba Legislature, Len Derkach. On November 21-22, 2008, a hunger Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak of the fast began at 8 p.m. Friday and lasted Ukrainian Catholic Church of Canada and until 2 p.m. Saturday for youths age 14 the Rev. Gene Maximiuk of the Ukrainian and older at the University of Winnipeg. Orthodox Church of Canada led the par- Approximately 50 students participated in ticipants in special Holodomor prayers. the 18-hour fast. The Alexander Koshetz Choir, First Guest speakers at the evening event Mennonite Church Choir, Hoosli Male Choir and students from the Ukrainian were Antin Stowell, winner of the Bilingual Program performed several Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties songs appropriate for the commemoration Association UCCLA Foundation of the Holodomor. Holodomor essay competition on the Greetings on this occasion were topic of the Holodomor, Dr. Lubomyr extended by Manitoba’s Deputy Premier Luciuk of Royal Military College in Roseanne Wowchuk, who read the proc- Kingston, Ontario; representatives of the lamation signed by the Premier Gary two Ukrainian Churches; the Rev. Dr. Doer. She was followed by Hugh Borys Gudziak, rector of the Ukrainian McFadyen, leader of the Conservative Catholic University in Lviv, and Mrs. Opposition; Dr. Jon Gerrard, leader of the Krushliak, a Holodomor survivor. Liberal Party; Member of Parliament Vic On Saturday, November 22, the clos- Toews, president of the Treasury Board; ing events of the commemorative week Member of Parliament James Bezan; and were held at the Winnipeg City Hall Councilor Gord Steeves, acting deputy Holodomor monument. Metropolitan mayor of Winnipeg. Leo Ledohowski, Huculak of the Ukrainian Catholic CEO and President of Canad Inns, who Church and Metropolitan John of the sponsored the major video of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada Winnipeg survivors and also was a funder and some 11 priests officiated at the of the event, also brought greetings to the memorial service. crowd. After the service the 500 attendees Some 25 survivors attended the event went inside City Hall for the continuation and were presented certificates and gifts. of the commemoration. Councilor Harry Eric Robinson, minister of culture of Lazarenko brought greetings on behalf of the province of Manitoba, was presented the mayor Sam Katz. Keynote speakers a Holodomor painting by local artist were Dr. Luciuk and the Rev. Dr. Orysia Senitowich Gorski. The province Gudziak. Students from two Winnipeg agreed to have the painting hung in a School of Ukrainian studiets recited prominent location in the Legislative poems on the theme of the Holodomor. Building. The week of commemoration of the A world-class exhibit commemorating Holodomor received great coverage on the Holodomor of 1932-1933 was dis- television and front page and editorial played in the Rotunda of the Manitoba stories in the Winnipeg Free Press. Legislative Building for the entire week The organizing committee noticed of the commemorations. many new faces in the crowds for the A two-day public viewing of commemoration and the events were Holodomor films was held at the Theater attended by many people living outside of Maples Collegiate in Winnipeg. Films Winnipeg.

“This kind of budget doesn’t resolve Verkhovna Rada... even a single problem caused by the cri- (Continued from page 1) sis, instead deepening existing ones and Presidential Secretariat economist giving rise to new ones,” the December Oleksander Shlapak projected the budget 23 statement said. for social payments would dry up as early For 2009, the budget froze the minimal as February, given Ms. Tymoshenko’s unre- cost of living standard at $96 a month, alistic promises to continue compensating reported Ekonomichna Pravda, which is Ukrainians billions more for their bank supposed to be the minimum monthly deposits lost in the Soviet Union’s collapse. income a Ukrainian can survive on. “It’s yet another confirmation of how Yet again, a parliamentary vote aroused populism today disrupts the system of state controversy. finances and how the government loses its After the vote, Tymoshenko Bloc rogue authority when it makes not contemplated deputy Ihor Rybakov, who earlier this year decisions of a similar kind,” he said. submitted his resignation from the The budget aims to service $14 billion in Democratic Forces Coalition, informed the foreign debt and borrow $10 billion domes- press that someone in Parliament voted on tically, both of which are unrealistic, Mr. his behalf without his permission. Shlapak said. Claiming that he had his voting card with Meanwhile, the three percent deficit will him, Mr. Rybakov alleged someone must have to be financed from the Stabilization have produced a duplicate voting card to Fund, which was supposed to help the gov- produce the necessary vote to pass the bud- ernment cope with the ongoing financial cri- get. sis, the president said. When it did pass, Tymoshenko Bloc dep- The Party of the Regions of Ukraine had uties were ecstatic, embracing each other in its fair share of criticism for the budget, the session hall. claiming it reduced the minimal cost of liv- The cause for their enthusiasm was ing standard, minimum pensions, benefits probably best summarized by National and other social payments, without offering Deputy Oleh Zarubinskyi, who noted on specific figures in its press statement posted the day of the vote that “70 people are on its website. already on tropical islands.” 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 Parma designates a portion of the city as “Ukrainian Village” PARMA, Ohio – The Parma City “These are exciting times for the Council in October 2008 passed a reso- Ukrainian community in Parma,” said lution officially renaming a portion of Andy Futey, honorary Ukrainian con- State Road as Ukrainian Village. The sul for Ohio. “The Ukrainians are two-mile corridor between Tuxedo being recognized for their many contri- Avenue and Grantwood Drive has long butions to the area. They are also giv- been heavily populated with Ukrainian ing back to Parma while becoming residents, churches, stores and busi- more active in the community.” nesses. The city is investing approximately “This is just the beginning of a true $250,000 in federal grants over the renaissance for that portion of Parma,” next four years to help create the said Parma Mayor Dean DePiero, Ukrainian Village. Parma city officials according to a news release issued on have been working closely with the October 24, 2008. “We will soon be recently created Ukrainian Village seeing Ukrainian banners lining the Advisory Committee. streets and storefront redevelopment, Mr. Futey said he believes the many projects being undertaken as an Ukrainian Village area will continue to investment by several members of the grow with new residents from Ukrainian community.” Cleveland’s Tremont Ukrainian neigh- City officials say the effort to create borhood, as well as new citizens from the ”commerce-friendly“ neighborhood Ukraine. is the most appropriate way to celebrate “Growth and prosperity are a the rich culture and heritage of local given,” said Mr. Futey. “We’re so Ukrainians, Parma’s largest new immi- pleased Mayor DePiero and the city of grant demographic. Nearly 10 percent Parma have taken this great idea from of Parma’s population is foreign-born, the talking stages to reality. I have no and the largest number represented, doubt the Ukrainian Village will benefit nearly 1,500, are from Ukraine. the entire region.” Signs that will be posted in sections of Parma, Ohio, designated as “Ukrainian Village.”

Turning the pages... (Continued from page 6) Gazprom was widely suspected of cut- ting off the Turkmen gas as well in order to put additional pressure on Ukraine. European leaders began to question Russia’s reliability as an energy partner, prompting Gazprom officials to return to the negotiating table and restore much of the natural gas it had cut off. As part of the agreement between Naftohaz, Ukraine’s state-owned natural gas counterpart, and Gazprom, the Russian counterpart agreed to a 47 per- cent increase in the fee it pays for trans- porting gas through Ukrainian-owed pipe- lines and to stop the system of bartering transit fees for natural gas. Evidence of Moscow’s political moti- vations were evident when Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn trav- eled to Moscow during the crisis, where he insisted the Yushchenko government apologize for its role in the crisis, even after Western governments almost unani- mously criticized the Kremlin.

Source: “Intricate deal ends gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine,” by Zenon Zawada, January 8, 2006.

An open invitation to local community activists

Would you like fellow Ukrainians to know about events in your community? Would you like to become one of The Ukrainian Weekly’s cor- respondents? Then what are you waiting for?

The Ukrainian Weekly wel- comes submissions from local community activists. You may reach The Weekly by phone, (973) 292-9800; fax, (973) 644-9510; e-mail, staff@ ukrweekly.com; or mail, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 11 Conference examines Ukrainian Catholic Church in 21st century by Iryna Ivankovych-Bloshchynska leading Ukraine toward its independence. The second session, chaired by Dr. JENKINTOWN, Pa. – With the joint Albert Kipa, was opened with the Rev. efforts of St. Sophia Religious Association Ivan Kaszczak’s retrospective analysis of of Ukrainian Catholics and the Ukrainian “The First 40 Years in America: A Patriarchal Society in the U.S.A., a confer- Paradigm for the Future.” According to the ence: “The Ukrainian Catholic Church in speaker, the key mission of the Ukrainian 21st Century America” was held on Catholic Church, “To preach to all November 8, 2008, here at the Basilian nations,” remains strong 100 years after its Spirituality Center of the Order of the official establishment in the U.S. Being Sisters of St. Basil the Great. proud of our beautiful, Kyivan/Ukrainian With a turnout of over 90 participants, tradition and roots, we are “a world Church the conference gathered notable speakers whose mission is not confined to any par- and scholars in the area of theology, reli- ticular territory,” said the Rev. Kaszczak. gious studies and history of the Church, Indeed, the contemporary world is in sociology and politics. Hierarchs of the dire need of preaching and evangelization. Ukrainian Catholic Church: Bishop Paul Turning to agnosticism and atheism, both Organizers and speakers of the conference (from left): Albert Kipa, Andrew Chomnycky, OSBM, eparch of Stamford, the U.S. and Europe have become danger- Sorokowski, the Rev. Mark Morozowycz, Roma Hayda, Alexander Lushnycky, Conn., and Bishop Basil Losten, eparch- ously secular. Therefore, “Educating the Mykola Yaremko, Sister Ann Laszok, Oksana Yaremko, Leonid Rudnytzky, emeritus of Stamford, clergy of the Laity for a Post-Western Christianity” Thomas Patrick Melady, Nicholas Rudnytzky, Bishop Paul Chomnycky and the Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Sisters of the according to Andrew Sorokowski, has to Rev. Ivan Kaszczak. Order of St. Basil the Great and laity spent take a leading role in preparing new gener- – Recent Developments in the Ukrainian the Archeparchy of Philadelphia, shared a day in reflecting on “our past in order to ations for the challenges of being a Catholic Church in United States.” As a see our future.” Christian in the 21st century. his personal experience of the much pain- After the opening prayer by Bisop Paul The third speaker, Bishop Chomnycky, Church, we have to be aware of our histo- ful integration process. Each generation of Chomnycky, words of welcome were spoke about the “Current Reforms of the ry, of the richness of our Byzantine rite, immigrants faces similar circumstances of delivered by Sister Laura Palka, provincial Basilian Order,” having presented a com- and it is our duty to preserve the Ukrainian ethnic, social, psychological and linguistic superior of the Basilian Sisters; Roma prehensive comparison of two models of Catholic identity in its pure Eastern form problems before they can successfully Hayda, president of the Ukrainian the order: monastic (Rutsky and by returning to our pristine tradition, he integrate in the life of their new society. Patriarchal Society in the U.S.A., and Kuntsevych model of 1617) and mission- said. If we are successful in maintaining In the course of the discussion led by Leonid Rudnytzky, president of St. Sophia ary (Dobromyl reform of 1882). Alexander our heritage, we are called to pass it on to Mrs. Hayda representatives of both the Religious Association of Ukrainian Lushnycky served as discussant of the ses- future “Generations of Faith.” third and fourth waves of immigration Catholics in the U.S.A. sion. As Sister Ann Laszok, OSBM (Eparchy expressed the strong need for mutual dia- Ambassador Thomas Patrick Melady, The afternoon session chaired by of Parma), explained in her presentation logue which could bring realistic solutions opened the first session of the conference. Nicholas Rudnytzky raised numerous “Ukrainian Catholic Family Life in a to the hardship of immigration. In his keynote address he shared his mem- issues of both sociological and cultural Secular World,” her “Generations of Faith” St. Sophia Religious Association of ories of the revival of the Ukrainian aspects of religious upbringing. One of program has been well received in various Ukrainian Catholics and the Ukrainian Catholic Church in late 1980s, stressing them, according, to the Rev. Mark parishes across all eparchies of the Patriarchal Society in the U.S. extended the crucial role of the Ukrainian diaspora Morozowycz, (Eparchy of Parma), is a Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S. and gratitude to the most active organizers of both in the United States and in Italy in perception of the “Tradition as Innovation in some Ukrainian parishes in Canada. the conference: Nicholas Rudnytzky and Two participants of “The Generations Ulana Prociuk, and to its generous sup- of Faith,” Mykola and Oksana Yaremko of porters: Self-Reliance New York Federal Livingston, N.J. shared their personal Credit Union, Ukrainian Selfreliance ery, lined faces of the old men, often in experience of being involved in the pro- Federal Credit Union in Philadelphia, Columbia University... powerful silent scenes. “It is a story told in gram which unites people of all ages Manor College and the Organization for around the life in Christ in the traditions of the Rebirth of Ukraine. Mr. Rudnytzky (Continued from page 5) a soft, quiet voice,” Mr. Bukovsky said. the Ukrainian Catholic Church. also thanked Taras Lewyckyj for his mag- The world premiere of “The Living” The New York Times. In his presentation “Priests and Faithful nificent art work in advertising the confer- But Mr. Bukovsky cautioned that the took place in Kyiv on November 21, at two from Ukraine: Challenges of Integration,” ence and the Sisters of St. Basil the Great film “is about not remembering the facts, locations – the Ukrainskyi Dim (Ukraine the Rev. Andriy Rabiy, vice-chancellor of for their hospitality. but also understanding the causes and Home) for specially invited guests, and at effects of the tragedy and evoking an emo- the Building of Film, for the general public. tional response in the audience.” There are plans to show the film at the He consciously avoids showing the hor- Berlin Film Festival in February as well as rors of the Famine – the carcasses of the other film festivals, which means that may starving, the stories of cannibalism, the be found won’t be commercially available counting of the dead. Instead, in interviews for some time. with survivors, he presents, in vivid close- More information, including a trailer of ups, the faces of “the living” – the ancient the film, may be found on the website http:// women with kind or smiling eyes, the leath- theliving.org.ua. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 13 Ukrainian wedding traditions is theme of UNWLA Day by Bozhena Olshaniwsky WHIPPANY. N.J. – “Ukrainian Wedding Traditions” was the theme of the community gathering sponsored by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) New Jersey Regional Council here at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey (UACCNJ) on Sunday, November 16, 2008. The program consisted of a display of items related to wedding traditions in Ukraine, such as icons, embroidered ritual cloths, traditional wedding (singular: “”; plural: “korovayi”), decorative bridal headdresses, embroidered wedding gowns, embroidered men’s shirts and other items. The wedding table was beautifully displayed with traditional wedding dishes. The auditorium was filled to capacity and a buffet was offered. A musical back- ground was provided by Olha Stashchyshyn on bandura and Suzanna Hywel on the flute. The New Jersey State Council comprises eight branches of the UNWLA and 200 members. The purpose of such annual events is to inform the community about the work of the UNWLA and to encourage and recruit new members. Several distinguished guests were present at this event: Marianna Zajac, national presi- dent of the UNWLA; Irena Steckiw, mem- ber of the executive board; and Maria Cade, president of the UNWLA’s Central New The presentation of Ukrainian-style wedding apparel at UNWLA Day in Whippany, N.J. York Regional Council. The program was opened by Olha Lukiw, and fertility. The number of the birds on the president of the New Jersey Regional korovai symbolizes the number of children Council. She greeted all present, introduced in the family. The korovai is decorated with the main dignitaries and explained the theme flowers, ribbons, birds sculpted out of baked and purpose of the event. She explained that dough and branches of decorative plants. the goals of the UNWLA are to cultivate Korovai is a very old custom in Ukraine. and preserve Ukrainian history, culture and Additional korovayi on display were traditions for future generations. She also made by Nina Kovbasniuk, Gregory Hywel, appealed to the women of the Whippany Kateryna Wolowodiuk and Ms. Lukiw. Ms. area to re-establish the local branch of the Lukiw’s korovai was sliced and served on a UNWLA which once was very active. tray for all to taste. Ksenia Rakowsky, mistress of ceremo- The role of the embroidered ritual cloths, nies, introduced the special speakers. or “rushnyky,” in the wedding ceremony The first main speaker was the Rev. was explained next. When a girl accepted a Roman Mirchuk, pastor of St. John the proposal from a young man, she tied the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in “starosty” (matchmakers) with the rushnyky. Whippany, N.J. He compared the old tra- During the wedding in church the bridal ditions of the wedding and marriage to couple stood on the with their arms the modern ones, explaining that modern- tied together with another ritual cloth. ism often ignores religious sacraments The prospective bride personally went and philosophy, that many couples live from house to house inviting guests to her without the benefit of a church marriage, wedding. The wedding lasted several which reflects the deterioration of morals. days, and the celebration often continued He noted that old traditions in Ukraine a few more days. During the wedding, the were destroyed under communism and bride’s braid was cut off and her head was covered with a special cap, called the atheism, which brought about moral Items used in Ukrainian wedding traditions, including a “korovai” in the center. bankruptcy. “ochipok.” Each part of the wedding had Slava Stojko then spoke on the subject of its specific songs sung by different partic- icons. The displayed icons in the hall were ipants of the wedding. The wedding was the works of Halyna Tytla and Lidia an occasion for participation by the entire Piasecky. Mrs. Stojko gave a short history of community. icons starting from the Byzantine Greeks to Ukrainian wedding gowns and men’s modern times, including the use of icons in shirts were then modeled by several young Ukraine. ladies and young men. The gowns displayed In the villages, icons used to be displayed were embroidered by mothers or grand- on the prominent wall of the main room in mothers of the brides. Sometimes it took the house – the “pokuttia,” Mrs. Stojko many months to create a hand-embroidered related. They were decorated with dry herbs gown that was a veritable work of art. The and flowers, and were given as gifts at wed- grooms’ shirts were embroidered to match dings, christenings and family events. the gown in both color and design. The In the Pecherska Lavra and Pochayiv gowns displayed were embroidered with Lavra monasteries in Ukraine there were Moline threads of white-on-white, blue, schools of icon painting. The technique is orange and burgundy. There were also sev- very specific: the holy picture was portrayed eral bridesmaids’ gowns. on a board that required special preparation; At the end of the fashion show of gowns, the tempera (paint) was prepared with egg a Hutsul wedding costume from the yolks; the colors were red for the Holy Carpathian region of Ukraine was displayed. Mother, dark blue for Jesus Christ, light blue The headdress of the Hutsul costume was for the sky, gold for God the Father, etc. decorated with flowers, leaves of periwin- After painting, the icon was coated with a kle, ribbons, seeds of garlic, honey and gold special solution for preservation, Mrs. leaf, symbolizing love, health and protection Stojko explained. from disease. The headdress is called “ohol- Natalia Hryniuk, who spoke about the on.” “korovai,” displayed some of her creations “Den Soyuzianky,” or UNWLA Day, was and explained the work that goes into mak- very successful and the participants and ing of this traditional wedding bread. The guests went home feeling they’d had an korovai symbolizes the unity of the family enjoyable and educational afternoon. The mistress of ceremonies, Ksenia Rakowsky. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1

Clinton Foundation, that was made after Mr. NEWSBRIEFS Obama nominated Hillary Clinton to be his CLACLASSSSIFIEDIFIEDSS (Continued from page 2) secretary of state. (The New York Times) Rada dismisses SPF chair TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 Serial killer is sentenced OR E-MAIL [email protected] KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on DNIPROPETROVSK – A serial killer in December 26, 2008, voted to dismiss the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk Valentyna Semeniuk-Samsonenko from has been sentenced to life in prison, RFE/ SERVICES PROFESSIONALS her position as chair of Ukraine’s State RL’s Ukrainian Service reported. Serhii Property Fund. The decision was backed Tkach was arrested in 2005. He had been by the parliamentary factions of the Yulia found guilty of almost 80 rapes and mur- Tymoshenko Bloc, Our Ukraine – ders. His victims were girls and young People’s Self-Defense, the Communist women. Mr. Tkach, who used to be a pro- Party and the Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc. fessional criminal investigator, has been Ms. Semeniuk-Samsonenko was not pres- able to conceal his crimes skillfully for ent at the Parliament’s session. more than 20 years. Nine people had been (Ukrinform) erroneously convicted for some of the rapes and murders committed by Mr. Tkach. Pinchuk a top Clinton donor (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) NEW YORK – The New York Times, in NBU coin honors Symonenko a report on the major donors to the William J. Clinton Foundation, noted that among KYIV – The National Bank of Ukraine them is oligarch Victor Pinchuk of Ukraine, (NBU) on December 25, 2008, put into cir- who contributed between $1 million and $5 culation a commemorative coin with a face million. Other international donors to the value of 2 hrv that is dedicated to outstand- Clinton Foundation were from Saudi Arabia, ing poet of the 1960s, Vasyl Symonenko. the United Arab Emirates, India and the The 31-milimiter-diameter coin with a United Kingdom. The newspaper wrote that ribbed edge weighs 12.8 grams, is made of Mr. Pinchuk is “a Ukrainian billionaire who nickel silver and is of special uncirculated made his money during the controversial quality. The number of such coins minted is privatization process of Ukraine’s steel 35,000. In 2008 the NBU planned to put industry.” The Times also noted that Mr. into circulation 40 kinds of commemorative Pinchuk “agreed to underwrite a new and jubilee coins with 32 names, while in Clinton initiative to encourage philanthropy 2007 the bank produced 39 kinds of coins in developing economies in Asia, the Middle with 31 names. Since 1995, the bank has East and Africa.” That project, however, has put into circulation over 351 kinds of com- been suspended, the newspaper noted, in memorative and jubilee coins with 282 keeping with an agreement between names, including over 30 gold coins. One-on-One President-elect Barack Obama and the (Ukrinform) PSAT / SAT / ACT Tutoring

Foundation for Learning threat to anybody,” Mr. Tulayev scoffed Locations in Harding & Randolph Ukraine beefs up... (UNIAN, November 29). 973-895-1774 (Continued from page 2) Prime Minister Vladimir Putin rejected November 26). the idea of a Russian threat to Ukraine’s ter- Following the collapse of the USSR, ritorial integrity (Germany’s ARD television Crimea quickly came under Ukrainian cen- channel, August 30). Following Russia’s MERCHANDISE tral control, the exception being the Black invasion of Georgia, no Ukrainian president Sea Fleet, which remained contested until or government could ignore continued prov- the May 1997 agreement with Russia. The ocations in Crimea by Russian nationalists, Southern Operational Command (SOC), the distribution of Russian passports to headquartered in Odesa, is based on the for- Ukrainian citizens, and threats not to remove mer Soviet Southern Military District, the Black Sea Fleet in 2017. Two Russian excluding Moldova. Crimean leaders were arrested in November Ukraine has large armed forces structures 2008 and charged with threatening Ukraine’s in Crimea, which falls under the SOC, as the territorial integrity. region was heavily militarized in the USSR. Mr. Putin told the April summit of NATO The 6th Army Corps is central to the SOC, that Ukraine was an artificial state that could disintegrate if the country joined NATO. FOR SALE which includes one airborne, one airmobile, one armored, one artillery and three mecha- These views are commonplace across nized brigades (www.sentinel.janes.com). Russia’s political spectrum, from the Cemetery Crypt For Sale In addition, Ukraine has other security Communists, through Unified Russia’s Venice Memorial Gardens, Venice, FL forces in Crimea: naval (seamen, marines “pragmatists,” to the pro-Putin nationalist Ukrainian Section, Top Level and special forces), border troops, and camp. Russia’s NATO representative Dimitri Internal Affairs Ministry Special Forces. The Rogozin warned the BBC on December 1 Please call Irene Crimea Tactical Group in Belbek is based that Ukraine would disintegrate if it joined 713.789.0239 around the 204th Fighter Aviation Brigade NATO. operating MiG-29s for air defense and Regime loyalist and nationalist Vladimir attack. Zhirinovsky, the deputy chairman of the OPPORTUNITY Elite National Guard units were stationed State Duma and leader of the Liberal in Crimea from 1991 to 1999. After Democratic Party, said that two-thirds of EARN EXTRA INCOME! President Leonid Kuchma abolished the Ukraine was in reality “Russian territory.” If guard and transferred these units to the Ukraine wanted to remain independent, Mr. The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in 2000 Zhirinovsky advised, it could only remain for advertising sales agents. they were the best trained MVS Special so in a third of the territory that it currently Forces. occupied, with the other two-thirds reverting For additional information contact During the Orange Revolution, at a time to Russia (www.pravda.com.ua, December Maria Oscislawski, Advertising when the majority of the MIA had defected 1). These views are echoed by Moscow Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, to the Yushchenko side, the Crimean MIA Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a senior member of (973) 292-9800, ext 3040. Special Forces remained loyal to the end to Unified Russia, who raised territorial Mr. Kuchma. Dispatched to Kyiv to guard demands on Sevastopol during his visit to the presidential administration, Crimean the Crimean peninsula in May. MIA Special Forces, such as BARS, were Ukraine’s deployment of additional units mistakenly reported as “Russian spetsnaz.” to Crimea and its land border with Russia Russia’s reaction to Ukraine’s proposed reflects Ukraine’s perceived security threats re-deployment was entirely negative, with following Russia’s invasion of Georgia. In Russia describing it as a “provocation.” Ukraine’s eyes the threat is real, albeit Run your advertisement here, Nikolai Tulayev, a member of the State unrecognized by Brussels. Duma’s Committee on Defense and in The Ukrainian Weekly’s Security, ridiculed the idea that Ukraine’s The article above is reprinted from CLASSIFIEDS section. armed forces would become a threat to Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Russia. “From the military point of view, the its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Ukrainian armed forces do not constitute a www.jamestown.org. No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 15

Wave”) Pittsburgh Chapter, the St. Josaphat Pittsburgh... Society of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic (Continued from page 1) Church in Carnegie, Pa., the Poltava Center and the University of Pittsburgh Ukrainian Dance Company of Pittsburgh, Medical Center-Shadyside Hospital was and the Ukrainian Radio Program. arranged by Dr. Pituch, chief of the Division After the more than 150 guests were seat- of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at ed, Mrs. Yushchenko entered the banquet Shadyside Hospital, and the Ukrainian hall and was greeted with traditional bread Technological Society’s 2008 Ukrainian of and salt by members of the Poltava the Year. Ukrainian Dance Company. The female A brochure prepared by Ms. Iddings, ensemble then performed a special dance for including biographical information on the the first lady. first lady and explaining the work of the The singing of the national anthems of Ukraine 3000 Foundation, was distributed the United States and Ukraine was led by to the 20 hospital administrators and physi- Mr. Zinski and members of St. John the cians who participated in presentations to Baptist Church choir. Mrs. Yushchenko on pediatric care, cancer The master of ceremonies, Msgr. George immunotherapy, cochlear implants, oral and Appleyard, dean of the Central Deanery of maxillofacial surgery, and other medical the St. Josaphat Eparchy, introduced Dr. Michael E. Haritan specialties at these world-class medical Lillian Misko-Coury, chair of the Diocesan The female ensemble of the Poltava Ukrainian Dance Company of Pittsburgh facilities. Resource Committee, who offered words of performs a special scarf dance. Accompanying Mrs. Yushchenko was welcome to the first lady, Bishop Moskal pediatrician Dr. Vira Pavliuk, director of and guests. medical programs for Ukraine 3000, who The Rt. Rev. Mitred, Msgr. Martin was able to establish contacts with her pro- Canavan, vicar general of the St. Josaphat fessional colleagues here. Eparchy, offered the invocation. A cham- Mrs. Yushchenko also visited with chil- pagne toast was then offered by attorney dren in the playroom at the Oakland site of Raymond Komichak to the United States Children’s Hospital. Scenes of her visit with and Ukraine and their mutual friendship, the children were broadcast on local televi- and Bishop Moskal offered a toast to sion channels KDKA and WTAE on their Ukraine’s first lady. evening news programs. After dinner, presentations were made to At a working lunch, the first lady was Mrs. Yushchenko. Mary Esther van Shura, welcomed to Pittsburgh by City Councilman assistant to Allegheny County Executive William Peduto. Dan Onorato, read a proclamation in honor In the late afternoon, she visited the of Mrs. Yushchenko, designating November Ukrainian Nationality Classroom in the 30 as “Ukraine Day” in Allegheny County. Cathedral of Learning at the University of Myroslava Rozdolska, president of the New Pittsburgh, where she was greeted by E. Ukrainian Wave Corporation, presented her Maxine Bruhns, director of the Nationality with an original painting of the Statue of Class Rooms Program; Michael Komichak, Liberty. Ms. Hlutkowsky and Anne Konecky Luba Hlutkowsky (left) with granddaughters Oriana and Chrystyna Hlutkowsky chair of the Ukrainian Nationality Class read the text in Ukrainian and English, and Kateryna Yushchenko holding a commemorative plate. Room Committee, which built and dedicat- respectively, of a certificate created by ed the Room in 1990; Raymond Komichak graphic artist Kathy Boykowycz, signed by of the committee; Prof. Walter R. representatives of all the sponsoring organi- Boykowycz, architect of record for con- zations, which welcomed the first lady to struction of the Room, and Dr. and Mrs. Pittsburgh. Roman Kyshakevych, son of the late Dr. Ms. Hlutkowsky, on behalf of Ridna George Kyshakevych, who was the princi- Skhola of Pittsburgh and the Poltava Dance pal fund-raiser for the room. Company, presented to Mrs. Yushchenko a Mrs. Yushchenko presented Mr. commemorative silver plate, engraved with Komichak with gifts from Ukraine for dis- a scene of the three rivers of Pittsburgh cre- play in the room. ated by the Wendell August Forge Company. On Saturday evening the first lady and Marika Zaliszczuk, president of Ukrainian her party had a private dinner on Pittsburgh’s National Women’s League of America Mount Washington, from where she could Branch 27, presented a beautiful see the panorama of the city and its lights, written by member Ivanna Staroschak. including the North Shore and South Side Dame Marny Gilluly, commander of the areas that were home to many of the first Atlantic Commandery of the Order of St. Ukrainian immigrants to Pittsburgh. Lazarus of Jerusalem, presented Mrs. Yushchenko with the order’s Silver Medal Mrs. Yushchenko attended divine liturgy Msgr. George Appleyard and Commander Dame Marny Gilluly and members of of Merit for her work on behalf of the chil- on Sunday morning at the mother church of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem. Ukrainians in Western Pennsylvania, St. dren of Ukraine. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church In her remarks, Mrs. Yushchenko said located on Pittsburgh’s Southside. She was that she was overwhelmed by the reception welcomed with the traditional bread and salt she had received from the Pittsburgh by Maria Chirovsky and her daughter, Taisa. Ukrainian community. She spoke of deeds Celebrants were the Bishop Kenneth not words, in Ukraine and in the diaspora. Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Deeds are what is needed to build modern Eparchy of New Westminster in British day Ukraine, she said, and she asked those Columbia, the Revs. Soutus, John A. Ropke in the diaspora to continue and to increase and Ivan Chirovsky (pastor). The choir was their deeds in building Ukraine, especially directed by Stephen Zinski. through the work of the Ukraine 3000 Following divine liturgy, Mrs. International Charitable Foundation, which Yushchenko was shown the exhibits next is working to bring world-class medical sci- door at the Cultural Museum of Ridna ence and technology as soon as possible to Skhola of Pittsburgh, which includes many at least one hospital in every region in regional Ukrainian costumes created by Ukraine. Vasyl Jula. She also spoke personally with She especially noted the deeds of present- many of those who had attended the liturgy. ing and preserving Ukrainian culture in At 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 30, at Pittsburgh of Michael Komichak, for his 58 the Airport Marriott Hotel, Mrs. Yushchenko years as director and host of the “Ukrainian talked with guests during the social hour at Radio Program,” and those of Mrs. the 20th annual bishop’s charity gala orga- Hlutkowsky as director of the Poltava nized by the Diocesan Resource Committee Ukrainian Dance Company and her work of St. Josaphat Eparchy, and jointly spon- with Ridna Shkola, the local Ukrainian sored with Ukrainian National Women’s Saturday school. League of America Branch 27 of Pittsburgh, Bishop Moskal concluded the evening’s Ukrainian Selfreliance of Western gala by offering words of appreciation for Pennsylvania Federal Credit Union, the the work of Mrs. Yushchenko as first lady of Western Pennsylvania Council of the Ukraine and a prayer of benediction. He led League of Ukrainian Catholics of America, all in the singing of “Pod Tvoyu Mylost.” Ridna Shkola of Pittsburgh, the New The first lady and her party left Pittsburgh Ukrainian Wave Corporation (“Fourth on Monday for Washington. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 19 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 21 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 No. 1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 23 OUT AND ABOUT

January 7 21st annual Christmas radio program on WJMO 707-935-9142 Parma, OH 1300 AM, featuring divine liturgy, great complines and matins services, St. Vladimir Ukrainian January 17 Slavic New Year Dance, with music by Vox Ethnika, Orthodox Cathedral, www.stvladimirs.org or Ansonia, CT John A. Sullivan’s, 203-235-0667 440-885-1509 January 17 Malanka, featuring music by Svitanok, St. Michael January 9 Piano recital by Alexander Seredenko, Le Salon, Baltimore, MD Ukrainian Catholic Church, 410-248-0329 or Ottawa National Arts Center, 613-947-7000 or 410-730-1245 866-850-ARTS January 17 Malanka, featuring music by Na Zdorov’ya, St. January 10 Malanka, featuring music by Na Zdorov’ya, Carteret, NJ Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church and St. Demetrius Hartford, CT Ukrainian National Home of Hartford, Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, St. Demetrius 860-296-6955 Banquet Center, 732-541-5452 or 732-541-6163

January 11 Christmas Concert, featuring Levada and Orion January 17 Malanka, with music by New Dimension, St. Luke Toronto choirs and the Vanguard Concert Band of the Warners, NY Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 315-468-1981 Ukrainian Youth Ensembles, St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, 416-239-1685 January 17 Concert featuring Peter Ostroushko and Svitanya Philadlphia Eastern European Women’s Vocal Ensemble, January 10 Malanka, featuring music by Halychany, Crossroads Music, 215-729-1028 Passaic, NJ Organization for the Defense of Lemko-West Ukraine, Ukrainian Center, 973-772-3344 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions January 15 Lecture by Olena Nikolayenko, “Youth Movement in from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Washington Post-Communist Societies – A Model of Nonviolent and as space allows; photos will be considered. Please note: items will be printed Resistance,” Ronald Reagan Building and a maximum of two times each. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. International Trade Center, 202-691-4000

January 16 Malanka, featuring music by Fata Morgana, St. Scranton, PA Vladimir Parish Center, 570-563-2275 January 17 Malanka, St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church hall, Got a group? Need The Weekly? Ottawa 613-596-5906

January 17 Malanka, featuring music by Hrim, Ukrainian Call our subscription department to find out how you may qualify Jenkintown, PA American Youth Association, Ukrainian Educational for a group discount on your Weekly subscriptions. and Cultural Center, 215-663-1166 (973) 292-9800 ext. 3042 January 17 Malanka, featuring music by Victor Nazarchuk and San Francisco performance by Anitchka, St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church Hall, 650-968-6425 or 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009 No. 1 PREVIEW OF EVENTS Friday, January 16 ed; RSVP by calling 212-228-0110 or e-mailing [email protected]. Soyuzivka’s Datebook NEW YORK: A screening of the Hollywood production “The North Star” Saturday, January 17 (1943, black and white), a pro-Soviet pro- CARTERET, N.J.: St. Demetrius January 6 – Ukrainian Christmas January 10 – Ukrainian Engineers’ paganda film about a Ukrainian village Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and St. Eve Supper Malanka with Svitanok 1/10/09 that defends itself against the Nazis, will Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church are co- take place at 7 p.m. at The Ukrainian sponsoring a Malanka (Ukrainian New Museum. The film is based on a script Year gathering) at the St. Demetrius originally written by Lillian Hellman and Community Center, 681 Roosevelt Ave. directed by Lewis Milestone, with music Music will be by Na Zdorovya. Tickets are by Aaron Copland. The all-star cast $55, which includes admission, choice of includes Hollywood greats Anne Baxter, sirloin beef or chicken Francaise dinner, Dana Andrews, Jane Withers, Farley open bar, midnight hors d’oeuvres and a Granger, Walter Brennan, Walter Huston, champagne toast. The center is located just Erich von Stroheim and Dean Jagger. Prof. blocks from Exit 12 of the New Jersey Alexander J. Motyl, Rutgers University, Turnpike; there is a Holiday Inn right off will present and discuss the film’s flawed the exit. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner will portrayal of Ukrainians in World War II. A be served at 7 p.m.; music starts at 8 p.m. reception will follow the question and For table and ticket reservations call Peter answer session. The Ukrainian Museum is Prociuk, 732-41-5452. Tickets will not be located at 222 E. Sixth St., New York, NY sold at the door; outside liquor is prohibit- 10003. Donation: $15; members and ed. Deadline to purchase tickets is January To book a room or event call: (845) 626-5641, ext. 140 seniors, $10; students, $5. Seating is limit- 11. 216 Foordmore Road P.O. Box 529 Kerhonkson, NY 12446 E-mail: [email protected] PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Website: www.Soyuzivka.com Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community.

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