Poroshenko Inaugurated As Ukraine's Fifth President
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INSIDE: Could Normandy help Ukraine contain Russia? – page 3 Camp invites kids to discover their heritage – page 5 Population dynamics of Ukrainians in Metro NY-NJ – page 10 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014 $2.00 Poroshenko inaugurated as Ukraine’s fi ft h president by Zenon Zawada KYIV – Petro Poroshenko, 48, was inaugurated as Ukraine’s fifth president on June 7 amidst unprecedented challenges for independent Ukraine that threaten its very existence. The Russian Federation has launched an unde- clared hybrid war, having occupied the Crimean peninsula and dispatched weapons and soldiers to the Donbas region. Inauguration day ceremonies drew 56 foreign delega- tions to Kyiv, including U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Council President Herman von Rompuy, as well as repre- sentatives of Ukraine’s political and business elite, includ- ing billionaires Rinat Akhmetov of Donetsk and Igor Kolomoisky of Dnipropetrovsk. The rite drawing the most public acclaim was Mr. Poroshenko’s inauguration speech in the Verkhovna Rada in which he addressed Ukraine’s crisis with Russia and set the priorities for the first year of his presidency, including concrete steps to resolve the war in Donbas. (See the full text of Mr. Poroshenko’s speech, which begins below.) “Speech of Ukrainian President Poroshenko during his inauguration was the best thing I’ve heard from any Ukrainian politic [sic] in my life,” tweeted professional ten- nis player Sergiy Stakhovsky, Ukraine’s ATP Tour champion. Mr. Biden said the speech was “impressive, but the sub- stance was more important than the delivery.” During an afternoon meeting with Mr. Poroshenko at the Presidential Administration, he commended the declared plans to com- bat corruption, secure the border with Russia and end the violence in Donbas. Vladimir Gontar/UNIAN (Continued on page 4) Petro Poroshenko takes the oath of office as Ukraine’s president on June 7. FOR THE RECORD: Inaugural address by President Petro Poroshenko Below is the full text of the address delivered by Petro dence without any difficulty. It is not true! Entire genera- Poroshenko on June 7, as he was inaugurated president of tions of Ukrainian patriots struggled for our independence. Ukraine. An English-language translation of the speech was The heroes of Nebesna Sotnia died for it. Warriors and provided by the Press Office of Ukraine’s President. (It is civilians of Ukraine die for it. available online at http://www.president.gov.ua/en/ Let us honor the memory of those who died for freedom news/30488.html.) and independence of Ukraine with a moment of silence. I become a president to preserve and strengthen the Dear compatriots from Lviv to Donetsk, from Chernihiv unity of Ukraine, to ensure lasting peace and guarantee to Sevastopol! reliable security. I know: peace is the main thing aspired by We, Ukrainians, “are a living spark in the family of the people of Ukraine today. European nations and active members of European civili- The head of state has a wide choice of various instru- zational work.” These are the words of Ivan Franko. ments to ensure the territorial integrity of Ukraine and “To stand with one’s feet and heart in Ukraine and one’s peaceful life of citizens. I will have enough powers and head in Europe,” Mykhailo Drahomanov commanded. determination. I do not want war. I do not want revenge. The return of Ukraine to its natural, European state has Even though there are great sacrifices of the people of been long awaited by many generations. Ukraine before my eyes. The dictatorship that ruled Ukraine in recent years I want peace and I will secure the unity of Ukraine. Thus, sought to deprive us of this prospect – people rebelled. I begin my work offering a peaceful plan. The victorious revolution of dignity has not only I strongly urge everyone who illegally took weapons in changed the government. The country has changed. People their hands to lay them down. In response, I first of all have changed. guarantee the exemption from criminal responsibility for The time of inevitable positive changes has come. To those who do not have blood of Ukrainian soldiers and implement them, we need first of all peace, security and civilians on their hands. And those who are not involved in unity. funding terrorism. A real war, planned and unleashed in the Ukrainian Second, a controlled corridor for Russian mercenaries Donbas, became an obstacle for enormous opportunities who would like to return home. Official website of Ukraine’s president that opened for the European modernization of Ukraine Third, peaceful dialogue. Petro Poroshenko in the Verkhovna Rada for his inau- after the fall of tyranny. guration. Until now, many people thought that we got indepen- (Continued on page 14) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014 No. 24 ANALYSIS Putin says Poroshenko has Dzhemilev: Kremlin uses Soviet policy Special Monitoring Mission. Mr. Burkhalter called for their unconditional release and PRAGUE – Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa stressed that getting them free was a prior- ‘right approach’ to Ukraine crisis Dzhemilev says that after Russia’s annexa- ity, and expressed his gratitude to Messrs. tion of Crimea, Moscow is relying “on the Ben Rhodes, a deputy U.S. national secu- Poroshenko and Yatsenyuk for the close RFE/RL old Soviet policy of dividing the Crimean cooperation in this regard. (OSCE) rity advisor, also said Mr. Obama indicated Tatars.” In an interview with RFE/RL’s Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko that, if Russia engaged with the new gov- Russian and Tatar-Bashkir Services on June OSCE rep to be at bilateral talks met on the sidelines of the June 6 D-Day ernment in Kyiv, “there could be openings 11 in Prague, Mr. Dzhemilev said that after anniversary events in France, their first to reduce tensions.” attempts to persuade the supreme repre- BERN – Didier Burkhalter, OSCE- meeting since Mr. Poroshenko was elected Mr. Putin described his talks with sentative body of the Crimean Tatars to Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe president of Ukraine on May 25. Obama as “substantial.” cooperate failed, now “there is every sign Mr. Putin later told reporters that during The meeting was the first face-to-face (OSCE) and Switzerland’s foreign affairs that the Mejlis will be closed and banned” the 15-minute meeting he and Mr. encounter between the U.S. and the Russian minister, on June 8 confirmed his agree- throughout Crimea. He also said that Poroshenko discussed the main issues leaders since the Ukrainian crisis erupted. ment to send seasoned Swiss diplomat and Moscow’s annexation of Crimea is “damag- related to settling the crisis. The events to mark the 70th anniversary Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini to accompany ing to the basic interests of Russia and the He said he welcomes Mr. Poroshenko’s of the 1944 landings of Allied troops in talks between Ukraine and the Russian Russian people,” and “a path to catastro- position that the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine Normandy came amid a deep rift between Federation aiming at ending violence in phe, isolation, and loss of respect” for the needs to be stopped. The Russian president Russia and Western nations over Moscow’s Ukraine. Ms. Tagliavini has arrived in Kyiv. country. Mr. Dzhemilev, a Soviet-era dissi- said he expects the Ukrainian leadership to actions in Ukraine. Mr. Burkhalter welcomed Ukrainian dent, has strongly protested Russia’s show “good will” and “state wisdom.” The events were preceded by intense diplo- President Petro Poroshenko’s initiative to annexation of Crimea in March. (RFE/RL, He also reiterated Russia’s position that macy in the hope that the gathering of world launch talks on stopping violence rapidly. with reporting by RFE/RL’s Russian and what Moscow describes as a “punitive leaders would lead to a thaw in tensions. He underlined that the silencing of weap- Tatar-Bashkir Services) operation” by security forces in eastern Mr. Putin also said separate talks he held ons would significantly improve conditions Ukraine must stop. in France with the French, British and OSCE chair commends Poroshenko for meaningful dialogue, which is key for The Kremlin earlier said Messrs. Putin German leaders were “very positive.” stabilizing the situation in Ukraine and and Poroshenko had called for a quick end At a summit in Brussels last week, lead- KYIV – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and resolving the crisis. (OSCE) to the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine and ers of the Group of Seven leading industrial Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Didier agreed that hostilities must be stopped by countries said they were prepared to Burkhalter on June 7 welcomed the efforts Russia welcomes humanitarian corridors both sides– the Ukrainian armed forces impose further sanctions against Russia of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Russian and the militants. unless Moscow recognized the legitimacy resort to international diplomacy and high- Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said Mr. Putin also said he did not discuss gas of the Ukrainian government and ended level contacts to create a new dynamic in Moscow welcomes Ukraine’s decision to prices with Mr. Poroshenko, but he said he support for the separatist insurgency in favor of the resolution of the crisis regard- establish humanitarian corridors in eastern believed Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s eastern Ukraine. ing Ukraine and in order to strengthen Ukraine where government forces continue Naftohaz were “close to a definitive deal.” With reporting by the Associated Press, partnerships that are indispensable for de- fighting pro-Russian separatists.