The Ukrainian Weekly 2007, No.33
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Yushchenko’s address to OU-PSD convention — page 6. • New books — pages 10 and 11. • Hromovytsia tours Western Europe — centerfold. HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXXV No. 33 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2007 $1/$2 in Ukraine CEC registers Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc list after court ruling by Zenon Zawada Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – Yulia Tymoshenko over- came the latest hurdle thrown at her bloc’s parliamentary election campaign. The Central Election Commission (CEC) ruled on August 10 that the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc could not participate in the September 30 pre- term elections because it submitted documents that didn’t contain the complete addresses of the 450 deputies on its electoral list. It reversed its decision on August 15, one day after an administrative court decided in the YTB’s favor. Ms. Tymoshenko alleged this was the lat- est attack from her enemies in the coalition government. “That our political force wasn’t registered simply speaks to the politi- cal persecution executed against our Zenon Zawada political team,” Ms. Tymoshenko told Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc supporters rally in front of the Central Election Commission on August 12. The banner reads (Continued on page 4) “There won’t be elections - there will be a revolution!” Election Notebook: observing the Longtime journalist Mary Mycio climate prior to Ukraine’s early vote leaves Ukraine for United States by Zenon Zawada tion-forming negotiations. by Zenon Zawada almost always draws stares. Kyiv Press Bureau The largest organizational threat to Kyiv Press Bureau “They all look at the ‘tryzub!’ ” she the elections is contradictory legislation said. Up to five million Ukrainian citizens and the highly flawed preparation of KYIV – Only a few dozen North Needless to say, the delicious luxury living abroad won’t be able to vote in the voter lists, the CVU reported. Americans braved the challenging eco- of inexpensive French cuisine only September 30 elections because a new The “On a state voter register” law nomic and social conditions of Ukraine became an option in Ukraine’s capital in amendment limits eligible voters to those is not being applied and a complete regis- to re-settle their ancestral homeland recent years, along with credit cards and listed on consulate registries as of August ter of voters won’t be available by when the nation finally gained independ- the Internet. 2, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine September 30. ence in 1991. “I remember the first grocery store (CVU) reported on July 17. The CVU commended Mr. Among them were Mary Mycio, the that opened that had milk with a shelf “Right now, only those who are on Yushchenko’s presidential order to daughter of Lemko immigrants who grew life,” Ms. Mycio said. “I used to pasteur- consulate lists can vote, and that’s a very ensure the proper organization for the up in Long Island, N.Y. She had just ize my own milk and roast my own cof- insignificant amount of voters,” said election campaign, as well as the completed law school at the time and fee. Those were the days. I wouldn’t Oleksander Chernenko, CVU advisor. Presidential Secretariat’s organizing and decided to launch a journalism career that want to do that again, but at that time, it The stipulation was part of the June supplying the elections commissions lasted longer than she imagined. was part of the fun, in a way.” 2 compromise reached between the coali- with materials and technical assistance. “I didn’t expect to stay here for 16 She first arrived in Kyiv in 1989 and tion government and President Viktor However, it also criticized President years, I can tell you that,” said Ms. returned several times to collect informa- Yushchenko on amendments to Ukraine’s Yushchenko for abusing his office by Mycio, whose accomplishments include tion about the Chornobyl nuclear acci- election legislation to prepare for producing political campaign ads and articles for the Los Angeles Times and dent, volunteer in the Rukh democracy September parliamentary elections. classifying them as “social advertising,” New York Newsday, as well as her book movement and witness the student “It was the coalition’s proposal,” Mr. thereby securing television placement hunger strikes before deciding in January Chernenko said. “They think it’s to their published in 2005, “Wormwood Forest: free-of-charge. A Natural History of Chornobyl.” 1991 to settle on a more permanent basis. advantage because they limit the votes of The CVU is a non-profit, non-gov- “Ukraine was becoming independent, Western Ukrainians working abroad in Deciding “my time here is done,” Ms. ernmental organization that serves moni- Mycio returned to the U.S. for good, set- and I wanted to see it,” Ms. Mycio said. Europe.” tors elections and informs voters. As with most Ukrainian Americans The CVU also reported its “signifi- tling in the Philadelphia area with plans It is financed by numerous Western to re-marry. who settle in Ukraine, the tales of cant disturbance” regarding possible vio- organizations, including the Konrad Ukrainian folklore and greatness instilled lations in election campaigning and vote How she spent July 17, her last full Adenauer Fund, the Eurasia Foundation day in Kyiv, revealed just how rapidly throughout her childhood were quickly tallying in its July 19 report. and the National Democratic Institute. shattered, particularly after serving in the “The biggest political threat in hold- Ukraine’s capital had changed since she The U.S. State Department finances first settled there in January 1991. Rukh democracy movement. ing honest and democratic elections is the latter two organizations. “I saw the incompetence,” she said. “It Enjoying a late afternoon lunch at a the high level of political competition, was either sabotage or stupidity, I’m not newly opened Eric Kayser French patis- which also affected the activity of gov- *** sure. There was a lot of crap that went on.” serie and restaurant, Ms. Mycio munched ernment organs, the Central Election Ms. Mycio was in the Verkhovna Rada on a roasted salmon fillet accompanied Commission (CEC) and courts,” the The Congress of Ukrainian the day independence was declared, CVU reported. Nationalists (CUN) announced August 7 by a leafy arugula salad. remembering how nationalist Larysa The CVU predicted a large number it dismissed Assistant Chair Yevhen A few glasses of pinot grigio made for Skoryk pleaded with her allies not to sup- of complaints to be filed with courts, par- a delightful meal, paid for with her Self ticularly during vote tallies and the coali- (Continued on page 4) Reliance Credit Union credit card, which (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2007 No. 33 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Yushchenko, Yanukovych, Tymoshenko CEC refuses to register YTB Socialist Party and the Communist Party. The eight CEC members nominated by KYIV – The Central Election the ruling coalition issued a statement on once again running in Ukraine’s elections Commission (CEC) on August 11 refused August 13 slamming the YTB for “gross, to register candidates of the Yulia overt pressure” and “groundless accusa- by Pavel Korduban Mr. Yanukovych may be replaced as prime Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) for the early tions.” (RFE/RL Newsline) Eurasia Daily Monitor minister by either Ukraine’s richest man, parliamentary elections due on Rynat Akhmetov, who is viewed as the September 30, Ukrainian media reported. Kyiv court orders CEC to reconsider The campaign for the September 30 PRU’s main financier, or Mr. Akhmetov’s With seven votes in favor, the list was parliamentary elections officially kicked right-hand man, Borys Kolesnikov. Both one vote short of the eight votes required KYIV – The Kyiv District Administra- tive Court on August 14 ordered the off in Ukraine on August 2. This campaign have denied this. Mr. Akhmetov said he is for registration. Seven CEC members will see the same contenders as in the Central Election Commission to recon- not planning to work in the executive at nominated by the ruling coalition refused March 2006 election: President Viktor sider no later than August 15 the registra- all, and Mr. Kolesnikov repeated in several to endorse the list on the grounds that the Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine – People’s tion of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc’s interviews that there is no need to replace YTB had failed to provide the exact Self-Defense bloc (OU-PSD), except last (YTB) list of candidates for early parlia- Mr. Yanukovych as head of the Cabinet. addresses of the candidates, a require- year it was just Our Ukraine, without Yurii mentary elections on September 30, The PRU, confident of its strength, has ment not clearly set by election legisla- Lutsenko’s Self-Defense; the Party of the Ukrainian media reported. “I believe this been the only force among the three main tion. “This is a blatant and rather desper- Regions (PRU) of Prime Minister Viktor will put an end to all provocative actions players to not form a bloc. Instead, sever- ate attempt to undermine the electoral Yanukovych, which represents Eastern against our bloc. It is now clear that the al small parties ceased to exist to enable process by eliminating a political party Ukraine’s big businesses; and the populists election commission was simply wrong,” their leaders to join the PRU’s list for the that represents one-third of the country’s from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB). Yulia Tymoshenko said after the court election. The list, adopted at the party’s population,” Yulia Tymoshenko told The Communists and the Socialists, pre-election convention on August 4, decision. The ruling may be contested at who barely made it into Parliament in journalists, vowing to challenge the reg- the Higher Administrative Court within includes a record number of government istration refusal in court.