Ukrainian National Association Holds 36Th Convention
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INSIDE:• Complete voting results from the UNA convention — page 4. • The Ukrainian Museum spotlights Hnizdovsky — page 12. • “Ukrainian Night” at the Cornelia Street Cafe — page 13. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXIV HE KRAINIANNo. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2006 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine UkrainianT NationalU Association holdsW 36th Convention by Roma Hadzewycz KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The Ukrainian National Association held its 36th Regular Convention here at its mountaintop estate, Soyuzivka, on May 26-29, with 96 delegates and 17 mem- bers and honorary members of the General Assembly participating. The convention re-elected the three full-time executive officers of the Ukrainian National Association: President Stefan Kaczaraj (Budd Lake, N.J.), National Secretary Christine E. Kozak (Rutherford, N.J.) and Treasurer Roma Lisovich (Union, N.J.). Elected to fill the other three posts of the UNA Executive Committee, which are volunteer positions, were: First Vice- President Zenon Holubec (Parma, Ohio), Second Vice-President Michael Koziupa (Cedar Knolls, N.J.) and Director for Canada Myron Groch (Founthill, Ontario). Dr. Holubec and Mr. Groch had Irene Jarosewich/Svoboda previously served as auditor and advisor, respectively; Mr. Koziupa is a neophyte The newly elected UNA General Assembly (from left): Vasyl Luchkiw, Slavko Tysiak, Nicholas Fil, Paul Prinko, Michael member of the General Assembly. Koziupa, Roma Lisovich, Zenon Holubec, Stefan Kaczaraj, Myron Groch, Christine E. Kozak, Wasyl Szeremeta, Gloria Horbaty, Eugene Serba, Olya Czerkas, Al Kachkowski, Maya Lew and Bohdan Kukurudza. (Missing from the photo are: (Continued on page 4) Eugene Oscislawski, Myron Pylypiak and Serguei Djoula). Yushchenko appears set Conference at Ostroh Academy focuses on diaspora by Zenon Zawada Russian language. Kyiv Press Bureau The majority of the immigrants from Ukraine against Tymoshenko as PM between 1989 and 1995 were Jews, most of whom cite by Zenon Zawada OSTROH, Ukraine – More than 80 scholars from Russian as their native language, Dr. Wolowyna report- Kyiv Press Bureau nine countries converged on the National University of ed. Ostroh Academy on May 22-23 to participate in its sec- In 1996 the percentage of ethnic Ukrainians among KYIV – The Presidential Secretariat gave further ond international diaspora conference, “Ukrainian indication this week that President Viktor Yushchenko emigrants from Ukraine reached 50 percent and the fig- Diaspora: Problems of Research.” ure is closer to 80 percent now. will not accept Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister. In just four years, the university’s Institute of Even if the Our Ukraine bloc forms a parliamentary Between 2000 and 2004, 90,000 more Fourth Wave Ukrainian Diaspora Studies has established itself as the Ukrainian immigrants arrived, according to new statis- coalition with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and the nation’s leading diaspora research institution, largely Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU), the president has the tics, thus increasing their population to about 200,000, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Lubomyr Wynar, university Dr. Wolowyna said. right to reject its proposed candidate for prime minister, Rector Ihor Pasichnyk and contributions from the dias- said Mykola Poludennyi, a presidential advisor. As a result, 13.5 percent of nearly 1 million pora communities in the U.S. and Canada. “The Constitution says nothing about the president’s Americans with Ukrainian ancestry, as of 2004, speak The conference sought “to distinguish those particu- direct obligation to rubber stamp the coalition’s deci- Russian in their household. lar trends which require research in Ukraine and those sion,” he said. “The president can say that he is refrain- “The percent speaking Russian at home is larger than trends of cooperation among Ukrainians globally that ing from proposing a candidate under distinct condi- those speaking Ukrainian,” Dr. Wolowyna said. “The require emphasis,” said Alla Atamanenko, the director tions.” Fourth Wave affected the whole community.” of the Institute of Ukrainian Diaspora Studies, in The president’s decision would depend upon the However, many of the Russian-speaking immigrants describing the conference’s goal. coalition’s commitment to carrying out his policy, Mr. are Jews who will integrate into the American Jewish Researchers shared their findings, discussed ideas for Poludennyi said. community instead of the Ukrainian community in the better international cooperation and exchanges, and President Yushchenko is maneuvering to keep Yurii U.S., he said. passed resolutions to establish goals for the next confer- Yekhanurov as prime minister, in the view of Oles The Ukrainian speakers, meanwhile, have revived the ence. Donii, chair of the Kyiv-based Center for Political Ukrainian diaspora communities, Dr. Wolwyna contin- Dr. Oleh Wolowyna, president of the data analysis Values Research. ued. firm Informed Decisions Inc. in Chapel Hill, N.C., was While the Constitution of Ukraine requires that a par- In the 5-17 age group, Ukrainian speakers increased among three American academics attending the confer- liamentary coalition be formed by June 24, it doesn’t by 300 percent. “We have a huge potential with a large ence, along with Dr. Lubomyr Wynar of Kent, Ohio, and require that the president accept its nominations for key number of young Ukrainian speakers who, if we government posts, he said. Dr. Maria Fisher-Slyzh, who now resides in Toronto. approach them adequately, may make a large contribu- Mr. Yushchenko will form a coalition government, Dr. Wolowyna presented his statistical research of the tion to the organizations in the U.S.,” Dr. Wolowyna Mr. Donii said, but isn’t planning to accept its nomina- Ukrainian diaspora. said. tion for the prime ministership, whether it’s Ms. Of 897,000 Americans claiming to have Ukrainian Roman Yereniuk, a theology professor at St. Tymoshenko or a Party of the Regions nominee. ancestry in the 2000 Census, about 114,000 are those of Andrew’s College in Winnipeg, discussed the Ukrainian Currently, Mr. Yekhanurov is serving as an Our the Fourth Wave of immigration, or those arriving after Canadian experience with multiculturalism and bilin- Ukraine national deputy in the Verkhovna Rada and as 1989, according to Dr. Wolowyna. gual education in the Canadian public school system. acting prime minister. Only 12.7 percent of the 897,000 Americans claim- During a roundtable discussion, Dr. Yereniuk sug- If the president doesn’t accept the parliamentary ing Ukrainian ancestry reported Ukrainian as the lan- gested more student exchange programs between guage of their household, indicating that the vast major- (Continued on page 14) ity had assimilated into American society or speak the (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2006 No. 23 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS New Parliament convenes, NEWSBRIEFS Ukraine’s first lady visits U.S. members of the Ukrainian community in Washington and visited Georgetown sets deadline for coalition WASHINGTON – First Lady University. (Ukrinform) Kateryna Yushchenko, chairman of the by Jan Maksymiuk role of sole supplier. Ukraine 3000 Charitable Fund Congress delegation in Ukraine RFE/RL The cancellation by Ms. Tymoshenko Supervisory Panel, has begun a working KYIV – U.S. House of Representatives of the gas deal with Gazprom could lead visit to the United States that is sched- Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R- Mo.) is All seemed in order as the 450-seat to a serious conflict between Kyiv and uled to last through June 4. The goal of leading a congressional delegation to Verkhovna Rada convened on May 25 Moscow. Russia could cut gas supplies to the first lady’s visit is to muster the sup- Ukraine, Turkey, Pakistan and Germany for its first session, but the composure on Ukraine, as it did for a short time in port of American business, public and from May 28 to June 3. Congressman the Ukrainian parliamentary rostrum was January, or impose trade sanctions, as it medical circles for the “From Hospital to Blunt is traveling with the House Minority short-lived. recently did with regard to Georgian and Hospital” project. The visit has been Whip Steny Hoyer (D- Md.), Democratic A dispute among deputies erupted Moldovan wines. Ukraine, which cur- organized with support from the Genesis Caucus Chairman James Clyburn (D- immediately after the Yulia Tymoshenko rently sends some 22 percent of its Eurasia corporation and Daniel Roscom, Bloc, Our Ukraine and the Socialist Party exports to Russia, would hardly benefit in accordance with the Ukraine 3000 S.C.), Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R- – the three allies in the 2004 Orange from any trade ban from Moscow. Fund’s memorandum with the corpora- N.J.) and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.). The Revolution – proposed that the session Another hurdle to an Orange coalition tion, which was signed in March. The delegation traveled to Ukraine to help be postponed until June 7. is the Socialist Party’s opposition to some project provides, in particular, for con- strengthen U.S.-Ukraine bilateral relations By that time, they pledged, the three goals pursued by the Yushchenko admin- structing a maternity and childhood and bolster ongoing democratic and eco- groups will have agreed on the principles istration. In particular, the Socialists health center in Kyiv. Genesis Eurasia nomic reforms in Ukraine. While in Kyiv of a renewed coalition. The motion even- object to Ukrainian aspirations to join CEO Roscom and Mrs. Yushchenko