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INSIDE:• Independent Ukraine – a special section to commemorate • the anniversary beginning on page 7.

Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVI HE KRAINIANNo. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine SevenT years after:U frustrated dreams Finance ministerW assures investors by Roman Woronowycz Yulia Hulieva, 21, an accountant, com- Kyiv Press Bureau mented: “Independence started not badly. of Ukrainian market’s stability All of our dreams were fulfilled. ... KYIV – Seven years after Ukraine’s Independence in Ukraine came and we declaration of independence, this county by Roman Woronowych notes, Finance Minister Mitiukov said, were all optimists. Everybody dreamed Kyiv Press Bureau “In purely technical terms, the Finance of more than 50 million people feels as that as the years progressed, we would Ministry can accommodate all of its debt though it has seen few results. Seven better understand.” Then she added, “But KYIV – The Ukrainian financial market commitments in any [type of] currency Ukrainians strolling the Khreshchatyk, with every year the dream becomes less will be able to withstand the monetary col- Kyiv’s main thoroughfare, expressed understandable.” lapse of the Russian ruble, Ukraine’s min- within days, if needed.” their feelings as Ukrainian independence Liuda Onyshchenko was critical of ister of finance assured the public and the Viktor Yuschenko, chairman of the day approaches. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada: It is like a international community on August 18. National Bank of Ukraine, was more “What do you want from me? I am a stable, “you cannot enter without getting “The government of Ukraine and the forthcoming about possible develop- photographer,” said Kostiatyn Verbetskii, “I dirty.” National Bank of Ukraine will take all ments of this situation in the economy don’t see it as Ukraine. I used to be an elec- Anatolii Stoliar, 51, once worked for the necessary measures to stabilize the when he said, “If the crisis in Russia trical engineer, now I have become a pho- KGB. “I could not have admitted this to continues to deepen, then we have to tographer. Now I have more variety, but national financial market,” said Minister anybody seven years ago,” said Mr. of Finance Yurii Mutiukov. (Continued on page 14) less money, so they tell me that is good.” Stoliar. “I look at Ukraine’s independence Nonetheless, the hryvnia, besieged by “Get out of here, America,” he added. with happiness. We are now sovereign and a depleted monetary reserve fund caused A visitor from Ivano-Frankivsk, Taras free. The problem is that we cannot trust Barachuk, said, “Look at it this way, our leadership. Do you understand?” he by the government’s inability to collect when you give a dog freedom, that dog added. revenue and hard currency, and affected UNA executives hold eats less but barks and bites more.” Svitlana Storozhuk, 40, stated, “I don’t by the financial collapse in Asia as well His friend, slightly built with an aggres- look at Ukraine at this moment as an as Russia, continued to fall after the sive attitude, shared her feelings on the independent country. The Communists finance minister’s statement. post-convention meeting Ukrainian economy, which is in transition: maintain power in government. Towards In one day, the trading value of by Martha Lysko Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, dropped “Seventy years of communism – as a phi- what are we striving?” PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The first post- by 7 percent, even as the National Bank losophy student, I understand that,” said Unscientific though it may be, this convention meeting of the Executive of Ukraine attempted to prop it up. Oleksandra Fokseli. “But I don’t under- short survey of public attitudes seems to Committee of the Ukrainian National stand why Ukraine still does not have a Seeking to reassure international banks indicate that the roll of the dice has not Association was held on Saturday, middle class.” yet given Ukraine its lucky sevens. that have invested in Ukraine’s treasury August 8, at the UNA Home Office. Ulana Diachuk, UNA president, warmly greeted and congratulated the newly elected executive committee. Yachting expedition’s goal: to help world discover Ukraine In attendance were: Stefko Kuropas, by Roman Woronowycz first vice–president; the Rev. Myron Kyiv Press Bureau Stasiw, director for Canada; Martha Lysko, national secretary; Stefan KYIV – Imagine a round-the-world voyage on a 25-meter Kaczaraj, treasurer; and the chairman of yacht with a cement hull. Dmytro Birioukovitch has the Auditing Committee, William dreamed it and now wants to make the trip a reality. Pastuszek. Anya Dydyk-Petrenko, sec- He and the enthusiasts he has gathered around him ond vice-president, was unable to attend. believe that too little is known around the world about The participants of the Executive Ukraine, and that a trans-global sailing voyage would help Committee’s quarterly meeting heard the world discover Ukraine. reports for the first half of 1998 and The 59-year-old owner of the two sailing vessels, the 25- meter schooner Batkivschyna and the 25-meter brigantine closely examined all membership gains Pochaina, said he got the idea for the voyage after sailing the and losses. The pre-convention member- Mediterranean and realizing that seven years after independ- ship campaign netted 79 new applica- ence few people know something about Ukraine, or even tions for total annual premiums of that such a country exists. $13,684.48. The UNA is still looking to “In Israel,” Mr. Birioukovitch recalled, “we were amazed increase membership. At the same time, at the number of people who came up to our boat and asked, the pool of willing and capable organiz- ‘That flag, what country does it represent?” ers is dwindling, and they must be Mr. Birioukovitch and his partner, Roman Maliarchuk, replaced with a new sales force. 34, who owns a travel agency in Kyiv, decided that they At the end of June, 22,000 letters were could let the world know about Ukraine and further their sent from the Home Office to all mem- own sailing interests by sailing around the globe in Mr. bers who have life insurance policies Birioukovitch’s two vessels and acting as goodwill ambassa- with the UNA. The letter briefly dors for Ukraine. informed the members about convention The “Discover Ukraine” expedition, as the project has resolutions regarding the increase in fra- been dubbed in English (in Ukrainian it is being called “Let ternal dues and the decrease in subscrip- the World Discover Ukraine”), plans 90 ports-of-call during tion prices for the UNA’s two newspa- its five-year journey. At each port, crew members will set up pers. In the same mailing the UNA intro- a pavilion with information on Ukraine, its history, geogra- duced a new membership package that phy, natural resources, industries, investment possibilities offers a discount card for members. As and agricultural potential. part of its fraternal benefits, the UNA Mr. Maliarchuk said the emphasis will be on getting paid nearly $100,000 in annual premi- information about Ukraine out to the general public. “The ums for 2,170 UNA members who are governments of the world may know about Ukraine, but the age 79 and older. average person doesn’t,” said Mr. Maliarchuk. Captain Dmytro Birioukovitch (right) with Roman As previously reported, the Ukrainian (Continued on page 6) Maliarchuk, project director of “Discover Ukraine.” Fraternal Association at its quadrennial (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

NEWS ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS

Independent Orthodox parish Ukrainians divided on independence been printed. The salary debt for educa- tional workers totals 419.1 million hrv. KYIV – A study published in The The situation is worst in the Kirovohrad, fights for its rights in Donetsk Willard Group Report by the Institute of Ternopil, Chernivtsi and Rivne oblasts by Felix Corley Street, which had been closed in 1962 Social and Political Psychology of the and Crimea, where salaries have not been Keston News Service during the persecutions of Nikita Academy of Psychological Science paid for three to seven months. (Eastern Khrushchev. The regional executive reports that 61 percent of citizens feel Economist) DONETSK – Nearly six months after committee ruled on September 6, 1995, Ukraine should remain independent, 19 Ukraine’s Supreme Arbitration Court ruled (Decision No. 203) to hand over the percent do not feel Ukraine should be Yalta anniversary fest under way that it no longer had the right to use its church to the community at the end of independent and 21 percent are undecid- church building or even call itself a reli- ed. Furthermore, 31 percent said that a YALTA – A celebration of Yalta’s 1997, after the occupant, the 160th anniversary began on August 15 gious community, the independent Donetskvuhillia company, had finished referendum should be held on “restoring Orthodox Spaso-Preobrazhenska Parish in the union of brother Soviet nations.” with a fair, performances by song and building a new administration complex. dance ensembles, theatrical productions, Donetsk has vowed to carry on the fight Since gaining possession, the communi- Thirty-seven percent oppose such a refer- for its rights. “We have shown resoluteness endum. (Eastern Economist) an air show and a parade of brass bands. ty has done extensive repairs to the in fighting for our legitimate right to be an Ukrainian Naval and Russia Black Sea building. independent Orthodox community, some- Coal disaster takes lives of 20 miners fleet personnel are participating in the Increasingly dissatisfied with inter- thing that does not contradict the legisla- celebrations. (Eastern Economist) Orthodox disputes in Ukraine and the LUHANSK – Twenty miners have tion of Ukraine and international legal Kyiv Patriarchate’s stand, the parish been killed and four more people are Chernihiv workers discover treasures standards,” Archimandrite Yurii Yurchyk, decided to leave the Kyiv missing after a methane explosion at the pastor, told Keston News Service on July KYIV –Workers at a McDonald’s con- Patriarchate’s jurisdiction in August LuhanskVuhillia Party Congress mine 16. struction site in Chernihiv uncovered a 1996 and become the first independent early on August 16. Over 30 rescue The parish has a regular congregation jewelry workshop which experts date to Orthodox parish in Ukraine. On teams are at work searching for the four of about 100, with numbers rising to the 11th or 12th century. This discovery September 6, 1996, the parish applied missing miners. An investigative com- about 1,000 on major feasts. is just a few hundred meters away from a to the city administration to amend its mittee headed by Labor and Social Archimandrite Yurii, who was ordained recently discovered medieval cemetery. statutes to affirm its independent sta- Policies Minister Ivan Sakhan has gone by a bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate to Luhansk to investigate the accident. Archaeologists speculate that the work- tus, citing provisions in Article 8 of the in 1991, but now does not consider him- Coal Industry Minister Serhii Tulub said shop, which includes an array of Law on Freedom of Conscience and self under the jurisdiction of any bishop, the concentration of methane in the mine bracelets, rings and crosses, was Religious Organizations. conducts the liturgy in Ukrainian. at the moment of explosion was not destroyed by invading nomads. (Eastern The court decision of February 2, However, the city administration unusually high, with meters registering a Economist) according to Archimandrite Yurii, was failed to respond either positively or neg- 0.9 percent concentration of methane; the motivated by the state’s preference for the atively within the maximum period of upper limit for methane concentration is Kuchma amnesties 25,000 prisoners Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Moscow three months specified in the law. Mr. 1.3 percent. Mr. Tulub said that 264 min- Kostenko and his deputy, I. M. KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma Patriarchate and its dislike of independent ers have died this year in mining acci- signed an amnesty law that will free some Orthodox communities that threaten the Prokopenko, indicated their opposition to dents. In April an explosion at a Donetsk the emergence of “independent” 25,000 prisoners, Interfax reported on dominance of that branch of the Orthodox mine killed 63 miners and a methane August 12. The amnesty applies to convicts Church. Archimandrite Yurii is also Orthodox parishes and declared that they explosion at another Donetsk mine also had to consult higher authorities before who have not committed grave crimes and unpopular among local officials for his caused fatalities. Mr. Tulub added that 70 will include minors, prisoners who have close cooperation with other local making any decision. The parish wrote to percent of domestic mining equipment is the city administration on December 16, children under 18 or disabled children and Christian communities, including worn out. (Eastern Economist) pregnant women. It will not extend to those Pentecostals and Baptists. He has also 1996, requesting an explanation about Teachers threaten protest unpaid wages defined as “dangerous recidivists” by maintained international ecumenical con- why it had failed to register the amend- ments to the parish statutes. This letter, courts or who received the death penalty tacts, especially with the Anglican KYIV – The Ukrainian Trade Union of commuted to a prison term. The law will too, was not answered. Church (funds from one of whose mem- Education Workers has threatened to take effect on the day it is published and After disruption of church services by bers, John James Hughes, the owner of a refuse launching the new school year on will be carried out within three months. As Orthodox loyal to the Moscow metallurgical firm in Donetsk, helped September 1 unless teachers are paid their of July 1 there were 236,000 inmates in Patriarchate (the largest Orthodox juris- construct the church building in 1910). back wages, Ukrainian Television report- Ukraine’s prisons. (RFE/RL Newsline) Since the court decision nearly six diction in Donetsk), the parish asked the ed on August 17. At its plenary session in months ago, Archimandrite Yurii said, city administration for protection from Kyiv the same day, the trade union Pustovoitenko seizes cars from debtors harassment. The city’s Directorate for announced it will stage a rally on Kyiv’s “There have been attempts by the KYIV – Prime Minister Valerii Religious Affairs declined to intervene, main street if the government does not Donetsk regional administration to Pustovoitenko continued his crackdown stating that this it was outside its field of meet the teachers’ demands within the blackmail me and my parishioners. For on budget debtors by ordering the competence. next two days. A Cabinet member told the example, it was announced that if we authorities to seize personal cars from persist, not only will the building be The believers loyal to Moscow had television station that the state budget has formed the parish of the Holy Apostles no funds for teachers and the government directors of non-paying companies and to taken away from us, but conditions will impose severe fines on non-payers, be created in which we will not be able Ss. Peter and Paul in August 1995, which does not intend to print money to cover was registered on December 8, 1995, and payments. (RFE/RL Newsline) ITAR-TASS and the Associated Press to conduct any further religious activity reported on August 14. More than 11,000 in Ukraine.” in early 1997, took their case to the Supreme Arbitration Court, arguing that Educational system lacks funding cars have been listed for confiscation and He continued: “They have also threat- 97 cars have already been seized. The tax ened to slander us in the newspapers and the city administration should turn the KYIV – According to the Education church building over to them and was police have fined tax defaulters a total of other mass media by calling us amoral Ministry, Ukraine is unable to finance its 3.7 million hryvni ($1.8 million). The people, sectarians, etc. Recently I have behaving illegally in failing to do so. educational system. Only 16 percent of further been threatened with physical Neither Archimandrite Yurii nor his the necessary number of textbooks have (Continued on page 18) attack or imprisonment. These threats parish was informed of the Holy come from official sources, such as the Apostles’ court case and claim or invited to attend the hearings. The Supreme head of the Directorate for Religious FOUNDED 1933 Affairs of the Donetsk region, G. B. Arbitration Court in Kyiv ruled against Kostenko, and representatives of the Archimandrite Yurii and the Spaso- HE KRAINIAN EEKLY Security Service of Ukraine.” Preobrazhanska parish on February 2 TAn English-languageU newspaperW published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Archimandrite Yurii recounted that on (Decision No. 1/6), declaring that in a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. April 13 an attempt was made to kidnap changing its affiliation the parish had Yearly subscription rate: $50; for UNA members — $40. him. Unidentified assailants tried to undergone “self-liquidation,” thereby Periodicals postage paid at Parsippany, NJ 07054 and additional mailing offices. force him to get into a car, but the revoking the decision of September 1995 (ISSN — 0273-9348) attempt was foiled by parishioners. that granted the church building to the Members of the parish council have parish. Also published by the UNA: Svoboda, a Ukrainian-language weekly newspaper faced similar threats. Archimandrite Yurii immediately (annual subscription fee: $50; $40 for UNA members). The parish was founded in 1993 and protested this ruling to the Procurator The Weekly and Svoboda: UNA: was registered by the Donetsk represen- General of Ukraine and appealed to the Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 tative of the president of Ukraine United States ambassador to Ukraine and (Decree No. 632 of October 22, 1993). the mission in Ukraine of the Postmaster, send address Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz At the time it was part of the Donetsk- Organization for Security and changes to: Editors: Roman Woronowycz (Kyiv) Luhansk Eparchy of the Ukrainian Cooperation in Europe, calling for help The Ukrainian Weekly Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj (Toronto) Orthodox Church–Kyiv Patriarchate, in resolving the problem. Archimandrite 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280 Irene Jarosewich which had broken away from the juris- Yurii has appealed for international Parsippany, NJ 07054 Ika Koznarska Casanova diction of the Moscow Patriarchate. The human rights groups to write to President parish, which was meeting in a hall of Leonid Kuchma, calling on him to inter- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com culture, petitioned the local authorities vene to allow the parish to retain legal The Ukrainian Weekly, August 23, 1998, No. 34, Vol. LXVI for the return of the Spaso- ownership of its building and for an end Copyright © 1998 The Ukrainian Weekly Preobrazhenska Church on Kuibyshev to state harassment. No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 3 Pustovoitenko orders debtors to civil defense training camp by Pavel Politiuk billion hrv ($1.4 billion U.S.) owed being Pustovoitenko told government and other Special to The Ukrainian Weekly placed in government coffers in cash and officials at the meeting. “But now the sit- goods, the prime minister of Ukraine uation in the country is very difficult, KYIV – In a radical and unorthodox decided that harsher measures were need- and we must do the training. We should move, Prime Minister Valerii ed to bring the directors and government remember that without fully covering the Pustovoitenko, whose government is officials around. pension and wage debts we will not be short of the cash it needs to pay billions Those who had not settled their debt able to solve any of the problems.” of hryvni in wage and pension arrears, on were told they were required to return In accordance with Ukrainian law, all August 12 ordered hundreds of directors daily to the Ukraina Palace of Culture, local officials and directors of large fac- of Ukrainian companies that owe money where the special session was being held, tories and companies also hold positions to the government to a special training until the government deemed that a suffi- of authority in Ukraine’s civil defense camp outside Kyiv. cient amount of money had been paid. network, and are charged with managing The prime minister said the directors By August 11 that figure had reached 94 their workers during possible emergency would be allowed to leave only after they million hrv. situations. As such, they answer to Mr. have paid the millions of hryvni they owe Still not satisfied that the company Pustovoitenko, who as prime minister is to the Ukrainian budget, the pension fund directors and local government officials the chief civil defense officer in the and the Chornobyl Fund. had made their best effort to repay the country. “Only when they have decided how to debts, Prime Minister Pustovoitenko on After the meeting the directors and pay their debts will they be allowed out,” August 12 ordered that the 400 directors government officials were whisked away said Prime Minister Pustovoitenko. and government officials, including min- in luxury buses to a civil defense training “They will be allowed out only with my isters, deputy ministers, and regional, camp located 100 kilometers southeast of personal permission,” he added. city and district authorities from across Kyiv near the small town of Pereiaslav- After calling a special extended ses- Ukraine attend a special meeting at Khmelnytskyi, where they were issued sion of the Cabinet of Ministers for Ukraine’s Emergencies Ministry. There military-type gear. August 6 to resolve the issue of non-pay- the prime minister announced that a civil Prime Minister Pustovoitenko, who Prime Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko ment to the government coffers and defense training camp would take place also participated in the camp, again demanding that all directors pay what beginning immediately. addressed the directors and public offi- lion hrv ($1.4 billion). they owe the government, which resulted “During the past seven years we have cials at the training facility. “We are here The Cabinet of Ministers had ordered in 1 million hrv ($510,000 U.S.) of the 3 not held such a training,” Prime Minister to discuss the situation in the country, local officials and major enterprises to problems and measures to resolve them,” pay an initial minimum amount of 30 said Mr. Pustovoitenko, outfitted in a percent of their debt to the state budget. camouflage uniform. During a recess at the special session Ottawa UCC and Ukraine’s envoy discuss areas of mutual concern “I must say that, unfortunately, the tra- held at the Ukraina Palace of Culture, OTTAWA – The president of the Ottawa fact that dictators are still using food as ditional means of our government to get Mr. Pustovoitenko told reporters, “No Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian an instrument of wars and political sup- obligatory payments to the budget or to one is leaving this hall until 30 percent Congress and members of the executive pression.” Ukraine’s State Pension Fund have not of the debt to the pension fund and 5 per- met with the ambassador of Ukraine to “We will be putting the initiative for- brought results. We have decided to hold cent to the central budget have been Canada, Volodymyr Furkalo, to discuss key ward to our government,” said Ambassador this meeting in this training camp, where paid.” issues of concern. Furkalo. the conditions to work and solve all our Mr. Pustovoitenko also said that, in “We are looking for a new era of coop- UCC Ottawa, acting as an organizing problems exist,” said the prime minister. order to persuade companies to more eration,” said the ambassador following the committee for the World Congress of Earlier, the government had said the quickly repay their debts, Cabinet offi- meeting at the Embassy. Ukrainians, advised that it has had initial payments deficit to the state budget has cials should take steps to begin reclaim- The most far-reaching issue discussed discussions with officials of the Canadian risen by 2.5 times to reach 7 billion hrv ing corporate shares. “Via a government was a new global initiative to end famine- governments, as well as with the United ($3.3 billion U.S.) during the first six decision we urged the State Property genocides. The initiative, put forward by Nations Association of Canada. months of 1998, including 4 billion hrv Fund to return to Ukraine the property of UCC Ottawa and adopted by the World This year marks the 50th anniversary of owed by non-state-run firms. The debts joint stock companies that owe money to Congress of Ukrainians, will seek agree- the United Nations Declaration of Human of hundreds of Ukrainian companies to the budget,” he told a Cabinet meeting the pension fund totaled more than 3 bil- on August 7. ment from the governments of Canada and Rights that condemns the use of food as an Ukraine to sponsor a joint commemorative instrument of war or coercion. action at the United Nations condemning Also discussed was the celebration of famine-genocides and the use of food as an the seventh anniversary of independence St. Catharines MP tapped to assist instrument of war and suppression. of Ukraine, a daylong celebration featur- “The World Congress is a powerful ing debates, dancing, bonfire sing-alongs, Industry Minister; trade mission is set forum to champion such a major human sport tournaments and children’s activi- rights issue,” said Oksana Bashuk ties, organized by the UCC. The celebra- Hepburn, president of the UCC Ottawa. tions will be held at the St. John’s by Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj invited to apply to join the Team Canada “On the 65th anniversary of the famine- Ukrainian Catholic Camp at Newcomb Toronto Press Bureau trade mission to Ukraine, Russia and genocide in Ukraine that eliminated 7 Lake in Quebec on August 23. Funds col- Poland. To ensure the integrity and quali- TORONTO – Walter Lastewka, the ty of the business program, the business million people, the Ukrainian diaspora lected will go to the Ukrainian Famine member of Parliament for St. Catharines, has a moral obligation to focus on the Genocide Scholarship Fund. delegation will be limited to a core of Ontario, was assigned to another term of approximately 200 firms.” assisting Industry Minister John Manley According to the Team Canada site, torial staff also were discussed. Editor-in- with his parliamentary and portfolio “companies who will receive an invita- UNA executives... Chief Zenon Snylyk retired, and Serhiy responsibilities when Canadian Prime tion to apply will be identified through a (Continued from page 1) Myroniuk is temporarily coordinating the Minister Jean Chrétien appointed parlia- consultative process involving provincial mentary secretaries for the upcoming fall convention in June rejected the proposed editorial staff’s work. The UNA is cur- government economic development rently looking for an editor-in-chief for session. authorities, International Trade Centers, merger agreement with the UNA and A week earlier the PM had announced decided to continue existing independ- Svoboda. Canadian embassies, federal government The following information also was that the fifth Team Canada Trade Mission ently. Although the Ukrainian National departments, as well as private sector reported at the Executive Committee will travel to Ukraine, Poland and Russia Association was prepared to meet most associations and organizations.” meeting. in January 1999. Industry Canada will be of the UFA’s requirements and was look- Participants will be selected on a first- • The Ukrainian National Urban handling some of the organizational work ing forward to this unity, it will now con- come-first-served basis until the applica- Renewal Corp. showed a profit of connected with the trip. tion deadline (December 15) or the max- centrate on expansion of its own mem- $66,000 for the first half of 1998. Mr. Lastewka, 57, was first elected in bership. The UNA plans to offer new imum number of business participants is • Soyuzivka cannot be evaluated fully the October 1993 Liberal landslide that reached. financial and fraternal services to all its until after the summer season concludes, swept the Progressive Conservatives members within a year. The site outlines criteria to join the and the decision on whether to keep it from office, and was re-elected in 1997 élite commercial and trade junket. The The executives also discussed the open or close it for part of the year is still with 44 percent of the vote. He also sits work of the Investment Committee and applying firm or institution “must be an under discussion. on the Parliament’s Committee on active exporter or be export-ready; must reviewed the UNA’s current investment • It will take at least a full year to have Industry. policy versus Insurance Department have a corporate presence in Canada; a complete picture of the UNA’s financial An official at the MP’s constituency must produce goods and/or provide spe- guidelines. gains. office in St. Catharines said he was still cialized services for international mar- Losses on both UNA publications • In accordance with a resolution of assembling information on the Team kets; must demonstrate the capacity to have been curtailed due to outsourcing of the recent UNA convention, the UNA Canada mission. sustain international marketing activities printing operations and the changeover of will hire an outside consultant to review Team Canada update in the countries or regions selected for the Svoboda daily to a weekly. Since the all UNA operations. the mission; must be willing to pay the decrease in subscription fees for both • The Scholarship Committee met on In early August, the Team Canada Task business program fee [about $10,000], Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, the June 29 and granted $52,550 in scholar- Force set up its own website at which would likely include the cost of newspapers have gained some sub- ships to 195 recipients, which was report- http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/team_canada/ transportation and accommodation.” scribers. At the same time, all expenses ed in the UNA’s newspapers. A special By August 11, over 11,000 visitors to Those interested in participating are have been lowered. scholarship edition of The Ukrainian the site had been informed that “close to Personnel changes on Svoboda’s edi- Weekly will be published later this year. 2,000 Canadian companies ... will be (Continued on page 19) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

NEWS AND VIEWS THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Remembering a champion of freedom: Seven years after educator and writer John Kolasky This year as we mark the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, we find our- selves asking: What can we say about independent Ukraine as it turns seven? Certainly we can point to some of the positive developments for Ukraine in its by Andrij J. Semotiuk as a teenager he rode trains across Canada during the Great Depression in search of seventh year of independence – they all are proof that Ukraine is making If you had to single out one outstanding progress in being accepted as a member of the international community. work. I did not know that it was the priva- fact about the life of educator and writer tions of the Depression that drove him to Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hennadii Udovenko (who later resigned John Kolasky, it would be that he had the his ministerial post when he took his seat in the Verkhovna Rada), was elected Marxism as a solution. I did not know that courage to recognize the truth even when it he was once a school teacher and that he president of the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. contradicted his 30-year commitment to A Ukrainian cosmonaut, Col. Leonid Kadenyuk, went into space aboard the had earned an M.A. from the University of communism in North America. Toronto. I did not know very much at all Columbia, in the process becoming not only the first Ukrainian to fly aboard a The realization that he spent three U.S. shuttle, but also the first Ukrainian to fly in space since Ukraine declared about his family life. decades defending a system that was What Mr. Kolasky shared with me on independence. destroying the land of his forefathers taxed First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Lviv; at that city’s recently erected that first meeting was the profound disen- Mr. Kolasky to the extreme. In fact, he fell chantment he developed in Ukraine during memorial to victims of Soviet repression, she delivered a major address in which physically ill, more than once, during the she spoke out forcefully about empowering women and protecting their rights. his first visit there in 1963-1965. process of his awakening. Yet he endured, He related how, at great personal risk, he The U.S. State Department’s annual report on human rights said Ukraine had despite great hardship and even danger to continued to made progress in that sphere, and the chief rabbi of Ukraine, began to collect everything he could about himself. Ultimately he became a champion the Russification of education in Ukraine Yaakov Bleich, praised the Ukrainian government for its positive position on of freedom for Ukraine and oppressed peo- minorities. and to ship those materials in large trunks to ple elsewhere. Canada. Still unsuspected and trusted, his Athletes from Ukraine made a good showing at the Winter Olympics in Rarely do you meet someone who has a Nagano, and turned in an even better performance at the Goodwill Games, com- mail safely made its way to Canada. singular impact on the life of your commu- Meanwhile he continued to participate in ing in eighth in the medals count. nity as well as on you personally. But such Ukraine’s relations with the European Union were upgraded via an agreement the higher party school for two years as an was the impact of Mr. Kolasky’s life on the insider. on partnership and cooperation. Ukrainian community in North America A new Verkhovna Rada was elected and, finally, after two months of wran- His standing gave him a freedom of and on those who knew him (among them movement that foreigners otherwise could gling, voted in a chairman who promised, believe it or not, that he will work with this writer). On October 20, 1997, the life of – not against – the executive branch. not enjoy. Using this freedom to his advan- Mr. Kolasky, and his good work suddenly tage, Mr. Kolasky met with the prominent Perhaps the most significant reality is the one cited by Vice-President Al Gore ended at the age of 82. before he left on his recent trip to Kyiv for a meeting of the Kuchma-Gore dissidents of Ukraine in the 1960s and After contributing so much to the cause befriended them. In short, Mr. Kolasky Commission: Ukraine’s independence is no longer an issue; there is no going of a better Ukraine, and to the lives of those back to the Soviet Union. Today, it’s Ukraine’s economic and political vitality transformed himself into a champion of he touched, it seemed he passed on too qui- Ukraine’s centuries-old dream of independ- that is the central issue, he observed at a meeting with Ukrainian American com- etly, almost unnoticed, like a blip on a radar munity leaders. ence and freedom. screen that just disappears. Such a death After the KGB discovered what he’d Indeed. Ukraine, at age 7, faces myriad problems – tough problems for which was not in keeping with the giant legacy he there are no quick fixes. The economy is in need of serious corrective measures, done, Mr. Kolasky was arrested, interrogat- left behind him. If today’s Ukraine, like a ed and marshaled out of Ukraine. On his corruption looms large and the Verkhovna Rada still has not done its job to pro- newborn child, is growing stronger with vide a legislative basis for a better tomorrow. Journalists find themselves to be return to Canada he wrote his first book, every step; then in part, this is due to the “Education in Soviet Ukraine.” Mr. targets of those who do not like what they report, miners and teachers are not tireless contributions of Mr. Kolasky in getting paid, senior citizens – the forgotten stratum of society – barely survive on Kolasky was looking for outlets to share his decades past. This legacy is worth at least a newfound insights into the political realities their measly pensions, and parents wonder whether there will be enough money moment’s reflection. to provide for their kids. of Ukraine and to help those he befriended I remember first hearing about Mr. back there. I agreed to organize a meeting The people of Ukraine, as we see from the comments of several passersby Kolasky in the late 1960s from my friend, interviewed this week on the Khreschatyk in Kyiv, once had dreams of a better of the Ukrainian Students Club at UBC Peter Smylski, who told me that Mr. where he could speak. life in independent Ukraine but now are full of disillusionment, disgust and dis- Kolasky had been a member of the may. And what’s most distressing is that their leaders do not seem to care. On reflection, I have to admit that we Communist Party of Canada for some 30 faced a daunting task back then. Few peo- Still, a glimmer of hope remains. Maybe, just maybe, the Parliament will years until he was sent to Kyiv by his col- come back from its summer recess and get down to brass tacks. Perhaps the ple were politically aware enough to under- leagues to attend the higher school of the stand what Mr. Kolasky was talking about. national deputies will hear the voices of the people and realize that they, as the Communist Party. Soon after his arrival Mr. elected representatives of the people, must take the lead in securing the future of To make a difference in the life of Soviet Kolasky realized that Ukraine was being Ukraine, Mr. Kolasky had to raise the politi- Ukraine and Ukrainians of all backgrounds. extensively Russified by Moscow and that To be sure, the promise of the independence proclaimed and affirmed in 1991 cal consciousness of an entire generation of Marxism and internationalism were nothing young people. remains to be fulfilled. And yet, as we observe this seventh anniversary of the more than a camouflage for Russian imperi- Parliament’s declaration of Ukraine’s independence, we must look back to see The Ukrainian club meeting went well. alism in Ukraine and the other non-Russian Soon Mr. Kolasky was visiting other com- where Ukraine has been in order appreciate where it is today and where it is republics of the USSR. Thus began the con- headed. munities in Canada and speaking at similar version of Mr. Kolasky from communism meetings. to democracy – and his efforts on behalf of In the meantime, we maintained our a free Ukraine. friendship and worked together to promote I distinctly recall my first meeting with Ukraine’s freedom. I attended law school, August Mr. Kolasky in Vancouver. Even back then while Mr. Kolasky wrote other books in Turning the pages back... he was a bald, frail, graying, modest man Vancouver. As time passed, each of us Turning the pages back... with bushy eyebrows and delicate, paper- remained active in different aspects of 24 thin skin. He had a pale complexion with Ukrainian affairs. But in the early 1970s steel blue eyes. Although gentle in physical came an event that drew us together again. 1991 appearance, Mr. Kolasky was a moral giant. Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin was Seven years ago on August 24, the Supreme Soviet In our first meeting on the campus of the invited to visit Canada, and Vancouver was (Council) of Ukraine voted to proclaim the republic’s inde- University of British Columbia (UBC), Mr. one of the cities he would visit. Mr. pendence from the Soviet Union. The vote – which came just Kolasky shared his extraordinary experi- Kolasky and I were drawn into helping to days after the failed coup in Moscow that reverberated around the globe – was the ences with us. He was the kind of man who organize a demonstration protesting Mr. beginning of the end of the USSR. spoke in terms of ideals and with whom an Kosygin’s visit. Part of our efforts included Following are excerpts from The Weekly’s news story about that historic day, as idealist like me could develop a lifelong appearing on open-line radio shows to filed from our Kyiv Press Bureau by Chrystyna Lapychak. friendship despite our 30-year age differ- explain our opposition to Mr. Kosygin. ence. I sensed his commanding grasp of the Not everyone shared our animosity to * * * political realities of those days and was very this man’s iron rule of the Soviet Union. In The Communist-dominated Ukrainian Parliament’s vote for independence came as much attracted to his work. We agreed that particular, pro-Soviet Ukrainian Canadians a big surprise to the majority of citizens of this nation of 52 million. his story needed to be shared with the and members of the Canadian Communist During the tense 11-hour extraordinary session on August 24, the heated debate widest possible circles. Party phoned into these radio programs to focused on the behavior of parliamentary, government and Communist Party leaders Strangely, even though we became close voice their contempt for our “fascist” and during the failed Moscow coup of August 19-21. friends, there were many important things “backward” mentality. Mr. Kolasky was a Several thousand people gathered in front of the Supreme Soviet building and about Mr. Kolasky that I did not know. For master at rebuffing these critics. As if by shouted “Shame on Kravchuk” as the Parliament’s chairman addressed the session, example, I did not know until his death that instinct, Mr. Kolasky often identified the defending his cautious actions during the crisis. His address was followed by speeches callers by name and tore their arguments to by Communist majority leader Oleksander Moroz and National Council leader Ihor Andrij J. Semotiuk is president of the shreds. Yukhnovsky. Canada Ukraine Foundation and practices I remember the evening that Mr. Mr. Yukhnovsky presented the National Council’s list of legislation in reaction to law with the law firm of Hansma and Kosygin was in Vancouver. He was lodged the coup: immediate declaration of independence; depoliticization of the Ukrainian Associates in Edmonton. He is a former at the Hotel Vancouver, while we participat- Procuracy, KGB, Interior Ministry and militia, state organs, institutions and work- United Nations correspondent and ed in huge demonstrations next door, in Canadian Human Rights Commission tri- (Continued on page 14) bunal panel member. (Continued on page 16) No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Faces and Places into Moscow’s linguistic interference and jamming. by Myron B. Kuropas Changing names In North America, however, to change from Polish or German and use not part of solution English as the basis for transliterating Dear Editor: and transcribing Ukrainian names, as The letters from Andrij D. Solczanyk has been suggested, involves different (March 13), Oksana Pisetska Struk rules and a different reality. We note, for Coal and prairie: painting the past (April 19), S. Zmyrkevych (May 24) and example, that our newspapers often give North America’s Ukrainian community Canada’s Ukrainian pioneers. The latest Andrij Homjatkevyc (August 9) on the phonetic listing after the printed has produced three outstanding native-born book featuring his paintings is “Prairie Ukrainian transliteration and transcrip- name because that name may have more artists whose major works were devoted to Born,” released in 1997. tion are all very topical, engaging and than one pronunciation. Houston in pioneer life. Active in the Ukrainian Canadian informative. Texas has a different pronunciation than The first was Nicholas Bervinchak, born Community – he was president of the I, too, find it difficult to comprehend the busy crosstown street in New York in Schuylkill County, Pa., the son of a coal Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Society of why in Ukraine today they still go through City with the same spelling. Also, the miner. Influenced greatly by the colorful Vancouver for 10 years – Mr. Shostak Russian when transliterating and transcrib- reality is that for generations many fam- church environment in which he grew up, resides in Victoria, British Columbia, with ing. It is no secret in the international lin- ilies have retained their non-English Nicholas demonstrated an early artistic tal- his wife Geraldine and son Andriy. guistic community that the Russian lan- names, yet have accepted and welcomed ent. As a young man living in Minersville, In his preface to “For Our Children,” Mr. guage has a major phonetic flaw when their new American pronunciations (for- he met Paul Daubner, a European-trained Shostak wrote: “As I read first–hand compared to Ukrainian and when applied mer New York City Mayor Ed Koch). muralist and frescoist who was in town to accounts of settlers’ experiences, certain within the European family of languages: And we should also keep in mind that decorate one of the churches. Nicholas soon topics or themes began to surface. Although the Russians don’t have the “H” sound. As Americans do not seem to have any dif- became Mr. Daubner’s assistant, and the each of the 50 paintings is centered around the result, we witness phonetic perversions ficulty with the correct pronunciations two of them worked on a number of one of the themes, the series does not tell in Russian foreign language studies and of such non-English names as Johann Byzantine churches in the area, painting the complete story of life in this new land. the creation of such names as Gollywood, Sebastian Bach, Carl Jung, Edgar frescoes, murals and icons. However, I would like to think that many of Khelsinki and thousands of other Russified Degas, even Czecho–Slovakia and Noticing the strikingly distinctive work the main topics have been dealt with.” nearwords. many, many others. that Nicholas produced with pen and ink, “It is hoped that this publication will And even though the Ukrainian lan- So, unless English is revised and Mr. Daubner introduced his young assistant serve as an introduction to the history of guage does not have these problems, in becomes a more phonetic language, to to the art of etching, which the young man Ukrainian settlement in Canada and that Ukraine, nonetheless, when transliterations start changing Ukrainian names in North eventually adopted as his major, and most interested individuals will seek out some of are done from English into Ukrainian, they America at this time may not necessarily successful, medium. Inspired by the pioneer the source publications and documents list- pretend they have no “G” (Vice–President be part of the solution. coal miners who established America’s ed in the bibliography. It is also hoped that Al Hore!) or that they have no “H,” when As always, I am grateful that The early Ukrainian communities, Mr. more of this material, which is not readily they shift from Ukrainian to English (gryv- Ukrainian Weekly provides a forum for Bervinchak devoted his life to portrayals of available to the average reader, will appear nia). discussion and an opportunity to express the “men down under.” in publications which are widely distrib- I am hopeful, however, that as Ukraine ideas. Most of his art was produced during the uted.” matures as a sovereign, independent 1930s and included, in addition to coal min- Although they are generations apart, Michael Pylypczuk ing and farm scenes, a portrait of Anna there is one element that binds all three nation, all this will change. Ukrainians in New York Ukraine will finally recognize and Sten, a well-known Ukrainian Hollywood Ukrainian artists: pride. Pride in their actress of the era. His works were later dis- American and Canadian heritage. Pride in acknowledge the uniqueness of their own The writer is vice-president of the played at the Smithsonian Institute, the their Ukrainian roots. Pride in the sacrifices language, will do their own transliteration Ukrainian World Association of Whitney Museum of Modern Art, at the their parents and grandparents made in and transcription, and will stop plugging Professional Educators. World Fairs in Chicago (1932) and New establishing their family and community York (1939), and at museums in Stockholm life in the new world. defense team was beyond disgraceful. It and Milan. There is pride and there is also love. Has sent a very negative and demoralizing Canada has produced two extraordinary anyone ever made a more loving statement It’s OK to criticize, signal to the community. Ukrainian artists of the prairie. The first is regarding one’s Ukrainian heritage than Mr. In the opinion of many community the renowned William Kurelek, born in Shostak in his “Is That Your Baba’s Coat?” but not to overreact grunts, including myself, Harvard 1927 to Ukrainian Canadian pioneers near I believe Messrs. Kurelek and Shostak Dear Editor: exploited strong community sentiments Whitford, Alberta. In the words of his biog- are one of the reasons Ukrainians in In a free society it is O.K. to criticize about the anniversaries of the 1933 rapher, Patricia Morley, “Bill grew up Alberta are alive and well. Isn’t it about President Bill Clinton, President Leonid Famine and the Millennium of strongly influenced by the landscape, the time that we in the United States took Kuchma, the pope, the patriarch, Myron Christianity in Rus’-Ukraine to gather farm routines and the rural culture which Mr. Shostak’s example to heart and Kuropas and, yes, even Harvard! There money. One of HURI’s earliest books, fed the artist’s imagination.” The family began paying more attention to those on are no sacred cows. Criticizing is not the the untranslated and poorly photocopied moved to Stonewall, just north of whose shoulders we stand? If we learned same as condemning. It is often an “An Early Slavonic Psalter from Rus’” Winnipeg, when Bill was 7. “The flat black more about our past, perhaps we could expression of a frustrating disappoint- by Moshe Altbauer and Horace Lunt was farmland of Manitoba and the life of its learn something that would sustain us in ment and an encouragement toward published at a time when the grunts immigrant settlers became the subject of dealing with the present. improvement. expected something more. The spin doc- many of his paintings and one of the deep- Certainly our community supports tors quickly reassured the faithful that est emotional attachments of his life,” Ukrainian studies at Harvard, but the there were things going on behind the writes his biographer. Myron Kuropas’ e-mail address is: people at Harvard should not feel that scenes that were just too complex for us Much of Kurelek’s work has been repro- [email protected] they are above citicism. We well remem- to understand, and the message was to be duced in a series of superb collec- ber that they were (kicking and scream- patient and keep giving. tions, including “A Northern ing all the way) one of the last institu- One can hardly blame Dr. Kuropas for Nativity: Christmas Dreams of a tions in America to drop the article “the” letting his patience wear thin. Was his Prairie Boy” and “They Sought a in front of Ukraine. They finally did this criticism “fair”? Probably not. What is New World: The Story of because of the reality of an independent “fair” anyway? Was it a “disservice to European Immigration to North Ukraine recognized by the entire world. the community”? No way, Harvard is not America.” My personal favorite is Prior to this, they called the critics of the our sacred cow. When you pay, you have a collection of some 160 paintings, “the” controversy “anti–intellects” and a right to criticize. “The Passion of Christ According “activists.” Every Ukrainian should love and be to St. Matthew.” The originals can There has been a long history of dis- proud of the Ukrainian presence at Harvard. be viewed at the Niagara Falls Art content between the Harvard elite and the By the same token, the Harvard elite should Gallery and Museum in Ontario. “grunts” in terms of expectations and not act (overreact) to every criticism. Another prairie native is Peter disappointments, for example, Harvard’s Jaroslaw Sawka Shostak. Born in 1943 on a farm in unwillingness to aid the Demjanjuk Sterling Heights, Mich. northeastern Alberta, he received an M.Ed. in art education at the University of Alberta; later he became an associate professor of education at the University of Shevchenko Society to mark 125th Victoria. In 1979 he left teaching to pursue a full–time career as an NEW YORK – The Shevchenko Society is planning to mark this impor- artist. His most ambitious project, Scientific Society – the oldest tant anniversary in New York City dur- completed in 1991, was a series of Ukrainian association of scholars – is ing the weekend of October 3-4. The 50 oil paintings devoted to early celebrating its 125th anniversary in celebration will consist of a scholarly Ukrainian pioneer life in western 1998. Founded in 1873 in Lviv, it is conference, a musical and artistic pro- Canada. Five years in production, currently active in Europe, North gram, and a banquet. Further details the collection was later published America and Australia. about the program will be provided at a in “For Our Children,” a splendid The American Shevchenko Scientific later date. coffee–table book portraying the many trials and triumphs of Peter Shostak’s “Is That Your Baba’s Coat?” 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

Yachting expedition’s goal... (Continued from page 1) The Discover Ukraine expedition will promote Ukraine by making contact with residents of the port cities at which they call with their cement-bottom sail- boats. Mr. Birioukovitch, who will captain the voyage of the two sailing vessels, is a civil engineer and master yachtsman in Kyiv. Along with his two older brothers, has been building ships with Ferro-cement hulls since 1960. The bottom of the boat is not a single block of cement, as one might imagine. The steel framework of the hulls of the ships that Mr. “the captain,” as his crew affectionatly calls him builds are encased in a thin layer of a special cement mix and “smoothed to the consisten- cy of an eggshell,” explained Mr. Birioukovitch. The rest of the construction, in which more standard materi- als are used, proceeds from there. “Ferro-cement has its unique qualities, which makes it better than other materials,” said the yacht builder. He explained that each material used in the construc- tion of sailboats, whether wood, fiberglass, steel or Ferro-cement, has positive and negative aspects. Mr. Birioukovitch favors Ferro-cement for the skin of the hull because it is inexpensive, does not corrode or crack under stress, is not flammable and can be kept in the water during the winter months. He admitted that a minor drawback is that Ferro- cement, because it is denser than other construction The schooner Batkivschyna in Turkish waters on its way to the Mediterranean in 1997. materials, makes each yacht heavier. Ferro-cement was introduced as a material for use in countries and ports at which the two vessels will make ship construction and as a general building material in calls, and the Embassy of Argentina in Ukraine, which the early 1950s by Italian architect Pierre Luigi Nervi has already extended a formal invitation for a visit by in several books he authored. Since then it has been uti- the Discover Ukraine expedition, whose ambassador is lized in major boat-building centers in France, Australia tracking the development of the effort. and New Zealand. In addition, Ukrainian National Radio has agreed to In the Soviet Union the brothers Birioukovitch made cover the details of the expedition in radio broadcasts. use of the Nervi technology in the ships they have con- If all goes well – which in the parlance of today’s structed since 1960. Today Kyiv is the center of that financially strapped Ukrainian sailing community, technique and Dmytro, the youngest of the three means “if all the money is raised” – Mr. Birioukovitch Birioukovitch brothers, is the foremost expert on the plans to begin his journey in May of 1999. subject in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union. “We would like to be in the United States for a major The Batkivschyna, the flagship for the expedition, sailing regatta to mark U.S. Independence Day in the year 2000,” said Mr. Birioukovitch. “If we leave Kyiv was built in Mykolaiv in 1957 and used to ferry sup- in the spring of 1999, we would make it on schedule.” plies to the Soviet fishing fleet off the coast of that port Mr. Birioukovitch has assembled an international city. It was obtained by Mr. Birioukovitch in the late organizing team to help him implement his dream. He 1980s and rebuilt with a cement hull. has convinced Roy Kellogg, a lawyer from Toronto, and Mr. Birioukovitch first used the Batkivschyna in Ivan Ivanov, a student from Russia who is the son of 1990 as a charter craft for people crossing the Black Sea Russian Embassy’s consul general in Kyiv, that his to trade goods in Istanbul, Turkey. Since then it has dream can become a reality. made several excursions into the Mediterranean and has Mr. Kellogg, 43, who happens to be Mr. racked up more than 25,000 nautical miles. Birioukovitch’s son-in-law as well, said Ukraine needs The Batkivschyna also is a star of the silver this type of positive self-promotion. “People are tired of screen, having been used in a movie directed by hearing only the negative about Ukraine – like Mykhailo Iliyenko of the Kyiv Dovzhenko Film Chornobyl, for example,” said Mr. Kellogg. Studios. Mr. Iliyenko has expressed interest in film- He said that his father-in-law, above all else, is a ing the trans-global trip of the Discover Ukraine staunch supporter of independent Ukraine. “This is one expedition. man who would not leave Ukraine no matter what,” Currently Mr. Birioukovitch uses his two ships for said Mr. Kellogg. charter excursions along the Dnipro River. All that will A view of the Batkivschyna’s deck as it sails the Unless, of course, it’s to sail around the world. Dnipro River. change in the spring when the expedition sets sail. Mr. Birioukovitch’s round-the-world journey will consist of three stages. In the first year the two sailing vessels will travel around Europe, by means of the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, the Dardanelles, the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, during which the Discover Ukraine expedition will call on 42 ports in 17 countries. During the second leg, the expedition will cross the Atlantic Ocean and enter the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico before sailing back into the Atlantic Ocean and up into the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. After traversing the U.S.-Canadian eastern border the expedition will travel into the South Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, into the Pacific, around Australia and into the Indian Ocean, past the horn of India, into the Arabian Sea. The 60-month voyage of the Batkivschyna, the Pochaina and their crews will conclude after the expedi- tion enters the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez, moves back into the Mediterranean Sea, and soon afterwards into the Black Sea, heading for home. The Batkivschyna carries a crew of 11 to 12 sailors and has berths for an additional 10 to 12 individuals, which Mr. Birioukovitch, who will captain the voyage, explained would be utilized for VIP guests and mem- bers of the press who might want to tag along for a por- tion of, or the entire trip. The planned voyage has received the support of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will clear the way for entrance into the territorial waters of the The brigantine Pochaina, which is undergoing repairs. No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 7

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY The vote for Ukraine’s independence: a personal reflection Irene Jarosewich was funded by grants from the Rochester N.Y. and Chicago chapters of the Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine to work in the public information section of Rukh, the Popular Movement of Ukraine between July 1991 and December 1992 at the organization’s headquarters in Kyiv. On the eve of the seventh anniversary of Ukraine’s inde- pendence, Ms. Jarosewich, now a staff editor at The Ukrainian Weekly, offers some personal reflections on the events surrounding August 24, 1991.

by Irene Jarosewich PARTI The 7 a.m. phone call didn’t actually wake me – the morning sun and adrena- line had already done that. I hadn’t slept for more than two to three hours per night for almost a week, since even before the coup in Moscow, and again, the night before I had gotten home at 2 a.m. I had walked the several kilometers from the Rukh office in the warm night – and then sat on the small balcony outside my room overlooking Prospekt Peremohy until 4 in the morning, hoping that exhaustion would overtake excite- ment so that I could get some rest. Now on the morning of August 24 I Chrystyna Lapychak quietly slipped out of my room to grab August 24, 1991: Stanislav Hurenko, chairman of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR, at the podium during the phone, before the rings could wake reports; directly behind him is Leonid Kravchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. Prime Minister Vitold Fokin is seen in my hostess, who had been getting even the upper center, and seated at the presidium is Parliament First Deputy Chairman Ivan Pliusch. less sleep than I. I was a guest of Larysa Skoryk’s, and ably every working TV in the Soviet retaliation. The return of Mikhail Writer’s Union building to count votes, we had become accustomed to phone Union was tuned, it became apparent that Gorbachev to Moscow on August 22 bolster confidence, iron out differences calls that began at dawn. It was the sum- the coup was less threatening than first marked the end of the coup, and manifest- and discuss tactics and strategy. A senior mer of 1991 in Kyiv, she was an elected feared. That assessment – combined with ed failure for those who supported the member of the State Department staff member of Ukraine’s Parliament from the fact that nobody had been detained or putsch, including many of Ukraine’s from the U.S. Consulate in Leningrad the Democratic Bloc, while I worked arrested, that Rukh hadn’t been shut down Communists. was in Kyiv, and she and I sat in the back with foreign visitors and correspondents (in fact, lights burned on all three floors of However, on Saturday morning, August of the small auditorium, along with some out of Rukh’s information office. In the the headquarters building and all the win- 24, independence was not yet a certainty. other non-caucus members, as the meet- intensity of the events of just the past dows and doors were wide open in hopes Though the atmosphere at Rukh and the ing got under way. several weeks – the disappointment of of catching an evening breeze to cool the Ukrainian Writers’ Union building, where Early on, Henrikh Altunian, a former the August 1 speech by President George August heat), and despite several false Rukh and the National Council had held prisoner of conscience, spotted the group Bush, the protests against the union alarms of army tanks poised right outside press conferences twice a day beginning of us and said, ”I know that we plan to treaty, the preparation for Ukraine’s first the city – bolstered confidence in radical on August 19, was optimistic, even buoy- build a democracy, but I must insist that presidential elections, and then the action. Furthermore, though the coup ant by the end of the week, the simple only members of this caucus and August 19 coup in Moscow – the distinc- organizers initially had control of all regu- reality of the situation was it was not even ‘dovireni osoby’ (trusted persons) be tion between personal and public space lar radio and television broadcasts, news certain that there would be a quorum pres- present right now.” Oles Lavrynovych, and time had frequently blurred. We had of Boris Yeltsin’s standoff was being ent in Parliament. Many of the 450 peo- one of my closest colleagues at Rukh, an unspoken agreement that I got the 6-7 picked up on short-wave and via tele- ple’s deputies were spending their August rose up in our defense, noting the need to a.m. slot for phone calls, and she got the phone from contacts in Moscow. recess outside Kyiv, at their dachas, or at change the Soviet style of closed-door slot at 7-8 a.m. Then, after she left, I got Rukh had condemned the coup by resorts with their families, some outside of sessions. I whispered to him that, even in the 8-9 a.m. slot until I left for the crazi- midday Monday, and by Tuesday, August the republic. I was told by one of my col- a democracy, political strategy is dis- ness that was my office at Rukh where a 20, members of the National Council, the leagues at Rukh that Communist deputies cussed behind closed doors. He winked dozen people and a fax machine strug- democratic faction in Ukraine’s had received a “vkazivka” (directive) by and whispered back: “But don’t tell gled for time on two phone lines. Parliament, were actively calling for a phone to show up on Saturday morning, them.” In the front of the room, a deputy As I whispered good mornings into the special session of Parliament by the end but who would actually make it was not from Lviv got up in support of our pres- receiver, I heard the voice of my friend of the week. Though the call for a special known. ence, claiming the need for outside and colleague, Chrystyna Lapychak of the session was officially coming from the In order to even hold a valid extraordi- observers to this historic process, while Kyiv Press Bureau of The Ukrainian National Council, practically speaking, nary session (there was agreement that Mr. Filenko, who was chairing the cau- Weekly: “Hi. I can’t sleep. I figured you Rukh, with its organizational structure everything had to be done by the book so cus, saw me and announced, “Irene, don’t can’t either. What do you think they’re and staff, did a lot of the leg work. that later there would be no accusations worry, by tomorrow your journalists will going to do today? Hmmm? Do you think The complete details and inside story that this had been an invalid process), know everything. Either we will have they’ll do it? Do you think they’ll have the of how in a few short days between 150 signatures – one-third of the made history, or history will be dealing guts to do it? I think they’ll do it, today. August 20 and 23, with many of Parliament – had to be obtained on a peti- with us (bude z namu spravliatys).” You know, I actually think they’ll do it.” Ukraine’s political figures and govern- tion. The signature-gathering campaign As the debate (and genuine concern) The “they” was Ukraine’s Parliament ment officials out of the city, Ukraine’s was spearheaded by Oleksander Yemets continued about whether it was “unde- and the “it” was a vote for Ukraine’s Communists became convinced to accept of the Party for the Democratic Rebirth mocratic” to ask as to leave and whether independence. Once the initial shock of a declaration of Ukraine’s independence of Ukraine (PDVU), who along with a it was important to start changing Soviet- the news of the coup in Moscow in the and that they considered such a declara- fellow “young Turk” of PDVU, People’s style habits immediately, it became obvi- early hours of Monday, August 19, had tion to be in their best interest, is still not Deputy Volodymyr Filenko, hustled ous to us that we had become the focus passed, Rukh had gone into full swing to completely known. However, it is certain around Kyiv and drove out to dacha areas of the debate. My visitor whispered to use the opportunity of a weakened that without the Communists, the demo- around the capital city to obtain signa- me, “we should leave,” and I nudged Mr. Moscow leadership to push for Ukraine’s cratic and centrist forces in the tures. It wasn’t until Wednesday, August Lavrynovych that we were going. He independence. Parliament would not have been able to 21, that the leaders of the National then rose again to announce a compro- Dozens of viewers had crowded in muster the necessary votes for independ- Council could declare with certainty at mise: we would not be asked to leave, front of Rukh’s one television set on the ence. their press conference that the requisite but we would not be invited to stay; if we evening of August 19 and in stunned Officially Ukraine’s Communists number of signatures had been obtained chose to leave it would be of our own silence watched coup organizer Gennadi declared their support for independence to convene a special parliamentary ses- volition. We said our thanks, and about a Yanayev’s pathetic, drunk-like appear- by claiming that the events and leadership sion on Saturday. half dozen of us left. ance. A dozen other viewers were openly in Moscow had betrayed communism and And, even if there was a quorum at the As we exited the Writers’ Union for a derisive, yelling at his image on the tele- the wrong would be righted in Ukraine. special session, who knew how the votes hotel dining room to try and get some vision screen. After Mr. Yanayev’s press Unofficially, speculation had it that would go? Just the evening before, dinner (not always a sure thing at hotel conference from Moscow, to which prob- Ukraine’s Communists hoped to protect August 23, the National Council held a themselves against a Yeltsin/Gorbachev last-minute caucus about 6 p.m. in the (Continued on page 12) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY From Toronto’s Bloor West to Kyiv’s Khreschatyk, and back by Roman Waschuk in through the trusty diasporic prism. populace as a genuine holiday, right up teric yet key to Ukraine’s economic future. (C) The redevelopment of the there with New Year’s, Christmas and As parents of a toddler who spent all Strolling along Bloor Street West in my Khreschatyk, begun before I left Kyiv, must International Women’s Day. but the first few months of his life in old Toronto neighborhood on a sunny mid- be nearly complete. The government’s deci- Though some of their compatriots in the Kyiv, we scoured the bookstalls for ever- August day, I happen upon a poster in a sion to tear up and resurface the capital’s south and east may still question the entire elusive Ukrainian preschool books and bank window advertising a “Ukrainian main street in time for the national day may premise of August 24, Kyivites have come tapes, meeting some of their creators – Festival” to take place on the 22nd, com- to know and value the benefits, both attitu- plete with parade, performing groups and a have been controversial with many hard- artistically talented, yet financially belea- pressed Kyivites (and understandably so), dinal and material, of living in the national guered – and helping them navigate the cabaret night – all in honor of Ukrainian capital of a sovereign state. Independence Day. but was a big hit with our 2-year-old son, shoals of shifting rules and regulations. who was impressed with the assembled For children starting school this year, it’s While we count the blessings of a return Three thoughts cross my mind: the only condition they’ve ever known. (A) The festival is on a Saturday; clearly, might of Ukraine’s construction equipment to the administrative sanity of Ottawa working at full tilt. Walking to the Golden Gate metro (proof that all things are relative), the first in my four-year absence, the Ukrainian stop from the Canadian Embassy along Bloor Street, by comparison, seems ... tinges of “Ukraine regret” and nostalgia are lobby has failed to entrench August 24 as a Yaroslaviv Val, I recall a little girl asking well, comfortable, but rather sedate. nevertheless setting in. Can anyone here nationwide long weekend. her mother: “Mama, what was the Soviet recite a children’s rhyme quite as convinc- (B) For the first time in a long time, my In Kyiv, Independence Day – an official Union?” She was given a storybook ingly as our friend the Kyiv poet? Will we family and I are not in Ukraine for the fes- fixture for six years running – is slowly tak- reply: “Oh, it was a country where we tivities; we are back on the outside, peering ing its place in the hearts and minds of the lived long ago, before you were born ...” ever again eat as much (or as well) as on Though Western visitors (and, indeed, our farewell trip to Kolomyia and Lviv? many Ukrainians) may feel that elements And what will become of our war vet- Act of Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine of the Soviet past are still all too preva- eran neighbor and his dogs, one named In view of the mortal danger surrounding Ukraine in connection with the state lent, time is on the side of Ukraine, for Raisa Gorbacheva, the other for coup in the USSR on August 19, 1991, establishing its identity through its own Margaret Thatcher, and both his pension- • continuing the thousand-year tradition of state building in Ukraine, trials and (inevitably) errors. er equals in dog years? • based on the right of a nation to self-determination in accordance with the Were we, too, no more than glorified vis- Fortunately, the answers to these ques- Charter of the United Nations and other international legal documents, and itors, albeit with a multi-year diplomatic tions are the stuff of free and open peo- • realizing the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine, the Supreme visa? I would like to think not. In our vari- ple-to-people contacts, possibly the Soviet solemnly. ous capacities, we were and remain stake- greatest achievement of independent holders in Ukraine’s future. Ukraine’s relations with Canada and DECLARES THE INDEPENDENCE OF UKRAINE As a diplomat, I worked daily to put other partners. They no longer depend on AND THE CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT UKRAINIAN STATE flesh on the bones of Canada’s partnership government fiat on either side. As a – UKRAINE. with Ukraine, sensitive both to Kyiv’s bureaucrat with many personal ties to strategic importance (well appreciated by The territory of Ukraine is indivisible and inviolable. Ukraine, I’d have it no other way. ministers) and to the domestic political From this day forward, on the territory of Ukraine only the Constitution and imperatives (represented, among others, by Roman Waschuk returned to Toronto laws of Ukraine are valid. The Weekly’s readers). in July, after serving as political counsel- This act becomes effective at the moment of its approval. My wife, Oksana, who has worked as a lor at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv for SUPREME SOVIET OF UKRAINE translator, advisor and editor of government five years. In June, he received the August 24, 1991 documents, strove to bridge the gap Professional Association of Foreign (Translated by The Ukrainian Weekly) between Ukrainian legalese and the Service Officers’ Foreign Service Award English-centered world of trade law – eso- for 1998. No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 9

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY Ukrainians support both Ukrainian and Russian languages

by Stefan Korshak and Vitaly Sych RFE/RL Newsline KYIV – Most Ukrainians would like to keep Ukrainian as the sole language for government use, but an even larger per- centage would like to give the Russian language some official status as well, according to a recent Ukrainian Surveys and Market Research/Kyiv Post poll. The survey also confirmed Ukraine’s east-west linguistic divide: respondents from the west are more likely to favor the Ukrainian language, while respondents from the east and south are more likely to support Russian. The results also show that the younger the person, the more likely he or she is to favor the Russian language. Comparisons with the Soviet era are impossible, as compara- ble surveys were not taken. However, the results suggest that the current policy of conducting all public education in the Ukrainian language has so far failed to halt a long-term trend toward linguistic Russification in Ukraine. The primary language in the western oblasts and in some rural areas, Ukrainian, was confirmed in the Constitution in 1996 as the sole “state language.” All government documents, public education and commercial contracts must be in the Ukrainian language, although such regulations are less likely to be enforced in Russian-speaking regions. Of the 1,000 people polled throughout Ukraine, more than 70 percent said they favor giving Russian some kind of official status, but almost 60 percent were against making Russian a state language. The results are not a mandate for radical change. Slightly more than 30 percent favored keeping Ukrainian as the sole state language and at the same time giving Russian legal status in the commercial sphere only. The status quo was favored by 24.2 percent. But 36 percent favored making Russian a second state language. Only 4.6 percent said they would like to see Russian become the sole state language, while 4.1 percent approved of “completely banning the Russian language from Ukraine.” In the east and south, resistance to current policy is strong: solid majorities there favored putting Russian on an equal legal footing with Ukrainian, while about a quarter of respondents preferred merely recognizing Russian in the commercial sphere. And the south was also the most pro-Russian: more people there favored making Russian the sole state language (8 percent) than favored the status quo (6.2 percent). Likewise, anti-Russian sentiment was strong in the west. Less than a third (29 percent) in that area favored recognizing Russian in any way, while more than half (54.7 percent) favored the status quo and 16.1 percent favored banning Russian. The capital, Kyiv, differed from the north as a whole. In both Olena Welhasch the city and the region nearly half of the respondents were in favor of recognizing Russian in the commercial sphere. In the Ukrainianization Mc Donald’s-style on Kyiv’s main boulevard, the Khreschatyk. region 25 percent favored the status quo and 22.6 percent cial status since the declaration of Ukrainian inde- age groups, 41 percent said they speak Russian at favored making Russian a state language, while in Kyiv 37.1 pendence in 1991, Russian remains the primary spo- home, while 53 percent of people in their 20s and 57 percent favored the status quo and only 12.7 percent favored ken language in Ukraine. The number of respondents percent of people age 15 to 19 said they spoke Russian. making Russian a state language. who said they spoke Russian at home outnumbered People in their 30s were most likely to speak Ukraine’s handling of ethnic and language issues has been a those who said they spoke Ukrainian at home by a Ukrainian, with 36 percent saying they speak it at relative success. Observers have long predicted growing ethnic ratio of 3:2. home. That figure fell to 29 percent among people tension between Ukrainian nationalists in the west and ethnic Nationwide almost half of respondents (45.6 per- age 50 and over and to 24 percent among people age Russians in the east and Crimea. Ukrainians appear to be fairly cent) said they speak Russian at home, 29.8 percent 15 to 19. comfortable with not one, but two functional national lan- said they speak Ukrainian, and 23.5 percent said Younger people are also more likely to support guages. they speak both languages. The high number of making Russian an official language: 46.4 percent of The survey confirmed that, despite its relegation to non-offi- bilingual households may be partly explained by the teenagers favored such a move, as did 41.4 percent use of mixed Ukrainian-Russian dialects. of those in their 20s, 40.1 percent of people in their Stefan Korshak and Vitaly Such are Kyiv-based correspon- Younger people are considerably more likely to 30s, 40.2 percent of people in their 40s, and just 37.3 dents for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. speak Russian. In the 30-39, 40-49, and 50-and-over percent of people age 50 and over. Happy 7th Independence Day, Ukraine! from Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union our members and all Ukrainian-Americans! We celebrate with you on this glorious day! 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY Ukraine’s pensioners lead uncertain existence in uncertain times

by Olena Welhasch KYIV – For most Americans, retire- ment is an anticipated rite of passage worthy of celebration. In Ukraine, the opposite is true. Pensioners, as senior cit- izens are called in Ukraine, lead a very uncertain existence. Like the average Ukrainian worker, they are underpaid and receive their pay irregularly. Most pensioners are paid even less than the average underpaid worker and in many cases, the cost of living exceeds the amount they receive. The typical pensioners – retired farm- ers, factory workers, teachers, profes- sors, doctors, or kiosk cashiers – com- prise the first group of pensioners, who are paid the least and who represent the majority of senior citizens receiving pen- sions in Ukraine. According to official government sources, they are paid an average of 59 hrv per month ($29 U.S.). This minimal amount makes it impossible to survive solely on one’s pension in a country where the standard food basket costs 55 hrv per month. The crisis is compounded when the pensioners are not paid for months at a time. How do these people survive? Sixty-year-old Natalia Korol, a retired Olena Welhasch factory worker from the village of This extended family in Lviv Oblast (with a visiting neighbor) finds it hard to make ends meet. Scherets in the Lviv Oblast, does what- ever she can for a few extra hryvni. She where sometimes his paycheck is substi- travels to Lviv once a week where she rettes on the street; others hawk old sil- has not received her pension for three tuted with a couple of sacks of sugar. sells milk, eggs and raspberries. This verware and clothing to get by. months and she lives in a three-room Natalia’s son and daughter have been weekly trip leaves the family of eight The less fortunate pensioners, those house with her mother, husband, son, out of work for three years and now with enough money to pay their gas bill who are very old, or afflicted with some daughter, son-in-law and two grandchil- work in the fields from dawn until dusk and to buy flour to bake bread. sort of illness, or World War II veterans dren. with Natalia and her husband. The fami- Natalia’s 12 to 16-hour days, six days belong to the second category of pen- Her son-in-law is the only member of ly is fortunate, however, because they each week is a far cry from the days of sioners, while inhabitants of the the family who is currently employed. He have a cow, some chickens and their own senior citizens in America who spend Chornobyl zone are in the third group. makes 104 hrv a month at a sugar factory, horse. In order to earn money, Natalia their time acquiring wrinkles in the The fourth group consists of former gov- Florida sunshine. ernment officials and lawmakers. The Pensioners in Ukraine’s cities also live pension rates increase exponentially from in constant fear of not having enough group one to four. money to make it through the month. Here’s some food for thought: there Their pensions are paid more regularly, are 14.5 million pensioners in Ukraine. however, because they must purchase The lawmakers and political officials their food. who decide how much money should be Orest Dimitrov, a retired Kyiv store set aside for the Pension Fund will clerk says, “The 42 hryvni a month are recieve the largest pensions in Ukraine. not enough. I own a plot of land along And they continue to be driven around the Dnipro on which I grow potatoes and Kyiv in their luxurious foreign automo- other vegetables.” Other senior citizens biles, wining and dining in the restau- scrounge around the city collecting rants whose dumpsters provide deli- empty bottles in order to earn a few cious leftovers for their elderly con- kopiyky for their return. Some sell ciga- stituents.

THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY To relive Ukraine’s declaration of independence in 1991, No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 11

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY Ukraine joins ranks of nations releasing Europa stamps by Ingert Kuzych Stamps with a Europa theme are popular around the world, not just in Europe. Many collectors enjoy going after Europa stamps to obtain a kind of yearly Europe sampling. The purpose of this article is to present a bit of background on Europa stamps and to alert collectors to the fact that a new Europa-issuing country, Ukraine, has emerged. Ukraine has released a very striking engraved first issue and, because of the small quantity printed, this release could become very scarce. Official Europa issues began in 1956 with a joint stamp of the six European Common Market countries (Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). These six countries continued to release a single joint issue annually until 1960, when other European countries joined in. Through 1973 most issues shared a common symbolic design emphasizing European unity. In 1974 various themes were depicted. The following year a common topic was agreed upon and that tradition has continued to the present. Currently dozens of European countries, as well as some self-governing possessions (e.g., Great Britain’s Isle of Man or Portugal’s Azores), all issue very colorful Europa stamps, usually two or more annually. With the fall of communism (1989-1991) new East European countries became free to join the Europa stamps frater- nity. Last year’s Europa theme of “History and Legends” was a popular one; various countries issued interesting and attractive stamps on these topics. The postal service of Ukraine decided its first venture into the annual Europa stamp release journey would be a memorable one; it prepared a two-stamp souvenir sheet that not only depicted scenes from a legendary tale, but also Ukraine’s debut release: a souvenir sheet depicting the legendary founders of Kyiv. reproduced the entire legend in microprint along its margins. Although a few entities have released Europa souvenir sheets in the past, as far as I know, this is the first time so much text has ever appeared on an issue. The microprint in no way detracts from the fascinating Weekly announces official website design. The tale that Ukrainian philatelic planners decided to PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Ukrainian Weekly about the Great Famine of 1932-1933, published on the illustrate is taken from the ancient manuscript “Povist Archive has moved to its own official site at occasion of that genocide’s 50th anniversary. Vremennykh Lit” (Tale of Bygone Years), depicting the http://www.ukrweekly.com as of August 21. The site, Additional information – including scholarly analyses legendary founding of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, some which now contains 3,853 articles, is constantly being and contemporaneous accounts – about the Great 1,500 years ago. From left to right, the two 40-kopiyka expanded. Famine is now being prepared for inclusion on the site; stamps, show the four personages credited with estab- The website is dedicated to archival materials pub- the new section, dedicated to the famine’s 65th lishing the settlement: Kyi (after whom the city was lished in the newspaper since its founding in 1933, anniversary, is expected to be unveiled in September. named), Schek, Khoryv and their sister Lybid. among them The Ukrainian Weekly’s inaugural issue The archive also contains excerpts of top stories pub- According to legend, they were members of the dated October 6, 1933, two issues devoted to the 1960 lished each week in 1998, and full texts of all issues Polianians, a Slavic tribe; the siblings, along with their visit of Nikita Khrushchev to the U.S., and special published in 1996 and 1997. All sections of the site are followers, built the town on a wooded, hilly site over- issues dedicated to the 50th (1983) and the 60th searchable. looking the Dnipro River. (1993) anniversaries of The Ukrainian Weekly and the The site’s webmaster is Serge Polishchuk, The Kyi apparently was a popular and powerful ruler. At centennial of the Ukrainian National Association Ukrainian Weekly’s layout artist/graphic designer. The one point, according to the legend, he traveled down the (1994). site is prepared by the newspaper’s editorial and pro- Dnipro to Constantinople (Istanbul) to visit the Year-in-review issues of The Weekly from the years duction staffs. Byzantine emperor, who “received him with great 1976-1997 (and the “Decade in Review” published at The Ukrainian Weekly Archive was originally unveiled respect and honor.” On his way homeward, Kyi noticed the end of 1979), and issues reporting on the Chornobyl with 3,300 articles on April 6 of this year at a site at the mouth of the Danube river that appealed to accident (1986), Ukraine’s declaration of sovereignty http://www.panix.com/~polishuk/TheWeekly/home.shtml. him and where he established another settlement. The (1990), its proclamation of independence and national Previously, excerpts of The Ukrainian Weekly’s top local population, however, proved inhospitable, and Kyi referendum on independence (both 1991) also are found stories appeared in the Current Events section on the and his kinfolk returned to Kyiv. Nonetheless, the town on the archive site. Tryzub site, which put The Weekly into cyberspace in The site also includes The Weekly’s special issue July 1995. (Continued on page 12)

Ukrainian Selfreliance Hartford Federal Credit Union congratulates Ukraine on its 7th anniversary of independence. Our best wishes for peace, prosperity and unity. Happy Birthday, Ukraine!

Ukrainian Selfreliance Hartford Federal Credit Union invites Ukrainians living in the Connecticut area to become members of our Credit Union.

Give us an opportunity to help you in your financial needs. Call: (860) 296-4714/5806 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY know what they’re going to do, we know what they’re going to say – let’s go see if we can get into the auditorium.” We almost flew down several long flights of wide carpeted stairs to get to the auditorium before the doors shut. I had no expectation of getting in. Whereas the National Council caucus was in the open, for all to hear and see, I fully expected the Communists to hold their caucus behind closed doors. We were surprised; we were let in and sat down near the second entrance to the auditorium. This was to be the final and largest legal gathering of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR. By the next day they would be declared disbanded and their property transferred to the guardianship of Ukraine’s Parliament. Oleksander Moroz conducted the caucus, explaining quietly that the next vote on the agenda was for the declaration of Ukraine’s independ- ence. One by one the parliamentarians got up and gave their arguments for the act – the coup in Moscow had showed the ineptness of the leaders, and therefore they were dangerous; and arguments against – comrades, my entire life I have been an internationalist, I cannot bring myself to vote for Ukraine’s independ- ence, it is the wrong historic course. Irene Jarosewich The atmosphere in the room was restive Thousands gathered on the plaza outside Ukraine’s Parliament, standing for hours to hear results of the independence vote. and there was a stir as National Council members Dmytro Pavlychko and certain parliamentarians as they entered Parliament, which was not taken until Volodomyr Yavorivskiy walked in the sec- Vote for Ukraine’s... and urging them to vote for independ- early evening, but a little bit before that ond entrance, from the back of the auditori- (Continued from page 7) ence. These supporters were the informed in the building’s auditorium. um to the front. I had spent many hours translating for Mr. Pavlychko and had dining rooms in those days), I suddenly few, since the vast majority of Ukraine’s The day had been filled with reports stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and population had no idea what was about to and debates about actions taken and not (Continued on page 13) turned to my visitor and asked: “Please happen. I said a little prayer as I entered. taken throughout the week of the coup; several breaks were called so that the tell me if I have this straight. We’re in * * * Kyiv. It’s August 23. Four days ago there numerous resolutions being put forth was a coup attempt in Moscow. We just After the break-up of the Soviet could be discussed in caucuses. Behind Ukraine joins ranks... got kicked out of a caucus where Union, I was often involved in discus- the scenes, final touches were being put (Continued from page 11) Ukrainian parliamentarians are soberly sions about when the Soviet Union fell on the wording of the Act of Declaration they left behind retained the name of discussing Ukrainian independence, apart. Was it the first time that of the Independence of Ukraine, and a Kyivets. After the deaths of the three which, by the way, is scheduled for Gorbachev gave his glasnost and pere- new element, a public referendum to val- brothers in Kyiv, their descendants tomorrow. Am I sane?” stroika speeches? Was it Chornobyl’s idate the declaration was being dis- assumed leadership of the Polianian Yes, she replied and sighed: “It’s defi- explosion? Was it when Mr. Yeltsin was cussed. tribe. nitely, definitely a big deal.” Then we elected president of the Russian Republic Late in the afternoon a recess was The border of the Ukrainian Europa looked at each other and grinned. or maybe the coup of August 19? Was it called for one hour, with the announce- souvenir sheet illustrates aspects of this By Saturday morning, however, I had December 1, 1991, after Ukraine ratified ment that democrats would meet on the tale. Along the top, on either side of the stopped grinning and was simply nerv- its independence by popular vote, or top floor, Communists in the auditorium. word “Kyiv,” are various wooden build- ous. Right before I walked into the December 8, when the CIS was formed, As the people’s deputies rushed out of the ings of the early town. Shown along the Parliament building – it was a beautiful or not until Mr. Gorbachev resigned on chamber, some upstairs, others down, Ms. bottom are the sailing ships of Kyi’s August morning – I paused to watch the December 25? Lapychak and I walked out of the press expedition to Byzantium. Along the hundreds of people (later in the day the For me, the end of the Soviet Union gallery, which was on the top floor, to lis- sides, interspersed with intricate ancient number grew to thousands), who had came on August 24 – not with the actual ten to the National Council’s final caucus. motifs, is the story itself, written in gathered on the plaza outside, cheering vote for independence on the floor of the Suddenly she turned to me and said, “We Ukrainian. The Cyrillic microprint can be read quite easily with the aid of a sim- ple magnifying glass. The release of the 100mm x 80mm Rochester Ukrainian Federal Credit Union souvenir sheet was reportedly delayed due to a controversy over the luxurious attire in which the siblings were depict- ed; apparently, the style is of a later peri- Regular Share Savings Accounts VISA Classic & Gold Cards od. Nonetheless, the souvenir sheet was issued on May 6, 1997, in Kyiv. Prepared Share Draft Checking Accounts Individual Retirement (IRA) by the government printing office in Kyiv, the sheets were printed in four col- Home Equity Loans Share and IRA Certificates ors: lemon, yellow, slate-green and Mortgages Car Loans brown; only 300,000 copies of this extraordinary souvenir sheet were pre- pared. Examining many dozens of these sou- ç‡È˘¥ð¥¯¥ ÔðË‚¥Ú‡ÌÌfl Á ÔðË‚Ó‰Û venir sheets, I have been able to consis- tently find a “smudge variety” of this 7-Óª ð¥˜Ìˈ¥ issue. About half of the sheets that I have scrutinized show a small green smudge over the head and/or right shoulder of çÂÁ‡ÎÂÊÌÓÒÚ¥ ìÍð‡ªÌË Khoryv on the right stamp. Tiny smudge or no, this beautiful item will undoubtedly be much sought not only by Europa collectors but by anyone who appreciates superb graphic design. In my humble opinion, this souvenir sheet is the finest philatelic specimen 824 RIDGE ROAD EAST, ROCHESTER, NY 14621 Ukraine has released since it resumed Telephone (716) 544-9518 Fax (716) 338-2980 issuing stamps in 1992 – a true master- piece of graphic art. No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 13

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: THE 7th ANNIVERSARY mise resolution providing for a public Vote for Ukraine’s... referendum to confirm the declaration. (Continued from page 12) Stanislav Ivanovych is a tall man; at observed that, when he was in the mood, he this moment, he was a physically impres- had an almost elfin sense of humor. The sive man, who rose slowly and fully to front of my seat abutted the entrance; as he his height. He offered the auditorium a walked by, I will swear, his step was elated, few introductory words, then fell quiet. his mood was giddy. He was loving this. “Comrades,” he continued, “today we It became obvious that this arrival was will vote for Ukraine’s independence, for what we all had been waiting for. Mr. if we do not vote for her independence, Moroz took the piece of paper that Mr. there will be trouble for us.” Pavlychko handed him, read it, looked up There was absolute, total silence in the at Stanislav Hurenko, chairman of the auditorium. Communist Party of Ukraine, seated This was it: the final directive from halfway up the auditorium, and a gave a the head of the Communist Party to vote slight nod to Mr. Hurenko. Mr. Moroz for the independence of Ukraine. then asked Mr. Pavlychko to read aloud And for me, Stanislav Hurenko’s state- the act. Mr. Pavlychko read the short dec- ment will always be the moment when Irene Jarosewich laration of independence and the compro- the Soviet Union came to its end. National Council members gather for final caucus before the independence vote.

Independence: bye-bye, USSR Chicago, Ill., District Committee Following is the full text of The Ukrainian Weekly’s editorial published on September of the 1, 1991, after the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence. Ukrainian National Association The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic is no more. In its place, on August 24, arose an independent democratic state called, simply, Ukraine. announces a Events unfolded quickly. Almost without warning and, literally, overnight Ukraine’s SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEETING long-sought independence became reality. Impelled by the failed coup in Moscow, the obvious disintegration of the union and the hopeless demise of the Communist Party of HONORING THE FOLLOWING WINNERS the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian Parliament overwhelmingly adopted the Act of OF THE UNA GREGORY HRUSHKA AWARD Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine. Democrats, Communists and those in between all saw that Ukraine simply must seize the moment, that Ukraine must take its HELEN OLEK SCOTT future into its own hands and not wait for outside forces to determine the destiny of this ROMAN B. PRYPCHAN nation of 52 million. Suddenly the news media were replete with reports on “the vital Ukraine,” “the agri- cultural and industrial powerhouse” and “the breadbasket of the USSR.” Commentators The meeting will be held on pointed out that the second most populous republic of what was the Soviet Union – and, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1998 at 1:00 PM at the according to Deutsche Bank, the republic ranked highest in terms of economic criteria Ukrainian Cultural Center, 2247 Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Ill. on its chances of succeeding on its own – would now play the decisive role in defining what type of union or federation, if any, would be formed in place of the USSR. Representatives from the following branches are asked to attend: All around, day by day, the USSR was withering away. The coup’s principal achieve- 17, 22, 107, 114, 125, 131, 139, 157, 176, ment was to prove that central power in the Soviet empire is dead, and power was fast 220, 221, 259, 379, 399, 423, 452, 472 devolving to the republics. “What has happened is the collapse of the central empire, the full destruction of the structures of imperial power. There can be no illusions: the Soviet All UNA members are welcome as guests at the meeting. Union no longer exists,” Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, people’s deputy from Ukraine told the USSR Supreme Soviet. Meeting will be attended by: Russian President Boris Yeltsin was perhaps the first to realize this as he seized Stefko M. Kuropas, First Vice-President power, issuing decrees, subordinating all-union matters and institutions to the RSFSR Andrij Skyba, Advisor and shamelessly dictating to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. But the actions of Tsar Boris soon aroused the suspicions of republics which saw the Honorary members of UNA General Assembly: resurrection of “Big Brother” Russia, a republic “more equal” than others. Mr. Yeltsin’s Stephen Kuropas spokesman warned republics sharing borders with Russia that it would not let them Myron B. Kuropas, Ph.D. secede taking heavily populated Russian areas with them (i.e. the Crimea and Donbas in District Committee: Ukraine, and northern Kazakstan). Finally, Russia’s emissaries had to travel to Ukraine to persuade that newly independ- Stefko Kuropas, Chairman Andrij Skyba, Secretary ent state to sign a temporary bilateral agreement on military and economic matters in an Bohdan Kukuruza, Treasurer attempt to halt the “uncontrolled disintegration” of the union seen by many around the globe as an extremely dangerous situation – especially in view of the fact that nuclear weapons are found in various republics. Ukraine acted responsibly, signing an agree- ment with Russia on these crucial matters but at the same time emphasizing that this is a bilateral, horizontal agreement between two equals – not a precursor to any new form of union. (It should be noted that the pact goes so far as to refer to the “former USSR.”) And, a pledge to respect each other’s territorial integrity was reconfirmed as part of the deal. THEY COULD BE YOURS Thus, Ukraine appears to have passed its first big hurdle as an independent state. But what lies ahead? Many more hurdles, we are certain. As we’ve seen lately, so much can happen in so little time. And there are three months between now and December 1 when the people of Ukraine of all nationalities will be asked to affirm Ukraine’s independence declaration in a plebiscite. Surely, there is no one in Ukraine who doubts that it will be completely independent. Observers worldwide have commented that Ukraine’s independence declaration is irre- versible. Mr. Gorbachev, now more clearly than ever a transitional figure in the USSR, still hopes to save the union, but is slowly becoming aware that his vast country and the people have changed. Meanwhile, governments around the world have begun reacting to the reality that exists on the territory of what once was the monolithic USSR. Here in the U.S., we are somewhat buoyed by President George Bush’s statement earlier this week that the U.S. “will respect the freely expressed wishes of the people of Ukraine” in the upcoming referendum and his pledge to “continue to move in a way to We are looking to expand our advertising clientele for our publications, encourage independence and self-determination” – words he dared not utter in Kyiv so the Ukrainian-language daily Svoboda and English-language The Ukrainian Weekly. recently. However, we also point to Mr. Bush’s inaction this week on the issue of recog- nition of the independent Baltic states. Ever prudent, Mr. Bush said he did not want to If you are a self-motivated, hard-working and bright individual, you can supplement your contribute to anarchy in the USSR and would prefer to wait until the USSR Supreme Soviet grants the Baltic states their independence, thus implying U.S. recognition of income by referring customers to our advertising department. Your earnings will be based Soviet authority over Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. on the amount of advertising you attract to our pages. So, what lies ahead? Much work in preparation for the December 1 referendum in Ukraine. Much work in preparing world leaders to accept an independent Ukraine as a For details please write or call: Svoboda Administration, Advertising Department, participant and partner in international affairs. Will the leaders and people of Ukraine, and Ukrainians in the diaspora, be equal to the task? Maria Szeparowycz, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 292-9800 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

cies and borrowed on the international THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Finance minister... short–term credit market at rates (Continued from page 1) approaching 40 percent. But, with interest understand that reasons may exist to rates flying even higher into the strato- change our current strategies.” sphere and overstressed by the defaults of In trying to bolster investor confidence many Russian banks, and Russia’s de in the stagnant Ukrainian economy, Mr. facto 33 percent devaluation of its ruble, Yuschenko explained that Ukraine has the Ukrainian currency has felt a drop that sufficient reserves to make 1998 pay- will make it more difficult for the govern- CALL ( 973) 292-9800 ments on its debts. ment to make good on what it owes. “In the current situation what is most Finance Minister Mitiukov made it important is that the psychology surround- clear that the West has not abandoned ing the financial markets of Ukraine must Ukraine. “We are currently, and will con- tinue to work with NG Barrons, Nomura Planning a trip to be changed,” said Mr. Yuschenko, adding, “I want you to accentuate that we are not and Chase Manhattan,” said Mr. Mitiukov. FLOWERS planning any major adjustments to our Those banks, to which Ukraine has monetary policies.” become heavily indebted, are among the UKRAINE? The government of Ukraine has leaders in the intricate international lending increasingly turned to the West to sort out system that makes decisions on the future Personalized its post–Soviet bureaucratic inconsisten- possibilities of international currencies. Delivered in Ukraine Travel Service at 1-800-832-1789 Turning the pages... Landmark, Ltd. Reasonable Rates (Continued from page 4) •VISAS•HOTELS•MEALS• places, central television, radio and press; the immediate release of imprisoned •TRANSFERS•GUIDES• People’s Deputy Stepan Khmara and reversal of last November’s vote stripping Dr. •AIR TICKETS• Khmara of the official immunity; the firing of Ukrainian SSR Chief Procurator •CARS WITH DRIVERS• Mykhailo Potebenko and Ukrainian TV chief Mykola Okhmakevych for complicity with the coup regime; and the creation of a special commission to investigate the •INTERPRETERS• actions of officials during the botched overthrow. •SIGHTSEEING• As thousands of flag-waving Ukrainians outside chanted “independence,” the debate inside lasted for hours; several breaks were called to alleviate the tension and allow the majority and minority groups to hold strategy meetings. LANDMARK, LTD After Volodymyr Yavorivsky proposed the vote on independence, reading aloud the toll free (800) 832-1789 text of the resolution and act on the declaration of independence, Parliament Chairman Leonid Kravchuk called a one-hour break, when the Communist majority DC/MD/VA (703) 941-6180 met and debated the historic issue. fax (703) 941-7587 During their debate it appeared that most of the Communists felt there was no choice other than a decision to secede and, as they expressed it, distance themselves from the events in Moscow, particularly the strong anti-Communist movement in the Russian Parliament. “If we don’t vote for independence, it will be a disaster,” said Ukrainian Free Cash Grants! Communist Party chief Stanislav Hurenko during the debate. College. Scholarships. Business. Toward the end of the debate, two representatives from the National Council, Mr. Medical Bills. Never Repay. Yavorivsky and Dmytro Pavlychko, came to the majority meeting to propose a com- Toll Free 1-800-218-9000 promise: a clause in the resolution requiring a nationwide referendum on independ- Ext. G-6945 ence on December 1. After the break, at 5:55 p.m., the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine voted 321 to 2, with 6 abstentions, out of 360, for the Act of Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine and “the creation of an independent Ukrainian state – Ukraine.” At 6 p.m., the Ukrainian Parliament voted 346 to 1, with 3 abstentions (out of 362), Need a back issue? for the resolution declaring Ukraine an independent, democratic state, effective imme- If you’d like to obtain a back issue of diately, and calling for a republican referendum on December 1. The Ukrainian Weekly, send $2 per copy Expressions of euphoria from the crowd gathered outside could be heard coming (first-class postage included) to: through the windows to the foyer, and could occasionally be heard as the doors into Administration, The Ukrainian Weekly, the session hall were opened. 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Source: “Ukraine declares independence” by Chrystyna Lapychak, The Ukrainian Weekly, September 1, 1991, Vol. LIX, No. 35.

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To subscribe, write to The Ukrainian Weekly, Subscription Department, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; or call (973) 292-9800. No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 15 Democratic National Committee honors Ukrainian Americans

WASHINGTON – The Democratic National Committee (DNC) honored Ukrainian Americans on June 10 during Ethnic Day on Capitol Hill. The event was hosted by the DNC’s Office of Ethnic Outreach and the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee. The event recognized the Ukrainian American community for contributions to the American culture and for commitment to maintaining democracy in America. Over 200 leaders representing various ethnic communities traveled to Washington from many states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. Several members of the U.S. Congress joined in the celebration of ethnic America. House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (Mo.), one of the guest speakers at the lunch, delivered a speech on Democratic Party values and the sig- nificance of ethnic Americans in the political process. Sen. Robert Torricelli (N.J.), Sen. Paul Sarbanes (Md.) and Rep. Elliot Engel (N.Y.) also delivered addresses on the issue of ethnicity. Other guests during the day’s program included Craig Smith, assistant to the president, and Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur, both of Ohio. A special reception with Vice-President Al Gore concluded Ethnic Day. The vice- president spoke enthusiastically about the Representatives of the Ukrainian American community who attended the Ethnic Day celebration held on Capitol Hill. cultural traditions of ethnic Americans and the importance of their contributions to forming American society. “We were delighted with the attendance from the various ethnic communities and YEVSHANDistributor of fine Ukrainian products - Cassettes, Compact look forward to meeting with them again discs - Videos - Language tapes & Dictionaries - Computer next year,” said DNC National Chair Steve fonts for PC & MAC - Imported Icons - Ukrainian Stationery Grossman. “The ethnic communities are an - Cookbooks - Food parcels to Ukraine integral part of American society, and we Call for a free catalog cherish our strong relationship.” General Chair Gov. Roy Romer said, “It 1-800-265-9858 was a pleasure meeting with the ethnic VISA - MASTERCARD - AMEX ACCEPTED FAX ORDERS ACCEPTED (514) 630-9960 communities. They are the backbone of the BOX 325, BEACONSFIELD, QUEBEC nation and the bedrock of our Democratic CANADA - H9W 5T8 Party.”

Attention, Students! Throughout the year Ukrainian student clubs plan and hold activities. The Ukrainian Weekly urges students to let us and the Ukrainian com- munity know about upcoming events.

The Weekly will be happy to help you publicize them. We will also be glad to print timely news stories about events that have already taken place. Photos also will be accepted.

MAKE YOURSELF HEARD. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

Although I was not with Mr. Kolasky Remembering... during the final stages of the demise of the (Continued from page 4) USSR, I know how big an impact this had front of the old courthouse along with thou- on his life. For him, as for all of us, the col- sands of other Canadians of various ethnic lapse of the Soviet Union and the establish- origins. Mr. Kolasky was the featured ment of a free Ukraine was a dream come speaker that night. Drawing on the image of true. While all of us projected that the a cowboy in a western movie on television, Soviet Union would one day collapse, none Mr. Kolasky described the Soviet interlop- of us – not even Mr. Kolasky – could pre- er’s visit as “Mr. Kosygin has come to dict exactly how it would occur. I remember town.” The remark was very effective and many occasions when the passion of events summarized our feelings on that day. or ideas was reflected in Mr. Kolasky’s eyes Shortly after these events I moved to and in his smile. But I doubt there was any Toronto to become involved in SUSK, the event in Mr. Kolasky’s lifetime that meant Ukrainian Students Union of Canada. Mr. more to him than the declaration of the Kolasky also made his way out east since independence of Ukraine on August 24, he was writing another book for Peter 1991. For Mr. Kolasky, Ukraine’s independ- Martin, his publisher. Thus, in the early ence was a manifestation of a lifelong aspi- 1970s we met from time to time for dinner ration. and discussed the current state of Ukrainian As fortunate as Mr. Kolasky and his gen- affairs and other matters. eration of Ukrainians were to live to see Our paths crossed again at the Habitat their dream come true, it soon became evi- dent that new challenges faced Ukraine as a The art exhibition and sale of the works Conference on Human Settlements in Vancouver in summer 1976. Again our nation in the international community. Mr. of the outstanding Ukrainian artists efforts were directed at the Soviet Union Kolasky rose to help Ukraine face these and its failure to respect the rights of new challenges. He frequently traveled to Edward, Yurij, Jarema Kozak and Ukraine and other East European nations. Ukraine, despite his declining health. Indeed, I often wondered in those years Yaroslaw Wyznyckyj Again we appeared on open-line radio shows. And once again Mr. Kolasky was how this gentle, elderly man with a delicate constitution could continue all his activities. is now open in Hunter, N.Y. in the banquet hall of masterful in rebuking Canadian pro-Soviet callers who challenged our criticisms of the Mr. Kolasky made two important contri- USSR. In one instance a caller was com- butions to independent Ukraine’s future. He menting on how wonderful life was under initiated a scholarship fund to bring Soviet rule. Mr. Kolasky blurted out “tell it Ukrainian students to Canada to learn first- The Xenia Motel to the Czechs,” referring to the Prague hand about democracy, freedom and free spring and its aftermath, when Czech oppo- enterprise. He employed his considerable Attention all art lovers! Hurry up! sition to Soviet domination was crushed by fund-raising skills, traveling across Canada Soviet tanks. With one comment Mr. to visit his friends and acquaintances to con- Only a few of Eko’s masterpieces are left. Kolasky shot down the caller’s argument in vince them with his powerful logic of the flames. value of such a student fund. More than Later in the 1970s we again met in once I remember Mr. Kolasky asserting that Vancouver to help Leonid Plyushch, the what he needed most to help Ukraine was (518) 263-4391 first Ukrainian dissident released to the “dolary” – U.S. dollars (he pronounced it Those who wish to spend their weekend or West by Soviet authorities. Mr. Plyushch with a flat “a” not the “ya” sound). Also significant was Mr. Kolasky’s work vacations in the Hunter area, please call us in advance. had come to Vancouver to attend an interna- tional meeting of psychiatrists where he in support of the Ukrainian Republican wanted to raise the issue of Soviet abuse of Party. Having carefully surveyed the politi- psychiatry for political purposes. While Mr. cal landscape in Ukraine, Mr. Kolasky Plyushch was in Vancouver the Ukrainian became convinced that the best hope for the community held a banquet in his honor. It future of Ukraine rested in supporting the was there that Mr. Kolasky exhibited his tal- URP, which was made up of former ent for fund-raising and organization. Ukrainian dissidents, primarily members of Mr. Kolasky gave a speech appealing to the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. These indi- Air Ukraine all those present to donate to a fund we viduals, like Levko Lukianenko, had helped Ä‚¥aΥ̥fl ìÍð‡ªÌË were creating for Mr. Plyushch. Mr. Ukraine in its darkest hour and, therefore, Kolasky then had us fan out to each banquet could now be trusted to lead the struggle to THE ONLY NON-STOP SERVICE BETWEEN table like ushers covering pews in a church. free Ukraine from its colonial past. At each table we passed out lists on which Mr. Kolasky supported the Ukrainian NORTH AMERICA AND UKRAINE each person was to write his or her name, Republican Party by raising money in North address and the amount he or she was America to buy computers that were TUESDAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY FLIGHTS TO donating. Since we ensured that every per- shipped to Ukraine and donated to the party. son signed on the list we missed nobody. These computers were then strategically We collected over $5,000 that night from distributed throughout Ukraine to help the New York – Kyiv the 300 people who attended. democratic press advance the cause of free- It was some time during this period that dom. While transporting these computers New York – Lviv – Kyiv Mr. Kolasky once asked me whether I felt into Ukraine, Mr. Kolasky traveled exten- in any circumstances that the end could jus- sively throughout the country, speaking at a wide variety of gatherings as a Ukrainian • Flying time is 4 hours faster than any other airline tify the means. Posing the problem in Ukrainian, he asked: “Chy mozhna zlom Canadian looking at events from the out- • Highly qualified pilots side. He would often employ the posture of • Excellent service with traditional Ukrainian hospitality zrobyty dobro?” With a gleam in his eye, he then explained to me that the means you speaking on behalf of Ukrainians in the and great meals on board West, wondering why events were unfold- • Day-time and evening flights from JFK-New York choose determine the end you achieve. Obviously, Mr. Kolasky spoke ing in the way they were. Always tactful Ukrainian. Yet it was not, strictly speaking, and diplomatic, he never hesitated to expose banalities whenever he encountered them - -UKRAINE ( ) his native language since he was born and 1 800 1-800-857-2463 raised in Canada. Still, he exhibited an during these tours. or contact your travel agent. infectious love for the language – probably * * * in part because people who spoke it in I was surprised to learn that Mr. Kolasky Ukraine were persecuted for doing so. He was buried in the village of Khotiv, near For arrival and departure information made it a point to speak to me in Ukrainian Kyiv. After all, for Mr. Kolasky, Ukraine call (718) 656-9896, (718) 632-6909 even though both of us were more fluent in was his adopted homeland. Yet in view of English. his lifelong commitment to that country, Mr. Kolasky was instrumental in virtual- perhaps I shouldn’t have been taken aback. ly all activities the Ukrainian diaspora His burial there is a sympolic culmination Air Ukraine undertook regarding Ukraine. For example, of his life’s dedication. 551 Fifth Ave., Suite 1002, 1005 he played a role in the publication of the In the end, Ukraine’s rich “chornozem” book “Report from the Beria Reserve” by soil has become a suitable resting place for New York, NY 10176 Valentyn Moroz. He shared our disappoint- his weary bones. While Mr. Kolasky has ment with Mr. Moroz following the Soviet now concluded his life, the work he started Cargo Shipping: political prisoner’s release to the West. remains for us to complete. While Mr. Frankly, like the rest of us, Mr. Kolasky Kolasky has fallen, the torch of freedom Air Ukraine - Cargo hoped Mr. Moroz would play a more inspir- that he carried so faithfully for so long must 2307 Coney Island Ave. (Ave. T), Brooklyn, NY 11223 ing role in the campaign to gain the release now be picked up and carried forward. tel.: 718-376-1023, fax: 718-376-1073 of other Ukrainian dissidents still incarcer- There is work to be done and a dream to be ated in the Soviet Union. fulfilled. No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 17 Leading Ukrainian historian awarded Kolasky Fellowship EDMONTON – Dr. Vladyslav Verstiuk, the Ukrainian Revolution” as part of the a leading historian of the Ukrainian revolu- CIUS seminar series in March. An article tion (1917-1920), was this year’s Ukraine by Dr. Verstiuk based on his seminar pres- Exchange Fellow at the Canadian Institute entation, with comments and responses of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), University of from other scholars, will appear in the Alberta. His research visit was made possi- Journal of Ukrainian Studies, published SUMMER PROGRAMS 1998 ble by a grant from the John Kolasky semiannually by CIUS. Saturday, August 29 Ukraine Exchange Fellowship Endowment During his time at the CIUS, Dr. Fund at CIUS. ~8:30 p.m. CONCERT – Violist HALYNA KOLESSA; Pianist OKSANA RAWLIUK PROTENIC Verstiuk familiarized himself with histor- 10:00 p.m. DANCE – music provided by VIDLUNNIA Dr. Verstiuk directs a research program ical publications not easily available in on the revolution at the Institute of Ukraine, especially memoirs of Ukrainian History, National Academy of Ukrainians who participated in the revo- ~ LABOR DAY WEEKEND ~ Sciences in Kyiv, and teaches at the lution, as well as scholarly works of Friday, September 4 National University of Kyiv–Mohyla Ukrainian historians in the diaspora. He Academy. He is the author of many signifi- 10:00 p.m. DANCE – FATA MORGANA also contributed to Ukrainian scholarship 11:00 p.m. “Midnight Bigus” in the Trembita Lounge cant historical studies, including a mono- and community life in Canada through graph on the peasant agrarian revolts led by informal discussions and contacts, Saturday, September 5 anarchist Nestor Makhno during the revolu- notably via the Ukrainian program broad- ~8:30 p.m. CONCERT tion, which won the National Academy of cast by radio station CKER in Edmonton. VOHON – Ukrainian Dance Ensemble – Edmonton Sciences Hrushevsky Award. He recently Since its inception in 1990, the Ukraine OKSANA CHARUK – vocalist compiled and edited two volumes of docu- Exchange Fellowship Endowment Fund has THOMAS HRYNKIV – pianist ments on the Ukrainian Central Rada, 10:00 p.m. DANCE – “TEMPO”; “ZOLOTA BULAVA” which was Ukraine’s Parliament in 1917- benefited many distinguished senior and 1918. Dr. Verstiuk is a regular contributor to promising junior scholars and professionals Sunday, September 6 Ukrainian newspapers and runs a popular in Ukraine, ranging from economists to a ~2:15 p.m. CONCERT radio program on Ukrainian history. computer scientist, an academic publisher VOHON – Ukrainian Dance Ensemble – Edmonton His three-month visit to CIUS (from and a linguist. Duet LUBA and MYKOLA January through March 1998) coincided The fund was established by the late ~8:30 p.m. CONCERT with the 80th anniversary of the Ukrainian John Kolasky, a writer and educator, with ROSEMARY MUSOLENO-MARTYNUK – soprano the assistance of Peter and Pauline THOMAS HRYNKIV – pianist revolution. Dr. Verstiuk was greatly in 10:00 p.m. DANCE – “TEMPO”; “FATA MORGANA” demand as a speaker, appearing before Kindrachuk and William and Justine Ukrainian community audiences in Fedeyko. Earlier this year the fund was Edmonton and Toronto, and delivering renamed to honor Mr. Kolasky’s memory. scholarly papers on the Central Rada at the The 1998-1999 fellowship has been awarded to Volodymyr Kulyk, a young Harriman Institute of Columbia University To Mr and Mrs. Roman and Yaroslava Kovch, of Detroit, MI (New York), the University of Toronto and political scientist from Kyiv. During his Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. three-month stay in Canada, Mr. Kulyk will He gave a paper on “Conceptual conduct research in libraries and archives in On the occasion of your 50th wedding anniversary celebration, Foundations for the Study of the History of Edmonton and Winnipeg. August 28, 1998 Congratulations and Best Wishes, HE KRAINIAN EEKLY and may God continue to shine upon you. Established 1893 EstablishedT U 1933 W PUBLISHED BY THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION INC. from George, Mary Ann, Andrew, and Kristina Kovch of Springfield, VA 2200 Route 10, P.O. 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Foreign investment up so far in 1998 Ukraine repays $450 M to Japanese firm ment has introduced new restrictions on foreigners staying in Ukraine’s border Newsbriefs KYIV – Foreign investment in the – The Ukrainian Finance (Continued from page 2) KYIV zone, Ukrainian Television reported on economy in the first half of 1998 totaled Ministry has repaid in full a $450 million previous day the Cabinet of Ministers August 6. In addition to valid passports $517.7 million (U.S.), or 54.3 percent (U.S.) loan to the Japanese firm Nomura and visas, foreigners there must now have appealed to all government employees to more than in the same period of 1997. International, Ukrainian News and DPA surrender 50 percent of their August a document from the Internal Affairs Direct foreign investments as of July 1 reported on August 12. That move eases Ministry confirming “the necessity of their salaries to the pension fund. (RFE/RL totaled $2.47 billion. The largest investors fears that Ukraine is facing bankruptcy. Newsline) stay on that territory.” Pavlo Shysholin, were the U.S. with $428.9 million (17.4 According to Ukrainian News, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian Border Wives of pilots block military airfield percent of the total); Holland with $234.7 Finance Ministry paid $406 million from Troops, told journalists on August 6 that million (9.5 percent); Germany with $196 the National Bank’s hard currency 11,000 border violators were detained in MYRHOROD – Some 30 wives of mil- million (7.9 percent); South Korea with reserves, which amounted to some $1.5 Ukraine in the first half of this year, itary pilots have been picketing the mili- $182.5 million (7.4 percent) and Great billion earlier this month. Short-term including 5,000 illegal immigrants who tary airfield in Myrhorod, Poltava Oblast, Britain with $168.3 million (6.8 percent). debts to be paid by Ukraine in August were seeking to reach the West. Two-thirds for the past week to prevent their husbands (Eastern Economist) total $1 billion. (RFE/RL Newsline) of the illegal immigrants from Asia, the from conducting duty flights, Ukrainian Lviv distiller receives gold medal National bank’s reserves fall sharply Middle East and Africa arrive in Ukraine Television reported on August 12. The via Russia. (RFE/RL Newsline) wives are demanding that their husbands’ ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Perlova Vodka, KYIV – Ukrainian National Bank wages for the past six months be paid and distilled in Lviv in accordance with a 400- Chairman Viktor Yuschenko says the Kyiv to cut administration staff are threatening to launch a hunger strike. year-old recipe, won the gold medal in the bank’s reserves dropped to $1.15 billion KYIV – Oleksander Yakovenko, head The Myrhorod airfield is the base for premium category at the recent internation- (U.S.) from $1.49 billion in August, fol- of the personnel policy department in the Ukraine’s largest group of SU-27 fighters, al Wine and Vodka Fair in St. Petersburg, lowing the repayment of a loan to Nomura presidential administration, has which defend the country’s air space. Russia. In a blind taste-test nine judges International. The government initially announced that the government adminis- According to the station, the pilots – who chose Perlova Vodka over 360 entrants in planned to repay the loan with foreign aid tration will be cut by 100 people to a are prohibited from striking by military the premium vodka category. Perlova but was unable to secure such assistance total of 600, Ukrainian Television report- law – support the action and are letting Vodka has been available in Canada for because of the lack of confidence in ed on August 6. He added that the their wives into the airfield despite the fact three years and is now also being imported Ukraine among foreign investors. Mr. Ukrainian president’s administration will that military authorities have dug ditches by Perlova imports of Alexandria. This Yuschenko remains optimistic about the be cut by 20 percent. He provided no fig- and set up additional sentry posts. year’s St. Petersburg expo, which dates country’s financial prospects. “The largest ures for that reduction because, accord- (RFE/RL Newsline) back to 1829, hosted more than 150 distill- payments in 1998 have been made, and ing to the television station, “it is eries and wineries from Europe and Russia. Belarusian newspaper sues government now everything should be done to win the unknown how many people are working (Eastern Economist) confidence of both market operators and in the [presidential] administration.” The Ukraine’s creditors in the Ukrainian mar- MIENSK – The Higher Economic Ukrainian planes win English honors reductions are part of an ongoing admin- Court on August 12 opened the case ket,” Interfax quoted him as saying on istrative reform that is to be completed in brought by the Belarusian-language news- KYIV – The Ukrainian Air Force won August 15. (RFE/ RL Newsline) 2010. (RFE/RL Newsline) paper Nasha Niva against the State Press honors at the July 25-26 Fairford Ukraine, Moldova settle border dispute Committee, Belapan and RFE/RL International Air Tatoo in Gloucester Ukrainian plant threatens to poison river Belarusian Service reported. Nasha Niva’s County, England. The Ukrainian AN-72 KYIV – During Moldovan Prime STEBNIK – Workers of a chemical chief editor, Syarhey Dubavets, demanded aircraft won the contest for Best Foreign Minister Ion Ciubuc’s August 4 visit to plant in Stebnik, Lviv Oblast, have that the committee revoke the warning it Flying Display and the TU-22M3 Kyiv, agreement was reached on resolving threatened to release poisonous waste issued in May not to use traditional Backfire Bomber was runner-up in the a border dispute in an area near the Danube into the Dnister River unless they are Belarusian spelling, banned by Joseph Best Static Display category. Ukraine’s delta. Under that agreement, Moldova will paid their wages for the past six months, Stalin’s regime in 1933. Mr. Dubavets Air Force also sent the military IL-76MD receive a small area of Ukrainian territory ITAR-TASS reported on August 6. The asked the court to set up an expert linguis- cargo aircraft for static display and to build an oil terminal on the banks of the river passes through the Lviv, Ternopil, tic commission to determine whether the Ukrainian Cargo Airways sent a IL- Danube River. In exchange, Ukraine will Chernivtsi and Odessa oblasts, as well as newspaper distorts the “generally accepted 76MD civilian aircraft. All military air- receive a section of the road connecting the neighboring Moldova. The plant’s man- norms” of the Belarusian language, as stat- craft were from the Poltava Military Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Izmail. agement has sent a delegation to Kyiv to ed in the official warning. Judge Ina Regiment. This is the third year of Ukrainian Prime Minister Valerii obtain funds to repay wage arrears total- Petukhova, who speaks no Belarusian, Ukrainian participation in the Fairford Pustovoitenko said that Moldova is ing 8.5 million hrv ($4.1 million U.S.). agreed to postpone the court proceedings Tatoo, which is the world’s largest air Ukraine’s strategic partner and that eco- (RFE/RL Newsline) until August 14. (RFE/RL Newsline) show. (Eastern Economist) nomic relations between both countries must be intensified. (RFE/RL Newsline) Ukraine falls short in privatization Ukraine sees better economic prospects KYIV – Oleksander Bondar, acting head of the Ukrainian State Property KYIV – Ukraine’s vice minister of the Fund, said on July 28 that privatization economy, Ihor Shumylo, on August 5 pre- revenues this year will fall short of the sented the government’s forecast of basic planned $1 billion hryvni ($475 million), economic indicators for next year, Ukrainian Television reported. In the first Ukrainian Television and the Associated six months of 1998, those revenues Press reported. Ukraine expects economic totaled only 240 million hryvni. In Mr. growth to total 2 percent of the gross Bondar’s opinion, the fund will not fulfill domestic product in 1999, up from 0.5 per- its privatization plan because of the cent planned for this year. The budget “emergency situation at a majority of deficit is expected to decrease to 1.5 per- Ukrainian enterprises.” He added that it cent of the GDP, down from 2.5 percent is impossible to sell shares in the most forecast for this year. Inflation is expected attractive enterprises “even at nominal to decrease to 7 percent from 12 percent prices.” (RFE/RL Newsline) anticipated in 1998. Mr. Shumylo said the government’s optimistic economic progno- Nazi victims receiving compensation sis stems from economic reform measures KYIV – The Ukraina Bank has disbursed taken recently by Ukraine to secure a large compensation to 83,666 victims of Nazi loan from the International Monetary concentration camps. The bank’s press sec- Fund. (RFE/RL Newsline) retary, Yurii Kylymnyk, said that as of July Construction of pipeline begins in Crimea 1, almost 49.7 million DM had been paid out. Payments will be completed after the KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma on bank receives more lists of persons entitled August 5 attended the inauguration of the to compensation. (Eastern Economist) construction of a new gas pipeline in Crimea, Ukrainian Television reported. Pivdenmash, Case set up joint venture The 269-kilometer pipeline will link the KYIV – Yurii Alekseiev, director general Crimean cities of Dzhankoi, Feodosiia of the Pivdenmash integrated works, and and Kerch, improving gas supplies to Jean-Pierre Rossaue, president of U.S.- some 30 percent of the peninsula’s popu- based Case, signed an agreement on June lation. The construction will cost $100 22 creating the joint venture DniproCase. million; 20 percent of that sum is to be The JV will use Case’s technology to make paid by the UkrNaftoHaz national oil and 250 HP tractors in Dnipropetrovsk. The JV gas company and 80 percent contributed hopes to roll out 500 new tractors by the in construction materials by domestic end of 1998 and DniproCase hopes to man- enterprises in repayment of their debts to ufacture 4,000 to 4,500 tractors per year the state budget. (RFE/RL Newsline) within five years. Within three to four years Ukraine toughens border controls these tractors will be assembled using Ukrainian-made parts. The JV will also KYIV – In a bid to clamp down on ille- market, sell and service Case tractors in gal immigration via Ukraine, the govern- Ukraine. (Eastern Economist) No. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 19

telephone: (403) 495-2944 St. Catharines MP... fax: (403) 495-4507 PREVIEW OF EVENTS (Continued from page 3) e-mail: [email protected] encouraged to contact their provincial or (Continued from page 20) government economic development 300,639 Fifth Ave. SW Saturday, September 5 (973)763-1797. Check school’s webpage authority or the nearest International Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0M9 at http://members.aol.com/olenkam KERHONKSON, N.Y.: Trade Center (ITC), whose offices coin- telephone: (403) 292-4575 The Ukrainian American Nautical Association Inc. Sunday, September 13 cide with those of the national Industry fax: (403) 292-4578 Ministry. (UANAI) is holding its annual meeting on e-mail: [email protected] the Soyuzivka deck at 2 p.m. Discussions SCRANTON, Pa.: The Pennsylvania Likely participants include the Anthracite Heritage Museum will hold a coal Edmonton-based Grant MacEwan will focus on the election of officers and Saskatchewan future trip planning. Members and anyone miners’ picnic at 1-3 p.m. This family event Community College, which has an office Industry Canada interested in sailing are invited to attend. will include storytelling, children’s games, a in Ukraine; Atomic Energy of Canada 7th Floor, Princeton Tower For information call Natalka Luchanko, museum scavenger hunt, and homemade pie, Limited; Baker & McKenzie, a law firm 123 Second Ave., S. (215) 517-7076. ice cream and lemonade. The cost of the pic- with an office in Ukraine; and the Royal Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 7E6 nic is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. Sunday, September 6 The museum is located on R.D. 1, Bald Canadian Mint, which printed the first telephone: (306) 975-5315 issue of Ukraine’s official currency in Mountain Road. Reservations may be made fax: (306) 975-5334 ROUND LAKE PARK, Ill.: Following an by calling the museum, (717) 963-4804. 1996). e-mail: [email protected] 11 a.m. liturgy at Ss. Volodymyr and Olha Participants in Canada’s previous mis- Ukrainian Catholic Church, a Ukrainian Tuesday, September 15 sions have included manufacturing enter- or food and grill, children’s games, pony rides, prises, resource companies, banks and swimming, a Ukrainian orchestra and lot- NEW YORK: The Kyiv Symphony Industry Canada Orchestra and Chorus will perform for the other financial institutions, agricultural 1919 Saskatchewan Drive, 2nd Floor tery will take place at the Self Reliance Association’s Round Lake Resort. The first time at Carnegie Hall at 8 p.m. Works concerns, law and consulting firms, aca- Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3N8 resort is on Maple and Oak streets, two by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, demic and medical institutions, and even telephone: (306) 780-6325/6124 miles north on Hainesville Road off Route Tanayev, Brahms, Rutter, Gershwin, modelling agencies. fax: (306) 780-8797 120. The resort phone number is (847) 546- Berlin, as well as Ukrainian classics and For further information, contact the e-mail: [email protected] 9728. For more information call the Rev. folk music will be performed by 160 Team Canada Task Force at: telephone, Myron Panchuk, (312) 829-5209, or e-mail: Ukrainian instrumentalists and singers. (613) 995-2194; fax, (613) 996-3406; there Manitoba [email protected] Prices range from $15 to $60. For tickets call the Carnegie Hall Box Office or is also a toll free line: 1-888-811-1119. Industry Canada Wednesday, September 9 Contact information for selected 400 St. Mary Ave., 4th Floor CenterCharge, (212) 247-7800. For group sales call (516) 324-1248. provincial ITC’s follow below. (For those Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4K5 NEWARK, N.J.: St. John’s Ukrainian in the Yukon Territory, contact the British telephone: (204) 983-5851 Preschool will re-open with Ukrainian- Thursday, September 17 Columbia office; for those in the fax: (204) 983-3182 language Montessori sessions each week- NEW YORK: Ukrainian National Northwest Territories, contact the Alberta e-mail: [email protected] day morning from 9 a.m. to noon. Extended hours from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Women’s League of America Branch 64 office; for those in the Maritime Ontario are available to serve working parents. invites UNWLA members and the public provinces, please consult the website.) The minimum age is 2 1/2. The school to a farewell for Ludmyla Kryzhanivsky, Industry Canada British Columbia emphasizes respect for the child, individu- wife of Ukraine’s consul general in New 151 Yonge St., 4th Floor alized learning and promotion of the York. The gathering will be held at 6:30 ITC/Industry Canada Toronto, Ontario M5C 2W7 child’s independence. For more informa- p.m. at the Shevchenko Scientific Society 300 West Georgia St., Suite 200 telephone: (416) 973-5053 tion call Olenka Makarushka-Kolodiy, building, 64 Fourth Ave. Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 6E1 fax: (416) 973-8161 telephone: (604) 666-0434 e-mail: [email protected] fax: (604) 666-0954 e-mail: [email protected] Québec Industry Canada Alberta 5 Place Ville Marie, 7-ème etage Need a back issue? Industry Canada Montréal, Québec H3B 2G2 If you’d like to obtain a back issue of The Ukrainian Weekly, Canada Place telephone: (514) 283-6328 send $2 per copy (first-class postage included) to: Administration, The Ukrainian Weekly, 9700 Jasper Ave., Suite 725 fax: (514) 283-8794 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4C3 e-mail: [email protected] 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1998 No. 34

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Sunday, August 23 meet in Annapolis at 10 a.m. and is plan- ning to brunch in historic Annapolis after NEW CITY, N.Y.: Ukrainian American the trip. For more information call Ihor Veterans Post No. 19 and the Ukrainian Kotlarchuk, (703) 548-8534. Heritage Society of Rockland County will sponsor a Ukrainain Independence Day Sunday, August 30 flag-raising ceremony to take place at the EMLENTON, Pa.: Allison-Paris County Office Building, All Saints Ukrainian New Hempstead Road, at 1 p.m. For more Orthodox Church Camp will be celebrating its 20th anniversary starting with a 9 a.m. information call Teddy B. Dusanenko, divine liturgy celebrated by the (914) 634-5502. Pennsylvania-Ohio and Pittsburgh NEW YORK: The Committee of the Deaneries. A picnic luncheon of Ukrainian United Ukrainian American Organizations foods will follow. At 3:30 p.m. the Kyiv of the City of New York, Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Carnegie, Pa., vocal- Congress Committee of America and the ists and bandurists will perform. Displays Ukrainian American Coordinating Council and sales of Ukrainian cultural items will will be holding a Ukrainian Independence be offered. For more information call the Day celebration at the National Home, 140 camp, (724) 867-5811. Second Ave., at 2 p.m. The program will Friday-Sunday, September 4-6 include guest speaker Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko; pianist and winner SAN DIEGO: The Ukrainian Festival 98, of international musical competitions presented by the House of Ukraine, will be Volodymyr Vynnytsky, and Yurij hosting Tropak Ukrainian Dance Theatre Kharenko, a Ukrainian artist. Admission is from Vancouver. The weekend includes a free. bonfire, dinner and dance, as well as the dance performance. For help in planning Saturday, August 29 your Ukrainian Festival 98 vacation, con- tact the San Diego Convention and ANNAPOLIS, Md.: The Washington Visitors Bureau, (619) 236-1212, or visit Group is organizing a group outing on the http://www.sandiego.org Severn River. Canoes and kayaks ($25 for half a day) will be rented. The group will (Continued on page 19)

PLEASE NOTE PREVIEW REQUIREMENTS: • To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information written in Preview format (date, place, type of event, admission, sponsor, etc., in the English language, providing full names of persons and/or organizations mentioned, and list- ing a contact person for additional information). Items not written in Preview for- mat or submitted without all required information will not be published. Please include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours. • Preview items must be received one week before desired date of publication. No information will be taken over the phone. Listings are published only once (please indicate desired date of publication) and appear at the discretion of the editorial staff and in accordance with available space. Information should be sent to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. PACKAGES TO UKRAINE as low as $ .65 per Lb At Soyuzivka: August 28-29 DNIPRO CO KERHONKSON, N.Y. – Soyuzivka’s Ms. Kolessa will be accompanied by NEWARK, NJ PHILADELPHIA CLIFTON, NJ pre-Labor Day weekend program will pianist Oksana Ravliuk Protenic. The 698 Sanford Ave 1801 Cottman Ave 565 Clifton Ave spotlight Ukrainian and European music program will include selections by classi- Tel. 973-373-8783 Tel. 215-728-6040 Tel. 973-916-1543 in a concert performed by violist Halyna cal European and Ukrainian composers, *Pick up service available Kolessa. including J.S. Bach, Handel, Gounod, The concert, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in Liudkevych, Mykola Kolessa, Ihor the Veselka auditorium, is dedicated to the Sonevytsky and Shtoharenko. memories of Walter Kwas and Dr. Roman After the concert, at approximately 10 Moroz. Ms. Kolessa notes that this will be p.m., there will be a dance at the Veselka “a personal tribute to two men who were pavilion to the tunes of Vidlunnia. always dedicated to the Ukrainian commu- For information about Soyuzivka nity, which greatly benefited from their accommodations, entertainment pro- love and efforts, and to the support that grams, art exhibits and other special fea- they provided to Ukrainian youth.” tures, call (914) 626-5641.

Violist Halyna Kolessa and pianist Oksana Ravliuk Protenic