The Ukrainian Weekly 2005, No.21
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Ukrainians in Russia hold fourth congress — page 3. • Clergyman reflects on front-row seat to history — page 12. • New book on Ukrainian women in World War II — page 13. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXIII HE KRAINIANNo. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2005 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine As economicT battlesU heat up in Ukraine, Ruslana performsW in Kyiv concert Tymoshenko is at odds with teammates benefiting Ukraine’s ailing children by Zenon Zawada and active pumps, Russian oil suppliers Kyiv Press Bureau ceased deliveries to the massive Kremenchuk refinery, which is so large KYIV – Prime Minister Yulia that it handles most of Ukraine’s oil- Tymoshenko was on the front lines of refining needs, she said. two critical economic battles this week, When production is derailed at such a at times finding herself at odds with fel- large refinery, then it’s quite apparent the low Cabinet ministers and President crisis was hatched, Ms. Tymoshenko Viktor Yushchenko. said. “It’s an absolutely artificial crisis,” At a press conference on Monday, May she said. “It’s simply a conspiracy. It’s 16, to discuss the Cabinet of Ministers’ first 100 days in office, she accused Russian oil simply sabotage. It’s simply meant to put companies of conspiring to sabotage the Ukraine in its place.” Ukrainian economy by creating a fuel cri- The government managed to renew oil sis in which gas prices shot up between 10 deliveries from Russia to their regular and 15 percent in recent months. levels only by May 12, or five days later, Two days later, Ms. Tymoshenko she said. revealed her frustration with First Vice “We are now faced with the conse- Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh after he quences of this artificial crisis, which for insisted that the government had drawn an entire week was a full blockade,” Ms. up a “black list” of 29 Ukrainian compa- Tymoshenko added. nies targeted for re-privatization. Higher fuel prices are not related to She insisted that such a black list had the decision to fix prices for profitability, never existed and was never approved by Ms. Tymoshenko said, because if that UNIAN government officials, and the mere sugges- had not been done, another crisis would Ruslana performs during her May 17 benefit concert in Kyiv. tion of such a list “reeked of corruption.” have arisen. The conflicts involve economic issues Namely gas prices would have multi- by Zenon Zawada of Chornobyl. that deeply concern not only Ukraine’s plied instantly by 2.5 times, she said. As Kyiv Press Bureau The Children of Chornobyl Relief entrepreneurs and oligarchs, but also for LUKoil and TNK’s “gift on the 100th Fund, a diaspora-led charity organiza- observers abroad, who are trying to day,” Ms. Tymoshenko said she expects KYIV – Amidst bursting fountains and tion, had organized the concert with gauge whether the new government is the government will resolve the situation erupting fireworks, Ruslana and her crew Ruslana and her promoters, who devoted properly handling the fragile economy. during the next two weeks. flaunted their wild dances on May 17 as all the concert’s proceeds to support the In regard to the fuel crisis, Ms. part of a benefit concert to raise money to Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation (Continued on page 9) benefit ailing children and young victims Tymoshenko said two or three Russian oil Center in Lviv and two hospitals in Kyiv companies dominate 90 percent of the and Dnipropetrovsk. Ukrainian oil market, or basically the entire Before an international audience of market, Ms. Tymoshenko said. Those com- Yushchenko and Poroshenko between 2,000 and 3,500 gathered at the panies include primarily LUKoil and TNK, Arena Entertainment Complex on the or Tyumenskaya Nyeftanaya Kompaniya. Khreschatyk’s west end, the concert “Just when the new government came come out in defense of Zvarych demonstrated the high standards of cho- to power, this monopoly, or cartel conspir- reography and pyrotechnics to which acy, raised prices for oil products in by Zenon Zawada profile forms that he had submitted to Ruslana and her staff have raised Ukraine significantly – significantly high- Kyiv Press Bureau Who’s Who in Ukraine, starting in 1994. Ukrainian performance. er than what was agreed to for the increase Mr. Zvarych has middle, beginning The concert also boosted the Relief KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor and higher education, Mr. Yushchenko in oil prices,” Ms. Tymoshenko said. Yushchenko firmly defended the record Fund’s status with Ukraine’s new govern- No one at these companies has recon- said. (Mr. Zvarych said he graduated of Justice Minister Roman Zvarych last ment led by President Viktor Yushchenko, ciled with President Viktor Yushchenko’s from Sacred Heart High School in week, stating that he is an honest man who expressed his willingness to help victory, she commented, and no one has Yonkers, N.Y. in 1971.) who has the necessary education and expand the organization’s efforts, said Dr. reconciled with the fact that there is a Mr. Zvarych graduated from Manhattan experience for his position. Zenon Matkiwsky, who co-founded the new government trying to rid the econo- College in Riverdale, N.Y. in 1976 with a organization in 1990 with his wife, Nadia. my of all its shady components. “Let’s leave the justice minister alone, bachelor’s degree, The Weekly confirmed, and it’s not necessary to carry out (political) “We have absolute, total support,” Dr. After the Russian conspiracy boosted and studied at Columbia University Matkiwsky said. “In fact, we are welcoming fuel prices, the government decided to intrigues against him,” Mr. Yushchenko said. between the fall of 1976 and spring of 1978. “This is a person who’s been through colos- anyone interested to get on this bandwagon make an agreement with three Ukrainian “What the justice minister is supposed to help develop programs in Ukraine.” refineries to take up the burden, she said. sal political trials in Parliament, who expert- to be, and with what kind of education, I ly wields his subject, and who was with you Specifically, the relief fund is working They are the Nadarnianskyi, Halychyna can’t discuss this at the moment, because to create a consortium to develop med- on the maidan [Independence Square]. and Kremenchuk refineries. In these for me the position of minister is a politi- ical grant programs in Ukraine for pedi- Ukrainian reporters forced a comment negotiations, they were able to set prices cal position,” Mr. Yushchenko said. atrics, particularly treating children with from Mr. Yushchenko at a May 13 press that offer reasonable profitability and the In Europe, there are ministers of for- birth defects, said Dr. Matkiwsky, who is conference, three days after Mr. Zvarych oil market stabilized, she said. eign affairs without any higher education, recruiting funds, corporations or individ- held his own press conference in which In response, TNK shut down oil pro- Mr. Yushchenko pointed out, and uals to contribute. he admitted that he did not have a mas- duction in Ukraine immediately, she European nations accept that because the CCRF will also work with eight peri- ter’s degree from Columbia University, said, and has yet to restart it. LUKoil and position is political and the minister does natology centers throughout Ukraine, Dr. despite claiming so for eight years. TNK, which had promised to keep rea- fantastic, skilled work. Matkiwsky said, with the goal of estab- Mr. Yushchenko’s confidence in Mr. sonable prices until June 1 and to not Mr. Yushchenko then said he knew lishing one in every oblast. A perinatol- stop delivery of oil products to its sta- Zvarych put to rest the widespread specu- very well what’s behind the controversy ogy center would provide, for example, tions, broke their agreement and on pre- lation that the justice minister would have and rumors surrounding Mr. Zvarych. early AIDS testing that would prevent cisely the 100th day of the new govern- to resign after several media organizations, “The bright, young members of Pora” the virus from passing from mother to ment, May 3, Ms. Tymoshenko said. including The Weekly, confirmed that Mr. On May 7, despite signed contracts Zvarych had lied and exaggerated in three (Continued on page 9) (Continued on page 10) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2005 No. 21 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Did Vladimir Putin come out shining NEWSBRIEFS Supplemental aid is approved fuel crisis. (RFE/RL Newsline) or with Moscow’s prestige weakened? WASHINGTON – The Fiscal Year Yushchenko among 100 top leaders 2005 Emergency Supplemental bill, NEW YORK – Ukrainian President by Jeremy Bransten Moscow elicited renewed pride in which includes $60 million in additional Viktor Yushchenko was listed among Time RFE/RL Newsline Russia’s history and its current place in funding for Ukraine for this year, magazine’s 100 most influential leaders in the world. But for others, it resuscitated received final approval in the House last the magazine’s April 18 issue. “When Everyone who witnessed the lavish bitter memories that might have been week and the Senate on May 10. It Red Square parade on May 9 commemo- Viktor Yushchenko, his face bearing the better left unstirred. became Public Law 109-13 on May 11. tragic scars of a poisoning rode the rating the victory over Nazism in World Controversy over Russia’s interpreta- The additional funds for Ukraine will go War II could not fail to be impressed. ‘Orange Revolution’ to victory in Ukraine, tion of Soviet history, including the infa- toward new or existing programs in the it transformed a nation – and reverberated U.S.