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INSIDE: • Helsinki Commission hearing on Georgian crisis – page 3. • The Ukrainian Museum begins the fall season – page 8. • And the winner of the Narbut Prize in philately is... – page 13 HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit association Vol. LXXVI No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukraine’s military exports up, Democratic coalition collapses while armed forces lack funds Tymoshenko Bloc and Party of Regions by Zenon Zawada move to further reduce presidential powers Kyiv Press Bureau by Zenon Zawada Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) deputy Andrii KYIV – While Defense Kyiv Press Bureau Portnov to draft the numerous bills curtail- Minister Yurii Yekhanurov is ing the president’s authority. complaining that he doesn’t KYIV – The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc “If a citizen violates traffic rules, he is have enough money to feed and the Party of Regions of Ukraine lunged held responsible. And if a person violates Ukrainian soldiers, the forward in their campaign to further reduce the nation’s fundamental law, and does it nation’s military hardware President Viktor Yushchenko’s authority by intentionally, it’s obvious that punishment exporters are selling more passing a bill at the September 18 parlia- should be provided for,” he added. abroad than ever, particularly mentary session that imposes a prison sen- The Tymoshenko Bloc, Party of Regions to the Russian Federation. tence on the president for illegally dismiss- and Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) “Funds for feeding the ing the Verkhovna Rada. mustered 349 votes to pass the imprison- armed forces of Ukraine are The legislation is an attempt to prevent ment bill, more than two weeks after the available only through Mr. Yushchenko from dismissing same factions passed laws that stripped the October 31,” Mr. Yekhanurov Parliament before it can override his vetoes, president of his last remaining powers, told a September 9 press UNIAN/Oleksander Yurchenko which is what the Party of Regions accuses namely control of the Ministry of Foreign conference. “No funds or Ukrainian Defense Minister Yurii Yekhanurov visits him of doing in April 2007, when he dis- Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and the food are available after a frigate in Sevastopol in late August. He recently missed the Verkhovna Rada as the coalition Security Service of Ukraine. November 1.” said the Defense Ministry is so underfunded it will was collecting a constitutional majority to The president said he will veto the laws Indeed the soldiers will have to cut back on armaments spending in order to supersede his vetoes. be fed, Mr. Yekhanurov feed soldiers. which diminish his authority on the grounds The move came just two days after the that they are unconstitutional. said, but the funds for food collapse of the Democratic Forces Coalition will be drawn from the ministry’s arma- factories than Ukraine’s own Defense That the same factions threatened to that had created a ruling majority out of the imprison the president should he try to dis- ments budget. Ministry does. Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc miss Parliament again indicates they are Meanwhile, Ukrainian military exporters, In 2007 the Russian military-industrial and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. confident they can override the president’s the majority of which are state-owned enter- complex bought 25 percent of Ukrainian “It’s obvious that national interests place vetoes, said Yurii Syrotiuk, a parliamentary prises, raked in an unprecedented $1 billion exports, most of which were parts to build the defense of the Ukrainian Constitution analyst with the Open Society Foundation in sales in 2007, according to Mykhailo armaments and vehicles, Mr. Samus said. foremost, and not tolerating the trampling in Kyiv. Samus, assistant director of the Center for For example, all of the Russian military’s of the fundamental law,” said Oleksander When Rada Chair Arseniy Yatsenyuk Army, Conversion and Disarmament helicopters use engines produced by the Lavrynovych, a Party of Regions (PRU) Research in Kyiv, which is financed largely Motor Sich Engine-Building Plant in lawmaker who teamed with Yulia (Continued on page 5) by Western clients. Zaporizhia, he said. The biggest exporter, UkrSpetsExport, Motor Sich Board Chairman Viacheslav reported record sales of $300 million in the Bohuslayev is a leader and financer of the same period, he said. Figures on revenues pro-Russian Party of Regions of Ukraine and profits are not publicized, defense (PRU) and a fervent opponent of Ukraine’s Crimean Parliament recognizes experts said. membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Since the fall of the Soviet Union, both Organization (NATO). separatist regions of Georgia Russia and Ukraine have been among the Although no laws forbid Ukrainian biggest suppliers of military hardware to the exporters from selling finished weapons and by Zenon Zawada former Soviet republics, Asia, Africa and vehicles to Russia, its larger neighbor has no Kyiv Press Bureau Latin America. need for such purchases, Mr. Samus said. Simultaneously, Ukraine’s armed forces “Russian armed forces don’t need to buy KYIV – The Parliament of the are among the most poorly financed in finished products from Ukraine,” he said. Autonomous Republic of Crimea, con- Europe and can’t afford most of their “They make their own guns, tanks, destroy- trolled by the For Yanukovych bloc, voted domestically manufactured military hard- ers and bombers. But they use a lot of overwhelmingly on September 17 to recog- ware, which includes arms, vehicles, parts Ukrainian parts.” nize the independence of South Ossetia and and repair services. Despite the dependence of the Ukrainian Abkhazia, asking Ukraine’s Verkhovna Sales earned by the state-owned export- military-industrial complex on exports to Rada to do the same. ers are taxed for the state budget, but not Russia Mr. Samus said there’s no need to The resolution was supported by 79 out earmarked for the Defense Ministry. For fear the Ukrainian-produced hardware will of 90 deputies (10 were absent and eight example, UkrSpetsExport paid 100 million eventually be used against the Ukrainians voted against). The Parliament’s Tatars hrv ($20.6 million U.S.) in taxes in 2007, who manufactured them. “The Russians use voted against the measure, while the fierce- Mr. Samus said. most of these (Ukrainian) parts in their ly pro-Russian Yalta City Council lent its The government’s paltry financing of the exported products, such as rockets for China endorsement. armed forces, 9.9 billion hrv ($2 billion) in and helicopters for Venezuela,” Mr. Samus “In conditions of military aggression, 2008, amounted to only 1.1 percent of the said. committed by the Georgian leadership Gross Domestic Product, Mr. Yekhanurov Incidentally, the tiny state of Georgia is against the people of South Ossetia, and complained, while the Russian Federation among Ukraine’s biggest clients for military ceaseless attempts oriented toward the over- earmarked 7 percent of GDP for its military hardware, buying 6 percent of exports. throw of the lawful government of the and Turkey set aside 5 percent. The 9.9 billion hrv ($2 billion) military Republic of Abkhazia, the Verkhovna Rada As a result, no more than 5 percent of the budget that Mr. Yekhanurov inherited, which of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Zenon Zawada military hardware produced by Ukraine’s he said was the smallest amount relative to expresses its support for the people of Crimean Tatar Mejlis Chairman 300-plus factories, most of which are state- GDP since Ukrainian independence, was Abkhazia and South Ossetia in their right Mustafa Jemilev (seen here in a photo owned, is bought by the Ukrainian govern- drafted by the pro-Russian government of for self-determination and supports the from December 2007) said Kyiv should ment. The rest is exported overseas. former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, actions of the Russian Federation in ensur- regard the Crimean Parliament’s The biggest customer is the Russian which cut spending from 10 billion hrv in ing the security of the republics of Abkhazia September 17 recognition of Abkhazian armed forces, which buy more than four and South Ossetian independence as a times the military hardware from Ukrainian (Continued on page 22) (Continued on page 5) “disturbing signal.” 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS

Russian passports: Parties buying up billboards OU-PSD says no proposals received KYIV – Ukraine’s main political parties KYIV – The chairman of the Our Moscow’s geopolitical tool have already started preparations for pre- Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc, term parliamentary elections, it was report- Viacheslav Kyrylenko, said on September by Taras Kuzio list of Ukrainian politicians and business- ed on September 11. Proof of this can be 15 that his bloc had received no proposals men banned from entering Russia. It Eurasia Daily Monitor from any faction on the creation of a new includes the head of the Our Ukraine – seen in the fact that representatives of vari- September 15 coalition. He said only that the coalition People’s Self-Defense (OU-PSD) bloc, ous political forces are buying up billboard space. Parties are booking billboards with between the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) The official protest by the Russian Viacheslav Kyrylenko, Petro Yushchenko and the Our Ukraine party had ceased to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on (the president’s brother and a OU-PSD the expectation that early elections will exist. Mr. Kyrylenko said that the YTB had September 11 over the allegedly deputy), the governors of Kyiv and take place in December. The Single Center “done nothing to return to the coalition.” He “unfriendly” attitudes of the Ukrainian Kharkiv oblasts, the head of the parlia- party and Our Ukraine have already paid failed to predict the format of a new coali- authorities to Russia was met by a stern mentary Committee on Foreign Affairs (a for outdoor areas beginning in early member of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc), October,” said Artem Bidenko, head of the tion. “I can say definitely that there will be response on the same day by Ukraine’s no coalition between the Our Ukraine – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa. heads of the armaments company Association of Outdoor Advertising of Ukrspetsexport and others (www.korre- Ukraine. The deputy head of the Single People’s Self-Defense Bloc and the Party of gov.ua). Russia’s MFA protested Regions,” he said. He also said that a coali- President Viktor Yushchenko’s support spondent.com.ua, September 15). Center Secretariat, Andrii Omelchenko, Ukraine’s MFA warned that attempts said the party plans an advertising cam- tion between the YTB and the Regions is for Georgia, including supplying “heavy being formed. (Ukrinform) military hardware”; Ukraine’s drive to by Russia to destabilize the situation in paign. “We are preparing for the elections, join NATO “against the will of the Ukraine through fifth columnists who for but we have bought up the billboards not Rada factions explain positions Ukrainian people”; “attempts by the some reason position themselves as the for the elections, but for a public aware- Ukrainian authorities to reconsider our ‘healthy political forces of the country’ ness campaign “NATO – Yes,” said Our KYIV – Viacheslav Kyrylenko, chairman common history in an anti-Russian spir- have no prospects.” The accusations and Ukraine representative Ihor Pasichniak. of the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense it”; and the standard complaint about the very tone of the exchange are at odds The press offices of the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc, part of the former majority coalition, official hostility to the Russian language. with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Bloc and the Party of Regions said they expressed his faction’s readiness to go into Ukraine’s response pointed to Russia’s Putin’s assurances that “Crimea is not did not even think about buying billboard opposition. “We have only one way out fol- inability, despite nearly two decades of disputable territory” (German ARD tele- space. President Viktor Yushchenko said lowing the official announcement on the Ukrainian independence, to accept vision, August 29). he is ready to declare pre-term parliamen- creation of a new coalition between the Leon Aron of the Washington-based Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) and the Ukraine as an “independent state.” tary elections if a new coalition is not cre- American Enterprise Institute warned in Party of Regions (PRU). We should go into Ukraine’s MFA also described Ukraine as ated within the term defined in Ukraine’s The Wall Street Journal (September 10) national opposition,” he said from the “under no circumstances belonging to the laws. (Ukrinform) that “Russia’s next target could be Parliament’s rostrum on September 16. Ivan so-called ‘privileged interests’ of any Ukraine.” The Moscow City Council is First talks on new coalition held Kyrylenko of the YTB, also formerly of the country.” providing $34 million in support of majority coalition, called on national depu- The Russian protest also complained KYIV – National Deputy Volodymyr “compatriots” abroad. Lytvyn, the leader of the Volodymyr Lytvyn ties to continue the work of the Verkhovna about the “practice of banning Russian Ms. Aron warns of a scenario in which Bloc, told journalists on September 15 that Rada. “The YTB is planning to continue deputies and eminent politicians from Russia takes control overnight of the port he had recently held talks with the Yulia working,” he said. He also pointed to the entering Ukraine.” The following day of Sevastopol, which might be “impossi- Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) on the creation of need to pass a number of social and eco- Russian Duma Deputy Viktor Vodolatsky ble to reverse without a large-scale war.” a new coalition between the YTB, the Our nomic bills. PRU Chairman Viktor was refused entry into Ukraine to attend The European Union’s unwillingness to Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc and Yanukovych said he was against the holding a coordinating council meeting of deal with Russia’s new assertiveness of early parliamentary elections. “We did the Lytvyn Bloc. YTB representative Cossack hetmans (leaders) from Ukraine, since August 8 has demonstrated the vac- not call for snap elections last year and Volodymyr Yavorivsky also confirmed this Russia, Belarus and Moldova’s Trans- uous nature of its European Common won’t call for them this year,” he said. Mr. fact. “The creation of a new coalition Dniestr region. The week before, Russian Foreign and Security Policy. If the EU Yanukovych called for the continuation of between the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, the political technologist Sergei Markov was has permitted Russia to get away with de the Parliament’s work and the “introduction Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc and, of course, the refused entry into Ukraine. of constitutional amendments to balance the (Continued on page 22) Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc, Russia has retaliated by creating a long branches of power.” The leader of the is a logical, calm and normal way out for Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc said his bloc is Ukrainian society. I can say that Yulia ready to go into a coalition with the YTB Tymoshenko has accepted such a variant,” and the PRU, if a coalition of this kind is The cyber dimension he said. “We also proposed that the Our formed. “If our position is accepted, then we Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc use are ready to formalize relations. If there is this good chance; we are also asking the potential of the YTB and the Regions, we of Russia’s attack on Georgia president to use this chance,” he added. (Ukrinform) (Continued on page 14) by Alexander Melikishvili by the command and control server in the United States, which had become operation- A growing body of evidence suggests al several weeks prior to the cyber assault that Russia’s disproportionate military (International Herald Tribune, August 13; FOUNDED 1933 assault on Georgia in the aftermath of The Independent, August 17). THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Tbilisi’s failed bid to retake the breakaway DDOS attacks are carried out when com- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., region of South Ossetia was preceded and promised personal computers organized into a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. accompanied by a series of coordinated and vast networks (botnets) are ordered by hack- Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. sophisticated cyber assaults on Georgia’s ers to send millions of specifically com- Periodicals postage paid at Parsippany, NJ 07054 and additional mailing offices. embryonic Internet infrastructure. posed requests simultaneously to a designat- (ISSN — 0273-9348) The distributed denial of service (DDOS) ed website or websites in order to overload a attacks against Georgian websites began server and cause it to shut down. The bot- The Weekly: UNA: almost two months before the short-lived nets are large sets of personal computers that Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 war between Russia and Georgia (The have been infected with malicious software Washington Post, August 14). (malware) programs that allow hackers to Postmaster, send address changes to: In July, U.S.-based Internet watchdogs control them remotely. The owners of these The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz registered DDOS attacks against the official “zombie” PCs are often completely unaware 2200 Route 10 Editors: Matthew Dubas P.O. Box 280 Zenon Zawada (Kyiv) website of the President of Georgia, Mikheil that their computers are involuntarily partic- Parsippany, NJ 07054 Saakashvili, which disabled the website for ipating in such cyber attacks (Reuters, August 16; UPI, August 18). a 24-hour period. The attacks were detected The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] The July attack appeared to be a dress rehearsal for what was to follow in August. By August 8, as Russian tanks began to roll The Ukrainian Weekly, September 21, 2008, No. 38, Vol. LXXVI Correction through the Roki Tunnel into South Ossetia, Copyright © 2008 The Ukrainian Weekly the Georgian government and media web- Due to a technical error, one of the sites started to crash intermittently under the photos accompanying the story “Paul relentless assault of multiple botnet-based Poberezny’s passion for flying touches DDOS attacks. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA countless enthusiasts,” (August 31) was According to the Shadowserver published in error. The wrong photo was Foundation, a volunteer watchdog group Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 run with a caption identifying it as “Paul specializing in analyzing malicious activities e-mail: [email protected] Poberezny’s $700 build-it-yourself plane on the Internet, the first concerted attack Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 in the AirVenture Museum.” In fact, the began at 2 p.m. GMT on August 8. The e-mail: [email protected] aircraft pictured was SpaceShipOne, built Shadowserver identified six different bot- Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 by Burt Rutan, which won the X-Prize in e-mail: [email protected] 2005. (Continued on page 22) No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 3 NEWS ANALYSIS: New coalition or early elections for Ukraine by Pavel Korduban accused Mr. Yushchenko of conspiring to imported,” hinting at Russian interference said there was little probability of such a Eurasia Daily Monitor incite a conflict with Russia over the BSF (Channel 5, September 12). trilateral coalition being formed, because September 17 in an attempt to drum up support for the Ihor Kril, the leader of the pro-Yush- Ms. Tymoshenko would not support it president’s re-election bid in Ukraine’s chenko Single Center party, provided (Ukrayinska Pravda, September 16). On September 16 Ukrainian Parliament western regions, which are traditionally more details of the alleged “pro-Kremlin” The most recent polls indicated that Chairman Arseniy Yatsenyuk pronounced wary of Russia. The prime minister plan. He suggested that the Tymoshenko the same major parties would be repre- the ruling coalition of President Viktor pledged support for Georgia’s territorial team would invite the PRU and the sented in the Verkhovna Rada if no new Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine – People’s integrity, but she made it clear that she Communists to form a new government coalition emerges and President Self-Defense (OU-PSD) and the Yulia saw no need for strong statements against without OU-PSD, whereby “the Yushchenko calls an early election. These Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) officially dead. Russia. She also refused to back Mr. Communists will control humanitarian are the YTB, PRU, OU, the Communists, If no new coalition emerges within 30 Yushchenko’s vetoes. matters and agriculture, the PRU will be and the Lytvyn Bloc. The main questions days, Mr. Yushchenko will be entitled to Ms. Tymoshenko said that she was given [control over] industry and foreign are who will come first and how Mr. disband Parliament and call a new elec- against an early election, so “reformatting policy, and the YTB will control the Yushchenko’s party, whose popularity has tion. the coalition is the only option left.” She economy” (Ukrayinska Pravda, dropped since the 2007 election, will per- Initially, there were hopes that hinted that there would be a new coalition September 8). form. OU-PSD would reverse its September 2 with the PRU, as that should make it pos- Mr. Yanukovych confirmed in a news- A poll by the Kyiv International decision to quit the coalition, which was sible to “have at least 350 votes to change paper article that he would prefer a “tem- Institute of Sociology (KIIS) predicted prompted by the YTB’s refusal to back the Constitution,” apparently in order to porary” coalition with the YTB to become that the YTB and PRU would run neck Mr. Yushchenko’s pro-Georgian stance further weaken the presidency (UT1, permanent. Like Ms. Tymoshenko, he and neck, with 24.1 percent and 23.3 per- and by the passage of several laws weak- September 8). Actually, 300 votes would rejected the option of a snap parliamenta- cent of the popular vote, respectively. A ening the presidency. OU-PSD had 10 suffice to amend the Constitution in the ry election. Mr. Yanukovych, like Ms. poll by the National Institute for Strategic days to return, but it did not, as that 450-seat legislature, but only PRU and Tymoshenko, accused the Yushchenko Studies (NISS) suggested that PRU would have meant political capitulation. YTB combined can control more than team of provoking confrontation with would win with 20.2 percent, trailed by From the very beginning OU-PSD 350 seats. Russia (Komsomolskaya Pravda v the YTB with 17.3 percent. The KIIS poll gave the YTB three conditions for restor- The Yushchenko team responded by Ukraine, September 12). showed that the OU would score just 3.8 ing the coalition: support of a parliamen- accusing Ms. Tymoshenko of conspiring The centrist Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc, percent, but the NISS, which is linked to tary resolution condemning Russia’s with the Kremlin. “After the events in which has the smallest caucus in the presidential office, predicted a more behavior in Georgia; unambiguous rejec- Georgia, where Russia tried to break the Parliament, and those among the YTB optimistic 7.9 percent for it (Zerkalo tion of Russia’s use of its Black Sea Fleet political elite by force, the Kremlin deputies who are especially skeptical of Nedeli, September 13; Ukrayinska (BSF) stationed in Ukraine’s Sevastopol resorted to ...manipulating Ukrainian pol- an alliance with the PRU, have been dis- Pravda, September 16). The result of the against Georgia; and support for Mr. iticians,” said Andrii Kyslynskyi, the cussing a coalition of the Lytvyn Bloc, OU, with or without the PSD, should be Yushchenko’s veto of the laws weakening deputy head of the Presidential YTB and OU-PSD as an alternative to a below the 14.15 percent that it won in the presidency, which were passed by an Secretariat. He said that a planned elec- PRU-YTB coalition. People’s Self- 2007, so it cannot hope for the role of alliance of the YTB and the Party of tion of the leader of the pro-Moscow Defense (PSD), the junior partner of Mr. senior partner in any possible coalition. Regions (PRU) in Parliament on PRU, Viktor Yanukovych, would be part Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party (OU) in September 2-4. of this pro-Moscow scenario (Ukrayinska OU-PSD, said that they were ready for The article above is reprinted from At a press conference on September 8 Pravda, September 8). Speaking at a press such a coalition. Mr. Kyslynskyi signaled Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission Ms. Tymoshenko rejected OU-PSD’s conference several days later, Mr. that Mr. Yushchenko may back this from its publisher, the Jamestown conditions as an “ultimatum.” She Yushchenko also said that the plan “was option. At the same time, Mr. Kyslynskyi Foundation, www.jamestown.org. Helsinki Commission: U.S. will not recognize Russia’s dismemberment of Georgia WASHINGTON – Rep. Alcee L. a revisionist state. The post-Cold War Matthew J. Bryza, deputy assistant secre- major concern in East-West relations and Hastings (D-Fla.), chairman of the settlement is in question and may be tary of state for European and Eurasian relations between Russia and her neigh- Commission on Security and Cooperation definitively over.” Affairs, Department of State; David bors.” in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) Co-Chairman Cardin noted one impli- Bakradze, speaker of the Parliament of “Most of the world has rightly con- and Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), cation of this war that has received too Georgia and former foreign minister; Paul demned Moscow’s policies. But they co-chairman, held a hearing on Russia’s little attention: “Since 2000 the Russian Saunders, executive director, the Nixon appear to have brought political dividends armed intervention into the Republic of state has relentlessly whittled away Center; and Paul A. Goble, director of at home, where Russia’s military victory Georgia. The September 10 hearing, Georgian society’s freedom of expression research and publications at the has been greeted by public approval, titled, “Russia, Georgia and the Return of and ability to maneuver politically. We Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy in Baku accentuated by outbursts of xenophobic Power Politics,” examined the implica- now see aggressiveness abroad accompa- and a former U.S. government official. bluster. This speaks volumes about the tions for U.S-Russia relations and the nying repression at home. It also is a real In his opening statement, Rep. Hastings effectiveness of state control of the media, European security infrastructure. possibility that Moscow’s recognition of said: “In looking at the origins of this which the Kremlin has inexorably imple- Chairman Hastings commented during South Ossetia and Abkhazia will stimu- conflict, it seems to me that Russia’s lead- mented since 2000,” he said. Sen. Cardin added, “President the hearing, “We today inhabit a world late other non-Russian peoples inside the ers set an ingenious trap into which Medvedev says Moscow is not afraid of much changed since August 7. Until now, [Russian] Federation to campaign for Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili anything, including a new Cold War. I Russia has been seen as a status-quo independence, causing Moscow to possi- fell. But however you assign responsibili- sincerely hope that is not where we are power. With its actions in Georgia, which bly resort to a harder line. This could fur- ty, it is clear from Russian actions that Moscow turned what it characterized as a heading. But the next U.S. president, aim not merely to protect its client break- ther erode chances for Russia’s democra- whoever he is, will certainly face a much away regions but to disarm Georgia, tization, in which we all have a powerful ‘protective operation’ into a punitive war against a small country that appeared to more truculent Russia than his two prede- damage its economy and, if possible, stake.” cessors.” effect regime change, Russia has become Expert testimony was received from be integrating itself into Western institu- tions and hoped to join NATO.” The first to testify was Mr. Bryza. He continued: “On August 26, Russian Noting that he has served as the U.S. rep- President Dmitry Medvedev recognized resentative to the U.N.’s Group of Friends the independence of South Ossetia and of the Secretary General on Georgia, he Hastings introduces legislation Abkhazia. With this fateful step Moscow said he was “struck by Russia’s consistent rejected Georgia’s territorial integrity, refusal to discuss any of the substantive to aid Georgia’s recovery which Russia had hitherto acknowledged, issues that must be resolved if there was thereby threatening to upend the entire ever to be a peaceful resolution of the Abkhazia conflict.” Similarly, he contin- WASHINGTON – Rep. Alcee L. recovery. international system. ued, “during mediation efforts on the Hastings (D-Fla.), Chairman of the “I condemn Russia’s armed interven- “Russia’s actions have won hurrahs South Ossetia conflict under the OSCE’s Commission on Security and Cooperation tion into Georgia and the subsequent from the terrorist organizations Hamas [Organization for Security and in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), destruction of critical infrastructure. It is and Hezbollah but very few credible Cooperation in Europe] umbrella, my has introduced the “Republic of Georgia clear that Russia has defied virtually international actors. Obviously, the Russian colleagues seemed to be under Enhanced Trade Assistance, Economic every principle of the Helsinki Final Act, United States and European Union instructions to block progress toward a Recovery and Reconstruction Act of from respect for sovereignty, refraining refused to follow Moscow’s lead. But solution.” 2008.” The legislation is in response to from the threat or use of force and invio- more telling has been Moscow’s failure to Mr. Bryza testified that, since Georgia the August war between Georgia and the lability of frontiers to territorial integrity round up support even among its neigh- became independent in 1991, “each U.S. Russian Federation, in which Russia of states, peaceful settlement of disputes bors and ostensible allies. Their nuanced presidential administration has tried to destroyed critical infrastructure, disrupted and respect for human rights and funda- statements and especially support for the convince Russia’s leaders that a success- domestic and regional commerce, and mental freedoms,” said Rep. Hastings. principle of territorial integrity are sober ful Georgia will help Russia achieve one devastated homes in villages and towns, “I will work with my colleagues in testament to the danger they feel person- of its own enduring goals, stability along causing the internal displacement of tens Congress toward a speedy passage of leg- ally – and their grim understanding that its southern border. We believe construc- of thousands of people. islation to fund Georgia’s economic the ground under their feet has shifted.” tive relations between Russia and its Rep. Hastings’ legislation authorizes recovery. Georgia is a key strategic part- In his opening statement Sen. Cardin neighbors can help advance the peace we an expansion of trade, business and eco- ner of the United States and, therefore, pointed out: “If much remains unclear assume all people in the region seek.” nomic opportunities and assistance for we must assist the Georgian people in about the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, reconstruction efforts and economic their time of need,” he added. we can already conclude that it marks a (Continued on page 4) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38

partners in the broader region.” and enforceable red lines for Russian con- tarianism will not only be more serious Helsinki Commission... The United States, he explained, “does duct in the short term, while working but will affect the Russian Federation first (Continued from page 3) not believe in or recognize ‘spheres of toward salvaging and ultimately strength- of all.” He continued by underscoring that influence.’ Since 1989, the United States ening Europe’s security architecture over He then went on to speak of the begin- “there was no justification for Russia’s – under the leadership of President the long term.” nings of the Georgian crisis, explaining invasion of Georgia,” adding that “this is George H.W. Bush, President [Bill] He then went on to speak about the that “the key event for understanding Moscow’s first attempt to change the bor- Clinton and President George Bush – has lessons of the Russian-Georgian war, list- what has taken place was the Bucharest ders that emerged from the break-up of supported the right of every country ing the following: summit last spring. That meeting featured emerging from communism to chose the the Soviet Union. This is a troubling and • “The Bush administration has pro- American efforts to include Georgia in path of its own development, and to foundly over-personalized U.S. relations dangerous act.” NATO and an angry Russian reaction choose the institutions – such as NATO with Georgia” by “often stressing suggesting that Moscow would do what it Mr. Bryza then provided extensive and the European Union – that it wants to American support for Mr. Saakashvili could to preclude what the Americans background to the conflict and reported associate with and join.” personally.” said they wanted to do. American expres- on Russia’s failure to honor the six-point “Europe whole, free and at peace • “U.S. officials must be much more sions of support led Georgian President ceasefire in mid-August, pointing to the should include Russia,” he said, but that careful when and how they put American Saakashvili to conclude that he would “central and timely” role played by the “does not mean that Russia gets to veto credibility on the line,” allowing have the U.S. behind him regardless of U.S. in negotiating the agreement. He the right of independent countries to Georgians, Russians and others “to the warnings other officials delivered, noted that the U.S., working with its choose their future, and especially not believe that Georgia was a close U.S. ally and Russian anger was dismissed by European allies, is demanding “that through intimidation and threats.” and then fail[ing] to offer meaningful many at the time as more for domestic Russia fully implement the commitments Mr. Saunders of the Nixon Center help … in Georgia’s hour of direst need.” consumption than indicating that Moscow President [Dmitry] Medvedev made when noted that the Russian-Georgian war • “It is now clear that Russia’s commit- was planning to violate the rules of the he signed the ceasefire document and the “highlights the critical choices the United ment to and interests in Georgia and other game.” supplementary September 8 agreement.” States faces not only in dealing with former Soviet republics along its southern Russia “took a variety of steps Mr. Bryza stated that the U.S. is pursu- Moscow, but in creating a stable and sus- frontier exceed our own.” designed to lead Tbilisi to take the kind ing the following key objectives: “sup- tainable architecture for Europe.” As well, • “We should learn a powerful lesson of steps that could be a pretext for porting Georgia, blunting Russia’s strate- he said it “demonstrates serious failures about ‘precedents’ [as in the case of Russian action,” he continued. “Tbilisi gic objectives of dismembering Georgia in American policy,” adding that the U.S. Kosovo’s independence, where the U.S. under Saakashvili in early August did just and undermining the Southern Energy “must develop new, more realistic and argued this was ‘a unique case’ and was that, falling into what had been a careful- Corridor, and bolstering our friends and more effective policies that establish clear not a precedent] and ‘vetoes,’ ” [as when ly laid Russian trap. As a result, many the U.S. argued that Russia does not have around the world were inclined to blame a veto over whether Georgia or Ukraine the Georgians rather than the Russians for can join NATO – ‘They are correct. … what happened next… That was a terrible Melanne Verveer works with Sisters But it doesn’t matter.’].” The United mistake, one that suggested a moral States doesn’t “get to decide how others equivalency or worse in Georgian and see what we do or how they decide to Russian actions.” of St. Basil to combat human trafficking respond.” Speaking of the lessons of the Georgian FOX CHASE MANOR, Pa. – The as much as they can about this crucial • “We should remember what NATO crisis, Mr. Goble said: “Many countries Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the problem, the Sisters were able to clearly did right during previous rounds of and governments are going to be drawing Great welcomed Melanne Verveer, for- define their plan of action. enlargement: insist that prospective new lessons from this conflict. Georgia along mer chief of staff to First Lady Hilary The five major focal points of action members resolve internal problems with with her neighbors is going to have to Clinton and an international expert on decided upon are: to look at and align their ethnic minorities.” learn that 1991 did not repeal history or human trafficking, to their Community the community’s strengths with the cur- Mr. Saunders concluded his testimony geography or lead to a new world in Days on July 2. rent needs; to be a catalyst of influence by suggesting what the United States which all the old rules were repealed and Ms. Verveer discussed how the cur- in the passing of a Trafficking Victims should do to advance its interests. Among in which Tbilisi and other capitals in that rent war on trafficking is being waged, Protection Act in Pennsylvania; to net- his suggestions: “acknowledge to our- region can count on the West to do what what the status is and how the Sisters of work with government agencies, non- selves that South Ossetia and Abkhazia it and they cannot do for themselves. The the Order of St. Basil the Great, as an government agencies, other religious are lost to Georgia and that the United Russian Federation is going to have to organization, in Fox Chase Manor, Pa., communities, and the U.S. forum; to States cannot afford to make the two ter- learn that the international community – can make an impact across the world. promote awareness of this issue using ritories a defining issue in U.S.-Russian however willing it has often proved to be Ms. Verveer, co-founder of Vital all available resources; to be cognizant relations”; “avoid excessive concern to go along with much that Moscow does Voices Global Partnership – an interna- of the origin of products purchased to when President Saakashvili eventually – cannot and will not go along with such tional non-profit focusing on emerging ensure we do not support companies leaves office”; “put off discussions of blatant violations of the international women leaders – worked with Ms. using persons being exploited through Georgia’s NATO membership for the time order and will impose punishments of one Clinton and her global initiatives on trafficking. being without creating an impression that kind or another.” women’s rights and helped to coordi- The Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Tbilisi has been disinvited”; put off dis- He then focused on the lessons the U.S. nate the U.S. response to the growing Great are a worldwide religious commu- cussion of Ukraine’s NATO membership” needs to learn, among them: global problem of human trafficking. nity that responds to the needs of God’s and, “in the interim, engage deeply with • “the end of communism in Eurasia She continues to serve on the Council people today. In leading uniquely effec- our European allies to seek to define a did not mark the end of history or guaran- of Women Leaders of UNODC (United tive and innovative ministries in educa- path for Ukraine into the European tee the rise of democratic, free-market Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes). tion, spiritual direction, evangelization Union”; “engage with Russia to develop allies of the United States”; Ms. Verveer’s presence was in and lay collaboration, they bring the rich a new mutually acceptable and sustain- • “we need to overcome our proclivity response to the Basilian Sisters answer- traditions and mysteries of the Eastern able security architecture in Europe.” to build our relations on the basis of ties ing a new call from their 2007 General Church to those they encounter. For more Mr. Goble began his testimony by our leaders have with their leaders”; Chapter in Rome to combat human traf- information concerning this rich heritage, pointing out that “what happened in • “we need to learn how to deliver con- ficking, especially of women. Reaching readers may call 215-379-3998 or visit Georgia was a disaster waiting to happen, sistent messages to leaders and to popula- out to various resource persons to learn the website www.stbasils.com. one that occurred not only because of the tions”; poison pills the Soviet system left behind • “we need to insist on universal stan- but also because all too many officials in dards for ourselves and for others”; and the West were too ready to proclaim vic- • “we need to recognize that with the tory, to focus on only a narrow set of Russian Federation, as with all other issues and mechanisms of influence, and countries, there are and will always be to assume that more had changed than in issues on which we agree and issues on fact has proved to be the case.” which we disagree.” It is very important, he said, to under- Expanding on the idea of delivering stand that, “however misguided Tbilisi’s messages to populations, Mr. Goble actions have been, Georgia did not violate emphasized that “we need to ensure that international law, and however justified we will have a continuing conversation Moscow may have convinced itself or with the populations involved by expand- others its actions were, Russia did.” ing, rather than cutting, U.S. international Looking at the history of the region, broadcasting and by promoting other Mr. Goble said that Stalin “drew lines to channels of public diplomacy.” create tensions between ethnic groups, Finally, Mr. Goble suggested three pol- ensuring there was always a local minori- icies the U.S. should adopt in the wake of ty that would do Moscow’s bidding in the crisis: return for being protected by the Soviet • “we should reassert our longstanding center.” And, “Stalin made this system policy that the United States does not rec- work by means of an authoritarian state.” ognize changes in borders brought about He predicted: “The events in Georgia by force”; are only the latest example of what hap- • “we need to expand our ties with the pens because governments and peoples in peoples of this entire region – we know the region continue to be forced 17 years too little and we have too few experts”; after the end of the Soviet Union to swal- and Melanne Verveer, former chief of staff to First Lady Hilary Clinton, speaks low Stalin’s poison pill. They will not be • “we should reaffirm our commitment with the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great in Fox Chase Manor, Pa. the last. And the ones ahead, including to the right of nations to self-determina- more ethnic conflicts and more authori- tion.” No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 5

and Portnov have drafted and registered Democratic ... with Parliament would imprison law (Continued from page 1) enforcement authorities for illegally break- officially declared the Democratic Forces ing up public meetings and demonstrations THE UNA FORUM Coalition dissolved on September 16, a and imprison those who block government ticking clock began for a new coalition to officials from accessing government build- emerge in Parliament within 30 days. ings or structures where they work. Given that the president will veto the Another controversial bill they registered STATEMENT OF PORTFOLIO CONDITION September 2 laws once they reach his desk, would require a second round of parliamen- expected early next week at the latest, the tary elections if no single political party or Parliament will have enough time to over- bloc gained a majority in the first round; the UNA investments remain sound ride the vetoes, Mr. Syrotiuk said. second round would be limited to the top September 15, 2008 Unable to dismiss the Parliament before two vote-gaining parties or blocs. Such a developed over time – some from our own experience, some from the experi- the 30-day term, the president will seek any law would allow only the Party of Regions Volatility in the financial markets has ence of others. possible loophole or maneuver to prevent and the Tymoshenko Bloc to qualify at this been in the news headlines all week. Like The upside of “not putting all our the laws that cripple his authority from tak- point in time for the second round. many of you, we are concerned with the ing effect, explained Mr. Syrotiuk. eggs in one basket” so to speak, is that The Democratic Forces Coalition failed implications for the ongoing financial For example, Mr. Yatsenyuk, who sub- such broad diversification helps mitigate to pass much meaningful legislation during health of our country. Closer to home, all mitted his resignation on September 16 but of us are concerned about our families’ the impact of any one specific investment will preside over the Rada as acting chair the eight months it controlled Parliament. that may find itself in financial difficulty. Heavily advertised campaign promises financial futures and the security of the until it decides to replace him, could neglect institutions, like the UNA, in which we However, the downside to this diversifi- to sign the overrides to the veto, Mr. to eliminate national deputies’ immunity cation is that we will have small invest- from prosecution and cancel generous perks invest. We want each of you to know that Syrotiuk said. we have been meeting daily with our port- ments in literally hundreds of companies, National Deputy Roman Zvarych, a and benefits were never fulfilled. The coali- which increases the probability that any tion also failed to work together to pass a folio manager to monitor our investment close ally of Mr. Yushchenko, offered his portfolio and, more importantly, the one of them may be negatively impacted revised 2008 budget. own tactic to derail the presidential impris- impact of events not yet reported by the by adverse market conditions. We are Although the Presidential Secretariat said onment bill, promising to attach more than investment rating agencies and the media. happy to report that, to date, our portfolio 100 amendments and requiring a separate it hoped to see Ms. Tymoshenko step down We are happy to report that the UNA remains in a solid position. vote for each one. from the prime minister’s post after the investment portfolio remains a healthy We believe the UNA’s investment Although former President Leonid coalition’s official collapse on September one – currently maintaining a yield of strategy and policy remain sound. The Kuchma used to avoid signing laws he 16, she insisted her Cabinet of Ministers over 6 percent through the second quarter UNA will continue to monitor the situa- didn’t like, or apply double vetoes, those would continue working. of 2008. In order to mitigate the risk, we tion closely and modify its strategy and options are not open to Mr. Yushchenko Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii subscribe to a policy of broad portfolio plan when needed. To quote General after the constitutional changes that went Lutsenko, leader of the People’s Self- diversification. As of today, our invest- George S. Patton: “A good plan, executed into effect January 1, 2006. Defense party which united with Our ment in any single U.S. corporation is now, is better than a great plan executed The president’s best hope of staving off Ukraine, supported Ms. Tymoshenko’s call less than 2 percent. Our portfolio holds next week.” the assault by the PRU and the YTB is to to keep working and continued demanding fixed income securities from 118 unique If you have any questions, please feel call pre-term elections, Mr. Syrotiuk said. the resignation of Viktor Baloha, the issuers; 96 percent of the portfolio is free to contact me at 973-292-9800. Meanwhile, the Tymoshenko Bloc will Presidential Secretariat’s chair. invested in Agency and AAA to BBB continue to pass legislation curtailing the “We don’t behave like a herd of sheep,” investment grade securities according to On behalf of the UNA president’s authority while avoiding form- Ms. Tymoshenko said, when asked whether Standard and Poors designations. All Executive Committee, ing a formal coalition with the Party of her Cabinet would follow Mr. Yatsenyuk’s these safeguards have been consciously Roma Lisovich, Treasurer Regions for as long as possible, out of con- cern the bloc could lose significant votes in footsteps in resigning. “If one sheep jumps western Ukraine. into an abyss, then the rest jump. We aren’t “Tymoshenko is voting with the Regions, going to jump into an abyss, but maintain but at the same time she is claiming to be in stability in the country at a very high level.” favor of renewing the Democratic (Forces) Tymoshenko Bloc deputies acknowl- Coalition,” Mr. Syrotiuk said. “It’s a super- edged that they had begun negotiations populist position, almost Goebbels-like. on forming a new coalition with the Party The prime minister is acting the opposite of of Regions and the Volodymyr Lytvyn what her political force is doing.” Bloc, which has maintained a strictly neu- Other bills that Messrs. Lavrynovych tral position.

Svoboda party, led by Oleh Tiahnybok, said Crimean ... the resolution marked “the beginning of the (Continued from page 1) Kremlin realizing the ‘Georgian scenario’ in and South Ossetia,” the resolution stated. Ukraine.” The same day, President Viktor “The escalation of the situation in Yushchenko accused Russia of attempting to Crimea is taking place before our eyes: the destabilize the situation by encouraging anti-Ukrainian activity of political parties, Crimean separatists. NGOs and ‘cultural centers’; open support “For some of our partners, instability in for the armed forces of foreign enemies of Ukraine is like bread and butter,” he told the Ukraine; and mass distribution of Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens,” the Associated Press. But he said he was confi- Svoboda party stated in a September 17 dent the Georgian scenario won’t he repeat- press release. “The Russian secret service ed in Ukraine. has gone into an open, pro-Kremlin policy The September 17 vote should be a “dis- in the state organs of Ukraine.” turbing signal” for Kyiv, which should Svoboda is leading a national campaign beginn implementing a pro-Ukrainian politi- to collect signatures for a referendum to cal system in Crimea, said Crimean Tatar deprive Crimea of its autonomous status. Mejlis Council Chair Mustafa Jemilev. The Crimean deputies also voted at the The majority of Crimean parliamentari- September 17 session to extend their terms ans act with an orientation toward Moscow, by one year to five years. he said, and the Ukrainian government In response to Education Minister Ivan should place pro-Ukrainian officials in key Vakarchuk’s decree ordering instruction in positions instead of giving pro-Russian poli- all of Ukraine’s higher education institutions ticians complete control of the government. in the Ukrainian language, 82 deputies voted “Very many pro-Russian organizations, to resist what they deemed to be the govern- which openly speak against Ukraine, are ment’s “forced Ukrainization” campaign. active today in Crimea,” said Mr. Jemiliev, a PRU National Deputy Inna Bohoslovska national deputy from the Our Ukraine- supported the Crimean population’s rejec- People’s Self – Defense bloc. “There are tion of the Ukrainian language, comparing illegal Kozak formations. It’s necessary to the government’s current policy to the employ some measures.” Russification of Halychyna during World Ukraine’s most popular political party, War II. the Party of Regions of Ukraine (PRU) led “When a government treats the residents by Viktor Yanukovych, declared its support of a big peninsula like third-class people for the independence declarations of South then these people will revolt and start to Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. defy the central government,” Ms. THE UNA: 114 YEARS OF SERVICE The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc didn’t react Bohoslovska said, defending the Crimean TO OUR COMMUNITY to the Crimean vote, but the nationalist Parliament’s vote. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38

COMMENTARY THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Svoboda is 115! Ukraine in Europe? This past Monday, our sister publication, the Ukrainian-language weekly Not so much... Svoboda, marked the 115th anniversary of its founding. It was on September 15, 1893, that the first issue of Svoboda – the brainchild of the Rev. Gregory by Roman Solchanyk issued at the Paris summit abound with (Hryhory) Hrushka, a pastor in Jersey City, N.J. – rolled off the presses. Today words and phrases like “partnership,” Svoboda is the oldest continuously published Ukrainian-language newspaper in Is the Ukrainian president challenging “cooperation,” “deepening relationship,” the world. That fact alone makes Svoboda significant. But the paper’s signifi- “The Decider” as to who is best at creat- “common history and common values,” cance lies not merely in longevity. ing one’s own reality? “further convergence,” and the like, the As historian Dr. Myron B. Kuropas noted in his landmark book, “Ukrainian After being blown off by the European key phrase that the Ukrainian delegation American Citadel: The First 100 Years of the Ukrainian National Association” Union for the umpteenth time at the wanted to hear – namely, “prospective (East European Monographs, 1996): “Svoboda’s clarion call to the Rusyn [as recent EU-Ukraine summit in Paris, European Union membership” – is Ukrainians then called themselves] community was to know the truth; to know President Viktor Yushchenko told a press nowhere to be found. who you are; to know your national truth.” Longtime Svoboda Editor-in-Chief conference in the French capital that he Nonetheless, by all accounts Mr. (1955-1978) Anthony Dragan very aptly described the early Svoboda as “a true was “satisfied with the results of our Yushchenko appears to have been over- beacon of light in the prevailing darkness of hopelessness and despair among negotiations and the results of this sum- joyed by the outcome. Judging by what Ukrainian immigrants in America.” mit,” adding that the meeting was “abso- he said after the meeting, the basis for his Several months after its founding, Svoboda called for the establishment of “a lutely historic for our relations.” He said, euphoria – the Ukrainian president told national organization… that would embrace each and every Rusyn, no matter “I can state with great satisfaction,” “that inquiring journalists that the summit was where he lives.” The result was today’s Ukrainian National Association, a frater- we welcome the signals sent to Ukraine an “absolute success” – resides in two nal benefit society that was founded on February 22, 1894. Together, Svoboda by the European Union.” areas. and the UNA, which became the newspaper’s publisher, worked to enlighten, What on earth is this man talking First and foremost, Mr. Yushchenko unite and nurture the Ukrainian community. about? emphasized that the new and enhanced In a Ukrainian-language statement on the occasion of the newspaper’s 115th Let’s review. Ever since Ukraine’s agreement between the EU and Ukraine, anniversary, the UNA Executive Committee noted that Svoboda, “not only leaders declared that they intended to which is meant to replace the Partnership reflected the history of organized Ukrainian community life on the North “return to Europe” – a notion whose and Cooperation Agreement that expired American continent, but also created this history, serving as the initiator of bene- validity is less than universally accepted in April of this year, will be called an ficial community-wide actions and maintaining constant spiritual and intellectual – Kyiv has been asking and, in some “Association Agreement.” According to ties with Ukraine. Svoboda continues to fulfill its national patriotic mission today instances, demanding that the Eurocrats the president, the “philosophy grounded …spiritually and intellectually uniting all waves of Ukrainians in America and in Brussels send it a clear signal, specifi- in this [new] agreement” is the same as steering them toward assisting Ukraine in affirming and developing its indepen- cally, that they officially recognize the the Association Agreements signed with dence and democracy.” prospect of Ukraine becoming a member Poland and other East European countries It is remarkable that Svoboda, whose work spans the 19th, 20th and 21st cen- of the EU. in the 1990s (commonly referred to as the turies, has now served four waves of Ukrainian immigrants to this country and That is something that the EU leader- Europe Agreements) that paved the way six generations of Ukrainian Americans. It is commendable that, through it all, ship has consistently refused to do, and in for their eventual EU membership. Svoboda has never forgotten its founding mission “to serve as the people’s news- that respect the Paris summit remained In short, Mr. Yushchenko seems to paper.” true to form. Although supported by EU believe that because the proposed agree- Today Svoboda carries news from our communities throughout North America members like Poland, the Baltic states ment, which is expected to be concluded and from Ukraine, along with news from the diaspora – wherever Ukrainian and a few others, their backing has not communities and things Ukrainian may be found. (Among the far-flung places next year, carries the name “association” been persuasive enough to turn around the result for Ukraine will be the same as that have appeared in recent datelines in Svoboda are Australia, Argentina, Italy, members of “old Europe” like Germany, England, Israel, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia.) it was for Poland. France and Italy, who have demonstrated Nonsense. Someone needs to inform The current editorial staff of Svoboda is ever mindful of the important and pretty much zero interest in opening the essential role this newspaper plays, and they share the commitment of their prede- the president that the EU has Association EU’s doors to Ukraine. Agreements with, among others, Algeria, cessors to Svoboda’s readers, the Ukrainian community and the Ukrainian nation. And so, while the official documents On this 115th anniversary of Svoboda, we salute the newspaper’s founders and its Mexico, Chile, Israel, and the Palestinian editors through the decades with a hearty and heartfelt “Mnohaya Lita, Svoboda!” Authority. None of these countries will Roman Solchanyk, Ph.D., an interna- ever be EU members. tional affairs analyst, lives in Santa Monica, Calif. (Continued on page 21)

Sept. Turning the pages back... LETTER TO THE EDITOR

24 Fifteen years ago, on September 24, 1993, Ukraine’s Parliament An amplifi cation on how it views the violation of Georgia’s voted to hold pre-term parliamentary and presidential elections in borders by Russia. Moreover, the same 1993 the first half of 1994. The decision came to end the power struggle survey revealed that 50.9 percent of that had paralyzed Ukraine’s governmental structures. of cited data respondents felt that Georgian President Parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place on March Dear Editor: Mikheil Saakashvili committed an “act of 27, 1994, and presidential elections on June 26, 1994. aggression” again Southern Ossetia. The Weekly’s traditional canvassing of Thousands of picketers outside of Parliament began to believe that change was possible. The survey in question contains no ref- The demonstrators had been there since September 21, 1993, picketing the decisions academic experts on the occasion of erence to the figure of 20 percent who are reached at the September 3, 1993, Massandra Summit – which indicated the intention of the Ukraine’s independence anniversary is said to have supported Russia’s actions. government leaders to sign a CIS economic union with Russia and to sell Ukraine’s share of always informative and a pleasure to read; It could be, therefore, that the author is the Black Sea Fleet and lease Sevastopol in exchange for a reduction of Ukraine’s debt to this year was no exception (August 31). citing an entirely different set of data. Russia. Vyacheslav Chornovil, leader of the Rukh party, was hoisted by the crowd and I would, however, like to amplify somewhat on the data offered by one of Roman Solchanyk tossed in the air as he announced the vote to hold pre-term elections. Santa Monica, Calif. The three-point proposal, which called for Prime Minister Leonid Kuchma’s departure the scholars, who noted that 44 percent of and the ouster of the Cabinet of Ministers, and directed President Leonid Kravchuk to form Ukrainians condemned Russia’s recent a new government, was passed by a 294-3 vote. actions in Georgia, while 20 percent sup- We welcome your opinion ported them. These figures were por- “Our battle is not over, it is only beginning. We now have to fight for a new Verkhovna The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters Rada for Ukraine,” Mr. Chornovil said, as the people cheered. trayed in a positive light to the extent that “Ukrainian society thinks more critically to the editor and commentaries on a vari- Protesters waved Ukrainian blue-and-yellow flags and the black-and-red banners of ety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian Ukraine’s nationalist factions, and held placards that read: “Out with Kravchuk and and is less susceptible to [Russian] media American and Ukrainian Canadian com- Kuchma,” “Black Sea Fleet: Ukrainian Fleet,” “We Demand Ukraine’s Exit from the CIS.” manipulation.” The polling agency was, munities. Opinions expressed by colum- “My resignation was programmed on October 13, 1992,” Mr. Kuchma said, referring to unfortunately, not named. Perhaps it was nists, commentators and letter-writers are the day he assumed the post of prime minister. He had often said that his hands were tied in the Nelson Taylor Sofres company, which their own and do not necessarily reflect working with a government that had lost control of the economic situation and a Parliament was commissioned by the weekly the opinions of either The Weekly edito- that refused to grant him special powers to carry out economic reforms in a country faced Dzerkalo Tyzhnia and which reported the rial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian with price increases, high unemployment and tremendous debt to Russia for fuel. results in its August 23-29 edition. National Association. Letters should be typed and signed (anon- “The Parliament, the government and the president work in their own separate direc- If so, then there is little cause for opti- mism. The survey did indeed show that ymous letters are not published). Letters are tions,” Mr. Kuchma said. “I think new elections are necessary.” accepted also via e-mail at staff@ukrweek- Some democratic deputies in Parliament saw the decision as a compromise, because the 44.3 percent of those polled characterized ly.com. The daytime phone number and proposal did not include elections on the local level, the mainstay of pro-Communist forces. Russia’s actions as aggression. At the address of the letter-writer must be given However, pro-Communists called the decision unconstitutional, and claimed that same time, however, 41.4 percent felt for verification purposes. Please note that a early elections required either a change in the Constitution or a referendum demanding that this was a Russian “peacekeeping daytime phone number is essential in order new elections. operation” – i.e., basically a good/neces- for editors to contact letter-writers regarding sary thing. The margin of error for the clarifications or questions. Source: “Parliament OKs pre-term elections,” by Marta Kolomayets, The Ukrainian poll was 3 percent, which means that Please note: THE LENGTH OF LETTERS Weekly, September 26, 1993. Ukrainian public opinion is evenly split CANNOT EXCEED 500 WORDS. No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 7 PERSPECTIVES

BY ANDREW FEDYNSKY

Back in the USSR Georgia on my mind One month ago last week Russian tanks a small television bolted to the wall of the Another summer’s gone, leaving yet close. For years, the West – wary of rolled into Georgia. On September 1 Carousel Motel – this during “Ukrainian another set of Soyuzivka memories: it’s Russia’s imperialist past – has been cajol- Georgian television reported that 1 million Week” in Wildwood. hard to believe, but I’ve been going there ing its leaders, addressing them by their Georgians across a country of 4.5 million A few weeks ago in New York City I for 40 years. If you add up all the days – first names, welcoming them into the G-8 rallied to protest Russia’s continued pres- watched 200 Georgians and Georgian vacations, weddings, Labor Day, Fourth club of big Democracies, encouraging ence there. Americans protest Russian aggression in of July, a conference now and then, or investment in Russia’s economy and Across the continent, in Brussels, the their homeland. It was raining so hard that just to stop and say hello on my way avoiding unpleasant references to the leaders of the European Union met to sus- water overwhelmed the sewers, splashing from one place to another – it’s been country’s past. pend talks on a new partnership agreement up the sidewalk. Among the sea of red- close to a year. To no avail: on August 8, charging with Russia until Russian tanks are with- and-white Georgian flags there were three Time well spent. There’s a comforting Georgia with “genocide” in South Ossetia drawn from Georgia. During the course of blue-and-yellow Ukrainian ones. predictability: reading at poolside; eager (even as they deny an actual Genocide in their summit, leaders of old and new There should have been more. college-age waiters; Hutsul Night; talent- Ukraine 75 years ago), Russia’s leaders Europe strongly condemned Russia’s “dis- We must begin to think beyond our ed musicians; toddlers enjoying the kid- launched a land, sea and air invasion of proportionate reaction” in Georgia, backyard. The loss of Georgia not only die park; teenagers hanging out waiting the former vassal. Almost immediately, described as “unacceptable” its recognition impacts the security of our homeland, it for something to happen; oldsters com- world opinion mobilized against Russia. of the independence of South Ossetia and threatens the way we live here in the United plimenting each other (and themselves) In a Wall Street Journal article that I read Abkhazia, and called on other states “not to States. on how good they look for their age. online, Mart Laar, former prime minister recognize this proclaimed independence.” When I was a little girl and Ukraine was You know what to expect, but there’s of Estonia, reminded us that the Soviet On September 4 and 5, Vice-President a part of the Soviet Union, every school also variety and, often, the unexpected. Union and Nazi Germany had been part- ners in the September 1939 assault on Dick Cheney, on visits to Georgia and report was written in defense of the exis- I’ve been there when it was unbearably hot and a dive into the pool gave a cool- Poland. Ukraine, supported their bids for NATO tence of the Ukrainian nation. Weekends ing jolt. Introduction of air-conditioning That invasion, of course, set off a membership. were spent demonstrating for political pris- years ago has made a world of difference, chain of events that resulted in the deaths Back in the United States, my pragmatic oners or marking the anniversary of a for- not that it’s always needed. As anyone of tens of millions, with millions more friend Lida Bihun Forbes had the following mer declaration of Ukrainian independence. who’s savored the view of the Catskills displaced, including my parents and to say about the conflict in the Caucasus: Plast and SUM youth meetings focused on from the Veselka terrace knows, many of their countrymen. A fortunate “Most people think Georgia is the state learning stealth and survival techniques, in next to North Carolina” – which it is, for Soyuzivka is in the mountains and much few ended up in America and now order to “capture the flag” of the Turks or those folks who don’t think beyond their cooler than the city. A decade ago, it 60-plus years later, their children and Tatars or other former enemies of Ukraine. backyard. rained almost the entire week, which grandchildren get to vacation at We were constantly explaining that, no, Does Ukraine suffer the same anonymi- turned out to be one of our most memo- Soyuzivka. we are not Russian. Or pointing out that ty? Do people think ours is a country locat- rable stays. We visited the raging water- I pondered all of this as I sat on the Walt Disney, Wayne Gretzky and the guy ed on the African continent? fall and recorded an astonishing variety balcony at the Karpaty Lodge, reading who played ET could be Ukrainian. On August 24 Ukraine celebrated its of mushrooms that the rain had coaxed to letters my father had managed to save 17th year of independence from the Soviet When Ukraine became independent, life – big ones, little ones and all the col- from World War II when my parents kept Union. This summer it won 27 medals at the burden of defending its existence fell ors of the rainbow, more than 50 variet- in touch with each other and their broth- the Beijing Olympics, ranking 10th overall away, and we could take pride in the ies. I kid you not. ers and sisters in the midst of a continent after France, South Korea and Italy. achievements of Oksana Baiul, Jack For nearly 20 years, we’ve been coor- mired in madness. Writing in December President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Palance and Mike Bossy, all self-pro- dinating our visits to Soyuzivka with my 1942 from Lviv, my uncle Evhen report- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, erstwhile claimed Ukrainians. wife’s parents, aunts and uncles and their ed a five-hour fire at the university, along allies during the 2004 Orange Revolution, We could freely travel there, meet fami- families. This gives adults the opportuni- with prolonged gunfire from another part continue to lock horns. Ethnic tensions in ly, explore our roots. My 6-year-old son ty to reconnect and the younger set to of town. In May 1943, he wrote about the Crimea simmer. Despite the very real can proudly tell his classmates that he bond over a Monopoly board, card murder of a political leader – “otherwise threat of Russian hegemony, Ukraine sol- speaks Ukrainian, English and “Irish” – games, hikes on the picturesque trails and nothing remarkable…” How easily peo- diers on. and no one questions the Ukrainian part. fishing in the pond. After only two gen- ple become used to the intolerable... On this side of the Atlantic, we If Ukraine gets swallowed up by Russia, erations in America, my wife’s cousins Nonetheless, by the spring of 1944, they Americans of Ukrainian descent wrapped is our community prepared to defend the and their children have developed a col- were fleeing to the West, desperately up our summers of Plast, SUM, bandura, idea of the Ukrainian nation the way our orful tapestry of relationships and cultur- reaching out to each other for support, tennis and Ukrainian folk dance camps parents did? Can we rally our forces to al connections. Soyuzivka is where the scattered as they were over hundreds of with a week at Wildwood or Soyuzivka. protest an injustice thousands of miles and strands weave together, and for a week miles and Europe melting down. We were the ones sitting on the great white an ocean away? Will we be able to raise we constitute a genuine family. The older I’ve had many a memorable summer expanse of New Jersey shoreline under the children who are confident in being kids talk about college; the younger ones at Soyuzivka – the American Ukrainian, Georgian and Maryland state Ukrainian without a Ukraine to provide the show off the wobbly tooth; all of us Bi-centennial in 1976; the trip I took with flags. context? remember the departed. I wouldn’t trade my wife-to-be in 1988 for my first family As we prepare to shepherd our children One of the demonstrators during the it for the world. wedding; the huge blackout three years to Ukrainian Saturday school we take com- rainy New York City protest a few weeks Invariably at Soyuzivka, you connect ago; momentous news over the years fort in our Ukrainian habit of school, ago carried a sign that read “We are all with an old friend and meet someone from Iraq, Lebanon, New York and Old church, community. We’ve forgotten the Georgians.” If our community does not new. This year, I saw license plates from Europe. Switching back and forth genuine fear we felt 17 years ago as we become engaged in the events unfolding in Florida, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan between the Olympics, the invasion of watched Ukraine declare independence on the Caucasus, we very well may be. and half a dozen other states, as well as Georgia and letters from 65 years ago, I Ontario. couldn’t help but note that the stakes this At Soyuzivka you get away from the year seem higher than they’ve been in a everyday, but not the world. It comes long, long time. streaming into your room over cable tele- With its invasion of Georgia, Russia is vision on 75 channels. This year, the testing the Western alliance as part of a Olympics were a great diversion. The broader campaign to turn back the clock by Russian assault on Georgia was not. dismantling the post-Cold War geopolitical Obsessive as I am about the news, I architecture – something the United States was flipping channels after breakfast and and the West invested trillions of dollars up came live coverage from half a world and thousands upon thousands of lives to away of the Ukraine-China women’s achieve. Hitler, mercifully, is buried for match in team saber – not something you good, but the ghost of Stalin and his ilk see everyday, so I stayed with it. Wearing (God help us) is up and about. The Bush baggy silver suits and helmets, much like administration and in January the next pres- those that hazardous waste crews wear, ident have to draw a line and then maintain the women lunged, slashed and parried, it: not easy to do, but vitally necessary. their swords connected to a wireless sig- Otherwise, the world may find itself having naling device that triggers a red or green to again adjust to the intolerable. I much light signaling a “touch.” With the score prefer to sit at poolside at Soyuzivka, read- tied 44-44, it all came down to one last ing novels and soliciting compliments on exchange: “En garde!” followed by how good I look for my age... thumps, screams and the Ukrainian ath- Khristina Lew lete leaping in triumph: Olympic Gold. Andrew Fedynsky’s e-mail address is Protesters at a rally in support of Georgia in New York City on August 12. The battle in Georgia wasn’t nearly as [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38 Fall heralds new cultural season at The Ukrainian Museum by Marta Baczynsky tise. Most recently, in 2005, he authored a comprehensive study and analysis of NEW YORK – While summer is slow- the life and work of master sculptor and ly fading away, the staff members at The innovator Alexander Archipenko titled Ukrainian Museum in New York City are “Alexander Archipenko: Vision and taking a collective deep breath in prepa- Continuity.” The work was published in ration for the fall season, featuring 2005 by The Ukrainian Museum as its thought-provoking exhibitions and stimu- exhibition catalogue accompanying the lating educational and public programs. presentation of a retrospective This fall the museum has a new board Archipenko show curated by Prof. president: Prof. Jaroslaw Leshko, a long Leshko. This grand exhibition inaugurat- time friend of the institution, a generous ed the museum’s modern new building, supporter, advisor and participant in its and both the exhibition and the new facil- many artistic presentations and a frequent ity created an enormous amount of pub- contributor to its scholarly endeavors – licity and excitement in the cultural com- the museum’s bilingual exhibition cata- munities of New York City, nationwide logues. Dr. Leshko was elected on June 1 and abroad. At the Ukrainian Museum (from left) are: Chrystyna Pevny, archivist; Olha to the post of board president during the In accepting the presidency of the board Hnateyko, then president of the board of trustees; Prof. Bohdan S. Kordan of the 2008 annual meeting of the museum’s of The Ukrainian Museum Dr. Leshko political studies department at St. Thomas More College, University of membership, succeeding Olha Hnateyko, said that the name of the Archipenko exhi- Saskatchewan; Maria Shust, museum director; and Hanya Krill-Pyziur, cata- who held the office for 10 years. bition – “Vision and Continuity” – best logue project management. Dr. Leshko received his B.A., M.A., describes his views and thoughts concern- Also available is a bilin- M.Phil, and Ph.D. from Columbia ing the future growth of the museum. He gual, fully illustrated cata- University, where he studied the history said that while “vision” stems from the logue, featuring a compre- of art with such distinguished art histori- imagination, its translation into reality hensive essay on the subject ans as Rudolf Wittkower, Meyer Schapiro requires effort, which in effect depends on by guest curator of the exhi- and H. W. Janson of the Art Institute. Dr. our will. He emphasized the importance of bition Prof. Bohdan Kordan Leshko began his teaching career in 1968 new ideas to the development of the muse- from the University of at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., um. As to “continuity,” he referred to the Saskatchewan. The cata- where he taught the history of 19th and museum’s 30-year history, which, he said, logue, funded by museum 20th century art for 35 years. He has lec- “embodies the ‘vision’ with historical per- benefactors Julian and Maria tured widely, participated in numerous spective.” symposia and has curated many exhibi- The museum enters the fall season Baczynsky, contains color tions. He was a guest professor at New with several interesting exhibitions in and black-and-white repro- York City’s Hunter College, and at place. “The Mapping of Ukraine. ductions of all the maps on Amherst College and Mount Holyoke European Cartography and Maps of Early exhibit. The exhibition will College in Massachusetts. His current Modern Ukraine, 1550-1799” is a capti- close on October 12. status is that of professor emeritus of vating exhibition that shows maps both The exhibition Smith College. as vehicles of information and beautiful “Holodomor: Genocide by Prof. Leshko’s professional accom- works of art. The map exhibition includes Famine” commemorates the plishments include his authorship of a side exhibition, which provides an 75th anniversary of the numerous books, catalogues and articles introduction to the Kozak era in Soviet-orchestrated, man- on art, concentrating mainly on early Ukrainian history, its political and cultur- made Famine that destroyed modernism, which is his field of exper- al achievements. close to 10 million Ukrainians in 1932-1933. One hundred panels featur- ing text and photographs document the genocide A Kozak saddle, made of leather and iron, from the against the Ukrainian peo- 17th-18th centuries. The artifact is from the New ple. With this exhibition the Kuban and Welfare Association – Cossack Museum museum joins the global and Library, Buena, N.J. Ukrainian community in reminding the world of this horrific ized by art historian Dr. Myroslava M. crime. The exhibit was produced by the Mudrak as “rambunctious and aggres- League of Ukrainian Canadians and the sive.” No doubt the exhibition will be an Museum of Soviet Occupation of the exciting and interesting addition to the Kyiv Memorial Society in Ukraine in museum’s fall agenda. This traveling cooperation with The Ukrainian Museum. exhibition, titled “Futurism and After: As visitors enter the museum they are David Burliuk, 1882-1967,” hails from greeted by the exhibition “Pysanka and Canada and was guest-curated by Prof. the Rushnyk: Guardians of Life.” Myroslaw Shkandrij of the University of Ukrainian folk art has always been a Manitoba. magnet for capturing attention, with the A very varied and interesting program uniqueness of style in its forms, the dis- of educational and public events is sched- play of harmonious coloration very much uled for this fall. Included is a two-day in concert with those of the earth and symposium in conjunction with the map nature, and perfect execution honed by exhibition, which presents participating centuries of talent and tradition passed scholars from the United States and from generation to generation. Canada. Also on the agenda is a concert This exhibition of exquisitely decorated relating to the map exhibition, named Ukrainian Easter eggs and beautifully “Love Songs and Dances from the embroidered “rushnyky,” or ritual cloths, Cossack Ukraine.” presents a feast for the eyes. The pysanky There will be book signings with new and rushnyky are from the museum’s authors, gallery talks and film screenings. extensive folk art collection – the latter The museum’s courses and workshops embroidered and donated to the museum teaching traditional folk crafts are also by master embroiderer Myroslava Stachiw. beginning in September and are open to Her lifelong research of Ukrainian embroi- children and adults alike. All pertinent dery has contributed much to the knowl- information concerning these events is edge and appreciation of this art form. readily available on the website www. On October 25 the museum will open ukrainianmuseum.org or by calling the an exhibition presenting the works of museum at 212-228-0110. avant-garde artist David Burliuk, who The Ukrainian Museum is truly a “con- pioneered the Futurist movement in art in tinuum” of activities and events that con- Ukraine in the beginning of the 20th cen- nect, interplay and relate to each other, tury. An avid world traveler and tireless fusing history and the contemporary worker, Burliuk translated his personal world in an unbreakable bond, explaining energy into his paintings, experimenting the Ukrainian experience to Ukrainians with various styles of impressionism in and others, nurturing the needs of the bold, energetic and vigorous depictions of Ukrainian community, and preserving its landscapes, portraits or still life paintings. identity within the cornucopia of multi- Burliuk’s Futurism is well character- culturalism. No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 9

Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations Toms River, N.J. by Zenia Drozyna TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Bright sunshine and the aroma of pyrohy, holubtsi, kovbasa and other treats drew Ukrainians, American Ukrainians and non-Ukraini- ans to St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church on Saturday, August 23, for its first Ukrainian Festival, held on the eve of the 17th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Featured throughout the day were live music, Ukrainian crafts, Ukrainian foods and beverages, attractions for children and much more. Pastor Ivan Turyk had called the very first meeting of the festival organizing committee to order back in May. The mission was to make this more visible in the neighboring communities. By doing so, the parish hoped to reach out to new members, especially the newly arrived Ukrainians settling in New Jersey’s Ocean County. The idea of holding a church festival Volunteers of the first Ukrainian Festival at St. Stephen Church in Toms River, N.J. was grand, but venturing into the unknown was daunting. Following their about entertainment? Should there be were blue skies and golden sunshine, playing, and cars started pulling up to the pastor’s lead, the parishioners started activities for children? complementing the many blue and yellow front gate of the church, manned by the playing a game of chance: How many The best estimate was that maybe 500 decorations dispersed throughout the church trustee Wolodymyr Powzaniuk. As pyrohy and holubtsi, how much borsch, to 700 guests would attend the first festi- great green lawns of the parish. the cars kept coming, Gerald Tchir ushered kovbasa and kapusta should the ladies val. Based on that assumption, the com- One of the first to arrive on the festival friends, parishioners and guests alike prepare? How much Ukrainian beer mittee proceeded with plans, chose the grounds were the many vendors, who were through a veritable collage of colors. should be brought? How many vendors Rev. Turyk and John Bortnyk as co-chair- welcomed by Jessie Kaciuba and Zenia Hanging from the entrance foyer was a should be invited? Should the festival be men and decided not to charge admission. Brozyna. While both Ukrainian and huge, stunning Ukrainian “vinok” which held indoors or out on the grounds? How As Saturday, August 23, dawned, there American crafters were setting up their led to the gaily festooned auditorium wares wafting from the large church kitch- where Olga Tchir and Oksana Powzaniuk ens were the familiar and welcome aromas were open for business, selling food tick- of Ukrainian cuisine. Irene Bortnyk kindly ets to what very quickly became a long commandeered the troops in the mess hall. line of hungry revelers. Kudos to the army of volunteers who had The church grounds swelled with been cooking for days. neighbors and those who traveled quite a The “Ukibara” – with its many varieties distance, primarily Ukrainian Americans, of Ukrainian beer – was fully stocked by but mostly non-Ukrainians, to appreciate Eugene Brozyna and was now ready to be Ukrainian culture, crafts, foods and enter- introduced to guests by Ostap and Halyna tainment. Jakubowycz and Peter Yurkowsky. A few There were children bouncing in the hours later, one of the first to step up to the moonwalk. Children registered for the “Bara” and taste-test Obolon was a good Ukrainian Saturday schools at the parish. friend of the parish, a former mayor of Vendors were happily selling their crafts. Toms River, Paul C. Brush. The discovery The food was selling out fast – the kovba- thrilled him, as well as many others for sa went first. People were dancing. The whom Ukrainian beer was a first. parish’s prayers were answered – instead Meanwhile Luba Bonczek had her of 500 people, there were at least 1,800 hands full setting up a bounce machine. being introduced to the lovely Ukrainian She was hoping some children showed up church with gleaming cupolas. so that she didn’t have to eat all of the ice The second annual festival has already cream on hand and then bounce around been slated by August 22, 2009. It prom- by her lonesome. ises to be even bigger and better, and to St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toms River, N.J. At noon, The Fourth Wave band started have more kovbasa.

Rockland County, N.Y. by Vasyl Luchkiw After that, Dr. Vasyl Luchkiw, an auditor of the Ukrainian National NEW CITY, N.Y. – Rockland County Association and secretary of UNA celebrations of the 17th Anniversary of Branch 16 (“Prosvita” Society) of the Independence of Ukraine began on Spring Valley, introduced Myron Belc, Sunday, August 24, with a divine liturgy Ukrainian language presenter. The for Ukraine and its people, followed by English-language presentation was made memorial services for all who died in by Dr. Luchkiw. Both presenters paid the wars for Ukraine’s independence. particular attention to the recent devel- These services took place at the Ss. Peter opments in Georgia and their possible and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in ramifications for Ukraine. After the end Spring Valley, N.Y. and were performed of the official part of the celebration, by the new pastor, the Rev. Vasile members of the event committee invited Colopelnic. everyone to the traditional festive picnic. After church services, Ukrainian About 70 community members reas- community assembled on the grounds of sembled on the grounds of the Ukrainian Rockland County Legislature’s office National Home in Spring Valley and complex in New City, N.Y., for the were treated to a sumptuous meal, Ukrainian flag-raising ceremony. friendly discussions and Ukrainian William Szozda, commander of music. For the first time in 17 years, Ukrainian American Veterans Post 19 of about three-quarters of the participants Spring Valley, slowly raised the in the festivities were the newest emi- Ukrainian flag while the community grants from Ukraine. This included the Participants in the celebration of the 17th anniversary of independent Ukraine in sang Ukrainian national anthem. Ukrainian-language presenter. Rockland County, N.Y. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38 Ukraine in fourth place at 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Ukrainian Paralympic Team, consisting of 125 athletes, earned 74 medals at the 2008 Ukraine’s 2008 Paralympic Medalists Games held in Beijing, China, on September 6-17. Discipline Event Medal Name Ukraine’s medal count breakdown included: 24 gold, 18 silver and 32 bronze medals. Based on the gold medal tally, Athletics Women’s 100 meters T-12 Gold Oksana Boturchuk as the official website ranked the teams, Ukraine finished in Men’s 100 meters T-36 Gold Roman Pavlyk fourth place. Women’s 100 meters T-37 Silver Viktoriya Kravchenko On September 16 Ukraine won all of its matches and in Men’s 100 meters T-38 Bronze Mykyta Senyk its final match defeated Russia 2-1, and winning its second Women’s 100 meters T-38 Gold Inna Dyachenko consecutive gold medal in men’s seven-a-side soccer at the Women’s 200 meters T-12 Silver Oksana Boturchuk Paralympic Games. Both teams came into the final unde- Men’s 200 meters T-36 Silver Roman Pavlyk feated. The game-winning goals came from team captain Women’s 200 meters T-37 Silver Viktoriya Kravchenko Volodymyr Antonyuk, who scored twice in stoppage time Men’s 200 meters T-38 Bronze Mykyta Senyk to deny Russia the win. Women’s 200 meters T-38 Gold Inna Dyachenko Other gold medal finishers included: Lidiya Solovyova Men’s 400 meters T-11 Bronze Oleksandr Ivaniukhin in women’s powerlifting (40 kg); Oksana Boturchuk in Women’s 400 meters T-12 Silver Oksana Boturchuk women’s 100 meters; Roman Pavlyk in men’s 100 meters Men’s 400 meters T-36 Gold Roman Pavlyk and 400 meters; Inna Dyachenko in women’s 100 meters Men’s 400 meters T-38 Bronze Andriy Onufriyenko and 200 meters; Oksana Zubkovska in women’s long jump; Women’s long jump F-12 Gold Oksana Zubkovska Men’s triple jump F-12 Silver Ivan Kytsenko Alla Malchyk in women’s shot put; Vasyl Lishchynsky in Women’s long jump F-13 Bronze Svitlana Gorbenko men’s discus throw; and Tetyana Yakybchuk in women’s Men’s shot put F-11/12 Bronze Vasyl Lishchynsky discus throw. Women’s shot put F-35/35 Gold Alla Malchyk Ukraine’s athletes won 13 medals in swimming, includ- Men’s discus throw F-11/12 Gold Vasyl Lishchynsky ing: Dmytro Vynohradets, Dmytro Kryzhanovskyy, Bronze Oleksandr Iasynovyi Maksym Veraksa and Oleksii Fedyna in men’s 50-meter Women’s discus throw F-32/34 Gold Tetyana Yakbchuk freestyle; Ganna Ielisavetska in women’s 50-meter back- Women’s discus throw F-35/36 Bronze Alla Malchyk stroke; Veraksa in men’s 100-meter freestyle; Andriy Men’s discus throw F-37/38 Silver Mykola Zhabnyak Kalyna, Oleksandr Mashchenko, Veraksa and Fedyna in Judo Men’s (73 kg) Bronze Serhiy Sydorenko men’s 100-meter breaststroke; Vynohradets in men’s Men’s (100 kg) Bronze Mykola Vyivitskyi 200-meter freestyle; and Veraksa and Fedyna in men’s Powerlifting Women’s (40kg) Gold Lidiya Solovyova 200-meter individual medley. Rowing Men’s single skulls – A Silver Oleksandr Petrenko The top medal winners for Ukraine were swimmers Serhiy Soccer Men’s 7-a-side Gold Konstantyn Symashko, Klippert, with six medals – two silver and four bronze, and Ivan Shkvarko, Veraksa with five medals – four gold and one bronze. Andriy Tsukanov, Veraksa set new Paralympic and World records in the Taras Dutko, second heat of the men’s 100-meter breaststroke (S-12) Anatolii Shevchyk, with a time of 1:08.55, and in the final heat with a time of Oleksandr Devlysh, 1:07.46, he set new records in the men’s 200-meter individ- Volodymyr Antonyuk, ual medley (S-12) final, and set a new Paralympic Record Denys Ponoaryov, in the men’s 100-meter freestyle (S-12) final with a time of Vitaliy Trushev, 51.93 seconds. In addition, Veraksa set new Paralympic and Ihor Kosenko, World records in the second heat of the men’s 50-meter Serhiy Vakulenko, freestyle (S 12), with a time of 24.05 seconds and in the Mykola Mikhovych final, which he swam in 23.43 seconds. Swimming Men’s 50-meter freestyle S-3 Gold Dmytro Vynohradets Vynohradets set new Paralympic and World records with Men’s 50-meter freestyle S-5 Gold Dmytro Kryzhanovskyy his time of 3:22.98 in the men’s 200-meter freestyle (S-3) Women’s 50-meter freestyle S-5 Bronze Olena Akopyan final. Women’s 50-meter freestyle S-6 Bronze Olena Akopyan Fedyna set a new Paralympic Record of 54.86 seconds in Men’s 50-meter freestyle S-12 Gold Maksym Veraksa the first heat of the men’s 100-meter freestyle (S-13) and Bronze Serhiy Klippert the final with a time of 2:12.71. Fedyna set new Paralympic Men’s 50-meter freestyle S-13 Gold Oleksii Fedyna and World records in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke Women’s 50-meter freestyle S-13 Bronze Iryna Balashova (SB-13) final with a time of 1:04.63. Women’s 50-meter backstroke S-2 Gold Ganna Ielisavetska Kalyna set a new Paralympic Record in the first heat of Silver Iryna Sotska (Continued on page 19) Men’s 50-meter backstroke S-3 Bronze Dmytro Vynohradets Men’s 100-meter freestyle S-3 Silver Dmytro Vynohradets Men’s 100-meter freestyle S-5 Silver Dmytro Kryzhanovskyy Men’s 100-meter freestyle S-12 Gold Maksym Veraksa Silver Serhiy Klippert Men’s 100-meter freestyle S-13 Silver Oleksii Fedyna Bronze Danylo Chufarov Men’s 100-meter backstroke S-11 Bronze Viktor Smyrnov Men’s 100-meter backstroke S-12 Silver Serhiy Klippert Bronze Maksym Veraksa Men’s 100-meter backstroke S-13 Silver Oleksii Fedyna Bronze Dmytro Aleksyeyev Men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB-8 Gold Andriy Kalyna Men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB-11 Gold Oleksandr Mashchenko Bronze Viktor Smyrnov Men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB-12 Gold Maksym Veraksa Bronze Serhiy Klippert Women’s 100-meter breaststroke SB-12 Bronze Yaryna Matlo Men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB-13 Gold Oleksii Fedyna Men’s 100-meter butterfly S-11 Silver Oleksandr Mashchenko Bronze Viktor Smyrnov Men’s 100-meter butterfly S-12 Bronze Anton Stabrovsky Women’s 100-meter butterfly S-12 Bronze Yuliya Volkova Men’s 200-meter freestyle S-3 Gold Dmytro Vynohradets Women’s 200-meter freestyle S-5 Bronze Olena Akopyan Men’s 200-meter individual medley SM-9 Silver Andriy Kalyna Men’s 200-meter individual medley SM-12 Gold Maksym Veraksa Bronze Serhiy Klippert Men’s 200-meter individual medley SM-13 Gold Oleksii Fedyna Bronze Dmytro Alekseyyev Men’s 400-meter freestyle S-12 Bronze Serhiy Klippert Men’s 400-meter freestyle S-13 Silver Danylo Chufarov Men’s 4x100-meter medley relay Bronze Yevhen Poltavskyi, Andriy Kalyna, Andriy Airovatchenko, Taras Yastremskyy Wheelchair Fencing Men’s individual epee – Category B Bronze Serhiy Shenkevych Xinhua Men’s individual saber – Category B Bronze Serhiy Shenkevych Long jump (F-12) gold medalist Oksana Zubkovska. No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 11 USCAK holds National Tennis Championships at Soyuzivka by Petrusia Sawchak KERHONKSON, N.Y. – While Hurricane Gustav pounded the shores of the Gulf coast, the tennis courts at Soyuzivka were blessed with ideal weather, perfect for the National Tennis Championships of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the USA and Canada (known by its Ukrainian-based acronym USCAK), held here for the 53rd year on August 30-31. There were 57 entries in the tournament, with many familiar faces and some new- comers as well. Several players entered in more than one group. The finals were played on Sunday, August 31. Taking the women’s title for the first time was 15-year-old Olenka Olesnycky from New Jersey. She also took the gold in the girls’ 18 group in the Ukrainian Diaspora Olympiad held at Tryzubivka, in Horsham, Pa., during the Petrusia Sawchak Fourth of July weekend. Blue-eyed blond Winners and finalists of USCAK’s National Tennis Championships held at Soyuzivka during the Labor Day weekend with Olenka reminded some of her mother, Zenia committee organizers and UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich. Matkiwsky Olesnycky, an USCAK cham- pion some years ago. She defeated Adrienne Foty of Canada 6-0, 6-1; Kuritza advanced (Ada) Kowcz, 18, of Connecticut 6-3, 6-3 by default, and Kowcz beat Svetlana Goletz in a very nicely played match. Kowcz was of Connecticut 6-0, 6-4. one of the Soyuzivka’s Tennis Camp coun- In the men’s semis, Czorny beat Yuri selors this summer. Pereyaslawsky 6-2, 6-3, and Stroynick over- The formidable Dennis Chorny of New came David Nafrilander 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3. In York State emerged victorious against the quarterfinals, Pereyaslawsky won over Mykola Stroynick, 6-1, 6-2, retaking the Adrian Burke 6-1, 6-0; Stroynick defeated men’s title he had years ago. Twenty-one- Gregory Olesnycky 6-1, 6-1; and year-old college junior Stroynick, also from Nafrilander took Dmytro Pidvysotsky 6-2, New York State, was the Ukrainian 6-2. Diaspora Olympiad men’s gold winner. Last year’s champion in both the men’s This was Chorny’s third men’s champi- 35 and 45 groups, Mykola Nalywayko Sr., onship win at the USCAK Labor Day tour- retained the title in the men’s 35 and over nament. Last year he lost in the finals to group against George Walchuk 6-1, 1-6, George Charuk, but this year he came back retired. In the semifinals both players determined to regain the title. Throughout advanced without play. the years Chorny has won a total of 16 In a highly competitive match, Ivan USCAK tournaments. Charuk opted not to Durbak regained his title in the men’s 45 play this year due to a back injury, but and over group by defeating Nalywayko, in instead was vacationing at Soyuzivka with a three setter 1-6, 6-0, 6-2. In the semifinals, his wife Katya and newborn son. Next Durbak beat Iwan Szwanyk from New York The winner of the men’s group and the Bohdan Rak Trophy, Dennis Chorny (sec- year’s final will be very interesting if all the 6-1, 6-1. Nalywayko took last year’s men’s ond from right), with (from left) George Hrabec, semifinalist Yuri Pereyaslawsky, past champions, including Eric Matkiwsky, 55 group champ, George Petrykevych from Roman Rakoczy Sr., finalist Mykola Stroynick and Roma Lisovich. return to vie for the title. Connecticut, who also chose to play in this The opening ceremonies for both the group this year, 6-3, 6-2. The quarterfinal swim meet and tennis tournament were held match in this group between George at the swimming pool on Saturday, August Walchuk and Petrykevych was one of the 30, at 10 a.m. During the ceremonies the best matches in the tournament, with national anthems of the United States, Petrykevych advancing 6-4, 7-6 (3). Canada and Ukraine were played as the In the men’s 55 group Jaroslaw Sydorak flags were raised. of California regained his title from George Sawchak, USCAK director of Petrykevych, last year’s champion, defeat- the tennis tournament, welcomed everyone ing him 7-6 (4), 6-0 in the final. and introduced Marika Bokalo, USCAK’s Advancing from the semis, Sydorak beat director of the swimming competition, who Sawchak 6-1, 6-2, and Petrykevych defeated gave words of encouragement to all the par- George Hrabec from Massachusetts 6-2, ticipants. 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Petrykevych over- Greetings were also given by Omelan came Goletz, also from Connecticut, and Twardowsky, representative of president of Hrabec eliminated Bohdan Kutko from New USCAK, Myron Stebelsky, who was unable Jersey 6-3, 6-4. After winning the first set to attend this year. Roma Lisovich, treasurer 6-1, Sawchak from Pennsylvania advanced of the Ukrainian National Association, then after Ihor Chuma from Toronto, retired. officially opened the tournaments and Sydorak beat Walter Dziwak of New Jersey wished everyone much success in the com- 6-2, 6-1. petitions. In the senior men’s 35, 45, 55 feed-in – Sponsors of the tennis tournament meaning that there was only one group for The winner of the women’s group, Olenka Olesnycky (second from right), with included the Ukrainian National all the divisions – in the finals Pidvysotsky (from left) George Sawchak, semifinalists Olesia Foty and Victoria Kuritza, final- Association, which has provided communi- beat Dziwak 6-4, 6-1. In the semis, ist Ada Kowcz , George Hrabec and Ivan Durbak. ty support and funded the trophies for over Pidvysotsky defeated Bohdan Kutko 6-2, 50 years, and John Hynansky, entrepreneur, 6-2, and Dziwak overcame Goletz 6-2, 6-0. Chernyk 6-0, 6-3, and Stashchysyn beat from New York competed against each philanthropist and owner of Winner Group There were three groups for boys and two Orest Pyndus 7-6 (1), 6-4. other. Amelia Danovitch defeated her Inc. from Wilmington, Del. The Winner for girls. In the boys’ 18 division, 14-year- In the boys’ 12 group final Chernyk younger sister Larissa 6-2, 6-4 to win the Group represents numerous automobile old Olesnycky, who also took the gold in the defeated Oscislawski 7-6 (7), 6-2. In the group. dealerships plus other business endeavors in boys’ 18 at the Ukrainian Diaspora semifinals Chernyk beat Rajic by a pro-set The closing ceremonies were held the United States and Ukraine. For many Olympiad, beat Paul deVassal of score of 8-1, and Oscislawski won over Sunday after all the matches were complet- years Mr. Hynansky has contributed finan- Pennsylvania 6-1, 7-5. DeVassal advanced Stashchysyn 8-5. The quarterfinal match ed. Mr. Sawchak, USCAK’s tennis direc- cial stipends ($3,700 in total this year) to to the finals without play. Olesnycky beat between Oscislawski and Pyndus resulted in tor, thanked all the players for participating the winners in the men’s, women’s and Adrian Burke 6-4, 6-2. Oscislawski’s win by a score of 8-2. and gave a short history of the event. He junior groups, which help attract players to In the boys’ 14 group, Olesnycky also Olesnycky also won the girls’18 group also thanked the sponsors, UNA staff and the tournament. won by defeating in the finals George by beating Kowcz in the finals 6-0, 7-5. In Mr. Hynansky from Winner Group, for their In the women’s semifinals, Olesnycky Pidvysotsky 6-1, 6-4. In the semis, the semis, Olesnycky beat Kuritza, and Ada support, as well as the manager of advanced without play since her opponent, Olesnycky beat Adam Oscislawski, and defeated Olesia Foty. In the quarterfinals of Soyuzivka, Nestor Paslawsky, for his coop- past champion Ann Marie Shumsky, young Pidvysotsky won over Roman the group Foty eliminated Amelia Danovitch eration. Other speakers included Mr. defaulted, and Kowcz beat Victoria Kuritza Stashchysyn. In the quarterfinals, 6-4, 6-3, and Kuritza beat her sister Larissa Durbak, who represented the host club, the of Illinois 6-1, 6-4. In the quarterfinals Oscislawski beat Andrew Rajic 6-3, 5-2, Danovitch. Olesnycky defeated Alexandra (Olesia) retired. Pidvysotsky overcame Oliver In the younger girls’ group, two sisters (Continued on page 20) 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38 No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 13

Colorful headdress postal issue wins Heorhiy Narbut Prize by Ingert Kuzych woven but were instead sewn onto a base of straw ribbon or cardboard and felt. Strings A set of 12 stamps depicting “Traditional of beads and ribbon would be sewn onto the Ukrainian Wedding Headdresses” won the base in amazingly intricate and beautiful prestigious Heorhiy Narbut Prize as the shapes. In the Ternopil region both tradi- best-designed Ukrainian stamp release of tions were combined: the bride’s head gar- 2007. The dozen dazzling 70-kopiyka land remained a cap with many ribbons and stamps appeared together on a miniature decorated with beads, while the cap’s front sheet that presented nine ladies’ headpieces and back were decorated with artificial and garlands and three men’s decorated hats flowers and periwinkle leaves. Brides had (Figure 1). Most of the headdresses are dec- their hair coifed to match their headdress. orated with flowers, ribbons and/or embroi- The man’s wedding head gear was not as dery, while a few also display feathers. elaborate as his partner’s. In many regions The headdresses appearing on these of Ukraine men wore woven straw hats dec- stamps are from the western and central orated with one or several strings of beads, provinces of Ukraine: the regions of embroidered ribbons, woolen tassels, artifi- Polissia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kyiv and cial flowers and/or feathers (rooster, drake, Ternopil. The majority are housed in the or peacock). Museum of Ethnography and Artistic Crafts in Lviv. Luminescent tagging This special stamp release follows a sim- A unique feature of Ukrainian stamps is ilar 12-stamp miniature sheet created in the luminescent tagging that appears in a 2006 that showed “Traditional Ukrainian designated place on each stamp. On the Ladies’ Headdresses.” Most of those stamps, “Headdresses” stamps it is the stylized tri- however, focused on scarves and simpler dent (Ukraine’s emblem; appearing in the hats and did not make as much of an upper left corner of each stamp), which impression with Narbut Prize voters as last glows under ultraviolet light. Since 1994, year’s effort. virtually all stamps printed in Ukraine have More about wedding headdresses shown some form of luminescence. The designs for the Traditional Ukrainian Wedding headdresses expressively depict Wedding Headdresses issue were a collab- Ukraine’s different historic and ethnograph- orative effort between artists Vasyl ic regions. The weaving of flower garlands Vasylenko and Svitlana Bondar. Both artists in these areas was an important pre-wedding will receive equal shares of the Narbut Prize Figure 1: Voted Ukraine’s best-designed stamp issue of 2007, the miniature sheet ritual. There were many rules or traditions honorarium. This marks the third year in a depicting “Traditional Ukrainian Wedding Headdresses.” involved with this rite, because every detail row that Ms. Bondar has shared in the of the garland, or more often of a more Narbut Prize. complex wedding headdress, had its sym- bolic meaning. Flowers that symbolize life Other top vote-getters and prosperity were used for the garlands. While the “Headdresses” stamps gar- Paper, feathers, cloth, beads, ribbons, etc., nered almost 12 percent of the voting for were the main materials that could be added. this year’s Narbut Prize, several other issues Fresh flowers were never incorporated also finished strong in the balloting. Second because their short life might reflect on the place went to the souvenir sheet honoring duration of the marriage. Periwinkle leaves, Ukraine’s National Bard “Taras representing eternity, were the only fresh Shevchenko” (9 percent of the votes; Figure plants used. 2). Featured on this two-stamp (2.50-and Some garlands were large and had a 3.35-kopiyka) sheet were several drawings complex design with a wire frame. by the poet-artist, as well as a facsimile of Constructing such elaborate head pieces his poem “Fate.” often required considerable practical and In third place with 8 percent of the bal- artistic skill. In addition to the artificial lots was a set of stamps illustrating flowers and periwinkle leaves, glass beads, “Ukrainian Peasant Houses.” Shown on two spangles, coins (for wealth) and garlic heads Figure 4: Stamp commemorating the “1,100th Anniversary of the Founding of six-stamp miniature sheets were traditional (to guard against evil spirits or the evil eye), the City of Pereyaslav.” homes from various Ukrainian regions. were incorporated. In some regions the arti- Each of the vivid 70-kopiyka house stamps ficial flowers and periwinkle leaves were showed a different domicile from the exteri- dipped into honey (to symbolize the sweet- or and had an attached label that showed an ness of the union). Some wedding headdresses were not (Continued on page 20)

Figure 2: The Taras Shevchenko souvenir sheet reproduced several drawings by Figure 3: Miniature sheet depicting “Ukrainian Peasant Homes” from the Ukraine’s beloved poet-artist. Podillia, Kyiv, Lemko, Hutsul, Volyn and Slobidska Ukraina regions. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38

department in the Chernivtsi Oblast on NEWSBRIEFS September 11 returned the belongings of CLACLASSSSIFIEDIFIEDSS (Continued from page 2) former Soviet political prisoner Iosif Zisels will welcome such a step. Let them take a that were seized by the Soviet KGB 25 TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 final decision, while our position is clear,” years ago. At that time they were classified Mr. Lytvyn said. (Ukrinform) as evidence of his “anti-Soviet activity.” Mr. Zisels joined the Ukrainian Helsinki SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Single Center in opposition? Group in 1979 and was a member of the working group investigating the abuse of KYIV – National Deputy Lesia Orobets, psychiatry for political purposes. He helped vice-chair of the Single Center party, said on refuseniks and distributed underground September 10 that the party is ready to play publications (samvydav). He was sentenced the role of the opposition in Ukraine. for his human rights activity in the late Speaking in the Zhytomyr Oblast, she said 1970s and 1980s. (Ukrinform) that, following the constitutional coup d’état that had occurred in the Verkhovna Rada, Fleet personnel’s illegal passports Single Center is ready to become a construc- tive opposition, adding that the Party of KYIV – The Procurator’s Office in Regions was not a constructive opposition. Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 11 She also said she believes in the voters of revealed that more than 1,500 Russian Black Ukraine to make intelligent decisions after Sea Fleet servicemen who are Russian citi- having witnessed the latest developments. zens have illegally received Ukrainian pass- (UNIAN) ports and citizenship. The news was report- ed by the Briz TV and Radio Co. of Yatsenyuk sees a political project Ukraine’s naval forces. The Sevastopol Procurator’s Office instructed the head of KYIV – The chairman of the Verkhovna the Internal Affairs Ministry Department in Rada, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said on September Sevastopol to eliminate these violations of 10 that he may form a new political party. Ukrainian law. According to experts, the Speaking at a press conference in the actual number of this category of persons in Vinnytsia Oblast, he said that what exists in Sevastopol may be about 8,000 people Ukraine today is not political parties but (including 50 percent of the regular service- “political clubs with charismatic leaders.” If men of the Russian Black Sea Fleet). a new political project is undertaken, it must (Ukrinform) WEBSITE DESIGN measure up to European and world stan- dards, he said. Such a project, first of all, Dnipropetrovsk’s Holodomor monument Perfect for your business or must have the support of the people; without KYIV – President Viktor Yushchenko such support is it pointless to enter politics, organization. A working website, your own participated on September 14 in the opening he added. In answer to a question about domain, hosting and training. Only $239. ceremony of the Memorial to Victims of the whether he has been negotiating about the www.BestValueWebsite.com Holodomor and Political Repressions in the creation of a new political party with busi- www.UkrainianWebsite.com Dnipropetrovsk region. The memorial, nessman Rinat Akhmetov, Mr. Yatsenyuk (716) 847-1281 which occupies an area of 2.6 hectares (6.4 GEORGE B. KORDUBA said: “I think you are interested in the finan- acres) is located nine kilometers from Counsellor at Law cial side. If I build a political project, then all Dnipropetrovsk, the location of a special of Ukraine will know who supports it.” Emphasis on Real Estate, Wills, Trusts and Elder Law facility of the NKVD where victims of polit- Currently the situation in Ukraine is such Ward Witty Drive, P.O. Box 249 ical repressions were killed and buried in the MONTVILLE, NJ 07045 that parties are controlled by a small number 1930s-1950s. The Dnipropetrovsk region Hours by Appointment Tel.: (973) 335-4555 of people and this control is not transparent. lost about 30 percent of its population dur- Mr. Yatsenyuk underscored that he believes ing the Holodomor, which killed between 7 a party must be supported by its members. million and 10 million people. (Ukrinform) OPPORTUNITY On September 10 the newspaper Kommersant-Ukrayina reported that Mr. Six Ukrainians die in plane crash Building a Yatsenyuk, who was No. 3 on the electoral list of the Our Ukraine – People’s Self- KYIV – In a phone conversation with Ukrainian Team Defense bloc, spent the last week in talks Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on I am the Regional about his political future. The newspaper September 14, President Viktor Yushchenko Developer for The Body reported that he is seriously considering the expressed deep condolences on the airplane Shop At Home USA. If creation of his own political project and that crash in Perm that killed 88 people. Six you are a stay at home mom; looking for Ukrainian citizens died in the crash of the a supplementary income; or a full time he had spoken with Mr. Akhmetov, income then The Body Shop At Home is Ukraine’s richest person. Mr. Akhmetov was Boeing-737, according to information on for you. 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You can see more Bohatyriova was recently expelled from the Vakarchuk resigns Rada seat information and sign up at my website Party of Regions, apparently over remarks www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/lisa1 or stating that party leader Viktor Yanukovych’s KYIV – Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, leader of please call Lisa at (307)250-4633. foreign policy positions were his own and one of Ukraine’s most popular rock bands, Розмовляю українською мовою. not the party’s. (UNIAN) Okean Elzy, on September 11 submitted his resignation as a national deputy. He was Yatsenyuk resigns as Rada chair number 15 on the electoral list of the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc. Mr. KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman EARN EXTRA INCOME! Vakarchuk wrote in his official statement: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, 34, announced in “I think the current Verkhovna Rada’s com- The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Parliament on September 17 that he is position has not fulfilled its main duty: to resigning. However, he said he would for advertising sales agents. ensure Ukraine’s image as a modern remain in the post until the Parliament For additional information contact European state. Endless inter-party and approves his resignation. A day earlier he Maria Oscislawski, Advertising intra-party arguments held by those who had announced that the majority coalition should lead Ukraine forward demoralize Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and Our society and undermine its international (973) 292-9800, ext 3040. Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc had prestige.” He added, “Under the circum- ceased to exist. According to the coalition stances that the fight for power turned into agreement, the chairman and the prime the main content of activities of most of the minister should resign after coalition’s dis- deputies, the only way to remain [true to] solution. However, Prime Minister Yulia oneself is to leave.” (Ukrinform) Tymoshenko said the previous day that her government would continue working for a Dumpling feeds 800 people long time. “I want to assure you that the government will successfully work for a KYIV – During celebrations of the 85th long time despite all the troubles that are a anniversary of the Borodianka district of the tempest in a teacup,” she said. (Ukrinform) Kyiv region, the capital city prepared an 85-kilogram dumpling (varenyk) filled with Rights activists’ belongings returned potato and mushrooms. It took 20 kilos of KYIV – The Security Service of Ukraine (Continued on page 15) No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 15

Russia’s Aleksandr Litvinenko and Tatiana NEWSBRIEFS Navka. This was the second dance competi- (Continued from page 14) tion organized by the European flour, nearly the same amount of mush- Broadcasting Union. (Ukrinform) rooms, over 50 kilos of potato, 100 eggs Gongadze attorney cites lack of progress and over 10 kilos of lard to make the giant varenyk. The dumpling was prepared in a KYIV – The attorney of Myroslava huge pot that was raised up by a crane. Gongadze, said that no progress has been Experts determined that it was large enough made in the investigation of the Heorhii to feed about 800 people. The varenyk Gongadze murder case over the past year, (measuring 1.6 by 0.8 meters) was officially and authorities are not looking for the per- registered by representatives of the Ukraine sons behind the crime. Valentyna Records Book as claiming it to be the Telychenko told a press conference on world’s biggest dumpling. (Ukrinform) September 15: “The Procurator General’s Office pretends to be conducting an investi- New exchange rate for hryvnia gation into the masterminds of the crime KYIV – The National Bank of Ukraine and at the same time the state tries to con- (NBU) on September 8 set the official vince the world that the executors have hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 485.08 been punished and that this already is a hrv/$100 U.S. and 691.09 hrv/ 100 euros. In great achievement.” The public organiza- May the NBU had changed hryvnia-to-dol- tion Institute of Mass Information supports lar rate for the first time over the last three the attorney’s point of view. Gongadze dis- years: the hryvnia was strengthened by 3.96 appeared on September 16, 2000. Experts percent to 4.85 hrv/$1 U.S. (Ukrinform) determined that a headless body later found in the Tarascha woods near Kyiv was his. In Ukrainian dancers in third 2006, judicial proceedings against three for- KYIV – The Ukrainian dance couple of mer employees of the Internal Affairs Lilia Podkopayeva and Serhii Kostetskyi Ministry, Mykola Protasov, Oleksander came in third at the September 8 Eurovision Popovych and Valerii Kostenko, were tried dance competition in Glasgow, Scotland. In and found guilty of the kidnapping and first place was a Polish couple; a Russian murder of the journalist. Another person couple was in second. Mr. Kostetskyi, a accused in the case was Oleksii Pukach, professional dancer, and Ms. Podkopayeva, also of the Internal Affairs Ministry, now a an Olympic champion in gymnastics, fugitive whose name appears on the inter- scored 119, just two points less than national wanted list. (Ukrinform)

We share the tragic news that on his 66-th year of life, on August 10, 2008, very suddenly departed from us our beloved husband and father, Alexander Slobodyanik Concert pianist of international renown, born on September 5, 1941 in Kyiv

In deepest sorrow: Wife Laryssa Son Alex Cousins in Ukraine – Nina and Tania Nesterenko, Boris and Ihor Hryniuk, and Evhen, Eleonora and Liudmila Hayovy with their families Family of Laryssa: parents – Theodosius and Lubomyra Krupa Brother – Yarko with Karen

Funeral Services were held August 14 at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, NJ. According to Alexander’s wishes, his remains will be interred at the Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Memorial services were held on Sept. 19, at 6 pm at St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 719 Sanford Ave, Newark, NJ and on Sept. 28 at 11 am at St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 60 North Jefferson Rd, Whippany, NJ.

Those wishing to honor his memory may support the Alexander Slobodyanik Fund, created to support young talented pianists, managed by Nova Artist Inc. (non-profit org.), 138 West Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS Deadline: Tuesday noon before the newspaper’s date of issue. Rate: $7.50 per column-inch. Telephone, (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040; e-mail, [email protected]. Please include the daytime phone number of a contact person. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38 No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 17 Youth Leadership Program attracts 13 students to Washington by Areta Kovalsky Dobczansky, senior cataloging specialist at the Library of Congress. WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Ukraine The group also met with: Eugene Fishel, Foundation held its 2008 Youth Leadership special advisor for national security affairs Program (YLP) in Washington on July at the office of the Vice-President; Bohdan 26-August 1. Futey, federal judge from the U.S. Court of The weeklong program, organized annu- Federal Claims; Rep. Jim Gerlach, (R-Pa.), ally by the foundation since 2002, introduc- Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukrainian es college and university students, age Caucus; Rep. Marcy Kaptur, (D-Ohio), 16-29, to essential elements of leadership, Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukrainian civic engagement and the political process Caucus; David Kramer, assistance secretary during meetings with key leaders in the of state for democracy and human rights at U.S. capital. the U.S. State Department; Mark Levin, Thirteen students participated in this executive director at NCSJ; Steven Pifer, year’s Youth Leadership Program, among former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and which six were from Ukraine, one from now senior advisor at the of the Center for Canada and six from the U.S. The mix of Strategic and International Studies Russia students offered dynamic learning and dis- and Eurasia Program; and E. Morgan cussion regarding current issues affecting Ukraine. Williams, president of the U.S.-Ukraine The 2008 Youth Leadership Program Business Council. participants were: Oleksandr Bondarenko Special forums of Kharkiv, Ukraine, a student at the Youth leaders in front of the White House. National University of Kyiv-Mohyla A number of special discussion groups Academy; Iryna Borodavkina of Kyiv, a and forums were conducted during 2008 ronmental group in Rivne, Ukraine. Leadership Program, students were very student at the National Aviation University; Youth Leadership Program. Among them • “Leadership Activity” – Catherine complimentary. Iryna Koshulap of the Ivano-Frankivsk were the following. McCall, an educator in leadership and civic Mr. Antoniv wrote: “I loved the program Oblast, who is doing her Ph.D. at Central • “Women as Leaders in Ukraine” – A engagement, led an interactive session on …The Youth Leadership Program of 2008 European University; Anastasia Kovalska group discussion was organized with Vital leadership. was a great opportunity to see the challeng- of Kyiv, a student at Kyiv-Mohyla Voices, a non-governmental organization Additional events es Ukraine faces. It showed me that I should Academy; Iaroslava Tarabukhina of Kyiv, a that addresses women’s needs across the be part of the change that has to take place.” student at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy; Ivan globe. Women leaders from Ukraine being Many other interesting activities were As in past years, the 2008 Youth Antoniv of Ridgewood, N.Y., a student at hosted by Vital Voices came to the U.S.- planned for the students, including tours Leadership Program was free to participat- Regis High School (though still in high Ukraine Foundation and met with the Youth of the Capitol Building and the Library of ing students. All program costs (except for school, he was judged to be highly quali- Leadership Program students in a group Congress, a pool party and a concert at an application fee) and lodging were borne fied for the program); Vlad Galushko of format. the John F. Kennedy Center for the by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. Kyiv, who is completing his Ph.D. at Old • “No Other Home: The Crimean Tatars” Performing Arts. The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation appreci- Dominion University; Yarko Petryshyn of – The students had the opportunity to attend The program officially concluded with ates the major financial support provided Winnipeg, Manitoba, a student at the a multi-media presentation by Maria an evening certificate ceremony at the Taras by the following organizations and indi- University of Manitoba; Sofia Zmurkewycz Sonevytsky of Arlington, Va., an ethnomu- Shevchenko Monument in downtown viduals in making the 2008 Youth of Philadelphia, a student at St. Joseph’s sicology Ph.D. candidate at Columbia Washington. The students paid tribute to the Leadership Program possible: Chopivsky University; Mikhaylo Szczupak of Old University, who spent the first half of 2008 great leader of the Ukrainian nation, Taras Family Foundation, Heritage Foundation Field, N.Y., a student at the University of in Crimea with Alison Cartwright, an Shevchenko, and sang the Ukrainian nation- of First Security Federal Savings Bank Miami; Steven Choma Thompson of award-winning New York-based photogra- al anthem. Annandale, Va., who just graduated of pher, on a project documenting the life of In appraising the 2008 Youth (Continued on page 20) Wesleyan University; Lydia Tomkiw of Crimean Tatars through recorded inter- Fair Oaks, Calif., a student at Wesleyan views, photographs and video footage. University; and Natalie Yaworsky of • “Special Interests, Lobbying and the Bensalem, Pa., a student studying at Political Process” – Realizing the interest, Providence College. need and importance for good government practices in the U.S. and Ukraine, the foun- Program activities dation requested Robert McConnell, vice- By interacting with leaders working in president of Armor Designs Inc., to speak governmental and non-governmental areas, to the students about the need for proper this year’s participants gained an under- public disclosure and effective laws that standing of U.S.-Ukraine relations and the can rein in corrupt practices within the issues, organizations and institutions influ- functioning of a democratic government encing them. and the political process. Students had the chance to meet with • “Environmental Forum” –Ken many important leaders involved in U.S.- Bossong, executive director of the Ukraine relations, including: Oleksandr Sustainable Energy Coalition and SUN Alexandrovych, minister-counselor for eco- DAY Campaign – both national non-profit nomic and cultural affairs at the Embassy organizations based in Washington and co- of Ukraine; Mark Brzezinski, a partner at director of the Ukrainian-American McGuireWoods LLP; Orest Deychakiwsky, Environmental Association, organized a staff advisor at the Commission on Security discussion on energy and environmental and Cooperation in Europe, better known issues in Ukraine. He was assisted by Tanya as the Helsinki Commission; and Jurij Murza, Co-Director of EcoClub, an envi-

Students with Oleksandr Alexandrovych, minister-counselor for economic and cultural affairs at the Embassy of Ukraine. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38 No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 19 Ukraine wins ... (Continued from page 10) the men’s 200-meter individual medley (SM-9), with a time of 2:20.46. (Kalyna’s record was broken in the final heat by Matthew Cowdery of Australia with a time of 2:13.60.) In the men’s 50-meter freestyle (S-3) final, Vynohradets set new Paralympic and World records with a time of 42.60 seconds. Akopyan set new records in the first heat of the women’s 50-meter butterfly (S-6), finishing in 40.51 seconds. The men’s 100-meter freestyle (S-12) saw tight competition as well, with Klippert finishing in 54.40 seconds in the first heat, and setting a new Paralympic Record. In the second heat Veraksa fin- ished in 54.32 seconds; he then beat his own time by completing the final in 51.93 seconds. Fedyna beat his second-heat records in the men’s 200-meter individual medley (SM-13) of 2:16.32, with his final Xinhua run of 2:13.84. In athletics, Pavlyk set a new 50-meter freestyle (S-5) gold medalist Dmytro Kryzhanovskyy. Powerlifting (40 kg) gold medalist Lidiya Solovyova. Paralympic Record of 12.25 seconds in of women’s shot put (F-35/36) with a the final heat of the men’s 100-meter race distance of 9.33 meters. Oksana (T-36) and set new Paralympic and World Zubkovska leapt into the Paralympic and records in 400-meter race with a time of World record books with a final triple 54.130 seconds. jump (F-12) distance of 6.28 meters. Another athletics record was set when Zhabnyak set new records in men’s Dyachenko set new Paralympic and discus throw (F-37/38) final with a dis- World records with a time of 13.560 sec- tance of 52 meters. onds in the first round of the women’s Gold medalist Solovyova set new 100-meter race (T-38), then broke it in the Paralympic and World records in power- final race with a time of 13.43 seconds. lifting (40 kg), with a lift of 105.5 kg. Dyachenko set new records in the wom- Ukrainian powerlifter Liudmyla en’s 200-meter race (T-38), with first- Osmanova was banned for two years by the round results of 27.93 seconds, and a International Paralympic Committee for final result of 27.81 seconds. failing a pre-competition doping test on Yakybchuk set new Paralympic and August 29. Osmanova, 22, one of three ath- World records in the women’s discus letes expelled for doping, tested positive for throw (F-32/24-51/53) final, with a dis- 19-norandrosterone, a banned steroid. tance of 17.05 meters. Malchyk set new Paralympic and World records in the final – compiled by Matthew Dubas Soccer 7-a-side players celebrate their gold medal performance. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38

balloting for this year’s Narbut Prize for best www.upns.org. Anniversary of the Kyiv University Colorful headdress... stamp design. Almost every one of last Astronomical Observatory” (stamp trip- A list of past winners (Continued from page 13) year’s stamps or souvenir sheets appealed to tych). interior view (Figures 3). It proved to be a someone and subsequently received some The Narbut Prize has been awarded annu- • 1998 – V. Taran and O. Kharuk, “The very attractive combination and an effective votes. However, as the August 15 deadline ally since 1993 for the best-designed stamp Founding of Kyiv” (Europa souvenir sheet). sheet layout. approached, it became clear that the of the previous year (Ukraine only resumed • 1999 – V. Taran, O. Kharuk, S. Kharuk Tied for fourth place with 7 percent of the “Headdress” issue would prevail. stamp production in 1992). The award was and V. Kozachenko, “350th Anniversary of ballots were two single 70-kopiyka stamps, The Narbut Prize is sponsored by the established by Dr. Ingert Kuzych, well- the Beginning of the Ukrainian Struggle for U.S.-based Ukrainian Philatelic and the first honoring the “1,100th Anniversary known philatelic author, editor and exhibitor Freedom under Bohdan Khmelnytsky” (sou- Numismatic Society (UPNS) and continues of the City of Pereyaslav” (in Khmelnytsky who currently serves as the society’s vice- venir sheet). to be recognized as the premier philatelic art president. Below are the winners of the province; Figure 4), while the other com- • 2000 – Oleksiy Shtanko, “Yaroslav the award in Ukraine. The Heorhiy Narbut Prize Narbut Prize since its inception. memorated Ukrainian freedom fighter Wise” (souvenir sheet). honors Ukraine’s outstanding graphic artist • 1993A – Larysa Koren, “150th Roman Shukhevych (1907-1950). The for- • 2001 – Kateryna Shtanko, “Wildflowers of the early 20th century. Narbut prepared Anniversary of the Birth of Composer of Ukraine” (souvenir sheet). mer showed famous personages from the the three high-value stamps (30-40-and Mykola Lysenko” (stamp). 1993B – Oleh city’s history arrayed around the Pereyaslav • 2002 – Oleksiy Shtanko, “King Danylo” 50-shahy) from Ukraine’s first postage Snarsky, “National Flag and Trident (souvenir sheet). coat of arms, while the latter depicted a pro- stamp issue of 1918. He also designed about Emblem of Ukraine” (stamp). (Note: there • 2003 – Mykola Kochubei, “Ukrainian file portrait. a dozen of Ukraine’s first banknotes. was a tie in voting in 1993.) Folk Costumes” (stamps and souvenir Other releases that did well in the ballot- Readers wishing to examine all of last • 1994 – Yuriy Lohvyn, “75th sheet). ing (all with about 6 percent of the votes) year’s stamps (or the issues from any year) Anniversary of Ukraine’s First Postage • 2004 – Jaan Saar and Oksana Ternavska, included a set of four stamps that presented in full color, may do so online at the Stamps” (stamp). “Locomotive Engineering in Ukraine,” four Ukrainian Electronic Stamp Album (http:// • 1995 – Serhiy Bieliaiev, “160th “Route from the Varangians to the Greeks” designs for “Personalized Stamps,” and 15 www.ukrainian-philately.info/). Anniversary of Kyiv University” (stamp and (Ukraine-Estonia joint issue: stamps and new definitive stamps depicting “Ukrainian Click on 2007 or on any other year’s souvenir sheet). booklet). Folk Art.” issues you may wish to check out. Past • 1996 – Yuriy Lohvyn, “Hetmans of • 2005 – Maria Heiko and Yuriy The wide variety of subjects depicted on Narbut Prize winners as well as runners-up Ukraine” (stamp series). Buslenko, “Welcome to Ukraine” (souvenir Ukraine’s 2007 stamps was reflected in the may be viewed on the website of the UPNS: • 1997 – Serhiy Bieliaiev, “150th sheet and booklet). • 2006 – Svitlana Bondar, Oleksandr Kostiuchenko, Maria Heiko, “Gastronomy – Borsch” (Europa issue: se-tenant stamps and booklet). • 2007 – Oleksandr Kalmykov and Svitlana Bondar, “Fifth and Sixth Definitive Stamp Issues of Ukraine, 2001-2006” (sou- venir sheet). 2008 – Vasyl Vasylenko and Svitlana Bondar; “Traditional Ukrainian Wedding Headdresses” (miniature sheet).

USCAK holds... (Continued from page 11) Carpathian Ski Club (KLK) and Roman Rakoczy Sr., one of the original organizers of this event. The winners and finalists were awarded their trophies and stipends by the tennis committee comprising Messrs. Sawchak, Hrabec and Durbak as well as Ms. Lisovich, Mr. Rakoczy and Petrusia Sawchak. The coveted Mary Dushnyck Sportsmanship Trophy is given to a tennis player who has demonstated exemplary behavior and character both on and off the courts. This year’s winner, determined by the tennis committee, was Ms. Foty. Mrs. Dushnyck was a longtime supreme vice- presidentess of the Ukrainian National Association and a participant of tennis tour- naments beginning in 1956. She loved play- ing tennis at Soyuzivka, promoted the event and participated in every Labor Day tourna- ment until she could no longer do so. Other memorial trophies were awarded as follows: men’s – Bohdan Rak Trophy, men’s 35 and over – Jaroslaw Rubel Trophy, men’s 45 and over – Dr. Wolodymyr Huk Trophy, men’s 55 and over – Dr. Petro Charuk Trophy, and women’s – Constantine Ben Trophy. UNA Treasurer Lisovich congratulated all the winners and finalists, urged everyone to continue to support Soyuzivka and the Ukrainian National Association, and offi- cially closed the annual 53rd USCAK tennis tournament.

Youth Leadership... (Continued from page 17) (Chicago), Dr. Murray Senkus, Self Reliance (NY) Federal Credit Union, Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union (Chicago), Sutaruk Foundation and The Maria Hulai Lion Foundation. For more information readers may con- tact the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, 1701 K St. NW – Suite 903, Washington, DC 20006; telephone, 202-223-2228: e-mail, [email protected]. No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 21

[our] national security.” Earlier assess- Independent States (CIS); 34.2 percent Sociology, in August only a bare majority Ukraine in Europe... ments about the absence of a real threat to opted for the EU; 10.7 percent were unde- (50.1 percent) was prepared to vote for (Continued from page 6) Ukraine’s territorial integrity in the mid- cided or did not answer. Ukraine’s independence in a hypothetical In all fairness, Mr. Yushchenko is not term, the minister asserted, “no longer • Another poll, this one just recently referendum; nearly a quarter (22.1 per- alone in putting lipstick on a pig. Since correspond to reality.” Presumably, he completed by the Institute of Sociology cent) said they would vote against; and negotiations began last year, Ukrainian knows (or should know) what he is talk- of the National Academy of Sciences of the remainder (almost 28 percent) would diplomats have been pressing their EU ing about. But I digress. Ukraine, framed the issue somewhat dif- either not vote at all or remained undecid- counterparts to agree to what they pre- The question that looms rather largely ferently, asking Ukrainians which foreign ed. The regional disparities are striking. If sumably believe is the magic formula of behind the comedy cum farce of policy orientation they favored. The pre- in western Ukraine 82 percent support an “Association Agreement” – energy EU-Ukraine relations since independence ferred option for 30 percent of respon- independence, the corresponding figures that could have been put to considerably is why the Europeans are not prepared to dents was Ukraine together with Russia for the eastern and southern parts of the better use in focusing on the content of send Ukraine that long-awaited signal – and Belarus; 18 percent favored integra- country are 27.8 percent and 32.9 percent, the agreement rather than its title. especially when Bulgaria and Romania tion with Europe. respectively. The Razumkov Center, also Another “convincing result” of the were accepted last year and Albania is • The Democratic Initiatives in August, found that 52 percent of voters summit, argued Mr. Yushchenko, is the officially slotted for membership. That is Foundation, another solid outfit in Kyiv, would support independence. following: “In our joint statement, the a complex and multifaceted issue that reported on the results of its poll taken in Memo to Kyiv: There are people in European Union forcefully expressed its deserves to be examined in some detail. March of this year. Asked how they Brussels who know how to draw conclu- complete support for the sovereignty and For the moment, let’s call attention to just would vote in a hypothetical referendum sions from survey research. one aspect of the problem. on joining the EU, 56 percent said that territorial integrity of Ukraine.” Well, *** thank goodness for that! Does this mean • In April 2008, the Razumkov Center, they would cast their ballots for member- that the good citizens of Ukraine can now Ukraine’s premier think-tank, asked ship, 25 percent were against and 19 per- P.S. The Ukrainian president, Ukraine’s rest peacefully in the knowledge that Ukrainians which foreign policy orienta- cent were undecided. Yet, only 25 percent diplomats and others need to stop talking Belgian and Dutch soldiers stand ready to tion should be a priority for Ukraine. For of respondents considered themselves to about “associate membership” in the EU. defend them from outside threats? Uh, 50.2 percent of respondents the answer be European; 70 percent did not. There is no such concept in the EU’s offi- not so much. was relations with Russia and the former • And, finally, according to the highly cial nomenclature and, therefore, no such I wonder if Mr. Yushchenko is aware Soviet republics in the Commonwealth of respected Kyiv International Institute of status. of remarks made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Leipzig last week. She could not have been more blunt. Germany and Russia, Ms. Merkel explained, are bound by common ties that are stronger than any “controversies” that may divide them. What she had in mind, of course, was that petty and somewhat annoying matter of Russia invading a neighboring country. So much for the practical bene- fits of European expressions of support for Ukraine’s security. If Mr. Yushchenko actually believes that Europe is prepared to face down Russia in the event that Ukraine is con- fronted with a threat to its territorial integrity from its northern neighbor, then I have a bridge to nowhere that he may be interested in. It is difficult to understand what the Ukrainian president is so excited about with respect to the EU’s “forcefully expressed” support for Ukraine’s security. The joint declaration simply states that the “the parties reiterated full and whole- hearted commitment to strict adherence to and respect for internationally recog- nized principles of sovereignty and terri- torial integrity as well as inviolability of borders” and that the “EU and Ukraine shall address in a timely manner the chal- lenges to these principles at all appropri- ate levels of the political dialogue.” I haven’t actually checked, but these kinds of formulations can probably be found in hundreds of bilateral and multi- lateral documents to which Ukraine is a signatory, and serious security analysts have long stopped paying attention to this kind of empty rhetoric. In this connection, a newsflash for Mr. Yushchenko. One of Kyiv’s “strategic partners” (of which there are many) that, like the EU, is on record as supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is – uh, Russia. Now that’s reas- suring! And all of this comes at a time when many news reports and various learned commentators are suggesting that after Georgia, “Ukraine is next.” Last week, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Yurii Yekhanurov told conference participants in Copenhagen: “The rhetoric of influen- tial Russian politicians gives Ukraine the basis for thinking about the necessity of expanding the list of potential threats to

Visit our archive on the Internet at: www.ukrweekly.com 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38

repeated protests to the Russian Consulate authorities turned a blind eye to the ille- security of Russian destabilization in Russian passports... in Symferopol over its distribution of gal practice. Estimates of the number of Crimea would be far more severe than (Continued from page 2) passports continue to be ignored. Mr. holders of Russian passports in Crimea that of Russia’s invasion of Georgia. facto annexation of South Ossetia and Ohryzko announced that the Security range from a low of 6,000 (Newsweek, Abkhazia, why would it react any differ- Service of Ukraine, the Procurator August 23) to 100,000 (Los Angeles The article above is reprinted from ently to a Russian annexation of Crimea? General’s Office, the Internal Affairs Times, August 25). Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission The September 9 EU-Ukraine summit Ministry and the MFA were now investi- Consequently, the EU is ignoring the from its publisher, the Jamestown threw “away a golden opportunity to sta- gating the problem (www.mfa.gov.ua, fact that the consequences for European Foundation, www.jamestown.org. bilize [Ukraine’s] eastern frontier and September 6). Ukraine’s Ambassador to encourage political and economic reform Slovakia Inna Ohnivets, who previously in Kiev” [sic] noted the Financial Times worked on this issue, told of repeated Information Systems, in addition to the web- (September 10). The EU “foolishly Ukrainian demands to the Russian The cyber dimension... site of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign ducked a chance to throw the country a Consulate in Crimea to halt the practice (Continued from page 2) Affairs, Estonia is now also hosting the political and economic lifeline,” wrote (www.bbc.co.uk/Ukrainian, August 28). nets that participated in the attacks on websites of the National Bank of Georgia The Economist (September 11). A week after Mr. Ohryzko’s comments, Georgian government and media websites and the English-language online news portal Two arguments why West European 34 inhabitants of Sevastopol who main- (UPI, August 18). www.civil.ge (www.lenta.ru, August 27; states, such as Germany, Italy and France, tain dual citizenship had their Ukrainian In the early stages of the conflict the www.iToday.ru, August 27). have not supported NATO or EU enlarge- citizenship withdrawn. Further investiga- Russian hacktivists (hacker activists) man- One of the nerve centers of the Russian ment to Ukraine and Georgia do not stand tions have located 1,595 inhabitants of aged to shut down the websites of the presi- cyber attack on Georgia was the website up. First, Germany, Italy and France do Sevastopol, primarily serving on the dent of Georgia, the Georgian Parliament, www.StopGeorgia.ru, which was set up spe- not support either NATO or EU enlarge- Black Sea Fleet, who have dual citizen- the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of cifically to coordinate the online activities of ment, although it is only the former that ship, which is banned by Ukrainian law Foreign Affairs, the National Bank of Russian hacktivist underground. The web- is usually considered likely to “antago- (www.pravda.com.ua, September 13). Georgia, the English-language on-line news site featured a continuously updated score- nize” Russia. Second, energy links to Both political forces in the Orange coali- dailies The Messenger and www.civil.ge, as board with the list of target websites, which Russia are not a factor in appeasing tion have raised the issue of the distribution well as the online version of the popular included mostly Georgian government web- Russia. France, Italy, and Germany are of Russian passports as a threat to Ukrainian Rustavi 2 television channel. sites but also the websites of the American reliant for only 26 percent, 30 percent and security. Our Ukraine – People’s Self- In addition, the websites of the Georgian and British Embassies in Tbilisi. The visi- 39 percent, respectively, of their gas Defense Deputy Volodymyr Stretovych Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National tors were encouraged to download a free imports from Russia. Poland, Lithuania, warned that increasing the number of Bank of Georgia were defaced with the software program called DoSHTTP, which Bulgaria and Slovakia, which support Russian citizens in Crimea would give digitally reformatted image of President allowed them to join the massive DDOS NATO and EU enlargement to Ukraine, Russia, as in Georgia, a pretext to come to Saakashvili superimposed on a collage of attacks against the targeted websites (Slate, import 61 percent, 84 percent, 94 percent the “defense” of its citizens (www.nuns. photos of Nazi leader Adolph Hitler (The http://www.slate.com, August 14). and 100 percent, respectively, of their gas com.ua, August 13, 15). The OU-PSD fac- New York Times, August 12; International Another disturbing sign of sophisticated from Russia. tion’s deputy leader, Borys Tarasyuk, Herald Tribune, August 13; The planning that went in to the Russian cyber Ukrainian authorities have become described the distribution of passports as Washington Post, August 14; The attack was that the Russian hackers pre- highly sensitive to the threat of a Russian Russia’s “secret aggression against Independent, August 17). empted a retaliation by far fewer Georgian policy of destabilization since the inva- Ukrainian citizens.” Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc Facing the cyber emergency, the websites hackers by shutting down the two most pop- sion of Georgia. One particular area of deputies have drawn up a draft law making of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ular websites of Georgian hackers – www. concern is the issuance of Russian pass- it a criminal offense to obtain dual citizen- and www.civil.ge were temporarily accom- hacker.ge and www.warez.ge – in the initial ports to Ukrainian citizens in the light of ship (www.pravda.com.ua, September 9). modated with Google’s permission on stages of the cyber assault (UPI, August 18). Russia’s pretext of coming to the The problem Ukrainian authorities are Blogspot domain, which is better protected The Russian online offensive against “defense” of Russian citizens in the two faced with is that they do not have con- against a sustained DDOS attack (The New Georgia was not limited to the botnet-based frozen conflicts where Russia had illegal- crete data on the number of Russian pass- York Times, August 12; Transitions Online, DDOS attacks organized and coordinated by ly distributed passports. ports distributed in Crimea. During http://blogs.tol.org, August 15). the Russian hacktivist underground. The Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister President Leonid Kuchma’s decade in On August 9 the president’s website and Russian bloggers entered the fray enthusias- Volodymyr Ohryzko said that Ukraine’s office from 1994 to 2004 the Ukrainian the on-line version of the Rustavi 2 televi- tically when they manipulated the results of sion channel were transferred to the new the non-scientific Quickvote online poll on host, Tulip Systems Inc., an Atlanta-based the CNN website to qualify Russia’s actions Internet hosting company owned by the in Georgia as justified as peacekeeping. Georgia native Nino Doijashvili. As it turned As the Russian online journal www.web- out, Ms. Doijashvili was on vacation in planet.ru reports, the news of the CNN Georgia when the Russian invasion began online poll was quickly disseminated and, after finding out about the troubles with through the vast Russian “blogosphere” with the aforementioned websites, she contacted appeals to visitors to go to the CNN website the Georgian government to offer assistance to click on the answer that justified Russia’s (The New York Times, August 12; The actions as peacekeeping. The indexed search Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 17). on the Russian online search engine www. In an unprecedented show of solidarity yandex.ru yielded thousands of Russian and support, Estonia, where the NATO blogs containing a reference to the CNN Cyber Defense Center (see Eurasia Daily poll. As a result, Russia’s actions were quali- Monitor, May 15) is located, began to host fied as peacekeeping by an overwhelming the website of the Georgian Ministry of 92 percent of the predominantly Russian Foreign Affairs and dispatched two informa- online voters before the Quickvote was tion security specialists from its Computer taken down by CNN (www.profy.com, Emergency Response Team (CERT) to August 12; www.webplanet.ru, August 12; assist the Georgian authorities (Wired/ Transitions Online, http://blogs.tol.org, Danger Room, August 11; The Earth Times, August 15). www.earthtimes.org, August 11; IDG News Service, August 12; Rosbalt news agency, The article above is reprinted from August 13). Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from According to a press statement released its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, by Estonia’s State Center of Development of www.jamestown.org.

collapsed on September 16. Ukraine's military ... The 2009 budget presented by the (Continued from page 1) Tymoshenko government on September 16 2007. proposes a boost in military spending to Just to fulfill requirements to raise the 10.8 billion hrv ($2.2 billion), but Mr. professionalism of the Ukrainian military, Yekhanurov, a close ally of the president, Mr. Yekhanurov said he needed a minimum claims the increase is not nearly enough, of 11 billion hrv ($2.3 billion) this year. amounting to only 0.85 percent of GDP. Only 2.6 billion hrv ($535 million), or 24 Ukrainian legislation requires the govern- percent, was available, however. ment to finance the armed forces with at While the government of Prime Minister least 3 percent of GDP, Mr. Samus said, Yulia Tymoshenko proposed boosting which would amount to about 32 billion hrv defense financing to 12 billion hrv in 2008 ($6.6 billion). The government never through its budget amendment bill, the approached even 2 percent of GDP in Presidential Secretariat didn’t support the financing. plan, submitting its own budget that ear- “Throughout the existence of the armed marked 17 billion hrv for the armed forces. forces of Ukraine, this is an exceptionally As a result of their inability to work low level of financing of defense – and the together, a revised 2008 budget was never lowest among European countries,” Mr. passed by the time the coalition government Yekhanurov said. No. 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 23 OUT AND ABOUT

September 26-27 Ukrainian American Veterans national convention, October 5 10th annual Hetman Awards banquet, Ukrainian Somerset, NJ UAV, Holiday Inn, 732-888-0494 Edmonton Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council, Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex, 780-414-1624 September 26-28 Chess tournament, Ukrainian Sports Federation of Toronto the U.S.A. and Canada, Ukraina Sports October 5 50th anniversary gala, St. Michael Ukrainian Association, 416-535-0681 or 416-231-5445 San Francisco Orthodox Church, 650-577-1975

September 27 Fall Fest, featuring live music, food and a biergarten, October 11 “Coming to America,” benefit dinner for Ukrainian Horsham, PA Ukrainian American Sports Club Tryzub, Wayne, NJ Orthodox Orphanages in Ukraine, Ukrainian 215-343-5412 Orthodox League – Holy Ascension Chapter (Clifton, N.J.), Grand Chalet, 201-437-2833 September 27 Book presentation by Timothy Snyder “The Red or [email protected] New York Prince,” and film screening of “A Kingdom Reborn: Treasures from Ukrainian Galicia,” The Ukrainian October 11-12 Lectures by Natalia Pylypiuk, “The Visual Poetry of Museum, 212-228-0110 New York the Cossack Baroque,” and Oleh Ilnytskyj, “Gogol and Taras Bulba,” The Ukrainian Museum, September 27 Celebration of Ukrainian organizations and reception, 212-228-0110 New York Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 October 11-12 Oktoberfest, MountainView Resort, 845-856-1105 September 28 Concert, “Cheres: Music from the Foothills of the Glen Spey, NY Alexandria, VA Carpathians,” The Washington Group Cultural Fund, The Lyceum, 301-229-2615 or 703-838-4494 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. We welcome submis- sions from all our readers. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. September 28 Panel discussion, “The Role of the UCPBA in Canada – Toronto Paving the Way to the Future,” Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation, 416-769-4675 Lecture on Ukrainian immigration to coal-mining region October 1 Concert, featuring the Uzhhorod Seminary Choir, Scranton, PA St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, FREELAND, Pa. – The Eckley Pennsylvania. The presentation includes 570-342-8429 Miners’ Village will host Pennsylvania a performance of Ukrainian folk songs. humanities council speaker Dr. Paula This presentation is a program of the October 3 Lecture by Alexander Motyl, “Was Andy Warhol Holoviak on Sunday, September 28, at 2 Pennsylvania Humanities Council, spon- Toronto Ukrainian? Reflections Based on New Studies of p.m. The program will be held in the visi- sored in part by a grant from the tors’ center auditorium; the lecture is free His Biography and Artistic Legacy,” Shevchenko Pennsylvania Historical and Museum and open to the public. Scientific Society of Canada, Ukrainian Canadian Commission. Art Foundation, 416-769-4675 Dressed in a traditional Ukrainian cos- tume, Dr. Holoviak will discuss Ukrainian Eckley Miners’ Village is located nine October 4-5 Annual pilgrimage, “Under the Protection of the immigration to the anthracite coal regions miles east of Hazleton, Pa., just off Route Jenkintown, PA Mother of God,” Sisters of the Order of St. Basil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 940. For more information, call the Great, 215-379-3998 and the impact of this migration on the 570-636-2070 or log on to www.eck- history, culture and economy of leyminers.org. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 No. 38

PREVIEW OF EVENTS Soyuzivka’s Datebook Saturday, September 27 of Philadelphia (ULoP) at 800 N. 23rd St. is NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific participating in the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST). Five artists of Ukrainian September 19 - 21 – KLK – October 18 - 19 – Private function Society invites all to a lecture by Svitlana Matviyenko titled “Identity in the Age of descent are included in this show. On Friday weekend and Pershi Stezhi Plast at 7 p.m. the ULoP will host a preview for Sorority 60th anniversary October 24 - 26 – Halloween Cybercitizenship.” Ms. Matviyenko is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of English at the members, the Ukrainian community, friends weekend festivities University of Missouri – Columbia who is and neighbors. At 9 p.m. guests will be enter- September 23 - 25 – working on her dissertation on visual and tained by Likwid Blue, a jazz and blues band. Mittenwald Gymnasium reunion, November 1 - 2 – Private function media theory and Lacanian psychoanalysis. On Saturday and Sunday ULoP will open its cocktail banquet Wednesday The lecture will take place at the society’s doors from noon to 5 p.m. as a POST show November 7 - 9 – Orlykiada building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and participant. The mission of the Arts September 26 - 28 – Private 10th streets), at 5 p.m. For additional infor- Committee of the ULoP is to preserve function November 27 – Thanksgiving mation call 212-254-5130. Ukrainian culture and tradition by promoting October 4 - 5 – Private function dinner; rooms available in and exhibiting Ukrainian ethnic and contem- Main House building only NEW YORK: Join us at 7 p.m. for a Book porary art. For additional information, call October 10 - 13 – Private function and Film Night. Yale University historian 215-684-3548, or e-mail ukrainianleague@ Timothy Snyder will read from and sign cop- yahoogroups.com. Information about other ies of his critically acclaimed book “The Red POST venues can be found at www. Prince,” a historical biography of Wilhelm philaopenstudios.com. von Habsburg (1895-1949), also known as Vasyl Vyshyvanyi, who fought alongside Saturday, October 4 Ukrainian peasants during World War I in the CHICAGO: The Ukrainian Medical hope that he would become their king. The Association of North America – Illinois 2007 Canadian documentary film “A Chapter will host the 2009 Traditional Kingdom Reborn: Treasures from Ukrainian Banquet and Charity Ball with presentation Galicia” (in English), a fascinating look at of Debutantes on Saturday, February 14, To book a room or event call: (845) 626-5641, ext. 140 Galicia and its capital, Lviv, will be screened following the reading. Tickets to the event, 2009, at the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer 216 Foordmore Road P.O. Box 529 which includes a wine-and-cheese reception, House Hilton Hotel in Chicago. UMANA Kerhonkson, NY 12446 are $15; $10 for members and seniors; $5 for invites all those debutantes interested in par- E-mail: [email protected] students. Call 212-228-0110 to reserve your ticipating in this event to attend an informa- Website: www.Soyuzivka.com seat. The Ukrainian Museum is located at tional meeting, which will be held on 222 E. Sixth St., New York, NY 10003. For Saturday, October 4, at the Ukrainian Cultural additional information, visit www.ukrainian- Center, 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, at museum.org. 10 a.m. For additional information call UMANA at 1-888-RxUMANA Friday-Sunday, October 3-5 (1-888-798-6262) or e-mail Want to see PHILADELPHIA: The Ukrainian League [email protected]. your name in print? PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Then why not become a correspondent of Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. The Ukrainian Weekly in your community? We welcome submissions from all our Ukrainian communities, no matter To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, where they are located. Let the rest of us know what you’re up to in your admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number to be corner of the Ukrainian diaspora! published for readers who may require additional information. Items should be no more than 100 words long; longer submissions are subject to editing. Items not written in Any questions? Call The Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext. 3049. Preview format or submitted without all required information will not be published.

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