INSIDE: l Russia’s trade war on Ukraine escalates – page 3 l Photo follow-up: Patriarchal Cathedral’s consecration – centerfold l Ukrainian Learning Academy “graduates” first class – page 13 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXI No. 35 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 $1/$2 in Ukraine 10th Ukrainian World Congress concludes in Lviv Canadian Eugene Czolij is re-elected president LVIV – The 10th Ukrainian World Congress was held in Lviv on August 20-22 with 208 delegates representing 27 countries participating in its deliberations. The delegates were joined by 350 guests who traveled from around the world, as well as all regions of Ukraine, to observe the congress proceedings and attend related events, including solemn ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the Holodomor. The Ukrainian World Congress was held at the Lviv Polytechnic National University under this year’s UWC motto, “Contra spem spero.” According to the UWC, these words penned by the renowned Ukrainian poet Lesia Ukrainka symbolize the faith of the 20-million-strong dias- pora in Ukraine’s better future despite the many challeng- es that lie ahead. The 10th Ukrainian World Congress was dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holodomor and began on August 20 with a procession and memorial service at the Taras Shevchenko monument in the city’s main square. The congress’ opening ceremony that same evening was held before a packed audience at the Solomiya Andriy Futey Krushelnytska Lviv National Academic Theater of Opera Ukrainian World Congress leaders, delegates and guests during the memorial service for victims of the Holodomor. and Ballet during which UWC President Eugene Czolij delivered the keynote address. He also commented that Ukraine’s membership in the Yuriy Lutsenko and Oleh Tiahnybok. The government of Mr. Czolij noted in his speech that “Ukraine’s European Russian-led Customs Union would be “a direct road to the Ukraine was represented at the opening session by Vice integration will let the Ukrainian people live in harmony restoration of the Russian Empire.” The UWC, Mr. Czolij said, Prime Minister Oleksander Vilkul and Verkhovna Rada with the basic European values, which are necessary for firmly believes that the rapid integration of Ukraine into Vice-Chairman Ruslan Koshulynskyi. the future development of Ukrainian society.” Europe is necessary because “it is the best guarantee of the The congress received a special message from impris- Interfax-Ukraine reported that the UWC president under- independence of Ukraine, which is currently under threat. … oned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko (see text on scored: “The principal demand of the EU is that the The Ukrainian World Congress will do everything possible page 3). Ukrainian authorities should demonstrate a return from an for Ukraine never to return to the authoritarian Soviet times.” Three themes relevant to the global Ukrainian commu- authoritarian to a democratic form of government… If the Among the guests at the congress were representatives nity were the focus of roundtable discussions during the government agencies of Ukraine let this opportunity slip, of Ukraine’s governing authorities and leaders of the oppo- they will have to answer for it before the Ukrainian people.” sition, most notably Vitali Klitschko, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, (Continued on page 8) Fire guts Ukrainian Orthodox church in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA – A four-alarm fire on after they were notified about the fire. Both Sunday, August 25, severely damaged St. hierarchs were present at the Metropolia Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Center in South Bound Brook, N.J., for the Church in Philadelphia. The historic church annual celebration of Ukrainian is located in the East Oak Lane section of Independence Day at the Cultural Center of the city. the Historical and Educational Complex of The fire broke out at around 1 p.m., soon the Church when the Consistory was noti- after a Sunday divine liturgy had conclud- fied of the blaze. ed, and some 125 firefighters managed to The Consistory issued a news release get the blaze under control by about 3:19 about the fire that was still raging at the p.m. A large portion of the church’s roof time and asked for prayers for the pastor collapsed in the blaze. Sources told NBC 10 and parishioners of the church. Philadelphia that the fire appeared to be The UOC-U.S.A. reported that, once on electrical, but the cause is still under inves- the scene, both hierarchs met with the pas- tigation according to local authorities. tor of the parish, the Very Rev. Volodymyr Metropolitan Antony, the primate of the Khanas, and members of the parish’s board Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., of administration. Metropolitan Antony said the fire destroyed millions of dollars in spoke at length with the local TV news furniture, religious art and icons. “It’s a reporters about the history of the parish tragedy, but by the grace of God, we’ll make and the consequences of the fire. it through,” he told the local affiliate of NBC. Bishop Daniel met with police and fire- UOC-U.S.A. The metropolitan and Bishop Daniel, fighters, who briefed him on the damage The scene as flames engulfed St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in president of the Consistory of the UOC- Philadelphia. U.S.A., headed for Philadelphia immediately (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 No. 35 ANALYSIS Slovakia: potential gateway for gas Russia: Ukraine can’t be in both unions ism.” In addition, Mr. Kravchuk said, the Parliament has to immediately consider a MOSCOW – Russian First Vice Prime number of draft laws, necessary for signing flows from Europe to Ukraine Minister Igor Shuvalov said Ukraine cannot of the Association Agreement with the EU. be in the European Union and the Russian- some 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) per “Today, it is necessary to adopt them and by Vladimir Socor led Customs Union at the same time. He year through four parallel lines, designed to they have actually been elaborated... If the Eurasia Daily Monitor made that remark on August 26, after talks operate east-west for Russian gas to the EU. Verkhovna Rada unites in this issue, adop- between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Part I This system, operated by Eustream, is a tion of those laws could be completed in Medvedev and Ukrainian Prime Minister direct physical continuation of Ukraine’s September, which is necessary for the To reduce its dependence on Gazprom’s Mykola Azarov in Moscow. Earlier, Mr. transit pipelines. Dubbed the “European gas Association Agreement to be signed in supply monopoly, Ukraine has recently initi- Medvedev had urged Azarov to discuss “the highway,” the Slovak system carries the November,” the politician said. Speaking of ated the procurement of natural gas from legal, organizational and economic conse- lion’s share of Russian gas from Ukraine to the situation in the Parliament, Mr. Kravchuk European gas-trading companies. RWE quences” if Kyiv signs a free-trade agreement the Baumgarten terminal near Vienna. said that a “war” between the ruling Party of (Rheinisch-Westfaelisches Elektrizitaets- with the European Union. Moscow wants Recently, Eustream joined the Central Regions and the opposition is becoming werk), Germany’s second-largest energy Kyiv to abandon a possible Association European Gas Hub at Baumgarten as a more widespread. “This is a deliberate war, a conglomerate, has become the first major Agreement with the EU and is pushing it to minority shareholder (www.eustream.sk). war that does not help Ukraine, but rather European company to deliver gas to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus Gazprom is using this transit corridor for becomes a serious obstacle to the solution of Ukraine (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, April 1). and Kazakhstan instead. Russian customs ever-decreasing flow levels. Just from 2011 many problems, for example, a contrived The European Commission encourages officials placed extra checks on Ukrainian to 2012, Russian gas deliveries to the EU via struggle against the Fascists.” Mr. Kravchuk this incipient trend, recognizing its growth imports for several days this month, causing Slovakia declined from 74 bcm. to 56.5 bcm, said he believes that in order to end the con- potential. Hungary and Poland provide tran- massive back-ups at the border. This was year-on-year (ICIS Herren, August 2). The flict between national deputies from various sit service by using their gas transit systems seen as Moscow pressuring Kyiv over the declining use is partly a consequence of the in reverse, from European Union territory Customs Union issue. Ukraine hopes to sign parties, a roundtable should be organized Kremlin’s policy to shift gas export volumes to Ukraine. But the Hungarian and Polish a much-delayed free-trade and political between the opposition and the ruling systems have only limited spare capacities from Ukraine’s transit pipelines into bypass Association Agreement with the European majority. (Ukrinform) for reverse use. Slovakia’s transit system has pipelines. Slovakia’s transit system is a col- Union at a summit in Vilnius in November. larger spare capacities available for reverse lateral casualty in terms of under-utilization Kyiv remains alone in trade standoff Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin use to supply Ukraine, but Slovakia has by Gazprom. said that if Ukraine signs a free-trade agree- KYIV – The European Union has not sup- declined thus far (see below). Ukraine sees a reverse-flow possibility ment with the European Union, the Customs ported Kyiv in the trade standoff with Ongoing deliveries to Ukraine involve a for at least 10 bcm per year to supply Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan Russia, so Ukraine is trying to settle trade mix of gas volumes that RWE procures Ukraine through one of Slovakia’s four lines.