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ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXII No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine Shevchenko bicentennial marked at U.N. Putin reveals plans for conquest, against backdrop of Russian aggression as his saboteurs invade Ukraine by Zenon Zawada Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Deshchytsia, U.S. Secretary of State John KYIV – Russian Federation President Kerry and EU High Representative for Vladimir Putin all but declared war on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ukraine this week as the Ukrainian govern- Catherine Ashton. ment and media offered ample evidence As The Weekly was going to press, the that he dispatched armed saboteurs to the complete results of the negotiations had yet Ukrainian mainland starting on April 12. to be revealed. [Preliminary information They worked with pro-Russian Ukrainian released in Geneva indicated that some sort separatists in invading state buildings and of agreement to defuse tensions had been military bases in eastern Ukraine. As of reached and that it involved granting amnes- April 17, 20 government buildings in the ty to members of armed groups who agreed Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts were to leave the public buildings they had seized, under their control. Mr. Putin denied the as well as disarming “all illegal armed presence of his forces in Ukraine, just as he groups.”] The main Russian demand is fed- had with Crimea a month earlier. eralization of Ukraine, which is unequivo- Yet that didn’t stop him from revealing cally opposed by the interim Ukrainian gov- his plans for Ukraine during an April 17 live ernment that is backed by the West. television broadcast. He indicated that, at a Should the West reject the federalism minimum, he intends to separate the eight proposals, Russia will take the route of cre- Lev Khmelkovsky oblasts of southeastern Ukraine, a region ating several republics out of the southeast- The Prometheus Chorus performs during the Taras Shevchenko program at the that he dubbed “Novorossiya.” But he also ern oblasts, said Vadym Karasiov, a veteran United Nations on March 27. hinted at Ukraine’s annexation entirely. political observer. They won’t be recog- bicentennial commemoration, the U.N. “If you look at the words of the leaders of nized by the global community, he said, just by Irene Jarosewich the White movement, understand that as Abkhazia, which Russia carved out of Special to The Ukrainian Weekly General Assembly passed a resolution con- demning Russia’s actions against Ukraine, regardless of their conflict with the Georgia, hasn’t been recognized. UNITED NATIONS – Taras Shevchenko’s including the invasion of Ukraine’s sover- Bolsheviks, they never even allowed the idea “Dispatching the army is the last resort,” profound talent once again proved ever- eign territory in Crimea, and a dubious ref- of a possible divide between Ukraine and he said. “That would mean a certain break lasting and universal as the bicentennial of erendum uniting the peninsula with Russia. Russia,” he said during a “direct line” broad- from the West. Russia would risk ending up his birth was celebrated at the United When planning for the bicentennial first cast, in which average citizens posed ques- in complete economic and geopolitical iso- Nations on March 27. The 500-seat began, the occasion of International Mother tions to him. lation. Russia can’t go for that now, which is ECOSOC Chamber was filled with guests as Language Day, celebrated annually at the “They always believed that it’s a part of a why it’s testing Ukraine at the moment for U.N. officials and ambassadors, NGO repre- United Nations on February 21, was seen as single space, that it’s a single people. They better options for itself.” sentatives, members of the Ukrainian com- an appropriate event with which to unite the were absolutely correct. But it just so hap- The testing of Ukraine reached a new munity and friends of Ukraine gathered at celebration of the poet’s birth. The event, pened that we live in different states today. level on April 12 when masked, armed men U.N. headquarters in New York City. titled “Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861): And the policy continues of straining and in green fatigues appeared in the Donetsk Speaking at the event, Orysia Sushko, Champion of the Ukrainian Language, Self- weakening one and the other component of Oblast city of Sloviansk, wearing no badges president of the World Federation of Determination of Peoples, Human Rights a common people.” identifying their affiliation. Ukrainian Women’s Organizations and Social Justice,” was scheduled originally Mr. Putin shared his vision just as The Internal Affairs Ministry launched an anti-terrorist operation the next morning, (WFUWO), noted, “The celebration of for February 27; however, the horrific blood- Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Shevchenko’s bicentennial takes on an shed on Maidan in Kyiv on February 18-20 Lavrov was in Geneva to resolve the politi- especially poignant significance today in required a postponement. cal crisis in negotiations involving acting (Continued on page 3) the face of renewed aggression on Master of ceremonies Peter Fedynsky Ukraine’s young independence and territo- led the full program, introducing the per- rial sovereignty. We of Ukrainian heritage son and the significance of Shevchenko to very much need, in this time of crisis, to the audience. A journalist who retired as Fear, anger in Kyiv over come together with our true neighbors and Moscow bureau chief for Voice of America, friends as we have today. And we need to Mr. Fedynsky has translated Shevchenko’s share with you our devotion to the vision of iconic work, the “Kobzar,” from Ukrainian inaction in eastern Ukraine Taras Shevchenko, whose life was so deeply into English. Mr. Fedynsky noted that the ties taking a position on the events in the rooted in love of homeland, respect for by Tom Balmforth reality depicted in much of Shevchenko’s east of Ukraine,” said Valentin Yermolenko, mother tongue, and advocacy for human RFE/RL poetry is relevant today. Understanding 54, from Kyiv. “What happened in Crimea is dignity. We want to put a spotlight on Shevchenko, he said, “is a bit of a Catch 22 – KYIV – Tires burning. Hundreds calling happening again in the east. We witnessed Shevchenko as we understand and experi- to know Shevchenko, one must know for the president’s resignation. Fears of our country lose part of its territory. I am ence him – as an early champion of the core Ukraine – to know Ukraine, one must know activists storming the Parliament. upset and I feel it is unjust. We could end values that are at the very center of the Shevchenko.” Sound familiar? That was a scene from up with nothing.” United Nations Charter.” Shevchenko brought the world to his Kyiv this past week. It wasn’t the famous Maidan of old, the The bard, no doubt, would have been Frustrated over what they see as the one that drove Viktor Yanukovych out of deeply distressed but not shocked by the readers, said Mr. Fedynsky, “he was a mini- United Nations,”and the day’s gathering at Ukrainian authorities’ slow and weak the presidency – and ultimately out of the turn of events in Ukraine as a modern response to pro-Russia militants’ seizure of country. But it captured the mood of many Russia, in the mold of the 19th century the U.N. was an appropriate manner in which to honor the poet. government buildings in the country’s east, in the capital. Russian Empire he knew well, continues a hundreds of indignant protesters gathered Representing Ambassador John W. Ashe, Appearing stone-faced on national tele- relentless effort to break Ukrainian inde- on Kyiv’s Independence Square on April 14. president of the 68th General Assembly, vision on April 13, acting President pendence and resolve. Also on March 27, They were angry. But they were also only hours before the beginning of the (Continued on page 4) frightened. “People don’t see the authori- (Continued on page 11) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16

ANALYSIS

NATO announces further measures guarantee will complement the financing Russia builds leverage ahead that Ukraine is expected to obtain from the BRUSSELS – Speaking on April 16, fol- International Monetary Fund (IMF), other lowing the meeting of the North Atlantic international financial institutions, the of Ukraine’s presidential election Council, NATO Secretary General Anders European Union, and other donors as part Fogh Rasmussen announced new measures troops into Ukraine if a people’s council, of a larger economic reform and restructur- by Vladimir Socor in response to the crisis in Ukraine. “NATO such as that in Donetsk, asked it” (RIA ing plan. The $1 billion loan guarantee that Eurasia Daily Monitor fully supports the Geneva talks and all the Novosti, April 7). Such statements are USAID will implement will help the govern- efforts of the international community to Moscow seems to be preparing the designed in part to encourage secessionist ment of Ukraine access capital at reason- find a political solution, which fulfils the atmosphere for a possible military inter- tendencies in Ukraine’s east while preserv- able rates and manage the transition to a democratic aspirations of the entire prosperous democracy. This agreement is vention in Ukraine’s eastern regions. ing plausible deniability for Russia’s gov- Ukrainian people and respects the sover- Russia could, if it deemed expedient, inter- ernment. part of a package of assistance approved by eignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the U.S. Congress and President Obama vene there with troops in some form or Russia’s state television channels have he said. “We call on Russia to be part of the other, as it has just done in Crimea. But, poured oil on the fires. The three channels which will support the Ukrainian people’s solution. To stop destabilizing Ukraine, pull aspiration for their own democratic and more likely, Moscow would leverage the hailed those protesters’ demands, encour- back its troops from the borders and make threat of intervention, in order to extract aged eastern Ukraine’s Russians and economic stability.” Back on April 3, clear it doesn’t support the violent actions of President Barack Obama had signed two political concessions from Ukraine and the “Russian-speakers” to exercise a right of well armed militias of pro-Russian separat- laws aimed at providing financial and United States ahead of Ukraine’s May 25 “self-determination” vis-à-vis Ukraine, ists.” Mr. Rasmussen noted that NATO had humanitarian support to Ukraine, as well as presidential election. urged them to reject the government in already taken a series of steps, including imposing sanctions on individuals responsi- Russia is starting to build a political case Kyiv as illegitimate, and played on their enhancing its air policing mission in the ble for the crisis situation in Ukraine. H.R. for exercising oversight rights on a “feder- irrational prejudices by claiming that Baltic states, and AWACS surveillance flights 4152, the Support for the Sovereignty, alized” Ukraine via the country’s eastern Ukrainian police, Right Sector “fascists” over Poland and Romania. “Today, we Integrity, Democracy, and Economic regions. Russia has the capacity to destabi- and American security contractors were agreed on a package of further military Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014, provides lize Ukraine’s east, unless the government all “converging” on eastern Ukraine to sup- measures to reinforce our collective defense for loan guarantees for Ukraine and directs in Kyiv commits to accepting Moscow’s press the protests at the risk of a civil war and demonstrate the strength of Allied soli- the imposition of sanctions on certain indi- proposals for a new Constitution of (Russian TV Channel 1, Rossiya 1 TV, NTV, darity. We will have more planes in the air, viduals with regard to Ukraine; and S. 2183 Ukraine centered on “federalization.” April 7, 8). more ships on the water, and more readi- authorizes funds to enhance U.S. news and Following the regime change in Kyiv, This, on the whole, has been the tenor ness on the land. For example, air policing information programming to the people of the Kremlin has (at least temporarily) of Russian state television ever since the aircraft will fly more sorties over the Baltic Ukraine and the neighboring regions. Both withdrawn the economic incentives regime change in Kyiv. Following the latest region. Allied ships will deploy to the Baltic houses of the U.S. Congress had approved through which it had influenced the pre- unrest, however, Moscow crossed a new Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and else- the bills several days earlier – the Senate on decessor Ukrainian government (gas price line, showcasing a few gunmen and would- where, as required. Military staff from Allied March 27 and the House of Representatives discount, stabilization loans). Moscow is be leaders of paramilitary groups in east- nations will deploy to enhance our pre- on April 1. (U.S. Embassy Kyiv, Ukrinform) using coercion, not incentives with the ern Ukraine. The self-styled leader of an paredness, training and exercises. Our new government of Ukraine. The Kremlin “Army of the Southeast” and one of his sub- defense plans will be reviewed and rein- EU allocates 1 B euros to Ukraine forced. We will start to implement these has built this coercive power in four quick ordinate “commanders” were featured in KYIV – The European Union’s Foreign measures straight away. More will follow, if steps. brief interviews (Rossiya 1 TV, April 7); Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on needed, in the weeks and months to come. In the first step, Russian President while the State Duma unanimously adopt- April 14 approved the allocation of 1 billion Our decisions today are about defense, Vladimir Putin had the Federation Council ed a statement honoring the initiator of a euros in macro-financial assistance to deterrence and de-escalation.” (NATO) authorize him to use military force to pro- paramilitary group from Luhansk and four Ukraine. The assistance to Ukraine will tect the “Russian-speaking population” in other protest leaders (RIA Novosti, April $1B loan guarantee is signed support its economic stabilization and its Ukraine. That authorization is not limited 4). Such political gestures can significantly structural reform agenda, supplementing to Crimea, and is valid from March 1 embolden secessionist groups in eastern KYIV – The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine resources made available under a financial onward for an open-ended duration – Ukraine. issued the following release on April 15. arrangement with the IMF. In March, the potentially a “sword of Damocles” on On top of military pressure and political “Yesterday, the United States reaffirmed its European Commission proposed new mac- Ukraine. subversion against Ukraine, the Kremlin strong commitment to the people of ro-financial assistance to Ukraine of up to 1 Ukraine and their democratic transition by The second step saw the massive holds two additional levers against the billion euros in the form of medium-term signing a $1 billion sovereign loan guaran- deployment of Russian forces along Ukraine-United States tandem. These loans. It will be implemented simultane- tee agreement with the Ukrainian govern- Ukraine’s eastern borders, raising the levers are: first, Moscow’s non-recognition ously with the existing program in the ment. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and prospect of a snap cross-border interven- of the new Ukrainian government’s legiti- amount of 610 million euros, which was Ukraine Minister of Finance Oleksander tion. macy; and second, Moscow’s capacity to approved in 2010, but has not yet been Shlapak presided at the signing ceremony applied. (Ukrinform) In the third step, Russia’s state televi- block the holding of Ukraine’s May 25 at the Department of Treasury in sion channels took to inciting separatism presidential election in eastern Ukraine. A Washington.” The Embassy noted: “The loan (Continued on page 12) in Ukraine’s eastern regions. Along with failed presidential election (i.e., without a “political tourists” infiltrating from Russia, substantial turnout in Ukraine‘s east) inflammatory televised propaganda desta- would definitively compromise the Kyiv bilized parts of eastern Ukraine. government’s legitimacy. By the same FOUNDED 1933 And in the latest, fourth step, Moscow is token it might doom the Barack Obama The Ukrainian Weekly exploiting the unrest it has itself incited, administration’s policy to deal with Russia attempting to de-legitimize the Ukrainian on Ukraine through the John Kerry-Sergei An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., state as such. Lavrov channel. a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. On April 6, violent pro-Russian demon- Washington, and to a somewhat lesser strators stormed and seized the oblast extent Kyiv, seeks a Russia-Ukraine meet- Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. state administration buildings in Donetsk ing on the governmental level, which (ISSN — 0273-9348) and Kharkiv, as well as the Security Service would signify Russia’s recognition of this The Weekly: UNA: of Ukraine (SBU) buildings in Donetsk and Ukrainian government, ahead of the May Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Luhansk. In the three cities, “people’s 25 presidential election. By the same republics” or “people’s councils” were pro- token, Kyiv and Washington need reassur- Postmaster, send address changes to: claimed under Russian and Soviet banners ance that Russia or its sympathizers would The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas and symbols; the holding of referendums not block the presidential election in east- P.O. Box 280 on “federalization” was demanded; ern Ukraine. Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] appeals were voiced to Mr. Putin and the Ukraine and the U.S., facing that dead- deposed Ukrainian President Viktor line, are in a hurry. Russia is not. According The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Yanukovych to take over; and attempts to Foreign Affairs Minister Lavrov were made to form pro-Russia paramili- (Interfax, April 7, 8), Moscow could offer The Ukrainian Weekly, April 20, 2014, No. 16, Vol. LXXXII tary groups. The central government man- recognition and those reassurances, pro- Copyright © 2014 The Ukrainian Weekly aged to restore its authority at least tem- vided that Kyiv would commit to the “prin- porarily in Kharkiv, but not yet in the other ciples” of federalization and the non-bloc two cities. status in a new Constitution under a In a statement reflecting his close rela- Russian droit de regard. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA tionship with the Kremlin, Duma Deputy Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Vyacheslav Nikonov warned: “If Kyiv The article above is reprinted from and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 e-mail: [email protected] deploys troops, or uses special-purpose Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from forces, then that could lead to intervention its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 e-mail: [email protected] by Russia. Russia might agree to send www.jamestown.org. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 3

April 16. photographs and videos to international Party of Regions, whose Kharkiv branch is Putin reveals... “We have a matter with a very serious, structures. led by Mykhailo Dobkin, now a presidential very qualified and very professional oppo- For instance, the automatic rifles used candidate who advocates Ukraine’s federal- (Continued from page 1) nent,” he said. “We have to give them credit by the masked green men can’t be of ization and its membership in the Russian- for a very good level of preparedness, tacti- Ukrainian origin, Deputy Foreign Affairs led Customs Union. during which an SBU officer was killed and cal knowledge and practice. These people Minister Danylo Lubkivskyi told the press A Moscow handler organized the supply five law enforcement officers were injured. have been in hot spots throughout the on April 14. of weapons and additional fighters during The pro-Russian forces suffered an world and on their own territory.” Kyiv photographer Petr Terentiev pro- the conversation. He also expressed delight undetermined number of casualties and The week’s only other casualties duced photographic evidence of the “green at the killing of an SBU officer during the injuries. They fired at civilians throughout occurred the night of April 16 in Mariupol, men” carrying RPG-30s, or handheld, anti- April 12 gun battles in Sloviansk. April 13, injuring at least one journalist, the Donetsk Oblast port on the Azov Sea. tank grenade launchers. Ukraine’s Armed “Wonderful! Thank you,” the Moscow Andrii Meshcheriakov, reported the About 300 fighters attempted to storm a Forces doesn’t have the weapon, while the handler says in the SBU-released recording. Ukrayinska Pravda news site. military base belonging to the National Guard Russian Armed Forces ordered 1,000 units “I also want to say that you commemorated The next day, they captured the local air- to gain its weapons. They hurled Molotov in 2013, Mr. Terentiev reported. this holiday well,” he said, referring to Palm field and asked for Mr. Putin to dispatch cocktails and fired guns. In response, local “We have all the grounds to believe that Sunday. Russian soldiers to the Donetsk Oblast. “We police teamed up with the guardsmen to fire Russia is exporting terrorism to Ukraine,” The SBU statement said the recordings turn to you with the request to support us back, Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Mr. Lubkivskyi said. confirm that “wide-scale military aggres- in our struggle for the homeland,” Avakov reported on his Facebook page. That same day, the SBU released record- sion by the Russian Federation is occurring Ukrainian fighter leader Viacheslav By morning, three pro-Russian fighters ings of intercepted conversations in which in eastern Ukraine, which is being carried Ponomariov told a press conference, as had been killed, 13 injured and 63 arrested. the gunmen in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk out by the State Reconnaissance reported by the RIA Novosti news agency. Three days earlier, nine pro-EU activists are communicating with their Moscow Administration of the joint chiefs of the “We request help in defending our families, were beaten in Mariupol, six of whom were handlers, who are revealed to be coordinat- Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” children and elderly. We request that you under resuscitation in local hospitals, ing the agents militarily, as well as in terms The Sloviansk commander reporting on personally turn your attention to the situa- reported Ukrayinska Pravda. of publicity. the SBU officer’s killing has been identified tion that has emerged.” Injuries from the week’s clashes exceed- Among these handlers, as identified by by the SBU as Igor Strelkov, a special forces Precisely a week earlier, pro-Russian ed three dozen total from both sides, the SBU, is Aleksandr Borodai, a political officer with the reconnaissance administra- fighters who took over the Donetsk State according to news reports. Gunfire also scientist and public relations expert. tion. The SBU said it would file criminal Oblast Administration also issued a request erupted in Kharkiv, where 10 pro-EU activ- For instance, they give the gunmen charges against him for murder and violat- that Mr. Putin intervene militarily in Ukraine. ists were beaten and injured on April 13, instructions to select men with Ukrainian ing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, among The “green men” numbered 300 as of and Kramatorsk (Donetsk Oblast), where accents to appear on Russian TV to demand other offenses. April 14, having spread to other Donetsk the pro-Russian fighters failed to capture an Ukraine’s federalization and elections of Mr. Strelkov was involved in the Crimean Oblast cities to coordinate attacks on stra- airfield but succeeded on April 16 in captur- new governors no later than April 25. aggression, and previously participated in tegic sites, Vasyl Krutov, the new head of ing six armored personnel carriers that The recordings also revealed that the kidnapping and torture of Chechens, the SBU’s Anti-Terrorist Center, reported on were part of an anti-terrorist operation. Crimea’s self-declared president, Sergei the SBU’s Mr. Naida said. He also identified They also took weapons, gun locks and Aksyonov, is actively involved in coordinat- the 45th Reconnaissance Brigade of the firing pins from Ukrainian soldiers brought ing the Russian saboteurs in eastern Russian National Guard as being involved State buildings seized in from Dnipropetrovsk. The soldiers Ukraine. Moreover, the Russian govern- in organizing the violence. That unit oper- arrived on April 16 at Pcholkino, a town ment continues to work closely with the ated in the Georgian and Chechen wars. in eastern Ukraine outside of Kramatorsk, where the local population peacefully convinced them to Following is a list of the state buildings surrender their arms so as not to start a seized by pro-Russian forces in the Donetsk, local armed conflict, reported Radio Free IN THE PRESS: Kremlin lexicon Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts. The seizures Europe/Radio Liberty. are listed in chronological order. “The main goal of the saboteurs and “Warning: don’t use the Kremlin’s how prescriptive, rigid and offensive the April 6 – Donetsk State Oblast special units on Ukraine’s territory is the loaded lexicon,” by Edward Lucas, The term is. Administration maximum destabilization of the situation,” Lithuania Tribune, April 1: “Moreover, just as most neo-Nazis April 6 – Luhansk SBU headquarters Vitalii Naida, one of the heads of the SBU’s “Without realizing it, many Westerners don’t speak German, notable Kremlin counterintelligence unit, said at an April 16 April 12 – Sloviansk police writing about the grim news of the past supporters may not know any Russian (I press briefing. headquarters few weeks have adopted the Kremlin’s ter- am thinking particularly of the Putin fan “Moreover, intercepted conversations April 12 – Sloviansk City Council minology. This skews their reporting, their club in other European countries, such reveal, and it’s sad to hear this, that the readers’ understanding, and (quite possi- as the far-right groups which endorsed April 12 – Sloviansk SBU headquarters country that has declared itself to be broth- bly) the course of future events.” his seizure of Crimea). April 12 – Kramatorsk police erly has given its special forces the goal of headquarters spilling blood on the streets of our cities. “For a start, nobody should accept the “Talking about political views makes April 12 – Kramatorsk City Council Conversations have been documented on idea of ‘Russian-speaker’ as a political more sense. I would be interested to see April 12 – Chervonyi Lyman police the need to kill 100-200 people, an hour label. I am a Russian-speaker, as are an opinion poll in Estonia, Latvia or headquarters and a half after which Russian tanks and many (though sadly not all) foreigners Lithuania asking: ‘do you wish the place April 12 – Krasnoarmiysk police armed personnel carriers will enter who deal professionally with Russia. where you live to become part of the headquarters Ukrainian territory,” he said. Most people over 40 in the former Soviet Russian Federation?’ The tiny ‘Yes’ camp April 13 – Kharkiv City Council Throughout the week, Russian officials empire speak at least some Russian. In (I suspect under 5 percent – and even April 13 – Makiyivka City Council have denied their involvement in any of the some countries (Ukraine is an example), less in Lithuania) could then be accurate- April 13 – Mariupol City Council armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine, with educated people of all ages know the lan- ly described as the ‘pro-Kremlin minori- guage. But none of these ‘Russian- ty.” which is why propagandists prefer to April 13 – Yenakiyeve procurator’s office the latest rejection delivered by Mr. Putin on April 17. “That’s all nonsense,” he said. speaker’ categories means any particular talk vaguely about large numbers of April 13 – Yenakiyeve City Council “There are no Russian subunits in eastern political affiliation, let alone pro-Kremlin ‘Russian-speakers.’ ” April 13 – Yenakiyeve police Ukraine, no intelligence agents, no instruc- sympathies. “Other language is misleading too. headquarters tors. They’re all local citizens. And the best “‘Native Russian-speaker’ is almost as Democracy is more than casting ballots: April 13 – Khartsyzk City Council evidence of that is that the people have useless. Monoglot journalists from coun- political institutions and processes mat- April 14 – Kramatorsk SBU headquarters removed their masks, in the literal sense.” tries like Britain find it hard to grasp that ter too. How was the campaign conduct- April 14 – Horlivka police headquarters Yet Ukrainian government officials have people can grow up speaking several lan- ed? Who was allowed to vote? How does April 15 – Horlivka City Council been producing evidence on a daily basis guages. The one they learn first may not the result affect those who voted differ- April 16 – Donetsk City Council that Russian soldiers and agents are be the one they end up speaking at ently? It is quite wrong to describe the involved, stating that they’re providing home, or at work, or most fluently. Mixed Russian-run sham poll in Crimea as a marriages may have several languages: ‘referendum’ from which real political one for the children, one for each set of conclusions can be drawn, without grandparents, plus another one for the examining these other questions.” Quotable notes country they are living in. A ‘Russian- “Similarly, what does it mean to “If Vladimir Putin’s propaganda is to be believed, one of his major achievements speaking’ province or city is not mono- describe the Crimea as ‘historically’ has been ‘restoring Russia’s prestige’ and making the country ‘respected again’ on lithically monoglot: people may speak Russian? Tatar, Greeks, Bulgarians and the international stage. As with most claims by the Kremlin spin machine, this does one or more other tongues too. Armenians have roots there too, plus of not pass the muster. … “‘Ethnic Russian’ is equally slippery. Is course Ukrainians. Does only the majority “The effect of Putin’s behavior on Russia’s international reputation has been this simply a question of a surname? Or dictate a region’s history? Does the astounding. …Russia was officially suspended from the Group of Eight. The G-8 sum- prescribed by some modern version of Kremlin alone have the right to decide mit in Sochi, scheduled for June, has consequently been cancelled. The world’s lead- the Nuremberg laws? Or is it a matter of which kinds of majorities matter, and ing democracies are suspending bilateral agreements with Moscow, pushing it into choice and self-description? Clearly it is when?” further international isolation. This isolation was most vividly on display during this not an exclusive category. You can be “As the ‘Rights in Russia’ blog has week’s vote in the U.N. General Assembly, when only 10 countries – among them ‘Russian,’ but also ‘Jewish’ – or something noted, Sky News captioned rival Crimea such pillars of international security and the rule of law as North Korea, Syria, and else. I have a friend who is proudly protests in Moscow last month as ‘pro- Zimbabwe – sided with the Kremlin in its vote against a resolution reaffirming the Russian and Jewish and also Estonian Russia’ and ‘anti-Russia’ — thus echoing territorial integrity of Ukraine. …” (fiercely) by political orientation. When the sinister Kremlin line that dissent is – Vladimir Kara-Murza, writing on March 28 in his blog you read the word ‘ethnic’ try to mental- treason. Simplicity can lead to absurdity. “Spotlight on Russia” on the World Affairs website. ly substitute ‘racial,’ to remind yourself Or worse.” 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16 Ukraine’s rock star poet who chose to fight back by Jan Maksymiuk and Claire Bigg these people. They assaulted those who He has also passionately backed the Ukraine. RFE/RL had already been injured, they forced them Euro-Maidan protests that led to the ouster “I don’t think language is dividing us,” he March 11 to drop to their knees and kiss the Russian last month of pro-Russian President Viktor says. “It’s what we say in these languages flag.” Yanukovych – an unusual and increasingly that is dividing us.” Serhiy Zhadan, one of Ukraine’s most The 39-year-old writer and poet was dangerous stance for a Kharkiv resident. Mr. Zhadan is nonetheless confident that beloved writers, is recovering from an hospitalized with a concussion, a split eye- The Russian takeover of Crimea, another separatism has “no future” in his country. attack by baseball-wielding demonstrators brow and a fractured jaw. pro-Russian region, earlier this month has He says that Russia, by invading Crimea, who tried to make him kiss the Russian flag Mr. Zhadan, who enjoys an almost rock- only emboldened him. He accuses Moscow may actually act as a catalyst for Ukrainians in his hometown of Kharkiv. star status in Ukraine, describes the vio- of attempting to sow division in Ukraine by to overcome their long-running divisions. They failed. lence as “a sad page” in Kharkiv’s history. relentlessly portraying Euro-Maidan activ- “Russia’s actions are really changing our “I told them to go f--- themselves,” he Still, he urges residents not to let the ists as terrorists and Nazis. country, they are turning it into a real wrote on his Facebook page. incident divide their city. “We must now “Hate is not a continual feeling, it grows nation instead of a mere territory populat- Dozens of people were injured in the look for areas of mutual understanding, we and is warmed up easily. All you need to do is ed by various people,” he says. “It’s a shame eastern city of Kharkiv on March 1 as pro- must start talking to each other again,” he create an enemy and convince yourself that that our unity is achieved under such cir- Russian protesters clashed with supporters says. “We will all have to share the same this enemy is threatening you,” he tells RFE/ cumstances.” of Ukraine’s new authorities. city in the future.” RL. “Something similar is happening in east- The pro-Russian demonstrators stormed In his industrial, predominately Russian- ern Ukraine. The puppet masters are quite Written by Claire Bigg based on an inter- the regional government administration, speaking home town, Mr. Zhadan is some- skillfully using the rhetoric of ‘fascists and view by Jan Maksymiuk. beating and heckling the activists who had what of an oddity. extremists,’ turning Ukrainians against each Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted occupied the building to prevent its take- Raised in a working-class family, much other. The Russian trail is easy to discern.” with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ over. Mr. Zhadan was one of these activists. of his work focuses on the bleak realities of At the same time, Mr. Zhadan warns Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, “The assailants started beating everyone life in Ukraine’s industrial heartland. Ukraine’s new leadership against radical Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see in the building – volunteers, journalists, But Mr. Zhadan, despite his flawless countermeasures such as its decision – http://www.rferl.org/content/the-ukraini- students, women,” he told RFE/RL by Russian, writes exclusively in Ukrainian as promptly vetoed by the interim president – an-rock-star-poet-who-fought-back/ e-mail. “On the square, they [set upon] an act of patriotism. to strip Russian of its official status across 25293165.html).

Tarnawsky, “not by rejecting foreign [lan- Shevchenko... guages], but by focusing on those (Continued from page 1) Ukrainians who thought that French, Russian, German were more impressive or Ambassador Noel Sinclair called valuable than Ukrainian. He sacrificed his Shevchenko “one of the best-known poets life and career to be a Ukrainian poet. … He in the world,” adding that the national ethos fought against those Russians who denied of Ukraine is reflected in Shevchenko’s Ukrainian and those Ukrainians who work and that the timeless nature of his believed that Ukrainian was not worthy of principles and aspirations, including for cultural discourse.” love, for peace and fairness, are shared Among those people with whom worldwide. Shevchenko struggled was his own family. “The road to Shevchenko,” said “Shevchenko pleads with brother Mykyta Ambassador Sinclair, “is the eternal road; it to write in Ukrainian,” said Prof. Tarnawsky, is the road to oneself.” “reprimands his brother for writing in Andrii Deshchytsia, Ukraine’s acting surzhyk – write to me in ‘our’ language he minister of foreign affairs, who was at the admonishes his brother.” United Nations for meetings with world Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev, permanent leaders, attended the event. In his remarks representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, had first asked the WFUWO and he commented that not only is Shevchenko SR(NY)FCU UWC to be co-sponsors of the event more an integral part of world culture, his legacy Orysia Sushko (left) and Dr. Marta Kichorowska Kebalo (right) meet with Bohdan is essential for Ukraine today: “Those dem- Kurczak, President and CEO of Self Reliance (New York) Federal Credit Union on than a year ago. Offering the final remarks, onstrating on Maidan consider his poetry March 26 in New York. he expressed his visibly deep gratitude for current, not just a part of our past.” Mr. the organization of the event, for the sup- Deshchytsia noted that Serhii Nihoyan, the of his artwork, courtesy of the National bodies used for their labor, for their beauty, port from the Ukrainian community and young activist of Armenian heritage who Taras Shevchenko Museum in Ukraine and for their sexuality. Without undue pathos, U.N. member states of both the Shevchenko was the first to be killed on Maidan, was the Shevchenko Institute of Literature at Shevchenko presents the plight of girls and holiday and Ukraine in particular, and to all reciting Shevchenko’s poem “Kavkaz” for a the National Academy of Arts and Sciences women, making him one of the earliest the guests, many of whom had traveled film, in both Ukrainian and Russian, not of Ukraine. reporters of both subtle and overt violence from Pennsylvania, Connecticut and long before his death. Representing Eugene Czolij, president of against women. The scenarios unfortunate- upstate New York to attend. According to Mr. Deshchytsia, “This year the Ukrainian World Congress, was Tamara ly appear to be timeless, reflecting persis- The event organizing committee, headed we were supposed to celebrate this anni- Olexy, president of the Ukrainian Congress tent features of the female experience that by Dr. Martha Kichorowska Kebalo, U.N. versary jointly with Russia and Kazakhstan, Committee of America, who underscored still cause immeasurable pain today.” ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) where Taras Shevchenko lived. Instead, in that “today’s modern, independent Ukraine Dr. Maxim Tarnawsky, associate profes- main representative from WFUWO, with March, Ukraine was met with aggression. … could not have happened without sor at the University of Toronto Marta Kokolskyj, advisor for diaspora However, we remember his words: ‘Fight Shevchenko’s poetry.” Shevchenko spoke Department of Slavic Languages and affairs at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine and you will win.’ When we follow the against social oppression, a universal mes- Literature, in his keynote address explored to the U.N., involved the assistance of each bard’s words, we will find our way to digni- sage reflected in the more than 1,000 mon- the complexity of Shevchenko’s situation, of the members of the WFUWO representa- ty and truth.” uments in 40 countries built in his honor who not only wrote in Ukrainian, but fre- tion in New York, in particular Ms. Zielyk Maher Nasser, director of outreach at the and more than 100 languages into which quently in Russian, a factor sometimes used and Natalia Sonevytsky; also Alex Shapoval U.N. Department of Public Information, his poetry has been translated. by Russian nationalists to discredit and Yegor Pyvovarov from Ukraine’s spoke on behalf of Under-Secretary- However, Shevchenko also had a specific Shevchenko as a Ukrainian patriot, and an Mission to the U.N., and Iryna Forostyan, General for Communications and Public message, one in which he envisioned free- element of concern for some Ukrainians. CEO of the Fund for Research of Ancient Information Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal and dom and sovereignty for Ukraine. “And While Ukrainians today may see Civilizations. accepted a presentation of Shevchenko Ukrainians, once again,” said Ms. Olexy, Shevchenko’s writings in Russian as some Generous support came from several publications to be included in the United “find themselves in a struggle for freedom… kind of betrayal of his native language, Ukrainian credit unions, foremost among Nations’ Dag Hammarskjold Library. [for an] independent and democratic, noted Prof. Tarnawsky, it is better under- them Self Reliance (New York) Federal The program included selections sung by European state, placing dignity and human stood as a reflection of the reality of his day. Credit Union, as well as the Selfreliance the Prometheus Ukrainian Male Chorus of rights at the center of the struggle.” “Shevchenko was not an anti-Russian Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union Philadelphia, with Roman Kucharskyy con- The theme of Shevchenko as an oppo- nationalist …he understood the value of a of New Jersey and Illinois, the SUMA ducting; performances by the duo Lisova nent of oppression was also echoed in the developed culture, but he remained loyal (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union, and the Pisnia; readings from Shevchenko’s poetry statement of WFUWO President Sushko, “… and patriotic to his own.” Shevchenko was, Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union in by Sofika Zielyk in Ukrainian and Xenia from his own life, Shevchenko exquisitely above all else, a defender of the oppressed, New York City. Ferencevych in English; and vocal selections understood political subjugation. ….as a both in social and national terms. His com- The full program can be viewed at: from a young trio, the Dobriansky Brothers, subjugated male, Shevchenko also empa- mitment to his native language was always http://webtv.un.org/search/taras- sons of renowned Metropolitan Opera bass thized deeply with the specific position of a matter of maintaining the dignity and shevchenko-champion-of-ukrainian-lan- Andrij Dobriansky. the subjugated female. His poems convey respect that an oppressed people and their guage-self-determination-of-peoples- Shevchenko was not only a prolific and unadorned accounts of the multifaceted culture deserve, stated Prof. Tarnawsky. human-rights-and-social-justice-interna- exceptional poet, he was also an artist, and exploitation suffered by Ukrainian women “He consistently advocated for the digni- tional-conference/3400638458001?term= the program included a visual presentation in an imperialist, colonial context – female ty of his mother language,” said Prof. Shevchenko. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Northern and Central N.J. districts merge, Young UNA’er elect offi cers, discuss future plans

Yaroslav Fedorko, son of James and Motrja Fedorko of Participants of the New Jersey District Committee meeting on March 14. Rutherford, N.J., is a new member of UNA Branch 42. He was enrolled by his parents. by Stephan Welhasch surer, Walter Honcharyk, for his exemplary work. The Nominating Committee, composed of Michael PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Northern and Central New Bohdan (chairman), Ms. Stanko and Mr. Honcharyk, then Jersey District Committees of the Ukrainian National proposed the following slate of candidates for district offi- Mission Statement Association held their annual elections meeting here at the cers: Yuriy Symczyk, chairman; Steve Woch, vice-chairman; UNA Home Office on March 14. Mr. Welhasch, secretary; Mr. Honcharyk, treasurer; Mr. The Ukrainian National Association exists: Present were representatives of UNA Branches 25, 37, Bohdan, organizing director; Neonilia Sochan and Oksana 42, 76, 133, 171, and 269. Also in attendance were two Trytjak, members-at-large; Ms. Stanko, Valia Kaploun and to promote the principles UNA executive officers, President Stefan Kaczaraj and First Mr. Koziupa, auditors. of• fraternalism; Vice-President Michael Koziupa, who is also secretary of The merger of the Northern New Jersey and Central Branch 76. New Jersey district committees was also voted on and • to preserve the Ukrainian, Mr. Kaczaraj welcomed all the secretaries and members approved unanimously. During the discussion of a plan of Ukrainian American and Ukrainian present and then spoke briefly about UNA’s financial condi- action for the new term of office, the following topics were Canadian heritage and culture; and tion. Having just completed the UNA’s annual financial discussed: recruiting new licensed agents and people of to provide quality financial report for 2013, Mr. Kaczaraj was pleased to note that “the Ukrainian ancestry who are in the insurance business to • UNA had a good year” and that its “surplus went up and its sell various UNA products; promoting UNA products at services and products to its members. expenses went down.” various festivals and functions; and planning various social Minutes of the Northern New Jersey District Committee’s activities for UNA members this fall. As a fraternal insurance society, the previous annual meeting were presented by the district sec- After the meeting, members enjoyed refreshments as Ukrainian National Association reinvests retary, Stephan Welhasch, while the report of the Auditing they continued their discussions about the UNA’s upcom- its earnings for the benefit of its Committee was presented by committee’s chairperson, ing convention and the new New Jersey District members and the Ukrainian community. Oksana Stanko. Special praise was given to the district trea- Committee’s future activities.

КОНВЕНЦІЙНІ ПРОТОКОЛИ УНС - 2010 р. 2010 UNA CONVENTION MINUTES

Копію протоколів і звітів 37-ої Конвенції УНСоюзу – 2010 p. можна отримати A copyвід of theГоловної minutes Канцелярії and reports УНСоюзу. of the 37th Просимо UNA Convention звернутися held до in Оксани 2010 can Тритяк. be obtained

from the UNA Home of�ice. Please contact Oksana Trytjak Tel. 973 292-9800 x 3071 • [email protected]

THE UNA: 120 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16

The Ukrainian Weekly The West’s weak response This week, Russia continued to deny that its forces on are Ukrainian territory and upped its warnings to Ukraine not to use force against on its own territory against pro-Russian “activists.” Russia was moving ahead with its plans to snip off more Ukrainian territory, as the now ubiquitous “green men” seized government buildings in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts. Meanwhile, representatives of the About Buchanan and Putin United States, the European Union, Ukraine and the Russian Federation were meet- ing in Geneva, but there was not much hope for a resolution to the crisis or a halt to by Zenon Zawada And when the genocides of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars are raised, then the the dismemberment of Ukraine. Russian establishment response is, “Things Speaking on April 17 during his annual televised Q & A session, Mr. Putin admit- Among the biggest American cheerlead- got out of hand” and “We suffered just as ted, for the first time, that Russian troops were involved in Crimea before it was ers to emerge for fascistoid Russia (a term aptly used by Prof. Alexander Motyl) is much under the Communists.” The crude annexed: “Of course our troops stood behind Crimea’s self-defense forces.” He went Patrick Buchanan, once one of the greatest response, also commonly heard, is, “They on to call Ukraine’s actions against pro-Russian separatists on its own territory a friends of the Ukrainian American communi- deserved it because they aligned them- “grave crime,” but insisted he had the right to use force in eastern Ukraine. Russia, he ty who has since gone over to our enemies. selves with the Nazis.” said, had a historical claim to Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk and Odesa, repeatedly That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Since Yet, far from the “Third Rome” myth, the referring to that territory as “Novorossiya” or “New Russia.” his noble defense of those wrongfully reality is that Russia is among the world’s Several major news outlets have commented this week on the need for the West accused of serving the Nazis, Mr. Buchanan leaders of corruption, while “decadent” to react strongly – and to react now – to continuing Russian aggression in Ukraine. had gone on to defend the Fuhrer himself, Western countries such as Sweden, Finland Their editorials and commentaries came on the eve of the four-way talks in Geneva arguing that his otherwise good intentions and Switzerland are corruption-free and scheduled for April 17. have been misrepresented by historians. offer the highest quality of life in the world. The New York Times editorial of April 15 underscored: “The Americans and We don’t need a guy like that on our side. Engineers from throughout the world, Europeans must make clear that they will not acquiesce in any effort to partition Part of what’s shocking about Mr. including Russia, dream of working in plac- Ukraine between East and West. For their position to carry any weight, the trans-Atlan- Buchanan becoming an apologist for Vladimir es like Silicon Valley. About 1.6 million tic partners must come to Geneva prepared to be tough with Russia. …if Russia does Putin (our modern-day version of Hitler) is Russians citizens are currently living in the not pull its forces back from the border and stop inciting secessionists in southeastern that he himself is a devout Roman Catholic, a United States and European Union coun- Ukraine, the trans-Atlantic partners – and in particular the Europeans, who have con- Church that is viciously opposed by the Putin tries, with about 45 percent of students and siderably deeper economic ties with Russia than the United States – must reach a clear government and the Russian Orthodox 38 percent of businessmen hoping to fol- and binding consensus on the next level of sanctions. These must include far-reaching Church. Only four Roman Catholic dioceses low them, according to a 2013 poll by the trade and financial penalties that will be painful and costly to both sides.” exist in Russia; there are 12 Ukrainian Levada Center in Moscow. The Washington Post’s April 13 editorial noted: “Samantha Power, the U.S. ambas- Catholic parishes in the entire country. Just how decadent is the West if almost sador to the United Nations, said the actions [in eastern Ukraine] were ‘professional,’ Dr. Myron Kuropas has written that he half of Russia’s best and brightest want to ‘coordinated’ and bore ‘tell-tale signs of Moscow’s involvement.’ But again, there was thinks Mr. Buchanan is motivated by his live there? no tangible U.S. response. …How much more action must Russia take to provoke a paleo-conservative ideals. I still think it’s Certainly, protestant and evangelical response? For weeks President Obama has been saying that a military intervention money. The only circumstantial evidence I Christians aren’t emigrating to the “Third in eastern Ukraine would prompt U.S. sanctions far more consequential than the have is that his columns repeat Kremlin Rome”: they’re considered cult members measures taken against a handful of Vladimir Putin’s cronies and one bank on March talking points, which would imply some by the Russian government, which officially 20. By the U.S. account, that military intervention is now under way. …the United sort of arrangement. recognizes only one Christian church, the States must quickly take the measures promised by Mr. Obama and Mr. Kerry, or lose Mr. Buchanan’s interpretation of histori- Russian Orthodox Church. what little credibility it retains on Ukraine …it should also reconsider Kiev’s [sic] cal events repeats the highly distorted, Indeed Mr. Buchanan would find himself request for non-lethal supplies and small arms for its forces. If Ukrainians are forced chauvinist Russian vantage point, as vividly an outsider in “Christian Russian,” likely to to fight for their country, they should be helped.” demonstrated in his recent columns, one of be branded a cult member or a Western The Post followed up with another editorial on April 16, in which it pointed out which was headlined, “Whose Side is God agent for attempting to organize a Catholic that the Obama administration, in the lead-up to Geneva, “elected not to take any on Now?” mass among Russians. concrete action in the hope that the meeting… will produce positive results.” Mr. Buchanan’s more outrageous claims Mr. Buchanan’s Kremlin talking points Meanwhile, “With eastern Ukraine in Russian-induced chaos, Moscow is ready not to deserve attention because they demon- reflect the Russian elite’s schizophrenia negotiate but to dictate terms.” The Post stated: “…diplomacy can’t succeed when the strate how our enemy is manipulating false over Ukraine, in which they continuously underlying balance of forces is lopsidedly in favor of a U.S. adversary – and the logic and spreading historical falsehoods. hammer on two contradicting points: administration declines to take actions that might create incentives for compromise. He justifies the annexation of Crimea by Ukraine is the same as Russia, vs. Ukraine is …Administration advocates of inaction argue that Washington should move only in quoting Russian President Putin’s speech in full of Banderite fascists; all Ukrainians concert with European governments, which have much larger economic interests in which he cites the baptism of St. Volodymyr speak Russian, vs. Ukraine’s Russian- Russia and consequently are more reluctant. But …the United States has the power the Great in Khersones (outside of speakers are being discriminated against. to take potent action on its own, especially in the financial sector – and such steps Sevastopol). The essence behind these contradictions can induce other countries to join in. …The Obama administration’s attempt to Using that event to justify Crimea’s annex- is that everything associated with Russia is smooth the way for a diplomatic solution has virtually ensured that the Geneva ation would be tantamount to the British good, while everything that is Ukrainian is meeting will fail. Once it does, the president should take action that will give Mr. annexing Rome because the roots of its civili- bad. So it makes no difference to ignorant Putin tangible cause to pull back.” zation lie there. (And I can bet you there are Russians (many of whom are in Ukraine) The Economist (it its April 19 issue which is already available) was more blunt: just as many English speakers in Rome at whether one point or the other is true. The “First Vladimir Putin mauled Georgia, but the world forgave him – because Russia was any given time as there are Italian speakers.) Kremlin enables them to choose whatever too important to be cut adrift. Then he gobbled up Crimea, but the world accepted it – Muscovy didn’t come into existence until truth they prefer. because Crimea should have been Russian all along. Now he has infiltrated eastern four centuries after Prince Volodymyr was Mr. Buchanan repeats the myth about the Ukraine, but the world is hesitating – because infiltration is not quite invasion. But if baptized. The modern Russian language unity of the Russian, Belarusian and the West does not face up to Mr. Putin now, it may find him at its door.” didn’t exist until many more centuries Ukrainian societies. Yet, if Russia and Ukraine We pray that the thus far weak-kneed West heeds those words. afterwards. were truly unified, then we wouldn’t see Using that event to help justify Crimea’s Russia annexing Crimea under the pretext of annexation is not only absurd, but fanati- defending Russian speakers (who never had cally nationalistic, or chauvinistic, and their rights restricted). incompatible with modernity. Indeed that Mr. Buchanan quotes Mr. Putin’s speech in line of argument gives Kyiv a better claim to which he criticizes the Communists (not the April Turning the pages back... Crimea than Moscow. Russians) for giving away Crimea to Ukraine. Mr. Buchanan goes on to defend “May God judge them,” Mr. Putin said. Yet if Fifteen years ago, on April 28, 1999, the 50th anniversary Moscow’s claim to be the Third Rome, Russians and Ukrainians were truly one peo- 28 NATO summit was held in Washington. That year, Hungary, the “planting Russia’s flag firmly on the side of ple, it wouldn’t make any difference that Czech Republic and Poland were accepted as NATO member traditional Christianity.” Crimea were part of the Ukrainian state. 1999 states. The Ukrainian Weekly included the joint commentary of This plays into the view that an alarming Again, choose whichever truth you prefer. Frank Carlucci, former secretary of defense, national security number of Russians harbor of being God’s Unfortunately, many American conser- advisor to President Ronald Reagan, and deputy director of the chosen people: to have fought and single- vative pundits have taken up the Russian Central Intelligence Agency, and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William Odom (Ret.), director of handedly defeated Nazism (never mind the cause, largely because of ignorance. National Security Studies for The Hudson Institute, and former director of the National help of Americans and Ukrainians, Mr. They’ve never lived in Russia or Ukraine. Security Agency (1981-1985), who pointed to Ukraine as a strong ally. Putin especially dismissed the latter), and But Mr. Buchanan is a veteran of politics. The commentary states: “Ukraine’s President Leonid Kuchma participated in the NATO now being chosen by God to fight “a moral He’s not naïve enough to think that Mr. anniversary in spite of blatant pressure by Russian Prime Minister [Yevgeny] Primakov to war” against “Western decadence.” Putin is a genuine Christian – not after the ‘stay home.’ As the NATO intervention in Kosovo unfolds, it is timely to reflect on the It feeds into the far-too-common Chechen genocide, the murder of political broader geopolitical interests of the U.S. in Central Europe.” Russian view that their history is sinless. opponents and the billions stolen from the How NATO membership is accepted in these new member states is a matter of how When the Stalinist purges of Russians are Sochi Olympics. public opinion shapes the implementation of new responsibilities. “While on the one raised, it’s blamed on the Communists. (But What we see in Mr. Buchanan is an it was the Russians, not the Communists, opportunist – something far worse than an (Continued on page 7) who defeated the Nazis.) ignoramus. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 7

OPEN LETTER To Vice-President Biden The following open letter dated April 17 ries and continue in fear today despite was written by Askold S. Lozynskyj, former being independent. Ambassador Samantha president of both the Ukrainian World Power at the last U.N. Security Council ses- Congress and the Ukrainian Congress sion stated that Russia thinks borders are Crimea river Committee of America. suggestions. That’s exactly right. Territorial inviolability means nothing to Russia. Water, gas, electricity and food come to ments of Crimea. During drought years, Dear Mr. Vice-President: Ukraine, because of its proximity and Crimea across a narrow neck of land, called which occur frequently, average precipita- Your upcoming trip to Ukraine is awaited tragic history, is Russia’s pre-eminent vic- the Isthmus of Crimea (or Perekop), con- tion falls to less than 10 centimeters (four not only by the Ukrainian people but by the tim. Today it is Russia’s second target, with necting the peninsula to the rest of inches). When Anton Chekov first laid eyes entire world and even Russia, albeit with Russian soldiers remaining on Georgian ter- Ukraine. There are no access routes from on the Crimean plain facing the Azov Sea, mixed anticipation. The friends of democra- ritory since 2008. There will be others. Our Russia – apart from a ferry across the Strait he compared it to a desolate tundra. That’s cy and world peace view this as an opportu- intelligence simply does not know the of Kerch, though Russia has had plans for a why irrigated agriculture is so important to nity for the United States, as the leader of extent of Russian imperialistic planning. bridge since 1990. Crimea also uses about Crimea, and why it uses about 85 percent the democratic and civilized world, to pro- Vladimir Zhirinovsky has recently come on 1.2 billion watts of electricity annually. of the flow in the NCC. nounce in both word and deed its unwaver- the scene, perhaps to showcase Mr. Putin as While there are four thermal power sta- The NCC irrigation system is quite com- ing support for Ukraine’s fledgling democ- a reasonable man. In any event, Russia must tions in Crimea, they supply only one-tenth plex, and includes the main canal length of 400 kilometers; a secondary irrigation racy, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, be stopped. Ukraine has the manpower in of the demand. The other 90 percent comes canal system with a length of 1,540 kilome- and manifest U.S. commitment to those terms of will to defend itself against Russian from the Ukrainian mainland – again, via ters and 396 pump stations; and 256 other principles not only as they affect Ukraine aggression. Unfortunately, currently it does Perekop, as well as the Chongar Peninsula major control gates and installations that but the entire world community and, in par- not possess the military wherewithal. to the east. In addition, 90 percent of all food and industrial goods come from have been built to ensure a steady supply of ticular, Eastern Europe. The enemies of Ukraine has to rely on the good will and Ukraine through Perekop and Dzhankoy, water to the Crimean peninsula. Water Ukraine, those hostile to freedoms which capabilities of the international community. which is a main transportation hub. from the NCC fills nine reservoirs, which Americans hold dear, see your visit as a test I could reiterate many of the arguments that The Perekop Isthmus is a narrow strip of supply the Kerch peninsula, Feodosia, of America’s resolve and readiness to stand have been advanced over the last few flat land, approximately five to seven kilo- Symferopol, Sudak and Sevastopol with firm in defense of freedom when America, months about legal obligations by the inter- meters wide (about three to four miles). It is irrigation water, industrial supplies and herself, is challenged by rouges and histori- national community under the U.N. Charter known for several important historical drinking water. A 36-kilometer (20-mile) cal imperialists. and the Helsinki Final Act, and, in particular, events. First, ancient scholars claimed that pipeline runs from the NCC to the east, pro- As an American of Ukrainian descent by the U.S., the U.K. and France pursuant to Jason, of classical Argonauts fame, portaged viding drinking water for the city of Kerch. who had the fortune to meet and discuss the Budapest Memorandum and additional his vessel across the Isthmus on his voyage Dzhankoy (Cankoi in Tatar) itself has an Ukraine with you at the White House in protocols to guarantee Ukrainian security. back home from Colchis (modern Georgia) interesting history, for it is a transportation February, I should like to take this opportu- Ukraine gave away the world’s third largest with his cargo of “golden fleece.” In the 15th hub for two major highways and railroads nity to offer some particular suggestions nuclear arsenal on the basis of guarantees century, Genoa maintained a trading post that cross into Crimea. In the first years from the perspective of one who belongs to provided especially by the United States. on the site of Perekop, and was driven out after the 1917 Russian Revolution, branch- both freedom-loving Americans who enjoy Furthermore, in 2008 Ukraine was to have by the Tatars, who built a fortress on the es of the Zionist organizations Maccabi, security and equally freedom-loving received a NATO Membership Action Plan site, called Or-Kapi. Tseirei Zion and Hehaluts, were established Ukrainians and East Europeans who live in at the Bucharest Summit, but the MAP was Perekop, no doubt, was the site of many in Dzhankoy. That’s why Dzhankoy is the fear because they live under perilous condi- deferred because NATO members acqui- battles since the times of the Cimmerians subject of a popular Yiddish song “Hey! tions essentially forced upon them by their esced to Russian pressure. Ultimately, the and Scythians, for it occupies a classic stra- Zhankoye” a Soviet-era song praising the oppressive neighbor. overriding argument remains that Russia – tegic location. Field Marshall Erich von life of Jews on collective farms in Crimea. Russia is not simply an irritant or a with its nuclear arsenal, influence on rogue Manstein, Hitler’s master military strate- This song was popularized in the U.S. by regional menace controlled by a rogue regimes like Syria, Iran and North Korea gist, captured Crimea in September 1941 Pete Seeger, who visited Dzhankoy in 1964, regime. Russia was and may still be a super- and quasi-alliances with some of the most battling his way through Perekop to and asked about this song, having heard it power with the world’s second largest populous countries – is a global threat, and Sevastopol, rapidly driving his tanks and some 30 years before. He devotes some 10 nuclear arsenal. Historically, we have taken Ukraine is the West’s initial major test. artillery through a spirited, yet outmanned pages of “The Incompleat Folksinger” Russia for granted in the past, often attrib- Mr. Vice-President, in lieu of boots on the and futile Soviet defense line. Today, (1972) to his experiences in Dzhankoy. Mr. uting its aggression to the regime then in ground, which may become inevitable if Russian troops have again dug trenches Seeger transliterated the song from its power and then proceeded to appease that events proceed with further Russian escala- there, as part of their “defense” of Crimea. original Yiddish in 1941, and recorded it. regime ostensibly for the moment. The fact tion, the United States and its NATO allies Through that narrow isthmus runs a huge Later, it became a popular song (with of the matter is that Joseph Stalin’s Soviet must begin the process of helping Ukraine man-made river, carrying precious water revised lyrics) in the early 1960s of the Russia and Vladimir Putin’s current Russia not only through diplomatic channels. down through Crimea, providing about 75 Plast fraternity Burlaky. are not aberrations. They are a continuum Communicating with the aggressor, strong percent of the water supply needs of the pop- Though there are several rivers flowing of centuries of Russia’s domination and statements at the United Nations and other ulace. Nikita Khrushchev began construction from the Crimean mountains, they are oppression of its neighbors. For that reason in 1961 of the Ukrainian Komsomol North quite small and are less than one-tenth of the flow in the NCC. During droughts, there those countries have lived in fear for centu- (Continued on page 13) Crimean Canal (NCC). The NCC runs from the large Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnipro is hardly any flow in those rivers. Thus, River, the last of a cascade of six reservoirs on they cannot provide for the needs of the cities, particularly during drought years. the Dnipro, southeast over a distance of 210 tant to us now as the map of Central Just for comparison sake, the Chorna River, kilometers (about 115 miles) to the town Turning... Europe comes under heavy stress with which flows on the southwestern side of of Perekop, and then onto the city of Russia shifting back and forth between a the Crimean mountain range down to (Continued from page 6) Dzankoy. There, it branches off into many nostalgic desire to play the card of a super- Sevastopol, is only 34 kilometers (about 20 other, smaller irrigation canals and munici- hand,” the commentary continues, “the power and its pressing economic need to miles) long. This river is known as the site pal water supply pipelines. new members of the alliance may draw cooperate with the West. An ever-present of one of the famous battles fought near The main NCC is about 400 kilometers conclusions that will reassure them about challenge is Moscow’s pressure on Ukraine Inkerman, during the Crimean War in (about 225 miles) long, of which the first NATO’s willingness to act, certainly in the to collaborate more closely with Belarus November 1854. 210 kilometers (115 miles) is gravity-fed, short run there is a serious skepticism and Russia – even to the extent that it Irrigation management in Crimea has i.e. the slope of the canal from the about what some critics call ‘military threatens the existence of independent not adapted well to the changing economy Kakhovka Reservoir is such that water can adventurism.’” Ukraine.” and political situation after Ukraine’s inde- The Kosovo crisis may well have held flow naturally down a small gradient for pendence in 1991. Reforms in the agricul- The writers noted that Ukraine’s mili- the first half of its length. In that gravity “even more significance in terms of our tural sector are much needed to conserve tary cooperated with United Nations forces portion of the canal, the flow is about 300 broader Central European interests and water supply and to increase agricultural in Bosnia, during the Kosovo crisis and that cubic meters per second. It doesn’t sound deeply affect our nuclear relationship with productivity. Until the recent referendum, Mr. Kuchma condemned the effects of like much, but that is equivalent to the the two largest members of the former NATO bombing, demonstrating his bridge the State Committee of Water Management average annual flow in the Potomac River (SCWM) in Ukraine was responsible for Soviet Union: Ukraine and Russia.” role between the West and Russia. The (10,000 cubic feet/second). After that, the Considering Moscow’s constantly shifting commentary further noted that Mr. managing the water resources of Crimea. elevation rises, and many large pumps and The SCWM is responsible for the main and position on the alliance’s efforts, and the Kuchma’s efforts were in the face of pres- a considerable amount of electricity are stalled START II treaty, “the performance of sure from political rivals in the Parliament, secondary canals, main pumping stations needed to lift the water uphill through and pumps for on-farm delivery. Ukraine in ridding itself of nuclear warheads including many pro-Russian politicians numerous plateaus to supply the irrigation Farmers, on the other hand, are respon- and cooperating with NATO in the who openly advocated the restoration of needs of the farms of Crimea. sible for maintaining on-farm canals and Partnership for Peace program becomes the Soviet Union. Since precipitation in Crimea, on aver- drainage ditches, pipelines and sprinklers. even more impressive.” age, is only a modest 30 to 40 centimeters The land, on-farm irrigation infrastructure Ukraine, being the largest state in Source: “Commentary: Ukraine: strong annually (16-22 inches), or roughly the and machines are state property, though Europe by land mass, and a population in ally of the West, NATO,” by Frank Carlucci average annual precipitation of Arizona privatization efforts began in 1996 and 1999 of 50 million – was the fourth-largest and Gen. William Odom, The Ukrainian and New Mexico, and evaporation is quite in Europe. “Strategically, it is vitally impor- Weekly, May 9, 1999. high, it covers only half of the crop require- (Continued on page 17) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16 Ukrainian American Bar Association urges immediate military assistance to Ukraine The statement below was released by the world’s media, whether in Eastern Europe, said, it would be highly imprudent to fail to is not Crimea that has returned. It is we Ukrainian American Bar Association (UABA) the Far East or the Middle East, both our help Ukraine defend itself. who have returned. Home. To the USSR.” As on April 9. country’s allies as well as those who have To begin, at the strong urging of the uncomfortable as it may be to force our- already violated international norms and United States and the West, Ukraine in the selves to acknowledge that we are dealing In 1997, the Carnegie Endowment for those who may be tempted to do so in the 1990s voluntarily gave up its entire nuclear with a regime that has reignited an atavis- International Peace opined that “Ukraine near future have watched our response to arsenal – then the third largest in the world tic, primitive form of nationalism and will do much to determine whether Europe the Russian invasion and occupation of – and signed the nuclear non-proliferation imperialism, the failure to do so will not and the world in the 21st century will be Crimea closely. Taking the view that the agreement. In return, the United States, make it go away or preclude it from caus- as bloody as they were in the 20th.” Budapest Memorandum does not obligate Britain and Russia signed the Budapest ing ongoing damage both to our interests Ukraine is the largest European country. the U.S. to defend Ukraine has caused con- Memorandum in which the signatories and those of our allies as well as to what Red Russia’s conquest and occupation of cern among our allies, such as Japan and, if assured Ukraine’s sovereignty and territo- remains of the international order. Ukraine was key to the formation and viabil- our passivity is continued, may well rial integrity. If the United States now fails There are, in addition, important moral ity of the Soviet Union. Ukraine’s declaration embolden our challengers. even to provide defensive military assis- considerations that militate in favor of pro- of independence in 1991 made that “union” In the now famous words of President tance to Ukraine when it is under immedi- viding defensive military aid to Ukraine. To no longer possible. The Cold War was sud- John F. Kennedy, if you fool me once, shame on ate threat and after it has already been begin, in addition to taking the unique step denly over. But Russia has now reinvaded a you; if you fool me twice, shame on me. Russia invaded, our ability to persuade or induce of giving up its nuclear arsenal, Ukraine has portion of Ukraine and is threatening to has already fooled the United States and the other international actors to give up or been a very good international citizen. expand its military aggression further into rest of the world once when it lied about not foreswear nuclear arms will be fatally com- Since its independence in 1991 and in Ukraine, which would in effect reverse the having designs on Crimea. For reasons set promised. response to U.N. or NATO requests, Ukraine resolution of the Cold War. The United forth below, we should not now allow Russia Second, while our strong preference for has sent over 28,000 military and civilian States and the West should not countenance to fool us again with respect to its subornation seeking diplomatic resolutions to foreign personnel to help participate in numerous such a reprise or passively accept all that or invasion of the rest of Ukraine. challenges – which in light of certain earlier international peacekeeping and security this would imply for our national security At issue with respect to the Ukraine crisis entanglements that cost us much blood, operations, during which 27 of those per- and the security of our European allies. is not influence or spheres of interest but treasure and credibility – is obviously laud- sonnel were killed. Ukraine’s soldiers and Thus, for reasons of geopolitical pru- unambiguously predatory aggression by able, where such measured and practical civilians have, for example, served in dence, the defense of Western values and Russia in Crimea, piracy of Ukrainian naval rationality does not produce clearly posi- Kosovo, Afghanistan, Liberia, Congo and fundamental morality, the Ukrainian assets in and around Crimea, military intimi- tive solutions, we may understandably be the Transdniester region of Moldova. American Bar Association urges our gov- dation with the massing of tens of thousands viewed internationally as dithering and, Further, as George Kennan noted in his ernment and NATO to provide Ukraine with of troops and tanks on Ukraine’s borders, thus, temporarily weak. As a matter of core diaries in 1944, “The jealous and intolerant immediate defensive military assistance. If and now attempts at internal subversion, as national security and national interests, we eye of the Kremlin can distinguish, in the reports about what Ukraine has requested reflected by the recent arrest of Russian spe- cannot afford to be viewed in this light, end, only vassals and enemies, and the are accurate, such assistance should include cial operations agents in Kyiv who had plans however unfairly or unreasonably. neighbors of Russia, if they do not wish to anti-tank and anti-aircraft equipment, bor- to detonate the Ukrainian Parliament build- Third, if we do not help Ukraine help be one, must reconcile themselves to being der control equipment, communications ing and the Russian attempts at subversion itself immediately and wait to react until the other.” As the University of Alabama at gear, mine-clearing equipment, vehicles, in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv. after Russia has further engaged in aggres- Birmingham historian George Liber has ammunition, fuel and medical gear. Ukraine does not seek, and the United sion, we will both lose credibility and find noted in his forthcoming history of Our action or inaction with respect to States is understandably not prepared to ourselves in the difficult reactive position of Ukraine, over 13 million Ukrainians were the crisis in Ukraine does not merely impli- provide, any boots on the ground to defend having to expend very considerable political killed during the 20th century, most by or cate regional interests. As reported in the against further Russian aggression. That and economic resources to mobilize real at the direction of Stalin and his minions in sanctions against the Putin regime in a Moscow, but with his former ally Hitler Europe that has not yet recovered from the making a significant contribution in corps- LETTER TO THE EDITOR last economic recession and in the face of es as well. The Yale historian Timothy very strong private business interests that Snyder has called Ukraine part of what he Nazism, more than any other country in care principally about their bottom line has termed the “Bloodlands.” World War II. Millions died. Stalin deported rather than any geopolitical considerations. Russia is now seeking to re-impose vas- Evolution vs revolution: the Tatars from Crimea to Siberia because In addition to geopolitical consider- sal status upon Ukraine. In light of the he felt that they might be sympathetic to ations, there is the issue of the defense of above-mentioned history, it would be God bless Ukraine the Nazis. The Russian language was Western values and the defense of the post- immoral now to fail to help Ukraine help Dear Editor: imposed on Ukrainians. World War II and the post-Cold War order, itself to avoid that fate. With the break-up of the Soviet Union, In the early 1990s, at the behest of some both of which were achieved through the Lastly, whether out of ignorance or indif- the old Communist corrupt nomenklatura Ukrainian diaspora members, I prepared a expenditure of tremendous human and ference on the part of all of those to whom did not go away, as it could have in the case lengthy plan, translated into Ukrainian, on financial capital. As David Remnick, the Ukrainians simply didn’t matter enough, of a true revolution. The nomenklatura was how Ukraine could most quickly transform well-known observer of Russia has the world was silent in 1932-1933 as created by communists as a deep-rooted itself into a private enterprise democracy recounted in the April 2 issue of The New Stalin’s regime ordered and carried out the system for every sphere of the state’s life – and attract needed foreign investment. I can Yorker, after the Russian invasion of Crimea deliberate starvation of millions of men, from the very top “executives” to the lowest recall lugging hundreds of pounds of plans followed by President Vladimir Putin’s tri- women and children in the Ukrainian coun- level team leader. The break-up of the Soviet to be distributed to the leadership and the umphant speech, deeply resentful of the tryside in order finally to bring Ukrainians Union did not destroy the nomenklatura; Verkhovna Rada by the diaspora. Nothing, to West, a leading Moscow columnist wrote in to heel in what is today referred to as the they simply reinvented themselves. At the my knowledge, came out of this effort. After Komsomolskaya Pravda, the most popular Holodomor. It would be more than inde- time of the break-up of the Soviet Union in 70 years of nomenklatura communism, the daily in Russia, that “the Soviet Union, like cent if we again did nothing as Russia seeks 1991, many predicted it would take a new old guard was still in a different world. the phoenix, has been reborn,” and that “it to devour pieces or all of Ukraine. generation now open to new ideas from the It has taken a new generation with expo- West to throw off the corrupt yoke. sure to the West, the rule of law and In the early 1990s I was invited to tour democracy, but this last mini-revolution Ukraine by some patriotic diaspora mem- will hopefully allow Ukrainians a departure bers who hoped that the new government from their difficult past and a new begin- Sens. Durbin and McCain say NATO would want democracy, private enterprise ning with true democracy and liberty. The and foreign investment. As I traveled main threat now is former KBG operative must protect international borders around the country, I could not help but Vladimir Putin’s next move toward recreat- WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin aggression in and around the nations of notice small memorials freshly built almost ing the empire. Will incidents in the (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) sent a let- Eastern Europe is halted, NATO must contin- everywhere. My hosts said these were new Russian repopulated east and Crimea be ter on April 11 to NATO Secretary General ue to establish a firm position in regards to memorials to those who were killed – used as an excuse to intervene further? Or mostly in the time around 1933. I could not will he decide that it’s not worth the risk of Anders Fogh Rasmussen regarding the con- protecting legal international borders.” believe that so many millions had died. invading a neighbor as he did in Georgia? tinued Russian aggression toward Ukraine. Earlier that week, Sens. Durbin and They said that sadly it was true. Still doubt- It would be sad indeed if the friendly They wrote: “We write to express grave McCain met with Lithuanian Ambassador ing, I did some research including reading people of Ukraine would have to deal with concern over Russian actions in and around “Execution by Hunger: The Hidden another attempt to dominate them and dis- Ukraine. Such aggressive military and intel- Tanel Sepp, and Polish Ambassador Ryszard Holocaust” (Miron Dolot, 1985). regard their culture, sovereignty and bor- ligence operations aimed at destabilizing SchnepfŽygimantas to discuss Pavilionis, the Estonian latest Russian- Chargé The Russian Soviet effort to stamp out ders. They have suffered enough, and the other sovereign nations threaten decades of instigated unrest in eastern Ukraine. The the Ukrainian kulaks and any possible non- U.S. and Western Europe should stand up European security and are an affront to the previous week, Sens. Durbin and McCain acceptance of the Communist takeover of for the will of the people of Ukraine. values of NATO, the United States, the met with Russia’s Ambassador to the United property was so harsh that many European Union, and the democratic States Sergey Kislyak to discuss Russian Ukrainians greeted the advancing World Walter G. Reiner nations of the world. As such, we urge that aggression in the Crimean region, and both War II German armies with the traditional Columbus, Ohio NATO demonstrate further resolve in reaf- traveled to Ukraine last month. bread and salt. The KGB soon broke up this Walter Reiner is an M.B.A. graduate of the firming its commitment to European securi- Copies of the letter were also sent to U.S. honeymoon with the German “lesser of Thunderbird School of Global Management ty and to those NATO members facing Supreme Allied Commander for Europe evils.” Ukraine suffered as a battleground and spent significant time studying Ukraine, Russian threats on or near their borders.” General Phillip Breedlove and U.S. between the two “isms,” Communism and its economy and enterprises. They also underscored that, “until Russian Ambassador to NATO Doug Lute. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 9

FOR THE RECORD Ukrainian Jewish leaders’ De-escalation starts on the ground letter to Vladimir Putin by Anders Fogh Rasmussen to join the Alliance 10 years ago, we wel- This open letter of Ukrainian Jews to bic behavior. And we certainly know that comed Ukraine’s aspiration. When Ukraine Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin our very few nationalists are well-con- This article by NATO Secretary General opted for non-bloc status five years ago, we was published in March in full-page adver- trolled by civil society and the new Anders Fogh Rasmussen appeared on the respected Ukraine’s decision. When Prime tisements in The New York Time , Canada’s Ukrainian government – which is more NATO website on April 13. Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk recently visited National Post, the Israeli daily Haaretz and than can be said for the Russian neo-Nazis, Brussels, he made clear that membership The International New York Times. who are encouraged by your security ser- My first speech as NATO secretary gen- “is not on the radar.” That is Ukraine’s sov- According to the JTA news service, the letter vices. eral in 2009 was called “NATO and Russia: ereign choice – and NATO fully respects it. was signed by a host of businessmen, public We have a great mutual understanding A New Beginning.” My aim was to develop a Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly tried figures, scholars and artists. The lead signa- with the new government, and a partnership true strategic partnership with Russia, to define, even dictate, Ukraine’s course. tory is Josef Zissels, chairman of the is in the works. There are quite a few nation- extending practical cooperation in areas Top officials have demanded that the Association of Jewish Communities and al minority representatives in the Cabinet where we share security interests, while Constitution be rewritten to create a feder- Organizations of Ukraine, known as the of Ministers: the Minister of Internal Affairs insisting that Russia should fully comply al state. They have demanded that Ukraine Vaad. (The text published here is from the is Armenian, the Vice Prime Minister is a with its international obligations, including declare itself neutral, to safeguard Russia’s website of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Jew, two ministers are Russian. The newly respecting the territorial integrity and security. http://eajc.org). appointed governors of Ukraine’s region political freedom of its neighbors. This contradicts one of the fundamental are also not exclusively Ukrainian. Through the years, we made significant principles of Euro-Atlantic security: that Mr. President! Unfortunately, we must admit that in progress, working together on areas such as each state is free to choose its own allianc- We are Jewish citizens of Ukraine: busi- recent days stability in our country has counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and secu- es. The Soviet Union accepted that princi- nessmen, managers, public figures, scien- been threatened. And this threat is coming rity in Afghanistan. But Russia’s annexation ple when it signed the Helsinki Accords in 1975; Russia inherited the obligation. tists and scholars, artists and musicians. from the Russian government, namely – of Crimea ended that new beginning, and Only Ukraine can decide what is best for We are addressing you on behalf of the from you personally. It is your policy of undermined the very basis of the partner- ship we had built with such great efforts. Ukraine – in full respect for all the people of multi-national people of Ukraine, Ukraine’s inciting separatism and crude pressure Today, Russia is speaking and behaving Ukraine, whatever language they speak. Other national minorities, and on behalf of the placed on Ukraine that threatens us and all not as a partner, but as an adversary. countries may help to facilitate dialogue, but Jewish community. Ukrainian people, including those who live While tens of thousands of combat- they cannot decide on Ukraine’s behalf. You have stated that Russia wants to in Crimea and the Ukrainian southeast. ready Russian troops stand poised on If Russia is sincere about a dialogue, the protect the rights of the Russian-speaking Southeastern Ukrainians will soon see that Ukraine’s border, Russia is also waging a first step should be to pull back the tens of citizens of the Crimea and all of Ukraine for themselves. propaganda war the like of which we have thousands of troops it has deployed on and that these rights have been trampled Vladimir Vladimirovich, we highly value not seen since the end of the Cold War. Its Ukraine’s border without any justification. by the current Ukrainian government. your concern about the safety and rights of purpose is to pervert the truth, divert Otherwise, any talks would not be a dia- Historically, Ukrainian Jews are also mostly Ukrainian national minorities. But we do attention from Russia’s illegal actions and logue, but diktat. Russian-speaking. Thus, our opinion on not wish to be “defended” by sundering subvert the authorities in Ukraine. Escalation what is happening carries no less weight Ukraine and annexing its territory. We deci- In recent weeks, Russian officials have than the opinion of those who advise and sively call for you not to intervene in inter- accused NATO of breaking its promises, Russian officials allege that NATO has inform you. nal Ukrainian affairs, to return the Russian interfering in Ukraine’s internal affairs and escalated the crisis by moving military forc- We are convinced that you are not easily armed forces to their normal fixed peace- escalating the crisis. It is time to see these es to Central and Eastern Europe and pub- fooled. This means that you must be con- time location, and to stop encouraging pro- claims for what they are: a smokescreen licly condemning Russia’s actions. Foreign sciously picking and choosing lies and slan- Russian separatism. designed to cover up Russia’s own broken Minister Sergey Lavrov even wrote that der from the entire body of information on Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are quite promises, interference and escalation. “de-escalation starts with rhetoric.” Ukraine. And you know very well that capable of protecting our rights in a con- The reality is that actions speak louder Broken promises Viktor Yanukovych’s statement used to structive dialogue and in cooperation with than words: escalation and de-escalation describe the situation after the latest treaty the government and civil society of a sover- Russia accuses NATO of breaking a 1990 both start on the ground. had been signed – “…Kyiv is full of armed eign, democratic and united Ukraine. We promise that it would never expand into Since the crisis began, Russia has occu- people who have begun to ransack build- strongly urge you not to destabilize the sit- Central and Eastern Europe. At different pied Crimea with thousands of troops and ings, places of worship and churches. uation in our country and to stop your times, Russian leaders have attributed the staged a rigged referendum That is clearly Innocent people are suffering. People are attempts of delegitimizing the new promise to private statements by Germany’s escalation. NATO has offered to support the being robbed and killed in the streets…” – is Ukrainian government. former Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Foreign Ukrainian government’s defense reforms simply a lie, from the first word to the very Signed: Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, and then- and boost the transparency and democratic last. Josef Zissels, chairman of the Association U.S. Secretary of State James Baker. control of the armed forces. That is clearly The Russian-speaking citizens of of Jewish Communities and Organizations But in 1990, the only discussion was not escalation. Ukraine are not being humiliated or dis- of Ukraine (VAAD) Ukraine, executive vice- about the reunification of Germany. NATO Russian forces have seized Ukrainian criminated against, their civil rights have president of the Congress of National enlargement was not on the agenda, as the military bases and warships. That is escala- not been infringed upon. Meanderings Communities of Ukraine (CNCU) Warsaw Pact only dissolved a year later. tion. NATO has sent civilian experts to advise Ukraine on the security of critical about “forced Ukrainization” and “bans on Alexander Suslensky, D.Sc., vice-presi- Moreover, any such pledge would have had the Russian language” that have been so dent of the Jewish Confederation of to lead to a change of NATO’s founding infrastructure. That is not escalation. common in Russian media are on the heads Ukraine, businessman treaty made by consensus of all Allies. Russia has moved some 40,000 troops to of those who invented them. Your certainty The reality is that no such pledge was Ukraine’s border, backed up by tanks, fight- Andrei Adamovsky, first vice-president ever made, and Russia’s leaders have failed ers, artillery and attack helicopters: escala- about the growth of anti-Semitism in of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, to produce a single document to back up tion. NATO has launched AWACS radar air- Ukraine, which you expressed at your press member of the “Hillel” Jewish Student this oft-repeated claim. Since it was found- craft flights over Poland and Romania and conference, also does not correspond to the Organization Observation Council (citizen ed, NATO has embraced sovereign states sent six extra aircraft to the Baltic States to actual facts. Perhaps you got Ukraine con- of Russia) fused with Russia, where Jewish organiza- that made their free choice to join the protect Allied airspace: not escalation. Evgen Chervonenko, vice-president of Alliance. That is the spirit of democracy. tions have noticed growth in anti-Semitic the European Jewish Congress, business- Dispelling the smokescreen tendencies last year. Over the past 70 years, Russia has repeat- man edly promised to respect the sovereignty, Right now, after Ukraine has survived a The Russian propaganda against NATO Rabbi Alex Dukhovny, head rabbi of territorial integrity and political indepen- and the West is nothing but smokescreen to difficult political crisis, many of us have the Ukrainian Progressive Judaism commu- dence of all states. It did so, for example, cover up its own illegal actions. Dispel the wound up on different sides of the barri- nities when it signed the United Nations Charter of smokescreen, and the truth on the ground cades. The Jews of Ukraine, as all ethnic Rabbi Reuven Stamov, head rabbi of 1945, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the is clear: Russia has annexed Crimea at the groups, are not absolutely unified in their the Ukrainian Traditional Judaism commu- NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997. barrel of a gun, in breach of all its interna- opinion towards what is happening in the nities Russia is now violating Ukraine’s territori- tional commitments. country. But we live in a democratic coun- Alexander Paskhaver, member of the al integrity by occupying Crimea, and violat- Russia is now isolated in the world, its try and can afford a difference of opinion. VAAD Ukraine Coordination Council, econ- ing Ukraine’s sovereignty by trying to impose international credibility in tatters. This is They have tried to scare us (and are con- omist a federal system. Russia has broken its word. not in Russia’s interest. tinuing their attempts) with “Bandera fol- Leonid Finberg, director of the National It has done damage to its reputation that will Russia faces a choice: to stop blaming lowers” and “Fascists” attempting to wrest University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy Center take years to heal. Blaming NATO will not others for its own actions, pull back its away the helm of Ukrainian society, with for the Studies of History and Culture of make that better; it will make it worse. troops, step back into line with its interna- imminent Jewish pogroms. Yes, we are well tional obligations and start rebuilding trust. Eastern European Jewry, VAAD Ukraine Interference aware that the political opposition and the vice-chairman Otherwise, Russia will only face deeper forces of social protests that have secured Anatoliy Podolsky, director of the Russian leaders also claim that NATO has international isolation. That is in nobody’s changes for the better are made up of dif- Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies, interfered in Ukraine’s internal affairs by interest, and will make our world only ferent groups. They include nationalistic vice-chairman of VAAD Ukraine pushing the country towards membership. more dangerous and unpredictable. groups, but even the most marginal do not NATO’s track record shows how false that I call on Russia to de-escalate. There are dare show anti-Semitism or other xenopho- (Continued on page 14) is. When Ukraine expressed the aspiration concrete steps to be taken. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16

The team with Carter and Richards Ducks coach at the time, Randy Carlyle, had came close to winning a Stanley Cup in given up on him. There were days when Lupul loving life as a Leaf Philadelphia after Lupul was traded to Lupul had given up on himself. Anaheim for defenseman Chris Pronger. A trade to Toronto – where he was basi- The celebrity life of photo shoots for sport of hockey. Approaching age 30, as his They eventually did win a Cup with the Los cally a “throw-in” – put him into the ulti- major publications, film festival appearanc- career hit its middle stage, his focus Angeles Kings. Lupul still awaits his oppor- mate do-or-die situation. In his mind Lupul es in major international locations, con- changed: he decided it was most important tunity to raise hockey’s ultimate prize. set out to prove everyone wrong, especially certs at major North American venues and to be a professional hockey player. Perhaps Reflecting back, he does not regret the Coach Carlyle and Ducks General Manager courtside attendance at major tennis tour- it was something he grew into. Some might partying days and nights. He regrets not Bob Murray. On the day of the trade send- naments finally came to an end. It was say he finally grew up. understanding the importance of off-sea- ing him and promising defense prospect finally time to return to work. This Ukrainian Canadian has been son training and how much more advanced Jake Gardiner to Toronto in exchange for Once upon a time, being a major celebri- among the NHL leaders in only one catego- his career might be today if he had taken Francois Beauchemin, someone from the ty was important to Ukrainian hockey star ry during his career: late nights. To quote his job more seriously. In his first five NHL Anaheim front office proclaimed Lupul was Joffrey Lupul, the model-like face of the Hall of Fame hockey writer Frank Orr: seasons he didn’t put in the maximum done. Left wing, right wing, the guy can’t Toronto Maple Leafs. He wanted to be “He’s seen Dawn more than Tony Orlando.” preparation, didn’t do the extra work. He play anymore. more than just a hockey player. He had a Lupul had a lot to prove, was happy to Fun in Philly didn’t work on his skills. He trained and multitude of interests and opinions on practiced, but didn’t work on skating, pass- have escaped Anaheim, felt he was discard- pretty much everything in the world. In a Lupul used to have a reputation as one ing or flexibility. ed, written off. At the same time he was of hockey’s big party guys. While playing This realization pushed him to work experiencing self-doubt, having gone minds, he was hockey’s Renaissance man. for the Philadelphia Flyers as a 24- and harder, to take a more serious approach to through months of not being able to move, worldArguably of boring for the athletesfirst time within his clichédlife, for 25-year-old, he skated and lived alongside being an NHL player. It transformed him thinking he’d never be able to play again. all he does, for wherever he goes, Lupul the likes of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, into a more complete player. It came at the Then he was given another chance. wants to be known as a hockey player. In Scottie Upshall and Scott Hartnell. All were most opportune time – a time when it The timing was good to join a terrible his younger days the opposite held true – young, single millionaires living the life in a looked like his career might be over. Maple Leafs squad coached by Ron Wilson. he fought against being perceived as just a big metropolis – living too much life and Lupul’s hockey career was forever changed Traded to Toronto hockey player. He wanted more than that – having way too much fun. by Wilson when, upon his arrival, Lupul he had more to offer. The five forwards were all the same age Lupul had hit close to rock bottom while was asked if he could play left wing and The younger Lupul did not go out of his with all the same interests. They were all with the Anaheim Ducks, plagued by a immediately placed on a forward line with way to make public appearances, he simply best friends who would go out to dinner chronic back injury and a career-threaten- right wing sniper Phil Kessel. This became pursued his personal interests. Concerts, every night and experience life together. ing blood disorder, placing his athletic Toronto’s top line, was given tons of ice festivals, fashion shows, magazines were Being quite young they really didn’t know future in doubt. While his health was fail- time and rebuilt Lupul’s self-confidence. Lupul will be forever grateful for the belief some of his many interests outside the any better. ing, the belief in him failed to hold up.The Coach Wilson and then-G.M. Brian Burke had in him. Lovin’ life as a Leaf The Maple Leafs version of Joffrey Lupul has been significantly better than his previ- ous stops in Anaheim, Edmonton and Philadelphia. He is scoring at a 34-goal pace and averaging 31 points per season more than ever before. The only thing that hasn’t changed is his ability to stay healthy, having missed way too many games due to injuries. He continues to battle back spasms. However, it’s about more than goals and points with Lupul and the Leafs. On a team with little personality, he is a personality. On a team with an uncomfortable captain, Dion Phaneuf, and a reluctant star, Kessel, Lupul is happy to take the pressure off them. He is more than willing to do more than his share of interviews and take part in the daily crush that is intense media cov- erage in Toronto. On a team devoid of lead- ership, Lupul provides it. Party boy Lupul has transformed him- self, or rather matured, into a team leader. These days it’s all about hockey. The 2013- 2014 season was loaded with new possibil- ities, playoff potential and a growing trust with current Leafs Coach Carlyle, which didn’t exist in Anaheim. The dynamic between player and coach is much different from what it was years ago. The player has improved his skills and become a more mature person. Those who know Carlyle say the same about him as a coach. Well into the current campaign the great Maple Leafs Game 7 collapse of the 2013 playoffs still haunts the franchise. Most of the players have moved on. Lupul maintains he wouldn’t get over that defeat for as long as he lives. The game was won, people were exiting the arena, it was over. A game for the ages was great for hockey fans, but difficult for Lupul. He hasn’t yet turned the page. Yes, it was a brutal loss (that contributed to the Leafs not making the playoffs this year). Sometimes one needs to experience that kind of setback. Joffrey Lupul gets it: he’s been through his share of setbacks. He’s been traded four times before the age of 28 – some claimed his career was over. The setbacks have made him more mature, serious and aware. The best years of his pro hockey life may still be ahead of him. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 11 Carpathian Ski Club holds 60th annual races

HUNTER, N.Y. – Ski racers of all ages At the awards dinner held that evening enjoyed a picture perfect day at Hunter at the Copper Tree Restaurant, Vira Popel, Mountain on Saturday, March 1, during the president of KLK, began the evening with 60th annual ski races organized by the the Ukrainian national anthem, prayers Carpathian Ski Club (known by its and expressions of solidarity with the Ukrainian acronym, KLK). Euro-Maidan movement in Ukraine, as well The event began with the traditional as a moment of silence for the scores killed opening ceremony on the slopes with three several days earlier on the Maidan in Kyiv. skiers carrying the flags of the United The skiers and their families were wel- States, Ukraine and KLK coming down the comed to Hunter Mountain by David race course as the national anthems were Slutzky, one of the ski resort’s owners, who played. Afterwards, it was time for the 31 attended with his wife, Jean, on a day that female and 43 male skiers registered to marked their 37th wedding anniversary. compete – ranging in age from under 4 to The highlight of evening, of course, was over 75 – to take their two runs down a the presentation of trophies and medals, as NASTAR (National Standard Race) course. well as special prizes to the top ski racers.

Andrew Moroch Scenes from the KLK ski races (clockwise from top left): some of the top skiers among young women and girls; flag-bearers at the opening ceremony; winners in the 2014 KLK ski race results two of the boys’ age groups. Girls 4-6 Women 35-44 Boys 16-19 Recognized as the fastest male and races due to the crisis in Ukraine and an 1. Marilyn Vena 1. Marta Dubyk 1. Damian Kozak female skiers of the 2014 races, a distinction emergency session of the U.N. Security 2. Circe Vena 2. Wanda Vena 2. Greg Lopatynsky that includes possession of traveling tro- Council on that matter. 3. Sophia Temnycky 3. Margaret Begley 3. Markiyan Khomyak phies with their names inscribed on them The ambassador also usually presents (no repeat winners are allowed), were the most promising young skiers with spe- Girls 8-10 Women 45 and over Men 20-30 Julian Fedorciw and Maya Lopatynsky. cial trophies and certificates. This year that 1. Olena Kucher 1. Natalia Wojcickyj 1. Markian Hadzewycz The KLK Family Award, normally pre- honor went to Stefan Sorobay and 2. Larissa Pawliczko 2. Chrystyna Sorobay 2. William Buniak 3. Melasia Bodnar sented by Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev of Christina Silver. 3. Maria Silver Men 30-44 Ukraine’s Mission to the United Nations, In conclusion, Ms. Popel thanked the Girls 12 went this year to the Vena Family – Damien sponsors of the 2014 KLK Ski Races: Boys 5 1. Eri Palydowycz 1. Christina Silver and Wanda and their children, Circe, Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union 1. Oleksa Kucher 2. Damien Vena 2. Vera Hrab Marilyn and Rocco. (Proud grandpa Joseph of Philadelphia, Self Reliance New York 2. Mykola Temnycky 3. Mark Bodnar Vena also competed.) Ambassador Federal Credit Union and Self Reliance Girls 14-15 Men 45-49 Sergeyev was unable to attend this year’s (N.J.) Federal Credit Union. 1. Natalia Moroch Boys 8 1. Roman Hrab Sr. 2.Renata Hewryk 1. Arthur Hrycak 3. Julia Moroch 2. Andrew Moroch 2. Rocco Vena 3. Volodymyr Khomyak Girls under 16 Boys 10-12 1. Diana Blyznak Men 50-54 1. Stefan Sorobay 1. Andrew Tytla 2. Adriana Buniak 2. Dmytro Crawford 3. Taisa Sorobay 2. Mark Pawliczko 3. Peter Hrycak 3. Stefan Wojcickyj Girls 16-19 1. Maya Lopatynsky Boys 14-15 Men 55-59 2. Natalia Blyznak 1. Mark Blyznak 1. Andrew Kozak 3. Adriana Wojcickyj 2. Roman Hrab Jr. 2. Vlodko Temnycky 3. Mykola Pawliczko 3. Roman Sorobay Women 20-29 1. Melania Nynka Boys 16-18 Men 60 and over 2. Katherine Mulyk 1. Julian Fedorciw 1. Mak Kobziar 3. Christina Temnycky 2. Alex Iwaskiw 2. Joseph Vena

throughout the day. In the morning she next day as a shortcut to civil war. Security and Defense Council (NSDC), said Fear, anger... called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis; “We have to defend our motherland. But such actions played into Moscow’s hands. by afternoon, she was calling for national with our bare hands and sticks what are Writing on Facebook, she appealed to (Continued from page 1) resistance. we going to do against extremists? The the protesters and assured them that the Oleksandr Turchynov issued an ultimatum “The authorities are unaccountable and authorities are scared of giving arms to the NSDC had authorized the use of the army to pro-Russian gunmen: give yourselves up indecisive,” said Igor, a 40-year-old con- people,” 63-year-old Stepan Kovgus said. in the east and officials were working or face a huge “anti-terror” operation. struction worker who gave only his first After many of the protesters had dis- through the details of the operation to min- But come morning, the ultimatum’s dead- name. Demonstrators chanted “We’ve had persed, a group of activists – among them imize the loss of human life. line passed without event. Mr. Turchynov enough!” and “Out with Avakov,” referring members of the nationalist group Right then replaced the man heading the counter- to unpopular Internal Affairs Minister Sector – marched to the Verkhovna Rada, Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted terrorist operation. Hours later he floated Arsen Avakov. where they set fire to tires and demanded with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ the possibility of holding a referendum. One speaker representing a division of that the country’s top security brass be Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, And Mr. Turchynov wasn’t the only one Maidan security brigades demanded the held accountable for their actions. Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see flip-flopping. Presidential candidate Yulia authorities provide them with weapons – a In an appeal to the protesters, Viktoria http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-kyiv- Tymoshenko changed her position proposal Mr. Turchynov would dismiss the Siumar, deputy secretary of the National protests-inaction/25334163.html). 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16

negotiations. They wanted the Kyiv govern- believes it is necessary to immediately in international waters in the Black Sea. NEWSBRIEFS ment to hear them. And it heard them. impose a state of emergency in eastern The incident occurred on April 12, Radio After Donetsk was visited by Prime regions of Ukraine. Speaking on the air of Liberty reported. Pentagon spokesman Col. (Continued from page 2) Minister [Arseniy] Yatsenyuk, a consensus Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, she Steve Warren said that this Russian action was provocative and unprofessional. Col. Biden to travel to Ukraine was reached in the negotiations,” Mr. explained: “In my opinion, it is necessary to Taruta said. He added that it was agreed declare the emergency state in those Warren said that a Russian Su-24 fighter jet WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice-President Joe the Parliament will launch the legislative regions, where now really there is aggres- made 12 passes at low altitude near the Biden will travel to Kyiv for meetings with process on a local referendum. “And we sion. This will give us a right to also use the U.S. Navy destroyer, which arrived in the government leaders and members of civil agreed that the constitutional commission army.” She added that there should not be a Black Sea on April 10, for about one-and-a- society on Tuesday, April 22. The vice-presi- will necessarily be attended by representa- delay with military opposition to the war half hours. At the same time, there was no dent will underscore strong U.S. support for tives of the region. I hope that the declared by Russia. At the same time, Ms. response from the Russian pilot when the a united, democratic Ukraine that makes its Verkhovna Rada will soon consider the Tymoshenko stressed that the army, police ship’s crew reportedly issued warnings for own choices about its future path. While in issue and adopt the necessary document,” and special services, “which could really it to remain at a safe distance. (Ukrinform) oppose aggression today, are in a very weak, Kyiv, the Mr. Biden will consult with govern- Mr. Taruta noted. (Ukrinform) Ukraine requests extraditions ment officials on the international communi- destroyed state, demoralized and absolutely Turchynov vows to prevent civil war ty’s efforts to help stabilize and strengthen not ready for waging the modern war.” She KYIV – Permanent Representative of Ukraine’s economy and to assist Ukraine in KYIV – Acting President of Ukraine and noted, “Antiterrorist operations may be Ukraine to the United Nations Yuriy moving forward on constitutional reform, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr declared, but to fulfill them after Sergeyev reported on the fruitless appeals decentralization, anti-corruption efforts, and Turchynov said civilians will not be provid- Yanukovych, actually, almost liquidated of the law enforcement authorities of free and fair presidential elections on May ed with weapons and there will be no civil them and filled them by 90 percent with Ukraine to Russia concerning the extradi- 25. The White House news release about his war in Ukraine. He said this at a meeting of pro-Russian people, it is impossible to fulfill tion of Viktor Yanukovych, Viktor Pshonka visit also noted: “He will also discuss the lat- the Parliament on April 15, commenting on these tasks today.” According to Ms. and Vitalii Zakharchenko, who are interna- est developments in eastern Ukraine, where the initiative of the Svoboda faction to pass Tymoshenko, it is necessary to look for tionally wanted. He said this during an pro-Russian separatists, apparently with the a law that allows civilians to have weapons, patriotic military, officers and special ser- emergency meeting of the U.N. Security support of Moscow, continue an orchestrat- as well as some initiatives to give civilians vice workers, who are ready to undertake Council held on Monday night, April 14. ed campaign of incitement and sabotage to weapons to protect the state. “The govern- responsibility to defend Ukraine. “Russian television channels broadcast the destabilize the Ukrainian state. In addition, ment gives weapons only to those who (Ukrinform) interviews with three former government officials – [former President ] Viktor the vice-president will consult on the latest come to work in the police, or who are Pro-Russian thugs beat peaceful protesters steps to enhance Ukraine’s short- and long- going to serve with the National Guard or Yanukovych, former Procurator General term energy security. The vice-president will armed forces. When we open free access to KHARKIV – In Kharkiv on Sunday after- Pshonka and former Internal Affairs also meet with various Ukrainian people to weapons, it would also mean free access to noon, April 13, around 1,000 people who Minister Zakharchenko. They are accused hear their aspirations and deepen the part- the separatists, and it means that we push had just taken part in a rally in support of of massacres in Ukraine and are wanted internationally,” Ambassador Sergeyev nership between the United States and Ukraine into the abyss of civil war... There Ukrainian unity were attacked from all said. He stressed that “Ukraine once again Ukraine.” News of Mr. Biden’s upcoming visit will be no civil war in Ukraine. End of sides by a few hundred young men with St requests the Russian partners to extradite was announced on April 12. (White House) story,” Mr. Turchynov said. Russian Prime George ribbons and baseball bats. these suspects and provide the necessary Minister Dmitry Medvedev had written on Witnesses report that a police cordon on assistance in the investigation.” However, Taruta says Kyiv heard Donbas his Facebook page that Ukraine is on the one side kept the thugs away, but they managed to attack from Shevchenko Park. the Ukrainian diplomat added, “The KYIV – Donetsk authorities have been verge of civil war. (Ukrinform) As photos show, the assailants caught peo- Russian Federation, unfortunately, refuses negotiating for five days with those who Tymoshenko for state of emergency ple who tried to hide in the metro and beat to do so.” (Ukrinform) had seized an oblast state administration them. Interfax Ukraine reported that building, Donetsk Governor Serhiy Taruta KYIV – Presidential candidate and leader European support group for Ukraine women with St. George ribbons then set told a briefing on April 15. “Originally, 12 of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia upon the people attacked, shouting that BRUSSELS – The European Commission pro-Russian activists were involved in Tymoshenko said on April 15 that she they were “scum.” According to the police has decided to create a support group for press service report issued that evening, 50 Ukraine, its president, Jose Manuel Barroso, people were injured, including a police offi- said in Brussels on April 9. It is expected cer. Ten were taken to hospital. The police that the support group will provide a focal also reported that the so-called separatists point, structure, overview and guidance for have split into two groups with one group, the European Commission’s work to sup- TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 around 100 people, smashing gates and port Ukraine. “It will also help mobilize or e-mail [email protected] breaking into the courtyard of the Kharkiv member states’ expertise and further City Council. Around 2,000 others headed enhance coordination with other donors and the international financing institutions,” SERVICES PROFESSIONALS to the Kharkiv remand unit and demanded the release of others detained on April 8 reads the European Commission statement. during an operation to free the seized Mr. Barroso said the European Commission oblast administration. (Kharkiv Human “is determined to help Ukraine for the long Rights Protection Group) term.” He added, “Today’s decision to create a support group will ensure that the Putin denies Russian role Ukrainian authorities have all the support MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir they need in undertaking the political and Putin has denied Russia is involved in the economic reforms that are necessary to sta- bilize the country. Our common goal is to unrest in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin have a democratic, independent and pros- says Putin issued the denial to U.S. perous Ukraine.” (Ukrinform) President Barack Obama during a tele- phone call on April 14. According to the PACE strips Russia of voting rights Kremlin, Mr. Putin rejected claims of Russian agents’ involvement in protests as KYIV – The Parliamentary Assembly of “speculations based on unreliable informa- the Council of Europe (PACE) on April 10 tion.” According to the White House, Mr. adopted a resolution stripping the Russian Obama told Mr. Putin that Moscow would delegation of voting rights until the end of face further costs if its actions in Ukraine this year because of Russia’s annexation of persisted. The U.S. president urged Mr. Crimea, which it said was “in clear contra- diction with the Statute of the Council of SERVICES Putin to use his influence with armed, pro- Russian groups to convince them to leave Europe” and the commitments Russia buildings they have seized in eastern made when it joined the organization in Ukraine. Mr. Obama told Mr. Putin that 1996. The document, prepared by Austrian Russia must withdraw its troops from representative Stefan Schennach, was Ukraine’s border to reduce tensions, noting backed by 145 PACE members; 21 voted that Ukraine’s government has acted with against it, and 22 abstained. PACE said the “remarkable restraint.” The two leaders military occupation of Ukrainian territory, spoke as pro-Russian groups continued to threat of military force, recognition of the occupy government buildings and security illegal so-called referendum and annexa- headquarters in some 10 cities and towns tion of Crimea “constitute, beyond any in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian govern- doubt, a grave violation of international ment, meanwhile, announced plans for an law.” The resolution stipulates that through “antiterrorist” operation to roll back the the end of the year Russia will not partici- seizures of government facilities. (RFE/RL) pate in fundamentally important votes, including the election of judges and the Russian fighter flies over U.S. destroyer Council of Europe secretary general, as well as in the work of committees. A member of KYIV – The U.S. Department of Defense the Ukrainian delegation, Andriy reported that a Russian attack aircraft repeatedly flew near the USS Donald Cook (Continued on page 13) No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 13

threatened” because of their language. question more sharply: “Sanctions are not Perpetual Help, is the new exarch, Vatican NEWSBRIEFS The International Republican Institute enough.” According to him, the adopted Radio reported on February 13. The Crimea (IRI) said the findings, released on April 5, restrictions are incomparable to what Exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic (Continued from page 12) “contradict claims by Moscow that Russia did. (Ukrinform) Church (UGCC) was created recently, and Bishop Vasyl Ivasyuk, the exarch of Odesa Shevchenko, said that PACE had also sup- Russian-speaking citizens are being Mine blast kills 7 in Donetsk region and Crimea, was appointed the eparch of ported the amendment that bans Russia threatened, a claim many believe is a pre- Kolomyia and Chernivtsi of the UGCC. The from working in PACE administrative text to further Russian incursions into KYIV – Seven people were killed in Crimean Archiepiscopal Exarchate was structures and participating in election Ukraine.” According to the results, 85 per- Skachynsky mine explosion in the Donetsk formed by separating it from the Exarchate monitoring. (Ukrinform, PACE) cent of Ukrainians, and 66 percent of eth- region on April 11. According to preliminary nic Russians, said they don’t feel that reports from the local department of the of Odesa and Crimea. It covers the territory PACE against federalization Russian-speaking citizens are facing State Service of Mining Supervision and of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and increased pressure since the February Industrial Safety in Donetsk region, a meth- is based in Symferopol. (Religious KYIV – The Parliamentary Assembly of ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor ane outburst caused the accident. The report Information Service of Ukraine) the Council of Europe, in a resolution sup- Yanukovych. The IRI said 1,200 people reads: “The outburst occurred at 06:05 in ported by 154 delegates (26 against, 14 U.S. imposes new Crimea sanctions participated in the poll, which was con- the third eastern wall. There were seven abstentions) said it considers the federal- people on the emergency site, they all died. WASHINGTON – The United States ization of Ukraine inappropriate. “The ducted in all Ukrainian regions, including Their bodies have been lifted to the surface.” announced new sanctions related to Assembly strongly opposes any idea of the Crimea, on March 14-26. The U.S. Agency Unconfirmed reports said at least five min- Russia’s annexation of Crimea and warned federalization of Ukraine, as it can signifi- for International Development funded the ers sought medical help. (Ukrinform) that both Washington and its partners were cantly weaken the unity and stability of the survey. (RFE/RL) ready to take further steps against Moscow. country,” it is stated in the resolution ‘Treasure trove’ of Yanukovych records OSCE mission completes field work The U.S. Treasury Department said in a adopted on April 9. PACE recommended statement on April 11 that the sanctions that Ukrainian authorities develop an inte- KYIV – A top U.S. diplomat said the WARSAW – The Office for Democratic regard the company Chernomorneftgaz and grated and comprehensive strategy to United States is helping Ukraine comb Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of six Crimean separatist leaders plus a former strengthen local and regional authorities through a “treasure trove” of documents the Organization for Security and Ukrainian official involved in the region’s and decentralization. “This strategy of recovered from the government of ousted Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on April 1 secession and its annexation by Russia. The decentralization should be based on the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in announced that its part of the Human decision freezes any assets within U.S. juris- principles of a strong unitary state with an order to prosecute corrupt officials. U.S. Rights Assessment Mission deployed at the diction held by those sanctioned and also effective centralized management, with the Assistant Secretary of State for European request of the Ukrainian authorities had bans U.S. citizens from conducting transac- delegation of responsibility and authority and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland said completed its field work. The mission col- tions with them. Chernomorneftegaz was to the regions,” the resolution notes. PACE Department of Justice officials were helping lected information in order to assess the sit- sanctioned for being allegedly complicit in noted that the split between eastern and to “exploit” the documents so that law uation with respect to OSCE commitments the misappropriation of state assets of western Ukraine, which has increased in enforcement authorities can make cases and other applicable international human Ukraine. The individuals sanctioned are recent years, is of political origin. Also, the against “corrupt officials both in Ukrainian rights standards. “The completion of our Sevastopol official Aleksei Chaliy, who Assembly called the Crimean referendum courts and in international courts.” Ms. field work represents an important step in signed the March agreement to unite on joining Russia, which took place March Nuland was speaking on April 9 at a hearing the work of the Human Rights Assessment Crimea and the city with Russia; Rustam 16, contrary to both the Crimean and of the Commission on Security and Temirgaliev, Yuriy Zherebtsov, Mikhail Ukrainian Constitutions, and expressed Cooperation in Europe, also known as the director of ODIHR. The mission comprised Malyshev and Valery Medvedev, who are concern about the large concentration of U.S. Helsinki Commission, on the situation in 19Mission,” experts said from Ambassador ODIHR, and Janez visited Lenarčič, a num- accused of playing roles in the secession Russian troops on the border with Ukraine. Ukraine. Yanukovych opponents seized ber of cities, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, “referendum” held in March; former securi- Additionally, the PACE expressed concern potentially incriminating documents after Kherson, Kyiv, Lviv, Mykolayiv, Odesa and ty chief Pyotr Zima, who was dismissed by about the increasing number of substanti- his government collapsed in late February, Symferopol, as well as the surrounding the interim Ukrainian leadership for swear- ated reports of violations of the rights of including hundreds left behind at his lavish regions. They met with representatives ing allegiance to the new Crimean authori- ethnic Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar minor- residence outside Kyiv. Many of the docu- from national government and local author- ties; and Sergey Tsekov, the former deputy ities in Crimea. Finally, PACE said that the ments were found floating in a reservoir ities, from political parties and international speaker of Ukraine’s Parliament, who alleg- numerous false reports of human rights near the grounds, an apparent attempt by organizations and from civil society and edly was responsible for facilitating the ref- violations in Ukraine have had a negative Mr. Yanukovych’s fleeing aides to destroy minority communities to gather informa- erendum. The move is the third round of impact on inter-ethnic relations in the them. Ms. Nuland also said Washington tion for the assessment of the human rights U.S. sanctions in connection with the country. (Interfax-Ukraine) situation. Ukraine’s authorities issued the trusted evidence indicating Moscow’s role Ukraine crisis. (RFE/RL) in the takeovers of government buildings by invitation for the mission on March 3 to Majority in Donetsk oppose secession pro-Russian protesters this week in eastern ODIHR and the OSCE High Commissioner Sanctions on more ex-Ukrainian officials for National Minorities (HCNM), and an KYIV – More than 65 percent of Donetsk Ukraine, but did not accuse Russia outright. advance team was deployed on March 6, fol- KYIV – Former Ukrainian First Vice residents want their oblast to remain part “I don’t think that we have any doubt that lowed by the full mission on March 18. The Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov, National of Ukraine, according to a poll conducted the preponderance of evidence indicates experts from the HCNM have additional vis- Deputy Yuriy Ivaniushchenko, former on March 26-28 by the Institute of Social direct Russian involvement here, but in this its planned to Ukraine in connection with Ukrainian Income and Tax Minister Research and Political Analysis. As report- setting I’m not prepared to go further,” Ms. the mission in the coming weeks. A report Oleksander Klymenko, and former Energy ed on April 9 by ostro.ua, about 18 percent Nuland told the hearing. (RFE/RL) on the mission’s findings and recommenda- and Coal Industry Minister Eduard want the Donetsk Oblast to be annexed by Ukraine cites insufficient sanctions tions is planned for release toward the end Stavytsky are on an expanded list of Russia, more than 50 percent support the of April. (OSCE) Ukrainian individuals on whom the current unitary state, while about 15.5 per- KYIV – Ukraine’s official delegation that European Union imposed sanctions for cent support federalism. Only 16 percent arrived in Washington on April 11, with UGCC has new exarchate, bishop embezzlement and illegal withdrawal of support the capture of administration National Bank of Ukraine Chairman Stepan ROME – The Vatican reported that the state assets from Ukraine. The EU Foreign buildings, while 77 percent view such Kubiv as its leader, noted the lack of sanc- pope has given his consent to the canonical Affairs Council made the decision on April methods as inappropriate, without any tions against Russia for its aggression. election by the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic 14. The assets of these persons in the EU positive goals. More than 76 percent of “Sanctions should be active, timely and Synod of Bishops of an exarch of Odesa. The will be blocked, starting from April 15. Donetsk residents said they never felt effective,” Mr. Kubiv said when asked by Rev. Mykhailo Bubniy, the superior of the Previously, the European Union had restricted in their use of the Russian lan- American journalists to comment on the Redemptorist monastery in Ivano- imposed sanctions on 18 former Ukrainian guage. (Zenon Zawada) effectiveness of sanctions against Russia. Frankivsk and parish priest of Our Lady of officials. (Ukrinform) Poll: Most Russian-speakers feel no threat He noted that “today Russia is violating laws against Ukraine, tomorrow these laws KYIV – Results of a U.S.-funded survey will be breached against other countries.” say most Russian-speaking citizens in At the same time, Ukrainian Finance With sadness we announce that Ukraine do not feel “under pressure or Minister Oleksandr Shlapak answered the Anna Dorosz née Burian tyrants who, as it is now clear, also happened of Maryland, formerly of Feasterville Pennsylvania, passed To Vice-President... to be foreign agents. This victory of the on March 31, 2014 at the age of 90. Beloved wife of the late Ukrainian people and the principles of demo- (Continued from page 7) Peter, and predeceased by her dear sons John Dorosz and Peter Burian (Irka). cratic government will be nullified if Ukraine Requiem Liturgy was held on Saturday April 12th at St. Michael international forums, and economic sanc- or any of its regions fall to its historical oppres- sor. Furthermore, having won in Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1016 Fox Chase Road, Jenkintown, Pa., tions targeting individuals and financial followed by interment at Lawnview Cemetery in Rockledge, PA. institutions are valuable tools and should Russia will be emboldened. The question of not be forsaken. They need time to work. whether Russia is a superpower will no lon- In deep sorrow: However, the United States and its NATO ger be in issue. Mr. Vice-President, help daughter-in-law Irka Zazulak allies must immediately step up, remove all Ukraine. Help the Ukrainian people militarily grandchildren Natalka Burian Schneider with her husband, Jason Schneider, and her children, Viola Burian Schneider as restrictions and provide Ukraine with direct defend their country and those principles that we Americans hold so dear. Ukrainian well as Leonora Burian Schneider . military assistance so that the people of grandson Olesh Burian with daughter, Milya Burian. Ukraine can defend themselves. soldiers are willing to fight for those princi- From the early days of the Maidan in ples. They need our tangible support. In lieu of flowers donations in Anna’s memory may be offered to November of last year, you have been tuned in Respectfully yours, either, Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA) or United Ukrainian and an active participant in the Ukrainian Askold S. Lozynskyj American Relief Committee (UUARC/ZUADK) events that enabled a good people to depose an American Ukrainian 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16 BOOK REVIEW: The untold story of Ukraine in World War II “Between Hitler and Stalin: Ukraine in place through which Nazi and Soviet troops tation of Ukraine, and Ukrainian popula- World War II – The Untold Story,” by marched back and forth, destroying mil- tion losses – which exceeded the losses of Wsevolod W. Isajiw, Andrew Gregorovich lions of people along the way. There was a all other countries during World War II. and Oleh S. Romanyschyn. Toronto, Ontario, widespread, active movement that strove Readers will also learn why “the greatest Canada: Ukrainian Canadian Research and to protect the Ukrainian people from both battle in the history of the world,” accord- Documentation Center, 2013. ISBN: 978-0- Soviet and Nazi oppression and fought to ing to Hitler, happened in Ukraine; why 9696301-1-1. 118 pp. gain independence for Ukraine. Other cen- Ukraine was not a German collaborator like tral themes are the dramatic, indeed tragic other countries in this period; why both by Taras Hunczak events, of the second world war, which did Hitler and Stalin needed to occupy Ukraine; This book, co-authored by Wsevolod W. not begin with German invasion of the forms of resistance in Ukraine; German Isajiw, Andrew Gregorovich and Oleh S. Soviet Union, but rather with the Nazi- retreat and Soviet re-occupation; relations Romanyshyan, was planned as “a reader’s Soviet Pact of August 23, 1939. with Poland; ethnic cleansing in Ukraine; companion” for those who saw the film This agreement provided the two impe- the Ukrainian military in the Waffen SS and “Between Hitler and Stalin,” providing the rialist states with the opportunity to realize the Red Army; the role of Ukraine in reader with interesting basic knowledge their expansionist plans against their neigh- American shuttle bombing of Germans; the about 20th century Ukraine. However, their bors. Carpatho-Ukraine was the first victim role of Ukrainians in developing radar and book has gone beyond the content of the of violence that began the war, Poland fol- helicopters; the French resistance and film. It provides the background for an lowed. The war, which expanded into Ukrainian participation in it; displaced per- understanding of a national political move- Ukraine in 1941, as discussed by the sons and the refugee camp experience; ment, including the story of Carpatho- authors, had numerous dimensions, turning Soviet repatriation; the costs of war; the Ukraine, the Ukrainian nationalist move- Ukrainians into slave laborers in Germany Soviet legacy; the national rebirth and the ment, particularly during the German and or into soldiers either in the Soviet or in the Orange Revolution. Soviet occupations, ending with the German armies. Of course, Ukrainians also The book contains ample references to Proclamation of Ukrainian independence fought in the Allied armies, as well as in the both secondary and primary sources. The in 1991. The authors also address such Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). unique in covering this period, with book is interesting and is worth reading. It major tragedies as the Holodomor in The book presents an intelligently insights into motivating factors for both is not merely a dry presentation of facts, Soviet-occupied Ukraine and the Holocaust researched and detailed comparison of ideologies that are usually left untold in dates and names, but an engaging analysis in German-occupied Ukraine. Ukraine as a battleground between two most conventional history books and of the thinking and the deep-seated drives The central themes of the book include ideologies, Nazi and Soviet, exploiting the courses on the topic. that influenced the ambitions and determi- the idea that in World War II Ukraine was country for their own purposes during a The authors also introduce readers to nations of people in power. I would particu- not just a passive entity. It was not just a war not of Ukraine’s making. The book is such subjects as the Nazi economic exploi- larly recommend it to students. La Salle U. holds scholarly conference on “Ukraine: History, Politics and Revolution”

by Alex Nalencz al” report, Yuri Didula (National Endowment for Democracy, Washington) PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University’s shared his experiences from his almost Diplomat-in-Residence Program, in cooper- month-long participation in the Maidan ation with the Central and Eastern revolution in Kyiv, providing moving European Studies (CEES) and the insights into the spirit that informed the Multicultural and International Center, capital of Ukraine before and after the sponsored a one-day conference on the lat- removal of the disgraced president, Viktor est developments in Ukraine. The March 12 Yanukovych, from office. Mr. Didula partic- event attracted more than 80 people, ularly stressed the religious dimension of including students and faculty from La Salle the revolution and the ecumenical spirit and neighboring universities, as well as that prevailed among all its participants, local members of the Ukrainian community. and debunked the popular myth of two Prof. Cornelia Tsakiridou, director of the Ukraines divided by language. Diplomat-in-Residence-Program, opened Anthony Rinna (La Salle CEES student) the proceedings and introduced the speak- offered pertinent information on the possi- ers. Barbara Allen (La Salle) presented a ble nuclear threat and the strategic signifi- survey of Ukrainian-Russian relations up to cance of the fleet movements in the Black 1991, the year of the implosion of the Sea. Soviet Union, to give the discussion a his- The presentations were followed by a torical background. At La Salle University’s conference on Ukraine are: (seated, from left) Leonid lively and extensive question and answer In his brief, dynamic presentation, Rudnytzky, Barbara Allen, (standing) Yuriy Didula, Anthony Rinna, Cornelia period during which members of the audi- Leonid Rudnytzky (La Salle) offered a bal- Tsakiridou and Michael Boyle. ence had an opportunity to voice their per- ance sheet on “the pluses and minuses” of sonal opinions regarding the world events the Maidan revolution and shared some Michael Boyle (La Salle) addressed the the perspective of international law, while discussed and the reports offered by the personal memories from his recent travels legal dimensions of the Maidan Revolution focusing on its possible consequences for individual panelists. to Ukraine. and the Russian invasion of Crimea from U.S.-Russia relations and the future of the The conference concluded with a silent world order. prayer for the souls of those killed during In what he himself termed “an emotion- the Maidan revolution.

Due to the current situation in Ukraine, Michael Gold, editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian Jewish... VAAD Ukraine newspaper “Hadashot” 100th Anniversary of (Continued from page 9) Galina Haraz, engineer (citizen of Ukraine and Israel) Lev Rejnarowycz Igor Kuperberg, chairman of the Igor Turov, Ph.D. in history, director of Zionist Federation of Ukraine, vice-chair- the Jewish Studies Certificate Program of scheduled to be celebrated on man of VAAD Ukraine VAAD Ukraine, VAAD Ukraine Presidium Semen Belman, vice-president of the member Jewish Council of Ukraine, president of the Diana Gold, VAAD Ukraine Presidium April 27, 2014 Chernihiv Jewish Community member at the Alexander Gaidar, leader of the Union Alexander Roitburg, artist of Ukrainian Progressive Judaism Religious Communities Evgen Greben, director of the “Maccabi” Lviv Opera House in Lviv, Ukraine, Jewish Cultural and Sports Society (Kyiv) Vyacheslav Likhachev, CNCU chief has been postponed to a later date. expert in monitoring and analyzing xeno- Grigoriy Pickman, “B’nai B’rith Leopolis” phobia and anti-Semitism, member of the president VAAD Ukraine Coordination Council (citi- Igor Kerez, VAAD Ukraine Trustee zen of Russia and Israel) Board member, businessman No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 15

CONCERT REVIEWS The Zuk Piano Duo at McGill University by Thomas Davidson (2002) by Yevhen Stankovych. Both these works were evoc- ative in their own way. One could not help imagining the MONTREAL – An enthusiastic and appreciative audience land and culture of inspiration while listening to this music. was treated on Thursday, March 13, to a program of four- “Ukrainian Dance” by George Fiala was also heard. This hand and duo piano repertoire centered around the theme piece, written in 1979, is based on Ukrainian folk melodies and shows the composer’s trademark style of dissonance, community, Canada and abroad, the Zuk Duo has estab- incisive rhythmic figures, contrapuntal technique and shift- oflished folk aand regular dance following elements. because Well-known of the inpersonality the Montréal and ing metrical accents. Mr. Fiala has also written specifically warmth of their performances. for the Zuk Duo and has had a longtime musical and person- Ireneus Zuk provided commentary throughout, which al association with them since his arrival in Montreal in the added to the personal touch. He began the evening with a 1950s. dedication: “In view of the current crisis in the land of our Also included on the program were wonderful perfor- origin – Ukraine – we wish to dedicate the first number on mances of “Dances from the Greek Isles” by Yannis our program to the memory of those who lost their lives in peaceful demonstrations for democracy, and in support of “Mikrokosmos,” as arranged by the composer. The evening those who now struggle to defend the independence of the endedConstantinidis with a lively and rendition selections of “Ronde from BélaVillageoise” Bartok’s by country.” The first number, suitably entitled “Pièces Ukrainiennes” away recently (2006), was an esteemed colleague and per- by composer Fedir Akimenko, was played in a reverent and Clermontsonal friend Pépin. of the Also Zuks. a Montrealer, Mr. Pépin, who passed intimate mood as a duet on one keyboard. Luba and Ireneus This memorable event left those in attendance eagerly Zuks played the remainder of the evening on two pianos anticipating the next opportunity to hear the Zuk Duo in blending their tone masterfully. concert. Two pieces on the program were written specially for the brother and sister team; the highly atmospheric and explor- Thomas Davidson is assistant professor (piano, musician- atory “Five Ornaments” by Halyna Ovcharenko (1997) and ship) at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, and the energetic and rhythmic “Ancient Dances of Verkhovyna” the School of Music at Queen’s University. Ireneus and Luba Zuk. “Shevchenko and Shakespeare” at Ukrainian Institute of America

by Bohdan Markiw In November of 2014, 82 more songs by four Galician composers (Barvinsky, Sichynsky, Liudkewych and NEW YORK – The Ukrainian Institute of America, in its Turkewich) will be released. The CD collections released to Music at the Institute series (MATI), on March 8 presented date include the participation of Mr. Hunka’s colleagues in a commemorative concert called “Shevchenko and Canada: four female voices, five male voices, one cellist and Shakespeare” to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of two guest pianists. Taras Shevchenko. The program of the bard’s poems in the For the bicentennial concert that recently took place, Mr. first half, set to music by Lysenko, Stepovyj and Turkewich, Hunka and the UASP released a special new CD of 24 art was contrasted in the second half of the concert with a songs – all settings of Shevchenko’s poems by various com- song cycle of Shakespeare’s sonnets translated into the posers, including Vasyl Barvinsky, Stanyslav Liudkevych, Ukrainian language by Ostap Tarnavsky, and composed for and Ukraine’s first professional female composer, Stefania Pavlo Hunka by the contemporary Ukrainian composer Lukianovych-Turkewich. All 3 CD sets are available through Oleksandr Jakovchuk (1952-). the Ukrainian Art Song Project website (www.uasp.ca); Mr. Hunka was born in England, where he completed they can can be downloaded on i-Tunes. law school, but after a while he decided to leave the legal The “Shevchenko and Shakespeare” concert marked Mr. profession and to devote his life completely to music. He Hunka’s first appearance in New York. For the New York became a successful opera singer who continues to appear audience it was a double pleasure to hear the world- in the leading opera houses of the United Kingdom, famous Ukrainian opera singer with his pianist Albert Canada, Europe, Russia and Ukraine. Krywolt. The first pleasure was Mr. Hunka’s beautiful sing- In 2004 Mr. Hunka teamed up with the composer and ing; the second pleasure was the world premiere of Mr. opera director Roman Hurko, and together they established Jacovchuk’s setting of Shakespeare’s sonnets. the Ukrainian Art Song Project (UASP). Its purpose is to Mr. Hunka, a very pleasant and affable man, has a beau- record approximately 1,000 art songs that Mr. Hunka has col- tiful mellow voice. His rendition of the entire program was lected over the past 35 years; this will comprise an anthology excellent in every aspect; his perfect diction allowed us to of at least 26 of the best professional Ukrainian composers understand every word of the poetic texts. His breath con- from the past 160 years. At present, three sets of these trol, even in longer phrases was excellent, and his voice prominent composers (Mykola Lysenko, Kyrylo Stetsenko Bass-baritone Paul Hunka at the Ukrainian Institute of was even throughout his upper, middle and very low range. and Yakiv Stepovyi) have been released – around 300 songs. America. We hope to hear him again soon. Pianist Roman Rudnytsky performs in Holy Land YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Concert pianist Roman Palestinian refugee camp, where the interaction was with In that capacity, he has performed in over 35 countries, Rudnytsky spent the week of February 24 to March 2 play- the students of the Music Department of Al-Quds University with repeat visits to many of them. An American composi- ing recitals in the Holy Land. The U.S. Consulate General in (“Al-Quds” is “Jerusalem” in the Arabic language). tion or two is always included in his recital programs. In Jerusalem invited him to play recitals and conduct several The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem focuses its public diplo- 2012, these types of programs took place in northern master classes for piano students in the West Bank area. macy programs on the Palestinian population of the West Mexico, Georgia, and Barbados and Antigua. Last year, The recitals were in the American House in Jerusalem Bank and surrounding area, in contrast to the Public Affairs these were in northern Mexico again (Nogales and and in the Bethlehem Peace Center. The master classes and Office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, which focuses on pro- Hermosillio in Sonora State) and Fiji. other interactions with music students took place at the Al grams aimed at the Israelis. Mr. Rudnytsky, who tours worldwide, has performed in Najah Music Department in the town of Nablus in the West Therefore, Mr. Rudnytsky’s activities were part of the nearly 100 countries and on over 45 cruises. He is profes- Bank, at the Bethlehem Academy of Music, at the Talitha U.S. government’s outreach to the Palestinian people. sor emeritus of Youngstown State University (Dana School Kumi School in Beit Jala in the West Bank, at the Magnificat Mr. Rudnytsky has done many concerts and master of Music) in Ohio, where he served on the piano and music Musical Institute in East Jerusalem, and at the Shufat classes through U.S. Embassies and Consulates since 1984. faculty for 39 years, retiring in May 2011.

Check out the websites of the UNA, its newspapers and Soyuzivka! www.ukrainiannationalassociation.org l www.svoboda-news.com l www.ukrweekly.com l www.soyuzivka.com 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16 No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 17 Spirit Lake Center is top winner among Quebec tourism awards by Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova AMOS, Quebec – Camp Spirit Lake Internment Interpretative Center, the first internment interpretative museum, won the highest award at Les Grands Prix du was made on March 14 at a special gala cer- Tourismeemony held Québécois. at Hotel Thed’Eskers announcement in Amos, Quebec, in the presence of over 600 guests at the banquet. A standing ovation was given to James Slobodian and his team, following his acceptance speech for Spirit Lake Center’s victory. This top award was granted by a special jury, with Spirit Lake winning over many project-entries in various categories Guy Lacroix/L’Echo Abitibien (Quebecor Media) in the annual tourism competition. The James Slobodian (right), with members of the Spirit Lake Corporation board of directors standing on the left, delivers the accep- prestigious hand-crafted trophy designed tance speech at the presentation of Quebec tourism’s top prize. by A. Baut was presented to Spirit Lake as ies, as well as 12 mayors from the many cit- the early Ukrainian immigrants who came the vast, wooded grounds of the original the Jury’s Choice award. ies and towns in the Abitibi area. to Quebec valued and yearned for freedom internment camp 350 miles north of The competition is sponsored by In his acceptance speech, James above all else. He also thanked Andrij Montreal, naturally capturing the sense of Desjardins of Quebec head office in Slobodian, chair of Camp Spirit Lake Corp., Hladyshevsky, president of The Shevchenko isolation and trepidation experienced by Montreal, with participation of the City of thanked the special jury for this unexpect- Foundation and its Canadian First World the original internees. The museum’s walls Amos, major Quebec corporations such as ed, prestigious award. He expressed his War Internment Recognition Fund, which are constructed from the original stones Hydro-Quebec, Quebec Ministry of Tourism, gratitude for the jury’s recognition of the gave a major grant to help develop the chiseled by the internees.. The building Quebec Development Corporation, NRJ work of this unique center that tells the interpretive center at Spirit Lake. holds authentic artifacts discovered from Radio (Bell Affiliate), IGA-Sobeys, Federal story of the still little known, unjust intern- Several representatives from the Spirit that period, with many more being found. Government Canada and others. Although it ment of 1,200 innocent men, women and Lake Corp. board of directors that oversees the The center incorporates showings of the does not come with monetary support, the children, mainly Ukrainians, taken to Spirit work of the center’s museum were present: historical documentaries “Freedom Had a aim is to acknowledge and bring attention Lake in 1915-1917, during Canada’s First Marcel Kurello, Mary Kureluk, Eric LaRose, Price” and “Ukrainians in Quebec,” helping to Quebec projects of excellence whose pro- National internment operations. Madame Larochelle (mayor of Trecesson), visitors better understand the historic con- grams have an outstanding impact on the He noted that the center recalls one Alice Levasseur (councelor of Trecesson), text of the internment operations of 1914- general Quebec community and are worthy aspect of early Ukrainian immigration to Lucie Alaire and Monique Cossette. 1920. of public interest. Quebec, the hardships they endured, their The center is open 12 months a year, This year marks the 100th anniversary With the victory, Spirit Lake received eventual release, and their later contribu- providing guided tours in French, English of the beginning of Canada’s First National thousands of dollars of free mainstream tion to the growth and prosperity of the or Ukrainian. Spirit Lake is included as a Internment Operations. The award pre- media advertising by NRJ Radio (Bell Abitibi region of Quebec and beyond. “most recommended museum” to be visit- sented to Spirit Lake Center is a fitting way Affiliate) to help inform and encourage visits With the present international focus on ed by various organization in Quebec, other to draw attention to the internment story to this center established in 2010. Present at Ukraine, Mr. Slobodian mentioned the cur- provinces and Europe, and by Quebec tour- and the center’s work. the gala banquet were numerous media out- rent crisis in Ukraine and the efforts of the ist companies. For further information readers may call lets from Quebec and northern Ontario cit- Ukrainian people to live in freedom, just as Spirit Lake Center is uniquely located on 819-727-2267 or 819-763-7627.

1990, has declined dramatically to half that loans for the rehabilitation of several large Ukraine’s government and Russia. The role Crimea river total in 2009 because of lack of mainte- tracts of irrigated land in Crimea, as well as of Ukraine’s Water Management Committee nance and silting of irrigation canals and those in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast. But, is unclear. The irrigation season will soon (Continued from page 7) the drainage systems; salinization of soils they found out just before the annexation of begin in Crimea. In this situation, Ukraine have not been successful, with less than 10 and abandonment of farms; and increasing- Crimea, that China was on the verge of sign- holds the upper hand, as 90 percent of the percent of former kolkhosps (collective ly expensive energy for pumping. Energy ing a comparable deal with the Yanukovych resources come from Ukraine through the farms) in private hands. This is the reason accounts for 75 percent of total irrigation government, and declined to proceed. narrow isthmus. It will be years before the farmers neglect maintenance of the system costs. Where in 1990 the irrigated agricul- China’s terms were not favorable for bridge from Russia through Kerch can be and sprinkler machines. They do not have a ture of Crimea produced over 70 percent of Ukraine, but the “middlemen” involved in built, and at a considerable cost of nearly 1 sense of ownership and, as a result, the sys- all crops grown, it now accounts for only 25 this Chinese rehabilitation project would billion euros. It’s Ukraine’s one trump card, tem has badly deteriorated during the past percent of a declining agricultural sector. have benefitted substantially. since it controls the resources of Crimea. 20 years. The agricultural sector of Crimea How the food, energy and water services But, it can also be the source of alleged prov- Hence, agricultural production, which requires a great deal of investment. The to Crimea will be resolved is a key critical ocations and an excuse by Russia to further had a peak of 400,000 irrigated hectares in World Bank was on the verge of supporting political and economic issue between meddle in Ukraine’s internal affairs. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16 Emotion vs. reason: the art of Max Vityk at UIA by Elaine Kryzhanovsky NEW YORK – On May 2, the Ukrainian Institute of America, will open the exhibi- tion titled “A Journey.” This will be the con- temporary Ukrainian American expres- sionist artist Max Vityk’s first solo show in New York. The exhibition is curated by Walter Hoydysh, director of art at the Ukrainian Institute of America, and Annelien Bruins of Tang Art Advisory. The exhibition follows Mr. Vityk’s artistic journey: the Ukrainian-born artist began painting in the United States, subsequently returned to Ukraine and is currently living in the Netherlands. During the course of this journey, the psychological interplay of reason and emotion transformed Mr. Vityk’s style from abstract expressionism to Ukrainian mysticism. “Indian Summer,” 2012, by Max Vityk. Mr. Vityk’s paintings employ Ukrainian folk motifs, colors and textures. However, mounted on a horse with a human head. his art demonstrates how Ukrainian cul- For Mr. Vityk, who holds a Ph.D. in geolo- ture and aesthetics can be explained with gy, passion (wonder, love, hatred, desire, Western philosophy and therefore are joy, and sadness) is a perception of the soul closely integrated into the culture of that incites the viewers to environmental Europe. Mr. Vityk’s work always presents action. Mr. Vityk’s art demonstrates how the Platonic drama between the Rider (rep- emotions can be a source of knowledge in resentation of reason) and the spirited order to transform judgments about the Horse (representation of passion) that he way we treat our Earth. For instance, the controls. Analyzing Mr. Vityk’s art raises artist’s unique “rock-flow” technique in the question: What do we trust more, our “The Outcrops” series (2013-2014) emotions or reason? expresses the emotions of wonder and joy For example, in the enigmatic portrait of that have the power to teach the awareness the rider depicted in the painting “Indian of important environmental issues. Summer,” (2012), Mr. Vityk seems to pres- “A Journey” will be on view through ent reason as a more skeptical force than May 18 at the Ukrainian Institute of passion. The artist proposes that we can America, 2 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075; rely on the emotion of faith more than rea- telephone, 212-288-8660; website, ukrai- son symbolized by the satirical horseman nianinstitute.org. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 19

April 21 Presentation by Liudmyla Hrynevych, “Technologies of April 27 Film screening, “The Soviet Story” by Edvardis Snore, Cambridge, MA Genocide: Images of the ‘Kulak’ (Wealthy Peasant) and Arlington, VA Arlington Sister City Association – Ivano-Frankivsk ‘Petliurite’ (Ukrainian Nationalist) in Soviet Political Committee, Columbia Pike Branch Library, 703-228-5710 Cartoons of the Late 1920s-Early 1930s,” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 or [email protected] April 27 Fund-raiser soccer tournament, “Unity in Ukraine,” Etobicoke, ON Centennial Park Stadium, April 21 Vespers and sacred music concert, featuring “Domine” 416-807-0988 or [email protected] Johnson City, NY vocal ensemble from Ivano-Frankivsk, St. John the April 27 “Lemko Coffee Talk” series, “Saved From Oblivion” with Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 607-797-1584 New York Aleksandra Jawornicka-Nowosad and “Russian Info-Wars” by Zenon Zawada, Ukrainian National Home, April 22 Concert, featuring violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv and the Ohio www.lemko-ool.com or 347-992-9038 Athens, OH University Symphony Orchestra, Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium, www.solomiyaivakhiv.com April 28 Seminar with Hanna Bazhenova, “Historians of the Warsaw Cambridge, MA Imperial University: Border Identity Formation and April 23 Film screening, “Taras Shevchenko,” Columbia University, Scholarly Careers,” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 New York 212-854-6525 or www.columbia.edu/cu/ufc or [email protected]

April 25 100th anniversary parish concert, “An Evening with Vasyl April 28 Discussion with Louis Skyner and Clifford Chance, Ottawa Popadiuk,” Christ the Savior Ukrainian Orthodox Church, New York “Russian Energy Politics: From Europe to Asia,” Columbia 613-276-3656 University, 212-854-4697 May 2 Presentation, “The Limits of Enlargement: The EU and April 25 Conference, “Turmoil in Ukraine,” City University of New Stanford, CA Eastern Europe, 2004, 2014,” Wallenburg Theater, New York York, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turmoil-in-ukraine Stanford University, 650-725-2563 -tickets-11011378329 (rsvp only) May 2-18 Art exhibit, “Max Vityk: A Journey,” Ukrainian Institute April 26 Book launch, “Two Worlds, One Idea: Ten Years of New York of America, 212-288-8660 New York Correspondence Between Amnesty International Group 11 and a Ukrainian Political Prisoner, Zinovii Krasivskyj” by May 3 Volleyball tournament, Ukrainian American Cultural Dr. Anna Procyk, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Whippany, NJ Center of New Jersey, [email protected] 212-251-5130 May 7 Presentation by Yuliya Ladygina, “The ‘Fascist Hero’ of April 26-27 St. Thomas Sunday pilgrimage, Metropolia Center of Cambridge, MA Ukrainian Independence: Olha Kobylianska’s ‘Apostle of South Bound the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., the Mob,’” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 or Brook, NJ www.uocofusa.org [email protected]

April 27 Concert, “A Ukrainian Montage,” featuring the Ukrainian Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events Ft. Lauderdale, FL Dancers of Miami, the Gerdan music ensemble and Trio advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Maksymowich vocal ensemble, Amaturo Theater, Broward from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Center for the Performing Arts, 954-462-0222 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014 No. 16

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, April 26 NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific Society invites all to a book launch for “Two Worlds, One Idea: Ten Years of Correspondence between Amnesty International Group 11 and a Ukrainian Political Prisoner, Zinovii Krasivskyj.” The book was edited and translated by Dr. Anna Procyk. This publication chronicles more than 10 years of correspondence between Mr. Krasivskyi (1929-1991) and members of Amnesty International Group 11 in New York. The book launch will take place at the society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th streets) at 5 p.m. For additional information call 212-254-5130. Sunday, April 27 NEW YORK: The “Lemko Coffee Talk” series launches with two speakers: Aleksandra Jawornicka-Nowosad, Ph.D. candidate, University of Warsaw, on the impact of “Akcja

views; and Zenon Zawada, journalist, on the political crisis in Ukraine within the context ofWisła” Vladimir on three Putin’s generations propaganda of Lemkosand media in westernmanipulation. Poland, The based event on takes first-hand place atinter- the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant, 140 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003, at 4 p.m. Presentations will be in English. Free entry and complimentary coffee/snacks. Sponsored by the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna (OOL) and the Lemko Research Foundation (LRF). For more information contact Diana Reilly, 347-992-9038.

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