Canadian Government Quintuples Funding for War Crimes Prosecution
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INSIDE:• Special pullout section on Vice-President Al Gore’s visit to Kyiv featuring his remarks at the Chornobyl Museum and the full text of the joint statement of the Kuchma-Gore Commission, plus photos — pages 9-12. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVI HE KRAINIANNo. 31 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1998 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine CanadianT governmentU quintuples Verkhovna WRada chairman predicts funding for war crimes prosecution cooperation with executive branch by Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj the world’s nations in overriding techni- by Roman Woronowycz Toronto Press Bureau cal statutory objections from the U.S., Kyiv Press Bureau Israel, China and four other countries to KYIV – Downplaying differences TORONTO — Canada’s Department the creation of a permanent International of Justice (DOJ) and Citizenship and between himself and President Leonid Criminal Court (ICC) with jurisdiction to Kuchma on the commercialization of land, Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the put individuals on trial for genocide, first of a series of annual joint public Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksander crimes against humanity, war crimes and Tkachenko said on July 27 that he sees no reports on the country’s War Crimes crimes of aggression. Program on July 21 in Ottawa. That day, reason the legislative and executive The United Nations Diplomatic branches cannot work together to resolve Justice Minister Ann McLellan Conference on the ICC, held in Rome announced that $46.8 million (approxi- Ukraine’s economic and social ills. from June 15 to July 17, established the “One of my goals for the next session mately $31.3 million U.S.) has been allo- global tribunal by adopting the Rome cated over the next three years “to is to deepen relations with the executive Statute of the ICC by a vote of 120 in so as to develop a good legislative base strengthen Canada’s ability to bring to favor, seven against and 21 abstentions. justice those responsible for war crimes, for this country, especially for the needs The DOJ/CIC press release mentions of society,” said Mr. Tkachenko at a crimes against humanity and other repre- that the increased funding will enable the press conference that focused on the hensible acts in times of war.” CIC “to substantially enhance its ability accomplishments of the first session of The allocated amount is a dramatic 480 to process modern-day war crimes the legislature elected in March of this percent increase over the previous fund- cases,” while the public report mentions year. At the news briefing Mr. ing levels, which had risen to about $3.25 that “since the early 1990s, the CIC has Tkachenko also outlined his agenda for million in the 1997-1998 fiscal year. identified nearly 440 individuals suspect- the next second session. The national According to a news release issued ed of [modern-day] war crimes.” The deputies began a summer recess on July concurrently with the 17-page joint press item also relates that Minister 24 that will last until September 7. report on the War Crimes Program, McLellan, also the member of Mr. Tkachenko took the initiative in “funding ... announced today was pro- Parliament for Edmonton West, intro- working to close the rift between the vided for in the February 1998 budget duced amendments to Canada’s government and the Parliament on July Oleksander Tkachenko and is, therefore, built into the existing Extradition Act on May 5, which “will 21, when President Kuchma, Prime fiscal framework.” facilitate extradition to another country Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko and lead- The Parliament chairman explained The announcement came four days ing Cabinet ministers met with him and that the budget problems arise from a after Canadian officials joined a host of (Continued on page 3) the leaders of Verkhovna Rada factions shortfall in revenues, which is a result of at the chairman’s invitation. the government inaccurately forecasting After the meeting, President Kuchma budget receipts; therefore, he added, the Ukraine earns nine medals at Goodwill Games stated that he, too, believes the prospects government is responsible for adjusting for cooperation between the executive the forecast and making the needed PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Twelve days ing. According to those in the know, and the legislative branches are good. changes. into the 15-day Goodwill Games, this is one young athlete to be “The fact that we have gathered together Mr. Tkachenko, who was elected the Ukraine’s favorite color appeared to watched. in such a composition gives me reason to leader of Ukraine’s Parliament after a be silver as the country’s athletes Though pole vaulting phenom believe that serious cooperation between nearly two-month process in which earned five silver medals, three Sergey Bubka disappointed his fans at the president, the government and the scores of nominees were rejected, also bronze and one gold, placing Ukraine the Goodwill Games by no-heighting, Parliament is possible,” said President said the economy will be the priority for fifth in the overall medals count. Ukraine still managed a medal in that Kuchma. the Verkhovna Rada in its next session. World Champion Olena Vitrychenko sport – in the women’s competition. The previous Verkhovna Rada, led by Forty-seven economic bills will be will go home as the all-around silver Anzhela Balakhanova tied for the Socialist Oleksander Moroz, was marked examined – among them 15 bills based medalist in rhythmic gymnastics when bronze medal on July 19 with by its confrontational attitude toward the on the 41 presidential decrees issued in she scored 39.657 to Russia’s Alina Australian Tatyana Gregorieva. The executive branch. the last month by President Kuchma to Kabayeva’s 39.781 points in the silver medalist was another Aussie, Mr. Tkachenko said during his press ward off a looming economic and finan- Goodwill Games on July 23. But she Emma George, while the gold medal- conference that another meeting between cial crisis. The crisis was caused, to will also take home a gold medal in the ist was Yelena Belyakova of Russia. the executive and legislative branches of some extent, by the collapse of Asian government is scheduled for the begin- individual apparatus portion of the Other medalists for Ukraine as the economies, as well as strict requirements ning of September – this time to include competition for her performance with Goodwill Games continued into their proposed by the IMF for a multi-billion- the full complement of national deputies. the rope. second week were: Olena Zhupyna dollar loan that Ukraine needs to pay off Mr. Tkachenko explained that he has In hoop Ms. Vitrychenko was the and Svitlana Serbina, who won the international debts and outstanding treas- silver in the 10-meter platform syn- already convinced the leaders of parlia- ury notes. bronze medalist, while in both clubs mentary factions that there is no need to chronized diving on July 25. Ten of those decrees have already and ribbon she was fifth. Ms. approve changes to the 1998 budget that Ms. Zhupyna paired with Olha taken effect because the Parliament did Kabayeva took home gold medals in the president has demanded. President Leonova came in fifth in the three- not act on them within the 30-day period three of the four individual apparatus Kuchma, under pressure from the meter springboard synchronized div- it has to reject presidential orders; three events: hoops, ribbon and clubs. International Monetary Fund, wants the ing on July 27. have been rejected. Completing the picture was yet anoth- budget deficit for 1998 reduced from 3.3 In the 10-meter platform on July Mr. Tkachenko said that among the er Slav, Yevgeniya Pavlina of Belarus, percent to 2.5 percent. who took second place in hoops, clubs 26, Ms. Zhupyna, the world champion most important issues that need to be “We concluded that by granting the addressed in September are the 1999 and ribbon and third in rope. in that event, finished just out of the president and the Cabinet of Ministers Up-and-coming rhythmic gymnast medals, placing fourth. Laura budget, which he pledged will be the right to incorporate amendments into approved before the end of the year, gov- Tamara Yerofeyeva of Ukraine placed Wilkinson of the U.S. was the gold the national budget, without first exam- seventh in the rope, tied for sixth in medalist, while Cai Yuyan and Sang ernment administrative reform, tax ining that issue in the parliamentary ses- reform, banking regulation, hard curren- both the hoop and the ribbon, and Zue of China were second and third. sion hall, we would not be breaking the took fourth in the clubs. She also The Chinese duo also took home the cy regulation and support for business law,” said Mr. Tkachenko. He said that if expansion. came in sixth in the all-around scor- (Continued on page 13) the Parliament were to take up the task it could have become a six-month process. (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1998 No. 31 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Trade on agenda of Gore-Kirienko talks new mechanism for top-level bilateral con- U.S.-Ukrainian relations sultations. (RFE/RL Newsline) MOSCOW – Before talks with U.S. after Gore’s trip to Kyiv Vice-President Al Gore on July 24, Prime Parliament passes budget resolution by Sherman W. Garnett Minister Sergei Kirienko called for the sound economic policy. KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada conclud- Third, the U.S. is right to be wary of U.S. to grant Russia most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status, Russian news agen- ed its session on July 24 by passing a 1999 Vice-President Al Gore’s trip to Kyiv appearing to back a candidate in the cies reported.