New York State's First Lady Launches Wheelchair Distribution Project In

INSIDE:• World Economic Forum Roundtable begins in Kyiv — page 3. • Heifer Project donates dairy cows to aid Zaluchia Orphanage — page 9. • Yonkers plays host to Spring Volleyball Tournament — page 11. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXIII HE KRAINIANNo. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2005 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine Our Ukraine People’s Union emerges T U New York state’sW first lady launches as country’s leading political force by Zenon Zawada create the party and nominate its leaders. wheelchair distribution project in Ukraine Kyiv Press Bureau Despite the effective symbols and branding, Our Ukraine was not a political KYIV – With Ukrainians already antic- party, but a coalition of parties that united ipating the critical parliamentary elections under Mr. Yushchenko, who was always in March 2006, the Our Ukraine People’s independent of political parties until now. Union (OUPU) party has emerged as the Once Mr. Yushchenko became presi- nation’s leading political force. dent, it was apparent that a political party Led by President Viktor Yushchenko and under his leadership that retained the Vice Prime Minister for Administrative and widespread recognition and symbolism Territorial Reforms Roman Bezsmertnyi, of Our Ukraine would become an the party has retained all the symbols, extremely influential political organ, Western-oriented ideals and policies that political experts said. the Our Ukraine coalition stood for when The OUPU’s strength is that it appeals leading the Orange Revolution. to an extremely broad segment of the At a June 14 press conference, Mr. Ukrainian population that supports Bezsmertnyi emphasized that the OUPU President Yushchenko’s agenda, said Yurii is committed to leading a similar coali- Yakymenko, director of the political-legal tion in the March elections that includes programs at the Razumkov Center for Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s Economic and Political Research. Batkivshchyna political party and Mr. Yushchenko’s support stretches Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr across social and economic classes, he Lytvyn’s People’s Party of Ukraine. said. It is the most popular political party Zenon Zawada Such a coalition would secure at least at the moment, enjoying the support of Libby Pataki, wife of New York Gov. George Pataki, smiles alongside Ukrainian 52 percent of the seats in the Verkhovna up to 30 percent of the electorate, Mr. First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko after meeting with her in the Ukraine 3000 Rada, Mr. Bezsmertnyi said, insisting that Yakymenko noted. Foundation offices in Kyiv. the coalition was necessary for victory. The party may even spread its appeal “It’s what the maidan [Independence to attract those voters who voted against by Zenon Zawada eventually broaden its scope to help Square] was all about, and it’s why the both presidential candidates in the 2004 Kyiv Press Bureau nearly every Ukrainian in need of people entrusted power to these individu- elections, and even those who voted for improved mobility. als,” Mr. Bezsmertnyi said. former Prime Minister Viktor KYIV – Libby Pataki, wife of New Disabled children and elders delighted The OUPU registered itself as an official Yanukovych, Mr. Yakymenko said. York Gov. George Pataki, led a delega- at the sight of 280 new, high-quality political party after 6,000 delegates gath- tion to Kyiv on June 13 to launch a wheelchairs arranged in front of a Kyiv ered at a congress in Kyiv on March 5 to (Continued on page 3) wheelchair distribution project that may nursing home. Among those attending the presentation ceremony were Ukrainian First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko, United Ukrainian American Lead singer of The Romantics journeys to his parents’ homeland Relief Committee President Dr. Larissa by Zenon Zawada ing Immaculate Conception Ukrainian as lead singer of The Romantics, one of Kyj, Ukrainian Institute of America Kyiv Press Bureau Catholic Grade School. He graduated only a handful of pure American rock President Walter Nazarewicz and from Immaculate Conception High Vladimir Todorovic, regional director of UVYN, Ukraine – It’s not every day bands to reach national stardom during School in 1971. the early 1980s. operations of the Wheelchair that an American rock star breaks bread Just a decade later, Mr. Palmar would Foundation. and toasts moonshine in a rural thrill tens of thousands of concert-goers (Continued on page 10) “A measure of a civilization is how it Ukrainian village. regards people with special needs,” Mrs. Uvyn is a picturesque hamlet tucked Yushchenko said. “We will work for in the northeast corner of Lviv Oblast, a these people to lead lives of full value.” region of pristine rolling green hills that In addition to enhancing the mobility seem to unravel endlessly. opportunities for some of Kyiv’s dis- The Romantics’ lead singer, Wally abled, the charity effort also provided an Palmar, traversed this virgin landscape opportunity for Mrs. Yushchenko to on June 9 with his mother, Theodosija, to develop closer ties with Mrs. Pataki. finally lay his eyes on the Ukrainian At a private meeting with Mrs. Pataki homeland that he had heard, read and and her delegation prior to the ceremony, learned so much about, but never got the Mrs. Yushchenko said she and her hus- chance to see. It was his first trip to band, President Viktor Yushchenko, will Ukraine. visit New York in September so that he “I think I needed to be here just to see could attend the United Nations General where my parents came from,” said Mr. Assembly’s opening session. Palmar, 51, who grew up in Hamtramck, The two women discussed the possi- Mich., Detroit’s blue-collar ghetto for bility of meeting then, along with their Ukrainians and Poles in the 1950s influential husbands. through the 1980s. In the discussions with Mrs. Pataki, Growing up in Hamtramck, Mr. Mrs. Yushchenko placed heavy emphasis Palmar was known by the name his par- on Ukrainian investment opportunities ents had given him at birth, Volodymyr and economic potential in Ukraine, par- Zenon Zawada Palamarchuk. ticularly with regard to manufacturing However, his friends already were Volodymyr Palamarchuk, a.k.a. Wally Palmar, with his mother, Theodosija, in calling him Wally when he began attend- front of the house where she grew up in the village of Uvyn in the Lviv Oblast. (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2005 No. 25 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Media bias down in Ukraine, NEWSBRIEFS Ruslana benefit raises $38,000 Republic are the main problems in bilateral relations. “We have both accepted it as a but through dubious means KYIV – The Children of Chornobyl problem. An agreement that will solve these Relief Fund announced that Ruslana’s issues must be worked out,” President by Taras Kuzio rebelled and refused to follow guidelines May 17 benefit concert in Kyiv raised Klaus commented on Ukrainian guest Eurasia Daily Monitor sent by the authorities. Although the $38,000 in aid for three Ukrainian medical workers in his country. (RFE/RL Newsline) SDPU had never controlled 1+1, its and rehabilitation centers. Dnipropetrovsk Six months into the Yushchenko presi- directors had been warned that if they did City Children’s Hospital No. 3 will receive Senior officer arrested for smuggling dency, the media and information situa- not follow the guidelines, the channel a respirator valued at $17,400, Kyiv City tion in Ukraine remains mixed. The good would be shut down. Children’s Hospital No. 2 will receive arti- KYIV – Maj. Gen. Serhii Savchenko, news is that oligarchic control over elec- Following Viktor Yushchenko’s elec- ficial respiration equipment valued at former commander of the Ukrainian mil- tronic media is on the decline. The bad tion, State Channel 1 automatically trans- $12,600, and the Dzherelo Children’s itary contingent in Iraq, has been arrested news is that the tactics of the newly ferred to his control. Taras Stetskiv, a Rehabilitation Center in Lviv will receive on charges of smuggling, Interfax report- elected authorities are not always differ- long-time Yushchenko ally and organizer $8,000. Thousands attended Ruslana’s ed on June 13, quoting the Procurator ent from those used under former in the Orange Revolution, became the concert held in the courtyard of Kyiv’s General’s Office (PGO). The office did President Leonid Kuchma. channel’s president. Arena Entertainment Complex on the not provide any more details of the Ukraine’s media played a negative With two of the SDPU’s three TV Khreschatyk’s West End. All proceeds arrest. According to Channel 5, Maj. role in the 2004 presidential election. channels taken away, only Inter remained raised went to charity. Dr. Zenon and Gen. Savchenko is being charged with According to the OSCE’s Election under their control. Information was Nadia Matkiwsky founded the Children of the smuggling of foreign currency. Observation Mission’s final report, recently leaked to the investigative news Chornobyl Relief Fund in 1989. Since (RFE/RL Newsline) “Most media outlets failed to provide then, the charity has delivered to Ukraine site Telekritika claiming that the SDPU Case opened against former SBU officer impartial and fair coverage… and few has now lost Inter channel humanitarian aid valued at more than $53 TV stations provided the opposition with (telekritika.kiev.ua, June 6). National million. (Kyiv Press Bureau) KYIV – The Procurator General’s airtime” (osce.org/odihr/). Security and Defense Council Secretary Yushchenko to head election list Office has opened a criminal case against The main oligarch clan to lose in the Petro Poroshenko, who has business former deputy chief of the Security presidential election is linked to the Social interests in Russia, is acting as an inter- KYIV – Our Ukraine People’s Union Service of Ukraine, Volodymyr Satsiuk, Democratic Party United (SDPU).

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