Yulia Tymoshenko... Yekhanurov Was Then Head of Our Ukraine
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INSIDE: • On the campaign trail in the United States — page 6. • Ukrainian Catholic University establishes ties with Georgia — page 8. • Battle of Kruty recalled at commemorative program in Kyiv — page 13. HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXXVI No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Opposition forces continue to block Verkhovna Rada Yushchenko, Putin by Illya M. Labunka Kyiv Press Bureau meet in Moscow, KYIV – Opposition forces led by the Party of the Regions (PRU) continued to resolve gas crisis block the work of Ukraine’s Parliament by Illya M. Labunka for the fourth consecutive week as the standoff continued over the Ukrainian Kyiv Press Bureau government’s steps toward NATO. KYIV – In the middle of a parliamen- National deputies of the Party of the tary crisis at home, President Viktor Regions and the Communist Party of Yushchenko on February 12 flew to Ukraine (CPU) are protesting the Moscow for a two-day official visit to request for Ukraine to join NATO’s meet with his Russian counterpart to Membership Action Plan (MAP), which tackle, among other priorities, Ukraine’s was officially signed by President Viktor looming gas crisis. Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia That same day, Russia’s state energy Tymoshenko and Parliament Chairman giant Gazprom had threatened to cut off Arseniy Yatsenyuk on January 15. gas supplies to Ukraine by 6 p.m. unless Ever since the first session of the Ukraine agreed to immediately settle its Verkhovna Rada’s sixth convocation was debts. opened on November 23, 2007, Oleksander Kosarev/UNIAN As of November 2007, Ukraine owed Ukraine’s Parliament has been plagued Russia approximately $1.5 billion for gas by a series of blockades by parliamen- Chairman Arseniy Yatsenyuk waits for the deputies to unblock the Presidium in the Parliament. it had received. President Yushchenko tary opposition forces. By the end of managed to reach a deal with President November, only two of the scheduled of the PRU and the CPU stormed the sixth convocation. Vladimir Putin whereby the price of gas five plenary sessions had taken place, on Parliament’s podium and presidium and On February 4 CPU Petro Symonenko for 2008 would remain at $179.50 per November 23 and 29. plastered signs declaring “NATO will not vowed that his parliamentary faction and 1,000 cubic meters. Ukraine agreed that In January, although only six days pass.” the PRU would continue their policy of it would already start repaying its debt were set aside for deliberations in com- disrupting the Parliament’s agenda unless on February 14. mittee, only three plenary sessions were Beginning on January 18, the Parliament podium remained blocked a resolution was passed to call for a However, no topic caused more ten- held during the entire month, of which sion between the two leaders than until February 5, when Rada Chairman national referendum not merely before only one session proved fruitful for leg- Ukraine joins NATO, but before the Ukraine’s drive toward NATO member- Yatsenyuk reconvened Parliament in islative review of draft laws and resolu- NATO summit in Bucharest in April, at ship. In a remark during their joint tions. The other two plenary sessions in order to officially close the first session press conference, Mr. Putin said Russia January were paralyzed when members and to open the second session of the (Continued on page 11) would be compelled to redirect its mis- siles toward Ukraine if Ukraine were to join NATO. Mr. Putin added that Russian missiles Though closed for the off-season, much ado at “Suzy-Q” would be targeted at Ukraine in response PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Soyuzivka to book now for the summer season and to a possible deployment of a U.S. mis- may be closed to guests during the off- beyond.” As a matter of fact, he added, sile defense shield on the territory of season, but the Ukrainian heritage cen- the center has booked several functions Ukraine. “It is horrible to say and terri- ter located in Kerhonkson, N.Y., for May, even before the official kick- fying to think that Russia could target its nonetheless has been the scene of much off for the new season that will take missile systems at Ukraine,” added Mr. activity in recent months. Furthermore, place over the Memorial Day holiday Putin. as General Manager Nestor Paslawsky weekend. In addition, he said In response, President Yushchenko put it, “Everything is being done to Soyuzivka has eight to 10 weddings said he had realized coming into the improve and enhance Soyuzivka for our already booked for 2008 beginning in meeting that a number of “sensitive ‘hromada’ [community]” by the time it June. (Incidentally, an increasing inter- issues” would emerge over the course of reopens in May. est among brides to incorporate the latest talks regarding Ukraine’s steps Though it has officially been closed Ukrainian traditions in their weddings toward a Membership Action Plan with since mid-November, the center – popu- has been noted by Soyuzivka person- NATO, but that he hoped that such issues larly known as “Suzy-Q” – has nel.) could be dealt with through constructive remained open to take reservations for Veselka is being upgraded, from top dialogue, openness and trust. cultural programs, camps, vacations, to bottom, he continued. A new air con- “One must realize that everything weddings and special events at ditioning system is being installed, the Ukraine does in this direction is not in Soyuzivka. Plus, there are plenty of ren- bathrooms are being redone and a new any way directed at any third country, ovations now under way at Soyuzivka – state-of-the-art dance floor – suitable including Russia,” Mr. Yushchenko most notably to the Veselka pavilion, for use by the instructors and students Nestor Paslawsky, general manager underscored. He added that Ukraine the focal point of the center’s activity. of the extremely popular dance camps of Soyuzivka. follows “the principle that any nation has And then there is the matter of the co- and dance workshops of the Roma the right to define its own security. Our op development project planned for this Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Another enhancement will be a tent Constitution does not allow deployment beloved center of Ukrainian community Foundation – will be constructed. This erected over the area of the roller rink by a third country or bloc on Ukrainian life. year, Mr. Paslawsky explained, there that will provide yet another venue for territory.” So, is Soyuzivka really closed? will be eight weeks of such dance pro- Soyuzivka’s growing list of youth President Putin had welcomed The general manager commented grams at Soyuzivka. camps. “Our camps are so busy lately. Ukraine’s president to the Kremlin for that perhaps it’s more appropriate to say Working with the Ukrainian Athletic- We have three camps going on at one the latest round of talks that are part of Soyuzivka is “semi-closed.” Educational Association Chornomorska time – ‘Tabir Ptashat’ [for preschool- the second meeting of the Yushchenko- “We’re open to take reservations,” Sitch, Soyuzivka is looking to transform ers], Tennis Camp and Dance Camp,” Putin Commission formed in May 2005. said Mr. Paslawsky, adding, “so we its soccer field into one that will be a President Yushchenko’s delegation to advise Soyuzivka guests not to wait, but small regulation-size field. (Continued on page 18) (Continued on page 6) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2008 No. 7 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Is a coalition possible between Putin threatens to target Ukraine ral-gas monopoly announced on February 7 that it may cut supplies of MOSCOW – President Vladimir Russian gas to Ukraine if Kyiv does not Tymoshenko and Yanukovych? Putin, speaking at a joint news confer- pay off its estimated $1.5 billion in gas ence on February 12 with President by Pavel Korduban Ms. Tymoshenko did not deny her debts by February 11, Agence France- Viktor Yushchenko, who was on an offi- comment, but she said she had been mis- Presse reported. The news agency quoted Eurasia Daily Monitor cial visit to Moscow, warned Ukraine understood. She meant nothing more Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov against pursuing membership in NATO, In a recent television interview than the hypothetical possibility of coop- as saying that only supplies of Russian- which the Kremlin considers a hostile Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia eration on selected issues with the PRU produced natural gas will be affected, Tymoshenko raised the possibility of a alliance that seeks to encircle Russia. He while those from Central Asian countries, as an opposition party, she said. Her said that possible membership “is of coalition between her eponymous bloc press secretary, Maryna Soroka, said that which supply most of Ukraine’s gas, will and the Party of the Regions (PRU) of course Ukraine’s internal [affair]... and not. Still, newsru.com reported on the words quoted by Ukrayinska Pravda we do not have the right to interfere and former Prime Minister Viktor were meant as a joke. The PRU cannot February 7 that exports of Central Asian Yanukovych. Ms. Tymoshenko later tried will not interfere in this process. [But] gas to Ukraine at their current levels are fulfill the conditions mentioned by Ms. that raises the question for Russia of the to downplay her comment, saying she Tymoshenko in any case, according to insufficient to cover the country’s needs, had been misunderstood. But her words need for retaliatory actions.” Mr. Putin and that RosUkrEnergo, the Swiss-regis- Ms. Soroka. also cautioned Ukraine against joining were taken quite seriously by both her Our Ukraine, however, took Ms.