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INSIDE: • Analyses of developments in Ukraine — pages 2-3. • Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk speaks in DC — page 3. • More on the Yushchenko visit to the United States — pages 4-9. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXIII HE No.KRAINIAN 39 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine YekhanurovT approvedU as prime minister YushchenkoW receives Liberty Medal, Yushchenko signs pact with Yanukovych and hero’s welcome, in Philadelphia by Zenon Zawada At a meeting with 18 faction and Kyiv Press Bureau political leaders who gathered at the Presidential Secretariat on Bankova KYIV – No one braving the freezing Street on the night of September 21, Mr. temperatures of the “maidan,” or Yushchenko felt he had enough votes Independence Square, last year could secured, participants told Ukrainian have imagined this outcome. reporters. Ukrainian President Viktor With his last-minute pact with Mr. Yushchenko replaced his Orange Yanukovych, it’s now apparent that by Revolution comrade Yulia Tymoshenko, morning the president still wasn’t confi- but only after signing a pact with his dent there were enough votes. nemesis, Viktor Yanukovych, to support “His grasp is very bad,” said Ivan her successor, Yurii Yekhanurov. Lozowy, president of the Kyiv-based In his deal with Mr. Yanukovych, Institute of Statehood and Democracy, reached only 30 minutes before the which is exclusively financed by September 22 vote that approved Mr. Ukrainian business donations. “It’s not Yekhanurov as prime minister, Mr. like the U.S. Congress, where you know Yushchenko agreed to end all reprivati- down to the last vote who’s going to be zations, according to National Deputy on your side. He has a very vague idea of Vitalii Khomutynnyk of the Party of the who’s going to vote to support him.” Regions. Many of those privatizations Mr. Yushchenko made the deal with targeted oligarchs who enriched them- the Party of the Regions because he selves during the Kuchma era. couldn’t afford to have the Rada reject After the vote, Mr. Khomutynnyk Mr. Yekhanurov a second time, Mr. reported that the president also agreed to Lozowy said. Roman Czenstuch provide amnesty to election commission “He would have been made to look President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine addresses the crowd after receiving the officials accused of violations. very, very weak,” he said. “It would have Philadelphia Liberty Medal. The Verkhovna Rada gave 289 votes, shown that he can’t handle a crisis and more than enough, in support of the he would have lost face in front of his by Christine Shust Fylypovych and First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko nominee, described as a non-polarizing main opponent, Yulia Tymoshenko.” arrived in the city on Saturday afternoon, technocrat who was born in the Yakutsk Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Ms. Tymoshenko’s allies immediately September 17, following a visit to New region of Siberia but spent most of his went on the political offensive after the PHILADELPHIA – Amid heavy security York that revolved around his participation life in Ukraine. vote in an effort to distinguish them- and with throngs of supporters gathered at in the World Summit at the United Nations. Mr. Yekhanurov is a critical part of selves as the true reformers. the National Constitution Center, President The Philadelphia Liberty Medal, estab- President Yushchenko’s plan to create a Mykola Tomenko, former vice prime Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine was awarded lished in 1988 to commemorate the bicen- pragmatic, stable government that will minister for humanitarian affairs, said the prestigious Philadelphia Liberty Medal. tennial of the U.S. Constitution, honors an attempt to stabilize Ukraine’s economy that, in effect, former President Kuchma The ceremony in Philadelphia was a individual or organization from anywhere in and convince investors that the country highlight of the president’s second trip to the world that has “demonstrated leadership is a safe place to do business. (Continued on page 20) the United States. President Yushchenko and vision in the pursuit of liberty of con- “I am convinced that only a Cabinet science or freedom from oppression, igno- made up of pragmatists can work active- rance or deprivation.” It is administered by ly for the benefit of Ukraine for the next the non-profit, non-political Philadelphia seven months,” Mr. Yushchenko told the Foundation, and carries an accompanying Rada on September 20. Ukrainian president addresses prize of $100,000. Former recipients of the In the irony to end all ironies, Mr. Philadelphia Liberty Medal include Lech Yushchenko could not receive Ms. Walesa, Vaclav Havel, Nelson Mandela, and Tymoshenko’s support but did manage to Worldby Andrew Summit Nynka at YUnitedushchenko said of theNations Security Council. Sandra Day O’Connor. find common ground with his opponent “It would be fair if all regional groups, The program, which was broadcast in last year’s presidential elections, Mr. NEW YORK – Speaking before the including the group of Eastern European live on ABC6, took place on a specially Yanukovych. United Nations and some 150 world leaders, states, are represented in the council. The designed stage in front of the grand Both their respective factions, the Viktor Yushchenko told a milestone summit, voice of the region, which is shaping new entrance to the National Constitution Party of the Regions and the Yulia which sought to re-evaluate the U.N.’s role Europe, deserves to be heard.” Center, facing Independence Hall, with a Tymoshenko Bloc, rejected Mr. as an international organization, that Ukraine Mr. Yushchenko’s speech came 10 larger-than-life medal as its backdrop. Yekhanurov in the narrow September 20 stands ready to help form a new Europe. days after a United Nations report said Distinguished participants sharing the vote in which the Verkhovna Rada fell “At this meeting the international com- the number of people killed as a result dais with President and Mrs. Yushchenko three votes short of the required simple munity shapes its new guidelines in the of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster included: Archbishop Metropolitan Stefan majority of 226 votes in order to approve third millennium,” Mr. Yushchenko said. would ultimately be much less than pre- Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Church; the new prime minister. “New Ukraine – free and independent – fol- viously expected. Though he didn’t Martin Meyerson, chairman of the In Ukraine’s parliamentary system, a lows it together with the whole family of address the report directly, the Philadelphia Liberty Medal Selection faction or bloc is a union of political par- democratic nations. I believe that the efforts Ukrainian president stressed that the Committee (and former president of the ties. For example, Ms. Tymoshenko and experience of my country will con- consequences of Chornobyl were still University of Pennsylvania); H. Craig leads the Batkivshchyna Party, but also tribute to finding important benchmarks.” affecting his country. He noted that the Louis, chairman of the board of directors leads the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc that In his six-minute address on September world will commemorate the 20th of the Philadelphia Foundation; Edward includes several other parties. The Party 15, Mr. Yushchenko said overhauling the anniversary of the catastrophe next year. Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania; John of the Regions is both a party and a fac- United Nations Security Council – the “I strongly believe that this will be an Street, mayor of Philadelphia; Rep. Curt tion. body charged with maintaining peace and important opportunity to realize the uni- Weldon of Pennsylvania; Richard Stengel, In the end, it seems Mr. Yekhanurov security between nations – was a prereq- versal social and cultural depth of this President and CEO of the National would have won approval during the sec- uisite to reforming the U.N. tragedy; it will enable us to combine our Constitution Center; and WBC heavy- ond vote on September 22 without the “To perform adequately, its member- Party of the Regions’ 50 votes. ship should reflect present realities,” Mr. (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 6) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 No. 39 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Behind Ukraine’s political crisis Yulia offers to make peace while Mr. Yanukovych’s website said it by Taras Kuzio Accusations of corruption are com- was held at Mr. Yushchenko’s request. Eurasia Daily Monitor mon in Ukraine and other CIS states, KYIV – Former Prime Minister Yulia “In our opinion, a coalition government September 14-16 often with little supporting evidence. But Tymoshenko, who was dismissed by could be formed following an immediate the reasons for the split between Ms. President Viktor Yushchenko on introduction of the political reform for a The removal of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and Mr. Yushchenko go far September 8, said at a news conference transitional period until the parliamen- Tymoshenko’s government on September beyond the issue of corruption. in Kyiv on September 21 that she is tary elections,” Mr. Yanukovych was 8 came as a surprise in Ukraine, as it had First, Ms. Tymoshenko and Mr. ready to work once again with Mr. quoted on his website as saying after the not been accused of corruption until days Yushchenko differ on how to address the Yushchenko and form a new Cabinet if meeting. (RFE/RL Newsline) earlier. On September 5 the outgoing head legacy of former President Leonid Kuchma. he makes peace with her, Channel 5 of the presidential secretariat, Oleksander reported. “In this difficult time, when the Acting PM comments on new Cabinet Zinchenko, had raised such accusations National-democratic forces split political crisis is deepening, I want to KYIV – Acting Prime Minister Yurii against close members of President Viktor Ukraine’s national-democratic forces declare that I am ready to give him a Yushchenko’s circle (Eurasia Daily helping hand,” Ms.