The Ukrainian Weekly, 2017

INSIDE: l New York banquet marks UWC’s 50th anniversary – page 5 l U.S. and Ukraine conduct first bilateral cyber dialogue – page 6 l Plast holds international jamboree in Germany – page 11 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 42 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017 $2.00 Ukrainian Canadians extend support to Ukraine’s Kyiv moves to label Russia wounded-warrior athletes at Invictus Games as aggressor in Donbas war by Mark Raczkiewycz The bill also deems areas not controlled by Kyiv in the Donbas as “temporarily occu- KYIV – Ukraine last week took a legisla- pied,” like a similar law currently in force tive step closer to reflect the fact that Russia regarding the Ukrainian territory of Crimea is waging war against this nation of 42.5 that Moscow forcibly took over in March million people – an unprovoked invasion 2014, following a sham referendum held on that saw Crimea annexed and 3 percent of the peninsula in the presence of its dis- the easternmost Donbas region occupied by guised armed forces. Kremlin-led forces nearly four years ago. “The law also gives more leeway for the On October 6, the Verkhovna Rada president to enact martial law in the non- passed a law in the first of two readings government-controlled areas of the that names Russia as an aggressor state Donbas,” Mariya Zolkina, political analyst for pursuant to international conventions and the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives enables the armed forces to better defend Foundation, told The Ukrainian Weekly. “It the nation’s sovereign territory. changes the principles of the institutional More than 10,000 people have been [and] structural leadership on this territory.” killed and nearly 1.7 million internally dis- It also, according to experts, including placed persons have been uprooted from Ms. Zolkina, legally solidifies Ukraine’s their homes, according to estimates by the position to absolve itself of “what happens Presidential Administration of Ukraine United Nations and Ukraine’s Ministry of to its citizens in the occupied Donbas, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the gala reception for Ukraine’s Social Policy. whether financially, on a human or civil athletes organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on September 22. Previously, the war was nominally rights level… it places the onus” on the deemed by law as an “anti-terrorist opera- occupiers. by Christopher Guly “It was really important for Ukraine to tion” that was de jure supposed to be led by “This further strengthens the use of the Special to The Ukrainian Weekly use this opportunity to highlight the fact the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) – as armed forces and expands their reach in the that it was its first appearance at the actually was the case in the early stages of [war] region,” President Petro Poroshenko OTTAWA – Team Ukraine took home 14 Invictus Games and is the only country fac- Moscow’s covert invasion starting in April said. “This reinforces arguments for giving medals from its inaugural participation in ing a battle for its sovereignty and territori- 2014, when Kyiv lost control of numerous Ukraine defensive weapons… [but it also] the Invictus Games in Toronto. But the ath- al integrity by an external aggressor,” cities and towns in the Luhansk and emphasizes a peaceful, political and diplo- letes, who competed in athletics, power lift- explained UCC President Paul Grod. Donetsk oblasts. matic path” to reaching peace. ing, swimming, archery, cycling and indoor He said that’s why President Poroshenko, Now, the law “catches up with reality on In turn, Russian presidential spokesper- rowing, reached the top of the podium in who was over the moon with Team the ground,” according to a note to inves- terms of the support and admiration they Ukraine’s second-place finish in the medal tors by Kyiv-based Dragon Capital. (Continued on page 19) received from within and outside the count, made a point of flying from New York Ukrainian Canadian community. City – where he participated in the opening The lead cheerleader was the Ukrainian of the 72nd session of the U.N. General Canadian Congress (UCC), which estab- Assembly and the U.N. Security Council ses- lished a committee to host the 28 Ukrainian sion on peacekeeping in Ukraine – to Canada’s Magnitsky bill athletes (15 participants and 13 back-ups), Toronto to cheer on his country’s military organized opening and closing receptions, and law-enforcement athletes. a vote away from becoming law and helped raise $100,000 (about $80,000 But Prime Minister Trudeau was a go for dents Andrei Sakharov and Natan U.S.) to provide needed assistance to active the UCC opening reception even before it by Christopher Guly Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Sharansky, tried again, via a motion, to get and former members of Ukraine’s Armed was known that his “very special friend” Canada to impose sanctions against not Forces and National Police through the Mr. Poroshenko would be present. OTTAWA – Canada’s long-awaited only those involved in the Magnitsky case, Ukraine Wounded Warriors Fund. “When we introduced the idea of the Magnitsky bill passed unanimously in the but against any human-rights violators in Both Ukrainian President Petro prime minister coming and spending time House of Commons on October 4 and is countries either “unable” or “unwilling” to Poroshenko and Canadian Prime Minister as part of this welcoming reception at the expected to receive the same endorsement conduct their own investigations into such Justin Trudeau attended the UCC’s Invictus Games, there was no hesitation. in the Senate and become law six years violations. Members of Parliament and sen- September 22 gala reception in Toronto on The Prime Minister’s Office jumped all over after the idea behind it was first introduced ators adopted the non-binding motion, the eve of the third edition of the games. it to make it happen,” Mr. Grod explained. in the House by a former Liberal Canadian which Mr. Cotler followed up with another Maryna Poroshenko, Ukraine’s first lady, “Whether Poroshenko was going to be justice minister and long-time human private member’s bill that again died when was there too, along with Ukrainian and there or not, Trudeau was already commit- rights lawyer. Parliament rose for the summer and a fall Canadian Cabinet members: Stepan Kubiv ted to attend.” In October 2011, Irwin Cotler, then the election resulted in Justin Trudeau’s (first vice prime minister, and economic Sprinkling some Ukrainian in his Liberal critic for rights and freedoms and Liberals wresting power from Stephen development and trade minister), Pavlo remarks at the UCC reception (“Dobriy international justice in the House of Harper’s Conservative government. Klimkin (foreign affairs) and Arsen Avakov vechir,” “Slava Ukraini” and “Slava Kanadi”) Commons, introduced a private member’s All three of Canada’s major political par- (internal affairs) of Ukraine, and Harjit and joking that “Petro’s going to speak to bill that would have declared inadmissible to ties indicated their support for the legisla- Sajjan (national defense) and Seamus you in French tonight too” [the president Canada anyone who was responsible for tion, however. O’Regan (veterans affairs) of Canada. did], the prime minister paid tribute to both the torture and death of Moscow tax Mr. Cotler, a Jew who is of Ukrainian and (Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister for Euro- Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine who lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009 and the Russian heritage, did not run for re-elec- Integration and Euro-Atlantic Integration are defending “the values and principles we conspiracy to defraud the Russian govern- tion. But his Magnitsky bill found life in the Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze attended the hold sacred to fight for peace, democracy, ment of taxes paid by the foreign-investment Canadian Senate, where last year UCC’s closing reception on September 30.) equality, justice and liberty.” company, Hermitage Capital Management, Conservative Raynell Andreychuk, a About 800 people paid $200 ($160 U.S.) Mr. Poroshenko praised his country’s which Mr. Magnitsky discovered. Ukrainian Canadian, introduced the Justice a ticket to attend the sold-out event marked The bill went nowhere, so in 2015, Mr. by important symbolism. (Continued on page 9) Cotler, who once represented Soviet dissi- (Continued on page 7) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017 No. 42 ANALYSIS Is Europe’s aviation watchdog about Huntsman: Ukraine key to improving ties cratic processes of our friends and allies.” Mr. Huntsman served as U.S. ambassador to The new U.S. ambassador to Russia says Singapore under President George H.W. to effectively isolate half of Ukraine? restoring Ukrainian sovereignty over all its Bush and as ambassador to China under unless it is renewed (Federalregister.gov, territory will be a key issue in his dealings President Barack Obama. He briefly ran for by Nikolai Holmov with Moscow as he begins his tenure amid a Eurasia Daily Monitor July 22, 2016). the Republican presidential nomination in Clearly, the proposed restrictions to be period of high tensions between the two 2012. (RFE/RL, with reporting by AP, AFP, On September 20, the Kharkiv City placed on the airspace controlled by Dnipro world powers. Speaking in Salt Lake City, and KSL.com) Council sent an appeal, addressed to Air Traffic Control would have a negative former governor of Utah Jon Huntsman on Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr effect upon Dnipro, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv. October 7 said he wants to improve rela- Volker meets Kremlin aide in Belgrade tions with Russia, but he insisted the first Groysman, regarding concerns over recent These major urban centers would face dam- Kurt Volker, the U.S.

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