Chicago Conference Assesses Ukraine-NATO Relations
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INSIDE: l NATO summit statement on Ukraine – page 3 l Commentary: A looming soccer disaster? – page 6 l Special section on the Euro 2012 – pages 10-11 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXX No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012 $1/$2 in Ukraine Fistfight erupts Chicago conference assesses Ukraine-NATO relations Canadians, and one of the prime organizers over draft law of the conference, who also read a letter from Askold Lozynskyj, former president of on languages the Ukrainian World Congress. The format of the unprecedented con- RFE/RL Ukrainian Service clave consisted of two roundtable panel dis- cussions. Moderated by Dr. Walter Zaryckyj, KYIV – More than 1,000 activists executive director of the Center for U.S.- of nationalist and opposition groups Ukraine Relations, the theme of the morn- picketed the Ukrainian Parliament ing panel was “Perceptions of Ukraine in a building on May 24 to protest the Strategic Framework.” Panelists included ruling Party of Regions proposed John Herbst, former United States ambassa- draft law on languages. dor to Ukraine, who presented the U.S. per- spective; Andrew Robinson, former The protesters were holding Canadian ambassador to Ukraine, who placards saying “Hands off the lan- addressed the view from Canada; Valentyn guage,” “Down with Muscovite occu- Nalyvaichenko, chairman, Political Council pants, down with Moscow’s slaves,” of Our Ukraine, who presented Ukraine’s “Bilingualism equals Russification,” Lesia Kuropas views [author’s note: Mr. Nalyvaichenko and “Single nation, single language – James Sherr (left) of London and Stephen Larrabee of Washington speak at the interna- resigned his chairmanship on May 17]; Ukrainian!” tional conference on “Assessing Ukraine-NATO Relations” held in Chicago on May 19. Amanda Paul, policy analyst and executive Meanwhile, a fistfight erupted in administrator of the European Policy the Verkhovna Rada during debate by Myron B. Kuropas Ukraine is ever to play a significant role in Center’s programs on the European Union’s on the draft law, which recommends maintaining the peace of Europe. Eastern Neighborhood, who addressed the introducing Russian as the second CHICAGO – While three anarchists were Organizers billed the extraordinary European perspective; and Damon Wilson, being arrested for making Molotov cocktails Chicago event as “an international advocacy official language in 13 of Ukraine’s executive vice-president of the Atlantic in an apartment in Chicago’s Bridgeport forum tasked with assessing Ukraine’s rela- 27 regions. Council, who spoke of the NATO point of area (home of former Mayor Richard J. tionship to NATO’s stated goal of strength- view. The fight broke out between Daley) to protest NATO peace-keeping mis- ened security in the Euro-Atlantic area and members of the pro-Western opposi- James Sherr, senior fellow, Russian and sions, a venerable group of present and for- a Europe that is whole, free and at peace”. Eurasia Program, Royal Institute of tion and lawmakers from President mer government officials from the United The May 19 conference was opened with International Affairs in London, comment- Viktor Yanukovych’s party, the Party States, Canada, Poland, the United Kingdom the traditional bread and salt presentation ed on Russia’s viewpoint, stressing that of Regions of Ukraine, whose base and Ukraine were meeting in Chicago’s to Dr. Volodymyr S. Ohryzko, former minis- they were not his views, only those he of support is in Ukraine’s Russian- Ukrainian Village to consider Ukraine’s rela- ter of foreign affairs of Ukraine, by students believed Moscow held. speaking east. tionship with the NATO alliance. of the local School of Ukrainian Studies, Luba Dr. Zaryckyj set the tone for the first At least one legislator, opposition It was a stellar collection of personalities Markewycz, director. Welcoming remarks panel by suggesting that, while Ukraine lawmaker Mykola Petruk, suffered whose knowledge of Ukraine, past and were offered by Pavlo Bandriwsky, confer- remains on the “civilizational divide” an apparent blow to the head and present, was extraordinary. Although their ence moderator; Dr. Oles Striltschuk, presi- between East and West, “Ukraine has was taken to the hospital with blood conclusions were not overly encouraging, dent of the Illinois branch of the Ukrainian always chosen to be with Europe.” Europe, streaming down his face. the erudite reflections of the presenters are Congress Committee; and Boris Potapenko, The opposition demanded an not only praiseworthy but decisive if executive director of the League of Ukrainian (Continued on page 8) investigation. Ukraine is politically divided into the Russian-speaking east and south, which favors close ties with Moscow, and the Ukrainian- Ukrainian Federation of America marks speaking west, which wants closer ties with NATO and the European 20th anniversary Union. Jailed former Prime Minister by Vera M. Andryczyk Yulia Tymoshenko issued a state- JENKINTOWN, Pa. – The Ukrainian ment via her Batkivshchyna party Federation of America marked 20 years of members, calling the proposed draft service to the Ukrainian community and law on languages “a crime against Ukraine at an awards reception held at the the Ukrainian nation.” Alexander B. Chernyk Gallery of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center With reporting by UNIAN. in Jenkintown, Pa., on Sunday, April 29. Copyright 2012, RFE/RL Inc. An extensive exhibit of the work of the Reprinted with the permission of federation in the areas of health care, social Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, service, education, public advocacy, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, humanitarian aid, and arts and culture was presented in the lobby of the cultural cen- Washington DC 20036 (see http:// ter. The reception and Exhibit were co- www.rferl.org/content/ukraine- sponsored by Ukrainian Selfreliance Ihor Chernyk draft-law-languages-pro- Federal Credit Union. Metropolitan Stefan Soroka (center) and Tetiana Shamshur (sixth from left) with the test/24592143.html). board of directors and staff of the Ukrainian Federation of America at the UFA’s 20th (Continued on page 15) anniversary reception. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012 No. 23 ANALYSIS Sen. Durbin visits Ukraine Sen. Inhofe’s resolution adds to the interna- Kyiv chooses Shell and Chevron tional scrutiny and protests over the abuses KYIV – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate currently taking place in Ukraine while majority whip, visited Ukraine on May to develop shale gas fields affirming the Senate’s unwavering support 27-28 and met with President Viktor for Ms. Tymoshenko and political prisoners concluded and findings in the fields match Yanukovych and other Ukrainian officials, by Pavel Korduban everywhere. (Office of Sen. Jim Inhofe) Eurasia Daily Monitor expectations, some $30 billion to $50 billion including Prime Minister Mykola Azarov will be invested in Yuzovske and $20 billion and Foreign Affairs Minister Kostyantyn Tymoshenko and the Shcherban case The Ukrainian government has chosen in Oleske within 30 years, Mr. Stavytsky pre- Gryshchenko, to encourage progress in Shell and Chevron to develop its shale gas dicted (Ekonomicheskie Izvestia, May 18). Ukraine towards more freedom, democracy KYIV – Former Prime Minister fields. Their first drilling results are expect- This would be the largest foreign invest- and development of a strong market econo- Tymoshenko is a witness in the case involv- ed in 2013-2014. Whether or not these ment in Ukraine’s energy sector ever. my. Sen. Durbin also met with members of ing the murder of Ukrainian National results match expectations will be a test for Along with developing shale gas, the gov- opposition parties and with Eugenia Deputy Yevhen Shcherban, Ukrainian Ukraine’s ability to cut its umbilical cord to ernment says it will triple gas extraction in Tymoshenko, daughter of imprisoned for- Procurator General Viktor Pshonka Russian gas. Without active assistance from the Black Sea to 3 bcm by 2015 and start mer Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Mr. announced at a press conference on May 30. the Ukrainian government, it will be difficult processing some 10 bcm of liquefied natural Durbin expressed concern about the “Investigative actions are being conducted. to overcome both the bureaucratic hurdles gas per year from either Azerbaijan or Qatar imprisonment of Ms. Tymoshenko in every She [Ms. Tymoshenko] has the status of a that lie ahead and the inevitable opposition at a new terminal to be built near Odessa by meeting. The senator stressed that the witness. In such a situation, the investiga- to the shale gas projects from Russia’s 2016. This will allow Ukraine to significantly United States sees this as a case of selective tion is aimed at finding out who ordered this Gazprom. reduce its gas imports from Russia. prosecution and that Ms. Tymoshenko heinous crime,” the procurator general said. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych If the projects are successful, Ukraine will should be released. Mr. Durbin gave an He noted that the investigation into this case attract billions of dollars in foreign invest- said in a recent interview that Ukraine could exclusive interview to the newspaper Den had been ongoing for 17 years, but new cir- ment and significantly diminish its depen- not afford the current Russian gas price, so it (The Day). (U.S. Embassy Kyiv) cumstances have appeared recently, in par- dence on Gazprom. would continue cutting imports from Russia ticular, evidence from Mr. Shcherban’s son, The government decided to choose for- from 40 bcm last year to 27 bcm this year Sen. Inhofe’s resolution on Yulia which has to be checked. The procurator eign partners to develop shale gas deposits and further in 2013, while increasing domes- general added that when enough evidence last year, when Russia made it clear that it tic gas extraction and looking for alternative WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe would not cut the gas price for Ukraine suppliers (UT-1, May 20).