The Ukrainian Weekly 1991
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Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association! Vol. LIX No. 51 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22,1991 50 cents gssmemam JlCateS TOWARD DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION OF UKRAINE Befcer hails Ukraine's commitment to democracy by Chrystyna Lapychak Since an overwhelming majority Speaking to the press in the elegant Kiev Press Bureau voted for independence in a December I Mariinsky Palace, the site of the talks, JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Yoram referendum, the Ukrainian government President Kravchuk assured Mr. Baker Sheftel, John Demjanjuk's Israeli KIEV — After receiving pledges from has stepped up its efforts, begun with its that Ukraine would adhere to the lawyer, has said that the U.S. Justice Ukraine's leaders on the fledgling state's declaration of independence on August provisions of the START agreement Department knew as far back as 1978 commitment to achieving nuclear-free 24, at meeting U.S. requirements for between the United States and the for that Mr. Demjanjuk was not "Ivan the status, U.S. Secretary of State James recognition. mer USSR, which would require de Terrible," The New York Times report Baker indicated here on Wednesday, struction of 130 out of the 176 ICBMs ed on Wednesday, December 18. Ukraine has been recognized by all of December 18, that the United States was its neighboring states, including Russia, on Ukrainian soil. Moreover, this information was sent moving closer to diplomatic recognition with whom it has entered into what to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and "Ukraine will inslsTon a single united of an independent Ukraine. some of its leaders call a "temporary" control over all nuclear weapons on then to Israeli officials, according to association, the Commonwealth of Mr. Sheftel Following talks with Ukrainian Pre Ukrainian territory as long as they Independent States, on December 8. exist," said the Ukrainian president, as Meanwhile, in Washington, a senior sident Leonid Kravchuk and other Justice Department official revealed leaders during the last stop of his four- Canada, with a large and influential he referred to the collective strategic that the Demjanjuk case was being republic tour of the former Soviet population of Ukrainian immigrants defense force envisaged by the original reviewed. -Union, Secretary Baker said he was and descendants, marking 100 years of agreement between three out of the four satisfied with their assurances on nu Uk гіпіап settlement this year, was the former republics with nuclear weapons U.S. Congressman James Traficant clear security and disarmament, econo fir it sVestern country to recognize in Minsk on December 8. of Youngstown (D-Ohio) also reported mic and political reforms. Ukraine. "Our greatest dream is that not a that two State Department telegrams "Ukraine is at the forefront of those indicate U.S. investigators knew 13 Mr. Baker also appeared impressed single silo or warhead remain in U- years ago that Mr. Demjanjuk was not republics that are embracing those by Ukraine's request for teams of kraine by the year 2000," said President "Ivan the Terrible," according to a principles and values we've outlined: experts and financial assistance to Kravchuk, as he spoke about Ukraine's recently published article in The Cleve democracy, free markets and nuclear travel here to help Ukraine take the initiative and request for American land Plain Dealer. These cables include safety," the American secretary of state initiative and unilaterally begin dis expertise, proposed by the legislature's a Soviet response to a request from the told a press conference immediately mantling all of its nuclear weapons, National Council faction. U.S. Embassy for assistance in the case following his meeting with President not just those covered in the START "We want to set an example of how of Feodor Fedorenko, a Treblinka Kravchuk. treaty. quickly they can be destroyed, but we guard U.S. authorities investigated at V^AV^^fe^^ need technical and financial assistance," the same time as Mr. Demjanjuk. Mr. said the Ukrainian leader. Fedorenko was extradited to the Soviet The Ukrainian side also: reconfirmed Union, where he was found guilty of its commitment toward forming its own war crimes and executed in 1987. national conventional armed forces on the basis of the Soviet troops stationed The second cable is dated February 1981, around the time of Mr. Demjan on its territory. President Kravchuk juk's denaturalization proceedings. In it said his decree of the previous week the Justice Department's Office of appointing himself commander-in-chief Special Investigations advises Polish of Ukrainian armed forces "did not war crimes investigators to contact deviate" from Ukraine's agreement to a Soviet authorities directly for testimony unified command of strategic forces by Soviet witnesses. Although the because it did not apply to them. United States had access to this evi The Ukrainian leader also assured dence, government officials claimed Secretary Baker that Ukraine would that Soviet statements were not of join the Conventional Forces in Europe public record. agreement and abide by its require ments on reductions of troops and The first cable cited by Mr. Traficant munitions. includes testimonies of three guards He also requested U.S. humanitarian (now deceased) from Treblinka. This is, assistance for Chorhobyl victims and in part, new evidence submitted recent ly to the Israeli Supreme Court. It was U.S. help in Ukraine's efforts to obtain obtained by Mr. Traficant by filing a membership in the International Mone Freedom of Information Act request tary Fund and World Bank, including for material on the Fedorenko case. He the continuation of teams of experts told the Plain Dealer that he avoided from both organizations traveling to using the names Demjanjuk and Ivan so Ukraine to observe and advise. that his request to obtain information . President Kravchuk also delivered from the Justice Department, Immigra Ukraine's first official response to tion and Naturalization Service and the Russian President Boris Yeltsin's state State Department would not "send up a ments earlier last week about the red flag," he said. Russian Federation remaining the sole The Israeli Supreme Court is sche nuclear power from among the former duled to hear new evidence on Monday, Soviet republics. December 23, which includes testimo "We will not be determined by Rus nies obtained by the United States in sian events," said the Ukrainian presi connection with another parallel war dent. "We will continue to pursue our crimes case, but which made vivid path, as quickly as possible,to destroy о f the nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Today reierences to other guards, meiucnngme Ь | man known a.s ""Ivan tne \ -:-mbic" f "Heaven and Earth," a Chrisftmas ssrd by Vitally Lytvyn. I told the American secretary of state (S-отітшї ЄЙ page ІЗ) (Con.tinned on page 3) THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22,1991 No. 51 Newsbri^ Argentina offers congratulations p To the President of Ukraine from L ^.nt? Leonid Kravchuk December 6,1991 9 PRAGUE - The Czecho-Slovak ^ KIEV - Lithuanian Fo^ign Mi On behalf of the people and the government of Argentina, as well as from government decided to recognize U- nister Algirdas Saudargas and Anatoliy me personally, I would like to extend the most sincere congratulations on the kraine on December 8, Western agen Zlenko exchanged notes agreeing to occasion of the results of the December 1 referendum and of your election as cies reported. In a government state establish diplomatic relations and President of the Republic. ment, Czecho-Slovakia said that it offices in Kiev and Vilnius. They dis The noble Ukrainian people, in exercising their right to self-determination, hopes that Ukraine will assume its share cussed cooperation in politics, econo have manifested unequivocally their will, setting an example of civic and of political, economic and other com mics, ecology and culture. Saudargas democratic conduct, within the rule of law. mitments - especially allowing Soviet .also talked with Leonid Kravchuk and I am convinced that within Ukraine, all its citizens will be guaranteed the oil and gas to flow across Ukraine. Supreme Soviet Foreign Affairs Com human rights to which every person is entitled to under international accords. President Vaclav Havel expressed a mission Chairman Dmytro Pavlychko. On December 1 Ukraine realized, peacefully and in an exemplary manner, measure of understanding for Mikhail (RFE/RL Daily Report) a difficult process of transition which also effects other peoples and nations. Gorbachev's concern over ethnic strife. The international community hopes that the process culminates in a Foreign Minister Jiri Dienstbier will 9 KIEV - On December 13 Leonid harmonious relation among those countries which have shared for a long time visit Kiev next month to sign a bilateral Kravchuk issued a decree creating a the same space and the same history and that, in the future, they will adopt treaty and establish foreign relations. national armed forces from the Soviet those institutional structures that are best suited to the interests and rights of (RFE/RL Daily Report) troops and the Black Sea fleet and the people involved. appointed himself commandзг-in-chief. I am also confident that the government of Ukraine will give to the 9 POLAND - The Ukrainian Air After consulting with Boris Yeltsin, international community the guarantees it seeks on security matters and will line Avialinie agreed to buy 17 airplanes Mikhail Gorbachev and Leonid Krav respect fully nuclear disarmament agreements. from the Polish Airline LOT, said a chuk, Defense Minister Yevgeny Sha- The close cultural ties between our two nations as well as the aspirations for LOT spokeswoman on December 10. poshnikov dispatched a team to Kiev peace shared by Argentina and Ukraine are a reassurance that the future The contract was initialed several weeks and urged Ukraine to avoid hasty relations between our two countries, which abide by the rule of law, will be ago, but the companies were waiting for actions.