INSIDE: • Kyiv makes it onto board of worldwide Monopoly – page 4. • Experimental aviation pioneer Paul H. Poberezny – page 11. • North Dakota Ukrainians celebrate their heritage – centerfold. THE PublishedU byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVI No. 35 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukrainian World Congress Ukraine celebrates Independence Day by Zenon Zawada meets in Kyiv, elects Czolij Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – For the first time in seven years, as president for 2008-2013 the Ukrainian government commemorated its independence from the Soviet Union by Zenon Zawada with a military parade, which included Kyiv Press Bureau scores of tanks and missile launchers, as KYIV – Montreal lawyer and longtime well 30 aircraft. Ukrainian diaspora leader Eugene Czolij While military brass bands are standard emerged as the new president of the for the annual Independence Day parade, Ukraine’s military leaders decided to put its Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), which heavy artillery on display for this year’s cel- held its ninth congress in Kyiv on August ebration, even weeks before the Russian 20-22. Federation’s invasion of Georgia. More than two-thirds of the 209 dele- However, the war’s outbreak coincided gates in attendance voted on August 22 in with the parade’s military theme, helping favor of Mr. Czolij to succeed New York set an urgent tone for the festivities, which City lawyer Askold Lozynskyj, who served attendees could access only with govern- for 10 years and concluded his second term. ment passes and invitations. Mr. Czolij pledged to launch the third “The time dictates some other accents,” phase in the Ukrainian diaspora’s develop- said Vasyl Vovkun, the minister of culture ment of partnerships among the world’s of Ukraine. “If the events in Georgia hadn’t Ukrainian communities, and between happened ... because it’s obvious the parade Ukraine and the diaspora. wasn’t planned in three or four days. But “This is not only about assistance, but Official Website of Ukraine’s President obviously there are people who are sup- Members of Ukraine’s armed forces on parade in Kyiv. strategically planning the activity of the posed to perhaps professionally define these global Ukrainian diaspora,” Mr. Czolij told accents. If looking from the view of today Before the military hardware was intro- Mr. Yushchenko said. “No one will ever tell the congress, calling for a strategic plan to and the events in the world, I think these duced to the more than 40,000 Ukrainians us what road to follow. No one will ever address the most pressing issues confront- events are quite timely, not looking at the measure our borders, islands and peninsu- ing Ukrainians throughout the world. lining the Khreschatyk, President Viktor discomforts.” Yushchenko sounded nationalist themes and las.” The first two phases involved establish- Those discomforts included several ing contact with Ukrainian communities phrases in his Independence Day remarks, Accompanied by the head commander of rehearsals involving military hardware the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Serhii throughout the world and coordinating which blocked Kyiv’s main boulevard, the declaring “we, the Ukrainian people, are the activities, assistance and establishing master (hospodar) of our dear land.” Kyrychenko, Mr. Yushchenko repeated his Khreschatyk, and many downtown streets government’s opposition to Russia’s act of defense networks, Mr. Czolij said. throughout the preceding week, including “No one will ever decide for us what lan- Mr. Czolij, 49, is a native of Montreal. the evenings of August 20 and 21. guage to speak and what church to pray in,” (Continued on page 9) He is a partner in Lavery, de Billy LLP, is a former chair of the Ukrainian Youth League (SUM) World Council and a former presi- dent of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Ukraine concludes Olympic Games with 27 medals Mr. Czolij is married and has three children. Ukrainians from 31 countries – including PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Ukraine (57 kg) won the gold medal after defeating quite well physically and mentally.” distant diaspora communities in Kazakhstan smashed experts’ predictions by taking France’s Khedafi Djelkhir. Lomachenko Lomachenko, the silver medalist at and Paraguay – traveled to participate in the home 27 medals from this year’s Summer led the first round 9-1 and the referee last year’s World Championships, won second consecutive congress to take place Olympic Games held in Beijing, China. stopped the bout due to safety concerns. the Olympic gold medal after eliminating in Kyiv. The team, which was forecasted to win “I was preparing my tactical plan for a series of tough opponents, including Previous congresses convened in New only 15 medals, finished in 10th place the fight, thinking that there would be all Russia’s Albert Selimov, the reigning York City and Toronto, but shifting the with 27 medals. (Ukraine finished in 11th four rounds,” said Lomachenko, “but in world and European champion and meeting, which is held every five years, to place based on gold medals.) the course of the first round I felt that I China’s Li Yang, the bronze medalist at Kyiv enabled more representatives from Featherweight boxer Vasyl Lomachenko could box more intensively. I was feeling the 2007 World Championships. communities in the former Soviet republics Inna Osypenko-Radomska, 25, from to participate. Ukraine claimed the women’s kayak sin- Among the UWC’s accomplishments in gle (K1) 500-meter gold medal in one the last five years was $20 million in minute, 50.673 seconds on Saturday, humanitarian aid – $18 million of which August 23. She defeated seven-time was distributed in Ukraine – that was deliv- Olympian Josefa Idem of Italy. ered by the UWC and its member-organiza- “I gave myself a goal and I’m happy tions. to have achieved that. The first thing I Leaders of Fourth Wave organizations will do is call my husband, who is my continued to play increasingly active roles biggest fan,” said Osypenko-Radomska within the UWC and their local communi- after the medal ceremony. “The race was ties. so close, I didn’t know I was winning Among them was businesswoman Anna because I was so close to Italy [Josefa Kisil of Toronto, who led her organization Idem]. I didn’t know I had won.” Chetverta Khvylia (Fourth Wave) in raising Silver medalists included Iryna funds for poor Ukrainian families with Lishchynska, in women’s 1,500-meter many kids. Ms. Kisil owns the Golden Lion race, and Andriy Stadnik, in men’s free- restaurant in Etobicoke, among the most style wrestling (66 kg). popular Ukrainian restaurants in the Toronto Super-heavyweight boxer Vyacheslav area. Jang Enyu/Xinhua Glazkov (over 91 kg), who advanced to Inna Osypenko-Radomska finishes strong to capture a gold medal for Ukraine in (Continued on page 5) the 500-meter kayak event. (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008 No. 35 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Russian forces setting up Cheney to visit Ukraine the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia on August 25 approved an occupation zones in Georgia WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice-President appeal to Russian President Dmitry Cheney will visit Ukraine as part of his Medvedev on the recognition of the inde- by Vladimir Socor Georgia’s interior.” Mr. Sarkozy may now trip abroad beginning on September 2. pendence of breakaway South Ossetia Eurasia Daily Monitor realize that Russian President Dmitry According to an official statement and Abkhazia. (Ukrainian News online) released by the Office of the Vice- August 25 Medvedev deceived him by promising, most recently on August 19, that Russian President, President George W. Bush World congress elects leaders Russian forces remaining in Georgia troops would withdraw from all vnutrigruz- “asked the Mr. Cheney to travel to KYIV – The Ukrainian World inskie territories (Interfax, August 19). Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Italy have switched from the role of invasion Congress (UWC), meeting in Kyiv on The Russians are rapidly building up a for discussions with these key partners on troops to that of occupation troops, seizing August 20-22, elected its new leadership system of military posts for the long term in issues of mutual interest.” The vice-presi- chunks of territory in Georgia’s interior, as team for the next five years. Eugene Georgia’s interior. These posts number 37 dent will meet with President Ilham well as key logistical nodes and arteries. Czolij of Canada was elected president, in all, including 18 in the buffer zone near Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Mikheil The quick and smooth switch from the and Stefan Romaniw of Australia was Ossetia and 19 in the buffer zone near Saakashvili of Georgia, President Viktor invasion to the occupation mode, as well as elected general secretary. Over 200 dele- Abkhazia. Labeled as “blokposty,” they Yushchenko of Ukraine, and President its ready-to-use diplomatic cover, bespeaks gates from 31 countries accepted reports involve more than checkpoints. Russian Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister advance planning at the military and politi- for the last five years of activity under troops are already constructing fortifica- Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, as well as cal level in Moscow. The land grabs extend the leadership of outgoing President tions at some of these points. According to senior officials of their respective gov- southward from South Ossetia and Askold Lozynskyj, who served two Col.-Gen. Nogovitsyn, “because blokposty ernments. Mr. Cheney will be in Ukraine Abkhazia, deep inside Georgia, as military terms. The new leadership team includes: on the main roads and in populated locali- on September 4-5. On the agenda, buffer zones. First Vice-President Jaroslava Chortiana ties are going to be permanent, they are according to President Yushchenko’s The occupation zone adjacent to (Hungary), Second Vice-President and being endowed with the necessary living press service, will be “the state and the Abkhazia was never discussed as part of Chair of the International Women’s quarters and technical facilities.” This plan prospects of Ukrainian-U.S.