The Ukrainian Weekly 1997, No.22
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Ukrainian expedition returns from Antarctica — page 3. • “The Glory of Byzantium”: interview and commentary — page 8. • More on President Leonid Kuchma’s visit to D.C. — pages 9-11. HE KRAINI A N EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXV No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 1997 $1.25/$2 in Ukraine McDonald’s opens Ukrainian, Russian PMs sign pact on Black Sea Fleet by Roman Woronowycz Striletskyi Bay, while Southern Bay will during negotiations Ukraine had demand- two Kyiv restaurants Kyiv Press Bureau be de-militarized. ed $424.7 million a year, while Russia In addition, the Russian Navy will have offered $72 million. In the end the two by Roman Woronowycz KYIV — The prime ministers of use of the test range at Feodosia, the parties reached a compromise “in the Kyiv Press Bureau Ukraine and Russia signed a historic Hvardiiskyi Aerodrome and the Yalta middle ground,” the newspaper quoted accord on the division of the Black Sea KYIV — Ukraine finally got a Sanitorium, a communications station and informed sources as saying. Interfax- Fleet on May 28 after five years of dis- a rocket fuel depot. Russia agreed to post Ukraine placed the figure at just under McDonald’s of its own on May 24 – two cussions, disagreements and controversy. in fact – when the first restaurants bear- no more than 25,000 military personnel at $100 million. “Who won, who lost, that is history the bases, to limit Russian armor to 132 In another document signed by the ing the golden arches opened in Kyiv. after today. We both won — Russia and People waited for more than two vehicles, artillery to 24 pieces with a cal- prime ministers, the two sides also Ukraine,” said Russia’s Prime Minister iber over 100 mm. and aircraft to 22. agreed that Ukraine is still due $200 mil- hours in lines that stretched to 150 Viktor Chernomyrdin, after he and meters at each locale to get a taste of Russia also agreed that it would place no lion for fissionable materials that were Ukraine’s Prime Minister Pavlo nuclear hardware on the leased lands. exported to Russia in 1992 from disman- what abroad is generally considered Lazarenko signed three documents on the American cuisine. Ukraine will receive from Russia cash tled tactical nuclear weaponry. The num- disposition of the BSF at Mariinsky payment of $526.5 million as compensa- ber was arrived at by balancing Ukraine’s They also drove up in cars to the Palace, with Ukraine’s President Leonid drive-thru windows located at both tion for the portion of the fleet that was outstanding oil and gas debt for 1993- Kuchma in attendance. restaurants. The wait there was shorter given to Russia in 1994 in an agreement 1994 against the value of the exported Prime Minister Chernomyrdin called — only a half hour. signed by President Yeltsin and then fissile materials, which was put at $450 the signing “a truly epochal event.” McDonald’s, an icon of American pop Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk. million, according to Interfax-Ukraine. The agreement gives Russia a 20-year culture, had been awaited for a long time. Although the two prime ministers The discussions, which were called lease on two of the four bays in the city It opened in Moscow more than five years refused to divulge the amount Ukraine is “stressful” by President Kuchma’s chief of of Sevastopol, located on the Crimean ago; in Miensk, Belarus, which is in far charging Russia for use of its territory staff, Yevhen Kushniarov, lasted three worse economic shape than Kyiv, almost Peninsula in Ukraine, with a five-year and infrastructures, as well as for ecolog- hours – twice the allotted time. They two years ago. Openings in both cities option for renewal by permission of ical damage to its lands, Interfax-Ukraine involved President Kuchma, both prime were greeted with long lines that appeared Ukraine. Beginning on June 12, Russian reported that the compensation would ministers and a host of ministers and sup- daily for weeks. So when the doors ships and troops will be stationed at occur through debt relief to Ukraine for port staff, and covered the most crucial bases in Sevastopol Bay and Quarantine oil and gas purchases from Russia. (Continued on page 3) Bay. Ukraine’s ships will be kept in The daily newspaper Den reported that (Continued on page 3) Awards ceremonies highlight Ukrainian president’s D.C. trip Kuchma receives Democracy Award Kuchma honors Perry, Brzezinski by Roma Hadzewycz eral speakers for his significant role in by Khristina Lew Ukrainian president’s residence during advancing political and economic his two-day working visit to the WASHINGTON — President reform. WASHINGTON — Ukrainian nation’s capital on May 14-16. Leonid Kuchma on May 15 accepted In opening remarks, Richard President Leonid Kuchma presented Mr. Kuchma linked the efforts of Drs. the 1997 Democracy Award presented Soudriette, IFES president, noted: one of his country’s highest awards on Perry and Brzezinski to the evolution of by the International Foundation for “Tonight we recognize President May 15 to William Perry and Zbigniew the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship, which Election Systems (IFES) for his “tire- Kuchma for his contributions in helping Brzezinski for “dedicating their ener- he characterized as the “gradual conver- less efforts to support the democratic build a free Ukraine by supporting the gies and time to deepening the sion from the excessive focus of the U.S. election process in Ukraine and for democratic election process and for his Ukrainian-American relationship.” administration on the Ukrainian nuclear leadership in securing adoption of the leadership in gaining the adoption of Mr. Kuchma bestowed the State aspect, to the beginning of constructive new Constitution [of Ukraine].” The the new Constitution of Ukraine. We Award of Ukraine on the two American policy makers during a ceremony held award also saluted the “freedom-lov- also recognize the people of Ukraine in the courtyard of Blair House, the (Continued on page 11) ing people of Ukraine, who have a whose abiding love for democracy is an long-standing tradition of commit- example for the world.” ment to democratic principles,” and As the dinner also celebrated the recognized “the Ukrainian people who 10th anniversary of IFES, Mr. have devoted themselves to building a Soudriette paid tribute to the organiza- free, democratic and sovereign tion’s founder, F. Clifton White, U k r a i n e . ” “whose vision helped to chart our The presentation occurred during a course to help build democracy.” black-tie dinner held in the president’s Charles T. Manatt, IFES chairman of honor at the elegant Benjamin Franklin the board, noted that “During the past Room at the U.S. Department of State 10 years IFES has been a leader in under the sponsorship of the Ukraine- assisting new democracies in every cor- U.S. Business Council and IFES. It ner of the globe.” A private non-profit took place at the time of President and non-partisan foundation that Kuchma’s working visit to Washington extends technical, educational and for the first plenary session of the U.S.- informational support to electoral bod- Ukraine Binational Commission. ies and non-governmental organizations The Democracy Award is presented around the globe, IFES has been pro- annually to an individual who has made moting the development of democratic an outstanding contribution to strength- processes in Ukraine since 1993. It has ening democracy in his own country provided technical assistance to the and throughout the world. The Khristina Lew President Leonid Kuchma (left) presents Zbigniew Brzezinski (cen- Ukrainian president was hailed by sev- ter) and William Perry (right) with the State Award of Ukraine on May 15. (Continued on page 10) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 1997 No. 22 Belarus: some reflections during the spring of 1997 Five-country summit held in Estonia each other in pursuing foreign arms deals. The following are the author’s reflec - embezzling money back in 1991, charging (Eastern Economist) tions, written in a journal format, on his excess money for children traveling to TALLINN — Following their summit most recent trip to Belarus. Germany. This is an old charge that was meeting in the Estonian capital on May 27, Georgia and Ukraine firm up military ties refuted by three audits last year. the presidents of Ukraine, Poland and the by David R. Marples In addition the KGB has accused Dr. three Baltic states issued a joint statement TBILISI — Georgian Defense Minister Vardiko Nadibaidze and his Ukrainian CONCLUSION Hrushevoy of providing financial aid to expressing their approval of the NATO- counterpart Col. Gen. Oleksander Kuzmuk April 22 members of the Belarusian Popular Front Russia Founding Act, signed in Paris earli- (BPF), such as [its leader, Yurii] Khadyka. er the same day, BNS reported. The five signed six agreements on military coopera- A battle is brewing here in Miensk. On If this accusation is proved then it means leaders stressed that NATO “should remain tion, ITAR-TASS and BS-Press reported Saturday there is to be a Chornobyl march that a charitable organization has taken a open” to all countries ready and able to join on May 27. The accords cover collabora- to Independence Square, coinciding with a political action. Which is illegal of course. and that each state has the right to choose tion between the two countries’ air forces march by the Belarusian Popular Front, “Alles verboten” ought to be the watch- the best way to ensure its own security. and air defense systems, and the training of which in theory, is to end up somewhere word of this government.