www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Two new accounts of Ukraine, past and present — page 9. • Upcoming film to focus on Ukraine in World War II — page 12. • Ukrainian poet receives prestigious PEN Literary Award — page 13. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVIII HE KRAINIANNo. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2000 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine AustrianT forced laborUUkraine draws nearer toW European Union by Roman Woronowycz will immediately be given associate or in the union, a prelude to eventual perma- Kyiv Press Bureau full membership,” explained Anatolii nent membership. talks progress quickly Lytvytskyi, presidential advisor to the The Ukrainian government was eager by Myroslaw Smorodsky KYIV – Successful meetings between Cabinet of Ministers, who was part of the to show that economic reforms were Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko and Ukrainian delegation. “You can’t expect moving forward full throttle, and that it VIENNA – Representatives of five European leaders on May 22-23 may lead that all the trade problems between us was making necessary changes to meet Central and East European countries – to closer and more liberalized trade rela- would be resolved in one moment. The European trade standards. Belarus, the Czech Republic, Poland, tions that the Ukrainian side hopes will process will continue,” he noted. Along with that, Ukraine needed to Russia and Ukraine – successfully con- give it associate membership in the Mr. Lytvytskyi said that, nonetheless, convince the Europeans that it had made cluded their first plenary negotiating ses- European Union by the end of the year. sion with the Austrian government on the Ukraine hopes to receive both free trade headway in resolving 19 points of fric- After returning from a meeting of the tion in trade relations, including resolu- issue of compensation to forced laborers Council on Ukraine-European Union status, which would come with its desig- who were deported to Austria during World nation as a free market economy, and tion of an embargo on European used Cooperation, Mr. Yuschenko and the cars more than five years old that War II. Ukrainian delegation were optimistic that associate EU membership before the end Unlike recent German negotiations, of the year. He said the two sides agreed Ukraine had undertaken under pressure the talks had changed the way Ukraine from the Korean car-maker Daewoo. which had been protracted for over one and Western Europe cooperate. While the in principle on the need for the expansion year, the Austrian discussions were initiated of trade quotas and on what Ukraine Daewoo had insisted on a law banning prime minister said he is certain that now entry into Ukraine of such vehicles in in April on a bilateral basis with each coun- “the dialogue with the EU will broaden” needs to do to receive free market status. try individually and will, in all probability, Mr. Lytvytskyi explained that a final plan return for opening a manufacturing facili- and that they had laid the groundwork for ty in the country. be concluded by July with payments to “serious cooperation,” his press should be ready for signing in the fall begin before year’s end. during the annual Ukraine-EU summit. In recent weeks Ukraine had lifted the spokesperson, Natalia Zarudna said the embargo and began talks with Daewoo Austria has announced that it will not talks “managed to change the way the Prime Minister Yuschenko came to the only pay former slave and forced laborers Brussels bargaining table with the pri- on the restructuring of other portions of EU looks at Ukraine.” the contract that give Daewoo financial in industry, but it will also voluntarily pay Ukrainian officials tempered their sat- mary goal of opening up a dialogue on farm workers. This is unlike the German and trade perks, which the EU has said it isfaction with the results of the discus- giving Ukraine free trade status within settlement, which left compensation for considers barriers to free trade. sions by stating that no firm decisions on the organization, which would allow it to farmers to the discretion of each participat- Romano Prodi, the president of the liberalized trade quotas or associate maneuver around European anti-dumping ing country foundation. EU’s executive arm, the European membership for Ukraine had been agreed laws and quotas that have limited In addition, women who gave birth Commission, said after his meeting with upon. But they underscored that a Ukraine’s ability to export certain com- while in forced labor will also be compen- Mr. Yuschenko that he looks positively process had been put into place that leads modities in large numbers, among them sated as will children up to age 12 who upon the reform process currently going in that direction. textile products and scrap metal. He also accompanied their deported parents into on in Ukraine. “We trust the politics of “You can’t expect that a country that wanted to continue and expand talks on Austria. Children under age 12 can claim had a partnership agreement with Europe Ukraine achieving associate membership (Continued on page 14) the same amount as their parents. The payment amounts are as follows (values based upon a 15/1 exchange ratio of the Austrian shilling to the U.S. dollar): Ukraine hopes to match its 1996 performance at this year’s Olympics slave laborers – 105,000 Austrian shillings, 15,000 DM, $7,000; forced industrial labor- by Roman Woronowycz Ukrainian diaspora and Western com- tries making it into the medal standings. ers – 35,000 shillings, 5,000 DM, $2,333; Kyiv Press Bureau panies prior to the 1996 Olympics is As in 1996, in Atlanta the team forced agricultural laborers – 20,000 already outdated or worn. The National should be strong in weightlifting, gym- shillings, 2,857 DM, $1,333; women who KYIV – With about four months to Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC- nastics, track and field, yachting, rhyth- gave birth while in forced labor – 5,000 go to the beginning of the Sydney Ukraine) still lacks sufficient funds to mic gymnastics, cycling and archery. Olympic Games, Ukraine looks poised shillings, 715 DM, $333. take care of the athletes’ final prepara- Although there are no sure bets in to match its 1996 overall performance It is estimated that approximately tions and acclimatization necessities. the Olympics, where any number of in Atlanta, where the Ukrainian team 220,000 forced laborers who were deport- But those close to the NOC believe that unexpected factors can ruin years of took 23 medals, nine of them gold, and ed into Austria are still alive and approxi- adequate preparations have been made preparations, the Ukrainian team has achieved a very respectable ninth place mately 43,000 of the victims reside in in Kyiv and by the Ukrainian organiz- high hopes for several athletes. in the medal standings. Ukraine. First there is the women’s yachting Some of the stars of 1996, the likes ing committee in Sydney to assure that The Austrians will be able to achieve Ukraine fields a competitive team. team of Ruslana Taran and Olena swift results only if they are able to sepa- of multi-medal winner in gymnastics “Today, the prognoses are that what Pakholchyk – currently ranked No. 1 in rate the issue of compensation of slave and Liliya Podkopayeva and boxer the Ukrainian team achieves in Sydney the world. They have competed exten- forced laborers from the property and Volodymyr Klychko, have retired or should come very close to what they sively in Australia and are familiar with insurance claims of the other victim moved on to the professional ranks, but achieved in Atlanta,” said Laryssa the waters in which the competitions claimants. The inclusion of all the various others, such as Olympic mainstay Barabash-Temple, who guided the will be held. They are ranked very claims into one global settlement was the Serhii Bubka, as well as Atlanta high highly in their individual categories, key factor that caused extensive time jump gold-medalist Inessa Kravets and NOC-Ukraine for the 1996 Olympics and are definitely medal favorites. delays in the German settlement discus- long jump bronze-medalist Inga organizing efforts from the United Then there is weightlifter Denis sions. After the forced labor settlement is Babakova, should be back. Ukraine States. Ms. Temple remains a member Gotfrid, who took a bronze in 1996 in concluded, the Austrians will then attempt also has been successful in replenishing of the NOC-Ukraine and is directing the 99 kilogram category. He is the star to resolve the property and insurance its team with new faces, notably gym- preparations for the Salt Lake City claims of other victims. nast Viktoria Karpenko and swimmer Winter Games scheduled for 2002. of the team and should ensure that Observers note that the reconciliation Yana Klochkova, who are expected to According to an analysis obtained Ukrainians don’t miss Atlanta gold foundations that presently exist in each take several medals in individual from the NOC-Ukraine, the Ukrainian medalist and world record setter Taimur country will distribute compensation to res- events. Olympic contingent is expected to Taimazov, who has retired. NOC offi- idents within the five Central and East The various athletes and teams that number 242 athletes who will compete cials said that Mr. Gotfrid has improved European countries. Victims who reside will compete for Ukraine continue to in 26 events – which would again make dramatically since Atlanta and has the outside these countries will be paid through have the same general problems in it one of the largest Olympic teams. ability to compete for a top spot in an Austrian foundation. The Austrian gov- preparing for these Games as they did Ms.