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The Ukrainian Weekly 2014, No.2 www.ukrweekly.com Part 1 of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 5-12 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine Senate passes resolution supporting Ukraine’s people, Opposition yet to agree on 2015 election strategy warning of potential sanctions WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on January 7 unan- imously passed a resolution “expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of President [Viktor] Yanukovych’s decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union.” Senate Resolution 319 was sponsored by Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), who introduced it on December 12, 2013. It was co-sponsored by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), James E. Risch (R-Ind.), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The resolution notes that: “according to a poll con- ducted in November 2013, a majority of the people of Ukraine supported signing a historic trade and political agreement with the European Union”; “a closer associ- Andrey Kravchenko/UNIAN ation between Ukraine and the European Union has Opposition leaders at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, on November 29, 2013, during the European Union’s been supported by Ukrainian civil society, business Eastern Partnership Summit (from left): Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Vitali Klitschko, Oleh Tiahnybok and Petro Poroshenko. leaders, and politicians across the political spectrum and would bring lasting political, democratic, and eco- by Zenon Zawada campaigns and unite behind his single could cannibalize the pro-Western vote nomic benefits to the people of Ukraine”; and “the candidacy. On the other hand, the or spread it too thinly, letting another abrupt reversal on the eve of the summit following KYIV – The leaders of Ukraine’s expected Batkivshchyna candidate, victory slip through their fingers. Russian economic coercion and to protect the narrow pro-Western political parties are call- Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and Svoboda party “The more candidates from the interests of some officials and individuals in Ukraine ing upon citizens to prepare for the candidate, Oleh Tiahnybok, said they opposition, the worse it’ll be,” said prompted hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians all March 2015 presidential election as will compete independently in the first Sergiy Taran, chair of the Sotsiovymir across the country, especially young people and stu- the main mechanism to remove round of the presidential election. Political and Social Research Center in dents, to protest the decision and stand in support of President Viktor Yanukovych from Billionaire confectionary magnate Kyiv. “But uniting behind a single can- furthering Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration.” power. But they have yet to offer the Petro Poroshenko is also planning to didate is dangerous too.” It also cites the violent attempt by special police public an election strategy. throw his hat into the ring and there As it’s currently written, Ukraine’s division on November 30, 2013, to disperse a peaceful Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for could be government-sponsored tech- election law requires a single candi- Reform (UDAR) Chair Vitali Klitschko nical candidates. The concern among (Continued on page 14) has called upon his rivals to ditch their observers is that so many candidates (Continued on page 14) Ukrainian American leaders meet with White House senior advisers WASHINGTON – Leaders representing the NSC. of the Democratic National Committee’s potential violence and helped protect the more than a dozen Ukrainian American Although several participants were Ethnic Council who was instrumental in protesters from harm. organizations met at the White House with unable to attend due to a severe snow helping set up the White House meeting, Mr. Fedynsky noted: “The Euro-Maidan President Barack Obama’s senior national storm that hit parts of the Midwest and the also attended. As co-chair of the DNC movement has mobilized millions of security staff on Friday, January 3, to dis- Northeast, among the groups invited to Resolutions Committee, Mr. Zogby helped Ukrainians over the course of the past two cuss the crisis in Ukraine. They urged the represent Ukrainian Americans were the Mr. Kulas, Mr. Fedynsky and Ms. Chalupa months on behalf of democracy, the rule of Obama administration to take strong action Ukrainian Congress Committee of America pass a DNC resolution in 2010 commemo- law and civil society. The only violence has in support of democracy in Ukraine and to (UCCA), Ukrainian National Information rating the Holodomor in which millions of come from the Yanukovych administration. send a firm message of support to those Service (UNIS), U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Ukrainians perished from a Soviet- We are gratified by America’s support for gathered throughout Ukraine in opposition (USUF), United Ukrainian American Relief orchestrated famine. the Ukrainian people and especially for the to government corruption and violence Committee, Ukrainian Human Rights The group thanked the Obama adminis- firm condemnation of police state tactics. against its citizens. Committee, Ukrainian National Association, tration for its outspoken support for democ- We look to the U.S. to exercise its leadership The non-partisan meeting was initiated Ukrainian National Women’s League of racy and rule of law in Ukraine, particularly to help the Ukrainians achieve their aspira- by the co-chairs of Ukrainian-Americans for America (UNWLA), Ukrainian American for making public the read-out of Vice- tions for a European identity. This goal is in Obama, Julian Kulas, Andrew Fedynsky and Bar Association, Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of President Joe Biden’s phone call with America’s interest, Europe’s, Ukraine’s and Ulana Mazurkevich, as well Alexandra America and the Ukrainian Catholic and President Viktor Yanukovych; Secretary of ultimately, the Russian people, as well.” Chalupa, who was recently elected co-con- Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. Many other State John Kerry’s strong words of “disgust” Mr. Kulas reminded the administration vener of the National Democratic Ethnic Ukrainian American organizations partici- over the Ukrainian government’s violence that “Ukraine voluntarily surrendered its Coordinating Committee, and who was the pated behind the scenes leading up to the against peaceful protesters; Assistant nuclear weapons under certain assurances lead organizer of the meeting. meeting, helping to shape the group’s mes- Secretary of State Victoria Nuland’s frequent for its integrity and independence, and The Obama administration was repre- sage to the Obama administration. travel to Kyiv; and Ambassador Geoffrey therefore the United States has an obliga- sented by Karen Donfried, special assistant Rep. Marcy Kaptur, co-chair of the Pyatt’s exceptional leadership at the U.S. tion to step in.” He also expressed concern to the president and senior director of Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, was rep- Embassy in Kyiv. They also acknowledged about continued reports of heavy media European affairs at the National Security resented by her aide, Allison Jarus. Dr. the work of Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and censorship and the physical attacks on Council (NSC), and Lyn Debevoise, director James Zogby, a long-time friend of the Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), whose pres- for Central and Eastern European Affairs at Ukrainian American community and chair ence at the Euro-Maidan in Kyiv diffused (Continued on page 14) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 No. 2 FOR THE RECORD U.S. Mission to the OSCE Expert negates east-west division January 5 event, opposition leaders urged their supporters to continue the protests KYIV – Division of Ukraine into east and after public holidays this week to celebrate west does not reflect the social structure of comments on events in Ukraine Christmas according to the Julian calendar. our country and does not correspond The statement below was delivered by recent Ministerial Council meeting in Kyiv. Protesters have also camped out since late either to cultural or structural realities, and Ambassador Daniel B. Baer of the U.S. We have not yet succeeded in adopting the November of last year on Independence therefore the “separation technology” will Mission to the Organization for Security and decision, but it is clear that the safety of Square, where they have erected makeshift not work, social psychologist Viktor Cooperation in Europe before the OSCE journalists remains an urgent area of con- barricades. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Pushkar said on the air of Radio Free Permanent Council in Vienna on December cern, particularly in Ukraine in recent weeks. Agence France-Presse and RFE/RL’s Europe/Radio Liberty on January 6. “The 30, 2013. The United States, like many other coun- Ukrainian Service) tries, was deeply dismayed to learn of the division of the country into two, relatively I would like to start by once again thank- violent beating of Ukrainian activist and into the east and the west, is very rude and Police to respond to violations ing and recognizing the Ukrainian chair- journalist Tetiana Chornovol in the early does not correspond to either cultural or manship-in-office, which holds its last morning of December 25. A few hours ear- structural realities of our country. Actually, KYIV – The capital’s police have again Permanent Council meeting today. As many lier, Chornovol, who has reported critically as regards those prospects of allegedly warned participants of the Euro-Maidan have recognized, the team here in Vienna, on alleged government misuse of state dividing the country into two states, in that blocking administrative buildings and led by Ambassador [Ihor] Prokopchuk, resources, had posted on her blog photos of 2004 we were closer to it, but even then automobile movement and damage to along with colleagues in Kyiv on the task a residence alleged to belong to a member this technology failed to work,” he said.
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