The Ukrainian Weekly 2001, No.10

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Assertive Russia: foreign policy challenge for U.S. — page 2. • A look at Ukraine’s human rights record for 2000 — page 3. • “Tapegate” engenders conspiracy theories — page 6. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIX HE KRAINIANNo. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2001 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine SorokaT enthronedU as metropolitan Kyiv authoritiesW dismantle second tent city for Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S. erected by students near Shevchenko University by Roman Woronowycz Ukraine Without Kuchma movement, two Kyiv Press Bureau closely linked organizations calling for the resignation of President Leonid KYIV – Thirty burly, yellow-jacketed Kuchma, were hoping to block the presi- municipal workers made short-shrift of a dent’s access to the park and the monu- newly erected tent city opposite the main ment by forming a human chain. They building of Taras Shevchenko State had been calling on concerned citizens to University on the morning of March 6, join them and were expecting a crowd of tearing down the several tents and hauling about 1,000 demonstrators. them away. National Deputy Volodymyr Filenko, a The action came two days after several member of the Reforms-Congress faction dozen students of five local universities and a leading figure of the Forum for and others from Lviv and Rivne construct- National Salvation and another newly ed a new tent city consisting of four pup formed group, the Ukrainian Pravytsia, tents in Taras Shevchenko Park, located had announced the new action on March 2. across the street from the university, to “We will not allow the president or his replace a larger one law enforcement offi- wreath near Shevchenko. We believe he cials had dismantled days before. has no moral right to approach this great The action came before several days symbol on this day,” explained Mr. observances of the anniversary of the Filenko. birth of Shevchenko, a 19th century poet He said that after the demonstration at considered the single greatest figure in Shevchenko Park, the protesters had fomenting the development of a planned to move to the Khreschatyk and Ukrainian national self-image. form a human chain along the more than Traditionally, the leaders of Ukraine’s one-kilometer-long thoroughfare. three branches of government lay flowers Oleh Diomyn, assistant chief of staff to Andrij Wowk at the foot of the park’s Shevchenko mon- President Kuchma, responded to the Archbishop Stephen Sulyk (right), metropolitan emeritus, with his successor, ument on that day. threat to deny the president access to the Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka, during enthronement in Philadelphia. The students, who are backed by the Forum for National Salvation and the (Continued on page 4) by Andrij Wowk After the enthronement ceremony, Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Archbishop Soroka, 49, celebrated a hierarchical divine liturgy with many of PHILADELPHIA – As thundering the prelates in attendance. The concele- choruses of “Axios!” (he is worthy) were Yuschenko rejects demands for coalition government brants included retired Metropolitan- by Roman Woronowycz ernment were looking to the wrong person sung by the choir within the Ukrainian Archbishop Stephen Sulyk, who headed Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Kyiv Press Bureau to create it. He explained that the first step the Philadelphia Archeparchy since to a coalition government is the official Conception, Bishop Stefan Soroka of 1980, and Metropolitan-Archbishop KYIV – Prime Minister Viktor Winnipeg was enthroned as the new met- formation of a parliamentary coalition and Michael Bzdel, spiritual leader of Yuschenko on March 2 rejected a demand then a majority, “which then becomes the ropolitan-archbishop of the Ukrainian Ukrainian Catholics in Canada, who is made by a leading Ukrainian lawmaker Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia on basis for a coalition government.” based in Winnipeg. that he immediately revamp his Cabinet The prime minister underscored that, Tuesday, February 27. He is the sixth The prelates and faithful present into a coalition government representative metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in until those proposing a new form of gov- included four cardinals, 17 Eastern of a parliamentary majority. ernment make a serious effort to develop the United States. Catholic metropolitans and bishops, 16 The prime minister said he had no More than 2,000 faithful and clergy, the underpinnings for it, they had no right Roman Catholic bishops, Bishop intention of succumbing to political pres- to blatantly pressure the prime minister. as well as prelates from the Ukrainian Vsevolod of the Ukrainian Orthodox sure brought to bear by Verkhovna Rada Catholic, Ukrainian Orthodox and “It must be understood the government Church of the U.S.A., about 90 priests First Vice-Chairman Viktor Medvedchuk, is a constitutionally mandated entity, and Roman Catholic Churches filled the and 70 nuns, and over 2,000 laity, among considered a prime political opponent of cathedral to witness the ceremony, which it demands respect and cooperation,” said them nearly 400 children from the Mr. Yuschenko. He explained that there Mr. Yuschenko. began at 2:30 p.m. The official eparchy’s parishes. existed no legal basis for such a move. enthronement itself was conducted by In the last month, as the year-old par- In his homily, Metropolitan- “The ultimatum that certain politicians liamentary majority in the Verkhovna Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic Archbishop Soroka called himself the give for the deadline looks no more than nuncio to the United States. Two newly Rada disintegrated over the Tapegate new “chief shepherd” of the archeparchy, political maneuvering,” said Mr. political crisis, three political parties in appointed cardinals, Archbishop Major and pledged to maintain “a relationship Yuschenko, during a press conference in Lubomyr Husar, primate of the which business oligarchs hold much of deep love and trust” with the faithful. which he presented the relatively glowing sway – Labor Ukraine, Democratic Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, and The flock responds “to a shepherd whose economic figures for last year in compari- Roman Catholic Archbishop Theodore Union and the Social Democratic voice they recognize calling them for- son to the nine previous years of econom- (United) Parties – have been clamoring McCarrick of Washington, participated ward to follow. ... A shepherd must ic downturn. ever more loudly for a coalition govern- in the event. Also present were Cardinal model the direction and lead the way, Mr. Yuschenko said he did not believe ment that would consist of representa- Anthony Bevilacqua of the Latin-rite and the sheep will follow.” he had a responsibility to form a govern- tives of a new majority coalition they are Archdiocese of Philadelphia and “As your shepherd, I am called to be ment such as the one Mr. Medvedchuk developing, and which would then give Cardinal William Keeler of the among the priests, religious and people was demanding until a legislative basis for the Ukrainian Parliament more sway over Archdiocese of Baltimore. enough that you will recognize my voice it was established. He explained that doc- the work of the government. During a ceremony replete with and trust my heart. I must have enough uments needed to be approved specifying Many political experts believe the three Church tradition, clergy of the courage to go first, compassion enough the legal foundation for such a govern- parties simply are looking to oust Prime Philadelphia Archeparchy lined up to to choose a safe path for the weakest ment and its responsibilities, as well as the Minister Yuschenko, who has made a con- take their turns in greeting and prostrat- among you, and confidence enough to relationship between the Parliament and certed effort to reform the Ukrainian econ- ing themselves before the newly installed know that you will follow if I lead,” the the government. omy and move it away from the shadow archbishop, expressing their promise of Mr. Yuschenko stated that the lawmak- obedience to him. (Continued on page 12) ers who were demanding a coalition gov- (Continued on page 23) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2001 No. 10 ANALYSIS Increasingly assertive Russia NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Kuchma: support me or quit Viktor Yuschenko. He noted, however, that poses challenge for U.S. policy the government should be efficient and KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma said depend more on the parliamentary majority. on March 6 that state officials have one According to Mr. Kuchma, current relations by Taras Kuzio early 1999. Ukraine has also joined the week to publicly renounce ties to the oppo- between the government and the parliamen- newly created Moscow-based CIS Anti- sition or resign their posts. “I suggest that tary majority are not developing well. The An increasingly assertive Russia will Terrorist Center run by the Russian every civil servant, starting with ministers, president said the prime minister should provide the new U.S. administration with Federal Security Service (FSB), is consid- who are members of, or sympathize with ... cooperate with all caucuses in the majority, one of its first foreign policy challenges, ering upgrading its participation in the CIS opposition groups, should decide within a not only with those Mr. Yuschenko “likes.” particularly in four post-Soviet states Air Defense Agreement from associate to week whether to give up their jobs in (RFE/RL Newsline) deemed by the

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