The Ukrainian Weekly 2014, No.26-27
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l President Poroshenko explains his peace plan – page 3 l The UNWLA holds its triennial convention – page 4 l Shevchenko exhibit at The Ukrainian Museum – centerfold THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 29-JULY 6, 2014 $2.00 NATO foreign ministers endorse Poroshenko forms his team, support package for Ukraine keeping many insiders by Zenon Zawada “Society is forgiving the oligarchs for now because of the war. When [Igor] KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro Kolomoisky is organizing military battal- Poroshenko completed forming his team on ions, it’s not convenient to battle with him,” June 19 when Parliament approved his said Sergiy Taran, a member of the political nominations for three key posts: Pavlo council of the Volia party of young reform- Klimkin as foreign affairs minister, Vitalii ers, which aims to run in the next parlia- Yarema as procurator general and Valeria mentary elections. Gontareva as National Bank of Ukraine chair. Mr. Poroshenko, 48, is taking a different Combined with the new staff at the approach than former President Viktor Presidential Administration, which Mr. Yushchenko, with whom he served in gov- Poroshenko appointed the prior week, ernment in 2005 (and who, as godfather of political observers have begun to form a Mr. Poroshenko’s twin daughters, is his basic idea of what to expect from the new “kum”). administration. Unlike Mr. Yushchenko, who suffered So far, it looks to be heavy on stability from not having a solid team, Mr. and light on reform. The Presidential Poroshenko has chosen only those he’s Administration staff has close contacts with worked with and trusts. That has always oligarchs, particularly those in southeast- been his approach, said Kyiv political guru ern Ukraine, while some appointees also Sergey Gaiday, who has worked on political have hints of corruption in their career campaigns for Mr. Poroshenko as early as backgrounds. 2002 and as recently as 2010. “It’s not worth waiting for any particular “A true team is built on the functional NATO reforms so far,” said Petro Oleshchuk, a politi- principle: you take a person into a team Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin speaks at a press conference at cal science lecturer at Taras Shevchenko understanding what he can do well,” Mr. NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 25 after his meeting with NATO’s foreign National University in Kyiv. “There will be Gaiday told hromadske.tv in late May. affairs ministers. attempts and bold statements on the fight “Petro Oleksiyovych [Poroshenko] does not against corruption, but no preconditions for gather a team. He gathers an entourage. NATO “The summit comes at a time when secu- a systemic battle are apparent.” That’s a different principle: betrays or not rity challenges are multiplying beyond our BRUSSELS – NATO foreign affairs min- Rather than challenging the oligarchs to betrays, one of us or not one of us, how he borders,” NATO Secretary General Anders isters on June 25 agreed on plans to contribute more to the Ukrainian economy, views me personally. An entourage is only Fogh Rasmussen said. “Today we stressed develop a robust Alliance Readiness Mr. Poroshenko is handling them with those who demonstrate their loyalty.” the importance of our collective defense.” Action Plan for the alliance’s summit in white gloves, largely because he needs their The president’s team also raised some The ministers held talks with their Wales this September and endorsed a help to defend against the Russian- skeptical eyebrows among Kyiv’s civic newly appointed Ukrainian counterpart, package of support measure to strength- sponsored armed invasion of the country’s en Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. (Continued on page 17) eastern regions. (Continued on page 12) Meeting at Ukraine’s Embassy focuses on how to help Ukraine by Yaro Bihun Ambassador Motsyk introduced Mr. Marynovych, who had come to Washington WASHINGTON – Leaders and represen- a week earlier to be awarded this year’s tatives of Ukrainian American organiza- Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom from tions came together at the Ukrainian the Victims of Communism Memorial Embassy here to discuss the situation in Foundation. Ukraine and what Ukrainians here could do In his remarks, Mr. Marynovych stressed, to help their homeland maintain its sover- among other things, that Ukraine must eignty and territorial integrity, and get it on engage the Ukrainian and international the path to social and economic reform and media to counter the Russian media attacks integration into the European community. on Ukraine. Ukraine must “fight and reform,” The roundtable discussion on June 16, he said. “We cannot act as if we are saints.” convened at the invitation of Ambassador Engaging the media in this effort was the Olexander Motsyk, included more than 20 fourth of the five main action points pro- Ukrainian American participants and two posed by Ambassador Motsyk, the others prominent last-minute surprise guests being: (1) getting political, financial, mili- from Ukraine who happened to be visiting tary, expert and humanitarian assistance; Washington at that time: Ecology and (2) initiating sanctions to stop Russian Natural Resources Minister Andriy aggression; (3) promoting international Mokhnyk and Ukrainian Catholic University cooperation in the area of trade and invest- Vice-Rector and long-time human rights Yaro Bihun ment; and (5) helping to bring about activist Myroslav Marynovych. Representatives of Ukrainian American organizations and Ukrainian Ambassador Ukraine’s social-economic reform and inte- After a moment of silence for those who Olexander Motsyk listen to suggestions by Myroslav Marynovych about how they can died during the half-year period of unrest, help Ukraine in this time of need and in its future development. (Continued on page 26) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 29-JULY 6, 2014 No. 26-27 ANALYSIS Ukraine constrained to declare Four leaders discuss Ukraine’s plan (White House, Office of the Press Secretary) PRAGUE – Russian President Vladimir Poroshenko, Biden discuss peace plan unilateral ceasefire in the Donbas Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela KYIV – On June 23 President Petro Merkel and French President Francois Poroshenko of Ukraine had a phone con- Hollande held talks via phone in which they versation with U.S. Vice-President Joseph discussed Mr. Poroshenko’s peace plan. Mr. Biden in the course of which the parties Poroshenko reportedly told the other lead- discussed the implementation of the peace ers about the “serious violations” by pro- plan. According to an account of the con- Russian separatist forces since a unilateral versation released by the Press Office of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces began on June President of Ukraine: “Mr. Biden assessed 20. He said there had been 52 violations, the actions of the Ukrainian government as including the downing of the helicopter right and of high professionalism. In turn, that killed all nine people onboard. Mr. Mr. Poroshenko claimed that the ceasefire Poroshenko had threatened on June 24 to by militants must be accompanied by the end the ceasefire before it is due to expire liberation of hostages and closure of the on June 27. Ms. Merkel proposed a series of border to prevent the inflow of mercenar- steps to ensure that observers from the ies, arms and drugs onto Ukrainian territo- Organization for Security and Cooperation ry. Mr. Poroshenko noted that Russia must in Europe (OSCE) could monitor the cease- demonstrate tangible steps forward. The fire and the situation along the border. president of Ukraine emphasized that if the Russian officials said the four-way conver- peace plan is not obeyed, the United States sation among the leaders would continue and the European Union should make deci- on June 26. On June 24, Mr. Poroshenko had sive efforts to support Ukraine, particularly president.gov.ua welcomed Mr. Putin’s move to have the through the decision of the European President Petro Poroshenko during his June 20 visit to a National Guard base in the Russian Federation Council revoke permis- Council on June 27. …the president of Donetsk Oblast, where he announced his peace plan. sion for Russian to use military forces in Ukraine expressed gratitude to the U.S.A. Ukraine as the “first practical step” taken by for its support, inter alia, in the broadening by Vladimir Socor on June 27. Whether the “Luhansk People’s Russia to resolve the crisis. (RFE/RL, with of cooperation programs in the sphere of Eurasia Daily Monitor Republic’s” leaders have subscribed to the reporting by ITAR-TASS, Interfax, the security and defense. In particular, this con- June 24 ceasefire seems unclear (Interfax-Ukraine, Associated Press and Reuters) cerned one-time short-term measures to June 23, 24; Kyiv Post, June 24). provide immediate assistance and long- On June 20, President Petro Poroshenko June 23 became the first day without Obama speaks with Merkel, Hollande term programs to build the institutional ordered a seven-day unilateral ceasefire by combat actions in Ukraine’s Donetsk and WASHINGTON – President Barack capacity of the Ukrainian army. … the U.S. Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts since Russia exported the Obama on June 20 spoke separately with vice-president also commended the Luhansk oblasts, parts of which have been armed hostilities there in mid-April. The Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and involvement of former President of Ukraine seized by Russia’s proxy forces. On the ceasefire, however, will undoubtedly allow President Francois Hollande of France to Leonid Kuchma to the trilateral negotia- same date, Mr. Poroshenko unveiled a Russia’s proxy forces a respite for regroup- consult about the crisis in Ukraine. tions on the implementation of the peace peace plan in 15 points for resolving the ing and entrenching in Ukraine’s territory, According to a readout of the calls released plan.” (Press office of the President of ongoing conflict there.