Soyuzivka Holds Seventh Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival KERHONKSON, N.Y
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INSIDE: l “Svitlychka” in Philadelphia celebrates 50th jubilee – page 4 l Ukrainians in China: a gift for diaspora studies – page 5 l Photo report on the Ukrainian Cultural Festival – centerfold THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXI No. 29 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013 $1/$2 in Ukraine Soyuzivka holds seventh annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The Soyuzivka Heritage Center held its seventh annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival on July 12-14, once again attracting guests from near and far to this beautiful venue in the Shawangunk mountains of New York state to see and hear top performers from Ukraine and North America. Headlining the show were singer/song- writer Vika Vasilevych of Ukraine and vir- tuoso violinist Vasyl Popadiuk, originally from Ukraine and now of Canada, with their respective bands. Also on the bill were the always popular Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Workshop and the Dunai Dancers of Edmonton, Alberta, new- comers to the festival. Each group of dancers presented its unique version of the “Pryvit” (Welcome) number at the start of the program – the workshop dancers resplendent in their costumes modeled on garb worn by Kozak nobility and the Dunai members in a vari- ety of folk costumes representing diverse regions of Ukraine. The regional variety was wonderfully reflected also in the Canadian troupe’s choice of music and cho- reography. Other performers included the Ukrainian Lev Khmelkovsky Christine Syzonenko Chorus Dumka of New York, the Dzvin Male Violinist Vasyl Popadiuk and singer-songwriter Vika (Vasilevich) perform during the Ukrainian Cultural Festival at Soyuzivka. Chorus of Philadelphia, bandurist/kobzar Julian Kytasty, the Lisova Pisnia duo of Alla main stage, the festival was officially Dobriansky – kept things running smoothly Dumka, conducted by Vasyl Hrechynsky, Kutsevych and Ludmyla Hrabovsky, the duo opened the next afternoon with the singing throughout the weekend, which featured took to the stage on Sunday at noon. of Erko (Severyn Palydowych) and Ms. of three national anthems – those of the three concerts on the main festival stage In the evenings, there were dances on Hrabovsky, the Nebozir (HeavenStar) United States, Canada and Ukraine – by erected on the grounds of this heritage cen- the Veselka deck to the music of one of the Family Trio (comprising Andriana Gnap, Sviatoslava Kaczaraj, and an honor guard of ter owned by the Ukrainian National Ukrainian community’s favorite bands, her mother, Halyna Gnap, and her aunt, Ukrainian American Veterans carried in the Association. Hrim. Wolodymyra Gnap) and 11-year-old singing flags of the three countries. In addition, there were two separate con- Additional attractions during the three- phenom Xenia Kaczurak. A trio of masters of ceremonies – twin certs inside the Veselka auditorium: Dzvin, day festival were the movies screened on Although the festivities got under way sisters Anya Tomko and Alexandra under the direction of Nestor Kyzymyshyn, on Friday with an evening program on the Zawadiwsky (née Tershakovec) and Yarko performed on Saturday afternoon, while (Continued on page 9) Kremlin’s hand is seen in Volyn commemoration scandals by Zenon Zawada sifying it as genocide, observers cite the fact massacre as having “characteristics of eth- arrange for the release of former Prime that several thousand Ukrainians – esti- nic cleansing” and “indications of genocide.” Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as KYIV – Commemorations of the 70th mates range from 10,000 to 30,000 – were “What has changed from 2009, when the approve legislation and several critical anniversary of the Volyn massacre turned killed as the massacre developed into an Sejm passed a much less radical resolu- reforms required for the signing of the into a geopolitical battleground as the all-out war between Ukrainians and Poles. tion?” Mr. Sikorski asked from the Sejm’s Association Agreement. Kremlin and its Ukrainian allies tried to The Sejm also voted to reject an amend- tribune, as reported by the Ukrayinska Diplomats and experts have warned that manipulate the tragedy to undermine the ment – supported by the Sejm’s conserva- Pravda website. “Has the number of victims the opportunity for an Association Ukrainian government’s efforts to attain tive forces, the Kremlin and its allies in changed? Has international law changed? Agreement may not return if the Ukrainian the signing of the Association Agreement Ukraine – that would have deemed the 2013 will decide the geopolitical orienta- government misses its chance at the with the European Union. massacre of Poles a genocide. tion of Ukraine for generations.” Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on At the very center was the Sejm, Poland’s On the morning of the vote, Polish Indeed, the next three months will November 28-29. Its signing would prevent lower house of Parliament and main legisla- Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski determine Ukraine’s geopolitical future for Ukraine from joining the Eurasian Union. tive organ, which voted on July 12 to adopt a appealed to his countrymen to reject the at least the next decade, if not longer, as the Becoming increasingly concerned about resolution using the phrase “ethnic cleansing genocide amendment, stressing the need to government decides whether it will pursue losing Ukraine, the Kremlin has been with indications of genocide” to describe the avoid any measure that could undermine membership in the European Union or the engaged in a soft-power campaign to Volyn massacre in the summer of 1943, which the Polish state’s key foreign policy goal of Russian-led Eurasian Union that will be undermine Ukraine’s Euro-integration resulted in the death of between 30,000 and ensuring that the Ukrainian government launched in 2015. efforts, part of which involved the Volyn 100,000 Poles at the hands of Ukrainians. signs the Association Agreement this year. The EU leadership is still waiting for the massacre resolution. Besides the non-systemic nature of the He pointed out that the Sejm in 2009 administration of President Viktor Volyn massacre, which would rule out clas- had approved a resolution referring to the Yanukovych to decide whether it will (Continued on page 9) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013 No. 29 ANALYSIS Future of Ukraine’s GTS is linked Pope asks for reconciliation Marynovych apologizes to Komorowski LVIV – After the recitation of the Angelus LVIV – The vice-rector of the Ukrainian with Ukraine-EU Association Agreement on Sunday, July 14, Pope Francis said that Catholic University, Myroslav Marynovych, he is united in prayer with the participants wrote a letter of apology to Poland’s Naftohaz Ukrainy, the state-owned gas by Vladimir Socor of the memorial mass in the cathedral in President Bronislaw Komorowski for the importer and transit operator, had been Eurasia Daily Monitor Lutsk, Ukraine, for the victims of the Volyn incident that occurred in Lutsk. He wrote: using Gazprom’s pre-paid transit fees in tragedy, marking the 70th anniversary of “Dear Mr. President: The incident, which Ukraine stands on the threshold of final- order to keep up with payments to the the massacre. He noted that such acts, occurred in Lutsk after the memorial service, izing the Association Agreement with the same Gazprom for gas supplied to Ukraine. which were “provoked by nationalist ideol- stirred up not only my conscience but the European Union, possibly signing it at the The pre-paid transit fees were, in practice, ogy in the tragic context of the Second conscience of all people who value civilized Vilnius summit in November. If signed, the reverting to Gazprom. By consenting to World War,” caused not only the deaths of relations between the Polish and Ukrainian agreement would open the way for such pre-payment, Gazprom slightly miti- tens of thousands of victims, but also peoples. You came to our land as a pilgrim, European comprehensive support to the gated the impact of price extortion on “inflicted a wound in the brotherhood who in prayer paid tribute to the victims of modernization of Ukraine’s gas transit sys- Ukraine while tacitly acknowledging by the between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples.” the fratricidal conflict. Pilgrims are to be tem (GTS), which carries at least 60 percent same token the reality of extortion. The sale He added, “I entrust the souls of the victims blessed and received kindly, not offended. of total Russian gas supplies to Europe. For price of Russian gas to Ukraine has aver- to God’s mercy, and for their peoples I ask You delicately crafted the political focus of its part, Moscow presses to wrest control of aged $410 to $430 per thousand cubic for deep reconciliation and a peaceful your visit to fulfill your civic duty to your Ukraine’s GTS before the Ukraine-EU meters in 2012 and 2013, thus far future, in hope and sincere cooperation in people and at the same time not to hurt the Association Agreement is signed. (Interfax-Ukraine, Ukrinform, July 3, 9). jointly building a kingdom of God.” News of feelings of the Ukrainian people. For this, one Taking over that transit system is a long- Under the 2009 inter-governmental the pontiff’s comments were reported on must be thanked and honored, not stained. standing Kremlin objective, leveraging agreement, the price would have exceeded July 15 by Vatican Radio. (Religious They aimed at you, Mr. President, but hit us. Gazprom’s supply monopoly in Ukraine. $500 per thousand cubic meters (almost Information Service of Ukraine) …” He went on to say; “… the attack against That monopoly is now slowly eroding, but double the price charged by Gazprom in you, though carefully disguised, only shows Ukraine’s MFA condemns egging the extortionate pricing mechanism (intro- Germany in 2012-2013). Under the 2010 that your recognition of the European pros- pects of Ukraine is correct.