INSIDE: • Kyyiv residents say Clinton visit is important for Ukraine — page 3. • Children's Festival seeks to help less fortunate in Ukraine — page 4. • Ukrainian journalist reports on bloodshed in Chechnya — centerfold. о THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIII No. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1995 75 cents/$2 in Ukraine Leaders of Central/East Clinton in Kyyiv to strengthen ties with Ukraine by Marta Kolomayets Friday afternoon, May 12, can be charac­ European organizations Kyyiv Press Bureau terized as a "feel-good" trip. "This is not a heavy-lifting visit on KYYIV - "It is a great honor for me substantive issues (as was last January's / speak on claims issue and for our party to be in one of Europe's stopover in Ukraine to negotiate the tri­ oldest nations and youngest democracies. lateral agreement with President Leonid UNA Washington Office This trip, which follows my stopover here Kravchuk or the last two days in in January 1994, and President Kuchma's Moscow). It is an occasion to be both WASHINGTON (UNAW) - Presidents trip to Washington last fall, will give us an of 46 Central and East European ethnic very supportive of Ukraine and to cele­ opportunity to continue the tremendous brate what has been an extraordinarily organizations on May 1 co-signed a letter progress we have made in building strong to eight members of Congress regarding good year in working with Ukraine, and and productive ties between our coun­ making progress on various issues," the compensation policies of 13 Central tries," U.S. President Bill Clinton said after and East European nations. noted Anthony Lake, President Clinton's his Ukrainian host, President Leonid national security adviser, who was a On April 10, Sens. Bob Dole (R- Kuchma, welcomed him to the Mariyinsky member of the traveling delegation. Kansas), Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.), Jesse Palace on May 11. Helms (R-N.C), and Claiborne Pell (D- The state visit comes at a time when President Kuchma was no less gra­ R.I.) and Reps. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), Ukraine is being hailed as a nation that cious in his words of welcome to the Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), Benjamin has set an example for all of humanity American leader, pointing out that this is Gilman (R-N.Y.) and Lee Hamilton (D- with its nuclear disarmament, a decision the first state visit by a U.S. president to Ind.) had sent a letter to Secretary of State President Clinton called "courageous." an independent Ukraine. "We believe Warren Christopher stating that govern­ Ukraine has also begun what President that this visit will take a special place in ments in Central and East Europe "have Kuchma describes as a "course of radical the annals of Ukrainian-U.S. relations," enacted restitution legislation (for property economic reforms" and is beginning to he said, as a 21-gun salute greeted Mr. seized by Nazis and Communists)... shape a democratic society - ingredients Clinton and his wife, Hillary, and a mili­ restricting the rights of Jewish communi­ which are all necessary if Ukraine is to President Bill Clinton ties..." tary band played the anthems of both become a future trade partner not only countries. An impressive color guard That letter, released to the press by the with the United States, but also with the previously pledged, a sum that would marched past the two leaders, their wives World Jewish Congress, specifically named West, and a real player in the new world make Ukraine the fourth largest recipient and numerous members of both govern­ Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, order for the 21 st century, of U.S. government assistance. ment delegations, as a light May drizzle Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, In a show of support for Ukraine's "The United States has built a very accented the day's events. Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, policies, the United States has reiterated strong relationship with Ukraine, and last Slovakia and Ukraine. (The full text of the Unlike his visit to Moscow on May 9- its desire to build a partnership with year we had a very good year as Ukraine letter was printed in the April 23 issue of 10, which was labeled "neither a warm Ukraine. Although it has yet to promise became a non-nuclear state and made The Ukrainian Weekly). peace nor a cold war" by the media, Mr. new funds to Ukraine, it has said it dramatic economic reforms. This nation Clinton's visit to Kyyiv, which lasts until would release more than $700 million is large, strong, committed to indepen­ The ethnic organizations responded by dence, committed to having cordial rela­ pointing out that all the peoples of tions with all of its neighbors and with Central and East Europe were "victim­ others who share its values. And I ized by totalitarians of both stripes - Kyyiv marks anniversary of wars end believe its strategic importance is very, Nazi and Communist," that most fami­ very great. So, I put a very high priority by Marta KolomayetKolomayetss Germany," added Mr. Shmarov. "We lies in these countries have property on the relationship between the United remember and honor the defenders and claims, and that it is "hardly reasonable Kyyiv Press Bureau States and Ukraine, and this will be part to expect the new democracies to right liberators of Ukraine," he said. KYYIV - Thousands of spectators of the deepening of our relationship," the wrongs of the past five decades in a After the official parade ended, a group lined the Khreshchatyk, Kyyiv's main President Clinton told journalists after mere three to five years." of about 500 war veterans who had refused thoroughfare, on May 9 to view a parade meeting with President Kuchma. to march under the blue-and-yellow flag of The signers urged that "rather than commemorating the 50th anniversary of Secretary of State Warren Christopher, independent Ukraine marched down the threaten these countries," the members the end of the World War II. told the press on Thursday evening, May Khreshchatyk, carrying portraits of Lenin of Congress should support assistance President Leonid Kuchma and other 11: "We came here with three key objec­ programs to these countries that will and Stalin and flags of the Soviet Union tives: to strengthen the durable friendship Ukrainian government officials reviewed and the Soviet republics, as well as plac­ "ensure the rule of law and the adminis­ the 45-minute parade from a platform on we have, to offer support for economic ards recalling the glory days of the Soviet tration of justice for all without discrimi­ Independence Square. The parade, com­ reforms that are happening here, and to Union. This group was followed by a few nation toward any." plete with military bands, soldiers from urge Ukraine to stay the course despite thousand supporters of the reinstatement of The full text of the letter follows. Ukraine's army, navy, air force, special difficulties — and we will support them the Soviet Union. forces, border and national guards, also — and to discuss the new security objec­ Ukrainian government officials, mean­ included a few thousand war veterans - tives and issues that relate to terrorism, Your letter of April 10, 1995, to Warren while, had moved on to the Tomb of the men and women who had taken part in the problems of proliferation of weapons of Christopher regarding property settlements Unknown Soldier, in Kyyiv's Glory Park, "Great Patriotic War" against fascism. The mass destruction and how they relate to in Central and Eastern Europe raises an to pay homage to those who had fallen in international crime. Ukrainian parade was void of any military exceedingly complex issue. Because it fails battle. hardware, in contrast to celebrations held "Our coming here today strengthens to address the various aspects of the issue President Kuchma departed for Moscow in Moscow that same day. our commitment to the territorial integri­ and to differentiate among the various in the afternoon to take part in Victory in ty and great significance of Ukraine as Acting Defense Minister Valeriy countries in the region, the result may be Europe Day celebrations with world leaders an important European power - not in Shmarov told the crowds that Ukraine detrimental to U.S. interests in Central and at the Kremlin. He returned the same somebody else's orbit, but independently had suffered more devastation than any Eastern Europe. evening to prepare for U.S. President Bill important to us and the world," he said. other country in Europe during the sec­ While unspeakable crimes were com­ Clinton's visit to Kyyiv on May 11-12. ond world war, with battlefronts passing Arrival at Boryspil mitted against the Jews by the Nazis, every The end of the second world war united twice through its territory. strata of Central and East European society western and eastern Ukrainian territories, President Clinton and the first lady "Ukraine gave the Soviet Army 6 mil­ (Jewish and non-Jewish) was victimized which had been under Poland and the arrived, complete with their entourage, lion soldiers," he said. "Half of them by totalitarians of both stripes - Nazi and Soviet Union, respectively, into one including Secretary of State Christopher, died in the war. Of the 3 million that sur­ Communist. The death toll of these twin Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin, vived, half returned home as invalids." atrocities was in excess of 50 million peo- However, to this day, Ukrainians in the Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, "Ukraine lost more than 7 million resi­ (Continued on page 3) dents on the front and in labor camps in (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page 14) THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1995 No.