The Ukrainian Weekly 2001, No.36
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• How many Ukrainians in the U.S.? — page 7. • Pick Ukraine’s best stamp of the decade — pages 10-11. • Soccer exchange brings Poltava team to Irondequoit — page 14. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIX HE No.KRAINIAN 36 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2001 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine FoundationT takes controlU of Verkhovyna, Kuchma cautionsW that further reform but finds resort property vandalized is needed to sustain economic growth by Andrew Nynka as Mr. Willner cleared up any outstand- by Roman Woronowycz especially in the face of a global eco- ing health violations incurred by the UFA Kyiv Press Bureau nomic slowdown. Currently the U.S. and GLEN SPEY, N.Y. – With estimates of on Verkhovyna’s grounds and was issued European economies are struggling at $180,000 in damage, an ongoing police all necessary permits in order to run a KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma around 1 percent growth, while the felony investigation and over 11 tons of summer camp. warned on September 3 that the country Japanese economy has seen a slight trash already removed, the Verkhovyna Steve Kapczak, a member of the would not sustain economic expansion downturn this year. Resort, once owned by the Ukrainian UACF board and Verkhovyna’s executive without further reform efforts, most Meanwhile, Ukrainian government Fraternal Association (UFA), is in the director, stated that the repairs done by importantly a new tax code and an aus- figures released in mid-August paint a hands of the Ukrainian American Mr. Willner were cosmetic at best and tere budget plan. picture of a Ukrainian economy on fire, Cultural Foundation (UACF). UACF done only to alleviate pressure from the Speaking before a special commission including an 8.5 percent rise in the gross officials claim, however, that first the state health authorities. According to Mr. on development of the 2002 budget, the domestic product (GDP) in the first six resort was thoroughly pillaged, ransacked Kapczak, the court stipulated that if Mr. president said the re-ignited economy, months of 2001 as compared with the and vandalized. Willner wanted to prepare the grounds which currently is the hottest in Europe, same period last year, a nearly 18 percent The damages apparently occurred for an eight-week summer camp he should not allow for either a sense of rise in industrial output, a 6 percent gain from June 6 to August 24 while a sum- would need to repair the current septic complacency or unfounded euphoria in the agricultural sector and a record mer camp, Camp Achim Hasidim, occu- and water systems. because no firm evidence exists that the crop harvest approaching 38 million tons pied the grounds as the sale of the resort “They dropped a concrete [septic] tank current expansion is sustainable. of grain. transferred ownership from the UFA to in, but it was never hooked up. It was “I do not share the excessive optimism Those numbers look even stronger the UACF. A ruling by Sullivan County made to look like it was installed so they over dynamic economic predictions for when considered along with the inflation Supreme Court Justice Burton Ledina could get their permits, but we don’t the next year,” said Mr. Kuchma. “The rate, which stands at a minuscule 3.3 per- had nullified the contract of sale between know where the septic leaches to,” Mr. predicted 6 percent growth will not cent for the year. Most strikingly, for the the UFA and David Willner, head of Kapczak related. “As far as the water develop by itself.” last two months the country has seen Camp Achim, and stipulated that a chlorinator for the water system, they The Ukrainian government has estab- deflation, at a rate of 1.5 percent in July Ukrainian buyer must be given an oppor- installed it but it doesn’t work properly,” lished targets of 6 percent economic and 0.2 in August. tunity to purchase the estate (see he added. growth and an inflation rate of around 10 However, Mr. Kuchma said that “Ukrainian foundation purchases Asked to comment on the extent of percent as the basis for the development unless the Verkhovna Rada approves a Verkhovyna,” The Weekly, June 17). damages, Mr. Kapczak and fellow UACF of the 2002 national budget. new tax code with reduced rates to make Justice Ledina granted permission to board member Oleh Kolodiy cited door The president said that without a new the business environment more investor- Mr. Willner to hold a summer camp on tax code no assurances of continued eco- friendly, the Ukrainian economy would the premises during this summer as long (Continued on page 4) nomic expansion could be believed, cool off considerably and soon. “The explanations given that the tax pressures will be reduced in 2003 are not acceptable to me or the Ukrainian econo- Ukraine’s Olympians prepare for Salt Lake City my,” stated the president, at times cajol- by Roman Woronowycz 17th place finish in Nagano, Japan, in with the sponsorship of the State of ing and other times chastising the minis- Kyiv Press Bureau 1998. Idaho and Sun Valley,” said Ms. ters and national deputies who are mem- Ms. Barabash-Temple’s work in Barabash-Temple. bers of the commission. KYIV – Five months before the obtaining a training site in Carrolton, The NOC-Ukraine member A new tax code has been in the works Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Ga., prior to the 1996 Summer explained that the Idaho representatives for three years, but it has failed to move preparations by Ukraine’s athletes are Olympics, is generally acknowledged were particularly interested in the to the Parliament floor for a general vote. on schedule. While that will not neces- as one of the reasons the Ukrainian biathlon team, not only because it is Mr. Kuchma explained that procrasti- sarily convert into a treasure trove of squad placed eighth in the overall nation and self-satisfaction are extremely gold, silver and bronze medals, it does considered among the very top squads medal count. in the world, but also because Sun dangerous and contradict the basic prin- mean that the team is expected to do at ciples of sound economic policy. He She said the deal with Sun Valley, in Valley has extensive professional-level least as well as in its past two Winter cited changes in Russia’s tax stance as a which the resort agreed to give cross-country trails at altitudes compa- Olympics and could even sneak in a top concrete example of the threat that 10 finish if the snow falls its way. Ukraine’s winter athletes free lodging rable to those at Salt lake City. and access to all facilities – including remains before the Ukrainian economy. One reason for optimism is that the The women’s biathlon team has been He explained that beginning in January weight rooms, swimming pools, saunas Ukrainian team, as it did in previous at Sun Valley three times since the 2002 Ukraine’s largest trading partner and, of course, the ski slopes and ice Olympic Games, has obtained a world- agreement was reached and will be and competitor will reduce the tax bur- rinks – was unexpected and unforeseen, class site to train and make final prepa- there again before the Winter Games, den of its businesses by one-third, to 24 and developed quite by happenstance. rations prior to the beginning of compe- which are scheduled for February 8-24. percent, which will give it a significant tition in February 2002. As Ms. Barabash-Temple explained Whether the top-notch facilities will advantage over Ukraine in stimulating Laryssa Barabash-Temple, the U.S. it, she was in Sun Valley on personal give Ukraine the extra advantage to production and investment. attaché for the National Olympic business when she found out through a move into the top 10 in medals will “In such a situation how are we to Committee of Ukraine and its chief friend that the resort was interested in become known only on February 25. assure the economic competitiveness of coordinator for preparations in Salt hosting a top Olympic team for training. The women’s biathlon team is one of our products on the Russian market,” the Lake City, said she had succeeded in She said that after she was introduced to the teams on which Ukraine is heavily president asked. getting the world-renowned Sun Valley the Idaho State Olympic Committee counting to contribute to the country’s He criticized Prime Minister Anatolii Ski Resort, located in Idaho, to allow representative at Sun Valley it was a medals count. It has ranked at or near Kinakh and his Cabinet for a lackadaisi- many of Ukraine’s athletes to train smooth downhill ride to an agreement. the top in recent polls, and its star, cal approach to tax code reform and there. Her main concern — the prohibitive Olena Zubrylova, is considered the top threatened drastic actions if the issue is “We’ve got the top winter resort in cost of a resort such as Sun Valley – female biathlete in the world. Two other not resolved. the country sponsoring our athletes for was immediately swept off the table, members of the squad, Olena Petrova “In an earlier presentation I stated that training,” said Ms. Barabash-Temple, she explained, when the organizers told and Tatiana Vodopianova, are also con- I was convinced that a reason for the dis- who added that she had every reason to her she need worry only about getting sistently ranked in the top 10, making missal of [the government of Prime believe that the Ukrainian squad could the athletes to Sun Valley and paying the team the consensus favorite for gold Minister Viktor Yuschenko] was his improve on its 13th-place finish in for their food.