The Ukrainian Weekly 2001, No.6

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Three deputies die in Ukraine — page 3. • St. Andrew’s Cathedral dedicates mosaic — page 7. • International film festival announces winners — page 12. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIX HE No.KRAINIAN 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2001 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine “Ukraine without Kuchma” protests intensify LastT of Ukraine’sU W by Roman Woronowycz Tu-160 bombers Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – More than 10,000 people from many is dismantled regions of Ukraine marched through this capital by Roman Woronowycz city on February 6 waving the blue-yellow nation- Kyiv Press Bureau al emblem and chanting “Kuchma Out” and “Ukraine without Kuchma” before holding a mass PRYLUKY, Ukraine – Using a giant really at which leaders of various political stripes scissor-like tool, a U.S.-made Caterpillar called for the resignation of President Leonid excavator took all of 15 minutes on Kuchma. The politicians and demonstrators February 3 to snip through the metal skin charged that the president is involved in the disap- of the last of the Ukrainian-owned Tu-160 pearance of a Ukrainian journalist and the ensuing strategic nuclear bombers – in its time cover-up. probably the most feared piece of military The demonstration was marred by scuffles equipment in the old Soviet arsenal. between local militia, Communists who tried to As a crowd of some 100 military offi- disrupt the rally and paramilitary youth who took cials from the United States and Ukraine part in the protests, as well as an attack by about looked on, the nose of the aircraft, which 300 other youths from a heretofore unknown had already been gutted of salvageable organization called the Anarchist Syndicate on a equipment, first sagged forward and then, tent city re-erected in the city center. slowly at first, plunged to the ground of The demonstrations were another in a series of this wide-open, snow-swept airfield, land- actions organized by a coalition of political groups ing with a thud. active under the aegis of “Ukraine without At a press conference after the display, Kuchma,” a movement that has gained further the two ranking officials from each side, momentum in the last week as new audio record- Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Air ings have surfaced of alleged conversations Force Lt. Gen. Leonid Fursa, and Deputy between President Leonid Kuchma and various Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense subordinates outlining or implying criminal con- Brig. Gen. Thomas Kuenning (Ret.) both spiracies and behavior by Ukrainian officials at the acknowledged that it was difficult to watch highest levels. the destruction of a perfectly good high- The daylong demonstrations began early in the tech aircraft. Lt. Gen. Fursa explained that AP/ Viktor Pobedinsky morning as columns of marchers entered Kyiv the reasons for the project, however, are from various regions by train, bus and car. Some sound and clear. Protesters in Kyiv on February 6 carry a poster of President Leonid Kuchma “As difficult as it is to watch this type of with his face crossed out and the message “Kuchma Kaput!” (Continued on page 11) equipment being destroyed, we must understand that it is being done for world peace, for our future and the future of our children,” said the Ukrainian Air Force Medvid meets with U.S. legislators who supported him in 1985 official. Ukrainian National Information Service During its heyday in the 1970s and WASHINGTON – The name is recognizable to most: 1980s, the Tu-160 strategic aircraft, known Myroslav Medvid. The time was in October 1985 when a to the U.S. military as the Blackjack, car- Ukrainian sailor dove off the Soviet freighter Marshal ried Soviet nuclear warheads and cruise Koniev in the port of New Orleans to seek political asylum missiles, and had the ability to travel 15 hours without refueling at speeds that in the United States. exceeded 1,300 mph. It could carry up to Now, almost 16 years later the Rev. Myroslav Medvid 24 cruise missiles in its two bays. Its pri- was here in the United States on the invitation of the mary targets: major U.S. cities. Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). He Since the disintegration of the Soviet visited various communities and came to Washington to tell Union nearly 10 years ago, the bombers his story to his supporters in the U.S. Congress. have sat idle here and at several other air- On Tuesday, January 30, the Rev. Medvid – who in bases scattered throughout Ukraine await- 1990 was ordained a priest of the Ukrainian Greek- ing their designation to the scrap heap. Catholic Church – met with several members of Congress In a trilateral pact signed by Kyiv, who had played an instrumental role on his behalf and Washington and Moscow in January 1994, supported his desire to seek political asylum in the United Ukraine agreed to the condition of the States. START I nuclear disarmament treaty that In a meeting with Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), chairman of called on it to destroy its nuclear warheads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Rev. Medvid and missiles along with the strategic personally thanked the senator for his efforts in 1985. The bomber fleet it inherited from the Soviet senator mentioned his role in defending Mr. Medvid’s deci- Union. sion to defect to the United States, which included issuing a In December 1997 the United States subpoena for Mr. Medvid to appear before the Senate offered financial and technical assistance in Agricultural Committee, which he chaired. The Rev. Medvid the destruction of the Tu-160 and its sister, acknowledged that he didn’t learn of the senator’s or other the Tu-95MS heavy bomber as part of the government officials’ support until he viewed videotapes of Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, the incident once back in the United States. commonly know as the Nunn-Lugar Act. Flanked by the senator’s staffers – Staff Director Steve Raytheon Technical Services Co. won a (Continued on page 3) Sen. Jesse Helms with the Rev. Myroslav Medvid. (Continued on page 21) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2001 No. 6 FOR THE RECORD NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS RFE/RL releases transcripts EU expresses concern over media freedom Procurator general goes on leave KYIV – “The European Union wishes KYIV – Ukraine’s Procurator General of interviews with Melnychenko to repeat its concerns about the continu- Mykhailo Potebenko on January 5 went on RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report Melnychenko: The plan was discussed ing problematic environment for the leave, Interfax reported. Opponents of with the Donetsk Oblast chairman, and media in Ukraine and wants to stress to President Leonid Kuchma accuse Mr. On December 29, 2000, and January 9, there were the words: “Yuschenko wants the Ukrainian authorities the need to Potebenko of delaying the investigation of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service broadcast live me to sack him. I will not sack him, I will ensure a safe, secure, and harassment-free the Gongadze case in order to protect the interviews with Mykola Melnychenko, a destroy him once and for all.” And then environment for journalists to operate in,” president. National Deputy Hryhorii major in the reserve of the Ukrainian those steps were made to destroy the EU’s Swedish presidency said in a Omelchenko told the agency that Mr. Security Service and a former presidential Yuschenko politically. statement released on February 6. The Potebenko took a 45-day leave, adding that bodyguard, who provoked a political scan- Boyarko: Do your tapes not contain the statement also called on the Ukrainian President Kuchma will most likely dismiss dal in Ukraine by publicizing the tapes that information that the president subsequently authorities to conduct a thorough and the procurator general because of “health allegedly show President Leonid Kuchma’s gave up that plan? transparent investigation into the disap- reasons.” (RFE/RL Newsline) complicity in the disappearance of inde- pearance of Heorhii Gongadze. Ukraine’s Melnychenko: No, there is no such IMF official urges more reforms pendent journalist Heorhii Gongadze. [recording]. There were time frames men- Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Ihor On both occasions, Mr. Melnychenko tioned that he [Yuschenko] should work Hrushko reacted to the EU statement by contacted the Prague-based studio of KYIV – John Odling-Smee, head of the only until the end of 2000, while in the saying that it is “a biased opinion, a hasty RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service of his own International Monetary Fund’s Second beginning of 2001 he should be replaced. measure that does not agree quite fittingly choice and spoke by telephone on the live European Department, said in Kyiv on Boyarko: Replaced by whom, please? with what the initiators of this statement February 5 that Ukraine should preserve program called “Vechirnia Svoboda” Melnychenko: There were different actually have in mind,” Interfax reported. and even reinforce the policy of reforms it (Evening Radio Liberty). names, one of the most ... Azarov, the head (RFE/RL Newsline) embarked on last year, Interfax reported. Following are excerpts of the interviews of Ukraine’s Tax Administration. Mr. Odling-Smee said Kyiv should contin- with Mr. Melnychenko translated from the Kuchma shrugs off ouster demand Boyarko: Were there other names men- ue its budgetary reform and launch reforms transcriptions that were published in the tioned? of the pension system, education and health Internet newsletter Ukrainska Pravda KYIV – “The president, who has been Melnychenko: This is not essential. care. He added that Ukraine should contin- (http://www.pravda.com.ua) and on the elected by the majority of Ukrainian resi- Boyarko: Mr.

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