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Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXI HE KRAINIANNo. 35 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2003 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine T UUkraine celebrates 12th anniversary of independenceW with annual military parade Kuchma announces by Roman Woronowycz Kyiv Press Bureau support for a new package KYIV – Yevhen Marchuk became Ukraine’s first minister of defense not of Constitutional changes wearing the epaulets of rank and the uni- by Roman Woronowycz form of Ukraine’s top military com- Kyiv Press Bureau mander to take the kilometer drive down KYIV – Ukraine’s Leonid Kuchma the Khreschatyk to greet the troops under confirmed on August 26 that he could his command when he did so on August support a political system in which a 24 to kick off the annual Independence Day military parade. Ukrainian president was elected by its After a flyover by a squadron of MiG- Parliament. 29 fighter jets, nearly 5,000 troops from Mr. Kuchma’s comments came two all the various segments of Ukraine’s days after the president made a turn in extensive armed forces stood stiffly at his political reform push, when he attention as the former KGB general announced during an Independence reviewed them while standing in a Day speech on August 24 that he was 1970s-era convertible Zil limousine, the near agreement with a cross section of first of a series in events this day mark- parliamentary factions – including ing 12 years since Ukraine declared those in opposition – on a new package independence from Moscow as the of proposed constitutional changes. Soviet Union tumbled into history. “For me the main point is to reach After moving smartly from the vin- AP/Valeriy Soloviov agreement on the fundamental issue tage luxury automobile to the review Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma (right) and Defense Minister Yevhen upon which the reforms were initiated, stand, Mr. Marchuk told the crowd of Marchuk (left) watch the military parade on August 24. that is, on the principle that the govern- some 20,000 onlookers lined up and ment would be formed by a coalition of down Kyiv’s main thoroughfare that the kets and stressed, “The individual is the President Leonid Kuchma, Prime parliamentary factions and lawmaker military parade remained the centerpiece highest value of society and the state.” Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Chairman of groupings,” explained Mr. Kuchma of Independence Day activities because Mr. Marchuk reiterated the position of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn during an hour-long speech before a it would reassert the military’s ready the government to move Ukraine into and most of the country’s leadership stood hall filled with his supporters and gov- state and its preparedness to defend the NATO, a change of direction he has alongside Mr. Marchuk as he gave his ernment officials. country’s independence and sovereignty. spurred, and the need for the government address. They listened too, as 5,000 sol- “It is this principle that guarantees “The parade of the armed forces as well as the military to undergo exten- diers filled Kyiv’s downtown area with the government responsibility before socie- demonstrates the high standards of pre- sive reform to pave the way there. words to Ukraine’s national anthem, ty for its success or lack of success. It is paredness,” Mr. Marchuk said. “Ukraine’s armed forces must begin to backed by a 1,000-strong military band. the compromise achieved on this Dressed in a restrained pale green rise to the standards of the North Atlantic It was the first time the words to the between the various political groupings business suit, the recently appointed Alliance, but it must be done within the anthem were sung at an Independence that is most important to me in my sup- defense minister reaffirmed the country’s country’s economic abilities,” explained port for this coordinated draft law,” move towards democracy and free mar- Mr. Marchuk. (Continued on page 3) added Mr. Kuchma. National Deputy Oleksander Moroz, leader of the Socialist faction in the Verkhovna Rada announced on August 21 that his party had met with the presi- Ukrainian World Congress wraps up eighth conclave and elects dent and representatives of his adminis- tration during much of August and were close to agreement on a political Ukrainian National Association president to its board of directors reform draft bill that could lead to con- by Roman Woronowycz belongs, shows the extent to which the term as president of the umbrella organi- stitutional amendments. Mr. Moroz Kyiv Press Bureau UWC has undergone change since its last zation, which represents a considerable explained that the president had conclave, held in Toronto in 1998. It has amount of the Ukrainian diaspora scat- KYIV – Ukrainian World Congress stridently moved from an organization tered across the globe. Mr. Lozynskyj ran dropped demands that presidential elec- delegates meeting in Kyiv on August 18- tions and ones to the Verkhovna Rada focused on North America, Europe and unopposed. Also re-elected was Viktor 21 elected Ukrainian National Associa- Australia to one with a truly world wide Pedenko to the post of general secretary. take place simultaneously and that the tion President Stefan Kaczaraj to the president reserved the right to make breadth. For the first time it includes two Maria Shkambara, previously first board of directors. Mr. Kaczaraj, who has representatives each from the Russian vice president, assumed the post of sec- appointments to the most powerful led the UNA since May 2002, was elect- ministerial posts. Opposition forces had Federation, Georgia, Armenia, ond vice president, while Yevhen Cholij ed to the leadership position on the last Uzbekistan, Kazakstan and Poland. filled her former slot. Olga Danylak, most vehemently opposed these two day of the UWC’s four-day conclave, the points of the president’s original reform The changes underway also were elected to the post of treasurer and eighth of its 35-year history and the first reflected in the more than 100 delegates Bohdan Fedorak, voted in as member-at- plan. ever in Ukraine. Mr. Moroz said that in the new from the Eastern diaspora that took part large, filled out the rest of the Executive The UWC board of directors saw a in this conclave, a considerable increase Board. coordinated draft law, the president considerable expansion in representatives would have the right to appoint only his over the Toronto conclave, where a single Speaking at a press conference at the at this year’s conclave as a reflection of delegate was registered from the Eastern close of the conclave, Mr. Lozynskyj defense minister and his foreign minis- the inroads the organization has made ter, while the prosecutor general, secu- diaspora. emphasized that while he and two other into the former territories of the Soviet “Finally the Ukrainian World rity services head and internal affairs members of the executive body had been Union and its former satellite countries in Congress is becoming representative of minister would be approved by the re-elected to second terms, the organiza- Eastern Europe. Dozens of Ukrainian the distribution within the diaspora as a Verkhovna Rada. He underscored that tion as a whole was undergoing “cardi- organizations that have sprouted in those whole,” noted Mr. Kaczaraj. “the overwhelming majority of provi- nal” changes. regions in the last decade have joined the As was previously reported (see last sions put forward [by an opposing par- “We want the UWC to become a truly UWC, most of them in the last five years. week’s issue of The Weekly), the 246 global organization,” explained Mr. (Continued on page 3) The composition of the new board of delegates from 28 countries re-elected directors, to which Mr. Kaczaraj now Askold Lozynskyj to a second five-year (Continued on page 17) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2003 No. 35 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS OUN, UPA come closer Pro-Yushchenko group emerges liamentary-presidential one. (RFE/RL Newsline) KYIV – A meeting of 74 delegates from to official recognition Ukraine’s 24 regions created an all- Kuchma to back new reform plan Ukrainian association called For Ukraine! by Taras Kuzio nerve in Ukrainian society for four reasons. KYIV – Speaking on August 23, the eve RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report First, criticism of Poles and Poland is For Yuschenko! in Kyiv on August 21, UNIAN reported. Delegates elected Our of Ukraine’s Independence Day, President a far less controversial issue in Ukraine Leonid Kuchma said he is ready to support a The bland statement issued on July 11 Ukraine lawmaker Yurii Yekhanurov to head than criticism of Russians and Russia. new constitutional-reform plan that has been by the presidents of Poland and Ukraine, the association. Mr. Yekhanurov told jour- Russophile centrists and national democ- agreed upon with the opposition, Ukrainian Aleksander Kwasniewski and Leonid nalists that the association is intended to rats both insisted that Polish crimes news agencies reported. “Despite certain Kuchma, respectively, to commemorate help Viktor Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine against Ukrainians had to be condemned drawbacks, I think that this draft should be the 60th anniversary of the Polish- broaden its influence. According to Mr. alongside any criticism of Ukrainian approved by the Verkhovna Rada,” Mr. Yekhanurov, the association will be based Ukrainian conflict in Volyn in 1943 did crimes. Ukrainians, and especially Poles, Kuchma said. “The support of the constitu- on regional “civic centers that want to sup- not go as far as Poland had insisted.