The Ukrainian Weekly 2003, No.37
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Central and East European Americans meet with Lieberman — page 3. • Svoboda’s 110th anniversary — page 6. • Labor Day festivities at the UNA’s Soyuzivka resort — centerfold. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXI HE No.KRAINIAN 37 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2003 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine UkraineT “arrives”U in Australia Ukraine’s CabinetW unanimously rejects as flag is officially raised in capital plan for “common economic space” CANBERRA, Australia – Ukraine’s pres- Ukraine’s official presence in Canberra. by Roman Woronowycz During a fiery two-hour session, three ence in Australia took on another dimension In his address, Mr. Mischenko empha- Kyiv Press Bureau ministers – Minister of the Economy and recently with the official flag of Ukraine sized the importance Ukraine has placed on European Integration Valerii being raised in the international flag display Australian relations and indicated that he is KYIV – Ukraine’s Cabinet of Khoroshkovskyi, newly appointed dedicated to the United Nations with flags of committed to increasing bilateral relations. Ministers on September 10 unanimously Foreign Affairs Minister Kostyantyn all countries that maintain a diplomatic pres- Mr. Romaniw, in turn, said that the cer- rejected a draft agreement for a “com- Gryshchenko and Minister of Justice ence in the national capital. It was notewor- emony was a milestone in Ukrainian set- mon economic space” – which could Oleksander Lavrynovych – identified thy that the ceremony took place as part of tlement in Australia, inasmuch as Ukraine bring Ukraine into eventual economic problems in the draft and at least one the celebrations of Ukraine’s 12th anniver- had taken this great step and should be union with three other countries, includ- major inconsistency between the agree- sary of independence. congratulated. It also signified the efforts ing Russia – and sent it for an article-by- ment and the Constitution of Ukraine, Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affairs of the Ukrainian community in Australia article analysis. which forbids any supranational body to Oleksander Mischenko and Australian in the past 50 years to see Ukraine’s flag The move came after several ministers be able to impose its rule over the coun- Federation of Ukrainian Organizations and Ukraine itself among the nations of questioned the constitutionality of the try. Chairman Stefan Romaniw had the honor the world. Being part of the international country entering into such a treaty. The “There are several issues in the draft of raising the flag in the presence of flag display reinforced this, he explained. decision made it very unlikely that a that do not conform to Ukrainian legisla- community leaders. Among them were: Following the ceremony, the official cel- signing ceremony would take place on tion and articles of the Constitution,” Bishop Peter Stasiuk of the Ukrainian ebrations of Ukraine’s Independence Day September 18-19 in Yalta during the explained Mr. Lavrynovych. “We need to Catholic Church, Eparchy of Australia, (August 24) was held in the Rydges Hotel annual Commonwealth of Independent analyze this item by item.” New Zealand and Oceania; George in Canberra. The host, Chargé d’Affairs States meeting, as President Leonid Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych Fedyszyn, president of the Association of Mischenko, welcomed ambassadors from Kuchma had hoped, and put the entire Ukrainians in Victoria; Jaroslav Duma, many countries, including the Vatican’s project into doubt. (Continued on page 3) chair of the Ukrainian Council of New papal nuncio, senior government officials South Wales; Bohdan Mykytiuk, presi- and Ukrainian community leaders. dent, Association of Ukrainians in This was another event that has given Western Australia; Michael Lawriwsky, strength to Ukraine’s official presence, as Lawmakers send Kuchma reforms president, Association of Ukrainians in this was the first official commemoration the Australia Capital Territory (ACT); to be held in Canberra. to Constitutional Court for review Mr.Lycho from New Zealand; Irene A wonderful exhibition of Ukrainian cos- Forestenko, deputy chair, Federation of tumes and artifacts on loan from the by Roman Woronowycz September 5 submitted to Parliament a Ethnic Communities Councils in Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Kyiv Press Bureau new draft law that, if enacted by the Australia; and Orysia Stefyn, chair of the was presented in Australia’s Museum in Ukrainian School Council of Australia. Canberra. Many of the guests were very Verkhovna Rada, would constitutionally KYIV – In a second attempt at politi- change Ukraine to a parliamentary-presi- As the national anthem of Ukraine was cal reform prior to presidential elections played, the flag was raised to signify dential political system in which the (Continued on page 5) next year, President Leonid Kuchma on Verkhovna Rada would elect the head of state. On September 9 the draft legislation went to the Constitutional Court with a request for expedited review after 254 Gryshchenko bids farewell to D.C. after appointment as foreign minister national deputies had signed on in sup- by Yaro Bihun many friends in the U.S. capital on pendence day reception, Mr. port of the latest push by Mr. Kuchma to Special to The Ukrainian Weekly September 4, one day after President Gryshchenko thanked the attending U.S. reduce the power of his office and Leonid Kuchma announced that he officials, foreign diplomats and members change the relationship between the leg- WASHINGTON – Kostyantyn would replace Anatolii Zlenko as min- of the Ukrainian American and Jewish islative and executive branches of Gryshchenko, who has served as ister of foreign affairs. communities for their help in building a Ukraine’s government before his exit Ukraine’s ambassador here for almost Welcoming an overflow gathering of healthy U.S.-Ukraine relationship. from office. four years, bid farewell to his country’s guests at the Ukrainian Embassy’s inde- “I would like today simply to “Either we implement the reforms and express my deeply held gratitude for ensure the further stable development of the assistance, for the understanding, the country, or there will be more fights,” for the ability to preserve our friendship explained President Kuchma while trav- in very difficult times, to be able to see eling in Crimea, reported Interfax- through the times of challenge into the Ukraine. future,” the new foreign affairs minister In referring to “fights,” the president said. was stressing the inability of the “Ukraine is a true friend and partner Verkhovna Rada to work effectively – of the United States,” he stressed. both internally as well as with the execu- Mr. Gryshchenko expressed his grat- tive branch, which has too often led to itude to his colleagues from the diplo- heated political battles and paralysis in matic corps, especially from countries the legislative process. neighboring Ukraine, who helped him In mid-July the Parliament rejected an through times of challenge while in initial attempt at political reform, which Washington, and singled out the was first proposed by President Kuchma Ukrainian American community for in an Independence Day address in Yaro Bihun “special thanks.” August 2002, when it failed to find a “Their love for Ukraine, ability to majority of votes to move it along the Joining with newly appointed Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Kostyantyn understand what is happening there, path of Constitutional reform. The presi- Gryshchenko (center) are (from left) three U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine, being critical but at the same time able dent withdrew that bill just before the Steven Pifer, William Miller and Carlos Pascual; and the newly named U.S. ambassador, John Herbst. (Continued on page 15) (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2003 No. 37 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Constitutional reform in Ukraine: Kostenko: Communists split opposition Gongadze case solved? What’s in the Rada pipeline? KYIV – Yurii Kostenko, head of the KYIV – Procurator-General Sviatoslav Ukrainian Popular Rukh, which is a con- Piskun told Interfax in Bishkek, by Jan Maksymiuk ing these nominations, the Parliament stituent of Viktor Yushchenko’s Our Kyrgyzstan, on September 3 that his col- RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report has the right to dismiss all these officials. Ukraine bloc, has accused the leagues have concluded investigations The prime minister also proposes all Communist Party of splitting the opposi- into a number of high-profile criminal The Verkhovna Rada began its autumn- regional governors who subsequently tion by supporting a new political reform cases, including the 2000 murder of winter session on September 2. According need to be confirmed by the Cabinet of draft proposed by the presidential admin- Internet journalist Heorhii Gongadze and to preliminary plans, it has some 900 bills Ministers. istration, UNIAN reported on September the secret tapes allegedly made in for consideration. No doubt, one of the As under the current system, the presi- 8, quoting the Ukrainian National Rukh Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma’s most important issues to be tackled by the dent nominates a procurator-general who press service. “By cooperating with the office by former presidential bodyguard Ukrainian legislature in the next few must be subsequently confirmed by presidential administration in the consti- Mykola Melnychenko. Mr. Piskun said months will be the constitutional reform Parliament. An innovation is the proposal tutional reform issue, the Communist prosecutors have placed three suspects in plan proposed last month by President that the dismissal of the country’s top Party is destroying the democratic oppo- the Gongadze case on a search list, but Leonid Kuchma and reportedly supported prosecutor must be approved also by the sition in Ukraine,” Mr. Kostenko said. declined to reveal their names. Mr. by the Communist Party and the Socialist Verkhovna Rada. Last week the Verkhovna Rada registered Piskun also said prosecutors have charged Party. The Ukrainska Pravda website There are two key innovations in the a political reform draft law that 254 law- Mr.