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The Ukrainian Weekly 2009, No.23

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The Ukrainian Weekly 2009, No.23 www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s possible routes to the presidency – page 3. • Is Moscow declaring a cold war against historians? – page 6. • USCAK Canada wins international soccer tournament – page 13. THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVII No.23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2009 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukrainian Journalists of North America Forces of Yanukovych, Tymoshenko meet at conference at Soyuzivka on the brink of forming a coalition by Zenon Zawada for economic stabilization,” Ms. Kyiv Press Bureau Tymoshenko told the June 3 Cabinet of Ministers meeting. “And I’d like for us to KYIV – Ukraine’s two largest political continue to work the way we have in forces, the Party of Regions of Ukraine these difficult conditions. But I would and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, are want for this work to occur in political reportedly on the brink of forming a long- comfort, with the political unity of all term coalition government capable of political forces in Parliament.” amending the Constitution of Ukraine to The coalition is also recruiting the allow the Parliament, instead of the peo- Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc, a centrist politi- ple, to select Ukraine’s next president. cal force, reportedly making the alluring While leaders are in intense negotia- offer of allowing Mr. Lytvyn to remain as tions over the coalition’s conditions, the Rada chair for six more years, reported key provisions involve electing Viktor Ukrayinska Pravda, an authoritative web- Yanukovych to a 10-year term as presi- site that has reported many significant dent and holding the next parliamentary leaks of information. election in 2014, allowing Ms. The prospect of a coalition of Ukraine’s Tymoshenko to remain as prime minister biggest political forces – representing the throughout, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. nation’s biggest business interests, as well Leaders of both forces appealed to the as policies that are largely indifferent to public throughout the week to support the Ukrainian language and culture – ignited Daria Kish grand coalition, declaring that it will fury and panic among the nation’s right- Participants of the conference of Ukrainian Journalists of North America. bring critical stability amidst a devastated wing forces, which called upon the economy and political gridlock. Since Ukrainian people to protest. KERHONKSON, N.Y. – After an eight- “We have convened here on this parcel of September, the Verkhovna Rada has lan- President Viktor Yushchenko said he year hiatus, Ukrainian journalists and media Ukrainian land at Soyuzivka in order to guished, unable to pass much legislation wouldn’t allow any constitutional amend- producers of North America met at a confer- define the mission and methods of our ongo- or approve a finance or foreign affairs ment transferring the power to elect the ence at Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian Heritage ing work. Do we wish to continue acting as minister. Center of the Ukrainian National Association one association, or is there a desire to work “We have today the first shoots of hope (Continued on page 4) (UNA), on May 15-17 and decided to reac- independently in Canada and the U.S.? Are tivate their professional association under we able – and by what means – to encour- the name Ukrainian Journalists of North age the Ukrainian diaspora toward further America. community development? Are we able – Security Service of Ukraine launches The following Ukrainian news media and by what means – to affect the image of outlets were represented: the newspapers Ukraine at this time when it is constantly Svoboda, The Ukrainian Weekly, America, being besmirched by the Russian mass criminal investigation into Holodomor The Sower, National Tribune (U.S.), Meest media?” The participants focused on these by Zenon Zawada lions of Ukrainians. and The New Pathway (Canada); the maga- issues during their weekend discussions. Special investigative groups are cur- zines Our Life (U.S.) and Our Way The session dedicated to organizational Kyiv Press Bureau rently operating throughout the 17 oblasts (Canada); the Kontakt radio and television issues established the name of the newly KYIV – The Security Service of Ukraine of the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist network and the “Svitohliad” television pro- revived organization as Ukrainian Journalists (SBU) on May 22 launched a criminal Republic devastated by the Holodomor to gram (Canada); the radio programs of North America (in Ukrainian: Spilka investigation into the Holodomor of prepare evidence, such as testimonies and “Ukrainian Wave,” (U.S.), “Prometheus” Ukrayinskykh Zhurnalistiv Pivnichnoyi 1932-1933 with the goal of investigating documents, for criminal prosecution in and “Song of Ukraine” (Canada); the Ameryky). It was decided that the organiza- and legally establishing the crime, and pros- Ukraine, said Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, Ukrainian section of Radio Canada tion will convene annually for a general ecuting those who organized the Famine- the SBU chair. International; the Maidan Internet journal; meeting, while conferring via the Internet at Genocide that resulted in the deaths of mil- and the InfoUkes Internet site. The group of least a couple of times per month. “Ukraine has collected enough testimo- 20 participants also included free-lance jour- Elected to head the UJNA were: Jurij nies to launch a criminal investigation on the nalists and writers affiliated with the Klufas, president; Roma Hadzewycz, Famine artificially created by the Bolshevik Ukrainian American Veterans and Myroslava Rozdolska, Maria Klymchak regime, which led to the mass destruction of Americans for Human Rights in Ukraine. (U.S.), Oksana Bashuk-Hepburn, Volodymyr the civilian population,” he said during a The convention was organized by Jurij Kish and Olha Vovnysh (Canada), executive May 25 meeting with a Ukrainian World Klufas of the Kontakt TV network and board members. Congress (UWC) delegation led by Oleksander Kharchenko of Radio Canada The conference adopted several resolu- Australian Stefan Romaniw, the executive International. tions. One was to issue an appeal to the secretary. Guests at the conference were Vasyl president of Ukraine about the need to estab- The SBU’s announcement marked a legal Ilashchuk and Andriy Cherniuk from Kyiv, lish a National Information Center. Another milestone in Ukraine, where prosecuting the the president and vice-president, respective- was to urge U.S. President Barack Obama to crimes of the Soviet government was an ly, of the National Television Company of visit Ukraine at the time of his journey to impossible task just five years ago because Ukraine, who spoke about the extremely Russia, noting the vital need to support of former President Leonid Kuchma’s disin- difficult process of Ukrainianizing the Ukraine on its path to Euro-Atlantic integra- terest in doing so. broadcast airwaves in Ukraine. tion. The UJNA also expressed its opinion In its investigation, the SBU is pursuing The agenda included discussions on the on the John Demjanjuk case, seeing it as a criminal charges based on the law passed by role of the Ukrainian media in the commu- case of double jeopardy. Another resolution Parliament in November 2006 that recog- nity, “Fourth Wave” emigration issues, use was adopted to write to Canadian Prime nized the Holodomor as genocide against Zenon Zawada of the Ukrainian language, development of a Minister Stephen Harper, thanking him for the Ukrainian people, as well as Article 442 proper image of Ukraine in the world, mod- Canada’s recognition of the Ukrainian Security Service of Ukraine Chair of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which outlaws ern electronic media and journalistic ethics, Holodomor as genocide and protesting the Valentyn Nalyvaichenko announced the acts of genocide, Mr. Nalyvaichenko said. as well as organizational matters. launch of a criminal investigation into Opening the conference, Mr. Klufas said: (Continued on page 9) the Holodomor. (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2009 No. 23 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Yushchenko seeks to revive New U.S. ambassador by the fall “As before, we are conducting such con- sultations with all parliamentary forces. If his political fortunes KYIV – A new ambassador of the a decision on the coalition is taken, such United States to Ukraine may be appoint- a decision should be discussed at a meet- ed before the end of the summer, and by Taras Kuzio of staff’s orders when placing Ukrainian ing of the party’s political council,” Mr. there are several candidates for the post, politicians and state officials under surveil- Yefremov said. Verkhovna Rada Eurasia Daily Monitor whose names have not been disclosed, lance – including the deputy head of the Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn said he does said James Pettit, U.S. chargé d’affaires The resignation of the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office, Renat Kuzmin (www. not rule out the possibility of setting up ad interim to Ukraine, at a briefing. He President Viktor Yushchenko’s chief of staff pravda.com.ua, May 12). The prosecutor’s such a coalition. “I think that there will strongly denied the idea the United States Viktor Baloha has long been expected office had instructed the SBU and Internal be something,” he added, according to would not hurry to name a new ambassa- (www.pravda.com.ua, May 16, 18). He Affairs Ministry to use force if necessary, to news reports of June 1. (Ukrinform) dor to Ukraine because of the uncertain issued a strongly worded attack on Mr. bring Mr. Durdynets to justice. He has since political situation there. He said the delay President would welcome new coalition Yushchenko as having failed to implement fled and has been placed on an Interpol in naming a new envoy is due to the fact his 2004 election promises, and therefore wanted list. Another Mr. Baloha loyalist, the that the new U.S. administration recently KYIV – President Viktor Yushchenko had no right to stand for a second term SBU deputy head Anatolii Pavlenko, might assumed office.
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