www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Ukraine’s economy sizzles during first five months of 2004 — page 3. • Art by Olga Maryschuk, Aka Pereyma, Christina Pereyma — pages 12-13. • Ivan Franko as depicted on philatelic issues — centerfold. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXII HE KRAINIANNo. 27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2004 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine UkrainianT communityU marks 40th anniversary PACE expressesW concern over Rada’s of Taras Shevchenko monument in Washington new move on constitutional reform by Serhiy Zhykharev Church in the U.S.A. Ukraine’s by Roman Woronowycz before presidential elections were to be Ukrainian National Information Service Ambassador to the United States Kyiv Press Bureau held. Mr. Oliinyk said during a press con- Mykhailo Reznik was joined at the cere- ference in Kyiv that PACE members had WASHINGTON – The Ukrainian mony by the general secretary of the KYIV – The Parliamentary Assembly stated that they would take a very serious community in the United States com- Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), of the Council of Europe (PACE) reacted look at the situation in Ukraine during the memorated the 40th anniversary of the Victor Pedenko, as well as representa- negatively on June 23 to word that the organization’s autumn session. pro-presidential majority coalition in unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko mon- tives of various Ukrainian American “It looks like we are going to have Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada had success- ument in Washington with a special pro- organizations. very serious problems in October,” com- fully moved an initial reading of a new gram here on Saturday, June 26. The ceremony opened at 4 p.m. with a mented Mr. Oliinyk. effort at Constitutional reforms. Organized by the Shevchenko 40th greeting from Bohdana Urbanovych, On June 23, 276 national deputies National Deputy Borys Oliinyk, head of Anniversary Commemoration chairperson of the Shevchenko 40th approved the first draft of a new piece of the Ukrainian delegation, which had Committee, on the initiative of the Anniversary Commemoration legislation introducing changes to the returned from the weeklong summer ses- Ukrainian Congress Committee of Committee, who stated: “We gathered Constitution and turning Ukraine from a America (UCCA), in cooperation with sion of PACE on June 24, said PACE mem- system dominated by the president to one here today to honor the Kobzar’s memo- bers were “shocked” to hear that the pro- other Ukrainian civic organizations, the ry and the fact that so many Ukrainians dominated by the Parliament. In such a commemoration was held in the park presidential forces in the Ukrainian system lawmakers would form a majority came to this ceremony proves that our Parliament had attempted to revive the near the monument, where some 500 community, just like 40 years ago, coalition that would appoint the prime people gathered to honor the memory of political reform legislation after the minister and his Cabinet, severely reduc- remains strong and unified. Let us join Verkhovna Rada had failed to muster the the great Kobzar and demonstrate unity our efforts and work together for the ben- ing the president’s authority. within the community. necessary two-thirds majority on April 8 to Opposition members have stated that efit of our community and Ukraine. In allow changes to the Constitution of Buses and cars from as far away as unity is our strength.” political reform, while needed, is being Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia Ukraine. The changes, if they had been pursued by the pro-presidential forces at UCCA President Michael Sawkiw Jr., approved, would have transferred much of and New York made their way to who served as master of ceremonies for this time to head off what looks like a Washington to participate in the event. the powers of the president to the prime better than even chance that National the event, underscored that the Ukrainian minister and set up a system in which the Also present were hierarchs of the community in the United States should Deputy Viktor Yushchenko, head of the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Parliament chooses the head of government. oppositionist Our Ukraine bloc, can win stand together in this important time for PACE issued a statement on June 24 in Orthodox Churches: Archbishop Stefan Ukraine. “We gather at this monument 40 the presidential election on October 31. Soroka, metropolitan of the Ukrainian which it expressed reservations about There is fear that a new president could years later to express our solidarity as a continued attempts by certain forces with- Catholic Church in the United States; unified Ukrainian American community, cause a major upheaval in the country’s Metropolitan Constantine, primate of the in the Verkhovna Rada to force through steeped in our long 125-year history on changes to the Constitution only months (Continued on page 11) Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the these American shores. Thus, the power- U.S.A.; and Archbishops Antony and Vsevolod of the Ukrainian Orthodox (Continued on page 9) Presidents Kuchma and Bush Filip Konowal’s Victoria Cross meet, briefly, at NATO summit by Roman Woronowycz Kyiv Press Bureau returnedTORONTO – Officials to Canadian have con- Commenting War onMuseum the news, John B. firmed that Filip Konowal’s Victoria Gregorovich, UCCLA chairman and KYIV – Ukraine’s Cross has been returned to the safekeep- president of RCL Branch 360, said: “We President Leonid Kuchma ing of the Canadian War Museum, after were delighted when Konowal’s Victoria and U.S. President George having been missing for over 30 years. Cross was found, and we celebrate the W. Bush finally sat down On April 2 the Ukrainian Canadian even better news that it will be returned and talked to one another Civil Liberties Association’s director of to its rightful owners, the people of – even if it only involved research, Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, received Canada. All of us will now have a chance a few passing phrases. an e-mail from Iain Stewart, who lives in to see this VC in the new Canadian War The two were seated Devon county, England, informing him Museum.” near one another at the that this VC, long thought to have been He added, “We expect that Konowal’s official banquet given on “misplaced” within the War Museum’s medal will be permanently displayed June 28 for the nearly 30 collections, was for sale by Jeffrey Hoare there, a reminder not only of this state leaders present for Auctions, of London, Ontario. Ukrainian Canadian’s valor but of all the the NATO Summit in The immediate intervention of sacrifices made by those Canadians who Istanbul, Turkey. They Canadian War Museum officials and the were distinguished with the highest were separated only by RCMP prevented the sale, and authenti- medal that the British Empire ever Prime Minister Tony cation procedures conducted over the bestowed, the Victoria Cross. And, most Blair of the United past few months have confirmed that the certainly, we look forward to learning Kingdom in the alphabet- medal in question was a genuine Victoria just where Konowal’s medal was these ical-by-country seating of Cross and indeed the one earned by Filip many years – a tale in its own right, yet the leaders. Konowal, a Ukrainian Canadian, for his to be fully told.” The fact that the two valor during the Battle for Hill 70, near Joe Geurts, director and CEO of the presidents have not met Lens, France, on August 22-23, 1917. Canadian War Museum, said: “The at least once during Mr. A recovery ceremony is being planned Canadian War Museum is delighted to Bush’s first term has for August 23 at the Canadian War announce the return of the Konowal been the subject of much Museum, in concert with the Royal Victoria Cross. ... It is a great day for the speculation in political UNIAN/Valery Solovyov Canadian Legion Branch 360 (Konowal Presidents Leonid Kuchma and George W. Bush in Branch) and the UCCLA. (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 11) Istanbul during the NATO summit. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2004 No. 27 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Yushchenko makes the first move Ukraine marks Constitution Day with Ukraine, Interfax reported. Mr. Kuchma said that Ukraine has undergone in the presidential election campaign KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma said important changes over the past five years, on June 28, on the occasion of Constitution adding that its pace of economic growth by Jan Maksymiuk the most vigorous contributors to voting Day, that “the adoption of the fundamental has been among the highest in Europe and RFE/RL Belarus and Ukraine Report Mr. Yushchenko out of his post of prime law sealed for all time our independence that the country is characterized by “the minister by the Verkhovna Rada in April and the will of the Ukrainian nation to live Our Ukraine head Viktor Yushchenko stability of its political situation and ethnic 2001. Mr. Zinchenko’s position in the in their sovereign state,” Interfax reported. tolerance.” He also said that, after a “period has chosen Verkhovna Rada vice-chair- SDPU became visibly upset in 2002 when Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr man Oleksander Zinchenko as manager of of loud but ineffective declarations,” rela- he failed to reform the television channel Lytvyn said that since the Constitution of tions between Ukraine and NATO are his 2004 presidential campaign, Ukrainian Inter, which is controlled by the party. Mr. Ukraine was adopted on June 28, 1996, media reported on June 14. According to headed in the right direction – “the way of Zinchenko resigned as Inter president in that date has come to symbolize national Mr. Yushchenko, Mr. Zinchenko’s main practical actions.” The president assured mid-2002 because of a standoff with Mr.