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The Ukrainian Weekly 1995, No.5

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The Ukrainian Weekly 1995, No.5 www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Interview with Leonid Kravchuk — page 3. • Conference discusses historic encounters between Ukraine and Russia — page 6. і • Documentary film director speaks on Ukrainian-Jewish relations — page 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIII No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 1995 75 cents Ukraine and Russia Munitions reclamation project closes chapter in Cold War by Marta Kolomayets conclude agreement Kyyiv Press Bureau ICHNIA, Ukraine - Another chapter on trade, economy in Cold War history came to a close on Monday, January 16, as the world's first by Marta Kolomayets facility devoted to full-scale demilita­ Kyyiv Press Bureau rization and reclamation of conventional KYYIV - A bilateral Ukrainian-Russian munitions opened at the Ichnia military agreement on trade and economic coopera­ base, 160 miles northwest of Kyyiv. tion for 1995 was signed in Moscow on President Leonid Kuchma and Tuesday, January 25, and more economic Defense Minister Valeriy Shmarov documents are set to be signed in the near attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies of a future, according to Ukraine's Deputy joint venture between a U.S. company, Prime Minister for National Security Alliant Techsystems, a British trading f* Yevhen Marchuk. company, Rapierbase Ltd. and the Mr. Marchuk accompanied President Ukrainian Ministry of Defense that will Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Vitaliy transform thousands of tons of conven­ Masol and Deputy Prime Minister for tional weapons into scrap metal. Finance Ihor Mytiukov on an unofficial Mr. Kuchma took time out of his busy one-day working visit to Moscow, where schedule to travel to this remote artillery the Ukrainian president met with his and ammunition base in the Chernihiv Russian counterpart, Boris Yeltsin. Oblast, underscoring the importance of "President Kuchma's presence in this project and Ukraine's commitment Moscow was essential," Mr. Marchuk to disarmament. Attending opening ceremonies at the Alliant Kyyiv plant at the Ichnia military told reporters during a briefing on base are: (from left) Defense Minister Valeriy Shmarov, President Leonid Kuchma Wednesday afternoon, January 25. He (Continued on page 4) and Gen. Ivan Tsaryk. said the meeting was initiated by Ukraine, which needed to resolve a few issues on trade and the economy with its closest neighbor and biggest trade partner. Survey reveals discontent, and hope, in Ukraine President Kuchma had to personally by Xenia Ponomarenko selves "disengaged" from the political process. These are intervene in the process of preparing the UNA Washington Office mostly females, widows and pensioners. Judge Futey won­ agreement, according to Mr. Marchuk. dered how "democracy" was defined for the subjects in this He added that such trade agreements WASHINGTON - The Kyyiv International Institute of survey, which may explain some of the results. Sociology (KIIS), working with the U.S. International over the past few years have been signed Lack of knowledge on important issues was another find­ Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), conducted a in November/December and never as ing of this survey. Few Ukrainians understand economic nationwide poll throughout all oblasts in Ukraine between late as January. market reforms. Only one in three has a "great deal" or a December 13-23, 1994. "The signing of these documents "fair amount" of information about "free market reforms." clears the way for normal, business con­ The survey revealed that 91.7 percent of Ukrainians are Despite this lack of knowledge, less than half want a state- tacts and economic cooperation," added dissatisfied with the current situation in Ukraine, however, an run economy. Mr. Wagner cautioned it is not easy to nail the government official, who chairs del­ overwhelming majority expressed hope for the future as 84.9 down any specific group that is pro- or anti-reform. percent agreed that "we must educate young people about the egations dealing with Ukrainian-Russian Also, few Ukrainians know their rights. Three out of four democratic process so that they can help make good deci­ relations, including negotiations over the Ukrainians agree with the statement "I don't have enough sions about our future." Black Sea Fleet. information about my rights with regard to the authorities." The poll results were based on 1,201 personal interviews "Ukraine's internal problems and But 89.7 percent agree that "it is the duty of the government conducted by a network of 120 interviewers. Each subject issues concerning our sluggish economic to guarantee that I have a job." Judge Futey pointed out that was asked 100 questions. transformation - problems that we have this is true in every country of the former Soviet Union. Poll results were presented on January 18 at the IFES not been able to solve effectively - these The poll also focused on the past year's elections. Half of headquarters in Washington. Presenters included Steven are, unfortunately, the main reasons we those polled stated that they had insufficient information to Wagner, the vice-president of Luntz Research Companies, have such complicated relations with make a "good choice" among the candidates for president or Judge Bohdan Futey of the U.S. Court of Claims, and Russia," underscored Mr. Marchuk. the Ukrainian Parliament. Less than half think that they Christopher Siddall, senior program officer at IFES. Ukraine owes Russia $1.5 billion (U.S.) "received enough information from election officials so that The poll findings were not a great surprise: 91.7 percent for 1994 gas supplies as well as interest on they understood the electoral process." of Ukrainians are dissatisfied with the situation in Ukraine these debts. In the first month of 1995, About one-quarter believe some fraud occurred during the today. According to the poll, the Ukrainian Parliament is the Ukraine already owes Russia $70 million presidential elections, and about a third believe fraud occurred least popular government body. Only one in nine Ukrainians for gas, added Mr. Marchuk, who blamed during the Parliamentary elections. Of those Ukrainians who approve of its work so far. Ukraine for being a "bad housekeeper." believe fraud occurred, 52.7 percent blamed local election offi­ Yet most Ukrainians agree that President Leonid Kuchma "If we are to be taken as a serious part­ cials, and 34.2 percent blamed officials in Kyyiv. has made progress in keeping his campaign promises and that ner, these kinds of debts cannot keep Most Ukrainians believe election law reform is necessary. "we should give him more time to make the other changes he mounting," added Mr. Marchuk. "Our Sixty-one percent believe "we would be better off if "we promised." Mr. Wagner found that President Kuchma has Russian partners finally said that we had to had to vote only once for a candidate" rather than in multiple greater popularity in western Ukraine than in the east, revers­ at least establish a mechanism and a pay­ rounds. In addition, only one in four thinks the election laws ing the trend observed during the presidential elections. ment schedule for our debts, to show that of Ukraine "work well." we were good for them," he said. And only Political parties in Ukraine are not faring well. The survey results indicate that only one in four Ukrainians have a favor­ Ukrainians also find official corruption in general to be a when Ukraine included these provisions in major problem in their lives. Of those polled 89.1 percent think the agreement did the Russians agree to do able view of the Communist Party, although it still is the strongest political party in Ukraine. Only about 5 percent of that official corruption is either "very serious" or "fairly serious." business with their southern partner. When asked what they think interests officials in Kyyiv, more President Kuchma told Interfax-Ukraine the Ukrainian populace belong to a political party. Further, only one in four Ukrainians consider that they than two-thirds said they believe the officials only want to help on Wednesday afternoon, January 25, that themselves. Only 12.1 percent think the officials want to improve Ukraine's principal concern in its relation- have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of information about the democratic process. In fact, about 30 percent consider them­ (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2) THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 1995 No. 5 January 22 Independence Day MWSBRIEFS marked at public meeting in Kyyiv All ICBMs now out of Ukraine proposed by President Boris Yeltsin, which by Borys Klymenko in Chechnya, Russia has forgotten its is to be debated at the next meeting of CIS Special to The Ukrainian Weekly neighbor to the south. KYYIV — Ukraine has fulfilled all its heads of state and prime ministers to be Mr. Chornovil, who is also a deputy in obligations under the START I Treaty as KYYIV - More than 5,000 people held February 10 in Almaty, "would be a the Ukrainian Parliament, said he gives all ICBMs have been removed from marked the anniversaries of the procla­ blessing for all peoples in the post-Soviet credit to the Russian Parliament. "They Ukrainian territory, the Ministry of mation of the Ukrainian National era." President Nazarbayev was quoted by are open about their intentions; they do Defense announced on January 24. It also Republic (January 22, 1918) and the Act Interfax as saying that the Russia-Kazakh was reported that U.S. observers who have of Unification between the UNR and the not talk about the renewal of the Soviet bilateral cooperation agreement signed on been at the Pavlodar Mechanical Plant Western Ukrainian National Republic Union, they talk about reunification with January 20 sets a precedent for closer inte­ since January 12 have confirmed that the (January 22, 1919) during a meeting at Russia." (The State Duma in Russia gration within the CIS, and he reaffirmed intercontinental ballistic missiles are no St.
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