The Ukrainian Weekly 2000, No.42
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• New U.S. ambassador to Ukraine is sworn in — page 3. • Post-World War II events in Zakerzonnia are topic of new book — page 8. • Saskatoon folkloric ensemble helps needy in Brazil — page 13. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVIII HE No.KRAINIAN 42 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2000 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine CongressionalT receptionU celebrates Tymoshenko underW fire for presenting Ukraine’s independence anniversary allegedly distorted report on energy sector Ukrainian National Information Service N.C.); Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.); Rick by Roman Woronowycz repeatedly for his “energy tsarina,” quickly Santorum (R-Pa.) and Paul Sarbanes (D- Kyiv Press Bureau sided with her in the conflict between WASHINGTON – The annual Md.), as well as Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), members of his government. During a Congressional reception commemorating while greetings were also relayed from KYIV – Ukraine’s beleaguered Vice Cabinet of Ministers meeting the next day the anniversary of Ukrainian independence Archbishop Anthony of the Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, already Mr. Yuschenko chastised Mr. Azarov for was held on Wednesday evening, Orthodox Church, Bishop Basil Losten of under pressure from business oligarchs and “unwise steps” in airing in public what the September 20, in the Senate’s Hart Office politicians to back away from fuel and Building. Coming on the heels of a major the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Stamford prime minister said amounted to “discus- Eparchy and Bishop Robert Moskal of the energy sector reforms, came under further sions on arithmetic” and called on his min- conference on Ukraine’s nation-building attack – this time from within her own gov- held in Washington, the event provided an Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Parma isters to become “team players” working Eparchy. ernment – for allegedly presenting a dis- for a common goal. opportunity for Ukrainian Americans to torted financial picture of the state of the greet members of Congress and thank The associate director of the White “Each person should care for his func- House Office of Public Liaison, Beryl Hall, sector. tional responsibilities and not provoke them for their active support and advocacy Ms. Tymoshenko reported on October 10 of Ukrainian issues. read greetings from President Bill Clinton political mischief,” said Mr. Yuschenko addressed to the Ukrainian American com- to the Verkhovna Rada during a during the Cabinet meeting. Sponsored by the Congressional Government Day presentation that condi- Ukrainian Caucus (CUC), the Ukrainian munity on the occasion of the ninth Nonetheless the prime minister directed anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. In tions in the fuel and energy industry were that an inquiry take place to determine Congress Committee of America (UCCA) much improved, that fuel production was and the Ukrainian American Coordinating her closing statement Ms. Hall added that whose numbers were accurate. President Clinton enjoyed being in Ukraine up, and that payments to the government for During a 25-minute presentation to Council (UACC), the reception brought coal, oil and gas consumption had increased nearly 150 people gathered to observe the several months earlier during his European Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada the day before, trip in May-June. considerably in the last eight months. Ms. Tymoshenko had told lawmakers that annual tradition on Capitol Hill. Just hours later, State Tax The evening began with opening Representing the Ukrainian American by pressuring commercial consumers she Administration Chairman Mykola Azarov remarks from UNIS Director Michael community organizations that sponsored had increased repayment for energy usage fired off a statement in which he labeled Sawkiw Jr., who served as master of cere- the event were Askold Lozynskyj, presi- from 7 percent in 1999 to 70 percent in Ms. Tymoshenko’s figures inaccurate. monies. “What a momentous time to be in dent of the Ukrainian Congress 2000. She said that 2.75 billion hrv had Ukraine’s chief tax collector said that, con- Washington to celebrate the ninth annual Committee of America (UCCA) and the entered state coffers from energy payments trary to Ms. Tymoshenko’s assertions, the commemoration of Ukrainian Ukrainian World Congress (UWC); and in the first eight months of 2000, up over Independence Day,” said Mr. Sawkiw not- Ihor Gawdiak, president of the Ukrainian situation in the sector was reaching cata- the 1.39 billion hrv received for the same ing that the event followed a successful American Coordinating Council strophic dimensions. period in 1999. two-day conference titled “Ukraine’s Quest Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko, main- for Mature Nation Statehood: A (Continued on page 3) taining the strong support he has displayed (Continued on page 19) Roundtable,” with participants from acade- mia and business, and officials from the American and Ukrainian governments. The Rev. Stephen Zeneuch, pastor of St. U.S. physician’s dream of helping Ukraine goes sour Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral by Roman Woronowycz restore the sight of Ukrainians into the a non-governmental organization dedi- in Silver Spring, Md., delivered the invoca- Kyiv Press Bureau background and bring politics and per- cated to the prevention of blindness – tion. sonal ambitions to the fore. and yearly visits to Ukraine to deliver Among the first congressional guests to IVANO-FRANKIVSK – In 1992, Standing in a supply room amid the equipment and materials, and offer address the assembled participants was when Dr. William Selezinka decided he medical supplies he had gathered for consultations and training, a deeply Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.). Having wanted to help Ukraine in the best way the Ivano-Frankivsk Medical Academy disappointed Dr. Selezinka left Ivano- served for years in the House of he knew how, he expected much the Hospital, the bespectacled and slightly Frankivsk on September 13, perhaps Representatives and now nearly 15 years in same success he had experienced in his hunched elderly doctor with a voice for the last time, his project unfinished the United States Senate, he is a member of nearly 30 years in the medical profes- that belies his age, said on September 8 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sion. that he had come to Ivano-Frankivsk to (Continued on page 4) and fervently supports continued U.S. He believed his expertise and the do charitable work – not to become assistance to Ukraine. contacts he had made during his years embroiled in controversy and political Sen. Sarbanes acknowledged partici- as an eye surgeon and chief of resi- tests of will. pants from Maryland and stated, “We are dents at the University of California- “They keep looking at the ‘legal fortunate here in Maryland to have a very San Diego and St. Louis University side,’ ” explained Dr. Selezinka. “I only active Ukrainian American community ... gave him the tools to help the western care about the human aspect.” you prevail in business, the arts, academia Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk re- Any American with limited knowl- and enrich the cultural, intellectual and establish itself as one of the leading edge of the bureaucratic jungle called political life of our state.” The senator eye care centers of Ukraine. Ukraine and no understanding of the recalled the “dark days” when Ukrainian The Ukrainian Eye Project that Dr. back-door manner in which business independence celebrations were held dur- Selezinka founded had considerable operates here – even if it is the charita- ing the times of the Soviet Union, underlin- success initially, most notably in ble business of helping people and sav- ing that the community had “firm immov- October 1996 when the Ivano- ing eyesight – eventually would have able conviction, and in the end freedom Frankivsk City Eye Clinic opened – a run headfirst into the same insurmount- and liberty prevailed.” project that he pushed forward with able wall that confronted Dr. Selezinka Two officials from the Ukrainian gov- support of the local mayor. when his effort of simple compassion ernment were present at the celebration Unfortunately, the 76-year-old crossed with personal ambitions and who had also attended the two-day confer- retired ophthalmologist from San the misunderstandings that can arise ence held in Washington: Oleh Rybachuk, Diego could not have foreseen that, when cultural expectations don’t mesh. chief of staff for Prime Minister Viktor even as his dream to establish the eye After eight years of annual promo- Yuschenko; and National Deputy institute as the best in the country tion and fund-raising efforts in the Mykhailo Ratushnyi. moved slowly towards fruition, there United States for his program in Acknowledgements were made of addi- were forces at work that would move Ukraine – the last two years with much tional co-sponsors of the congressional his primary goal of helping to save or support from Lions Club International, Dr. William Selezinka event, including Sens. Jesse Helms (R- 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2000 No. 42 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Chechens in Ukraine: a diaspora in the making? Zlenko: Ukraine stays European course “political character” and has attracted “international publicity.” According to Mr. by Lily Hyde 5,000. Official statistics do not exist, KYIV – Newly appointed Foreign Kravchenko, Mr. Gongadze’s publications RFE/RL Newsline since only a small fraction of the Affairs Minister Anatolii Zlenko assured in the Internet newsletter Ukrainska Pravda, Chechens are registered and have foreign diplomats in Kyiv on October 10 which have been critical of Kyiv, may have The meeting around a table cluttered received formal refugee status. that Ukraine will continue its efforts to inte- contributed to his disappearance. “For the with lemonade bottles and food plates Refugees have found it hard to get the grate with Europe. “Let me reiterate once first time in the history of crime detection, it was rowdy. A young Chechen warrior Ukrainian government to recognize again that our course remains unchanged.