The Ukrainian Weekly 1993, No.9
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www.ukrweekly.com ,. ^. я [ Vol. LXI No. 9 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1993 50 cents National democrats in Ul<raine Ukraine issues worldwide protest unite in anti-communist front to Russian moves on USSR assets by Marta Kolomayets nian National Women's League, the Kyyiv Press Bureau Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists, by Marta Kolomayets disposition and Ukraine's legal right to Memorial and Prosvita. Kyyiv Press Bureau be a successor state is recognized. KYYIV — To prevent communist It underscores that Ukraine also is a "The main hearth of our society's KYYIV — Ukraine will have to turn successor state to the former Soviet forces from gaining popular support in a destabilization today is the reactionary parliamentary power struggle among to the International Court of Justice at Union and that it does not accept Supreme Council and the city, raion the Hague to retrieve its rightful share Russia's claims that it is the sole political groups, the national democrats and local councils (soviets), which were attempted to unite during a one-day of property, assets of the former Soviet successor and only true heir to the formed still at the time of the full Union abroad, Oleksander Kupchy- former Soviet Union. forum to found the Anti-Communist, authority of the Communist Party of Anti-Imperialist Front on Sunday, shyn, chairman of contracts legal divi After the February 8 ukase, the the Soviet Union, the Communist Party sion at Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, told February 21. of Ukraine, during the time of the Ukrainian government responded journalists on Tuesday, February 23. quickly and Supreme Council Chair More than 30 associations and politi colonial status of Ukraine," stated the Responding to a February 8 ukase cal parties banded together at the front, in a declaration passed during the man Ivan Pliushch declared: "The step issued by Russian President Boris Russia has taken is a gross violation of Ukraina Palace to show strength in forum's work. Yeltsin, which claimed all assets of the unity against the growingthreat of what The forum vowed to press for the previous agreements. We must now they defined as "pro-imperialist forces" former Soviet Union as the sole pro demand a meeting to ask Yeltsin why he following: perty of Russia, Ukraine's Ministry of in this country of 52 million. 1. A pre-term halt to the work of signed such a directive." To date, no Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note such meeting has taken place. "We are fully aware of the fact that a the Supreme Council of Ukraine and to over 160 countries, asking that they councils on all levels; a founding meet The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also movement which unites everyone from recognize the properties of the former issued a statement two weeks ago noting the political center to the extreme right ing to pass a new Constitution of Soviet Union as such until Ukraine and Ukraine and a new law on elections. that "such actions create difficulties in cannot survive for long. We united for a Russia come to a final agreement on the developing a political dialogue between definite period of time to show that 2. A ban on an examination by the division of property. our two countries in a spirit of equality, democrats and anti-communists and Supreme Council's Presidium of the The note, dated February 22, asks dignity and good-neighborly relations." those who see Ukraine as a non-socialist currently banned Communist Party of that the countries not allow Russia to "Although we had hoped this division and non-communist state can band Ukraine; the creation of a citizens' usurp any such assets or make any together when Ukraine is in danger," tribunal to uncover all the crimes of the could be worked out in bilateral nego changes in the status of the property tiations, from a legal standpoint, I think said Dmytro Ponamarchuk, director of (Continued on page 3) until Ukraine and Russia agree to its Rukh's information division.. all of our possibilities have been ex hausted." Mr. Kupchyshyn said. "It cannot be one political force for This last ukase by President Yeltsin, long; it unites too many different views, Ukraine's Embassy in U.S. Mr. Kupchyshyn pointed out, was a ideas and methods on how this nation turn in relations between Ukraine and should be built," said the Rukh spokes Russia. It was the first juridical move on man, whose organization was one of the dedicated at historic site the part of Russia to assert itself as the initiators of the front. by Roman Woronowycz bassy of Ukraine located in a downtown sole successor to the former Soviet Among those who took part in the office building. Union, moreover, its only rightful heir. full-day forum were: Rukh, the Demo WASHINGTON — Sen. Claiborne Since then, Ukraine's diplomats had "Earlier, in our experience with cratic Party of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Pell (D-R.I.) perhaps said it best: "It's a been looking for a suitable facility. Russia, words and deeds often di Republican Party, the Congress of great idea, I think it was inevitable." Their efforts culminated in the Decem verged," explained Mr. Kupchyshyn. National Democratic Forces, the He was speaking of the fact that the ber 29, 1992, signing of a purchase But the February 8 ukase "On the Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party, 19-month-old independent Ukrai agreement for the Forrest-Marbury Foreign State Property of the Former the All-Ukrainian Association of Politi nian state was given a bit more sure soil complex. USSR," provides that "the Russian cal Prisoners and Repressed, the Ukrai- to stand on when, on February 24, Federation is the successor state of the Forrest-Marbury Court, a three-build U.S. government presence USSR and assumes all rights for all ing complex in the historic George movable and immovable (liquid assets town district of Washington, became Thomas Niles, assistant secretary of and real estate) of the former USSR Parliamentary crisis the new Ukrainian Embassy. state, was at the opening as the official now outside its borders, as well as all That day Ukraine's Ambassador to representative of the U.S. government obligations associated with the use of continues in Ukraine the United States Oleh Bilorus snipped to formally acknowledge this new this property." Ukrainian Embassy on U.S. territory. It also gives the Russian government by Dmytro Filipchenko a blue-and-yellow ribbon, allowing over 500 frozen-fingered diplomats, invitees In his brief comments, Mr. Niles said the authority to resolve bilaterally "all Ukraine must be commended for send KYYIV — Ukraine's parliamentary and supporters to enter this historic matters relating to the implementation building where George Washington in ing forces into Bosnia in support of of the agreement on the former USSR's crisis continued last week, as the matter United Nations peace efforts, and for of electing justices to the Constitutional 1791 agreed that the surrounding area foreign assets signed on December 30, should become the U.S. capital. supporting U.S. President Bill Clinton's 1991." Court of the country was brought to a airlift initiatives. vote. In accordance with the constitu Press Attache Dmitro Markov said This claim, in fact, cancels any hope tion now in place, for the 10 vacancies finding such a historic and symbolic But many wind-frozen smiles became that Ukraine and Russia will reach an that have to be filled. President Leonid building was coincidental. "Yes, we smirks when the undersecretary main agreement on possession of former Kravchuk and Parliamentary Chair were in the right place at the right time," tained that Ukraine must give up the Soviet property, the Foreign Ministry man Ivan Pliushch each submitted five he observed. 176 strategic nuclear missiles it holds in noted. candidates on February 16. Ukraine's diplomatic delegation to order to take its place in the world of Ukriane is the only other claimant to The chief justice is already in office: the U.S. began its work on May 5,1992, nations. this property, because Ukraine is the Leonid Yuzkov, chairman of the draft when Ambassador Bilorus presented only other nation to share the $10 However, the assembled were more bilhon foreign debt. The Baltic states ing commission of a new constitution, his credentials to President George intent on finally scooting inside the had been elected earlier, in closed Bush. Later that day, President Leonid gave up any claims to debt and property walls of the 300-year-old building, soon after they declared independence. proceedings. Kravchuk, then on a working visit to where Sen. Pell had the chance to Washington, officially opened the Other republics of the former Soviet (Coiitiiiiied on page 14) temporary, rented offices of the Em (Continued on page 14) (Continued on page 4) THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1993 No. 9 Newsbriefs Ukraine faces Russian on Ukraine oii and gas squeeze MOSCOW — Ukraine's vulunerabi- On February 19 he met with Uzbekis • KYYIV — After a two-day official "traditional Russian interests." On lity to Russian pressure on energy tan's President Islam Karimov, and visit to Ukraine, Germany's foreign February 19, ITAR-TASS quoted an supplies was underscored in recent signed an agreement on the development minister, Klaus Kinkel, announced on unnamed individual purporting to be weeks, as Russian politicians an of that country's natural gas industry, February 16 that his country will assist from the Russian ministry of foreign nounced price hikes to world levels for among others. On February 22, Mr. Ukraine in destroying its ammunition affairs, who claimed that any such all fuel and cuts in oil shipments, and a Kuchma arrived in Alma Ata, where he and missile fuels.