INSIDE: • “1999: THE YEAR IN REVIEW” – beginning on page 9. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVI HE No.KRAINIAN 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1999 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine Verkhovna Rada overwhelmingly approves Ukraine’sT ambassadorU to U.S., W two consuls general are recalled reformer Viktor Yuschenko as prime minister by Stefan Korshak by Yaro Bihun December 17, suggested that the first- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Special to The Ukrainian Weekly round presidential election absentee voting results in Washington, New York KYIV – For once, Ukraine’s President WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s ambas- and Chicago had “disappointed” and Parliament were on the same sheet sador to the United States, Anton President Kuchma and that the “politi- of music, and economic reform was Buteiko, has been recalled to Kyiv cal fallout is roiling Ukrainian diplo- playing in the background. While along with Ukraine’s two consuls gen- matic ranks.” President Leonid Kuchma looked on eral in this country – Yuriy Bohaievsky Immediately following the first approvingly, national deputies across the in New York and Borys Bazylevsky in round, the Kuchma administration had political spectrum joined December 22 to Chicago. sacked the governors of three oblasts give their overwhelming approval to No specific reason was given for cut- that voted decisively for his opponents. National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) boss ting short Ambassador Buteiko’s In an interview for The Ukrainian Viktor Yuschenko’s nomination as assignment in Washington, which Weekly, Ambassador Buteiko said that, Ukraine’s next prime minister. began in November 1998. (His prede- personally, he could not comprehend Mr. Yuschenko received 296 votes in cessor, Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak, any kind of a link between the election favor of his candidacy for the nation’s who now serves as foreign affairs advi- results at the Embassy and his recall. second-highest government job, out of sor to the president, had spent four “I know that the election process at 316 deputies present. Twelve deputies years in Washington.) Mr. Bohaievsky the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington cast their ballots against Mr. Yuschenko, had served in New York for one year, was democratic, as witnessed by while four registered themselves as pres- after serving for a year and half as American observers,” he said. “The ent but abstained from voting. The Ukraine’s deputy permanent representa- president received a plurality of the remaining 136 deputies, some absent, did tive to the United Nations), and Mr. votes in the first round, and more than not vote. Bazylevsky arrived in Chicago four Debate was almost completely lauda- 70 percent of the votes in the final Efrem Lukatsky months ago. The three diplomats round.” (About 160 Ukrainian citizens tory, but Mr. Yuschenko responded reportedly were instructed to vacate cast their ballots at the Embassy.) sharply to one Communist deputy’s alle- Ukraine’s new prime minister, Viktor their posts by January 5. “Therefore, it’s very difficult for me gation he had become personally wealthy Yuschenko. A number of Ukrainian diplomats to conclude that this recall is somehow while running the NBU. majority to support campaign promises serving in other countries also were “If you don’t believe me, tomorrow connected with the election results,” he to accelerate the pace of Ukrainian eco- recalled home following President there will be a bus at the front door of the said. “Only those who made the deci- nomic reforms. Kuchma’s re-election in November. Parliament,” Mr. Yuschenko said. “Any sion know the real reason,” he added. The former Soviet republic has lagged Dr. Buteiko’s impending departure deputy who wants to check can drive to Asked if there was any mention of well behind neighbors Poland and was not completely unexpected. the election in the recall letter, Dr. my house and see how wealthy I am.” Rumors to that effect had been circulat- But, perhaps significantly, even three Hungary in shifting its economy over to Buteiko said, “No. The letter I received a free market. One of the biggest barriers ing here since before President notified me that it was decided that I members of the usually rabidly leftist Kuchma’s Washington visit on Progressive Socialist Party – headed by to implementation of more radical return to Ukraine, expressed apprecia- Ukrainian economic reform has been a December 8. The recall letter arrived a tion for my effort in expanding our eco- Leninist Natalia Vitrenko – broke party few days later. ranks to join the heavy majority support- long-standing impasse between Mr. nomic, political, military and humani- Kuchma, who advertises himself as a Washington Post writer Nora tarian relations with the United States, ing Mr. Yuschenko’s candidacy. Boustany, who broke the story in her The lopsided legislative victory marks business-friendly centrist, and largely “Diplomatic Dispatches” column on (Continued on page 3) a critical success in President Kuchma’s leftist parliamentary deputies. efforts to build a working parliamentary Mr. Kuchma nominated the 45-year- old Mr. Yuschenko after the Verkhovna Rada shot down Mr. Kuchma’s first nomination, long-time political ally and UNA Executive Committee holds last quarterly meeting of 1999 sometimes hatchet man Valerii Pustovoitenko on December 14. by Martha Lysko the Executive Committee. The UNA’s investment management were reviewed. But on December 22 politicians across Canadian accountant Bohdan Mocherniak One replied that they handle only compa- Ukraine’s political spectrum were regis- KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The Executive was appointed the fraternal organization’s nies with assets of $1 billion or more, while tering their support in favor of President Committee of the Ukrainian National new chief agent for Canada since he is able the others sent in proposals for review. Mr. Kuchma’s second choice for prime min- Association met on December 4 at the UNA to comply with more stringent Canadian Kuropas agreed to review the proposals and ister, a man best known for a strict mone- estate Soyuzivka during the annual meeting requirements now demanded by the report to the committee at the next meeting. tarist policy and facile, if not always suc- of the General Assembly. Canadian insurance authorities. President It was noted that during all of 1999 the cessful, handling of Ukraine’s national President Ulana Diachuk, presided over Diachuk expressed sincere thanks to Executive Committee struggled to develop currency, the hryvnia. the quarterly meeting of the committee. Yaroslava Zorych who for many years a sound investment policy that would con- “Viktor Yuschenko is the kind of pro- Present at the meeting were: Stefko served as the UNA’s chief agent and worked form to industry standards but still give the fessional Ukraine needs right now,” said Kuropas, first vice-president; Anya Dydyk- diligently in that capacity. best yields possible. National Deputy Stepan Havrysh, a Petrenko, second vice-president; the Rev. The major topics of discussion during As mandated annually by insurance Revival of Regions faction member. Myron Stasiw, director for Canada; Martha this abbreviated meeting of the Executive authorities, all members of the Executive “With our financial problems we need Lysko, national secretary; Stefan Kaczaraj, Committee were UNA investments and Committee signed a conflict of interest someone who can deal with Ukraine’s treasurer; and William Pastuszek, chairman UNA investment policy. The motion to statement. foreign debt.” of the Auditing Committee. approve the new investment policy was Members of the Executive Committee Mr. Yuschenko made clear that his The reports for the last quarter were not tabled until the next meeting of the commit- voted unanimously that the President short-term goal as prime minister is pre- presented since they were topics for the tee, which is scheduled for March of next Diachuk should represent the UNA and par- cisely that, via stabilization of Ukraine’s General Assembly meeting in progress at year. ticipate in the Council of Presidents of shaky finances. Ukraine faces $3 billion Soyuzivka on December 3 to 5, which was The Executive Committee is looking into Ukrainian American Organizations. This worth of foreign obligations coming due attended by the entire governing body of the the possibility of hiring an investment man- body was formed on September 15 after the in year 2000 alone, and commercial UNA. (See The Weekly, December 12.) ager to handle its investments. The three Joint Conferences of Ukrainian American A major appointment was approved by companies contacted for information on Organizations held in June in Washington. (Continued on page 56) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1999 No. 52 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS A decade of disappointments Rukh faction holds ‘unifying’ congress IMF’s permanent representative in Ukraine, by Paul Goble Many of the most committed anti- David Orsmond, said the fund expects Kyiv KYIV – Some 740 delegates on to introduce a program of reforms that are RFE/RL Newsline Communists, however, had assumed that December 18 took part in the “constituent “large-scale and quite ambitious,” accord- formally replacing communism as the rul- and unifying congress” of Rukh, which The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ing to Interfax. So far, Ukraine has received ing ideological system with democracy was organized by the Rukh faction head- unleashed great expectations that the $965 million from the IMF’s $2.6 billion and free market economics would be suf- ed by Yurii Kostenko, Interfax reported. world was entering a new period of loan package. (RFE/RL Newsline) ficient to overcome up to seven decades However, the Rukh faction headed by democracy, free markets, peace and sta- of Communist indoctrination. Hennadii Udovenko did not participate in Kuchma cuts state bureaucracy bility. But despite the undeniable progress Second, Soviet domination of this the congress.