www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l The relevance of the Budapest Memorandum – page 3 l A look at Ukraine’s interim government – page 10 l Ukraine set to compete at Paralympic Games – page 16 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine U.S. ambassador to U.N. European Union and U.S. try sets the record straight on Russia’s aggression to address conflict in Ukraine EU says it will sign Here is the text of remarks by the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, Association Agreement delivered on March 3 during an emergency meeting of with Kyiv before May 25 the Security Council. Source: Business Insider (http:// www.businessinsider.com/samantha-power-russia- by Zenon Zawada ukraine-un-security-council-2014-3). KYIV – The European Union leader- Thank you, Madam President. Listening to the rep- ship on March 6 addressed the politi- resentative of Russia, one might think that Moscow cal conflict in Ukraine as European had just become the rapid response arm of the Office Council President Herman van of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. So many Rompuy announced the EU will sign of the assertions made this afternoon by the Russian the political portion of its Association Federation are without basis in reality. Agreement with Ukraine before the Let’s begin with a clear and candid assessment of May 25 presidential election, saving the facts. the free trade pact for afterwards. The same day, German Chancellor It is a fact that Russian military forces have taken Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Angela Merkel vowed to freeze the over Ukrainian border posts. It is a fact that Russia has Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk meets on March 6 in Brussels taken over the ferry terminal in Kerch. It is a fact that bank accounts of Russian officials in with European Parliament President Martin Schulz. Following the meeting, Russian ships are moving in and around Sevastopol. It Germany should they fail to de-esca- Mr. Yatsenyuk told reporters that they discussed ways to overcome the cri- is a fact that Russian forces are blocking mobile tele- late the military aggression in the sis, “which applies not only to Ukraine and Russia, but also the entire phone services in some areas. It is a fact that Russia Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Europe. We need to realize that it is our overall responsibility.” has surrounded or taken over practically all Ukrainian The measures were long-awaited military facilities in Crimea. It is a fact that today by Ukraine’s pro-Western majority, Applied Political Research in Kyiv. travel bans against both Russian and Russian jets entered Ukrainian airspace. It is also a which has had to fight against Russian “The issue isn’t about starting a war Ukrainian officials “responsible for or fact that independent journalists continue to report aggression for the last three months with Russia. The issue is about ensur- involved in encroachments upon the that there is no evidence of violence against Russian largely on its own. The Euro-Maidan ing safety on Ukrainian territory,” he sovereignty and territorial integrity of or pro-Russian communities. protest demonstrated its impatience explained. Ukraine.” In addition, U.S. President Russian military action is not a human rights pro- with the EU when it demanded that Though military dispatches are pos- Barack Obama issued an executive tection mission. It is a violation of international law Viktor Yanukovych be removed from sible, so far it’s not at all an option for order that provides the legal basis for and a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integ- the presidency, defying EU-negotiated the West. The U.S. has two naval vessels imposing sanctions on “individuals rity of the independent nation of Ukraine, and a plans for a December vote. in the Black Sea, neither of which has and entities” who have undermined breach of Russia’s Helsinki Commitments and its U.N. “Therefore in order to restrain been deployed in relation to the March Ukraine’s territorial integrity. (See obligations. Russian aggression in Ukraine, quite 1 decision by the Russian government White House statement on page 11.) The central issue is whether the recent change of harsh measures are needed from the to dispatch soldiers to Ukraine alleged- Also on March 6, Mr. Rompuy U.S. and EU, beginning with economic government in Ukraine constitutes a danger to ly to ensure peace and calm. declared the EU is halting its negotia- sanctions and ending with dispatch- Western leaders have so far limited Russia’s legitimate interests of such a nature and tions with the Russian government on ing military detachments to ensure their retaliatory measures against the extent that Russia is justified in intervening militarily visa liberalization for its citizens. safety,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, the Russian government. in Ukraine, seizing control of public facilities and issu- director of the Penta Center for On March 6, the U.S. announced ing military ultimatums to elements of the Ukrainian (Continued on page 11) military. The answer, of course, is no. Russian military bases in Ukraine are secure. The new government in Kyiv has pledged to honor all of its existing interna- Yanukovych vows to fight on, Russia: Yanukovych asked for troops tional agreements, including those covering Russian bases. Russian mobilization is a response to an imagi- denounces Ukraine’s new authorities nary threat. RFE/RL A second issue is whether the population of the RFE/RL Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vitaly Churkin said on Crimea or other parts of eastern Ukraine are at risk Viktor Yanukovych says he’s still the legitimate presi- March 3 that Ukraine’s ousted president, Viktor because of the new government. There is no evidence dent of Ukraine, and that the country’s current authorities Yanukovych, sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir of this. Military action cannot be justified on the basis are “fascist thugs.” Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore of threats that haven’t been made and aren’t being In his first public appearance since he fled Kyiv a week law and order in his country. carried out. There is no evidence, for example, that earlier Mr. Yanukovych spoke at a news conference in the Mr. Churkin was speaking at an emergency United churches in eastern Ukraine are being or will be southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on February 28. Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine, which Russia attacked; the allegation is without basis. There is no “The time has come for me to say that I intend to contin- called for. evidence that ethnic Russians are in danger. On the ue the fight for the future of Ukraine against those who are He quoted from the letter, dated March 1: “I would call contrary, the new Ukrainian government has placed a trying, through terror and fear, to take charge over it,” Mr. on the president of Russia, Mr. Putin, asking him to use the priority on internal reconciliation and political inclu- Yanukovych told reporters. “And I decided to speak public- armed forces of the Russian Federation to establish legiti- sivity. President [Oleksander] Turchynov – the acting ly about that.” macy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the president – has made clear his opposition to any Mr. Yanukovych denied that he had been removed from people of Ukraine.” restriction on the use of the Russian tongue. power, maintaining that he had been forced to leave Russia has poured troops into Ukraine’s Crimea region, because of direct threats to his safety. “Nobody has ousted sparking outrage and threats of sanctions from the United (Continued on page 12) (Continued on page 11) (Continued on page 13) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 No. 10 FOR THE RECORD Obama and Putin speak Obama speaks on Ukraine crisis via phone for 90 minutes President Barack Obama delivered a try, forge a broad-based government and statement on Ukraine on February 28. Here move to elections this spring. Following is the readout of President Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integ- are excerpts of the statement released by the I also spoke several days ago with Barack Obama’s March 1 call with President rity, which is a breach of international law, White House. President Putin, and my administration has Vladimir Putin of Russia. It was released by including Russia’s obligations under the been in daily communication with Russian the White House, Office of the Press Secretary. U.N. Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and which is Over the last several days, the United officials, and we’ve made clear that they President Obama spoke for 90 minutes inconsistent with the 1994 Budapest States has been responding to events as can be part of an international communi- this afternoon with President Putin of Memorandum and the Helsinki Final Act. they unfold in Ukraine. Throughout this cri- ty’s effort to support the stability and suc- Russia about the situation in Ukraine. The United States condemns Russia’s mili- sis, we have been very clear about one fun- cess of a united Ukraine going forward, President Obama expressed his deep con- damental principle: The Ukrainian people which is not only in the interest of the peo- deserve the opportunity to determine their ple of Ukraine and the international com- cern over Russia’s clear violation of (Continued on page 15) own future. Together with our European munity, but also in Russia’s interest.