The Ukrainian Weekly, 2017
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INSIDE: l Stories from the frontlines in Ukraine – page 8 l Annual Lemko Vatra held in Ellenville, NY – page 11 l Pilgrimage in Centralia, Pa. – page 18 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 33 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 $2.00 Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada promotes trade deal Despite sanctions, Russia further quashes between ‘symbol’ and ‘new frontier’ of the free world dissent, human rights in occupied Crimea by Christopher Guly encompasses 233,062 square miles, of Special to The Ukrainian Weekly which over 70 percent is agricultural land, and produces one-third of the world’s OTTAWA – Since taking up his post as black-earth soil (known as chornozem). Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada in late With even fewer tariff-related restric- 2015, Andriy Shevchenko has spent most tions, Ukraine now has access to the of his time with journalists talking to them Canadian market of over 36 million con- about Russian aggression in his country. sumers, and potentially a lot more through So when there’s a good-news story, such the North American Free Trade Agreement as the official launch of the Canada-Ukraine (NAFTA) among Canada, the United States Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) on August and Mexico, which U.S. President Donald 1, the 41-year-old former journalist and Trump’s administration wants to overhaul. Ukrainian national deputy hauled out the (Ukraine does not have a free trade deal wine, cheese and fresh cherries on July 28 with the U.S. but a Ukrainian company could for media invited to the Ukrainian Embassy bring part of a product to Canada, add to first hear from the ambassador and offi- something to it in Canada and export the cials from both countries about how CUFTA final product to the U.S. under the current will benefit both – in Ambassador version of NAFTA.) Shevchenko’s words, Canada, “the symbol CUFTA also provides Ukraine with better of the free world,” and Ukraine, “a new conditions for the elimination of tariffs frontier of the free world.” than what Canada enjoys under the agree- Access to major markets and expertise ment. It immediately wipes out 98 percent krymr.org (RFE/RL) from both sides of the trade pact are key to of duties on Ukrainian agricultural and Crimean Tatar Akhtem Chiygoz faces eight years in prison for displaying a Ukrainian flag. CUFTA’s success. industrial goods. As Canada awaits the final ratification Within seven years, almost all tariffs will be by Mark Raczkiewycz “Neglect of human rights [on Ukraine’s process of its trade agreement with the dropped when Ukrainian cars will be exempt territory of Crimea] is coming to an European Union, which Ukraine already from Canadian duties. But the rate will never KYIV – The persecution of ethnic unprecedented scale, cynicism and absur- has implemented through its own trade reach 100 percent, since Canada maintains Ukrainians, Crimean-Tatars and Russians dity,” said Crimean Tatar leader and law- deal with the EU, Canada can now enter a domestic agricultural quotas on some prod- who take pro-Ukrainian stances by the maker Mustafa Dzhemilev on August 9. Ukrainian market of some 45 million con- ucts, such as milk, butter, cheese and eggs. occupying Kremlin regime in Crimea con- President Petro Poroshenko’s point man sumers with a 99.7-percent literacy rate in tinues unabated and is reaching anomalous on Crimean Tatar affairs, Mr. Dzhemilev Europe’s largest country by area. Ukraine (Continued on page 14) proportions. added, “[court] sentences, searches and detentions, including of sick and elderly people, are methods of occupation, which naively suggest that they can intimidate the Ukrainian Canadian Joshua Kutryk Crimean Tatars.” His latest statement was in reference to a 76-year-old lone demonstrator who was selected to become Canadian astronaut detained the previous day outside the OTTAWA – Lt. Col. Joshua Kutryk, a also included learning Ukrainian dancing. Supreme Court of Crimea in Symferepol. Ukrainian Canadian, and Dr. Jennifer Sidey Unfortunately we lost our father last July Holding a sign that partially read, were welcomed to Canada’s astronaut to cancer but his legacy lives on through “Enough accusing Crimean Tatars” of “ter- corps on July 1 at the Canada Day celebra- us.” rorism,” Server Karametov was calling for tions on Parliament Hill. Paul Grod, national president of the the immediate release of Akhtem Chiygoz, The Ukrainian Canadian Congress UCC, stated: “We are delighted by this tre- a high-ranking leader of his people who (UCC) offered sincere congratulations to mendous accomplishment by a proud has been imprisoned since January 2015 Lt. Col. Kutryk on his selection. He and Dr. member of the Ukrainian Canadian com- for taking part in a rally in February 2014 Sidey were the two candidates selected munity, having been selected as a for Ukrainian unity before Moscow illegally out of over 3,700 applications to the Canadian astronaut. Space exploration is annexed the peninsula a month later. Canada Space Agency’s astronaut recruit- one of the most admirable of human Mr. Chiygoz faces up to eight years in ment campaign. endeavors; it is a symbol of what we prison if found guilty, whereas Mr. Speaking about his roots, Lt. Col. together can achieve. It inspires genera- Dzhemilev and his high-ranking colleague Kutryk said, “I grew up in a farming com- tions of young people to pursue knowl- Refat Chubarov, remain banned from enter- munity at Beauvallon, which is north east edge and scholarship. It contributes ing their historical homeland by the of Vegreville, Alberta. My great-grandfa- immeasurably to comity among nations Kremlin occupying authorities. ther settled here after immigrating from and the greatest of causes – peace for all Local police held the elderly protester for western Ukraine in 1910. My father, Barry, humankind. On behalf of the Ukrainian four hours and a court subsequently fined grew up here as well and was the third Canadian community, I wish Lt. Col. him the equivalent of $160 for holding an generation to farm this land. The property Kutryk great success in his future work as unauthorized rally and for “resisting” the still belongs to our family. Ukrainian was an astronaut. He is an inspiration for us three police men who had detained him. the first language my father spoke. The all. Best wishes and Godspeed!” Other cases of dissenters have made Ukrainian culture and customs were very Lt. Col. Kutryk was born on March 21, headlines in the past week. important to him. My three siblings and I Canadian Space Agency Human rights violations by the occupy- were raised with these customs which Lt. Col. Kutryk (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 9) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 No. 33 ANALYSIS Ukraine and NATO partners conclude Russia meddling caused ‘serious mistrust bility to all parties,” he said. “We are not try- ing to cut some kind of deal on the side.” most ambitious Sea Breeze naval exercise to date MANILA – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Hours earlier, Russia’s foreign affairs minis- Tillerson says he has told his Russian coun- ter said he believed his U.S. counterpart was any membership aspirations are currently terpart that Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 ready to continue dialogue with Russia on by Nikolai Holmov U.S. presidential election created “serious Eurasia Daily Monitor over the military and political horizon. It complex issues despite the bilateral ten- has much left to do internally to reach the mistrust” between the two countries. Mr. sions and the imposition of new U.S. sanc- July 22 marked the end of the 12-day standards required prior to any attempts Tillerson, speaking on August 7 on the side- tions. “We felt the readiness of our U.S. col- Sea Breeze 2017 exercise (UNIAN, July 25), at convincing all NATO members Kyiv lines of a regional forum in Manila, said he leagues to continue dialogue. I think there’s conducted in the Black Sea and on should be allowed to join the alliance. emphasized in a meeting with Russian no alternative to that,” Mr. Lavrov said after Ukrainian territory with the participation Nevertheless, while membership may Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov that what he said was a lengthy meeting with Mr. of Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, be far off, such exercises – together with interference in the election was “a serious Tillerson. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, other ongoing NATO training and cease- incident.” He said he tried to help Mr. Lavrov Reuters, TASS, AFP and AP) Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, less kinetic and non-kinetic Russian “understand just how serious this incident the United Kingdom and the United States. aggression – continue to bring Ukraine had been and how seriously it had damaged Pentagon: Send military aid to Ukraine the relationship between the U.S. and the Although in its 20th year, the past few closer to the alliance’s Article 3 require- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Defense American people and the Russian people, annual Sea Breeze exercises – since the ille- ments. Article 3 of NATO’s founding Department has recommended sending a that this had created serious mistrust and gal and unrecognized annexation of Crimea Washington Treaty states: “In order more package of lethal defensive military aid to that we simply have to find some way to by the Russian Federation – have increased effectively to achieve the objectives of this Ukraine worth about $50 million, U.S. news deal with that.” The chief U.S. diplomat also in size and complexity. Treaty, the Parties, separately and jointly, media are reporting.