www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Guilty verdict for killer of abusive police chief – page 3 l Ukrainian Journalists of North America meet – page 4 l A preview: Soyuzivka’s Ukrainian Cultural Festival – page 5 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXX No. 27-28 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 1-JULY 8, 2012 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukraine at Euro 2012: Yushchenko announces plans for new political party Another near miss by Zenon Zawada Special to The Ukrainian Weekly and Sheva’s next move KYIV – Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko was known for repeatedly saying that he hates politics, cre- by Ihor N. Stelmach ating the impression that he was doing it for a higher cause in spite of its dirtier moments. SOUTH WINSOR, Conn. – Ukrainian soccer fans Yet even at his political nadir, Mr. Yushchenko still can’t got that sinking feeling all over again when the game seem to tear away from what he hates so much. At a June 26 officials ruled Marko Devic’s shot against England did not cross the goal line. The goal would have press conference, he announced that he is launching a new evened their final Euro 2012 Group D match at 1-1 political party to compete in the October 28 parliamentary and possibly inspired a comeback win for the co- elections, defying polls that indicate it has no chance to qualify. hosts, resulting in a quarterfinal match versus Italy. “One thing burns my soul – looking at the political mosa- After all, it had happened before, when Andriy ic, it may happen that a Ukrainian national democratic party Shevchenko’s double header brought Ukraine back won’t emerge in Ukrainian politics for the first time in 20 from the seemingly dead to grab a come-from- years. I am sad about that, and I am convinced that this situ- behind 2-1 win over Sweden in the tournament’s ation needs to be changed,” Mr. Yushchenko said, ignoring initial contest. Devic’s effort was disallowed, and the the popular Batkivshchyna party, a member of the center- hosts were deflated and offensively challenged the right European People’s Party. Vladimir Gontar/UNIAN rest of the way. The 1-0 defeat eliminated Ukraine He also ignored the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Speaking at a press conference on June 26, Viktor from the tournament and continued a rather Reform (UDAR) party led by boxing champion Vitali Yushchenko announces his plans for a new political party. depressing trend in the country’s short soccer histo- Klitshcko, which is expected to qualify for Parliament and has that only a Ukrainian platform could consolidate Ukrainian ry. also applied for membership in the European People’s Party. society, including the east and west, and start the process of Near misses have been a regular result since Mr. Yushchenko added, “My primary goal is to bring a bringing solidarity to the Ukrainian nation as it is.” 1992, when a newly independent Ukraine, playing patriotic party into Ukrainian politics. I think there are mil- in its national colors, lost 3-1 to Hungary in their lions of Ukrainians who are not indifferent, who understand (Continued on page 22) first international match as an independent country. The backbone of the old Soviet Union squad for years looked ahead to fielding its own squad. A dom- inant Dynamo Kyiv, winning 13 domestic titles in 17 Ukrainian National Credit Union Association years and regularly qualifying for Champions League group stages, could not deliver on the inter- national stage. holds 31st annual meeting in Washington Three different times Ukraine fell at the final hur- by Orysia Burdiak and undivided earnings totaling $383 million. It is these dle, missing out on major tournaments. The team assets that allow credit unions today to be one of the pillars lost to Croatia and Germany, respectively, in the WASHINGTON – The Ukrainian National Credit Union of Ukrainian community life in the United States. 1998 and 2002 World Cup playoffs, then failed to Association (UNCUA) held its 31st annual meeting on June Before the business sessions got under way, on Thursday reach the Euro 2000 after a loss to Slovenia. 7-9 in Washington. Forty participants representing 14 evening the delegates – representing credit unions in New In the 2006 World Cup Ukraine made it, but came Ukrainian American credit unions gathered at the Four York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, up short when Maxim Kalinichenko hit the post Points Sheraton to hear presentations on current issues fac- Connecticut and Maryland – attended a reception at the twice in a 2-0 quarterfinal loss to Italy. This was the ing credit unions and to elect a new board of directors. hotel, during which they had the opportunity to network team’s sole appearance at a major tournament before UNCUA Chair Bohdan Kurczak reported to the meeting and socialize. getting co-hosting designation for the Euro 2012. that, as of December 31, 2011, assets of the UNCUA’s 15 For a nation that has managed to produce such member-credit unions totaled $2.520 billion, with reserves (Continued on page 22) gifted players like Shevchenko, Serhiy Rebrov and Andriy Voronin, the return has been less than boun- tiful. Ukraine’s Euro 2012 dream ended abruptly in Donetsk, where the team has not won in seven tries. The erroneous decision by the referees gave the players and fans a perfect scapegoat – there was no need to put the blame on the coach or the players for their premature exit. Ukrainian football fans now must wait until September 11 for their next international game, their first World Cup Group H qualifier at Wembley Stadium – a soccer showdown against England that promises to be the ultimate revenge match. Shevchenko announces international retirement The 1-0 loss to England in Ukraine’s final Group D match was Andriy Shevchenko’s 111th cap. The 35-year-old striker announced he has retired from Courtesy of Esteban Kaczurak (Continued on page 9) Participants of the annual meeting of the Ukrainian National Credit Union Association held in Washington on June 7-9. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 1-JULY 8, 2012 No. 27-28 ANALYSIS Ukraine reveals ambitious plans Gongadze case headed to European court issues that at the international level will ensure accelerated progress in Ukrainian- KYIV – The widow of murdered Russian relations,” the prime minister said. to cut dependence on Russian gas Ukrainian journalist Heorhii Gongadze He added that, as a result of the negotia- plans to appeal to the European Court of ment reached with Germany’s RWE last tions, several bilateral documents are by Oleg Varfolomeyev Human Rights after a top Ukrainian court month. He said Ukraine considered import- expected to be signed. (Ukrinform) Eurasia Daily Monitor cleared former President Leonid Kuchma of ing gas from even as far as the United playing a role in the journalist’s murder Ukraine’s finance minister visits U.S. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry has come up States. Another option would be to resume more than a decade ago. Valentyna with amendments to the National Energy gas imports from Turkmenistan, but this Telychenko, a lawyer representing the jour- KYIV – Washington praises and is ready Strategy, according to which gas imports would require Russia’s agreement to use its nalist’s widow, said Myroslava Gongadze to support the reforms undertaken by will decline from 40 billion cubic meters pipelines, he added (Ukrayinska Pravda, would take the case to the Strasbourg-based Ukraine’s authorities in the economic and (bcm) last year to as little as 5 bcm in 2030. June 11). European human rights court. Ukraine’s financial sectors, according to Ukrainian Domestic gas consumption is expected to Meanwhile, national projects chief Higher Special Court on June 26 upheld a Finance Minister Yurii Kolobov, who is on a decline less steeply from 57 bcm in 2010 to Vladislav Kaskiv has confirmed the inten- lower court decision to drop charges against working visit to the United States. He told 49 bcm in 2030. The ministry hopes to tion to build an LNG terminal near Odesa. Mr. Kuchma. Heorhii Gongadze, an investiga- reporters on June 27, “We see that they are more than double gas extraction to 44 bcm He said Ukraine would hold 25 percent tive journalist, disappeared in September committed to supporting us. They see a in the meantime, but domestic extraction is plus one share in the project (UNIAN, June 2000. His headless body was found two positive movement in our reforms.” On the projected to go up steeply only after 2020 12). The government hopes that the termi- months later. Mr. Kuchma, who was presi- first day of his visit to the United States, Mr. (mpe.kmu.gov.ua, June 11). nal would process 10 bcm of gas per dent from 1994 to 2005, was charged with Kolobov met with U.S. Department of the Before then, Ukraine will have to rely on annum from 2016 on. However, there is no exceeding his authority in issuing orders to Treasury Undersecretary for International imports, but the government recently certainty about suppliers. Talks with his subordinates that ultimately led to Affairs Lael Brainard and participated in stepped up efforts to diversify them so that Azerbaijan have apparently stalled while Gongadze’s killing. Mr. Kuchma denies any working consultations with representatives less gas should be imported from Russia, Ukraine launched talks with Turkey on involvement in the murder. (Interfax, RFE/ of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). whose average gas price for Ukraine is LNG deliveries from Qatar. But Turkey is RL Ukrainian Service) Mr.