www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Senates supports International Nuclear Safety Program — page 3. • Ukrainian women on retreat in Michigan — page 10. • A New York landmark undergoes renovation — page 11. HE KRAINI A N EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXV No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 27, 1997 $1.25/$2 in Ukraine Senate approves foreign aid bill Verkhovna Rada to extend session of the Socialist Party, said it would be with earmark, conditions for Ukraine Chairman expects remembered as “the session of the bud- get.” The Verkhovna Rada had deliberat- by Michael Sawkiw Jr. In related news, Sen. Gordon Smith (R- new election law ed the 1997 budget for seven months, Ore.) introduced an amendment to the FY Ukrainian National Information Service finally passing it on June 27. 1998 foreign aid bill which would restrict by September 20 WASHINGTON — Following nearly assistance to Russia if the Russian Duma According to the chairman, among the two days of deliberations, the U.S. Senate passes a law that forbids certain religious by Khristina Lew most important laws passed by the sev- passed the foreign aid bill on July 17. In a segments from practicing their religion Kyiv Press Bureau enth session are laws on the Constitutional show of support for the continuance of U.S. freely in Russia. [President Boris Yeltsin Court of Ukraine, city administrations, the foreign policy prerogatives, members of the KYIV — In an unusual move, State Property Fund and amnesty. has vetoed the bill.] International media Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada on July 18 Senate voted 91-8 to fund assistance to vital have reported that the law would deny legal He told a press conference on July 18 regions of the world — including $800 mil- decided to prolong the work of its sev- that prolonging the mandate of national registration of newly organized religious enth session until August 2, recess for lion to the new independent states (NIS). groups in Russia. It would not affect the deputies for one more year, a proposal As he introduced the bill on the Senate three weeks, and conclude its current put forth by President Leonid Kuchma on major religions already existing in Russia, convocation on August 28-29. The floor on July 16, Foreign Operations such as Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam or June 27 during a Constitution Day policy Subcommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell eighth session is due to convene on address, is not on the agenda for August Buddhism, but would discriminate against September 2. (R-Ky.) stated: “We must use [foreign aid] Protestant Christian and Catholic commu- 28-29. He added, however, that if the sig- to promote American values as well as On July 18, scheduled to be the last natures of 150 deputies are submitted nities. Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) said the working day of the current session of American interests.” With that in mind, the U.S. needs to obtain the attention of Russia prior to the close of the session, the issue senators began their debate on the proposed Parliament, national deputies ratified the would be discussed. since what they are doing is “outlawing ... European Convention on Human Rights $13.2 billion foreign aid package, a slight basically most all Christian religions and Mr. Moroz reiterated that he is against reduction in President Bill Clinton’s budget and the State Border Agreement between prolonging the mandate of national organizations.” The amendment was over- Ukraine and Belarus, and passed a law on request of $13.3 billion. whelmingly passed by a vote of 95-4. deputies by postponing the parliamentary The Senate’s version of the foreign aid state support for the mass media. The law- elections scheduled for next March. He The U.S. House of Representatives is makers worked in committee the week of bill maintains a $225 million earmark for did say, however, that he supports expected to pass a similar version of the for- July 21 and are scheduled to work in their Ukraine, for Fiscal Year 1998. Included amending the Constitution to extend eign aid bill on July 23. Significantly lower electoral districts the week of July 28. The are several subearmarks for specific pro- national deputies’ terms from the current in the over-all foreign aid account, the closing days of the session will be devoted grams needed in Ukraine: Chornobyl- four years to five. House version provides for assistance to the to amending the Constitution and review- related safety assistance, commercial law The chairman admitted that delibera- NIS at $625 million for FY 1998, the same ing the election law. and legal reform, democratic initiatives, tions over a new election law had con- as last year’s allocation. No specific ear- During its seventh session, Ukraine’s and law enforcement procedures. founded the work of the seventh session. marks have been designated for any particu- Verkhovna Rada held 135 plenary ses- However, the bill contains language that National deputies have been debating lar NIS country. The bill contains language sions, passed 106 laws — 62 of which “holds” half of the earmarked funds until whether to adopt a majoritarian or a similar to the Senate’s measure regarding dealt with economic policy — and rati- the secretary of state certifies that economic mixed system of elections. A majoritari- the course of economic reform and the fight fied close to 30 international treaties and an system would elect national deputies progress is continuing in Ukraine, corrup- against corruption in Ukraine. agreements. It failed to pass a new law tion is being dealt with appropriately and Over all, the House bill is nearly $1 bil- on parliamentary elections, which by geographic district. A mixed system American investor-business problems are lion lower in funding than the Senate ver- according to the Constitution are sched- would elect one portion of deputies by resolved. Since the subearmarks pertain to sion. Following passage in the House, uled for the last Sunday of March 1998. district and the other by political party. many of the major economic and political which is most likely, a conference between Summarizing the legislative work of The party would then designate who reforms that are to be addressed by the sec- the House and Senate subcommittees will the Parliament’s seventh session, would sit in the Parliament. retary of state in her certification, they are be held to arrive at one final version of the Chairman Oleksander Moroz, a member Mr. Moroz maintained that the election exempt from the hold on FY 1998 funds. bill for the president’s signature. law would be passed by September 20. Church leaders sign memorandum on peaceful resolution of disputes by Khistina Lew rival leaders of Ukraine’s two largest Kyiv Press Bureau Orthodox Churches, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Moscow KYIV — In the presence of President Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Orthodox Leonid Kuchma, leaders of 15 Churches Church — Kyiv Patriarchate, the patri- and religious associations in Ukraine archs of Ukraine’s two Autocephalous signed a three-point memorandum on Orthodox Churches, bishops of the peacefully resolving interconfessional Ukrainian Greek-Catholic, Roman disputes. The ceremony took place at the Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Mariinskyi Palace on July 21. Churches, and leaders of Seventh Day The “Memorandum of Christian Adventist, Evangelical Baptist and Confessions in Ukraine on the Evangelical Lutheran denominations Unacceptability of Using Force in and associations. Interconfessional Relations” outlines the President Kuchma, who presided Church leaders’ commitment to: not over the signing ceremony held in the permit the use of force in resolving ornate hall where he signs treaties with interconfessional disputes, specifically foreign leaders, noted that Churches in over church property; resolve problems Ukraine are powerful, “uniting tens of only through negotiations and in accor- millions of citizens.” In signing the dance with Ukrainian law; and maintain memorandum, Churches “will not only a separation between Church and state. Khristina Lew The memorandum was signed by the (Continued on page 9) Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksander Moroz (left) and his press secretary, Vasyl Ivanyna, summarize the work of the Verkhovna Rada’s seventh session. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 27, 1997 No. 30 ANALYSIS Belarus: an economic miracle? Kuchma vows to stop constitutional coup tribute more to the government budget and by David R. Marples in the public the perspective that only in turn is putting the pinch on its customers. through the state can the economic KYIV — Ukraine’s President Leonid Gazprom had fallen behind on tax pay- Is Belarus performing better than predicament be resolved. Kuchma on July 19 vowed to thwart a bid ments earlier this year because it was owed Ukraine economically? That is the claim The economic figures cited constituted by his opponents to seize more power for vast amounts by customers at home and in being made by official government statis- a propaganda triumph for the government. the Parliament and weaken his position by neighboring countries. (Reuters) tics, and supported by the optimistic pub- Encircled by nations that have chosen to making changes in the Constitution, lic statements of President Alyaksandr embark on a risky and difficult transition Ukrainian Radio reported. Verkhovna ...as it agrees on new deal with Ukraine Lukashenka. Belarus, according to its to a market economy and privatization, the Rada Chairman Oleksander Moroz had president, has emerged from its econom- said the previous day that lawmakers will KYIV — Rem Vyakhirev, the head of Belarusian government has, in practice, the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, ic crisis and achieved a dramatic turn- rejected such a route. The government has meet in late August to push constitutional around. How accurate are these com- changes that would alter the balance of reached partial agreement with Ukraine on gradually removed all reformers from the payment of Kyiv’s outstanding debt, but ments, and how has Belarus managed to administration and kept up a constant bar- power between the president and the pull ahead of Ukraine despite its failure Parliament.