INSIDE: • Eastern Ukrainians preserve memory of the Holodomor – page 3. • Canadian opposition leader dismisses Wrzesnewskyj – page 8. • Skiing in Ukraine’s Carpathian winder wonderland – page 13.

THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVII No.7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 $1/$2 in Ukraine

Pirates release Faina and crew Brushfires in Australia damage by Yuriy Onyshkiv Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Ukrainian Youth Association camp KYIV – After more than four by Matthew Dubas assessed, the UYA will determine what months in captivity, Ukrainian the next steps will be. sailors aboard the MV Faina PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Brushfires The Melbourne Branch of the UYA were to return home on have devastated many parts of south- said it considers itself fortunate that only February 13, marking the con- eastern Australia, including the Karpaty the Karpaty property was damaged, clusion to the longest siege in campground of the Ukrainian Youth whereas surrounding communities in the recent history by Somali pirates, Association (UYA) of Australia, which state of Victoria have suffered the losses who have gained global notori- is near the towns of Narbethong, of family and friends. The official death ety for their ransoms at sea. Buxton and Marysville that have been toll at press time was 181. The pirates released the hos- razed by the fires. An appeal to assist the local communi- tages – 17 Ukrainians, three Several weeks prior to the fires, over ties affected by the fires has been mobi- Russians and a Latvian – on 160 campers were enjoying the end of the lized by the UYA’s Melbourne Branch. February 5 after one of the season at the grounds. None of them Items for donation include: diapers, baby ship’s owners, Israeli citizen knew it could have been the last time. wipes, feminine products, body lotions, and former Odesa City Council Since the fires began, on Saturday, soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Deputy Vadym Alperin, agreed February 7, the community had been nail files, nail clippers, make-up, under- to pay a $3.2 million ransom, hopeful that its grounds were spared, but garments, non-perishable goods, pet food, which was dropped by para- a photo posted on the Melbourne UYA can openers, blankets and linens. chutes onto the ship. website confirmed the worst. According Clothing, in particular girls’ sizes 2-9, is Frustrated relatives blamed to reports, the kitchen/mess hall was in short supply. the hostages’ lengthy exile on destroyed by the fires; some other build- Donations in the amount of $1,000 the inaction of the Ukrainian ings were either partially damaged or each were made by Plast Ukrainian government, which placed the Official Website of Ukraine’s President completely destroyed. Scouting Organization in Victoria and the negotiations squarely on the The MV Faina arrives in Kenya on February 9 The campground, purchased in 1963, Perth Branch of the UYA to the Victorian shoulders of Mr. Alperin and an after being released by Somali pirates. has hosted local, national and international Fire Appeal, coordinated by the unnamed British law firm rec- youth camps, according to the Melbourne Melbourne Branch of the UYA. ommended by the government’s intelligence to get involved in a private dispute. UYA Branch. Access to the area remains For more information on how to help, services. Negotiators came close to releasing the limited to authorized emergency person- readers may e-mail Andrea Ckuj, ackuj@ “We were ignored for 133 days, it was a sailors on four occasions, said Ukrainian nel and, after the extent of the damage is optusnet.au. bit unusual to hear the president’s greetings Foreign Intelligence Service Chair Mykola and speeches from [Parliamentary Malomuzh, but other pirates and interested Ombudsman for Human Rights Nina] parties spread disinformation that the Karpachova, who congratulated us on the Ukrainians didn’t have the cash or could NEWS ANALYSIS: Tymoshenko victory and that our boys are finally free,” ambush the ship. said Olha Hirzheva, the mother of the Mr. Alperin complained that, after negoti- defeats Yanukovych in Rada Faina’s 21-year-old motor mechanic, Artem. ating with one pirate, he had to start from “But what have they done for that? Nothing! by Pavel K. Baev survived a similar motion last December. square one with another pirate within sever- Ms. Tymoshenko will now stay at least until There is nothing we could thank them for.” al days. Eurasia Daily Monitor Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman September, as Parliament can vote on no- While piracy along the eastern coast of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Vasyl Kyrlych dismissed such criticisms, confidence motions only once in a session. Tymoshenko survived a no-confidence stating that it wasn’t the government’s role (Continued on page 18) Ms. Tymoshenko’s victory was a crash- motion in Parliament on February 5. The ing defeat for the Party of Regions of motion was backed by 203 votes – 23 short Ukraine (PRU), the main opposition party of the number required in the 450-seat led by former Prime Minister Viktor chamber to oust the government. It was Tymoshenko seeks foreign loans another victory for Ms. Tymoshenko, who (Continued on page 18) to help support Ukraine’s economy PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Prime Minister there were reports in Ukraine that sug- Yulia Tymoshenko of Ukraine has gested Russia could lend $5 billion (U.S.). appeared to the world’s richest countries President Viktor Yushchenko criticized to help support its economy at this time the prime minister for appealing to Russia of global crisis, reported the Financial for a loan, saying that would make Times on February 8. Ukraine too dependent on Moscow. The newspaper noted that the prime Meanwhile, an International Monetary minister had sent letters to the United Fund delegation visiting Kyiv last week States, Russia, China, Japan and the to review the country’s stand-by arrange- European Union to seek loans to help ment with the fund expressed concern cover a budget shortfall. about Ukraine’s economic outlook. “The “We have already received a positive economic situation remains difficult asso- response from some countries, including ciated with decline in demand for steel Russia,” Ms. Tymoshenko said at the products and the sharply reduced access Munich Security Conference over the to international capital markets,” noted a weekend of February 7-8. “Russia is statement released on February 6 by ready to sign such loan agreements.” Ceyla Pazarbasioglu of the IMF mission Web-portal of the Ukrainian goverment The Financial Times reported that the to Kyiv. prime minister did not say how much Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko reacts to the unsuccessful no-confidence vote Kyiv was seeking to borrow, but that (Continued on page 11) in the Verkhovna Rada on February 5. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS

Who owns the gas in Ukraine’s President cites non-transparent talks Verkhovna Rada ratifies the “zero variant” agreement with Russia on the division of the underground reservoirs? KYIV – President Viktor Yushchenko former Soviet property. “I would never has said he is unhappy about “non-transpar- make a single step toward ratification of ent talks on the provision of a $5 billion by Pavel Korduban in the huge underground storage facilities zero deals, or a loss of the gas transportation (U.S.) loan by Russia to Ukraine.” He said in western Ukraine. By Tymoshenko’s system,” Ms. Tymoshenko told the press. Eurasia Daily Monitor this at a February 10 meeting of the interpretation, Naftohaz bought the 11 She emphasized that if the NSDC passes a National Security and Defense Council on The gas dispute that left half of Europe billion cubic meters of gas stored by decision on the wording of the draft resolu- urgent measures on ensuring Ukraine’s without gas in early January was officially RosUkrEnergo for $1.7 billion, which tion, she is ready to appeal it in court. Ms. energy security. Mr. Yushchenko said he is settled by accords signed by Gazprom and equals $154 per 1,000 cubic meters, much indignant that the talks were held without Tymoshenko said she was referring to the Naftohaz Ukrainy in Moscow on January 19 lower than the $360 price that Gazprom his consent, whereas its participants focused wish of the NSDC to revise the Ukraine- and 20. The clash, however, is apparently not is charging Ukraine in the first quarter of on the consideration of the question of Russia gas contracts and actually return over. Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash, 2009. Ukraine, therefore, should be using returning Ukraine and Russia to the so- RosUkrEnergo to the natural gas market. who owns the RosUkrEnergo gas trading gas from the reservoirs for the time being called “zero variant” of the distribution of According to Ms. Tymoshenko, the con- rather than buying expensive Russian gas. company jointly with Gazprom, has said that assets and liabilities of the former Soviet tracts signed guarantee Ukraine’s energy Ms. Tymoshenko forecast that the aver- he is suing Naftohaz in the Stockholm arbi- Union. He said that he has a document con- security for 10 years and make it unneces- age cost of gas for Ukraine would be tration court over 11 billion cubic meters of taining a technical task given to the sary to grovel at Russia’s feet to ask for spe- $228, based not only on the expectation gas stored in Ukraine’s underground reser- Ukrainian delegates sent to Russia. “The cial prices and terms for Ukraine. The prime that Russian gas would become cheaper voirs (Inter TV, February 1). document was signed by the vice ministers minister said that, in accordance with the due to a drop in the world oil price but Mr. Firtash maintains that the gas belongs of foreign affairs, energy and finance. contracts signed, Ukraine has the lowest also calculating that most of the gas used to RosUkrEnergo, but Ukrainian Prime Clause No.11 [of this document stipulates] 2009 gas price after Belarus, and the best in the first quarter of 2009 would cost Minister Yulia Tymoshenko insists that prospects for ratifying an agreement on the correlation of transit tariff and process gas Ukraine $154 rather than $360 (Zerkalo Gazprom passed the ownership rights to ‘zero variant,’” Mr. Yushchenko said. He price. (Ukrinform) Nedeli, January 31). Naftohaz. Consumers in the European pointed to the agreements reached by for- Mr. Firtash refused, however, to let Lytvyn: power struggle is obstacle Union may suffer again. mer Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Naftohaz take the cheap gas from the reser- Ms. Tymoshenko and Russian Prime according to which Ukraine, as part of sup- voirs. Ukrainian Customs Service chief KYIV – The signing of the association Minister Vladimir Putin agreed to cut porting the “zero variant” of the distribution Valerii Khoroshkovskyi said that he would agreement between Ukraine and the RosUkrEnergo out of the gas trade between of assets and liabilities of the former Soviet treat the gas in question as the property of European Union might be postponed, at Russia and Ukraine. They also agreed to Union, should receive property in those RosUkrEnergo in accordance with the cus- least until completion of the 2010 presiden- solve the problem of RosUkrEnergo’s $1.7 countries that were in the greatest need of toms declarations (Inter TV, January 24). tial elections, if Ukrainian politicians fail to billion debt to Gazprom through a compli- buildings for diplomatic, commercial, mili- Mr. Khoroshkovskyi explained later that the stop fighting each other, Verkhovna Rada cated deal in which Gazprom paid Naftohaz tary and other offices. Moreover, these accord between Gazprom and Naftohaz on Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn told the press in advance for gas transit to Europe in 2009 RosUkrEnergo’s debt settlement had been agreements foresaw the return of around in Brussels on February 10. After his talks and Naftohaz paid RosUkrEnergo’s debt to signed only by a representative of Gazprom $700 million (U.S.) by Russia’s with EU High Representative for Common Gazprom from that money, so but not by a representative of Mr. Firtash, Vnesheconombank to Ukraine. These were Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier RosUkrEnergo in fact became Naftohaz’s which is a legal requirement of Switzerland, the funds of companies and private individ- Solana, Mr. Lytvyn stressed that a major debtor (Vedomosti, January 22). The prob- the country where RosUkrEnergo is regis- uals whose currency accounts became fro- appeal of Mr. Solana to Ukraine was for a lem is that RosUkrEnergo and the Ukrainian tered. This, according to Mr. zen on the bank’s balance after the collapse return to political calm and implementation prime minister interpreted the settlement Khoroshkovskyi, meant that Naftohaz’s ear- of the Soviet Union. If the Ukrainian of reforms needed for the country’s demo- scheme differently. lier obligation to pump this gas to Parliament ratifies an agreement on the cratic development. Mr. Lytvyn also noted The Ukrainian government decided RosUkrEnergo’s customers in Europe “zero variant” in its pure form, as insisted that in his talks with Mr. Solana he said that that Naftohaz became the owner of the by the Russian side, Ukraine will then get it is unlikely that the principal political play- nothing. (Ukrinform) gas that RosUkrEnergo had accumulated (Continued on page 22) ers in Ukraine would reconcile and consoli- Tymoshenko challenges NSDC date their positions. This divisiveness may be an obstacle to concluding an association KYIV – Prime Minister Yulia agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Putin retains the initiative Tymoshenko strongly refuted the accusa- “Here, in the EU, the stand is quite clear, tions that President Viktor Yushchenko made and in the present conditions Ukrainian poli- against her at the February 10 meeting of the ticians and officials must decide what is in the gas dialogue with Europe National Security and Defense Council more important for them: development of (NSDC). She said she had nothing to do further relations with the EU or internal by Pavel K. Baev important, on compensation for the interrup- with the so-called “technical mission” of the quarrels,” he underscored. (Ukrinform) Eurasia Daily Monitor tion of deliveries in January (Vremya Ukrainian delegation to talks in Moscow on Novostei, February 6; Nezavisimaya Gazeta, allocation of a $5 billion (U.S.) credit if the (Continued on page 14) The annual security conference held in January 26). Such deals are definitely more Munich last weekend should have attracted attractive for Bulgaria, hard hit by the finan- prime attention in Moscow, not least because cial crisis, than any attempt to sue Gazprom U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden delivered the for breaking its contractual obligations. THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY FOUNDED 1933 first presentation of the Obama administra- The next step was more complicated. tion’s arms control strategy. In reality, how- European Commission President Jose An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., ever, the attention was superficial at best; Manuel Barroso brought no fewer than nine a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. and it was Russian Deputy Prime Minister commissioners, including Energy Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. Sergei Ivanov, who was delegated to con- Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, to Moscow Periodicals postage paid at Parsippany, NJ 07054 and additional mailing offices. firm there that Russia was indeed interested on February 6 for wide-ranging talks, first (ISSN — 0273-9348) in negotiating some new framework for its with President Dmitry Medvedev and then The Weekly: UNA: fast shrinking strategic arsenal. Mr. Ivanov with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. At the Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 assured that the new tactical Iskander mis- joint press conference afterward, Mr. Putin siles would not be deployed in Kaliningrad resolutely dismissed the discussions about Postmaster, send address changes to: Oblast anytime soon but offered no explana- “rule of law” that Mr. Barroso had held with The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz tion for Russia’s “surprise attack” aimed at Mr. Medvedev, asserting that Russia had its 2200 Route 10 Editors: Matthew Dubas the U.S. airbase in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, own view on “problems with freedom” and P.O. Box 280 Zenon Zawada (Kyiv) which apparently will have to be closed in that mutual recriminations would only hin- Parsippany, NJ 07054 180 days (RIA-Novosti, www.gazeta.ru, der the really important energy discussions February 7). (Kommersant, February 7). The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] These maneuvers might appear at cross- One particular point in the discussions on purposes but could make more sense in the energy concerned Russia’s request for con- The Ukrainian Weekly, February 15, 2009, No. 7, Vol. LXXVII context of the Russian leadership’s real pri- tinuing European Union monitoring of the Copyright © 2009 The Ukrainian Weekly ority: energy relations with Europe. gas transit system in Ukraine, since Mr. Moscow has inflicted a great deal of Putin expects new problems there, despite damage to these relations by escalating the his cordial agreement with Ukrainian Prime gas quarrel with Ukraine until it reached a Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She delivered a ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA complete shutdown of pipelines, and it does spirited defense of Ukraine’s reputation in not seem to have any regrets about that Munich and argued that building pipelines Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 blunder. circumventing that “wonderful” transit e-mail: [email protected] The first step in minimizing the conse- country was a “crazy idea” (RIA-Novosti, Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 quences was made in talks with Bulgarian February 7). e-mail: [email protected] President Georgi Parvanov last week, which Mr. Putin, however, scored an important Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 resulted in an agreement on direct trade e-mail: [email protected] between Gazprom and Bulgargaz and, more (Continued on page 22) No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 3 Eastern Ukrainians fight to preserve the Holodomor’s memory by Zenon Zawada Within weeks, Mr. Shekhovtsov filed a Kyiv Press Bureau criminal complaint against Dr. Kalinichenko with the Security Service of Ukraine in KHARKIV, Ukraine – In an independent Kharkiv, which referred it to the oblast pros- and democratic Ukraine, Prof. Volodymyr ecutor’s office, which subsequently dis- Kalinichenko would not have expected to be missed the matter. Mr. Shekhovtsov also attacked by Russians and Communists. filed a criminal complaint against Ms. Yet on St. Nicholas Day in 2006, a holy Polischuk, which also was dismissed. day when gifts are traditionally exchanged, Though it was acceptable to research the Kharkiv Communists and Russian chauvin- Holodomor during the 1990s, the subject ists stormed past security and swarmed Dr. became politicized once Viktor Yushchenko Kalinichenko’s office, taunting him and vio- became president, unhesitatingly called it lently kicking the locked doors to break genocide and sought to bring global recog- them open. nition of the nation’s catastrophe, Dr. “It seemed as though I was living in the Kalinichenko said. Kharkiv of 1936, not 2006,” said Prof. Having a nationally conscious Ukrainian Kalinichenko, chair of the history depart- in power exposed the Russian chauvinism ment at Karazin National University in that plagues eastern Ukraine. “There is a Kharkiv. very high percentage of people here who, Indeed, 75 years later, the evidence of the for whatever reason, don’t like Ukraine,” he Holodomor’s catastrophic devastation upon said. “They don’t want to know her. This Ukrainian society and spirituality is still includes ethnic Russians and those apparent. Ukrainians whom I call malorosy, who lost About a quarter of the native population their national consciousness, speak Russian in eastern Ukraine was murdered, only to be and think like Russians, or even worse.” replaced by Russians, Belarusians and Ms. Mahrytska confronts such chau- Sovietized Ukrainians (“malorosy” as Prof. vinism on a daily basis in Luhansk – partic- Kalinichenko refers to them) who either ularly from the Party of Regions, which have no affinity for Ukrainian culture and controls the State Oblast Administration led spirituality, or view it with contempt. by Oleksander Antipov, who was appointed No one has a harder time establishing the by President Yushchenko. historical truth about the Holodomor than In order to reach a wider audience than those ethnic Ukrainians in eastern Ukraine with her books alone, Ms. Mahrytska pro- who managed to preserve their cultural iden- duced a documentary film on the tity or somehow regain it. Holodomor in the Luhansk Oblast, accept- That includes Luhansk Holodomor cru- ing $2,760 from the State Oblast sader Iryna Mahrytska, who produced a Zenon Zawada Valentyna and Oleksander Ksionzenko and Memory Charter Chair Andrii Administration on the condition she work film, “Zakliattia Bezpamiati” (The with its appointed film director. Sure Damnation of Non-Remembrance), which Levchenko (right) have recruited the diaspora in building a monument, Harvest of Despair, to the Holodomor victims of the Myrhorod district in the Poltava Oblast. enough, the director surrendered the near- local officials tried to censor and their hired completed film to his higher-ups at the State journalists smeared. Oblast Administration, who conveniently Meanwhile, the patriots of Myrhorod in peasant Red Army and Russians were sent “If you are confident in your righteous- to settle the deserted villages,” Prof. ness, invite the above-mentioned ‘witness- edited all the materials that cast local offi- the Poltava Oblast have struggled against a cials in a bad light, particularly in revealing hostile Russian mayor to establish a Kalinichenko wrote. “Military hardware and es,’ upon whose testimonies you conferred escort was provided for their transfer from the status of ‘document’ in your reviews,” the ignorance of average Luhansk residents Holodomor monument at their town’s rail- about the Holodomor. way station, where nine mass graves are railroad stations, where they were treated to Mr. Shekhovtsov wrote in a flier distribut- food and buffets.” ed to Kharkiv University students. “I They returned the film to Ms. Mahrytska believed to exist. after she raised hell with the Presidential “Ukraine’s Russification was discussed,” promise to interrogate them with the pas- What placed Dr. Kalinichenko at the top Secretariat, leaving her with just several he wrote. “The settlers systematically avoid- sion of an investigator not indifferent to all of the Kharkiv Communist hit list was his weeks to re-edit it in time for the annual ed work, ignoring physical labor, demand- kinds of lies, but adhering to the rules of writings on the Holodomor, particularly his Holodomor commemoration on the third ing management responsibilities. Not having proper tone.” foreword to “Stolytsia Vidchayu” (Capital Saturday of November. found their Klondike in Ukraine, the newly Dr. Kalinichenko ignored the challenge, of Despair), the best work examining the Once again, the diaspora pitched in to arrived colonizers scattered. Only those who knowing a spectacle was being set up. What Holodomor in the Kharkiv Oblast written by rescue a Holodomor project in Ukraine, this gained their desired managing positions he didn’t expect was a violent protest that Tamara Polischuk of the village of Valky. time in the form of a $10,000 donation from remained in the Ukrainian reservations, involved more than 50 activists from the In his writings, Dr. Kalinichenko stated the Buduchnist Credit Union in Toronto, some of whom to this day consider them- Communist Party of Ukraine, the well-established facts of the Holodomor – which was organized by the Ukrainian selves overseers of Ukrainians.” Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine and that in place of the ethnic Ukrainians who World Congress and Christine Bidiak. An avid admirer of Joseph Stalin, Mr. the Russian Bloc standing outside his office were targeted and starved to death, the On November 22, 2008, the 95-minute for a half-hour, kicking and punching his Bolsheviks brought in Russians and Shekhovtsov successfully defended the documentary “The Damnation of Non- Belarusians to settle their homes. Soviet dictator’s record at a public mock door, demanding that he face them. Remembrance” was broadcast on the oblast The Kharkiv Communists, led by lawyer trial held in Moscow. And, in a November “Our security is retired prison guards,” he television station Irta, which typically shows Yurii Shekhovtsov, view reporting such his- 2006 challenge published in the Kharkiv said. “Many of them sympathize with the programs glorifying the Soviet Union and torical facts as criminal, alleging that Prof. Communist newspaper The Red Banner, Communists, and they let them through.” filled with Ukrainophobic propaganda. Kalinichenko intended to “incite interethnic Mr. Shekhovtsov offered to defend Stalin The so-called security at the university even- During the broadcast, local Party of Regions hostility” and citing specific excerpts. against the professor’s allegations of geno- tually dragged the protesters away, but the “Demobilized soldiers of the worker- cide at a similar mock trial. pressure didn’t end there. (Continued on page 10)

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) advisor Volodymyr Viatrovych (left) and Dr. Dr. Volodymyr Kalinichenko, chair of the history department at Karazin Vasyl Danylenko, director of the SBU archives, edited “Pavlohrad Uprising in National University in Kharkiv, was ambushed by Communists and Russian 1930: Documents and Materials,” which they presented on February 10. chauvinists in his own office because of his writings on the Holodomor. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7

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McGrath Franklin Square, NY Michael Wawryshyn Toronto, ON Ihor Tomkiw Toronto, ON M. Mostovych Silver Spring, MD I. Yevich-Tunstall Annandale, VA $6.00 N. Holian Bay Village, OH Peter Myskiw Phoenix, AZ Z. Zachar W. Bloomfield, MI $5.00 M. Artymiw Philadelphia, PA Andrew and Renata Armonk, NY R. Zastawsky Newington, CT H. Bobylak Clifton, NJ Nychka H. Zyruk Wilmington, DE Jurij Cikalo Pompton Plains, NJ S. Olynyk Washington, DC $20.00 R. Bilak Kenosha, WI Andrij Cybyk Woodside, NY J. Stecura Middleburg Hgts., OH D. Cisyk Staten Island, NY B. Duchnycz Newark, NJ Walter Tupyckyj Cheektowaga, NY B. Fedun Chardon, OH Larissa Dolinsky Westfield, NJ A. Wynar Ravenna, OH N. Firko Huntington Valley, PA Jaroslav Dutkewych Alexandria, VA $45.00 Sviatoslav Bozhenko San Francisco, CA Igor Kowal Concord, MA R. Folis Villas , NJ Helen Lozik McKees Rocks, PA Andrij Leshchyshyn Columbia, MD Mary Gaboda Belvidere, VT Zdanna Skalsky Gaithersburg, MD M. Lomaga Wethersfield, CT Ivanna Hankewycz Yonkers, NY $35.00 John Y. and Ulana Sos Pawtucket, RI M. Mychalczak Manlius, NY Alana Hanks Washington, DC $30.00 B. Buchynsky Glendora, CA Andrij Panas Budd Lake, NJ Michael and Alice Pittsburgh, PA John Cherniawsky Astoria, NY P. Romanyshyn Arvada, CO Haritan A. Dydyk-Petrenko Ashton, MD R. Rudnyk-Mackenzie Los Angeles, CA Merle and Bonnie Toledo, OH Michael and Kathryn Johnson City, NY A. Tomko Short Hills, NJ Jurkiewicz Kowalczik Yaro Zajac East Hanover, NJ William Kataryniak Bayonne, NJ Irena Nychay Bayonne, NJ A. Zelisko Hinsdale, IL Maria Kodelsky Kailua, HI Roman Olijnyk Radnor, PA $15.00 B. Chuchra Arnold, MD H. Kowalchek West Newton, PA W. Petryshyn Sarasota, FL Z. Clem Jacksonville, FL Chester Kuc Edmonton, AB $25.80 Orest Cap Winnipeg, MB A. Goot Moretown, VT Mykola and Nadia Sterling Heights, MI $25.00 R. Badynskyj Phoenix, AZ P. Hawrylciw Ludlow, MA Lawrin Z. Balaban Farmington, CT Andrew Horbachevsky Yonkers, NY L. Leshchyshyn Columbia, MD L. Balahutrak Houston, TX O. Korz Rancho Mirage, CA Y. Lisovenko Brooklyn, NY C. Bonacorsa Belleville, NJ Mary Kramarenko East Windsor, NJ Jerry Losowy Hammond, IN L. Buniak Fayetteville, NY Jerry Kuc Shokan, NY P. Lutwinick Sunrise, FL J. Cherniawsky Long Island City, NY R. Kucil Rochester, NY Chrystyna Lysobey Cherry Hill, NJ R. Chomiak Washington, DC S. Lule Glen Ellyn, IL M. Matychak Whitestone, NY George Chomyn Weston, ON Lydia Motyka Gainesville, FL Peter Nakoneczny Glen Spey, NY C. Chraplyvy Matawan, NJ Chrystyna Nebesh Parma, OH R. Nestorowicz Warren, MI D. Chromowsky Little Egg Harbor, NJ Markian Onuferko Jenkintown, PA E. Ostapiuk South Haven, MN L. Cloherty S. Boston, MA B. Onufreiczuk Watchung, NJ L. Pakula Dearborn, MI A. Craig Edina, MN Jurij and Marta Ozga Naperville, IL E. Podolak Lehighton, PA T. Danysh Greenwich, CT O. Polon Penn Yann, NY Jurij Podolak Silver Spring, MD U. Diachuk Rutherford, NJ Eugene Repeta Warren, MI A. Psiuk Kennett Square, PA M. Durbak Chicago, IL Arnold Rudakewych Lorton, VA E. Pyk Orland Park, IL M. Dushnyck Brooklyn, NY Peter Stefanow Worcester, MA Y. Shcheglov East Elmhurst, NY D. Dykyj Forest Hills, NY N. Sygida East Hanover, NJ Stephania Tatchyn Timonium, MD I. Gawdiak Columbia, MD M. Tymiak North Port, FL M. Trenza Carle Place, NY A. Gural Manchester, NJ Gregory Woloszyn Forest Hills, NY G. Tysowsky Amherst, NY Anna Harmaty Chatham, NJ $12.50 S. Dutkewych and Alexandria, VA Oksana Weremijenko Doylestown, PA B. Hayda Rutherford, NJ Urbanovych B. $2.50 P. Hrycak Cranford, NJ M. Hnateyko Clifton, NJ $10.00 W. Adamshik Perth Amboy, NJ A. Hladky Randolph, NJ O. Ariza Palmetto Bay, FL TOTAL: $7,504.65 A. Jakubowycz Brecksville, OH G. Balynsky Sea Girt, NJ S. Jakubowycz Brick, NJ Lesia Bekersky Whitesboro, NY O. Karawan Inverness, IL Alexandra Borregaard Millsboro, DE O. Kashuba Kildeer, IL Brotherhood of St. Aliquippa, PA Roman Kernitsky Colts Neck, NJ Nicholas Sincere thanks to all contributors to L. Keske Woodland Hills, CA J.P. Cap Naples, FL The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. Irene and Lisa Annandale, NJ A. Cherney Oradell, NJ Kobyleckyj (in memory O. Chypak Wayne, NJ of Peter Kobyleckyj) V. Czartorysky Brooklyn, NY The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only fund D. Kolcio Arlington, VA M. Dragan Dobbs Ferry, NY dedicated exclusively to supporting the work of this Tatyana Koropeckyj-Cox Gainesville, FL J. Fedorko Rutherford, NJ publication. John Koshikar Pisgah Forest, NC A. Galonzka Walpole, MA N. Kowal Riverside, CT W. Gerent North Port, FL J. Krupinski Scranton, PA S. Golub Minneapolis, MN This month’s report includes donations to I. Kucewicz Wheaton, IL B. Hlynsky Vienna, VA M. Kulas LaGrange, IL M. Holowinsky E. Greenwich, RI The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund that were sent C. Kuzmowych Great Falls, VA A. Holuka Flushing, NY in response to the Ukrainian National Association’s W. Lechman Lafayette, IN A. Klufas Bridgeport, CT 2008 Christmas card mailing. J. Leshko Northampton, MA M. Koropeckyj Baltimore, MD No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 5 Fall fund-raisers benefit the Ukrainian Catholic University by Matthew A. Rarey The Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, editor of the influential religious journal First CHICAGO – As news about the global Things and a member of the UCEF’s economic crisis turned darker by the day, Advisory Council, had welcomed the the voice of reality seemed to scold the invitation to share the podium with Father Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation Gudziak in New York City. for embarking upon its most ambitious “I look forward to supporting the noble fund-raising tour ever: banquets to benefit enterprise that is UCU and being with my the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) friend Father Borys once again,” said to be held on four consecutive Sundays in Father Neuhaus. A leading voice in ecu- four U.S. cities in October and November menical dialogue and a staunch supporter 2008, followed by additional events in of the cause of the Ukrainian Greek- Canada. Catholic Church, Father Neuhaus visited After months of preparation by UCEF UCU several years ago and attended a staff working with host committees in sobor and synod of the UGCC in Lviv. each city, however, the die was cast and The night before the event, however, the show had to go on. Father Neuhaus’s secretary called to say “Through the grace of God moving the priest had taken ill. Two months later, hearts to give generously, I’m so glad to he passed away after a short bout with a report that the returns exceeded even our very virulent form of cancer. most ambitious expectations,” reported “At UCU, sisters can fully realize all Daniel R. Szymanski Jr., executive direc- their knowledge and spiritual gifts and tor of the UCEF. Over $400,000 was then put them to use in their monastic life raised in New York City, $90,000 in as well as their pastoral service to Church Chicago, $74,000 in Detroit and $50,000 and society,” Sister Jelena told supporters in Cleveland. in Warren. “Though not all students will Sister Jelena Herasym with several of the volunteers who helped make the bene- The faithful support of many patrons – become theologians or historians or social including such stalwart friends as the fit luncheon in Michigan “the warmest event with the closest feeling of communi- pedagogues, they will bring this education ty that the UCEF has ever hosted,” according to benefactor Lubomyr Hewko. Ukrainian American credit unions, par- of the spirit… which they acquired at UCU ishes and sundry foundations – will help into Ukrainian life. This is how we will UCU and the Church in Ukraine weather help change our country for the better.” the global economic storm that is wrack- After finishing her talk, Sister Jelena, ing Ukraine’s already shaky economy. an accomplished vocalist and musician, “It was gratifying, though not unex- sang sonorous hymns, lovely and almost pected, to see the outpouring of support magical. Not a few tears were shed in the for UCU from the Greater Cleveland hushed room. Ukrainian community,” said Dick Russ, “It was so beautiful. I don’t know, she co-master of ceremonies at the Cleveland just rocked,” remarked Roman Pylypczak, banquet on October 26. “The heartfelt a 21-year-old UCEF supporter who welcome given by Father Borys filmed the event in Chicago. Mr. [Gudziak] was an expression of the deep Pylypczak, a university student, also pro- love and commitment the local communi- duced the video documentary about UCU ty has always had for Ukraine, for our that was shown at all the events to critical beloved Ukrainian Catholic Church, and acclaim. “In future documentaries about especially for the students at UCU who UCU, I would love to add clips of her are so earnestly working for the benefit of singing and playing the guitar,” he com- both Church and country.” mented. Like many benefactors, Mr. Russ’ sup- Many, including the rector himself, port of the UCEF is a family affair: His agreed that Sister Jelena’s angelic singing wife, Christina, also served on the host was a charming change from Father committee; his younger son, Stefan, a Gudziak’s hoarse voice, afflicted by a student at Franciscan University, helped dogged cold imported from Ukraine. operate the audio-visual system; and his His message, however, rang clear. UCEF Executive Director Daniel R. Szymanski Jr., with Father Borys Gudziak elder son, Andrij, attended the final event “We already have 600 graduates. They and Bishop Innocent Lotocky, OSBM, whose $6,000 donation added extra wind – in Warren, Mich., on November 16 – go into the world with God’s inspiration, in the sails of the Windy City’s fund-raiser. along with several of his fellow Jesuit full of competence and the sense of their novices from the seminary in Detroit. own dignity and freedom. … I am happy These young men in Roman collars lis- to have such graduates, including some UNIS plans March 25-26 tened attentively to news about the vitali- 200 priests and the first women to have ty of the Church in Ukraine, the main earned degrees in theology in the entire topic of the table’s dinner conversation, 1000-year history of Christianity in their Ukrainian Days in Washington in fact. Andrij Russ plans to obtain bi-rit- own land,” he said ual faculties, allowing him to celebrate “These are special people who are by Michael Sawkiw Jr. Ukraine relations. divine liturgy as well as say mass. ready to go against the mainstream… to Ukrainian National Information Service On Thursday morning, March 26, “I’m encouraged by the interest of so help their nation overcome different participants of Ukrainian Days will par- many young people here in the U.S.,” obstacles,” Father Gudziak continued. WASHINGTON – Following previ- ticipate in a breakfast meeting with noted his father, Mr. Russ, well known in “To help them accomplish this, and to ous successful “Ukrainian Days” in the members of the Congressional Cleveland as general manager of the local nurture more young leaders like them, nation’s capital, the Ukrainian National Ukrainian Caucus (CUC), an officially NBC news affiliate. “I think they recog- we… are constantly fulfilling our goal of Information Service (UNIS) is once registered group within the U.S. House nize the struggles their contemporaries in being an open academic community again organizing this advocacy pro- of Representatives that is interested in Ukraine are facing and want to find ways where the Eastern Christian way of life is gram in Washington on March 25-26. enhancing relations between Ukraine to support them.” vital and where young people are nur- The intent of Ukrainian Days is to and the United States. Father Gudziak, rector of UCU, was tured to become leaders in the moral, promote the concerns of the Ukrainian Evening receptions are also being principal speaker at all the events, which intellectual, cultural, political and eco- American community, as well as to planned for both days in order for the ranged in attendance from 150 to over nomic arenas of Ukrainian life. “ establish better relations with commu- Ukrainian Days participants to have a 200 friends of UCU. He was joined in “To continue making this miracle come nity members’ elected representatives chance to acquaint themselves with oth- Chicago and Detroit by two of the univer- true, we humbly pray for your continued in Congress. Briefing papers on various ers in Washington who follow U.S.- sity’s alumni, who also visited communi- generosity in these difficult times. May topics will be supplied to all the partici- Ukraine relations. ty and church groups to informally relate God bless you,” Father Gudziak conclud- pants of Ukrainian Days by the UNIS. Throughout the two-day event, par- the good news happening in Lviv: Andriy ed. The Ukrainian Days agenda will con- ticipants of Ukrainian Days will meet Kurochka, a young relative of recently As proven by the results of the UCEF’s sist of several parts. On Wednesday with their respective members of the retired Msgr. Stephen Hrynuck who fall 2008 tour, which continued to gener- morning, March 25, UNIS will organize House of Representatives and Senate in works in UCU’s development office, and ate returns into the new year, Father presentations by U.S. government offi- order to communicate to them the issues Sister Jelena Herasym, founding prioress Gudziak’s appeal was answered with gen- cials and non-governmental organizations that concern the Ukrainian American of the Redemptorist Order in Lviv. erous affection. (NGOs). Of particular interest will be a community and establish closer commu- Unfortunately, one prominent guest discussion about the topics of concern to nications with their offices. speaker had to cancel at the last minute. * * * the community, including U.S. assistance For further information about partic- Further information about UCU (in to Ukraine; energy security for Ukraine; ipating, as well as hotel accommoda- Matthew A. Rarey ([email protected]) is English and Ukrainian) is available on the NATO enlargement; continued advocacy tions, readers may contact the Ukrainian communications specialist at the university’s website at www.ucu.edu.ua. of the Ukrainian Genocide of 1932-1933; National Information Service at Ukrainian Catholic Education as well as, the overall context of U.S.- 202-547-0018 or [email protected]. Foundation. (Continued on page 19) 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7

NEWS AND VIEWS THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Establishing historical truth Remembering John Updike by R.L. Chomiak and Drach should try to meet him while The Ukrainian Weekly was born out of the need to tell the English-speaking they were in New York since they had host- world about the Holodomor, a genocide devised by the government of the Soviet “You ought to write about Updike and ed him in Kyiv a few months earlier. There Union to kill millions of Ukrainians in the winter of 1932-1933. Ukraina.” This was my wife’s suggestion, was a photo of a mob scene at the Writers To commemorate the 75th anniversary of one of the greatest catastrophes in as we – surrounded by January 28 newspa- Union reception with Updike in the middle. human history, The Weekly’s Kyiv bureau examined the Famine-Genocide on a pers – were reading obituaries of John The two Ukrainian wrtiers turned down more intimate level, focusing the spotlight on those Ukrainians who are at the fore- Updike. All the major dailies had them, on my suggestion, with a note of wistfulness. front of raising awareness and establishing the historical truth. For, while most the front pages, because of the stature of They knew better. Their contacts in the U.S. Ukrainians are familiar with names like Joseph Stalin and Lazar Kaganovich, and this great 20th century American writer. would be carefully orchestrated and they concepts like dekurkulization and collectivization, it’s the specific policies and And the 21st, too: I had read a short story didn’t want to do something that might instances, such as the confiscation of millstones to grind grain or excessive taxa- by Updike in a magazine about a month cause them to be sent back home before the tion, that will enable us to better understand what happened in the 1930s. ago, and his novel “Widows of Eastwick” General Assembly session ended. That was The 18-part series, which revealed the efforts of average Ukrainians, most living came out late last year. always a danger in those days. (I knew a on meager incomes, to establish the historical truth, proved both inspiring, as well I knew what my wife meant: November Soviet journalist who came to Columbia as as disheartening. 1966 in New York. In those days many an exchange student for a year. He was We became familiar with the efforts of patriots in the Poltava and Zhytomyr diaspora Ukrainians were interested in pub- impressed by New York supermarkets and oblasts to establish Holodomor monuments, undaunted by the indifference and licizing Ukraine, which by Moscow’s by large apartments. [He thought our one- opposition of evil government officials. We bore witness to the present-day perse- design was a submerged nation. Any men- bedroom apartment on half a floor of a New cution Holodomor truth-tellers face such as Iryna Mahrytska in Luhansk and Prof. tion in the Western media of Ukraine or York brownstone was large!] He spoke Volodymyr Kalinichenko in Kharkiv, face in eastern Ukraine. We learned about the Ukrainians would be copied, mailed and English and kept talking about these won- unfathomable depths of evil pursued by the Stalinist regime and the millions of discussed among Ukrainians. This was ders of New York. After the first semester Communists, of various nationalities, who “were just following orders” – snatch- never to Moscow’s liking. Moscow did not he was sent home and told me why.) ing every last crumb and seed from households, executing and beating starving want any publicity for Ukraine, unless it But, after a few weeks in New York, peasants for trying to feed themselves, and indoctrinating schoolchildren to inform was something negative, like the collabora- after several poetry readings arranged by on their parents. tion with the Nazis. Curiously, Gen. Andrey us, the non-Communist diasporans (“bour- We learned the instrumental role that the diaspora has played in financing Vlasov, who organized a whole Russian geois nationalists” in the parlance of Soviet research efforts. Retired New Yorker Marian Kots proved a single person can make army for Adolph Hitler, was almost never high priests of morality), Mr. Pavlychko an immense difference in this world by financing numerous critical Holodomor mentioned by the Soviet agit-prop (agita- asked me if I could try to arrange a meeting publications in Ukraine. Without his support, many valuable books would never tion and propagada) masters. with Updike. “Now you tell me,” I thought. have seen the light of day, including Tamara Polischuk’s “Stolytsia Vidchayu” Dmytro Pavlychko and Ivan Drach, two This was around Thanksgiving Day and we (Capital of Despair), Dr. Petro Yaschuk’s “Portret Temriavy” (Portrait of Darkness) leading Ukrainian poets at that time, came had just seen a huge exhibition of Salvador and the Holodomor bibliographic index produced at the Gorky library in Odesa. to New York from Kyiv as members of the Dali’s paintings that simply shook them up. Mr. Kots is a true Ukrainian hero. Ukrainian SSR delegation to the United The General Assembly session, I knew, Unfortunately, Holodomor research is desperately underfinanced and lacking Nations General Assembly in September of would end in three or four weeks and the support in Ukraine. There are so many stories that still need to be told, and not 1966. Whether Moscow liked it or not, Ukrainian poets would be gone. But I told enough money to put them onto paper or even video, for that matter. Just as trou- Ukrainian SSR – a charter member of the them I would try. bling is the lack of research to establish the names of victims and the casualty rate. U.N. – had to have a delegation at the I wrote a letter to Updike care of the Most oblasts estimated casualties for the National Book of Memory of Holodomor General Assembly session. In addition to New Yorker magazine, with which he was Victims that fall far below the actual death toll. career diplomats and government officials, associated his entire writing career. Within Some names will never be known, because records were destroyed, either delib- U.N. member-states also include cultural a very short time, four or five days, I erately or accidentally. But just as Yad Vashem continues to pursue its mission of figures in their delegations. Messrs. received a reply from Updike, who said he naming every Jewish victim of the Holocaust, Ukrainian researchers must keep try- Pavlychko and Drach were such public remembered Messrs. Drach and Pavlychko ing to establish the names of each Holodomor victim while the remaining witness- members of the Ukrainian SSR delegation. from Kyiv, that he would like to meet with es are still alive. One day, early in the session, I was sit- the Ukrainian writers, but that he was work- President Viktor Yushchenko deserves enormous praise for his efforts to raise ting in the press section of the General ing on a novel at the time and could not the Holodomor to the forefront of Ukrainian consciousness, offering unprecedented Assembly hall when I recognized Messrs. come to New York. He would welcome moral support for Holodomor scholars and researchers. It would be unreasonable, Pavlychko and Drach as they entered to them in Ipswich, Mass., if they could come however, to ask the government to earmark funds for Holodomor research when take their seats in the back. (I was an editor there, he added. the salary of civil servants, soldiers and government workers are among the lowest of the Digest of the Soviet Ukrainian Press Now I turned to networking (although 40 in Europe. at the time and was pretty familiar with the years ago this term was not used). I called Ukraine’s mega-millionaires and billionaires ought to begin financing leading figures of Soviet Ukraine from Prof. Omeljan Pritsak at Harvard (this was Holodomor research and commemoration efforts. It’s disgraceful that average media photos and articles.) I leaned over before there was a Harvard Ukrainian Ukrainians have to rent out their own apartments and live with their children (as and introduced myself to the two delegates. Research Institute and endowed chairs in Zhytomyr resident Zoya Tereschuk did for four years) to raise funds for a monu- Soon we were meeting at the U.N. head- Ukrainian studies). Prof. Pritsak then was in ment, while mega-millionaires do nothing for Ukraine’s historical heritage. As an quarters and various places in and around Harvard’s Turkic studies department. But example of their “concern,” the same weekend that Ukrainians were commemorat- New York. he needed no convincing. He said he would ing the Holodomor in November last year, billionaire Victor Pinchuk was opening In the evening of our first meeting we arrange an invitation from Harvard a Holocaust exhibit in New York called “The Shooting of Jews in Ukraine.” dined at a restaurant with several members University for Messrs. Pavlychko and Recognizing the unlikelihood of their assistance (many of Ukraine’s wealthiest of the New York Group of young Ukrainian Drach, since Ipswich, where Updike were hard-line Communists, don’t speak Ukrainian and aren’t ethnically émigré writers. They dropped everything worked, was nearby. Ukrainian), it remains the responsibility of the Ukrainian diaspora to continue to and on a very short notice came to meet That’s why my wife used such a boastful financially support Holodomor efforts. The Buduchnist Credit Union’s funds for Ukrainian writers of the post-Stalinist gen- phrase as “Updike and Ukraina” (with its Ms. Mahrytska’s documentary “The Damnation of Non-Remembrance,” as well as eration – the “generation of the sixties” as visual, if not aural alliteration) – because the wide-ranging support for the Myrhorod monument, are perfect examples of the they became known – who wrote in a we pulled it off. At that time Soviet diaspora continuing to make a difference in Ukraine. refreshing style and had some familiarity Ukrainian diplomats in New York would After all, if we don’t do it, there aren’t many others who can or will. with the Western literary scene. not know how to begin to show off their In those days some Ukrainian cultural cultural leaders, and, moreover, they figures learned Polish just to read “forbid- wouldn’t try, because they knew that den literature.” They could travel to Poland Moscow wouldn’t approve. Feb. much easier than to Western Europe or At that time, though, such Russian writ- Turning the pages back... America. And in Poland they could read, ers as Andrey Voznyesensky and Yevgenii for example, John Stuart Mill and James Yevtushenko were toasted by the limousine Joyce in Polish translation, because their liberals of New York’s Upper East Side and 1 Ten years ago, on February 17, 1999, the Verkhovna Rada works were published there in the early by beat poets such as Allen Ginsberg at voted 310-39 to strip former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko 1960s. Not in Ukraine, though. Just think Columbia University on the Upper West 1999 of his legal immunity to allow him to face domestic charges of how upset the Soviet rulers would have Side. Those were Russians; these were embezzlement and concealment of foreign income. Mr. been if a Ukrainian from Ternopil or Ukrainians. And this is yet another reason Lazarenko was accused of embezzling more than $1 million in Krasnyi Luch read the English philosopher to shout “Slava Ukrayini – nezalezhniy!” state property while holding various government positions from 1993 to 1997. Mill’s book “On Liberty.” But Polish work- Now, writers and artists, computer pro- Last-ditch efforts to escape responsibility by Mr. Lazarenko – who also faced mon- ers at that time could buy “On Liberty,” in grammers and scholars from independent ey-laundering charges in Switzerland – included a heart condition brought on by Polish, in a Polish book store. Maybe that Ukraine are regularly invited to spend a “intense political pressure.” was why Poland had student protests in the year on an American campus or at think- The Constitution of Ukraine states that at least 301 deputies must support the lifting 1960s and Solidarity in 1980s. tanks such as Washington’s Kennan of a deputy’s parliamentary immunity for the vote to take effect. The request to lift Mr. I had seen in a Soviet Ukrainian maga- Institute. Lazarenko’s immunity came from the Procurator General’s Office. According to the zine a photo and a story about my favorite But 40 years ago, despite the Russian Criminal Code of Ukraine, Mr. Lazarenko faced up to 15 years in prison. American writer, John Updike, visiting policy of keeping Ukraine under wraps, In December 1998 Swiss authorities detained Mr. Lazarenko when he attempted to Kyiv. He was on one of those State we managed to put our men on a pedestal, Department cultural exchange tours of the (Continued on page 17) USSR. I suggested that Messrs. Pavlychko (Continued on page 19) No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR faces and places by myron b. kurpoas commodity market collapsing, Russia Faces and Places Are there DVD’s needs foreign currency badly – and a lot of it. So the natural gas once again flows by Myron B. Kuropas of Tkacz pieces? westward from Russia. Prime Minister Putin chose the worst Dear Editor: possible moment for his gas adventure. Several years running now, I’ve read, With commodity prices in free fall across Luba Markewycz did it! with great interest, of Virland Tkacz’s the globe and the world economy in “astounding and brilliantly executed” shambles, January was not a good time to multi-act stage pieces based on Christmas/ start an economic war – especially when Winter Solstice traditions from Ukrainian your income is derived primarily from lands (most recently in the January 18 selling oil and gas abroad and you pro- issue). duce hardly anything in consumer goods Googling her name as well as the pro- to keeps your economy going. “It’s the duction title, “Still the River Flows economy, stupid” as one of our former ...,” yields lists of sites. Overwhelming, president’s slogans proclaimed. actually. The Christian Science Monitor, in its In several hits, I was not able to deter- January 8 editorial “Putin, pipe down on mine whether any of these annual winter Ukrainians,” wrote: “The Kremlin strong- productions have been captured on DVDs man is hoping energy prices rebound before and offered for purchase. To save myself the masses realize that the house that Putin from getting bug-eyed with Internet over- built may be a house of cards. If he’s wrong, exposure, I ask The Ukrainian Weekly’s he’ll also have himself to blame.” readership: Does anyone know whether And it is indeed a “house of cards such DVDs exist? Is there any sales-con- economy” that Mr. Putin’s Russia oper- tact information? ates on. I saw this on Sakhalin Island Folks in the provincial wilderness where Russian passengers were returning beyond the Five Boroughs of New York from a ferry trip to Hokkaido Island. They City may have no other opportunity to were carrying used and recapped tires, enjoy what brilliance Ms. Tkacz has man- and selling them in a parking lot. And I aged with old stock material. saw it on the sidewalks of Vladivostok Art work depicting the Holodomor by Romana Halay, 13, of Lviv. In advance, “diakuyu!” where vendors were selling consumer Matthew-Daniel Stremba goods brought from China. So much for Luba Markewycz lives in the Ukrainian schools read the poems and essays of Baltimore, Md. Russian consumer goods. And I saw it Village. A multi-talented Chicago public Ukraine’s children, while pupils led by also at marine cargo terminals in St. school teacher (now retired), Luba has Nadya Ilkiv provided background music Petersburg, where raw materials were taught English in Ukraine every summer during the readings. It was an emotional piled up on docks for shipment to the since 1992. moment for all. “I felt as if all of the paint- Vladimir Putin West to generate badly needed foreign Ms. Markewycz is also a photographer ings were gossamer threads that I brought currency to pay for imported consumer whose original photos of Chornobyl were over from Ukraine to America,” Ms. lost the gas war goods from Japan and China. exhibited at the Lviv Polytechnic Institute, Markewycz told me. Students from local It was indeed unwise for Prime the National University of Ostroh Academy, public schools and many other non-Ukraini- Dear Editor: Minister Putin to start a gas war with all and Chicago’s Ukrainian National Museum. ans visited the exhibit, which closed on Since 1972 Ms. Markewycz has spent a that bluster and belligerence in such hard January 18. The gas war is over. It lasted two lot of time hanging around Chicago’s weeks and ended with utter defeat for economic times and given Russia’s mar- Funding for Ms. Markewycz’s project ginal economic base. The outcome of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. She was Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The gas flows was provided by Selfreliance Ukrainian war was quite predictable. once the vice-president and then the presi- again from Russia to Ukraine and from dent; she currently chairs the education American Federal Credit Union, the Ukraine to Europe at the maximum Ihor Lysyj committee. Heritage Foundation, the Chicago capacity the pipelines can carry. With the Austin, Texas A recent project for Ms. Markewycz Department of Cultural Affairs and the involved children in Ukraine commemorat- Illinois Arts Council. The Ukrainian We welcome your opinion ing the Holodomor through art. In her mind, Genocide Famine Foundation, U.S.A., pro- “one of the best ways to honor the memory vided $1,000, which Luba portioned off to The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor and commentaries on a variety of all the lives lost, and to keep it alive for the artists, some 10 to 15 hrv per child. of topics of concern to the Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian communities. generations to come, is to make certain that Just because we Ukrainians commemo- Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators and letter-writers are their own and do our children know what happened.” not necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the rated the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor Ukrainian National Association. Ms. Markewycz’s belief took her to 20 in 2008, doesn’t mean our responsibilities Letters should be typed and signed (anonymous letters are not published). Letters are schools in Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Odesa, have ended. True, we took a giant step for- accepted also via e-mail at [email protected]. The daytime phone number and address Chernivtsi, Kharkiv, Uzhorod, Stryi, and ward last year, but we need to keep the of the letter-writer must be given for verification purposes. Please note that a daytime phone Rymarivka. She met with principals, teach- momentum going. Today, every conscious number is essential in order for editors to contact letter-writers regarding clarifications or ers and students (primarily grades 7 to 11), person in the world knows about the questions. distributed art materials, asked students to Holocaust. Why? Reminders. Constant, Please note: THE LENGTH OF LETTERS CANNOT EXCEED 500 WORDS. reflect on the Holodomor and to create their unending reminders. impressions. Ms. Markewycz’s exhibit is a reminder, Students “had to find a means in the an important Holodomor reminder. She did depth of their minds and hearts to render that understanding on paper,” she explained. it. You can too. All the heavy lifting has The result was some 400 pieces of art work been done. Ms. Markewycz would like to and 40 pieces of written work consisting of take the exhibit, which is easily put up and poems, essays and interviews with dismantled, to other Ukrainian cultural cen- Holodomor survivors. ters, museums and church halls in North 1933 issues needed That was only the beginning. The art America this year. Think about it. Will work became part of an exhibit titled Ukraine’s child artists exhibit in your neigh- “Holodomor Through the Eyes of a Child: borhood? Will non-Ukrainians see it? The Famine Remembered,” at the Ukrainian Ms. Markewych exemplfies the power of The Ukrainian Weekly is searching for original Institute of Modern Art in Chicago. Choices one in our communtiy. She deserves our had to be made regarding which pieces support. She is an enthralling individual issues of this newspaper published in 1933 in order would be displayed. “I agonized over why I who loves to talk with one and all. You can to scan them for our digital archives. didn’t choose this or that piece of work,” reach her at 312-863-9519. Call her and Ms. Markewycz said. “Each and every congratulate her for her imaginative project. piece of art had to be photographed and cat- Better yet, invite her to bring her inspired If you have original copies of newspapers alogued because I felt that every child’s project to your city. Her bags are packed. name should be in the catalogue, if not Call her now and keep the Holodomor ball every piece.” A total of 186 pieces were rolling. You won’t regret it. from 1933, please contact the editorial staff at finally selected for the exhibit. The catalogue is available for $20 plus Local artist Liaila Kuchma designed the 973-292-9800, ext. 3040, or [email protected]. $2.95 shipping and handling from the exhibition catalogue. Ms. Kuchma and Stano Grezdo mounted the exhibit, which Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. opened on November 23, 2008. Local cler- Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL, 60622. gy and the consul general of Ukraine, Oleksander Gwan, participated in the open- Myron Kuropas’s e-mail address is ing. Students from local Ukrainian Saturday [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7

NEWS AND VIEWS ‘Blood and Belonging’: Ignatieff removes Wrzesnewskyj from shadow Cabinet by Myroslava Oleksiuk TORONTO – Liberal Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff on January 22 announced his shadow Cabinet, removing Borys Wrzesnewskyj, member of Parliament for Etobicoke Center, from the position of critic for citizenship, immigra- tion and multiculturalism, and not naming him to any position in the shadow Cabinet. Since his election in 2004, Ukrainian Canadian Borys Wrzesnewskyj has been a very active member of the Parliament and has been a longstanding advocate for the Ukrainian community and, for that matter, for other communities as well, including the Sudanese, Somali, Polish, Croatian and Italian communities. However, the issue here is Mr. Ignatieff, who has a history of differences Supporters of Borys Wrzesnewskyj who traveled to Ottawa from Toronto to witness his swearing in when he was first elect- and an enduring problematic relationship ed in 2004. The number of votes he received placed him seventh out of the 135 Liberals who were elected across Canada with the Ukrainian community. Mr. Wrzesnewskyj’s removal from the posi- Ukraine’s genesis: “Ukraine is not even a Russian disdain for these ‘little Russians.’ and do not support an orientation that tion of critic for citizenship, immigration nation!” The first scholar and political analyst aligns itself with the regrets of Mr. Putin, and multiculturalism seems to once again What prevents the former professor, to react to the news of Mr. Russia’s current prime minister and for- underline the fears the Ukrainian commu- Mr. Ignatieff, and Mr. Putin from taking Wrzesnewskyj’s removal was Taras mer president, who famously said in an nity has had concerning Mr. Ignatieff, the opportunity to incorporate new data Kuzio. “Borys Wrzesnewskyj is an ener- address to the nation on April 25, 2005: which originate from Mr. Ignatieff’s writ- into their wisdom banks? Why do they getic and committed Ukrainian Canadian “The collapse of the Soviet Union was ings in his book “Blood and Belonging” refuse to revise their positions when in who has accomplished a lot in a short the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of (1993). 2004 they observed a people’s national period of time in the Canadian the century.” Even after Ukraine attained indepen- spirit, as Ukrainians traveled from all Parliament,” he noted. “His removal from dence in 1991, for the sixth time in its parts of Ukraine to the capital, Kyiv, to the shadow Cabinet undermines the history, Mr. Ignatieff questioned stage the Orange Revolution in Liberal Party’s professed allegiance to Ukrainians’ claim of a national identity Independence Square? The demonstrators diversity and inclusiveness, and throws a FOR THE RECORD: apart from Russia. “I feel like declaring were immovable even when rumors flew dark shadow over Michael Ignatieff’s my basic prejudices on arrival,” he writes. of Russian tanks and planes crossing the support for traditional Liberal values.” “Isn’t nationalism just an exercise in border into Ukraine. Indeed, this brought “Ukrainian Canadians need to unite A letter to Ignatieff kitsch, in fervent emotional insincerity? out more supporters for, in fighting for and refuse to be treated as second-class Following is the text of a February Especially so in Ukraine. It has been part free elections, Ukrainians understood that by a new Liberal leader who has repeat- 2 letter sent by Prof. Lubomyr Luciuk of Russia for centuries.” the “shield against its enemies is its own edly shown in his past behavior a con- of Kingston, Ontario, to Liberal “Into this inauthentic void streams identity, vigorously asserted and framed tempt for Ukrainians. If Mr. Ignatieff con- Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff. nationalist emotionalism,” he continues, by a commitment to democratic values,” tinues to treat Ukrainian Canadians in “striving to convince them that there as articulated by Ukrainian-born Soviet such a manner, the Ukrainian Canadian Dear Dr. Ignatieff: always was a Ukrainian nation; that it has dissident, political prisoner and Israeli community should bring home to the I was very disappointed to learn that been suppressed for centuries; that it has Cabinet Minister Natan Sharansky in Liberal Party the realization that you have removed Mr. Borys at last found its freedom, and so on. The “Defending Identity” (2008). Ukrainian Canadians have a choice in a Wrzesnewskyj from his position as reality is different.” Mr. Ignatieff guides us to the answer to democracy – that is, to vote for alterna- Liberal critic of government multicul- Where have we heard this sentiment his inability, on this subject of Ukrainians, tive political parties. Ukrainian Canadians turalism and Canadian heritage poli- expressed more recently, although more to think rationally and act justly in Blood should bring this message home by unit- cies. Over the course of several years succinctly? Ah yes, in Sochi on April 4, in Belonging: “My difficulty in taking ing with other ethnic communities who I have found myself to be increasingly 2008, when President Vladimir Putin Ukraine seriously goes deeper than just have suffered from Russian oppression,” impressed by Mr. Wrzesnewskyj’s tutored President George W. Bush on my cosmopolitan suspicion of nationalists Dr. Kuzio underscored. intelligent, determined and effective everywhere. Somewhere inside, I’m also Dr. Kuzio’s suggestion will find reso- leadership. He has certainly been very Myroslava Oleksiuk of Toronto is edi- what Ukrainians would call a Great nance among many Canadians who do widely appreciated for this work within tor of e-POSHTA Internet weekly. Russian, and there is just a trace of old not regret that the Soviet Union fell apart Canadian Ukrainian circles, particu- larly with respect to the redress issue, which you personally affirmed your commitment to. As such, your recent decision to demote him – particularly given the concerns with which many members of our community have regarded some of your writings and public statements on Ukraine – is now fueling renewed angst about your intentions with respect to our community’s interests. May I recom- mend that you either reinstate Mr. Wrzesnewskyj to his previous role or afford him an even more responsible one so that he can continue to serve our country well.

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www.ukrweekly.com No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 9 NEWS ANALYSIS: The Russian-Central European gas conflict continues by Roman Kupchinsky Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev. tinue receiving cheap gas (most likely of from RUE, Hungary will stand to lose Eurasia Daily Monitor Mr. Medvedev, however, is also a mem- Central Asian origin), it would have to billions of dollars and the current govern- February 6 ber of the RUE coordinating committee, give Gazprom access to the management ment of Ferenc Gyurcsany, which has along with two other Gazprom deputy of the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe dogmatically supported Russia’s gas strat- While the Ukrainian-Russian gas con- CEOs who jointly represent Gazprom’s 50 pipeline as well as the right to operate in egy, will have to explain why it supported flict appears to have been resolved, its percent ownership of the company. the Polish domestic market. Mr. Firtash’s fly-by-night scheme. Were fallout is still reverberating throughout The mystery of this arrangement is The Russian portion of the pipeline is bribes distributed to members of the Central Europe. why Gazprom created the scheme allow- owned and operated by Gazprom. The Gyurcsany government by Russian and In Poland, RosUkrEnergo (RUE), the ing Gazprom Export to compete with Belarusian section is owned by Gazprom pro-Russian companies to allow Emfesz Swiss based middleman that was dropped RUE in sales to Poland and other mar- and operated by Beltransgaz, the Belarus to remain in business or was permission from the Ukrainian-Russian-Central kets. Why did it allow two private state-owned pipeline company that is 25 freely given? Interestingly enough, in Asian gas trade on January 20, has failed Ukrainian entrepreneurs, Dmytro Firtash percent owned by Gazprom. The Polish 2005 the European Commission stated to meet its contractual obligations to sup- and Ivan Fursin, to make hundreds of section is owned and operated by that the “independent character of Emfesz ply the Polish oil and gas distribution millions of dollars for a number of years, EuRoPol Gaz S.A., a joint venture of was questionable” (EU Regulation No. company Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i thus depriving Gazprom of substantial Polish PGNiG and Russia’s Gazprom 138/2004). This was apparently ignored Gazownictwo (PGNiG) with 7 million profits and the Russian budget of cash? (each with 48 percent of the shares) and by the Hungarian government in its rush cubic meters of gas per day. The Polish Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk Polish Gas-Trading S.A. (4 percent). to please the Kremlin. business daily Puls Biznesu reported on was quoted by the UNIAN news service RUE was apparently being used by the RUE is also under contract to supply January 29 that PGNiG was considering on January 28 as saying that he intended Kremlin to pressure the Poles into accept- 1.5 bcm of gas to Romania (Kommersant, suing RUE for breach of contract. to raise this matter with Russian Prime ing Russian gas hegemony, and this tactic January 28). Will it be able to meet this According to Kommersant of January Minister Vladimir Putin at the World has now been resurrected by Prime commitment or will Gazprom be faced 28, RUE failed to meet deliveries because Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Minister Putin and President Dmitry with a slew of new lawsuits for nonper- on January 20 Naftohaz Ukrayiny bought Mr. Tusk apparently is concerned by Medvedev of Russia. formance? RUE’s $1.7 billion debt from Gazprom Gazprom’s demand that Poland lower its Although RosUkrEnergo was excluded The consequences of RUE’s shady role and then took possession of 11 billion transit fee for Russian gas going to from the Gazprom-Naftohaz scheme, it are becoming more evident daily. Mr. cubic meters (bcm) of RUE’s gas in Europe via the Yamal-Europe pipeline, as still has a number of active contracts with Putin put together a crooked scheme; and Ukrainian underground storage facilities, compensation to Gazprom for delivering other European countries, including together with Dmitry Medvedev, Alexei effectively preventing the export of this the 7 million cubic meters a day that RUE Romania and Hungary. Miller, Leonid Kuchma, Mr. Firtash, gas to RUE’s clients. could no longer provide. In Hungary, RUE has been deeply Semen Mogilevich and scores of others, Poland imports 76 percent of its annual The conflict over RUE and gas sup- involved in selling gas to Emfesz, a com- he has defrauded the Russian and consumption of 14 bcm of gas, and 90 plies to Poland from Russia did not begin pany established by Mr. Firtash in 2003 Ukrainian people and denied them the percent of this comes from Russia and in 2009, however. On August 9, 2006, the when he was secretly heading Eural Trans services they deserve from their elected Central Asia. In 2006 PGNiG signed a Polish daily Rzeczpospolita reported that Gas, the predecessor of RUE. Emfesz officials. three-year contract with RUE to buy 2.3 PGNiG was on the verge of dropping its operates on the Hungarian domestic mar- bcm of Central Asian gas per year. The contract with RUE over a dispute involv- ket and is currently the second largest gas The article above is reprinted from remaining 6.2 bcm was contracted for ing new Gazprom demands – some would importer in Hungary, supplying 3 bcm Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission with Gazprom Export, a 100 percent sub- call it blackmail. Gazprom was apparent- annually (www.emfesz.hu). from its publisher, the Jamestown sidiary of Gazprom headed by Gazprom ly insisting that if Poland wanted to con- If Emfesz can no longer obtain gas Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

COMMENTARY: The gas wars, Russian lies and European interests by Oksana Bashuk Hepburn per 1,000 cubic meters of gas – as tem- of the gas war. ment, distribution – that had been diversi- peratures fell, Russia insisted Ukraine Despite some well-earned criticism of fied during Soviet times. Hence Russia’s It is widely believed that had Ukraine pay outstanding debts immediately or else Russia, much international coverage, par- attacks on Georgia and now on Ukraine rejected interest in NATO membership or it would receive no more gas. Ukraine ticularly television, has been transmitted (where Russia also aims to exert political allowed political quarrels of the last two obliged, but Russia demanded repayment from Moscow with accompanying bias. control), both key to such control. months to replace pro-Ukraine’s Prime of penalties too. The matter being before Thus, Ukraine’s concern about the one- But time is working against Russia. In Minister Tymoshenko with pro-Russia’s an international tribunal, Ukraine refused. sidedness of monitors was justified. On addition to lower gas prices and talk in Viktor Yanukovych, Russia would not Russia then raised prices to $210, then January 10 Prime Minister Tymoshenko Europe of supply diversification, there have been harassing it or threatening $250, then $450, then $470. And then insisted that the process must be fair and are rumors that relations between Russia Europe by turning off gas supplies. Russia turned off the taps. balanced; she demanded that Russia’s gas and key producers – Kazakhstan and Furthermore, Russia’s nasty behavior Then Russia lied. It stated that as a reli- supply be included in the monitoring pro- Turkmenistan – are strained. It must act is designed to recoup some of its lost pet- able partner it had not turned off the gas – cess, and that Ukraine have equal repre- now, therefore, or lose the advantage per- ro-dollars and address the concern that its it was Ukraine that had stopped transmit- sentation on the monitoring team. manently. In this latest gas confrontation energy advantage may be curtailed. Thus, ting. Then Russia changed its story. Yes, it In this latest gas war Russia lied and Russia is waiting for the other side – Russia is resorting to deception and brib- had turned off the gas because Ukraine demonstrated again that as far as its polit- Ukraine and EU – to blink. ery to get its way. was siphoning off energy. President ical or economic ends are concerned, the Ukraine’s interests in the gas war need Here’s why. Dmitry Medvedev and Alexei Miller of ends justify the means. Russia under- to be fiercely protected. Its interests are Russia has benefited handsomely from Gazprom, proclaimed publicly that scored its aim of exclusive control of the all of Europe’s interests and, ultimately, the energy boom, allowing the state to re- Ukraine was a thief. Ukraine denied this entire gas system –production, refine- that of the entire globe. build a substantial war machine, provide and called for international monitors. At assistance to Communist states like Cuba first Russia refused, then agreed – but only and Venezuela, and win wars against little if its conditions were met. Chechnya and, most recently, Georgia. The conditions were unilateral and Making contact with The Weekly Although there’s been little improvement posed a danger not just to Ukraine but to to Russian lives – mainly to oligarchs in Europe. Bowing to them would have Readers/writers who send information or queries to The centers like St. Petersburg and Moscow – encouraged Russia’s continued outra- Ukrainian Weekly are kindly asked to include a daytime its wealth spawned influence, including geous behavior and further destabilization phone number and a complete mailing address. Please note membership in Group of Eight, and the of the globe in these precarious times. ability to call the shots on Ukraine’s Russia’s one-sided conditions demand- that a daytime phone number is essential in order for editors membership in NATO. ed that only Russian and European Union to contact correspondents regarding additional information, The fall of 2008, however, brought representatives comprise the inspection clarifications, questions, etc. change. The global economy tanked, and team, and that the monitoring be restrict- the sky fell on energy prices. Suddenly ed to Ukraine’s pipeline. There was to be Russia was poorer and less powerful. One no monitoring of Russia’s delivery at the way to recoup losses was to exert pres- source. Germany’s Chancellor Angela sure on Ukraine, a thorn in Russia’s side Merkel participated in negotiating these Want to see since the Orange Revolution and a key terms. Keeping in mind that her predeces- element in the energy sector as its pipe- sor, Gerhard Schroeder, joined Gazprom your name in print? lines carry most of Russia’s gas to shortly after leaving his post, it is not sur- Europe. prising that Germany hoped to get away Then why not become a correspondent of Despite two energy agreements with a position favoring Russia. The Ukrainian Weekly in your community? between both countries’ presidents and Ukrainians know this. Their country prime ministers – setting a price of $192 has been sold out before by Western pow- We welcome submissions from all our Ukrainian communities, no matter ers determined to placate Russia at its where they are located. Let the rest of us know what you’re up to in your Oksana Bashuk Hepburn, a political expense. The centralization of the former corner of the Ukrainian diaspora! commentator and editor of the bilingual Soviet Union’s nuclear power in Russia’s quarterly Nasha Doroha, has served fre- hands is an excellent, if troubling, exam- Any questions? Call The Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext. 3049. quently as an elections monitor. ple. So is much of the media’s coverage 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7 NEWS AND VIEWS: Verkhovna Rada interns meet in Kyiv

The interns of the Verkhovna Rada meet with Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program Director Ihor Bardyn (center).

by Ruslana Kostina members of the Canadian House of Toronto, who is currently teaching at the age the interns to compare the work of their Commons. CUPP was the first program of National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Parliament with that of other more estab- KYIV – Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary assistance to Ukraine by the Diaspora in Academy under the Yaremko Lectureship lished Parliaments in order to improve the Program (CUPP) Director Ihor Bardyn met Canada, and was established upon agree- Program of Katedra Foundation; Lucia governance of the country. recently with the 2008-2009 interns of the ment with the Speaker of the Canadian Hicks of the CUPP Program Selection He encouraged the Rada Interns to pur- Verkhovna Rada. Parliament, John Fraser, in 1990. The first Committee; CUPP 2009 Coordinators sue graduate studies abroad and to seek out The Verkhovna Rada internship program CUPP Interns arrived in Ottawa in the spring Ruslana Kostina, a graduate of Mykolaiv other opportunities for internships with is sponsored by the Association of former European institutions and governing agen- members of the U.S. Congress in coopera- of 1991. In the fall of 2009 the House of University of Shipbuilding who is currently Commons will welcome participants of the completing graduate studies at Haugesund/ cies, and bring this experience back to their tion with the University of Indiana and was homeland. started in 1995. Both the CUPP and Rada 27th internship program. Stord University in Norway, and Oleksander The meeting, held on November 25, Pankiv, a graduate of the University of Lviv, The meeting concluded with a lengthy programs are similar in that both are housed question and answer session over tea and and function within the structures of 2008, took place in the Great Hall of the Faculty of Law. Verkhovna Rada’s Committees Building on Mr. Bardyn spoke about the 18-year his- coffee. Parliament, of Ukraine and Canada, respec- “We are very pleased that the meeting Hrushevsky Boulevard opposite the tory of CUPP, the achievements of some tively. with Ihor Bardyn was the first meeting of Verkhovna Rada. CUPP graduates and the possibility of link- The key difference between the programs this year’s VR Internship Program,” said Attending the meeting was Maryna ing the two internships in a joint program. is that the Rada interns complete their intern- Ms. Rudenko, coordinator of the Verkhovna ship by working, in most cases, with the Rudenko, director of the Verkhovna Rada He also urged the Verkhovna Rada interns to Rada program. “It was extremely interesting various committees of Verkhovna Rada. Program; Prof. Stephen Velychenko, Chair question the political culture of their CUPP interns work directly with individual of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Parliament and its practices, and to encour- (Continued on page 19)

Levchenko, the chair of Memory Charter. “I A massive water tower overlooking the “They [the victims] were robbed, looking Eastern Ukrainians... know the mercantile thoughts of our mayor. monument will be painted to depict a can- for rescue, and instead found their final rest- (Continued from page 3) He would have put such a price on it as to dle. Meanwhile, the fence in the monu- ing place and last breath of life,” Mr. officials called the station and ordered make it impossible, which is what he is ment’s background depicts a vibrant, idyllic Levchenko said. “The place reflects the General Director Volodymyr Tkachenko to doing with our Ukrainian Orthodox Ukrainian countryside “with certain charac- tragedy, and we will honor this as the place never show the film again, Ms. Mahrytska Church.” teristics of Ukrainian natural wealth – God’s where the casualties lie.” said. What Mr. Levchenko realized was that ideal where Ukrainians lived,” Mr. Kyiv researchers are also playing a criti- On the eve of the broadcast, both Ms. one of the town’s most tragic sites during Levchenko said. cal role in reviving eastern Ukraine’s memo- Mahrytska and her film were smeared in the the Holodomor, its railway station, was Once the monument was envisioned, the ry, on February 10 presenting “Pavlohrad local media. Afterwards, the State Oblast beyond the mayor’s control. That land Memory Charter needed permission from Uprising 1930: Documents and Materials,” Administration “ended all contact with me,” belonged to UkrZaliznytsia, the nation’s Kyiv. a 380-page book published this month by she said. “They thought I couldn’t do the railway monopoly. Realizing he needed to recruit some the Ukrainskyi Pysmennyk publishing house film without them. The general director was Based on the testimonies of several heavy hitters to his cause, Mr. Levchenko and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). a brave man for showing it, and I don’t even Myrhorod survivors of the Holodomor, Mr. hopped on the Internet and made attempts to While much is finally known of the infi- know if he still has his job.” Levchenko and other researchers concluded contact diaspora organizations, drawing the nite suffering imposed on the Ukrainian For all her struggles, Ms. Mahrytska said that nine mass graves containing tens of attention of Mykola Mischenko’s Ukrainian people, unable to defend themselves because the rewards are worth it. Walking in her thousands of corpses lie underneath and Genocide Famine Foundation U.S.A. and of Soviet gun control laws, researchers are neighborhood, she overheard two women around the train station. the Ivan Bahriany Foundation, both based in beginning to offer the public more informa- discuss the film. “They taught us that those These Holodomor victims came to Chicago. tion on the citizens’ revolts in the years lead- scum were heroes – (Stanislav) Kosior, Myrhorod from surrounding villages in a They learned that Vice Prime Minister for ing up to the Holodomor. (Yona) Yakir, (Klyment) Voroshylov,” Ms. desperate bid for food at the nearby Humanitarian Affairs Dmytro Tabachnyk, In April 1930 villagers throughout the Mahrytska overheard. Vynohradov Mill, which was processing the notorious for his derisive comments about Pavlohrad district of the Dnipropetrovsk To this day, a Luhansk city block bears corn and grain that had been confiscated Ukrainian culture, was going to attend a Oblast could no longer tolerate the Soviet the name Yakir, who commanded Soviet from them. financial forum in Chicago in December government’s violent brutality and attempt- Ukrainian army divisions during the “The burial brigades dug graves at the 2006. The diaspora leaders made an offer ed an uprising. They formed alliances with Holodomor, while the city center is adorned railway because it was convenient and away that Mr. Tabachnyk apparently couldn’t peasants in neighboring districts as well. with the statue of Voroshylov, the Soviet from the city center,” Mr. Levchenko said. refuse, and the order came from Kyiv to the “This event refutes separate assertions on military hero in whose honor Luhansk was Despite numerous letters to city, oblast Myrhorod railway station director to allow the Ukrainian people’s submissive accep- named Voroshylovhrad until 1990. and state officials, the Memory Charter the monument. tance of the government’s policy, which led “It was great to see people react positive- received no moral support from the govern- “Tabachnyk was awaiting funds from to the massive destruction of the population ly to the film’s message,” Ms. Mahrytska ment, so it turned to Bishop Fedir of the these folks, so he couldn’t turn them down,” by hunger, and directs scholars toward fun- said. “The film broke stereotypes that the Poltava Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Mr. Levchenko said. “The events coincided, damental work on the anti-Soviet movement Holodomor didn’t happen in Luhansk Church – Kyiv Patriarchate. “Without your and we managed to force him. If he weren’t in Ukraine during the 20th century,” said Dr. because its residents were never exposed to blessing, this matter will fail,” Mr. in Chicago, we might not have a monument Vasyl Danylenko, the director of the SBU this information.” Levchenko told the spiritual leader, who under way.” archives who compiled the extensive collec- While the residents of Myrhorod in the gave the monument project his blessing. Construction began in April 2007, and tion of Soviet documents related to the Poltava Oblast are largely aware and The monument’s construction consists of $12,000 of the needed $27,000 has been uprising. respectful of the Holodomor’s devastation several phases; the first, already completed, raised from 2,500 donors. Among the con- Largely deprived of weapons and poor- on their city and district, Mayor is a 10-foot granite silhouette of the tributors were Myrhorod residents, includ- ly organized, the few hundred villagers Oleksander Pautov of the Party of Regions Orthodox cross at the monument’s base. A ing local activists Oleksander and Valentyna inflicted 30 casualties in the battles of isn’t much interested. Although he recently temporary wooden cross stands atop the Ksionzenko; Oleksii Konowal and Ivan April 5 and 6, while incurring 13 losses established monuments of a jolly Kozak four-tiered concrete foundation, to be Derkach of Chicago; and Olha Matula of the themselves. As a result, 360 insurgents and Mykola Hohol in the city center, local replaced by a sculpture of a woman, her Sisterhood of St. Olha and Liudmyla were arrested, and 210 were swiftly prose- activists with the Memory Charter civic arms extended in Christ-like crucifixion, Murphy (nee Ksionzenko) of Washington. cuted, receiving prison sentences of three group didn’t bother asking him for a looking sorrowfully at the sky. Mr. Levchenko urges any other interested to 10 years. Another 27 were executed by Holodomor monument. “It will have a symbolic appearance, donors to contact him, or the Ksionzenkos, gunfire, while 19 were freed. Myrhorod has two churches for its crucified on the shackles of our captivity, through their relative, Ms. Murphy. “From the example of the Pavlohrad 40,000-plus residents (compared to seven our enslavement, which the whole world Ukrainian dissident legend Lev uprising we see how organized, spontane- before the Holodomor), both under the recognizes as an unprecedented catastro- Lukianenko, chair of the Holodomor ous and uncoordinated actions on the Moscow Patriarchate. When the Ukrainian phe of the Ukrainian people,” Mr. Researchers Association, and nationalist level of instinctual self-defense were Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate asked Levchenko said. “She prays to the sky for leader Oleh Tiahnybok, have already visited nipped in the bud in Soviet Ukraine,” Dr. Mr. Pautov, an ethnic Russian, for land to rescue … because the earth betrayed her. the monument-in-progress. Mr. Mischenko Danylenko said. The government, he build a church, the mayor agreed, offering She is degraded, offended and betrayed will arrive for its dedication when it is final- underscored, “used unbelievably fierce an exorbitant, unaffordable price. but not conquered, because she is Ukraine. ly complete and restores historical memory measures to completely exterminate this “On the one hand, I am a maximalist, but She will live as long as the sun shines, and in a corner of the train station once covered freedom-loving national spirit on a genet- on the other hand, I am realistic,” said Andrii the sun shines eternally.” in garbage and weeds. ic level.” No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 11 St. Nicholas Cathedral School rolls out the welcome mat by Maria Kulczycky firm foundation in Ukrainian language and culture with an understanding of the CHICAGO – St. Nicholas Cathedral traditions of the Byzantine rite as prac- School extended a warm welcome to the ticed in Eastern Churches. St. Nicholas entire community on Sunday, January 25, Cathedral School has been a full-day when it held an open house as part of school for more than 70 years, with Catholic Schools Week in Chicago. numerous school clubs and an extended A strategic campaign had been after-school. It has offered Ukrainian launched weeks earlier, with posters and studies for interested youth since 1906. leaflets announcing the event in stores, libraries, financial institutions, coffee Many Ukrainian community leaders houses, supermarkets and churches. took their first academic steps at St. Church bulletins, newspaper ads and web Nicholas. Alumni include the nation’s announcements were part of the promo- current assistant surgeon general, two tion, supplementing a direct mailing to Olympians, a state senator, two state rep- 3,000 families in the surrounding area. A resentatives, as well as many physicians, video commercial was created and posted lawyers, educators, journalists and other on YouTube. professionals, who are the mainstay of On an unseasonably cold day, with the the Chicago and the Ukrainian communi- Student Ambassadors Yuliana Nalysnyk (class of 2009) and Khrystyna Vatseba streets covered in snow, multi-colored ty in the United States. (2009), Principal Maria Klysh-Finiak (1968) School Board member and former balloons festooned the school building to The focus at St. Nicholas is to provide president of DeVry University Oleh Skubiak (1964) and his wife, Luba (1967), welcome visitors. Members of the admin- a solid grounding in academics with an welcome visitors to St. Nicholas School’s open house. istration, faculty, staff, students, alumni emphasis on discipline, character, integri- and parents were present to tell the story ty, values and an appreciation of cultural tage,” noted Principal Maria Klysh-Finiak it convenient for parents commuting from of a school with a distinguished history differences within a nurturing educational (class of 1968) “Our students score above- the suburbs who work in the Loop (about and an enviable record of excellence in environment. Graduates are accepted, average in standardized tests in each grade one mile from the school) to pick up chil- education. often with scholarships, at the area’s top level. We raise the academic bar at St. dren after the workday. Located in the heart of the Ukrainian private and public schools. Many go on to Nicholas to challenge our students.” “For Ukrainian families in particular, this Village and conveniently accessible to the win scholastic honors. St. Nicholas offers an early childhood is a very effective way to provide a Loop, the school has provided not only a “We continue a long tradition of sound program (accredited by the National Ukrainian education within an outstanding superior learning environment, but also a education enriched by our cultural heri- Association for the Education of Young academic program,” explained the Very Children) for 3- and 4-year-olds in addi- Rev. Bohdan Nalysnyk, rector of St. tion to the standard kindergarten and Nicholas Cathedral. “We have invested grade 1 through 8 elementary school cur- riculum. An after-school program makes (Continued on page 18)

Bishop Richard Seminack, Family School Association President Jacqueline Owerko (class of 1983) and Rector Bohdan Nalysnyk at the open house. The girls’ varsity volleyball team stages a scrimmage in the school gym for visitors.

of the $16.5 billion stand-by loan from Tymoshenko seeks... the IMF, in November 2008. (Continued from page 1) Petro Poroshenko, head of the National FOR THE RECORD: Statement The IMF mission also stated, “The Bank Council, reacted to the news by sharper-than-expected contraction in eco- saying that Ukraine’s failure to receive by head of IMF mission to Ukraine nomic activity requires a recalibration of the next tranche of the IMF loan “will economic policies. In particular, the IMF have devastating consequences for the WASHINGTON – A mission from deficit has started to narrow and, despite team and the authorities have discussed entire European economy.” An Associated the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the currency depreciation, inflation has potential revisions to the program’s bal- Press story reported that European banks headed by Ms. Ceyla Pazarbasioglu has continued to decline. The diagnostic anced budget target for 2009, taking into have major stakes in Ukraine’s financial been holding discussions with phase of the bank recapitalization pro- account the availability of financing.” institutions and that Europe relies on Ukrainian authorities regarding the first gram has been completed, and its effec- Discussions are ongoing “on appropriate Ukraine for steel and grain exports, as review of Ukraine’s stand-by arrange- tive implementation should help restore fiscal measures, monetary and exchange well as the transit of Russian natural gas. ment with the fund. confidence in the banking system. rate policies, and measures to strengthen In the United States, State Department Ms. Pazarbasioglu issued the follow- “The sharper-than-expected contrac- confidence in the banking system,” the Acting Spokesman Robert Wood was ing statement on February 6 on the sta- tion in economic activity requires a tus of discussions. recalibration of economic policies. In IMF said. asked on February 10 whether the U.S. “Since the adoption of the IMF- particular, the IMF team and the author- Several days later, on February 10, The would come to Ukraine’s aid with finan- supported program, the global economic ities have discussed potential revisions Wall Street Journal reported that the IMF cial support. After stating that the U.S. is environment has deteriorated markedly. to the program’s balanced budget target was likely to suspend loan payments to “a strong supporter of Ukraine’s IMF pro- Ukraine’s economy has not been exclud- for 2009, taking into account the avail- Kyiv. “Ukraine is failing to meet the gram,” Mr. Wood said, “Ukraine is an important partner for the United States. ed from this process. The economic situ- ability of financing. The ongoing dis- terms of its loan deal with the IMF, and ation remains difficult associated with cussions are focusing on appropriate We’d have to take a look at the request, likely won’t get the next installment this decline in demand for steel products and fiscal measures, monetary and exchange should one come in.” month, according to a person close to the sharply reduced access to interna- rate policies, and measures to strength- In Europe, according to Bloomberg talks between the fund and the govern- tional capital markets. While the eco- en confidence in the banking system. ment in Kiev [sic],” wrote the Journal’s News, a group of six banks is pressing nomic outlook for Ukraine has become “Significant progress has been made Alan Cullison. the European Union to organize financial more uncertain, the underlying dyna- in discussions on fiscal, monetary and The story also pointed out that an IMF aid for countries to its east, including mism of the economy and a consistent exchange rate policies, and on measures mission left Ukraine last week without an Ukraine and Romania. implementation of sound policies should to strengthen confidence in the banking agreement that would have allowed fur- Among the signs that Ukraine’s econo- allow a gradual resumption of growth. system, but a few issues remain out- ther disbursements of loan tranches and my is in deep trouble: Ukraine’s currency “The authorities have responded to standing. Discussions between the quoted Ms. Pazarbasioglu as saying, “fur- has lost about 40 percent of its value in these challenges. The currency has Ukrainian authorities and fund staff on ther actions, including structural fiscal 2008, the gross domestic product is undergone a large adjustment, which has these issues will continue in the coming measures, are needed for us to recom- expected to decline by 5 percent in 2009, improved the outlook for Ukraine’s weeks, and we expect the mission to mend completion of the review.” Ukraine and the annual inflation rate now stands export industries. The current account return soon to complete discussions.” had received $4.5 billion, the first tranche at more than 20 percent. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7 No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 13 TRAVELS: Skiing and shopping in Ukraine’s Carpathian winter wonderland by Victoria Varvariv Markowicz another possibility – this can be very “romantic.” The resort has snow-making For our second winter holiday season in machines that can provide “fresh snow,” no Ukraine, my daughter, my husband and I matter what the weather forecast is. spent four nights, five days in December Bukovel visitors can rent what they need 2008 at the lovely ski resort of Bukovel in for skiing, and items that can be purchased the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine. We at the one and only pricey boutique include took a direct train from Kyiv, reserving the ski clothing, gloves, goggles and sunglasses. whole wagon’s compartment, and were in The resort provides the option of buying ski Ivano-Frankivsk 12 hours later. It was then lift passes for a variety of time periods, another two hours by car to Bukovel. including mornings or afternoons (half- Bukovel is said to be Ukraine’s first days), a day or for several days. There is world-class resort with 14 ski lifts on beauti- also a small grocer, pharmacy and ice skat- ful slopes covering 50 kilometers. Its base ing rink open daily and in the evenings in elevation is almost 900 meters above sea Bukovel. level, making it the second highest ski resort Last year, we made reservations at the in the Carpathian Mountains after resort’s Bukovel Hotel and were pleased. Drahobrat. Breakfast was in the Restaurant Kozachok, The slopes accommodate all levels of housed in the hotel’s reception “main” build- skiing and snowboarding experience. There ing. This year we noticed that the hotel is a nice ski shool for children, and lessons capacity, composed of many log buildings, for adults are also available. Night skiing is had expanded during the past year as a result of new construction. We were unhappy with Victoria Varvariv Markowicz, the our room this year because of its distance daughter of Olena Kozar Warvariv and from the main building and our favorite ski the late Constantine Warvariv, is a first- slope. Last year we were next to the main generation Ukrainian American born in building. As a result, I insisted on another New York City. An artist, she holds a B.A. room and, after some persistence on my in art history (American University, part, we were offered a room at the new Paris), an M.A. in aesthetics and a doc- Shelter Hotel located right by our favorite torate in fine arts (both from the ski lifts/slopes. University of Paris, Pantheon- Sorbonne). We were delighted with our room at the She has exhibited her works at over 50 Shelter Hotel even though we had to pay an group and individual exhibitions in upgrade. My husband and I had a double Europe and North America. She is mar- bed, and there was a very comfortable “fold- ried to fellow Ukrainian American John out” in the adjoining room for our daughter, Markowicz, who was the U.S. Defense Maryna. We had a huge bathroom with tub, and Army attaché in Slovakia in telephone, shower, sink and WC, and in our 1997-2000, and since then has worked room there was a large flat screen TV for a U.S. defense contractor providing mounted on the wall, a CD player and a military transformation assistance both mini-bar. In addition, there were two tiny to the Slovak and Ukrainian armed forc- balconies from which I could observe my es. Ms. Varvariv now resides in Kyiv with daughter and husband on the slopes. These her husband and daughter, Maryna mini-balconies also doubled as a “refrigera- Ivanna, who attends sixth grade at the Maryna and John Markowicz at the Bukovel Ski Resort. Kyiv International School. (Continued on page 22)

A view of the Bukovel Ski Resort. A snowy day in the Carpathians. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7

cy, and no one can doubt its fairness. At the NEWSBRIEFS same time, one should not speak about CLACLASSSSIFIEDIFIEDSS (Continued from page 2) defeat of one or another party. This is a vic- Tymoshenko at Munich conference tory of the common sense,” the ambassador TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 said. Commenting on the judgment, Mr. OR E-MAIL [email protected] KYIV – Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Vassylenko said that the court satisfied the Tymoshenko said at the 45th Munich claims of neither party. Ukraine’s Vice Security Conference on February 7 that “the Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleksander SERVICES PROFESSIONALS time is ripe for great, large-scale agreements Kupchyshyn underlined that with this and serious work” due to the global financial delimitation line the court demarcated downturn. She said that only through joint exclusive economic zones of Ukraine and efforts is it possible to overcome the fallout Romania in the ratio of 2:1 in favor of from the global financial slowdown. Ms. Ukraine, with Ukraine receiving a larger Tymoshenko said one should speak not only water area to explore and extract oil and about the responsibility of states’ leaders – gas. The diplomat also said that Ukraine in particular, those of powerful states – for kept 21 developed fields out of 24. “This developments in their countries, but their now opens huge opportunities for practical responsibility for the financial and economic exploitation of these fields. We should not position all across the globe, as all countries now speak about who has lost and who has are interconnected. (Ukrinform) won. We have to start working there,” he underscored. (Ukrinform) Calls for Donetsk-Kryvyi Rih republic 46,000 became Ukrainian citizens KYIV – Calls for the creation of the so- called Donetsk-Kryvyi Rih Republic, which KYIV – The Ukrainian president’s com- were issued in Donetsk, might be a political mission on citizenship this year considered provocation caused by national and foreign a package of statements from 891 individu- opponents to Ukraine’s authorities. “The als on acquiring and relinquishing Ukrainian non-governmental organization, called the citizenship. The commission decided to Donetsk Republic, which supports the grant Ukrainian citizenship to 425 people, revival of the Soviet republic of Donetsk while 343 individuals decided to relinquish and Kryvyi Rih, including several south- it. In 2008 Ukrainian citizenship was grant- eastern Ukrainian regions, is a marginal and ed to 45,873 people and 5,456 relinquished small organization that exists only thanks to their citizenship. In 2008 Ukrainian citizen- support from pro-Russian forces in Ukraine ship was granted in the highest numbers to and abroad,” said the director of the Russians (32 percent), Armenians (17 per- Donetsk-based Institute for Social Studies cent), Azerbaijanis (8 percent) and and Political Analysis, Volodymyr Kipen. Moldovans (7 percent). All of the new citi- Run your advertisement here, He added that this separatist movement has zens have a certain degree of education in The Ukrainian Weekly’s always stepped up its activities at the start (higher education, 26 percent; specialized CLASSIFIEDS section. of powers struggle in Ukraine and at signs secondary education, 19 percent; and sec- of the worsening of the country’s economic ondary education, 51 percent). Applicants situation. Mr. Kipen said that provocative from 49 countries obtained Ukrainian citi- actions by separatists could be part of the zenship last year. (Ukrinform) MERCHANDISE street protests announced by the Party of Regions against the policies of the govern- Nazar and Anastasia most popular ment led by Prime Minister Yulia KYIV – Nazar and Anastasia were the Tymoshenko. (Ukrinform) most popular names during the registration Both sides say ICJ verdict is fair… of newborn babies in Ukraine in 2008, according to the press service of the Justice KYIV – Ukraine’s President Viktor Ministry. The list of the most popular male Yushchenko and his Romanian counterpart, names includes Danylo, Maksym, Traian Basescu, have confirmed that the Vladyslav, Mykyta, Artem, Kyrylo, Ihor, FOR SALE two countries accept the verdict on demar- Illia, Andriy, Bohdan, Denys, Dmytro, cation of the continental shelf and exclusive Yaroslav, Oleksander and Volodymyr. The For sale in Kerhonkson: Brick raised economic zones of Ukraine and Romania in most popular female names are Angelina, ranch on 1.24 acres. 4 bed 3.5 bath, the Black Sea announced by the Alina, Daria, Diana, Kateryna, Maria, large living/dining room w hdwd flrs. International Court of Justice (UCJ) at The Natalia, Sofia, Yulia, Viktoria, Yelyzaveta, Upstairs/downstairs kitchens, deck, Hague as fair and definitive. The two presi- Anna, Veronika, Uliana, Oleksandra and family room, office, laundry, garage. Big dents spoke about this by phone, the presi- Khrystyna. Yelisey, Ioann, Hordii, Erast, closets, 1 cedar. (2656 sq.ft.) dential press service reported on February and Demian were among the most popular $245,000. 607-273-2919 5. Mr. Yushchenko noted that the judgment Slavic names in 2008. Foreign names were puts an end to the intricate aspect of bilater- also very popular for newborn children. al relations and de facto means the removal Boys were named Dominic, Herman, Mark, of this problem from the agenda of mutual Robert, Felix, Oscar, Adrian, Harold and relations between Ukraine and Romania. At Jan, while girls were named Nicole, Sabina, the same time, he underlined that the court Camila, Liana, Beata, Evelina, Dominica, ruling opens new possibilities for fruitful Emma, Sabrina, Vanessa, Michelle, Annette, cooperation in all areas of bilateral rela- Carmelita and Isabella. (Ukrinform) tions. Messrs. Yushchenko and Basescu also dwelled on preparations for an official NBU takes over two more banks visit of the Romanian president to Ukraine OPPORTUNITY KYIV – The National Bank of Ukraine on February 25-26 and the holding of the (NBU) took Bank Kyiv under temporary second meeting of the Ukraine-Romania administration on February 9 and Nadra joint presidential commission. Mr. Bank the next day. The central bank earlier EARN EXTRA INCOME! Yushchenko said that the signing, during took Prychornomoria Bank, UkrPromBank, the Romanian president’s visit to Ukraine, The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Natsionalny Kredit Bank and of an intergovernmental agreement on local PromInvestBank under temporary adminis- for advertising sales agents. border movement rules will further promote tration. The media reported earlier that Bank For additional information contact development of contacts between the resi- Kyiv recently had not paid deposits or inter- Maria Oscislawski, Advertising dents of the border regions of Ukraine and est on them to its clients. Bank Kyiv is one Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, Romania. (Ukrinform) of Ukraine’s medium-sized banks, while (973) 292-9800, ext 3040. …Ukraine’s rep at ICJ concurs Nadra Bank is one of the country’s largest. (Ukrinform) KYIV – The judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Rare plants and animals smuggled Hague on demarcation of the continental KYIV – Each year, the profit from the shelf and exclusive economic zones of smuggling of rare plants and animals in WANT IMPACT? Ukraine and Romania (relative to Serpent’s Ukraine is about $200 million (U.S.), Run your advertisement here, Island) is fair and legal, Ukraine’s envoy to reported Volodymyr Boreiko, director of the ICJ, Ambassador Volodymyr Kyiv’s ecology culture center. Birds of in The Ukrainian Weekly’s Vassylenko, announced at a briefing on CLASSIFIEDS section. prey, ginseng, monkeys, boas, crocodiles, February 5. “The decision is fair, legal, it is tropical butterflies, big parrots and other based on the international law and announced by the U.N. main judicial agen- (Continued on page 15) No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 15

tion was held between December 22, 2008, NEWSBRIEFS and January 20 of this year – inauguration (Continued from page 14) day for President Barack Obama. The com- plants and animals enter Ukraine as “grey” petition’s jury, consisting of experts of the contraband, via illegal contracts with zoos, Dipcorpus League, recognized 10 essays as as well as by charter flights from tropical winners. A work by Ivan Horodensky, a countries. Although Ukraine in 1999 rati- student of the international relations depart- fied the Convention on International Trade ment at Lviv’s Ivan Franko National in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and University, earned first place. Almost all the Flora (CITES), only 2 percent to 5 percent winners of the competition wrote that the of such “live commodities” are detained first steps for President Obama in the realm on Ukrainian borders, and over 90 percent of foreign policy should be the following: of rare animals and plants freely pass looking for new ways of fighting terrorism through customs, Mr. Boreiko noted. and a way out of the economic crisis, settle- According to ecologists, Kyiv’s zoo mar- ment of problems with Iraq and Iran, and ket alone annually trades about 400 gray providing assistance in ending confronta- parrots and 150 monkeys whose sale is tions in the Gaza Strip. Another task for Mr. forbidden by CITES. Mr. Boreiko also Obama should be to help end racial and noted that damage is caused not only to religious discrimination. The winners’ the economy of Ukraine, but also to its essays will be published in the mass media natural resources, due to the illegal export and on a website specially created by the from Ukraine, primarily to Europe and Dipcorpus League. (Ukrinform) Russia, of valuable timber, rare early Ukraine’s oldest wood church plants, insects, snakes, lizards, frogs, edi- ble snails, etc. Experts from EcoLaw-Kyiv KYIV – A noted researcher of Ukraine’s attributed the situation to problems with wooden churches, Vasyl Slobodian from the domestic laws, particularly the absence in UkrZakhidProektRestavratsia Institute based the relevant article of the Criminal Code of in Lviv, has established that St. Nicolas Ukraine of a specific list of rare species. Cathedral, located in the village of Stara Moreover, the customs officials lack spe- Skvariava, Zhovkiv district of the Lviv cial training and registers to detect species region, is the oldest wooden church in on the CITES lists. Ecologists are urging Ukraine. The researcher revealed a carved the government and Parliament to settle inscription on the church’s north wall with the problem, proposing the creation of an the date of 1508. The unique church is now agency to stop illegal business with live undergoing restoration and will be turned contraband in Ukraine. (Ukrinform) into a museum. The structure will be Essay contest: “I Am Obama” equipped with a fire prevention system. The iconostasis from the church is also unique: it KYIV – Within the framework of cele- is the only preserved example of the prayer brating its fifth anniversary, the Dipcorpus and holiday row of icons of the mid-16th International Relations Politologists League, century. Local authorities announced plans jointly with the information-resource center to consider the possibility of establishing a of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and the Museum of Art Monuments of the 16th cen- American Library, summed up results of tury including the Skvariava iconostasis in the essay competition titled “I Am Obama: the wooden church of St. Nicholas. 10 Steps in Foreign Policy.” The competi- (Ukrinform)

Tilie Kuzma Decyk

was born June 2, 1916, in Chicago, Illinois to Agnes and Dmytro Kuzma. She took her nursing degree at St Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago and in 1943 joined the US Army Nurses Corps where she served in New Orleans, Wales and Paris. Tillie rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the European-African- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II medal, and a Bronze Star to EAME Theater Ribbon, having participated in the establishment of the first Allied field hospital after the Allied invasion at Normandy and the first Allied hospital in Paris following the liberation of Paris.

After WW II, Tillie returned to Chicago and continued her nursing career in the Veteran’s Administration and completed her bachelor of science degree at DePaul University and master of science at the University of Chicago.

She married Walter Decyk in Chicago in 1950, and they had two daughters, Roxanne and Christine.

Tillie served as a role to model to health professionals and to women, pursuing her career as a psychiatric nurse, nursing educator and hospital administrator at the VA Hospital in North Chicago. Following her retirement from the V.A. in 1972, she continued teaching nursing at Lake Country Junior College. She also served as president of the Lake County Red Cross and was active in other civic organi- zations in Waukegan, Illinois.

Tillie and Walter moved to Sun City Arizona in 1983 where they founded the Ukrainian Club of Sun City. Following Walter’s death in 1993, Tillie served as the president of the club for more than 10 years and was active in other organizations including the World War II Nurses Club and the Women in Armed Forces Memorial. She was a lifelong advocate for recognition of the contribution of women in the military and appreciation for the nursing profession.

Tillie is survived by her daughters Christine Decyk of Chicago, Illinois and Roxanne Decyk of The Hague, Netherlands. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7 THE ARTS: Pianist Roman Rudnytsky completes concert tour YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Globe- ers stranded and unable to fly out of In mid-October 2008, Mr. Rudnytsky one there to date, as it already encom- trotting concert pianist Roman Rudnytsky Thailand due to the occupation and clo- traveled to Venezuela, where he played passes over 40 concerts recently returned home after completing a sure of the two Bangkok airports by polit- recitals in the cities of Merida and Later in the year he will be on tour in number of concert trips during the fall of ical protesters who were trying to topple Maracay, and performed as soloist with Colombia and Venezuela, and will play 2008. the government of then-Prime Minister the Orquesta Sinfonica del Zulia of the several recitals aboard P&O’s cruise ship His most recent one was in Thailand, Somchai Wongsawat. city of Maracaibo. He performed with Oceana (Southampton to Barbados). where he did a tour in the second part of Earlier in the fall, Mr. Rudnytsky did them the Rachmaninoff Concerto No.3 in Currently pending are several engage- November 2008 with recitals in Bangkok, several tours organized by U.S. D minor, Op. 30 – considered by many to ments in several countries through Nakhon Ratchasima (the second- largest Embassies. One was in the Caribbean, be perhaps the most difficult piano con- U.S. Embassies. city), and Chiang Rai in the far north. where he played recitals on the islands of certo in the standard repertoire. Mr. Rudnytsky has now played con- This tour was organized by the binational Antigua, St. Kitts, and Nevis; this was Mr. Rudnytsky will be playing in a certs in over 90 countries. He remains a center American University Alumni, organized by the US Embassy in number of countries during 2009. So far, member of the music faculty of the Dana which has branches all around Thailand. Barbados. Then he traveled to Belgium, these include performances in Honduras School of Music at Youngstown State The tour concluded on November 26, where he played two recitals in Brussels (late February-early March), Britain University. 2008, but Mr. Rudnytsky remained in and also in the Flemish towns of Hasselt, (March and May), Honolulu (mid-April), Thailand until December 15 as he became Genk, and Izegem. He also conducted and his 16th Australian tour (mid-May to one of the approximately 400,000 travel- master classes in the latter. mid-August), which will be his largest Olena Onufriv, artist from Lviv, exhibits in Chicago

CHICAGO – The Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago is hosting an art exhibit by visiting artist Olena Onufriv of Ukraine. This is the artist’s first exhibit in the United States. Ms. Onufriv is a graduate of the Ivan Trush College of Decorative and Applied Art in Lviv and the Lviv Academy of Arts. Her work has been shown at La Galeria in Toledo, and Galeria Nova Rua in Lugo, Spain; Galleria Apt+ in Kassel, Germany (2004); Vuosaari House in Helsinki, Finland (2005); as well as at exhibits in Turkey and Poland in 2006. The largest collection of her works may be found at the Hyatt Hotel in Kyiv. The Chicago exhibit will showcase some of her lovely landscapes captured on canvas, ranging from colorful sun- drenched paintings to sublime views. Ms. Onufriv belongs to a generation of young Ukrainian artists who started working in the 1990s. The exhibit, which opened on Friday, February 6, will continue through February 28. The Ukrainian National Museum is located in the heart of the Ukrainian Village, at 2249 W. Superior St. in Chicago. Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday through Wednesday by appointment only. Admission: adults, $5; children under 12, Free. Parking is available beside the museum. For driving instructions visit the museum’s website at www.ukrainianna- tionalmuseum.org

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Editorial – 3049, 3088 Production – 3063, 3069 Administration – 3041 Advertising – 3040 Subscriptions – 3042 No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 17 Continuum presents “Illuminating Ukraine: Virko Baley and the Avant-Garde” NEW YORK – Continuum, the adven- the Nevada Symphony. turesome new music performance ensem- Grants and commissions have come ble led by Cheryl Seltzer and Joel Sachs, from the National Endowment for the this year celebrates the prodigious Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Ukrainian American composer and musi- Performing Arts, National Symphony cal activist Virko Baley on the occasion Orchestra of Washington, the Project of his 70th birthday with a concert of his 1000-Winnipeg Symphony, the California works, including several premieres, and E.A.R. Unit, Continuum, the New those of major Ukrainian composers he Juilliard Ensemble, the Cleveland has championed. Chamber Symphony, Nevada Symphony Artists performing at the February 22 orchestra and the Nevada State Council concert at New York’s Merkin Concert on the Arts. He is completing his first Hall include Rachel Calloway, mezzo- opera, “Red Earth: Hunger,” themed on soprano; Moran Katz, clarinet; David the Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 in Gresham, bass clarinet; Tom Chiu, violin; Ukraine. Stephanie Griffin, viola; Claire Bryant, Ukrainian music is now prominent cello; Cheryl Seltzer, piano; and Joel among the music of other nations, and Sachs, piano and conductor. native composers’ music best expresses The program will include works by the the richness of their heritage. Valentin following composers: Bibik was a leading figure in the musical • Mr. Baley (born 1938) – “Palm of the life of Kharkiv, an industrial center that Hand” for clarinet, violin and piano boasts a lively musical tradition, with a (world premiere); “Song Without Words” major opera house and two orchestras. for cello and piano (world premiere); Bibik mobilized interest and performanc- “Dance Without Words” for clarinet and es of modern American music. He taught Virko Baley piano (New York Premiere); composition at the Kharkiv Conservatory “Klytemnestra” for mezzo-soprano, clari- and was secretary of the Composers’ serves on the Art Council of the Contrasts The recipient of the Siemens interna- net, violin, cello and piano (New York Union. Mr. Bibik has composed nine festival in Lviv, the most prestigious tional award for distinguished service to premiere of second version, written for symphonies, the opera “Flight,” major international contemporary music festival music and four ASCAP-Chamber Music Continuum); works for chorus, concertos with piano in Ukraine. Two CDs of his music have America Awards for Adventuresome • Valentin Bibik (1940-2003) – Piano and other solo instruments, seven piano been released in the United States and Programming, Continuum has given over Sonata No. 4; sonatas, and chamber and vocal works. • Leonid Hrabovsky (born 1935) – Valentin Silvestrov, one of the most France. He now lives in Kyiv. 125 different retrospective concerts in “Hlas II” for bass clarinet; important figures of the rich European Leonid Hrabovsky also attended the New York City, individual concerts devot- • Alexander Shchetynsky (born 1960) new-music world, was a pupil at the Kyiv Kyiv Conservatory as a composition stu- ed to the century’s foremost composers – “Music in Memory of Valentyn Bibik” Conservatory of Borys Liatoshynsky, the dent of Liatoshynsky. After winning first and to major topics. Continuum has for clarinet, cello, piano (world pre- “father” of Ukrainian experimentalism, prize in the 1959 All-Soviet-Union com- recorded on Naxos, Musical Heritage miere); and is considered one of the leading rep- petition, he received national recognition. Society, Nonesuch, Bridge, CRI, • Valentin Silvestrov (born 1937) – resentatives of the Kyiv avant-garde. Mr. Hrabovsky taught at the Kyiv Capstone, Cambria/Troppe Note, TNC “Epitaphium (L.B.)” for viola and piano. Despite being awarded the Koussevitzky Conservatory and wrote music for Kyiv and New Albion, and has been broadcast Of special note is “Klytemnestra,” set Prize in 1967, Silvestrov’s music met film studios. Now living in the New York on national and European television and to a text by Ukrainian poet Oksana with no response in his own country. One area, he was composer-in-residence at the radio. Zabuzhko, that explores the complicated of his earliest champions was Mr. Baley, Ukrainian Institute of America. His music The concert “Illuminating Ukraine: and intense emotions and desires of a longtime advocate of contemporary displays an exterior of tremendous variety Virko Baley and the Avant-Garde” will Agamemnon’s queen as she awaits his Ukrainian music in general and Mr. and inventiveness, but is united by the take place on Sunday, February 22, at 2 victorious return from Troy. Mr. Baley Silvestrov’s, as well as the other three meticulousness of its construction. p.m. at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman experienced the horrors of World War II, composers on this program, works in par- Continuum has enjoyed a long associa- Center, 129 W. 67th St. Tickets – $20; and the domination of his native country, ticular. His music is now featured in tion with Mr. Baley, performing his music $10 for students and senior citizens – are Ukraine, by the foreign powers. These many festivals in Ukraine and the rest of around the world, including works writ- available at the box office or at merkin- childhood experiences are perhaps pres- Europe, performed by major symphonic ten for the ensemble and a Baley retro- concerthall.org or by calling ent in this monumental work, where love and chamber ensembles and generously spective in 1998. Continuum has recorded 212-501-3330. and lust are eclipsed by murder. represented on CD. A DVD of his music, two of his compositions, “Orpheus The next performance of Mr. Baley’s Mr. Baley emigrated to the United filmed by an Estonian documentary stu- Singing” and “Dreamtime Suite No. 1,” music will be on April 5, when the States in 1949, and received both B.A. dio, is being released. on the CD “Orpheus Singing” TALEA Ensemble, conducted by the and M.A. degrees from the Los Angeles Alexander Shchetynsky’s compositions (Cambria-1087). The members of composer, presents “Dreamtime” (the Conservatory of Music and Arts (now range from solo instrumental to orches- Continuum have performed together for complete 19-movement work) for flute, CalArts.) He has written a variety of com- tral, choral pieces and opera, and have 43 years and have forged a strong musical clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percus- positions for orchestra, chamber groups, been performed by internationally connection with the Ukrainian composers sion at the Ukrainian Institute of America solo instruments and vocal arrangements. acclaimed artists and ensembles at festi- on this program. in New York. He was co-producer and composer for vals and concerts in Europe and America. Yuri Illienko’s film, “Swan Lake: The New Juilliard Ensemble audiences heard Zone,” that won two top awards at the his “Face to Star” in 2004. He organized 1990 Cannes International Film Festival. several contemporary music festivals in He is Distinguished Professor of Music at Ukraine and Russia, and founded the con- the University of Nevada and until 1995, cert series, “New Music in Kharkiv.” A served as the founding music director of frequent lecturer on Ukrainian music, he

political plot to eliminate him as a rival Turning the pages... before the 1999 presidential election. (Continued from page 6) Various news sources reported on February 17, 1999, that Mr. Lazarenko enter the country on a Panamanian pass- had left a hospital in Greece and that his port. whereabouts were unknown. A potential presidential candidate for the Hromada Party, Mr. Lazarenko pro- Source: “Ukrainian Parliament votes claimed himself in the official opposition 310-39 to strip Lazarenko of deputy’s to President Leonid Kuchma. According immunity,” by Pavel Polityuk, The to Mr. Lazarenko, he was the victim of a Ukrainian Weekly, February 21, 1999.

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of the PRU to back it against Ms. several of its least disciplined members to ness. She managed to oust Mr. Firtash’s Tymoshenko defeats... Tymoshenko, whose government is very turn up for the vote, rather than how to pro- UkrHazEnergo from the domestic gas (Continued from page 1) weak due to both the economic crisis and ceed after Ms. Tymoshenko’s possible oust- trade in early 2008, and RosUkrEnergo, a Yanukovych, which organized this motion, incessant conflicts with Mr. Yushchenko, is er. Moreover, a conflict erupted between the joint venture between Mr. Firtash and but lost the game because of internal differ- due to the PRU’s own weakness. The PRU three strongest groups of influence within Russia’s Gazprom, has been removed ences and the lack of trust among potential has earned a reputation for being an unreli- the PRU linked to Mr. Firtash, Mr. from gas trade between Ukraine and allies. If Mr. Yanukovych fails to consolidate able partner in coalition talks because sever- Akhmetov and Andriy Klyuyev, a business- Russia in 2009. Now she reportedly plans the PRU, it will be very difficult for him to al groups of influence within it have been man from Donetsk who is believed to be the to put an end to Mr. Firtash’s control of win the next presidential poll, and the party tearing the party in different directions. main supporter of the idea of a PRU- Ukraine’s several regional gas distribu- itself may lose its leading positions. When the chair under Ms. Tymoshenko was Tymoshenko coalition. tion companies (Ukraina TV, January 23; As in December 2008, the PRU was shaky last fall, the PRU negotiated a possi- Mr. Firtash’s people reportedly accused Kommersant-Ukraine, February 5). abandoned by its would-be allies at the cru- ble coalition simultaneously with her party Mr. Klyuyev of secretly supporting Ms. A possible expulsion of Mr. Firtash’s cial moment. and her bitter rival, Mr. Yushchenko. As a Tymoshenko. Mr. Klyuyev accused the pro- people from the PRU should give Mr. Although the majority of the Communists result, a new coalition was formed, but with- Firtash group of weakening discipline in the Yanukovych a chance to consolidate the backed the motion, several of them, includ- out the PRU. party (Ukrayinska Pravda, February 6). PRU around its Donetsk core. The PRU’s ing leader Petro Symonenko, were simply The problem for the PRU is that it is Borys Kolesnikov, who is Mr. Akhetov’s internal differences have not yet affected absent from Parliament. essentially a business corporation driven by right-hand man, reportedly alleged that either its own or its leader’s popularity. Although President Viktor Yushchenko’s the economic interests of its major sponsors Serhii Liovochkin, the PRU deputy chair- According to recent opinion polls, the aide Roman Bezsmertny called for Ms. like the metals tycoon Rinat Akhmetov and man and a Firtash supporter, used his con- PRU remains the most popular party in Tymoshenko’s dismissal ahead of the vote the gas tycoon Dmytro Firtash, which do not nections in the Presidential Secretariat to Ukraine and Mr. Yanukovych the most pop- (ICTV, February 3), Mr. Yushchenko him- always coincide. In the conditions of the instigate the opening of criminal cases ular leader (Segodnya, February 10). self failed to take a clear stance, so only Ukrainian political war of all against all, it is against his party colleagues (Obkom.net.ua, Addressing Parliament on February 5, one splinter group from the pro-Yushchen- hard for the PRU to compete when every- February 6). Mr. Yanukovych, who understands that ko Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense thing is at stake with such political machines After the vote, Mr. Kolesnykov called for his popularity may evaporate after a (OU-PSD) caucus – the United Center as the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB), the expulsion from the PRU of “certain col- series of political defeats by the time of linked to Presidential Secretariat Chair where everything depends on the iron will leagues whose corporate interests dominate the presidential election scheduled for Viktor Baloha – supported the motion. of the leader, and the ideological parties of over party interests.” He said Mr. January 2010, called for simultaneous Another pro-Yushchenko group, headed Messrs. Yushchenko and Symonenko. Liovochkin and his allies played into Ms. early presidential and parliamentary elec- by Viacheslav Kyrylenko, apparently The PRU lost the most recent battle Tymoshenko’s hands by pushing for a no- tions (Ukrayinska Pravda, February 5). abstained, afraid to lose its ministers in the against Ms. Tymoshenko even before it confidence motion without properly prepar- The United Center is apparently the only Tymoshenko government (Zerkalo Nedeli, started. A day before the vote, the PRU gath- ing it (Ukrayinska Pravda, February 6). major party that supports the PRU in this February 7). ered to decide what to do if the no-confi- The Firtash group pushed for the area. Quite naturally, Ms. Tymoshenko The reluctance of the other potential allies dence motion failed and how to persuade motion because Ms. Tymoshenko’s tenure flatly dismissed the idea (Kommersant- as prime minister threatens his gas busi- Ukraine, February 6).

the school cafeteria, observe the award- St. Nicholas... winning varsity volleyball team’s scrim- Pirates release... More mysteries (Continued from page 11) mage, view artwork created by the stu- The Faina incident revealed more mys- (Continued from page 1) considerable resources to make it possible dents for the commemoration of the 75th teries. Africa is not new – six Ukrainian ships were to ensure that future generations benefit anniversary of the Holodomor, and meet That an Israeli citizen could transport recent graduates and many older alumni. captured last year – the Faina siege drew from our rich religious and cultural heri- Ukrainian military hardware to an uncon- Parents or grandparents interested in international attention for the heavy weap- tage. Our goal is to make it as convenient as firmed African nation amidst waters swarm- enrolling students at St. Nicholas can onry onboard, the controversy about its des- ing with Somali pirates reveals just how possible for parents to take advantage of it.” contact the school to receive an informa- tination and the role played by shady inter- shady the Ukrainian arms business is. At the open house, visitors were able to tion folder; call 773-384-7243 or e-mail national businessmen in the Ukrainian arms Having belonged to the Party of Regions tour each classroom, enjoy refreshments in [email protected] trade. of Ukraine, the nation’s biggest political Military hardware party notorious for its corrupt businessmen, Mr. Alperin is a partner in Waterlux AG, a Among the cargo aboard the ship when it company registered in Panama that owns was captured on September 25, 2008, were the MV Faina. 33 Soviet-era T-72 battle tanks, rocket-pro- Tomex Team, the Odesa firm that man- pelled grenade launchers, anti-aircraft guns ages the cargo, acted as an intermediary and thousands of rounds of ammunition. between Ukrinmash, a private subsidiary of Other than the cargo itself, international the UkrSpetsEksport state monopoly that law prohibits arms aboard merchant vessels, approves overseas arms sales, and the which explains the irony of how a ship full Kenyan government. of military hardware was helpless before The only other information known about armed sea gangsters, among them a 14-year- Mr. Alperin is that he also has business old. dealings in real estate and transportation, The pirates admitted they didn’t expect to according to the Ohliadach news website. find military cargo on the MV Faina and, soon enough, they received offers from International involvment insurgent armies throughout Africa. Initially, the pirates asked for a $35 million ransom, a Unable to combat maritime crimes, figure that dropped gradually during the Somali authorities allowed international protracted negotiations over the ship’s forces to enter its territorial waters to deal release. with the pirates. “Faina’s cargo drew the interest of many After the pirates divided their ransom who tried to intrude into the process of very and left the vessel on February 6, a U.S. sensitive negotiations and, thus, made the doctor examined the sailors and confirmed negotiations particularly difficult,” Mr. they were in a sound mental and physical Alperin said. condition. However the ship’s Russian cap- Although Ukrainian and Kenyan officials tain, Vladimir Kolobkov, had died of a heart insisted the arms were destined for the attack a couple of days after the capture. Kenyan national army, Agence France- As U.S. warships and helicopters and a Presse reported that the tanks were actually Russian frigate patrolled the Somali coast bound for Sudan. out of concern that terrorists could get The pirates allegedly found documents hold of the heavy weaponry, the U.S. onboard stating the arms were destined for Navy escorted the Faina to the Kenyan Juba in southern Sudan. If confirmed, this seaport of Mombasa to unload the mili- would mean the Ukrainian government vio- tary cargo. lated the United Nations Security Council Indeed, the pirates have links to terrorist arms embargo with Sudan. groups such as Al-Shabaab, which could The Kenyan government has faced receive part of the ransom money, said embarrassment as well, since the suspected Chatham House, a London-based think- arms trade would breach a 2005 peace deal tank. the country struck to avoid supplying either On February 11 a Ukrainian plane side in the Sudanese civil war. arrived in Mombasa carrying representa- The suspicions mark the second time in tives of Ukrainian armaments officials, the last six months that the Ukrainian gov- journalists and Mr. Alperin to greet the ernment has faced accusations of illegal Faina’s arrival the next day. arms trade. After the South Ossetian War, The sailors were to arrive at Kyiv’s Moscow accused Kyiv of selling weapons Boryspil International Airport on the morn- to Georgia in violation of international law. ing of Friday, February 13. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 19 Pre-Cana conferences at Newark parish mark 40th anniversary by Ksenia Hapij psychologist, a physician, an attorney and a financier to speak with the couples, and to NEWARK, N.J. – In our modern world, provide them with the opportunity to discuss lectures and various classes are very much topics upon which they may not have part of our lives. We prepare for our jobs, touched otherwise. and we prepare for our hobbies, so why The pastor is always prepared with a lec- should we not prepare for one of the most ture of his own, touching on the topics of important steps of our lives – for marriage? God in marriage and the meaning of the The Catholic Church has developed a wedding ceremony. In today’s day and age, program known as Pre-Cana, and over the when there are so many mixed marriages, years it has become one of the requirements an introduction to the world of the Ukrainian for a parish wedding. Though many church- rite and Ukrainian customs is imperative. es have adopted this quite recently, Pre-Cana One of the lecturers in this series at St. conferences have been around for quite a John’s is a young widower. He speaks of while. St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church having lost his wife a mere few years after in Newark, N.J., can attest to this – this year, their wedding. And although this may seem its Pre Cana program will be celebrating its senseless in the wake of optimism and bright 40th anniversary. Through the years, many priests and lec- futures, it is very much a reality of life, and Participants of the 1979 Pre-Cana at St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in turers have participated in the Pre-Cana con- many couples leave this lecture realizing Newark, N.J., with three Redemptorist fathers – the Revs. Myroslav Dziurman, ferences at St. John’s, but through it all one that they need to value every single day that Demetrius Byblow and Michael Kuchmiak, and the organizers of that time, Jean thing has remained unchanged. The Church they have together. and Jerry Muench. is concerned that young couples should stop St. John’s Pre-Cana conference is particu- to think. Their impending marriage is not all larly effective in its format. After each lec- future, and to see what they can do to effec- the same questions. about the wedding dress and the new apart- turer’s presentation, the couples are encour- tively communicate with one another and It is encouraging to see that, through the ment, for these will soon be thrown aside. aged to take part in a group discussion. avoid conflict. In doing so, the Church years, the couples who attended St. John’s There are matters of dire importance that Questions may be asked either openly or attempts to provide these young couples Pre-Cana benefited much from the pro- should be addressed, and the Church pro- anonymously, via notes written on index with a healthy perspective. gram and were grateful to have taken part vides these young people a forum for this. cards. Afterwards, the couples are given The conference is also invaluable in help- in it. Though the Pre-Cana Conference at The organizers of the Pre-Cana at St. written questionnaires, which they fill out ing couples realize the questions with which St. John’s in Newark has always been John’s go through a great deal of trouble to and discuss privately with one another. they are faced – Do we want to have chil- offered to couples getting married in find qualified lecturers who are specialists in Couples are often surprised to learn that the dren? How will we discipline them? How Ukrainian Catholic churches in the state of their given fields. Every year they invite a concerns they have, and the questions that do we relate to our in-laws and to the New Jersey, everyone is welcome to take trouble them, are not unique. extended family? How do we approach our part. This year’s Pre-Cana is scheduled for The objective of this conference is to family finances? What are our priorities? the weekend of March 14-15. For further Ksenia Hapij is the office administra- spark a desire in young couples to question What kind of role will God play in our mar- information or to register for this program tor at St. John’s Church in Newark and – to question themselves and to question one riage? – are universal, and that all other cou- readers may call the parish office, the Pre Cana Conference coordinator. another. They are asked to focus on their ples preparing for marriage are faced with 973-371-1356.

this world has such a strong and true to afford. Of every dollar the UCEF Verkhovna Rada... Ukrainian Diaspora that continues to sup- Fall fund-raisers... spends, more than 84 cents goes to its (Continued from page 10) port the land of their forefathers. The (Continued from page 5) charitable programs, ranking the UCEF Canadian internship program has a lot in because it gave us the good example and Readers may also contact the Ukrainian among the most efficient and effective common with Ukrainian one, and sharing of demonstration of a successful internship Catholic Education Foundation, which charities in the nation. experience between the interns can suffi- program for young Ukrainians in the raises about half of UCU’s annual operat- The UCEF may be contacted in writing Canadian Parliament. Mr. Bardyn’s address ciently improve the effectiveness of work in ing budget of approximately $2.5 million. at 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL opened for the Rada interns a ‘window’ to both Parliaments. Such programs should One of the effects of this assistance is to 60622; by phoning 773-235-8462; e-mail- Canada and once more reminded us how exist, since they help not only the youth in provide scholarships to worthy students, ing [email protected]; or browsing its web- sincerely and constructively the Ukrainian their growth, but also change the work of allowing them to get an excellent educa- site, www.ucef.org. The phone number of diaspora in Canada supports us,” she added. Parliament for the better.” tion that they otherwise might not be able the UCEF in Canada is 416-239-2495. “Ihor Bardyn’s activity inspires us and per- Oleksander Bondarenko of Kharkiv suades us that we can achieve much on our noted: “It was very interesting to learn about own if we apply our skills and energy, and the care and attention which some Canadian spare no efforts to educate our youth in good MPs give to the Ukrainian interns. As well, day job: participating in the General governance.” it was important to learn about the positive Remembering... Assembly session and U.N. committee Ms. Rudenko commented that she is con- impact and long-lasting goodwill which our (Continued from page 6) meetings. fident that the interns from both the Rada Ukrainian students leave in the Canadian or rather on the stage. The two writers did There also was a need for English trans- program and CUPP in five to seven years Parliament and how this plays positively on meet Updike and talked to him about lit- lations of the two poets’ works. Half a will be able to influence the operation of the the development of the Canadian-Ukrainian erature and politics and Ukraine. A group dozen people in New York, Toronto and Ukrainian government and, most important- diplomatic relationship.’ of us organized poetry readings for them Philadelphia worked days and nights to pro- ly, “these changes in governance and deci- Representatives of both programs were at Harvard, Columbia, Rutgers and ... duce good translations of very good, mod- sions of Parliament will be professional and very satisfied with their meeting in Kyiv and Southern Illinois University. Where? I ern Ukrainian poetry. The guests read their serve the people of Ukraine.” left with ideas about possible future cooper- knew British literary scholar and transla- poems in Ukrainian, followed by English Both programs are currently experiencing ation. tor Herbert Marshall, who was on the fac- translations, in lecture halls and theaters on hard times. The Verkhovna Rada program is These two internship programs are the ulty of SIU. He also was acquainted with various college campuses. supported by U.S. Agency for International only programs that focus on the changes Messrs. Pavlychko and Drach. When I All that came to mind recently as we Development (USAID) but that support is needed in the political culture of the country told him they were in New York, Marshall read obituaries of John Updike. He was a far from enough, and soon the financial aid in order to make that culture more transpar- invited them to Southern Illinois: from disciplined, busy writer. He didn’t have to will be fully transferred onto the Ukrainian ent, more responsive to its citizens, and New York they had to fly to St. Louis, take the time to meet the Ukrainian writers. side. more responsible for building a strong where a university airplane ferried them But he did. And that chagrined some Sov CUPP has been financially supported for Ukrainian society. The programs are aimed to the Carbondale campus. All this chekists. And that was good. The iron cur- more than 18 years by an endowment fund at rooting out corruption by comparing the Ukrainian activity was done on days off tain of ignorance over Ukraine was lifted established by the Ukrainian diaspora in political cultures and systems of other dem- from Mr. Pavlychko’s and Mr. Drach’s just a little. Canada. Taking into consideration the great ocratic countries with what currently exists drop in interest rates and earnings of the in Ukraine. Endowment Fund over the past several It is not difficult to assess the value of years, as well as the substantial increase in the two programs: Every year another hun- operating costs, CUPP is facing the prospect dred or so young university students of closing down in 2010. appear who understand the true state of This is a very disappointing development, affairs in Ukraine and in the world outside, as CUPP has made a very positive impact are re-assured and given confidence in on Ukrainian youths and the Ukrainian what they are pursuing through these pro- image abroad. grams. They are encouraged to pursue As one of the Verkhovna Rada interns, graduate studies abroad and are helped to Yaroslav Lyn of Lviv, commented: “Ihor find their future and place in life. Bardyn is a person who helps the light to It is important to note that there are only appear in the Canadian sky. And this light is three countries in the world that support progressive Ukrainian youth who demon- such internships: Germany, Canada and strate their intellect and industriousness dur- Ukraine. And it would be unforgivable if ing their internship in Canada. I would also two of them disappear due to financial dif- like to mention that it is so reassuring that ficulties. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7

Soccer but Slovakia came back in the 69th minute. by split decision 115-114, 115-113, Kraikin finished the Corus tournament Artem Milevskyi clinched the game for 113-115. Kotelnik improved to 31-2-1, 13 with eight points. • Ukraine’s under-16 team finished in Ukraine in the 83rd minute from the penalty KO, while Maidana suffered his first loss, Paralympians fourth place at the Aegean Sea Cup in spot. Ukraine defeated Serbia in the finals, and his record now stands at 25-1, 24 KO. Turkey on February 1. Ukraine led the 1-0, on February 11 with a shot by Serhiy Sailing Ukrainian athletes won 22 medals – match 2-0 but let in two goals late in the Nazarenko. including six gold, eight silver and eight second half and lost against the host coun- Victor Kovalenko, a native of bronze medals – at the IPC Biathlon and try 5-4 in penalty kicks. • Ukraine’s progress for the UEFA Euro Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, was named Cross-Country World Championships in 2012 championship is on track, according Australian Coach of the Year by the Vuokatti, Finland, on February 3. Olena • Since his return to Milan, Andriy to Vice-Prime Minister Ivan Vasiunyk. Australian Institute of Sports in February. Yurkovska won the gold medal in women’s Shevchenko commented on January 23: “I Reuters reported that a UEFA delegation, Kovalenko, who works with three yacht biathlon pursuit (LW10-12), Lyudmyla felt like a new man. Both on the field and led by David Taylor, no longer harbored clubs, including the Middle Harbor Yacht Pavlenko won silver and Tetyana outside I feel like another man. I have to doubts about Ukraine’s preparations after a Club, Royal Queensland Yacht Club and Tymoshenko won bronze. Serhiy thank Milan for that. Those who do not tour of Ukraine’s host cities. “David Taylor Royal Perth Yacht Club, coaches the Khyzhnyak won gold and Yuri Kostiuk won believe me are wrong as I have repeatedly stated that Ukraine had managed to main- 470-class fleet in men’s and women’s the bronze in men’s biathlon pursuit spoken that my main task is to return to tain the pace of Euro 2012 preparations teams. Ten of his crews went on to win (LW10-12). Vitaliy Lukyanenko and the team. Now I want to further play here despite the global financial crisis,” Vasiunyk world titles, including three gold and three Volodymyr Ivanov won the silver medal in so that Milan becomes my future. You will said. Taylor said UEFA would not make its bronze medals at the Olympic Games. men’s biathlon pursuit (B1-B3). Olena shortly see the former Shevchenko as the final announcement on which Ukrainian Yurkovska won the silver medal and recovery process, both physically and Circus cities are to host Euro 2012 matches until at Lyudmyla Pavlenko won the bronze in mentally, is fully completed.” least May 15. The head of Ukraine’s soccer • Oleksandr Koblikov, 19, won a circus women’s cross-country skiing. Yulia competition in Paris on February 10. The Batenkova won the gold medal in women’s • Preparations for the UEFA under-19 federation, Hryhoriy Surkis, said on Friday, competition attracted competitors age cross-country skiing (LW2-9). In cross- Championship 2009 in Donetsk are in the February 6, that Mr. Taylor’s tour had pro- 18-25, but what set Koblikov apart was his country skiing team relay, the women’s final stage, according to members of the duced positive results. “This was the first ability to juggle 10 balls at once. The 15 team of Yurkovska, Oleksandra Kononova Donetsk City Council. The matches will time since we won the right to co-host Euro judges joined the audience in applauding and Batenkova won silver. The men’s cross- be held in Donetsk and Mariupol from 2012 that I did not have a difficult discus- sion with UEFA,” he told reporters. the performer. country relay team of Kostiuk, Grygorii July 21 through August 2. Vovchynskyi and Ivanonv-Lukyanenko Boxing • Ukrainian gymnasts Dmytro Hryhorov won the bronze medal. Yurkovska and • Ukraine’s soccer team was ranked on and Olesia Shulha on January 26 won the Pavlenko won silver and bronze, respec- February 11 in 14th place in the FIFA/ • The Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and circus festival competition in Monte-Carlo, tively, in the women’s cross-country free- Coca-Cola world rankings. Ukraine (932 Vitali, vowed on January 28 to claim all France. Their original performance, “Flight style (LW10-12). Batenkova won silver in points) moved up two slots from last year, heavyweight titles this year. A fight for the of Passion,” choreographed with assistance the women’s cross-country freestyle event but Spain remains in top position with lone remaining belt, the WBA, held by from Debbie Brown (known for her work (LW2-9). In long-distance biathlon, 1,693 points. Russian Nikolai Valuev, is hampered, according to the Russian, by his promot- with Madonna and Prince) demonstrated a Yurkovska won the gold medal and variety of complicated elements and unique Pavlenko won the bronze (LW10-12). • Ukraine defeated Slovakia 3-2 in a ers. Currently, Wladimir Klitschko holds stunts without any safety ropes. The duo Khyzhnyak won the silver medal in men’s Cyprus Football Federation friendly tourna- the IBF, IBO and WBO belts, while Vitali also has performed with Cirque du Soleil. long-distance biathlon (LW10-12). ment on February 11 in Nicosia, Cyprus. Klitschko holds the WBC belt. Kononova won gold in the women’s long- Ukraine took the lead in the ninth minute Fencing distance biathlon (LW2-9). The Ivanov- with a shot by Serhiy Valyayev from the top • Andreas Kotelnik retained his WBA Lukyanenko team won bronze in the men’s of the box, but Slovakia equalized in the junior welterweight title in Rostock, Olha Kharlan won the silver medal in long-distance biathlon. Yurkovska won the 42nd minute. Ukraine inched ahead when Germany, on January 7. Kotelnik fought saber at the Orleans Women’s Saber Grand gold medal in women’s cross-country sprint Yevhen Selznov scored in the 46th minute, Argentine Marcos Rene Maidana and won Prix 2009 on February 10. Kharlan defeat- ed China’s Xue Tan (15:6) in the quarterfi- (LW10-12) and Kononova and Batenkova nals and Russia’s Svetlana Kormilitsyna won silver and bronze, respectively (15:8) in the semifinals. The Ukrainian (LW2-9). Athletes from 20 countries partic- team won bronze. ipated. These games are in preparation for the X Winter Paralympic Games, to be held Tennis on March 2-12, 2012, in Vancouver, British • Ukraine’s women’s team, including Columbia. Alona Bondarenko, Kateryna Bondarenko, Swimming Mariya Koryttseva and Olga Savchuk, defeated Israel 3-2 in the first round of the Yana Klochkova, a four-time Olympic ITF Fed Cup on February 7-8. In doubles, champion, announced her retirement from the Bondarenko sisters defeated Tsipi the sport on January 26. Klochkova won Obziler and Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-2. five Olympic medals in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, and set 50 • Nadia Kichenok, 16, won the junior Ukrainian records in 25-meter and International Tennis Federation tourna- 50-meter pools, also in the 100-meter, ment in Notting Hill, Australia, on January 200-meter and 400-meter individual med- 22. In the final match Kichenok, ranked ley, 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter 10th, defeated Russia’s Yana Buchina (7-6, freestyle, 100-meter and 200-meter back- 7-2, 2-6, 7-5). stroke, 200-meter butterfly and relay. Judo Hockey • Maryna Pryshchepa tied for bronze • Ukraine will participate in the with China’s Xiuli Yang in the 78 kg. divi- 2009-2010 Champions Hockey League, sion at the International Judo Federation along with 22 other countries, playing 59 Paris Grand Slam on February 8. matches. Ukraine is ranked 20th by the International Ice Hockey Federation. • Volodymyr Soroka (73 kg.) won the gold medal and Tigran Kazarian (66 kg.) • Ukraine’s Express Hockey Club of won the bronze medal at the 2009 Judo Lviv won third place at the Slavic World Cup in Tblisi, Georgia, on January Brotherhood International Hockey 25. Tournament in Pruzhany, Belarus, on January 25. Five teams from Belarus, Chess Russia and Ukraine participated. • Stanislav Savchenko, a grandmaster, Youth Olympic Games won the FINEC 2009 international chess tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Yuriy Pavlenko, Ukraine’s minister for 6/9 points. Mykhailo Brodsky won second family, youth and sports, signed a decree on place. January 25 to hold the fifth Junior Sports Games of Ukraine, on February 19 though • Serhiy Kriakin, a grandmaster, had his September 2009 with 30 summer Olympic greatest achievement on February 1 when events. The games are in preparation for the he won the Corus Chess Tournament 2009 Youth Olympic Games 2010 in Singapore. in Wijk ann Zee, the Netherlands. After Qualifying stages for the games in Ukraine this victory, Kriakin advances to the Chess will take place at secondary schools and Grand Slam Final in Bilbao, Spain. specialized sports schools. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 21

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Philadelphia’s UECC holds 2008 annual Christmas Bazaar by Andrea Zharovsky “Some of our [non-Ukrainian] neighbors tried salo for the first time and vowed to JENKINTOWN, Pa. – December for be back next year for more!” Ukrainians in the Philadelphia area is a Throughout the day, performers wel- busy time of year. It involves getting comed guests to the holiday bazaar. ready for the holidays – finding time to Students of local piano teachers Lesya buy presents, cook and clean for expected Nestor and Lesia Penkalskyj played car- guests, decorate the home and visiting the ols on the piano in the Gallery. In the Christmas Bazaar here at the Ukrainian Main Hall, various classes of the Educational and Cultural Center. Ukrainian Heritage School, a program of For some in the Ukrainian community, the UECC, under the musical direction of it also means finding the time to spend a Halyna Bodnar, sang traditional Ukrainian week of volunteering at the UECC. Lists Christmas carols. A recently formed quin- need to be made, items need to be pur- tet of students of the Ukrainian Heritage chased, and spaces need to be cleared and School, under the direction of Maria cleaned in preparation for the bazaar. Kaminska, performed as well. Volunteers spend days and weeks pre- The combined youth choir of the paring the varenyky, holubtsi and borsch Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church sold at the bazaar. An assembly line forms Choir, under the direction of Ivan daily to produce thousands of varenyky. Velenchuk, also performed. Members of Nimble hands swiftly roll out and pinch the dough, as women’s voices are heard the Ukrainian American Youth over the banging of pots and pans, laugh- Association sang carols and ended with ing, singing and sharing the latest good an amusing Ukrainian Christmas rap news. It is a time of bonding for these about St. Nicholas. Youths of Plast women, who come together year after Ukrainian Scouting Organization also sang carols. The Children’s Choir of the Andrea Zharovsky year to begin their Christmas season and St. Nicholas greets the children of Svitlychka. give back to the Ukrainian community. Ukrainian Music Institute, under the With the tantalizing aroma of fried supervision of Ms. Penkalskyj with piano devoted kitchen women; Larysa Stebly responsible for the whole set up. onions in the air, the UECC opened its accompaniment by Helen Porytko, sang headed the baked goods section; Lesia “The bazaar was a huge financial suc- doors early Saturday morning, December and greeted all with traditional Ukrainian Nowak was in charge of dried goods; cess for the center – the best ever,” stated 13, 2008, confident that it was ready to “vinshuvannia” (Christmas and New Laryssa Krywusha and Luba Kalyta creat- Sophia Koropecky, vice-president of greet, feed and entertain the local commu- Year’s wishes). ed and manned the “Babusia Nastusia’s”; finances. “The proceeds will be used to nity. Shifts were organized and filled by Representatives of the Voloshky Dance Borys Pawluk and Borys Zacharczuk fund much-needed center renovations.” UECC volunteers, family members and Ensemble, along with Taras Lewyckyj, headed the kovbasa station; Bohdan Mizak The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural friends of the UECC board of directors. lifted spirits with their beautiful dance was responsible for the bar; Sophia Center, founded in 1980, is a non-profit Some sold the delicious homemade and gorgeous costumes. The children of Koropeckyj was in charge of food ticket organization whose objective is to preserve food in the food court in the Main Hall; Svitlychka, the Ukrainian Cooperative sales; the UECC office, along with Ms. and promote awareness of Ukrainian heri- others sold the baked goods; still others Nursery, also a program of the UECC, Firko, was responsible for the vendors; tage throughout the Philadelphia commu- worked the takeout food station, featuring brought smiles to all with their adorable and Andrea Zharovsky organized the musi- nity. The UECC is located at 700 Cedar frozen varenyky, various types of kovba- performance and “stage presence.” To the cal program. Of course, the maintenance Road in Jenkintown, PA 19046 and can be sa, poppy and wheat in the Gallery. delight of the Ukrainian boys and girls on staff, under the direction of Building reached at 215-663-1166 or contact@uec- Evidencing the increasing demand to stage and children of all ages gathered, Superintendent Wasyl Sichkar and UECC cphila.org. For information log on to www. participate in this annual event, vendors St. Nicholas made a surprise visit. He Executive Director Orysia Hewka, was ueccphila.org. filled both the main hall and the Gallery, spoke briefly reminding all of the beauty enticing all with their beautiful books, and meaning of Christmas. ceramics, jewelry, music, clothing, “This year’s Christmas Bazaar at the pysanky, honey, artwork and more. UECC was a lot of fun,” stated Natalka A visit to “Babusia Nastusia’s” in the Firko, vice-president of Programs. “It Passaic Choir performs ‘Christmas Story’ Gallery appealed to many. Visitors was was a great group effort by not only the transported back to Ukraine and could board and the staff, but again by the many taste a delicious “kanapka” (canape), devoted volunteers. We tried a new lay- “oseledtsi” (herring) or “salo” (salted out this year due to the overwhelming pork fat) while seated in the decorated interest in our homemade food. The din- yard of a traditional Ukrainian village ing area was expanded and the Alexander house created specifically for the bazaar. B. Chernyk Gallery was busting at the To warm everyone up, MB Financial seams with vendors and buyers and carol- Bank treated the visitors to coffee. ers. What a great day it was! Thank you “Babusia Nastusia offered friends a to everyone who helped and to those who place to meet and enjoy lighter fare, catch came to support us.” up on news, watch the hourly perfor- A team of volunteers for every bazaar mances and tend to parcels, while more need was assembled under the direction of gifts were purchased from the vendors in Natalka Firko, who was in her 14th year as the Gallery,” said Laryssa Krywusha, chairwoman of the Bazaar Committee. Babusia Nastusia’s long lost relative. Lesia Korchagin provided support to the

PASSAIC, N.J. – The St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church Choir (seen above) performed “Christmas Story” on January 4, featuring the music of Ukrainian com- poser Dymytriy Tuptalo. The choir was led by Andriy Legkyy and featured solos by Romaniya Voloshchuk, Halyna Newmerzyckj, Klara Lehka, Myhailo Moczula and Mychail Newmerzyckyj. The Riceercare Early Music Ensemble also performed with Halyna Lehka and Anastasia Antoniv on baroque violin, Andriy Legkyy on key- board, Yuriy Legkyy on percussion and Michael Antoniv on triangles. The church is located on President Street in Passaic. The small army of hard-working UECC kitchen volunteers. – Tom Hawrylko 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7

demand is set to contract; but economizing Putin retains... on investments is a policy that guarantees a Celebration of Ukrainian culture (Continued from page 2) shortage of gas in the admittedly uncertain victory, making Mr. Barroso confirm that recovery phase in the first half of the next at San Francisco Public Library the EU was broadly in favor of the Nord decade. This horizon may be too far away Stream and South Stream pipeline projects for most politicians, but Mr. Putin thinks SAN FRANCISCO – The March 7 The program will take place at Koret and did not see the latter as a competitor to very much in gas business terms, hence the Shevchenko Program, organized and Auditorium, San Francisco Main Public the Nabucco project, which constitutes unwavering focus on tightening control over directed by Ivanna Taratula Filipenko Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Market, Brussels’ best hope for diversifying the “green fields” in Central Asia that must fill of Julivanna Music Studio, will launch Eighth, Hyde and Grove streets), San import of gas. the gap until Yamal comes on-line sometime “Ukraine Month” at the San Francisco Francisco. The program is free and Whatever Mr. Barroso’s diplomatic neu- by 2020. Public Library. open to the public. trality, controversies around these pipelines There is, however, a significant hole in The program will feature poetry by Parking is available at the Civic have, in fact, reached a new peak since the this strategic vision: Gazprom, with its bloated operational expenses and enormous Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s national Center Garage off McCallister Street. “gas war,” and it is plausible that Russia’s apparatus, cannot function normally with bard, in Ukrainian and English, and To use public transportation, go to the security maneuvering is aimed at these tar- the level of export prices that will be fixed Ukrainian dance and music. Performers Civic Center Station (BART and gets. By postponing the deployment of the in April and will most probably remain flat – children and adults from the Bay Area MUNI) to the Eighth Street Exit; many as yet non-existent Iskanders, Moscow has until the end of the year. Its survival strategy – will be attired in national costumes bus lines stop at Eighth and Market. removed a shadow of militarization from the is set to clash with the interests of domestic representing various regions of For more information see the library Baltic area, thereby clearing the way for Ukraine. website, www.sfpl.org. consumers, and Mr. Putin would be hard Nord Stream, perhaps expecting the difficult pressed to reconcile them. Swedes to lift their objections. Mr. Putin becomes irritated when livers, gizzards and mushrooms in a cream By shutting down Manas, Russia demon- European partners raise issues pertaining to Skiing and shopping.. sauce, also served in individual ceramic strates to the forever ambivalent the rule of law or human rights, assuming Turkmenistan that the United States has no (Continued from page 13) pots. The corn meal banosh was a wonderful that these irrelevant matters should be accompaniment to absorb the lovely sauce leverage in Central Asia. The decision on dropped in the situation of an unfolding eco- tor,” where we stored our water, juices, and strengthening the military component of the snacks. This new hotel was still unfinished of the potrocha. These are just a few of the nomic disaster. This irritation is probably specialties that we tried. Collective Security Treaty Organization induced by a suspicion that Mr. Barroso’s when we were in Bukovel in December (CSTO) was another gentle reminder to 2007, so it really is very new and at the foot For dessert we only tried the homemade persistence is not just a ritual or habit but a cheese cake and our daughter had ice cream Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimukhamedov reflection of doubts about the survival of the one of the higher ski runs. of Turkmenistan and Ilham Aliyev of On the ground floor of the Shelter Hotel (vanilla only with chocolate sauce). chances of the inflexible and corrupt regime Kozachok offers wine, vodka and beer Azerbaijan, who remain outside this dubious that makes Russia so special in the European is its cafeteria-style restaurant/bar. There are institution, that Russia’s ability to project also tables under an awning just outside together with a variety of cocktails, juices, arena. teas and coffee. The menu was in the power was not diminished by the crisis Most speakers at the Munich conference where you may take your food and/or drinks Russian language only. (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, February 5). argued for engaging Russia closer by every to dine. You may, of course, eat indoors as On the way back to Ivano-Frankivsk to Under such pressure, Turkmenistan available means from arms control to tour- well. Downstairs in the hotel is another res- get our direct train back to Kyiv, we stopped, would hardly procrastinate much longer ism, because nobody is prepared to entertain taurant/disco noted for grilled items on the as we did last year, in the picturesque town with final consent on constructing a pipeline such alternatives as isolation and implosion. menu. It is also where the breakfast buffet is of Yaremche (30 kilometers from Bukovel). to the north, and Azerbaijan would have to These possibilities are nevertheless looming served every morning. We really preferred There we visited the outdoor market stands reconsider Gazprom’s offer to buy all free larger every day as Mr. Putin swings from this breakfast buffet to the one we had at the near a fantastic waterfall and had a nice volumes of gas produced at Shah-Deniz. suppressing regional protests to staging loyal Kozachok Restaurant last year (offered lunch at the famous Hutsulschyna Without this supply base, the Nabucco proj- demonstrations and from placating pension- when you stay at the Bukovel Hotel). Restaurant, which is classified as a historic ect will remain wishful thinking. ers with small income raises to dumping bil- The Shelter’s breakfast buffet is more of landmark since this beautiful wooden build- It may be far easier to torpedo a “hostile” lions of dollars into black holes in the col- a brunch/lunch, offering shashliyky, roast ing is all built without a single nail. pipeline project than to advance your own, lapsing economy, among which Gazprom is chicken, grilled fish, fish burgers, pan fried The wooden ceiling and walls are all and Gazprom admitted for the first time last the unrivaled champion. potatoes, mashed potatoes, buckwheat beautifully hand carved, and the dishes used week that it would have to reduce its 2009 (kasha), sausages, yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit to serve the food are hand-painted Ukrainian investment program estimated at $26 billion The article above is reprinted from juices, coffee, tea, bread and sweets, as well ceramics. The four of us (we invited our (www.newsru.com, February 6). There is Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from as the traditional eggs (either sunny side up driver) all had an excellent cream of mush- nothing worrisome about Gazprom’s falling its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, or egg whites omelets) that you would room soup. My husband and daughter had a production, as both domestic and European www.jamestown.org. expect for breakfast. This was enough to schnitzel, and the driver and I had fresh river keep us well nourished until dinner, which trout. we usually ate at the Kozachok Restaurant. The market stalls at Yaremche offer supply gas to Poland, Hungary and Romania Our favorites at the Kozachok were Ukrainian embroidery, ceramics, beaded Who owns the gas... in 2009. Mr. Firtash warned that those coun- Ukrainian borsch, pampushky (rolls with necklaces, amber, coral and Ukrainian cos- tries would not receive the gas that Ms. garlic butter) and the restaurant’s mushroom (Continued from page 2) tume dolls (I purchased several last year), Tymoshenko ordered to be taken for soup with dumplings. Their potato pancakes and lots and lots of sheepskins and slippers. remained in force (Ukrayinska Pravda, (Deruny) with onion and sour cream were January 27). Ukrainian domestic needs (Inter TV, There is also a souvenir market at Bukovel February 1). delicious and came as a large portion that which I visited daily, but there is a much Gazprom tried to distance itself from the RosUkrEnergo already has problems we shared. I really enjoyed the banosh (corn larger choice at Yaremche. dispute, leaving it to Naftohaz to persuade with its clients in the EU. Polish Petroleum meal) with bryndzia cheese that reminded I highly recommend this Carpathian win- RosUkrEnergo to pay the $1.7 billion debt me of one of my favorite Romanian dishes ter wonderland – with its ski slopes and (Ukrayinski Novyny, January 30). Ms. and Gas Mining (PGNiG) was considering – mămăligă. The varenyky with meat, pota- wonderful food and shopping opportunities Tymoshenko accused Mr. Khoroshkovskyi suing RosUkrEnergo over the company’s toes or cabbage were delicious and were – to all, but remember your stay must be of being part of Mr. Firtash’s team (Mr. failure to fulfill its obligations. RIA-Novosti served in little ceramic pots. longer than a weekend to make it worth- Khoroshkovskyi is indeed a partner of Mr. quoted a PGNiG spokesperson as saying on An interesting dish that all three of us while. You can read more about the Bukovel Firtash in several mass-media projects, February 2 that Poland expected to receive enjoyed and I made my own version of in Ski Resort in English on its website (http:// including Inter TV), and she dismissed him 14 million cubic meters of gas a day under Kyiv is potrocha – a stew of chicken hearts, bukovel.com/en). from the Customs Service on January 28. its contracts with RosUkrEnergo but was On the same day Ukrainian President receiving only 7 million. Viktor Yushchenko, confirming his repu- If Mr. Firtash manages to prove that the tation as Ms. Tymoshenko’s bitter rival, disputed gas does not belong to Naftohaz appointed Mr. Khoroshkovskyi as first and if RosUkrEnergo’s disgruntled clients deputy chief of the Security Service of turn to Ukraine for it, Naftohaz may be in Ukraine (SBU). The SBU immediately serious trouble. It is unlikely to receive any instructed the Customs Service to prevent more international loans to keep it afloat, not the government from confiscating only because of the global financial crisis RosUkrEnergo’s gas (Kommersant but also because Naftohaz is considered Ukraine, January 29). Speaking in his untrustworthy as it even has trouble making new capacity, Mr. Khoroshkovskyi payments on earlier loans. warned that if the government took the disputed gas, it would violate several Naftohaz can hardly expect Ukraine’s laws on property and investment protec- cash-strapped industry or households to tion (Inter TV, January 30). pay more for gas, nor will it receive much The new leadership of the Customs money from the Ukrainian state budget, Service, appointed by Ms. Tymoshenko, which is already running a huge deficit if apparently ignored the SBU’s warning, as a recently published report to the cabinet Ms. Tymoshenko announced that her gov- by Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk is ernment had given the go-ahead to start to be believed (Ekonomichna Pravda, pumping RosUkrEnergo’s gas from the res- January 27). ervoirs (UNIAN, January 31). Mr. Firtash insists that the gas in question is destined for The article above is reprinted from consumers of the Europe Union. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from RosUkrEnergo was cut out of the market in its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Maryna and Victoria Markowicz. Ukraine, but it is still bound by contracts to www.jamestown.org. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 23 OUT AND ABOUT

February 19 Lecture by Joseph Coleman Carter, “Crimean 305-798-0190 or 954-536-2213 Stanford, CA Chersonesos from Independence to the Present: Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Politics,” February 22 Winterfest ice skating party, Bobrivka, Stanford University, 650-723-3562 Colebrook, CT 860-883-1391 or 203-932-4376

February 19-20 International ice sculpting competition, featuring a February 22 Lecture by Serhiy Bilenky, “Kyiv in the Imagination Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec team from Ukraine, 819-763-7627 New York of Ukrainians, Russians and Poles in the Epoch of or [email protected] Romanticism,” Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences, 212-222-1866 February 20 Lecture by Ihor Lylo about Lviv’s Greek heritage, Washington Shevchenko Scientific Society, Embassy of February 22 Lecture by Andrij Makuch and Maegon Young, Ukraine, 240-205-1889 or [email protected] Toronto “Pride, Patriotism, Enlightenment and Entertainment: The Toronto Ukrainian People’s February 20 Night at The Ukrainian Museum, Lisovi Mavky Home in the 1920s and 1930s,” St. Vladimir New York Sorority – Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Institute, 416-923-3318 The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or [email protected] February 23 Lecture by Andriy Danylenko, “The Gospels in Cambridge, MA Vernacular Ukrainian: Contrasting the Language February 20 Lecture by Ostap Hawaleshka, “The Exceptional Programs of Panteleimon Kulish and Antin Toronto Work of the Aerospace Constructor Oleh Antonov Kobylianskyi,” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 as Part of Ukraine’s Contribution to World Aerospace Technology, Canadian Ukrainian Art February 23 Panel discussion, “The Russian-Ukrainian Gas War: Foundation, 416-766-6802 Washington Lessons for Europe and the United States,” The February 20-22 51st National Congress, Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Foundation, 202-546-4400 Toronto Student Union, 416-951-2440 February 25 Lecture by Rakesh Sarma, “Dissatisfaction and February 21 50th “Chervona Kalyna” Debutante Ball, Washington Disillusionment in Ukraine – Findings From the Pearl River, NY Pearl River Hilton, 718-291-4166 2008 IFES Public Opinion Survey,” Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, February 21 Presentation of debutantes and ball, California 202-691-4000 Los Angeles Association to Aid Ukraine, Manhattan Beach Marriott, 800-228-9290 or 818-783-9773 February 26 Ukrainian Village Dance Party “Vechornytsi,” Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Ukrainian Restaurant, 212-571-1555 February 21 Book presentation by Vitaly Chernetsky of Yuriy ext. 35 or 646-453-9909 New York Andrukhovych’s “Moskoviada,” Shevchenko Scientific Society, 212-254-5130 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events February 21 “Vyshyvani Vechornytsi” zabava, Miami Educational advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Miami, FL and Cultural Group, Ukrainian Catholic Church from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary hall, and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009 No. 7 PREVIEW OF EVENTS Friday, February 20 held in the academy’s building, 206 W. 100th St., at 3 p.m. The lecture will be in Ukrainian. NEW YORK: The young adult Plast soror- All are invited. For more information contact ity Lisovi Mavky is hosting a special eve- the academy, 212-222-1866. ning event at The Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. Sixth St. The museum will be open late, Monday, February 23 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., giving visi- tors a chance to enjoy the various exhibits CAMBRIDGE, Mass.: The Harvard on display after regular museum hours, with Ukrainian Research Institute will host a lec- a docent-led tour beginning at 7:45 p.m. A ture given by Andriy Danylenko, lecturer in $10 admission charge includes beverages modern languages and cultures at Pace and hors d’oeuvres. For those interested in University and associate of the Ukrainian becoming museum members, there will be Research Institute. His lecture, “The Gospels a membership sign-up table. All ages are in Vernacular Ukrainian: Contrasting the welcome. For more information e-mail Language Programs of Panteleimon Kulish [email protected]. (1871) and Antin Kobylianskyi (1874, 1877),” will be held at 4 p.m. in Room S-050 Saturday, February 21 (Concourse Level), CGIS Building South, NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific 1730 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02138. Society invites all to a presentation by Dr. This event is free and open to the public. For Vitaly Chernetsky (Miami University of more information call 617-495-4053 or Ohio) of the English translation of Yuriy e-mail [email protected]. Andrukhovych’s novel “Moskoviada,” Thursday, February 26 which was published by the Spuyten Duyvil Publishing House in New York in 2008. The NEW YORK: The Center for Traditional presentation will take place at the society’s Music and Dance and Ukrainian Wave pres- building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and ent a midwinter “Vechornytsi” (Village 10th streets) at 5 p.m. For additional infor- Dance Party) at 6-9 p.m. at the Brooklyn mation call 212-254-5130. Ukrainian Restaurant, 1223 Ave. U (between East 12th Street and Homecrest Avenue; Sunday, February 22 Avenue U stop on the Q train) in Brooklyn. NEW YORK: The Ukrainian Academy of Enjoy Carpathian mountain music by acous- Art and Sciences in New York will host a tic folk band Cheres, led by Andriy Milavsky. lecture by Dr. Serhiy Bilenky, who holds a Learn folk dances such as the dribka (shiver- Ph.D. in history from the University of ing) polka, arkan, pleskan and more with Toronto and who this semester is teaching dance master Tamara Chernyakhovska. courses on modern Ukrainian history at Dance instruction, 6-7 p.m.; dance party, 7-9 Columbia University. The lecture, “Kyiv in p.m. Admission: $10; admission and buffet, the Imagination of Ukrainians, Russians and $15. All ages welcome. For further informa- Poles in the Epoch of Romanticism,” will be tion call 212-571-1555, ext. 35.

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES

Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community.

To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, Being Ukrainian means: and a phone number to be published for readers who may require additional information. ❏ Malanka in January. Information should be sent to: [email protected] or Preview of Events, ❏ Deb in February. The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, 973-644-9510. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments; ❏ Sviato Vesny or Zlet in May. simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message. ❏ Soyuzivka’s Ukrainian Cultural Festival in July. ❏ “Uke Week” at Wildwood in August. ❏ Back to Ukrainian school in September. ❏ Morskyi Bal in New Jersey in November. TO ALL MEMBERS OF UNA BRANCH 220 ❏ Koliada in December. ❏ A subscription to The Ukrainian Weekly Please be advised Branch 220 has merged with Branch 125 as of February 1, 2009. All inquiries and requests for changes should be sent to Mrs. Gloria Paschen. all year round.

Mrs. Gloria Paschen To subscribe to The Ukrainian Weekly, fill out the form below, clip 641 Alice Ct. it and mail it to: Subscription Department, The Ukrainian Weekly, Elgin, IL 60123 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. (847) 697-5630 Or simply call 973-292-9800, ext. 3042.

TO ALL MEMBERS OF UNA BRANCH 338

Please be advised Branch 338 has merged with Branch 96 as of February 1, 2009. All inquiries and requests for changes should be sent to Mrs. Jaroslawa Komichak.

Mrs. Jaroslawa Komichak 129 Warwick Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15241-2106 (412) 833-6657