www.ukrweekly.com InsIde: • In the Press: Russia-Georgia conflict – page 6. • Philadelphia Ukrainian library at 50 – page 8. • Harvard students reflect on Ukraine’s independence – page 11. HE Published byKRA the Ukrainian NationalIN AssociationIAN Inc., a fraternal non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVIT UNo. 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST W 24, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukraine exceeds expectations Presidential Secretariat accuses at summer Games with 19 medals Tymoshenko of betrayal PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Ukrainian freestyle wrestling (48 kg); Olena by Danylo Peleschuk Stetskiv told UNIAN. Olympic Team, at press time, was in 11th Antonova in women’s discus throw; Taras Political observers, however, see the place with 19 medals. Since our last Danko in men’s freestyle wrestling (84 KYIV – Deepening the already stag- attacks as the inaugural step of the elec- update (in our previous issue), Viktor kg); and Lesya Kalitovska in women’s gering political rift between the president toral campaign for the 2010 elections, in Ruban won gold in men’s individual track cycling individual pursuit. and the government, the Presidential which Ukrainian President Viktor archery, Natalia Dobrynska won gold in Last week, Ukraine was in 18th place Secretariat accused Ukrainian Prime Yushchenko is expected to run for reelec- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko of high trea- the women’s heptathlon, Artur Ayvazian and won five medals and was predicted tion despite his low approval ratings. The son and betraying national interests by won gold in men’s 50-meter shooting to win at least 15 medals. (For more attack, according to Yuriy Yakymenko, staying quiet on Georgia’s recent South (rifle prone), and Oleksandr Petriv won information see The Ukrainian Weekly, Director of Political and Legal Programs Ossetia crisis in order to score backing gold in men’s 25-meter shooting (rapid August 17, 2008.) at the Razumkov Center in Kyiv, main- from Moscow for her 2010 presidential fire pistol). The tennis doubles sister team of tains a steady course along the presiden- bid. Silver medal winners included: Andriy Olena and Kateryna Bondarenko made it tial party line, a crucial part of which has “Russia’s leaders are seriously consid- Stadnik in men’s freestyle wrestling (66 to the semi-finals, but were eliminated by been laying the blame on the govern- ering supporting Prime Minister Yulia kg), Olha Korobka in women’s weight- another sister team of Venus and Serena Tymoshenko in the presidential campaign ment. lifting (over 75 kg); Vasyl Fedoryshyn in Williams (4-6, 6-4, 6-1). The Bondarenko once she fulfils the condition of adopting “This is simply a prolonging of the men’s freestyle wrestling (60 kg); sisters lost their bronze medal match a passive position in the conflict with classic battle between the president and Lyudmila Blonska in women’s heptath- against Zi Yan and Jie Zheng of China Georgia,” said Andriy Kyslynskyi, prime minister,” said Mr. Yakymenko. lon; and Jury Sukhorukov in men’s (6-2, 6-2) and finished in fourth place. Deputy Chief of the Presidential “It’s a build up of the Presidential 50-meter shooting (rifle, three positions). Other Olympic hopefuls include the Secretariat, on the Secretariat’s website Secretariat’s long-standing momentum Five more bronze medals were award- Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics team, and on August 18. against Ms. Tymoshenko, which gathers ed to: Oleksandr Vorobiov in men’s gym- in individual events, Anna Bessonova is Ms. Tymoshenko reacted at an August its strength from staunch supporters of nastics (rings); Irini Merleni in women’s expected to win at least one medal. 20 press conference at the Cabinet of Mr. Yushchenko’s re-election.” Ministers, calmly refuting the accusations Many of those accompanying the pres- and dismissing them as nonsense. ident in his stance against Ms. “These kinds of statements are Tymoshenko, Mr. Yakymenko suggests, designed to provoke a heated response are behind-the-scenes supporters of the from me and, in turn, lead to the collapse new pro-presidential United Center party. of an already ailing democratic coalition. The accusation marks the latest – but My reactions and my emotions, however, not the only – development in the head- are stifled by my sense of self-control. I to-head battle between Mr. Yushchenko have an enormous responsibility to my and Ms. Tymoshenko that has muddied country, and that’s why I have maintained the Ukrainian political scene in the after- a calm reaction.” math of the Orange Revolution. Mr. While Ms. Tymoshenko in fact Yushchenko openly blamed Ms. remained largely silent during the Tymoshenko and her government on Georgian conflict throughout the past August 18 for ineffectively funding the weeks, most dismiss the accusations as clean-up efforts in western Ukraine’s likewise ungrounded and illogical. Ms. flood-damaged regions, claiming that she Gesang Dawa / Xinhua Tymoshenko has thus far denied to vari- had left for an exotic vacation in Viktor Ruban aims for gold at the summer Olympic Games in Beijing. ous media outlets that she will seek the Sardinia. presidency in 2010. “These statements made by low-rank- “I assess this statement as nonsense, ing officials deserve not comments, but a absurd, and as discrediting the president, good carpenter to change the sign outside Canada names new ambassador to Ukraine the democratic coalition, and the of the Presidential Secretariat to ‘Hospital Ukrainian power as a whole in the eyes ward #6,’” she said. “I was never in OTTAWA – G. Daniel Caron on August and trade commissioner at the Consulate of the Ukrainian nation, as well as at the Sardinia. If they don’t believe me, then 18 assumed the post of Canada’s ambassa- General of Canada in Boston. He was part international level,” Our Ukraine- let them go ask the local Sardinians dor to Ukraine. His appointment was of the Canadian team that negotiated with People’s Self Defense lawmaker Taras there.” announced on July 25 by Minister of France concerning fishing rights around Foreign Affairs David Emerson. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Mr. Caron holds a B.A. in economics In 1978, Mr. Caron represented Canada from Université Laval (1980). He has been in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, Vice PM says Georgia a ‘lesson for Ukraine’ deputy head of mission and minister-coun- at an international youth conference hosted by Maryana Drach European Union. It can’t be left in a simi- selor at the Embassy of Canada in Mexico by La Francophonie’s Agence de since August 2005. Coopération Culturelle et Technique. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty lar vacuum.” Mr. Nemyria was speaking in Kyiv He has occupied several senior positions Ambassador Caron and his wife Maria KYIV – A Ukrainian government offi- within the government of Canada over the Aparicio have two children, Jean-Xavier following three days in Tbilisi meeting cial has called on the European Union to past 27 years. He was director of the Japan and Marie-Lou. with Georgian officials and coordinating help Kyiv avoid a “security vacuum” like Division at the Department of External Mr. Caron succeeds Ambassador Abina humanitarian aid shipments to the coun- Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa Dann, who has been Canada’s envoy to the one that led to the current conflict try. and counselor at the Mission of Canada to Ukraine since August 2005. He is Canada’s between Russia and Georgia. Ukraine, a recent ally of Georgia since the European Union in Brussels. sixth ambassador to Kyiv; the first “For a very long time, it’s been clear both countries’ “colored revolutions” Prior to this, Mr. Caron served as deputy Canadian diplomat in independent Ukraine that there was a security vacuum in the brought pro-democratic leaders to office, South Caucasus,” Vice Prime Minister director, Northern Europe Division, and was Nestor Gayowsky, who served as con- has been staunch in its support of Tbilisi Hryhoriy Nemyria said in an interview completed an assignment as regional direc- sul general in 1990-1992 and as chargé since the start of Georgia’s armed conflict with RFE/RL’s Ukraine Service. “It’s a tor with the Department of Fisheries and d’affaires in January-September 1992. with Russia over the breakaway republic lesson for Ukraine. Ukraine is the largest Oceans. In the 1990s, Mr. Caron served as Canada was the first Western country to of South Ossetia. a trade commissioner with the Japan recognize Ukraine after the December 1, post-Soviet country after Russia, and one Division and, during the 1980s, as consul 1991, referendum on independence. that shares a long border with the (Continued on page 24) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008 No. 34 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Kyiv on Georgia: Diplomacy NATO: ‘no business as usual’ that were not there prior to August 6, that were part of the peacekeeping mission, awkward, parties divided BRUSSELS – Meeting in Brussels, the agreement calls for them to be with- NATO foreign ministers said on August drawn out of Georgia. So far, we have by Pavel Korduban (Channel 5, August 13). 19 that they could not have normal rela- not seen any significant movement,” said Eurasia Daily Monitor Richard Holbrooke, a former U.S. tions with Russia as long as Moscow had Mr. Whitman. (Voice of America) ambassador to the United Nations, and troops in Georgia. “We have determined August 15 Yushchenko, Bush confer via phone Ronald Asmus, a former deputy assistant that we cannot continue with business as Kyiv was among the first capitals to secretary of state, said in an article that usual. We call on Moscow to demonstrate – both in word and deed – its continued KYIV – Presidents Viktor Yushchenko define its stance clearly in the early stages Ukraine would most likely be Moscow’s of Ukraine and George W.