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InsIde: • Programs of Ukraine’s presidential hopefuls – page 2. • President Obama’s message on the Holodomor – page 4. • Book launch for “Scratches on a Prison Wall” – page 10. HEPublished by theKRA Ukrainian NationalIN AssociationIAN Inc., a fraternal non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVIIT UNo.47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER W 22, 2009 $1/$2 in Ukraine Deadly flu epidemic peaks 76th anniversary of Holodomor Confusion, controversy linger in Ukraine marked at St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Zenon Zawada percent rise in the third week. Kyiv Press Bureau Acute respiratory virus infection and influenza have reached their peak and KYIV – Ukraine’s deadly influenza have slowed, Deputy Health Minister epidemic has already reached its peak, Vasyl Lazoryshynets said at a November government officials said, but confusion, 16 press briefing. In the meantime, the contradiction and controversy linger as illness remains an enigma to medical medical experts are increasingly baffled authorities. by their findings. The government’s official position was British scientists confirmed on first stated by Ms. Tymoshenko and November 16 the belief held by Ukrainian Health Minister Vasyl Kniazevych on doctors that a dangerous mutation of the October 30, essentially describing it as a virus is causing deaths, the 1+1 television seasonal viral epidemic with occasional network reported. The very next day, H1N1 strains that causes pneumonia. The however, World Health Organization government declared a quarantine of nine (WHO) officials claimed no mutation of oblasts and a three-week recess for edu- the virus occurred. cational institutions. “Fear, panic and total distrust dominate Similarly, President Viktor Yushchenko social attitudes and emotions,” said Ihor noted in a November 4 statement that Zhdanov, president of the Open Politics “three viral agents of serious viral infec- Analytical Center in Kyiv. tion simultaneously combined: two sea- Enormous speculation still clouds the sonal ones and the California [H1N1 UCCA epidemic’s origins and nature, as well as virus].” how the government of Prime Minister “The joining of infections as a result of Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches officiate the Yulia Tymoshenko prepared and respond- mutations could lead to an even bigger, requiem service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Pictured (from left): Bishop Emeritus ed to it. new, aggressive virus, according to the Basil Losten, Metropolitan Constantine, Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, Bishop Daniel, As of November 19, the death toll conclusions of virologists,” the president the Rev. Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay and Archbishop Antony (at the podium). reached 344 out of 1.5 million infected, said. the Heath Ministry reported. Of the Former Health Minister Mykola NEW YORK – Thousands of Tamara Olexy, president of the 85,904 hospitalized, 54,407 have been Polischuk said it’s a standard seasonal Ukrainian Americans attended the com- Ukrainian Congress Committee of released. While deaths rose more than virus with occasional H1N1 traces and no memoration of the 76th anniversary of America (UCCA), called on the Ukrainian 120 percent between the first and second the Holodomor at St. Patrick’s Cathedral American community “to continue to weeks, the casualty rate slowed to a 62 (Continued on page 3) in New York City on November 14. work on behalf of the innocent victims of Ukraine’s Genocide of 1932-1933, and in their name educate the public about this heinous crime against humanity. …to International campaign recalls Famine-Genocide spread the truth to the world in the hope OTTAWA – An educational campaign women and children suffered agonizing that such crimes never happen again.” recalling the Great Famine of 1932-1933 deaths in Soviet Ukraine in 1932-1933 The UCCA is the sponsor of the in Soviet Ukraine, known as the during what was arguably one of the Holodomor commemoration at St. Holodomor, was launched on November greatest acts of genocide to befoul 20th Patrick’s Cathedral. The event is co-host- 16. Thousands of postcards are being sent century European history. To this day, ed by the Eastern Eparchy of the to Embassies and Consulates internation- there are Holodomor-deniers attempting Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. ally, urging governments to officially rec- to obfuscate what happened, continuing and the Stamford Eparchy of the ognize that the Famine was an act of geno- to cover up this Communist crime against Ukrainian Catholic Church (UCC). cide perpetrated by the Soviet regime of humanity. This educational effort is there- Hosting hierarchs were Archbishop Joseph Stalin. Canada is one of the few fore aimed at reminding governments Antony (UOC) and Bishop Paul countries that have already recognized the everywhere that the father of the United Chomnycky (UCC). Holodomor as genocide. Nations Convention on Genocide was Archbishop Antony recounted the Drawing upon the writings of Dr. personally convinced of the genocidal events of 1932-1933 in Ukraine. A requi- Raphael Lemkin, the “father of the [U.N.] character of Soviet rule in Ukraine. We em service concelebrated by the hierarchy Genocide Convention,” who described are also calling upon countries that of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, includ- the “destruction of the Ukrainian nation” believe in upholding the relevance of the ing Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan as the “classic example of Soviet geno- U.N. Genocide Convention to officially Soroka, Bishop Chomnycky and Bishop cide,” the Ukrainian Canadian Civil recognize the truth of what happened Emeritus Basil Losten; and the Ukrainian Liberties Foundation and partner groups during the Holodomor.” Orthodox Church, including around the world are mailing postcards For the full text of Lemkin’s speech and Metropolitan-Archbishop Constantine, featuring a pastel drawing of Lemkin and to see the postcard log on to www.uccla.ca Archbishop Antony and Bishop Daniel; an excerpt from his 1953 speech “Soviet and go to Sources & Issues/Great Famine. assisted by 30 clergy of the Ukrainian Genocide in the Ukraine,” an effort timed The postcard released by the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic to coincide with the annual day of mourn- Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation, The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Churches. The Dumka Chorus of New ing for the Holodomor’s victims, with support from Ukrainian organiza- Liberties Foundation’s postcard fea- York, under the direction of Vasyl November 28. tions in Canada, the United States, tures a drawing of Raphael Lemkin. Hrechynsky, sang the responses. Prof. Lubomyr Luciuk, editor of Australia and Great Britain, as part of an William Pope, senior advisor for Europe “Holodomor: Reflections on the Great educational campaign about the and Punishment of the Crime of at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Famine of 1932-1933 in Soviet Ukraine,” Holodomor features Raphael Lemkin, the Genocide adopted by the United Nations read President Barack Obama’s message commented: “Many millions of men, father of the Convention on Prevention in 1948. (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009 No. 47 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Ukraine’s presidential hopefuls Senate committee OKs Tefft President nominates Yekhanurov WASHINGTON – The nomination of KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor spell out their programs Ambassador John F. Tefft by U.S. Yushchenko on November 18 tabled in President Barack Obama to be the next by Taras Kuzio central Ukraine. SPU leader Oleksander Parliament a motion on the appointment U.S. ambassador to Ukraine was of Yurii Yekhanurov as defense minister. RFE/Rl Moroz discredited himself and his party when he defected from the Orange coali- approved on November 17 by the mem- Mr. Yekhanurov held this post from The deadline to register candidates for tion in July 2006. bers of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations December 2007 to June 5 of this year, Ukraine’s presidential election was Mr. Tihipko, who is also a successful Committee. The next step is for the nomi- when the Parliament dismissed him at the November 9, after which the seven candi- private banker from Dnipropetrovsk, is nation to be approved by the entire Senate request of Prime Minister Yulia dates who were refused registration were predictably emphasizing the central role in a motion on the Senate floor. This will Tymoshenko. Accusations of corruption given two additional days to resubmit of economic policy, thereby echoing the most likely be a unanimous consent vote. that were made against Mr. Yekhanurov their applications. On November 13, the 1994 campaign of former President It is hoped that the vote will take place have not been confirmed. Valerii Central Election Commission will con- Leonid Kuchma. Mr. Tihipko’s slogans this week as the U.S. Senate is out all of Ivaschenko has temporarily fulfilled the firm the final list of candidates for the include, somewhat strangely, “The next week for the Thanksgiving holiday. minister’s duties. The Verkhovna Rada’s January 17, 2010, presidential vote. Economy Above All Else” and “Ukraine’s After the Senate vote, Ambassador Tefft Committee on National Security and The main reason some candidates were Interests Above All Else.” will be sworn in and will travel to Kyiv to Defense, which is headed by presidential denied registration was their failure to Mr. Yanukovych likewise emphasizes assume his duties. Ambassador Tefft was candidate and ex-Defense Minister prove they had provided the mandatory “A Strong Economy – A Strong Country.” nominated by President Barack Obama Anatoliy Grytsenko, is not planning to $300,000 deposit, which candidates that The eastern Ukraine candidates – on September 30. A hearing on his nomi- support Mr. Yekhanurov’s nomination as fail to make it to the second round of vot- including Messrs. Tihipko and nation took place on October 8. (U.S.- defense minister. The parliamentary fac- ing will forfeit. Although the deposit is Yanukovych – place less emphasis on Ukraine Business Council) tions of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, the Party of Regions and the Communist large, political forces might have good democracy, the rule of law and corrup- Rada urges nomination of defense minister reason to back the registration of so- tion.