Ukraine to Allow U.S. Experts to Inspect Kolchuha Facilities
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INSIDE:• Yushchenko speaks on Ukraine’s crisis — page 3. • Yarymovych receives medal for service to NATO — page 9. • “Focus on Philately”: Ihor of Kyivan Rus’ — page 12. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXX HE KRAINIANNo. 40 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2002 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine Pro-presidentialT deputiesUUkraine to allow U.S. experts to inspectW Kolchuha facilities announce majority in Rada by Roman Woronowycz presidential security officer Mykola anybody. Kyiv Press Bureau Melnychenko in the office of President “The only thing that concerns me is Kuchma is authentic. U.S. State that the sale of Kolchuhas to Iraq did not by Roman Woronowycz KYIV – Ukrainian authorities will Department spokesperson Richard occur,” explained Mr. Piskun. “Maybe Kyiv Press Bureau allow technical experts from the United Boucher said at the time that the U.S. there are moments of ethical impropriety, States and Great Britain to inspect sever- KYIV – Leading members of the pro- also had “some indications” that the sys- but I am only concerned with the legal al sites in Ukraine connected to the tem was already in Iraq. moments.” presidential parliamentary factions development and production of the announced on September 26 that they In the Melnychenko recordings Mr. However, National Deputy Viktor Kolchuha air defense system. Kuchma is said to give the go-ahead for Yushchenko, head of the Our Ukraine had succeeded in gathering assent from a U.S. Deputy Secretary of State sufficient number of lawmakers to form the sale of a Kolchuha system for Iraq to political bloc and a central player in the Elizabeth Jones and Ukraine’s President the head of his military export commit- growing opposition movement trying to a majority. Leonid Kuchma agreed on such a course The parliamentary coalition would tee, Valerii Malev. The sale was to take oust President Kuchma, told The Weekly of action while Ms. Jones was in Kyiv place through a Jordanian intermediary. on October 2 that the moral and ethical include the nine factions that once con- October 1-2, during which the focus of stituted the For a United Ukraine politi- Maj. Melnychenko has been at the aspects of a conversation to allow the discussions was the Kolchuha that heart of allegations of presidential impro- cal bloc along with the Social sale of a system that could lead to the Washington has alleged Ukraine might prieties and criminal behavior ever since Democratic faction plus a small number deaths of U.S. pilots had to be consid- have sold to Iraq. he went public with recordings he says of independent lawmakers. Viktor ered. The U.S. is concerned that such a sys- he made in the inner chamber of the pres- Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine faction, along “Simply the fact that this was even tem, whose sale is banned by United idential offices. considered carries much responsibility. with the Tymoshenko, Communist and Nations sanctions against Baghdad, could President Kuchma has categorically Socialist factions remain outside the This, after all, could have affected rela- be used to shoot down British and U.S. stated from the outset that Ukraine did tions between partners. There was a majority. military aircraft, which patrol a no fly not sell a Kolchuha system to Iraq, and While the press initially announced strategic relationship,” said Mr. zone over Iraq. he has pledged to cooperate with U.S. Yushchenko. that a parliamentary majority was in The team of experts should arrive on officials to prove that is the case. place, Verkhovna Rada Chairman The United States has been vague October 13 and will have access to all While more Ukrainian government about what specific “indications” it has Volodymyr Lytvyn admitted during a relevant documents. They will see oper- officials have accepted that the voices on received that a Ukrainian Kolchuha may routine weekly briefing on September 30 ating Kolchuha air defense installations the recordings, which were authenticated be in Iraq and has been unwilling to pro- that it was merely an unofficial agree- stationed in Ukraine and will visit the by U.S. experts, are really those of vide more information. During a press ment among lawmakers. The coalition Topaz Plant where the military hardware President Kuchma and his state export conference on September 29 U.S. still needed to be officially registered is produced. control official, the official Ukrainian Ambassador Carlos Pascual said he could The latest Ukrainian controversy (Continued on page 4) government line remains that no such air not elaborate on what indications exist erupted on September 25 when the U.S. defense systems were ever sold to Iraq. that the Kolchuha is on the ground in State Department said it had suspended Procurator General Sviatoslav Piskun Iraq. aid to the Ukrainian central government told reporters on October 2 that he has no However, Mr. Pascual provided hope after verifying that a portion of the basis upon which to begin an investiga- Newly elected recordings made by former Ukrainian tion of possible criminal complicity by (Continued on page 3) UNA executives Ukrainianby Tamara Stadnychenko-Cornelison American Bar Association celebrates 25th anniversary hold first meeting Special to The Ukrainian Weekly by Christine E. Kozak UNA National Secretary PHILADELPHIA – Twenty-five years ago, on September 23-24, 1977, a group PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The newly of Ukrainian American attorneys gathered elected Executive Committee of the in Cleveland to discuss an idealistic agen- Ukrainian National Association met on da. Their vision was to organize a national Monday, September 9, at the UNA Home association of American attorneys of Office, for their first quarterly meeting. Ukrainian descent, an association that In attendance were members of the could provide a collegial framework in Executive Committee: Stefan Kaczaraj, which individual attorneys could use their president: Martha Lysko, first vice-presi- respective legal training and expertise to dent; Eugene Iwanciw, second vice-pres- promote and defend the interests of the ident; Al Kachkowski, director for Ukrainian American community and Canada; Christine Kozak, national secre- bring to the attention of the international tary; and Roma Lisovich, treasurer. Also present was Zenon Holubec, chairman of community the manifold human rights the auditing committee. President violations occurring in Soviet Ukraine. Twenty-five years later, that association Kaczaraj chaired the meeting. Tony Rubel Opening the meeting, Mr. Kaczaraj is a well-established fixture in the welcomed the new Executive Committee Ukrainian American community, one that UABA President Andre Michniak (left) presents the Rule of Law Award to members, wishing them all the best in has retained at its core the two principles Rep. Bob Schaffer. the next four years. In keeping with the that led to its creation. Today the Ukrainian American Bar Association is their 25th anniversary and to honor a ments in American and Ukrainian law, theme of the UNA’s 2002 convention in select group of individuals for their spe- began with a Saturday morning presenta- Chicago, Mr. Kaczaraj spoke of the recognized as a professional body with a cial achievements. tion by Nancy E. Medwid, a member of necessity for teamwork. significant voice in both domestic and The event, which opened with a recep- the UABA Board of Governors. Ms. Ms. Lisovich, treasurer, presented a international legal issues. On September 27-29, UABA members tion hosted on Friday evening by current Medwid spoke on recent developments in detailed comparison of UNA income and employment law in the United States. A expenses between the first six months of gathered at the Sheraton Rittenhouse UABA President Andre Michniak, was session on how attorneys might use the 2002 and the first six months of 2001. Square Hotel in Philadelphia to participate well attended. Professional seminars, each in a professional conference, to celebrate related to the theme of recent develop- (Continued on page 11) (Continued on page 5) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2002 No. 40 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS U.S. authenticates Kuchma tape NEWSBRIEFS U.S. official in Kyiv on Kolchuha isssue Defense Minister Volodymyr Shkidchenko promised Ms. Jones that Ukraine will show of intent to sell Kolchuha to Iraq KYIV – U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kolchuha radars to U.S. experts as soon as Elizabeth Jones arrived in Ukraine on they arrive in Ukraine. (RFE/RL Newsline) by Roman Kupchinsky Experts say it would be difficult to be October 1 to discuss what she said would RFE/RL Crime and Corrpution Watch certain that Iraq had the Kolchuha for a be “U.S.-Ukrainian relations in the context Opposition plans October 12 protest ... number of reasons: it does not emit signals of the ongoing U.S. policy review toward KYIV – Three opposition leaders – Yulia U.S. administration officials have of its own; it is mobile; and it is easy to Ukraine,” which was launched on the basis Tymoshenko, Oleksander Moroz, and Petro authenticated a tape made by Maj, Mykola hide, involving an antenna attached to an of a tape recording suggesting that Symonenko – announced on October 1 that Melnychenko of President Leonid Kuchma ordinary-looking truck. President Leonid Kuchma approved the they will organize another nationwide of Ukraine telling the head of a Ukrainian The official went on to say: “We have sale of Kolchuha radar systems to Iraq in protest on October 12 to demand President state arms sales company to proceed with informed the Ukrainian government and contravention of a United Nations embargo, Leonid Kuchma’s ouster and will stage the sale of advanced radar technology to NATO allies that we have reached this the Associate Press reported. Ms. Jones was “people’s tribunals” across the country to Iraq. assessment, that there has been a pause in expected to meet with President Kuchma judge him, the Associated Press reported.