The Ukrainian Weekly 2007, No.35
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • UCCA gets grant for voter education — page 2. • “Generation Uke” — pages 8-9. • Soyuzivka’s 2007 summer in photos — pages 11-14. HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXXV No. 35 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2007 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukrainian Americans in Kyiv for celebrations of Independence Day by Zenon Zawada part in presenting the icon. Kyiv Press Bureau The presidential couple expressed gratitude and reverently kissed the icon. KYIV – Leaders of the Ukrainian Just a few minutes later, Mr. American community converged on Yushchenko took the lead in slicing up Ukraine’s capital to celebrate the 16th the 16th anniversary cake, a tedious task anniversary of their ancestral homeland’s the president seemed to enjoy, carving independence from the Soviet Union. out at least 20 slices before delegating Among them were Self Reliance the task to the catering staff. Credit Union Board Chairman Bohdan On August 21 Ukrainian American Kekish, Ukrainian National Association credit union leaders enjoyed an intimate President Stefan Kaczaraj, Ukrainian political discussion with National World Congress President Askold Security and Defense Council Secretary Lozynskyj, Ukrainian Congress Ivan Pliusch at the National University of Committee of America President Michael Kyiv Mohyla Academy. Sawkiw Jr., and U.S. Court of Federal He assured the credit union delegation Claims Judge Bohdan Futey. that, despite widespread concern about The main event was the Presidential the president’s indecisiveness, Reception at the St. Sophia Cathedral “Yushchenko is decisive when it’s Museum, at which Cleveland iconogra- required,” as demonstrated on April 2 pher Daria Kulchytsky presented her when he dismissed Parliament. “Orange Madonna of Sumy” icon to Mr. Yushchenko’s most important President Viktor Yushchenko and First accomplishments have been attaining Lady of Ukraine Kateryna Yushchenko. market economy status for Ukraine and “The idea came during the Orange enabling Ukrainians to become the Revolution, since she personifies regions of Ukraine,” said Mr. Futey, who took (Continued on page 4) Mykola Lazarenko/UNIAN Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization President Viktor Yushchenko on Independence Square during celebrations of holds International Jamboree in Canada Ukraine’s 16th anniversary of independence on August 24. On the campaign trail with Yulia, from Ukraine’s west to its east by Zenon Zawada where they triumphed in 2002. Kyiv Press Bureau In her election stumping, Ms. Tymoshenko makes clear she wants BEREZHANY, Ukraine – Yulia enough votes to give her bloc the 226- Tymoshenko received a hero’s welcome in vote majority in Parliament, so that “a the western Ukraine town of Berezhany, democratic coalition will be formed with and more than 50,000 supporters greeted the president, in which event the presi- her in the main square of Kharkiv, in dent would work calmly, the government Ukraine’s eas,t seven days later. will defend our nation’s independence, Her message was the same in both and reforms will be introduced.” cities. In this campaign, the Tymoshenko “Forming a coalition with the Party of Bloc platform is carefully, even master- the Regions is not a union of east and west, fully, tailored to avoid alienating the typi- but a betrayal of the east and west simulta- cal Ukrainian voter, wherever he or she neously,” Ms. Tymoshenko said. “Those may reside. people will never give politicians the pos- The biggest test is in the two issues sibility to make truly deep reforms.” that most divide Ukrainians: language While the international community and and foreign policy. business elite are clamoring for a post- Although her firm support for the OTTAWA – More than 700 members of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization election coalition between the Party of the Ukrainian language as the single govern- arrived in Ottawa in mid-August as part of the program of the International Plast Regions and the Our Ukraine – People’s ment language would typically alienate Jamboree marking the organization’s 95th anniversary. While in Ottawa for two Self-Defense bloc to unite a deeply divid- eastern and southern Ukrainians, many take days, the Plast members visited the Canadian Parliament as well as the capital ed Ukraine, Ms. Tymoshenko is fighting comfort in the fact that Ms. Tymoshenko city’s other major sites. Above, Canadian Member of Parliament Borys to prove her bloc is the better alternative. herself is a native of Dnipropetrovsk, a Wrzesnewskyj with a group of Plast scouts on the steps in front of the Peace Tower In fact, of the three major political Russian-speaking city in eastern Ukaine. on Parliament Hill. Prior to their visit to Ottawa, Plast members camped for 10 days forces, only the Tymoshenko Bloc won Her bloc’s platform supports the intro- in the wilderness of Ontario and Quebec in separate camps geared to various skill oblasts in both nationalist Halychyna and duction and application of the European levels. For the conclusion of the jamboree, Plast members converged at the the industrial east of Ukraine during the Charter for Regional and Minority Plastova Sich campground in Grafton, Ontario, for a final four days of special 2006 parliamentary elections. Languages, which Ukraine ratified in events that were attended by more than 1,800 Plast members of all ages. A com- Her bloc swiped the Ternopil Oblast September 2005. plete report on all three stages of the International Plast Jamboree will be featured from the Our Ukraine bloc and snatched the in next week’s issue. Kirovohrad Oblast from the Communists, (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2007 No. 35 UCCA receives grant from NED NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS for voter education program CEC ends candidate registration from the list of eligible voters. Election NEW YORK – The Ukrainian Congress time to respond to questions. experts have pointed out that this Committee of America Inc. (UCCA) Most questions about national issues, KYIV – The Central Election scheme, apart from posing immense dif- received renewed support from the National such as the economy, foreign policy, Commission (CEC) on August 28 con- ficulties in its implementation, could dis- Endowment for Democracy (NED) to con- national security and domestic policy cluded the registration of candidate lists enfranchise many voters who return to duct a two-month voter education program will be put to the speakers by regional for the September 30 parliamentary elec- Ukraine within three days of the election. in Ukraine prior to the pre-term parliamen- journalists. Questions about local con- tions, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service Mr. Yushchenko reportedly argues in his tary elections on September 30. cerns, which are often overlooked during reported. The CEC registered candidate petition that the law providing for the The UCCA civic education program national televised debates, will be posed rolls of 21 political forces, refusing to compulsory removal of citizens from includes a series of modified town hall by voters who will be encouraged to register those of three other parties. The voter rolls is a direct violation of their meetings that will bring together repre- phone in their questions. right to participate in the elections was constitutional right to vote. (RFE/RL sentatives of political parties and blocs, The UCCA hopes that these debates granted to the Party of the Regions, Our Newsline) and members of the media. The program will encourage candidates to take a stand Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc, is a departure from earlier UCCA-spon- on issues of interest to the voters, thereby Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, Communist Moroz pushes for Rada session sored town hall meeting, as this new for- helping voters identify the parties and Party, Communist Party (Renewed), mat includes the Fourth Estate (print, tele- coalitions that best represent their beliefs Progressive Socialist Party, Party of the KYIV – Verkhovna Rada head vision and radio) who will serve as stew- and allowing them to make an informed All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda, Bloc of Oleksander Moroz told journalists in ards of the electorate, engaging the politi- choice on election day. Lytvyn, Socialist Party, All-Ukrainian Kyiv on August 28 that the Ukrainian cal parties and blocs on the voters’ behalf. The UCCA-organized town hall meet- Party of People’s Confidence, Agrarian Parliament will hold a session on Town hall meetings play a unique role ings will be held in every region of Ukraine, Ukraine Peasant Bloc, Party of Free September 4 “regardless of circum- in election campaigns, affording voters the including the cities of Lviv, Odesa, Democrats, Electoral Bloc of Liudmyla stances,” UNIAN reported. “I appeal to opportunity to hear the candidate discuss Donetsk, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Suprun – Ukrainian Regional Activists, all deputies [to come to the Verkhovna key issues and illustrating the differences Kirovohrad. Television and radio broadcasts Ukrainian Hromada bloc, Party of Rada], since the Constitution provides for between various political parties and blocs. from these cities reach a large percentage of National-Economic Development, opening a Parliament session on the first The town halls will be broadcast live Ukraine’s population, with an overall poten- Ukrainian People’s Bloc, Party of on regional television and radio stations, tial audience of roughly 14 million. Tuesday in September,” Mr. Moroz said. Greens, KUCHMA bloc, Bloc of