www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Pysanka workshops from Edmonton to Boston — page 9. • Two new books present Ukraine’s history — page 10. • Interview with writer Askold Melnyczuk — page 12. HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXXVI No. 13 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Bush’s first visit to Ukraine aims Tymoshenko government to recognize country’s progress marks first 100 days in office by Illya M. Labunka On March 11 the United States for- by Illya M. Labunka Kyiv Press Bureau mally announced its support of Ukraine’s Kyiv Press Bureau desire to join NATO’s MAP and has been KYIV – President George W. Bush pushing hard for Ukraine’s successful KYIV – As she reached the milestone supports Ukraine’s aspirations to attain entry. of 100 days in office, Prime Minister its rightful place in Europe, particularly Speaking at a press conference on Yulia Tymoshenko continued to enjoy in trans-Atlantic institutions, according March 19 in Kyiv, U.S. Ambassador to strong popularity. On Thursday, March to the U.S. president’s national security Ukraine William Taylor reiterated the 27, the Ukrainian government leader adviser, Stephen Hadley, who spoke on U.S.’s absolute support of Ukraine’s marked the 100th day since she was March 26 in Washington as Mr. Bush aspirations to join the alliance’s MAP voted into power on December 18, 2007. prepares to make his first official state and expressed hope that other NATO Ever since she regained her position visit to Ukraine. member-countries would also extend as prime minister, the intrepid reformer President Bush will visit Kyiv on their support. has embarked on an ambitious crusade March 31-April 1 en route to the 26- Ambassador Taylor expressed his involving privatization, social spending, member NATO summit in Bucharest, belief that the Bucharest summit would anti-corruption efforts and energy sector Romania, in order to “recognize the make a decision in favor of Ukraine’s reform – all under the banner of her democratic changes undertaken by MAP, commenting that a positive deci- “Ukrainian Breakthrough” program. Ukrainians in their country from the sion would be a success for both Ukraine And, her popularity has not waned moment of the Orange Revolution of and NATO. At the same time, Mr. even though Ukraine experienced an average monthly increase of 2.8 percent 2004,” Mr. Hadley underscored. The Taylor underscored that joining the MAP in inflation. NATO summit convenes on April 2-4. does not guarantee NATO membership. Prime Minister Tymoshenko has Although some critics view President He stressed that a Membership Action received praise from some political ana- Bush’s upcoming visit to Ukraine in the Plan is only the beginning of the process lysts for fulfilling her parliamentary elec- last year of his presidency as somewhat and that the ultimate decision on mem- Web-Portal of the Ukrainian Government tion campaign pledges, which included of a courtesy call, “the visit by the U.S. bership is made later. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko increased subsidies for social programs, head of state is nevertheless a clear Ambassador Taylor also pointed out higher pensions (an increase of 30 per- example of Mr. Bush’s commitment to that NATO would consider Ukraine’s full cent over last year), larger student noticeable in six months,” said the prime strengthening democracy in Eastern membership only after the Ukrainian stipends and a repayment program for minister. Europe and particularly in the region of people approve NATO membership via According to Ms. Tymoshenko, her the former Soviet Union,” said the millions of depositors who lost their referendum. He made it clear that no Soviet-era savings in 1991. government inherited an economy with a Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the country that is not a NATO member – At the same time, other experts have 17 percent rate of inflation from the pre- Penta Center for Political Research. including Russia – can have the right to accused the prime minister of engaging vious administration of Viktor During Mr. Bush’s visit the U.S. and veto Ukraine’s MAP. in a populist public relations campaign Yanukovych. “It is impossible in two Ukrainian presidents are scheduled to On March 26 President Yushchenko geared toward the presidential elections weeks’ time to reduce inflation which discuss, among other issues, future bilat- expressed hope that public opinion in in 2009 – all at the expense of the econo- has been increasing for the last year and eral cooperation based on the creation of Ukraine favoring NATO membership my. a half,” added Ms. Tymoshenko. a free-trade zone between Ukraine and would reach approximately 60 to 70 per- On March 20 Ms. Tymoshenko Although the current inflation crisis, the United States, as well as an eight- cent in two years’ time, during which a responded to fears of growing inflation more than any other issue, has recently point U.S.-Ukraine Action Plan for 2008- NATO information campaign is to be by stating that the government will need put the Tymoshenko government under 2009. implemented. approximately half a year to bring the scrutiny, most critics concur that the President Bush is scheduled to meet Nine of NATO’s newest members situation under control. “The results of unwelcome economic trend is a product with President Viktor Yushchenko and our anti-inflationary measures will be Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on (Continued on page 22) (Continued on page 17) April 1 and plans to depart for Bucharest that evening. The fact that the president of the United States intends to visit Ukraine only underscores the significance of Russia’s threats to Ukraine, Georgia challenge U.S. and NATO Ukraine for long-term U.S. interests, by Vladimir Socor Kremlin political consultant Gleb rest of the country. commented Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Eurasia Daily Monitor Pavlovsky warned on the program that On the same program Konstantin Ukraine’s former foreign affairs minister Ukraine shall be “destroyed, divided” if it Simonov, general director of the National and former ambassador to the U.S. Representatives of the Russian govern- pursues a MAP leading to NATO member- Energy Security Foundation, warned that In addition, Mr. Bush’s visit is an ment and the Kremlin are multiplying their ship. To deter Kyiv from pursuing a MAP, Ukraine’s economy would collapse with- excellent opportunity for Ukraine to threats to Ukraine, as well as to Georgia, Mr. Pavlovsky recommended that Russia out Russian gas. Consequently, “If they do refocus U.S. attention on a country that ahead of next week’s NATO summit, should raise the full range of complaints not see Russia as a political partner, they can once again be a key strategic player where Membership Action Plans (MAPs) regarding the Russian language and rights will not be getting any money from us” – in Europe, added Mr. Gryshchenko. for the two countries will be considered. of ethnic minorities in Ukraine and present that is, Russia would abruptly raise the “Unfortunately, for far too long all these Moscow realizes more clearly than some Ukraine with a “yes-or-no choice.” Should price of gas for avowedly political reasons. domestic squabbles were objectively NATO governments that this issue is a In a link-up from Brussels, the Russian viewed outside Ukraine as our inability defining one for the alliance at its April 2-4 Kyiv choose the “no,” Russia should “reconsider the [1997] framework treaty” envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin threat- to establish a foreign policy strategy summit in Bucharest. ened that granting MAPs to Ukraine and based on national interests,” he Government-run Rossiya Television with Ukraine. This clearly implies de-rec- ognizing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Georgia “would signify the break-up of explained. aired a quintessence of such threats against their national states.” He also warned the which is a centerpiece of that treaty. The main topic of discussion between Ukraine on its “National Interest” flagship alliance that it cannot tell Russia that it has With this, Mr. Pavlovsky is replaying the two heads of state will be Ukraine’s political roundtable on March 22. The par- no right to veto NATO decisions while at the themes he used during Ukraine’s 2004 intensified effort to receive a NATO ticipants, who were until recently posi- the same time requesting Russian assis- presidential election campaign, which his Membership Action Plan (MAP) – the tioned as hardliners in the Russian spec- tance in Afghanistan, where the NATO final phase in preparing potential mem- trum, are nowadays in the policy main- team of political consultants based on bers for joining the alliance. stream. threats to split eastern Ukraine from the (Continued on page 5) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008 No. 13 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS NATO members stating the case 10 NATO members support Ukraine tion headed by Internal Minister Yurii Lutsenko left for Kosovo to study the cir- for Georgian and Ukrainian MAPs KYIV – Canada and nine of the cumstances of the Ukrainian peacekeep- newest NATO members from Central and er’s death. “We are very much worried Eastern Europe have signed an unofficial by Vladimir Socor impression that Germany claims a lead- by developments in Kosovo,” said note asking NATO Secretary-General ing role in opposing the MAPs. Oleksander Chalyi of the Presidential Eurasia Daily Monitor Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to offer Ukraine Berlin’s anti-MAP arguments are more Secretariat. (Ukrinform) and Georgia Membership Action Plans at The German government’s all-out, sophisticated and open to reasoned the alliance’s summit in Bucharest on U.N. leader extends condolences public campaign against Georgian and debate, compared with Moscow’s vitu- April 2-4, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service Ukrainian Membership Action Plans perations and threats.