The Ukrainian Weekly 2004, No.9

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Did Ukraine’s intelligence services spy on opposition? — page 3. • Ukrainian Olympic swimmer trains in the U.S. — page 11. • Paris to Kyiv in Quebec City — page 12. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXII HE No.KRAINIAN 9 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2004 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine Yushchenko and Yanukovych square off VaticanT reportedU to be unlikely W at international affairs conference in Kyiv to approve Ukrainian Patriarchate PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Vatican is Nonetheless, Vatican officials have cited by Roman Woronowycz Russia, Belarus and Kazakstan, and its unlikely to recognize a Patriarchate for the unease about relations with Orthodox Kyiv Press Bureau halting steps towards European integra- Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, it was Churches and concern about Catholics in tion. KYIV – Ukraine’s two leading – yet learned this week in the wake of meetings in Russia as reasons to not recognize the “Ukraine has not succeeded in jump- undeclared – candidates for president Moscow between officials of the Holy See Patriarchate at this point in time. ing on the train that its neighbors have offered serious criticisms of each other’s and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). The Associated Press quoted Pope John political intentions on February 21 in ridden into union with Europe,” The Catholic News Service (CNS) quot- Paul II as saying on February 22 that work- explained Mr. Yushchenko. “Ukrainian ing to bring unity among Christians is his what could have been the first debate of ed Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, primate of the the presidential election season. authorities derailed the train and have Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, as stating “indispensable mission.” At the same time, pointed it in another direction. The last Vatican sources told the news service that Before a debate could begin, however, that “I have absolutely no doubt the holy Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, cur- stop is authoritarianism, dictatorship, father would like to establish the Rome is paying serious attention to Russian poverty and isolation.” Orthodox complaints about the state of rently the odds-on favorite to get the nod Patriarchate, but he also wants to keep the to run as the candidate from the pro-pres- Mr. Yushchenko questioned the way dialogue with the Orthodox open.” Catholic-Orthodox relations. the majority coalition in Parliament, Interfax Moscow reported that ROC idential, parliamentary majority force, CNS correspondent Cindy Wooden left the hall. which staunchly supports the prime min- wrote that Vatican officials also told her Patriarch Aleksei II had complained that ister, had pursued political reform. He decisions taken at Orthodox-Catholic meet- He had just completed his address to there is no doubt about the pope’s admira- charged that the majority had illegally ings “have remained only on paper,” that an an international conference on “Ukraine, tion for the fidelity of the Ukrainian rammed through the first reading of a agreement stipulating that the Catholic Europe and the World” attended by many Catholic Church and for the traditions of the draft bill on amending the Constitution, Church would notify the ROC when “new international political and economic Christian East, including the fact that mature leaders, including former U.S. Secretary while ignoring parliamentary procedures Eastern Churches are led by patriarchs. Catholic structures are set up in the canoni- cal territory of the Russian Orthodox of State Madeleine K. Albright, former on floor debate and voting. Church” was being ignored and that the Swedish Prime Minister Karl Bildt and He also expressed disapproval for Catholic Church was engaging in “direct noted economist Anders Aslund. how the pro-presidential forces had taken VOA cutback proselytism.” Mr. Yanukovych did not hear his polit- control of the Verkhovna Rada by buying The Associated Press added that among ical rival, Viktor Yushchenko, head of the allegiance of unaligned national the issues raised by Russian Orthodox lead- Our Ukraine and unofficial leader of the deputies after the Our Ukraine political is rescinded ers was the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic political opposition, offer his rebuttal. bloc had received a majority in popular Mr. Yushchenko is currently the most support in the elections. by Andrew Nynka Church’s expansion into eastern and south- ern Ukraine, which the ROC considers tra- popular politician in Ukraine by far, “The results of the parliamentary elec- PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Citing “a crack- ditionally Orthodox territory. according to most every pre-election sur- tions of 2002 gave a distinctive and con- down on media” in Ukraine, the organiza- The Russian Orthodox Church laid the vey, and will almost certainly run as the clusive result: the government had lost,” tion that oversees Voice of America radio groundwork for meetings in Moscow with candidate from Our Ukraine. asserted Mr. Yushchenko during his broadcasts to Ukraine made it known on Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the In his remarks, Mr. Yushchenko ques- address to the conference, which was February 24 that it would rescind an earlier tioned the current government’s initiative decision to cut that service in half. (Continued on page 16) on a Common Economic Space with (Continued on page 3) “We are committed to seeing that mil- lions of Ukrainians continue to receive trust- ed news and information that is vital to help- ing them make decisions about their lives Ukrainian American leaders’ roundtable discusses Ukraine in 2004 and their country,” said Kenneth Y. by Yaro Bihun Ukraine there is a need for all of us to come together, to Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Special to The Ukrainian Weekly speak with one voice, so our efforts will be more effective Board of Governors (BBG), the federal and more meaningful,” Mr. Gawdiak said. The call for uni- agency that oversees all U.S. international WASHINGTON – The problems and critical choices fac- fied action was echoed by Metropolitan Soroka in his brief broadcasting, including VOA and Radio ing Ukraine in 2004, and how the United States and the opening remarks. Ukrainian American diaspora should respond to them, were Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). (Continued on page 8) Mr. Tomlinson’s remarks were part of a the subject of a roundtable discussion here by a group of statement released on the BBG’s website on prominent observers of developments in that country. Held on February 24. The statement, headlined February 17 in a conference room of the Ukrainian Catholic “BBG seeks to enhance broadcasting to National Shrine of the Holy Family, the event was co-spon- Ukraine,” said that “U.S. international sored by Archbishop Stefan Soroka, the metropolitan of the broadcasting officials are exploring new Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, and the three ways to reach listeners in the Ukraine in the founding member-organizations of the Action Ukraine wake of a crackdown on media.” Coalition: the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, the The statement said that “VOA ... will Ukrainian Federation of America and the U.S.-Ukraine continue to produce two hours of Ukrainian Foundation. programming daily,” and that their pro- The panel of presenters included Judge Bohdan Futey of grams would be carried on Ukrainian state the U.S. Federal Claims Court; former U.S. ambassador to radio, on 12 FM affiliates across the country Ukraine William G. Miller; Orest Deychakiwsky, staff advi- and on shortwave. sor with the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation Just three weeks ago, on February 8, The in Europe; Nadia Diuk of the National Endowment for Weekly reported on an announcement made Democracy; and two former congressmen and members of on February 3 by VOA Director David the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Bob Schaffer of Jackson. The VOA director said that his Colorado and Charles F. Dougherty of Pennsylvania. Opening the evening, Ukrainian American Coordinating organization’s Ukrainian radio service Yaro Bihun would reduce its daily broadcast from two Council President Ihor Gawdiak indicated that the meeting Nadia Diuk, of the National Endowment for Democracy, dis- hours to one hour per day beginning on was organized because of the Ukrainian American communi- cusses the deteriorating situation in Ukraine during a recent March 1. ty’s concern for the welfare of the people of Ukraine and for roundtable discussion in Washington. Former U.S. ambassa- Mr. Jackson was quoted in the February “the survival of democracy” in Ukraine. “We feel that it is urgent that in this critical year for dor to Ukraine William Miller was among the discussants. (Continued on page 16) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2004 No. 9 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Ukrainian president backs down Rada forms Central Election Commission President Leonid Kuchma’s regime of spy- ing on opposition and Cabinet members, in wake of harsh PACE resolution KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on Interfax reported. “Jamming was reported in February 19 approved two new members all districts of Kyiv,” Mr. Sholokh said in a by Taras Kuzio with the opposition bloc Our Ukraine. of the Central Election Commission statement. “Soviet-era means are being used RFE/RL Newsline The resolution ended by threatening to (CEC), thus bringing the body to its full to hamper the radio station’s information suspend Ukraine if it does not hold elec- strength of 15 people, Ukrainian media activity and ... the citizens’ constitutional A Council of Europe group of rappor- tions this year or if it continues to force reported. Last week, the legislature right to receive information is being violat- teurs headed by Hanne Sevirensen visit- through constitutional changes. approved 10 other members of the CEC. ed.” (RFE/RL Newsline) ed Ukraine on January 18-20. They During their January visit to Ukraine, The CEC reportedly comprises 11 mem- reported their highly critical findings to the Council of Europe rapporteurs also bers delegated by pro-government forces, Schroeder promises support to Kyiv the Council of Europe on January 26, two by the Communist Party, and one each focused on two other issues.

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