INSIDE:• Results of The Ukrainian Weekly Questionnaire — pages 6-7. •A report on Ukraine’s Ostroh Academy — page 10. • Postal issues featuring Zaporozhian Kozaks — page 11. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVII HE KRAINIANNo. 40 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1999 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine U Verkhovna Rada urges de-certification ForeignT affairs minister promotes Ukraine’s W of Kuchma’s candidacy for president candidacy for U.N. Security Council seat by Irene Jarosewich them about Ukraine in order to secure their by Roman Woronowycz modate a live broadcast. Initially the session vote. The U.N. General Assembly vote on Kyiv Press Bureau was scheduled for September 21 and then NEW YORK – Ukraine’s Minister of this issue is scheduled for mid-October. delayed for a day as negotiations continued Foreign Affairs Borys Tarasyuk headed a Over all, Ukraine’s chances are excellent, KYIV – Ukraine’s Parliament voted between the Parliament leadership and the delegation of diplomats and Foreign Affairs stated Mr. Tarasyuk, praising the work of overwhelmingly on September 22 to sup- state broadcast service. Ministry staff that arrived here for the open- Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.N. port a resolution offered by its chairman, Even after the motion was passed and the ing on September 14 of the 54th session of Volodymyr Yelchenko, as well as that of Oleksander Tkachenko, to urge election Government Day session rescheduled yet the United Nations General Assembly. He Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine’s former authorities to de-certify President Leonid again for September 23, the broadcast serv- addressesed the General Assembly on ambassador to the United Nations and for- Kuchma in the upcoming presidential elec- ice continued to refuse a live transmission. September 21 and 24, and spoke at the mer foreign affairs minister, as well as a for- tions. President Kuchma explained on Ukrainian Institute of America. mer president of the U.N. General The motion, carried by a 286-12 vote, September 27 that the reason for the refusal One of Ukraine’s foreign policy goals for Assembly. In no small part due to their came after Mr. Tkachenko, himself a presi- was limited finances and reasonable certain- this year is to be selected for one of the 10 efforts, Mr. Tarasyuk noted, Ukraine and its dential hopeful, led a 90-minute debate on ty that the session would turn into a pre- non-permanent seats on the U.N. Security U.N. delegation are held in high regard by what was described as the president’s election political self-promotion. Council, stated Mr. Tarasyuk. Ukraine is a other U.N. delegates. unconstitutional use of his office in his cam- “Not a single country in the world broad- top contender for one of the slots available He cautioned, however, that there is paign efforts. The central issue was the casts such meetings, as this is taxpayers’ to European nations, and Ukraine’s only precedent at the United Nations wherein repeated refusal of the National Television money,” said Mr. Kuchma. “Why should major competitor for this position is the countries have been convinced that they and Radio Company, which is state-con- we spend money to enable the national Republic of Slovakia, he noted. However, have the two-thirds majority votes required, trolled, to allow for live broadcast of a deputies to advertise themselves?” he stated, of the 20 countries that belong to yet in the final count certain delegates failed Government Day session of the Parliament, Twelve of the 15 presidential candidates the East European bloc, of which Ukraine is to come through as promised. He shrugged which was to focus on the government’s are members of Parliament. The Verkhovna a member, 15 have expressed their support slightly as he tersely described this type of failure to pay back wages and taxes. Rada’s presidium has battled the presiden- for Ukraine rather than Slovakia. behavior as “dishonest and disreputable,” The Parliament thrice rescheduled the Countries qualify to serve as a non-per- tial administration over the right to live unworthy of diplomats. session, during which Cabinet ministers radio and television broadcasts of the legis- manent member of the council on a rotating The strongest criticism of Ukraine’s can- often are grilled by national deputies over basis and the term of the position is for two didacy comes from countries that fear a lack government policy or procedures, to accom- (Continued on page 3) years. The Security Council’s five perma- of balance, those that believe, as Mr. nent members are China, France, the Tarasyuk stated, that “to have Ukraine on Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the council is like having another Russia” and the United States. and are unsure of Ukraine’s ability to be Kyiv City Council’s Rukh factions reunite Ukraine, as part of the USSR, served two independent of its northern neighbor. by Roman Woronowycz Oleksander Chornovolenko, the Kyiv terms as a non-permanent member of the If given the seat, “Ukraine will continue Kyiv Press Bureau city head of the splinter Rukh organiza- Security Council; as an independent coun- to take the opportunity to participate in sta- tion led by Yurii Kostenko. try, this would be Ukraine’s first term. bilization in troublespots throughout the KYIV – In what may be the first step The Rukh Party, which began in 1989 Slovakia has never served on the council. world,” he noted, alluding to Ukraine’s suc- towards the reconsolidation of the largest as a political force opposing the Soviet However encouraging it is to have the cessful participation in Kosovo and other national democratic political force in regime in 1989 and became the vanguard support of a majority of East European U.N. peacekeeping missions. Ukraine, Kyiv City Council members for the pro-democracy, pro-independence nations, noted Mr. Tarasyuk, the majority of Mr. Tarasyuk noted that at the beginning affiliated with both camps of the split movement that led to Ukrainian inde- support for Ukraine must come from non- of Ukraine’s independence there was inter- Rukh Party and the head of one of the pendence, has faltered badly since it split European countries. In order to obtain the national concern about Ukraine’s foreign two Kyiv city Rukh organizations on into two camps early this year. seat, two-thirds of the General Assembly, policy stance. As it turned out, the minister September 28 announced the formation Although both sides have talked often which now numbers 188 delegates, must observed, Ukraine’s internal problems, of a single Rukh faction in City Hall. about the need for reunification on the vote for Ukraine. To that end, Mr. Tarasyuk especially rebuilding the economy, were the “We hope that this is not only a first national level, neither side has shown and his delegation are meeting with U.N. most difficult to resolve and Ukraine’s step toward the reunion of Rukh but for any willingness to budge from the posi- representatives from many nations, the union of all the democratic forces in tion that it is the rightful political heir to responding to their questions and informing (Continued on page 4) Ukraine,” explained National Deputy the once united force, and that reunion must come under its terms. The new co-leaders of the Kyiv City Capitol Hill reception marks Ukrainian Independence Day Council’s Rukh faction, Petro Holovatenko of Rukh-Kostenko and by Michael Sawkiw ceedings began at 6 p.m. with a few Ukrainian Independence Day brings to Valerii Lebedivskii of Rukh-Udovenko, Ukrainian National Information Service opening remarks by Ukrainian National the Ukrainian people and to the rest of said the decision to reunite was made Information Service (UNIS) Director the world as a re-established state has because there are no evident differences WASHINGTON – As has become Michael Sawkiw, Jr. The UNIS director been put back on the world map. between the two camps on the local tradition on Capitol Hill, the emphasized the hope and wish “of all Mentioning the vibrant Ukrainian issues that stand before them. Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (CUC), freedom-loving citizens of the world to American community in Massachusetts, Both agreed that the re-establishment the Ukrainian Congress Committee of ensure that the next anniversary of scattered from the western of a single Rukh faction in the Kyiv City America (UCCA) and the Ukrainian Ukraine’s independence will bring it Massachusetts city of Pittsfield to the Council will help to renew the influence American Coordinating Council closer yet to meet its goals and make it eastern shores of Boston, Sen. Kennedy the party had over local politics in the (UACC) sponsored a congressional stronger and more prosperous.” also acknowledged the contributions of capital city before the fracture occurred reception to celebrate the anniversary of The Rev. Stephen Zenzuch, pastor of the community to American society and in February. Ukraine’s independence. The annual the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. culture. Sen. Kennedy spoke of U.S. Reunited in a single faction, Rukh will event provides an opportunity for the Andrew, delivered the invocation, a foreign assistance to Ukraine just as the again account for 16 percent of the City Ukrainian American community to inter- prayer for the people of Ukraine. Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Council’s composition, which makes it act with their Members of Congress on Among the first congressional guests the House of Representatives and the largest single party faction. the celebratory occasion of Ukraine’s to address the gathering was Sen. Senate met in conference to deliberate Lately the Rukh membership of the anniversary of independence.