Oct 2012 UKRAINIAN DIALOGUE 03 ISSUE The Paralympics How team Ukraine has already inspired a generation Room at the top The Ukrainians taking charge at multinational companies The art of curating David Elliott on organising the first Kyiv Biennale A PUBLICATION OF THE BRITISH UKRAINIAN SOCIETY 03/ LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN From the Chairman From the Chairman, Lord Risby It is with great pleasure that I introduce the restyled magazine Ukrainian Dialogue, the third edition of the British Ukrainian Society’s publication previously called Spectrum. I hope you enjoy reading about all the ways that Ukraine and its people contribute to politics, culture, business and education. This year has undoubtedly been an important one for Ukraine. From hosting the European Football Championship to its spectacular performance at the Paralympic games in London, Ukraine has gone from sporting strength to strength. There is much that ties our two countries together as evidenced by the vast array of articles included here. The first ever Kyiv Biennale held this summer was curated by the renowned David Elliott (see page 35), and the now fully-endowed Ukrainian Studies Programme at Cambridge University is the first of its kind in Europe. During this twentieth year of diplomatic relations, we also welcome a new British Ambassador to Ukraine, His Excellency Mr Simon Smith. Ukraine is a country not without its difficulties and controversy. It has been in the news often in recent months and with Parliamentary elections forthcoming, the world’s eyes are watching. It is accepted in both countries that there is still much to do in terms of judicial reform and members of the British and Ukrainian judiciaries will be seeking to take this forward in the year to come. For its part, the UK is committed to upholding its solid – if at times critical – relationship with Ukraine and is keen to guide and support its track into the European Union. No country in the EU is more eager to promote the success of Ukraine than our own. Looking forward, we will be holding a roundtable in November to discuss the October elections, and in early 2013 a notable individual will deliver our annual Yalta Memorial Speech. We look forward to welcoming you on these occasions. Best wishes, 04/ CONTRIBUTORS ANDREI KURKOV OLESYA KROMEYCHUK OWEN SLOT MARK PERRYMAN Author Andrei Kurkov Dr. Khromeychuk Owen Slot is chief sports Mark Perryman is a is a master of surreal teaches Ukrainian reporter of The Times. travelling England fan, post-Soviet humour. He language at the He has been to eight following the team home has written 13 novels, University of Cambridge. Olympic Games. He is and away since 1993. among them Death and She is now researching three-times winner of He has chronicled these the Penguin, as well as the role of women in Sports Reporter of the experiences in his book 5 books for children. His guerrilla violence in Year award in the UK Ingerland: Travels with work is translated into the Organisation of and three-times winner a Football Nation. Mark 25 languages. Ukrainian Nationalists of Sports Feature Writer provided fan reports and the Ukrainian of the Year award. from Euro 2012 for BBC Insurgent Army. radio and ITN. DAVID ELLIOTT MARYNA IRKLIYENKO KATE GATACRE JAMES HYDZIK A curator and writer Maryna Irkliyenko has Brought up in the James Hydzik settled who has directed been a journalist at the Dutch countryside with in Kyiv in 2003, and contemporary Kyiv Post, the leading a greedy family, Kate has edited for Eastern art museums and English-language Gatacre learned to Economist. During the institutions in Oxford, newspaper in Ukraine, appreciate food at an Orange Revolution Stockholm, Tokyo, since 2008. She covers early age. Having trained organized the English Istanbul, Sydney and topics ranging from as a silversmith, she was language service of Kyiv, Elliott is currently business to local news employed by Christies Obozrevatel. Since then, artistic advisor for CPS, and entertainment then turned to cooking he has edited mostly the arts hub in the stories. Maryna edits the as a private chef. Today, for the IT industry and central former prison Gadget Guru column Kate shoots, forages, USAID reform projects, and police station in covering IT news and gardens and cooks, with occasional articles Hong Kong. Photo by the ‘World in Ukraine’ writing about all three in for FDI Magazine and Maksim Belousov. feature. the Shooting Times. The Banker. Editor Production & printing Copyright Sophia Martelli Warners Midlands plc All material in Ukrainian Dialogue is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Reproduction without permission from the publisher is strictly forbidden. Managing Editor Lincolnshire PE10 9PH Megan Hodges www.warners.co.uk Although we take great care in compiling the content of this magazine, we assume no responsibility and cannot be held liable for any loss or damage Design Published by to any material nor advertisements submitted, which are sent at the owner’s Robert McCarthy The British Ukrainian Society risk. Advertisers bear full responsibility for the design and the context of 1st Floor, 25 Knightsbridge, advertisements. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the British Advertising department London SW1X 7RZ Ukrainian Society. +44 207 838 7025 www.britishukrainiansociety.org Issue 3 published as of October 11th, 2012. Circulation: 5,000. Free of charge for members of the British Ukrainian Society. Readers who wish to contact the Society about membership or with feedback should do so by emailing [email protected] 05/ CONTENTS 11 42 13 16 THE FRONT PAGES CURRENT AFFAIRS BUSINESS PEOPLE 03 09 16 28 Letter from the A new term in Ukraine Getting ahead in Fr Borys’s new ministry Chairman by His Excellency Simon corporate Ukraine by Andy Hunder Smith by Maryna Irkliyenko 04 31 Contributors 11 19 Tamara Demidenko Paralympian efforts Foreign entrepreneurs A tribute 06 by Owen Slot by Maryna Irkliyenko News in brief 13 20 Talent in Parliament IT outsourcing: a $1bn by Andrei Kurkov industry by James Hydzik 23 Civilised rights by Orysia Lutsevych ACADEMIA ARTS & LITERATURE EURO 2012 THE BACK PAGES 15 36 33 42 Rebels and risk-takers The Kyiv Biennale We’re football crazy Living it up in Lviv by Dr Rory Finnin by David Elliott by Mark Perryman by Andrew Lewis 26 40 35 46 Lost in translation Book reviews A business boost? Restaurant review: by Dr Olesya by Yuri Bender Baltic Khromeychuk by Kate Gatacre 06/ NEWS UCU to hold fifth annual fundraising event The Ukrainian Catholic University, a dynamic and distinctive institution of higher education and research in Lviv, will hold its fifth annual dinner and silent auction at the InterContinental Hotel in Kyiv on 17th November. The event, which last year raised over $120,000, will be attended by ambassadors, politicians, academics and civil 01 society leaders. The evening will Photo © World Economic Forum Economic © World Photo also include a silent auction of artwork, proceeds from which WEF creates a council on Ukraine will fund scholarships for talented young people in Ukraine. The World Economic Forum, well known for its annual meeting in Davos, has formed a Global Agenda Council on Ukraine. Launched at a WEF gathering in Istanbul in June, the Council on Ukraine is part of a larger Network of Global Agenda Councils that brings together over 1,200 thought leaders to discuss key issues. Lord Risby, Chairman of the British Ukrainian Society, has been appointed Vice-Chair along with Pavlo Sheremeta, Chairman of the Blue Ocean Strategy Regional Institute in Ukraine. Together with former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Green Miller (1993-98), who will Chair the Council, and 15 other members including BUS director Robert Shetler- Jones, they will address issues such as Ukraine’s position in Europe, democracy and judicial reform, competitiveness and energy security. The World Economic Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organization, which aims to connect leaders from business, government and civil society to collectively tackle global issues. In 2008, the WEF launched the Network of Global Agenda Councils to find innovative solutions for key global, regional and industry challenges. This year’s Summit on the Global Agenda will take place in Dubai on 12-14 November and will bring together over 900 individuals from 88 Councils in the Network of Global Agenda Councils. University Catholic © Ukrainian Photo Cambridge Ukrainian Studies teams up with London’s Ukrainian Institute Cambridge Ukrainian Studies, a After October’s Parliamentary The Ukrainian Studies programme programme of the Department of Elections?, and was held on 18 at Cambridge aims to promote Slavonic Studies at the University October. and contribute to the study of of Cambridge, is launching a Ukraine in the United Kingdom new project in conjunction with Portnov is the editor of www. and beyond. The Ukrainian the Ukrainian Institute, located historians.in.ua, a visiting lecturer Institute in London seeks to in London’s Holland Park. It will at Humboldt University, and the develop and promote a greater provide a platform for scholars author of five books and more awareness, understanding and of Ukrainian Studies, mainly from than 100 scientific publications, knowledge of Ukrainian history, Cambridge and UCL’s School articles and blogs. language, religion, current affairs, of Slavonic and East European economy, literature and culture Studies, to lecture to a wider through educational, professional audience in their preferred and networking activities. It is language – Ukrainian or English. affiliated to the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. The first lecture, delivered by leading Ukrainian historian and For more information on essayist Andriy Portnov PhD, upcoming lectures, visit: was titled What Hope for Ukraine 02 www.ukrainianinstitute.org.uk 07/ NEWS A post-election roundtable The British Ukrainian Society, in conjunction with the Aston Centre for Europe, will host a roundtable at the House of Commons on the evening of 6 November to discuss the outcome of the Ukrainian Parliamentary elections due to take place on 28 October.