The Ukrainian Weekly 1994
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1NS1DE: - Election 94: Kyylv voters offer their opinions - page 3. в New advisory group to promote U.S.-Ukraine ties - page 7. ^ Ukraine's top figure skaters may be headed for Hartford - page 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association inc., a fraternal non-profit association vol. LXII No. Ю THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 6,1994 50 cents Oksana Baiul crowns Ukraine's Kravchuk says U.S. trip could mark Olympic premiere with gold 'turning point' in bilateral relations by Andrij Wynnyckyj pleas for peace in Sarajevo (the 1984 by Roman Woronowycz agreed to give up its nuclear weapons, Games site); for the heroic efforts and Kyyiv Press Bureau one that was approved by Ukraine's par– JERSEY C1TY, N.J. - On Friday, selflessness of Norway's Johann Olav liament to the surprise of many. February 25, the world watched as the Koss and the gleeful and spirited hospi– KYYiv - Ukraine's President Leonid Since then, the political instability in flag symbolizing the golden wheat fields tality of his countrymen; for the triumph Kravchuk stated on Tuesday, March 1, Russia has made the U.S. rethink its and blue skies of Oksana Baiul's home- after years of struggle by U.S. speed- that the main objective of his trip to the Moscow-centered policy in this region of land rose above the medal winners' podi– skater Dan Jansen and Kazakhstan's United States is to develop a plan for the world and refocus its Ukraine policy. um in the Olympic Amphitheater in cross-country skier viadimir Smirnov. large-scale economic cooperation Mr. Kravchuk said he will try to explain Hamar, Norway. She was a champion. They will also linger as the setting for between the United States and Ukraine. to Mr. Clinton that Ukraine is a major Each Olympiad has its defining Friday, February 25, the night that, The president said at a press confer– player in Eastern Europe. "We are for events, and they are often scheduled for thanks to a graceful orphan from Odessa, ence, "This visit will become the turning cooperation with Russia. But everybody the last few days of competition. Ukraine staked its claim in the Olympic point in relations between the U.S. and should understand that Ukraine will not Summer Games have the 100-meter Klondike. Perhaps ТУ commentator Jim Ukraine." occupy a secondary role in the world. We dash, the marathon, gymnastics, in the Nantz of the CBS network said it best: Mr. Kravchuk said he considers the can help expand democracy eastward from Winter Olympiad, it's hockey, speed "On that night, the whole world adopted S300 million in economic support that the traditional boundaries of Europe." skating, cross-country skiing marathons, Oksana Baiul." the U.S. has offered Ukraine merely the Five draft agreements are scheduled to downhill competitions and, of course, foundation upon which economic rela– women's figure skating. Team Ukraine did well in Lillehammer, be signed in Washington between placing 13th in a field of 60, on the tions are grounded. He said he would like Ukraine and the U.S.: an agreement on The Xvil Winter Olympiad in to see "practical trade relations, scientific Lillehammer will be remembered for its (Continued on page 15) encouragement and joint protection of and technical cooperation and open mar– investment; government conventions on kets for Ukrainian products. the prevention of dual taxation; a joint President Kravchuk left for Washing- statement on basic principles of coopera– ton on Thursday, March 3, to meet with tion in the field of agriculture; a state– U.S. President Bill Clinton. ment of intent on rendering agricultural President Clinton seems inclined to expertise via the U.S. Department of agree. According to a March 1 interfax Agriculture and Ukraine's Ministry of report, Mr. Clinton told representatives Agriculture; and a document on promot– of the Ukrainian American community at ing trade and investment. a meeting that he is ready to increase the Agreements still are being worked out amount of aid promised Ukraine and that on cooperation in science and technology, "already there is some progress in eco– cooperation in agriculture, and protection nomic relations." and conservation of cultural heritage. Cooperation between the two coun– Because Mr. Kravchuk announced on tries has marginally increased since February 19 that he cannot run for presi– Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. signed a tri– partite agreement whereby Ukraine (Continued on page 3) Baiul, Ukrainian Olympic Team triumphantly welcomed home by Roman Woronowycz emergence as an international sports Kyyiv Press Bureau celebrity. After receiving her awards and presenting President Kravchuk an over- KYYiv - The star of Oksana Baiul kept shining on Wednesday, March 2, as sized gold medal-like plaque on behalf of she and the entire Ukrainian Olympic the Olympic team, she was asked to entourage met with President Leonid stand next to valeriy Borzov, Ukraine's Kravchuk at the Mariyinsky Palace in minister of youth and sports and a former Kyyiv. Olympic gold medalist. There the president invited the 16- She fidgeted and shifted from foot to year-old Olympic gold medalist in foot, more like a frisky colt than a cool- women's figure skating to travel with headed world champion. Her eyes excit– him to Washington to meet with edly surveyed the scene, dancing from President Bill Clinton at the U.S. leader's the crowd of journalists to her coach, request. Halyna Zmiyevska, who could only- The Cabinet of Ministers awarded her gaze upon her with an appreciative a stipend of Si5,000. in addition, Ms. motherly smile; then to a flash of light Baiul received 100 million kbv from from a camera, and then down to her Frominvest Bank and 30 million kbv feet. from the Bank of Social Development. Another time she looked at Ms. Although the entire ceremony did not Zmiyevska and both broke into smiles revolve around Ms. Baiul and her accom– and quiet laughter as if sharing a secret plishments at the just completed ХУІІ joke. Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, When she had entered the main hall of Norway, she was most certainly the cen– the ornate palace, Ms. Baiul had been ter of attention. She still seemed ill at ease with her (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 6,1994 No. 10 NEWS ANALYSlS: The state NEWSBR1EFS of Ukraine's Orthodox Church Parliament enacts presidential vote law blamed politicians who had exploited by Jaroslaw Martyniuk various branches of the Orthodox Church "nationalist hysteria" in order to come to RFESRL Research institute among the population of Ukraine, based KYYiv - The Supreme Council of power for impeding the creation of on the findings of polls taken in 1992 and Ukraine on March 1 passed amendments "a single economic space" and argued PARTI 1993, follows this review. and corrections to the "Law on the that for most people "the parade of sover– Election of the President" by a vote of The attention that Western media eignties has had negative consequences." After the council of unification 251 to 0 with 71 abstentions. The law devoted to the sensational events sur– Mr. Gonchar also told Rossiyskaya provides that a nominee for presidential rounding the fanatical religious sect the The UOC-KP was formed on June 26, Gazeta that the situation in Ukraine is so candidate may be elected by inter-party White Brotherhood in the fall of 1993 1992, when the Ukrainian Autocephalous bad that "at any moment there could be blocs and rallies of the electorate. The (the sect's supporters gathered in Kyyiv Orthodox Church (UAOC), headed by an explosion" that will reverberate nominations period begins three months in November to await the end of the Patriarch Mstyslav, united with the beyond Ukraine's borders. (RFE7RL before the election and ends two months world, prophesied by the sect's leaders, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Daily Report) v4 before the date of the election. A nomi– clashing with the police and damaging Metropolitan Fila ret, a well-known fig– nee is considered to be registered if priceless 11th century mosaics in the ure because of his former position as the Ukraine's Parliament acts on Crimea he7she collects 100,000 signatures on process) overshadowed potentially more Russian Orthodox Church's senior repre– petitions supporting his7her candidacy. KYYiv - Ukraine's Parliament significant developments in Ukrainian sentative in Ukraine and notorious for his passed a resolution by 222 votes to four religious life that took place during the staunch opposition to both the UAOC A winner of the election is declared if voter turnout is at least 50 percent, and if giving authorities in the Crimea one synods of the Ukrainian Orthodox and the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The month to bring the autonomous repub– Church held in September and October unification of the two Churches ended more than 50 percent of the voters cast their votes for that candidate, if, howev– lic's constitution and laws into line with 1993. About two-thirds of the population more than three centuries of union with - those of Ukraine. The resolution also of Ukraine consider themselves and control by - the Russian Orthodox er, no candidate garners the necessary number of votes, a run-off is scheduled affirmed that the Crimea has no right to between the top two candidates. The run- conduct independent foreign, defense or off is won by whichever candidate gets a monetary policies. The resolution was Despite the turmoil that has afflicted the plurality of votes, (interfax) reported to be aimed at the Crimea's new president, Yuriy Meshkov, who has said Orthodox Church in Ukraine during the last two Ukraine may join economic union he plans to forge new ties, both political and economic, with Russia.