The Ukrainian Weekly, 2017
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INSIDE: Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union holds congress – page 5 About the First Wave of immigrants from Ukraine to U.S. – page 9 UCU promotes worldwide rehabilitation practices – page 18 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2017 $2.00 UKRAINE MOVES CLOSER TO EUROPE Crucial health care reform begins, Ukrainians celebrate visa-free travel to EU NATO membership becomes priority by Mark Raczkiewycz KYIV – Ukraine’s acting Health Minister Dr. Ulana Suprun flew to the U.S. this week to meet with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America to fur- ther garner support for health reform. Ukraine’s Parliament on June 8 passed the American physician’s set of bills in the first of two required readings. The bills are designed to completely overhaul the country’s ineffi- cient, Soviet-era health care system. Two weekly plenary sessions remain before the Verkhovna Rada goes on summer break in mid-July. If passed, some of the measures could go into effect as early as that month and would validate the tenacious advocacy campaign that the Health Ministry has conducted via social, digital and print media. “We say that in our country treatment is Presidential Administration of Ukraine free, but it is not. We all pay for everything,” Dr. President Petro Poroshenko and President of Slovakia Andrej Kiska take part in the symbolic ceremony of the opening of Suprun told the National Reform Council last the doors to Europe on the Ukrainian-Slovak border on the occasion of the introduction of the visa-free regime between week, speaking of the failing system. “We must Ukraine and the Schengen area on June 11. stop lying.” RFE/RL Ireland and the United Kingdom without Uzhhorod border crossing in the The Detroit-area native wants money to “fol- a visa for up to 90 days during any 180- Zakarpattia region. “I am sure that this low the patient,” whereby physicians are paid BRUSSELS – Ukrainians celebrated day period. It also applies to four day, June 11, will go down in the history by the number of patients they see instead of the first day of visa-free travel to most Schengen-area countries that are not in of Ukraine as a final exit of our country hospitals receiving state funding for the num- European Union countries, which the EU: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein from the Russian empire and its return ber of beds they have. President Petro Poroshenko welcomed and Switzerland. to the family of European nations.” Currently, the system encourages waste by as a “a final exit of our country from the President Poroshenko met with his “Welcome to Europe,” President Kiska emphasizing excessive in-patient care instead of Russian Empire.” Slovak counterpart, Andrej Kiska, on the told the crowd attending the event. “I specialized outpatient care, and is more focused on curative and less on preventive treatment, The liberalized regime entered into Slovak-Ukrainian border, opening a sym- want to call on you to continue carrying according to a note that the World Bank pub- force on June 11, allowing Ukrainian citi- bolic “door to the EU.” out reforms.” lished on health reform in Ukraine on April 4. zens who have biometric passports to “We have waited so long for this,” the “Health outcomes in Ukraine today are enter all EU member states other than Ukrainian president said at the (Continued on page 19) poor,” the World Bank reported. “Life expectan- cy at birth in Ukraine is 71 years, more than 10 years less than the European Union average.” Dr. Suprun has publicly stated that 136,000 Senate overwhelmingly passes legislation on Russia sanctions Ukrainians die yearly – lives a normally func- tioning medical system would’ve saved. Indeed, integrity, cyberattacks, interference in elec- with 15.6 deaths per 1,000 people, Ukraine had Measure mandates congressional review tions and continuing aggression in Syria. the third highest death rate in the world last The release noted that the amend- year after South Africa and Russia. for sanctions to be altered ment will: Although the Constitution stipulates that medical care should be free, the acting minister WASHINGTON – The Senate on June 14 announced a bipartisan agreement on the nal review if sanctions are relaxed, sus- has lamented that young Ukrainians start pay- overwhelmingly passed – by a vote of 97 bill to strengthen and expand U.S. sanc- pended• Provide or terminated. for a mandated congressio- ing bribes as soon their first child is born in to 2 – new legislation imposing sanctions tions on Russia on June 12. delivery rooms. The usual price in Kyiv is on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine and U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chair tions contained in executive orders on $1,000 to $3,000. Syria, and its attempt to interfere in the Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member Russia,• Codify including and strengthen the sanctions’ existing impact sanc- on Palliative, emergency and primary care ser- U.S. presidential election. The measure, Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Senate Foreign certain Russian energy projects and on vices, which account for over 80 percent of which is an amendment to an Iran sanc- Relations Committee Chair Bob Corker debt financing in key economic sectors. treatment, are free under Dr. Suprun’s plan. tions bill, also allows Congress to block the (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Ben Patients can choose their family doctor – the administration from unilaterally lifting or Cardin (D-Md.) issued a news release in Russian actors; those seeking to evade first point of treatment – and everybody scaling back sanctions imposed against which they noted that agreement calls for sanctions;• Impose those new sanctionsinvolved on:in seriouscorrupt would be covered by national health insurance Moscow. On June 15, the Countering “a mandated congressional review” if the human rights abuses; those supplying as in Great Britain. Co-payment would be Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act, with White House sought to ease sanctions. weapons to the Assad regime; those con- introduced for other treatment, while certain the Russia sanctions amendment According to the release posted by the ducting malicious cyber activity on behalf medications would remain free. Those who attached, was passed 98-2. Banking Committee, the amendment to a of the Russian government; those can’t afford co-payment, would be subsidized Leaders of the U.S. Senate’s Committee bill on Iran sanctions “maintains and sub- involved in corrupt privatization of state- (Continued on page 13) on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs stantially expands sanctions” against and the Foreign Relations Committee had Russia for violations of Ukraine’s territorial (Continued on page 17) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2017 No. 25 ANALYSIS Ukraine hopes to become exporter Rada says NATO integration a priority Empress Catherine the Great established the Order of St. George. The medal was KYIV – The Ukrainian Parliament has attached to a ribbon of black and yellow – defined cooperation with NATO, with the of arms to NATO countries later orange. In 1945, the Soviet Union res- ultimate goal of joining the Western mili- national competitors. As a result, Ukraine’s urrected the orange-and-black scheme for by Oleg Varfolomeyev tary alliance, as a top priority for the coun- defense industry developed a competitive a medal to celebrate victory over Nazi Eurasia Daily Monitor try in the face of Russian aggression. A total edge. Ukraine has unique facilities in ship- Germany in World War II. The colors then of 276 lawmakers in the 450-seat Ukraine’s state defense-industry con- building and missile production. It also became part of annual May 9 Victory Day Verkhovna Rada supported amendments to cern Ukroboronprom announced on May makes armored vehicles, tanks, radar sys- celebrations in the Soviet Union and then in several laws governing foreign policy on 30 that the North Atlantic Treaty tems, engines, transport aircraft and mili- Russia, and they were handed out en masse June 8. The amendments, which must be Organization’s (NATO) Support and tary trucks. Domestic military producers in Russia starting in 2005. Nearly a decade signed by President Petro Poroshenko to Procurement Agency (NSPA) offered to add have numerous design bureaus inherited later, activists supporting Russia’s 2014 sei- become law, say that Ukraine’s foreign poli- Ukrainian defense-industry firms to its list from the Soviet Union. The world’s largest zure of Crimea and involvement in a war in cy will be focused on steps to promote of approved defense-related producers. transport plane, the An-225 Mriya, is a eastern Ukraine began using the ribbon as cooperation with NATO in order to “achieve Ukroboronprom said it may be allowed to product of the Kyiv-based Antonov Design a symbol, and it is now widely associated participate in tenders to supply goods and Bureau. Local firms have also been success- the criteria needed to gain membership in with Russian interference in Ukraine. Since services to NATO members and partners. fully competing for international orders to this organization.” The document explain- 2015, Ukrainians have used a red poppy to Ukroboronprom CEO Roman Romanov repair weaponry. ing the amendments says the move is a remember the victory over Nazi Germany. said Ukraine was the first Eastern The biggest potential deal for Ukr- response to “the Russian Federation’s European partner country to be offered the oboronprom to date, worth $600 million, is aggression against Ukraine and annexation The new ban is part of a series of efforts to opportunity to supply arms and equipment for upgrading tanks for Pakistan (Mil.gov.