Shakhtar Wins UEFA Cup U.S
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INSIDE: • Estonia’s president warns the West about Moscow – page 3. • Russia’s policy on Ukrainian-language schools – page 7. • Film review: Russia’s release of “Taras Bulba” – page 10. THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVII No.21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2009 $1/$2 in Ukraine Shakhtar wins UEFA cup U.S. ambassador bids farewell to Ukraine at frank press conference by Zenon Zawada Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – At a farewell press conference that marked the end of his three-year term, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor Jr. voiced disappointment with the administration of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for its lack of stability and failure to make the prog- ress that was expected. Not naming any names, but striking an unusually critical tone, Ambassador Taylor said on May 21 he had expected his term would be a time for consolidat- ing democracy and economic develop- ment in Ukraine, rather than conflict. “I had come from some exciting places, UEFA.com such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Jerusalem, Brazillian striker Jadson nets the deciding goal for Shakhtar Donetsk in overtime and I was ready for some less exciting against Werder Bremen to win 2-1 in the UEFA Cup final at Sukru Saracoglu time and more working time,” he said. Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 20. “Some more nuts and bolts, some more Zenon Zawada lower-level but important reform work U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William by Yuriy Borysov hold of team president Rinat Akhmetov needed to be done. But that was not to be.” Taylor Jr. concludes his three-year Special to The Ukrainian Weekly and hoisted him in the air several times. Mr. Taylor took over as U.S. ambassa- assignment. No successor has yet been Other Ukrainian leaders in attendance dor to Ukraine in May 2006, just as Yulia named. KYIV – In the biggest victory for a were Ukrainian President Viktor Tymoshenko attempted to form a pro- Ukrainian soccer club on the international Yushchenko, Party of the Regions of Western coalition of her bloc, the Our and they were going to send me to a good stage, Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Werder Ukraine Chair Viktor Yanukovych and Ukraine Bloc and the Socialist Party of Bremen of Germany on May 20 to win place this time, so they sent me to Dynamo Kyiv President Hryhorii Surkis. Ukraine. Ukraine,” he said in June 2006. the UEFA Cup, Europe’s second most Also present was Michel Platini, presi- At his introductory press conference at prestigious soccer tournament behind the However, Ukraine wasn’t the oasis of dent of the Union of European Football that time, Mr. Taylor said he was delighted calm and stability he had anticipated. Champions League. Associations (UEFA). to arrive in Ukraine after serving the U.S. Brazilian midfielder Jadson scored the Within just a few weeks, the pro-West- Shakhtar Donetsk was among four government in war-afflicted countries. ern coalition fell apart after the Socialists decisive goal seven minutes into overtime Ukrainians teams competing in the UEFA “I guess they figured in Washington for Shakhtar, which held onto its 2-1 lead Cup after falling out of the Champions that I had paid my dues in difficult places (Continued on page 9) in the remaining minutes of overtime to League tournament in November. On bring Ukraine its historic victory before May 7 Shakhtar defeated Dynamo Kyiv 53,000 fans at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to qualify for the final with Werder in Istanbul and an estimated 18 million Bremen. television viewers in Ukraine. The match was the 38th and last final Controversial aide Viktor Baloha Piquing the delight of more than 7,000 of the UEFA Cup, which will change its Shakhtar fans present at the match, name to the UEFA Europa League in the resigns from Presidential Secretariat Shakhtar team captain Darijo Srna of next season. Croatia gleefully thrusted the UEFA tro- by Zenon Zawada moral right to compete in the presidential phy in victory while his teammates got (Continued on page 3) Kyiv Press Bureau election,” Mr. Baloha wrote to Mr. Yushchenko. “Corruption and nepotism KYIV – After running the Presidential [kumivtsvo] in government, double stan- Heritage Foundation grant of $5,000 Secretariat for more than two and half years dards in making government decisions and serving as Viktor Yushchenko’s right- became commonplace. You’re indifferent hand man, Viktor Baloha announced his res- that your entourage is eating away at the supports newspapers’ archives project ignation on May 16 after the president government and state, like corrosion. When reportedly rejected his proposals on how to PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Heritage Foundation supports myriad Ukrainian I reported to you alarming facts, you acted extend their political career. Foundation of 1st Security Savings community endeavors and has donated as if you didn’t hear me.” As Mr. Baloha’s replacement, President Bank has donated $5,000 for the digital hundreds of thousands of dollars to var- Throughout his tenure, Mr. Baloha Yushchenko on May 19 appointed Vira archives project of Svoboda and The ious organizations and projects in keep- employed such viciousness in driving away Ukrainian Weekly, whose aim is to dig- ing with its mission to preserve the Ulianchenko, his longtime advisor and polit- many of President Yushchenko’s former key itize all the issues of these two newspa- Ukrainian ethnic identity, spiritual val- ical confidante who became leader of Mr. allies, including Prime Minister Yulia pers, and their related publications. ues and community viability. Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine People’s Union Tymoshenko, former Verkhovna Rada Chair Julian E. Kulas, president of the In the past, the foundation has sup- party the same day Mr. Baloha announced Arseniy Yatsenyuk, former Defense Minister Heritage Foundation, noted in his letter ported The Ukrainian Weekly’s Copies his departure. Anatoliy Grytsenko and Our Ukraine parlia- to Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of for Congress project, via which all Even in resignation, Mr. Baloha resorted mentary faction leader Mykola Martynenko. The Weekly and Svoboda, “I believe members of the U.S. Congress receive to his nasty, bellicose approach to Ukrainian Given that cutthroat politics and reckless that digitized archives will be of great complimentary subscriptions to a news- politics that brought the president so much attacks were uncharacteristic for President value to the numerous researchers in paper that serves as the voice of the criticism and earned him the reputation Yushchenko, many Kyiv political observers, Ukraine and learning institutions in the Ukrainian American community. among some observers as the cause of diplomats and journalists began to believe U.S. and Canada. …I wish you success Founded, respectively, in 1893 and President Yushchenko’s political demise. He that it was Mr. Baloha calling the shots in in bringing this project to completion.” was especially vicious in his resignation let- the Presidential Secretariat, with President The Chicago-based Heritage (Continued on page 19) ter, made public on May 20. “I am convinced that you don’t have the (Continued on page 9) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2009 No. 21 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Gazprom’s murky games Yushchenko honors U.S. ambassador of the Presidential Secretariat was signed on May 19, said the main reason for his in Hungarian gas network KYIV – President Victor Yushchenko decision to resign was his strong disagree- met on May 18 with the ambassador of the ment with President Viktor Yushchenko’s by Roman Kupchinsky after RUE was removed from the United States to Ukraine, William B. intention to seek re-election. “I am sure Ukrainian-Central Asian gas trade in Taylor, on the occasion of the ending of you have no moral right to run for the Eurasia Daily Monitor Mr. Taylor’s diplomatic mission. President May 5 January (www.emfesz.hu, January 9). presidency,” said Mr. Baloha’s statement, However, the owner of Emfesz, Mr. Yushchenko awarded Ambassador Taylor which appeared on the website of the Gazprom may be preparing to take Firtash, has several commercial interests. with the Order For Merit, third grade, for Single Center party, of which he is a pre- over a large part of the Hungarian domes- He is also the 45 percent owner of RUE – his contributions to the development of sidium member. He accused Mr. tic gas distribution network. A new, high- 50 percent of which is owned by Ukrainian-American relations and thanked Yushchenko of having failed during his ly opaque deal is in the works as a result Gazprom and 5 percent by Firtash’s busi- him for the work. (Press Office of the presidency to meet the commitments he of which Hungary’s energy security could ness partner, Ivan Fursyn. President of Ukraine) made to Ukrainian society in the course of be threatened. On April 28 Emfesz KFT, Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kuprianov Presidential Secretariat chief resigns the 2004 election campaign. “Millions of a major Hungarian gas distribution com- sharply contradicted the allegation that Ukrainians saw in each line of the inaugu- pany owned by Ukrainian businessman the company was linked to Rosgas: “It is KYIV – The head of the Presidential ration address hope for a new Ukraine to Dmytro Firtash, announced that it will well-known that the only export channel Secretariat, Viktor Baloha, has tendered appear with the new president, a Ukraine stop importing gas from RosUkrEnergo for Russian gas is the company Gazprom his resignation, the Ukrayinska Pravda having no cynical authority, a proud and (RUE), a company based in Zug, Export. The company RosGas which was online publication reported on May 18. rich one,” but “not a single of those hopes Switzerland, and will instead buy gas named today in the Hungarian media has “A month ago, long before my vacation, I has ever come true, and time was irrevers- from an unknown company, RosGas AG, no relation to Gazprom and is not part of handed in my resignation statement to ibly lost,” Mr.