INSIDE: * The Russian elections and Ukraine - page 2. * Ukrainian Canadian leader comments on Cabinet changes - page 3. Photos of President Leonid Kuchma's visit to D.C. - centerfold. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXiV No.9 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 1996 S1.25/S2in Ukraine Kuchma points to concrete progress Zyuganov takes campaign to Kyiv by Marta Kolomayets the Caves, the Tomb of the Unknown in expanding U.S.-Ukraine relations Kyiv Press Bureau Soldier and the Antonov Aviation Factory on the outskirts of the city. by Marta Kolomayets exchange, a dialogue continues between KYIV ~ Traveling to Kyiv under the Although he soft-pedaled the idea of Kyiv Press Bureau Ukraine and the United States on all lev­ guise of an official pariiamentary exchange, the rebirth of the Soviet Union, never els," said President Kuchma, adding that two of Russia's leading Communists KYIV - Calling his visit to the United coming out directly for the notion, the the next high-level visit will be Mr. Gennadiy Seleznyov and Gennadiy shrewd Mr. Zyuganov told audiences in States a success, Preside;nt Leonid Christopher's official visit to Kyiv on Zyuganov, respectively, the chairman of the Kuchma told journalists in Kyiv on Kyiv that the "dissolution of ties between March 20. State Duma and the head of the Communist February 24, that U.S.-Ukrainian relations the (Russia and Ukraine) is an anomalous The Ukrainian leader also informed the faction in the Duma, arrived in Ukraine for have reached a new stage, as bilateral phenomenon." He told reporters, pen­ press that he was very satisfied with meet­ a two-day visit on February 26. bonds have been propelled fronn words to sioners and students, in what seemed to ings with the Overseas Private Investment Within hours of the arrival of the nine­ deeds, from promisesI0 proposals. be well-scripted addresses, that Europe is Соф. (0PIC), chaired by Ruth Harkin. member delegation (which included rep­ ''Now the U.S. considers Ukraine a uniting, with countries willing to give up "We met with top-ranking U.S. compa­ resentatives of other Duma factions), it strategic partner," said the visibly tired, some of their sovereignty to enable their nies - and the conversations were much became clear that the visit was more a raspy-voiced Ukrainian leader, as he citizens to cross borders freely. "I consid­ campaign stop for Mr. Zyuganov, the - reflected on the two-day whirlwind visit different than a year ago. There is a great er this a normal, natural process of devel­ Communist Party candidate for Russian that included 17 high-level meetings and interest and desire by Americans to invest opment," he added. 12 interviews/discussions with the press. American capital in Ukraine. And what I Federation president, who is currently He explained that 83 percent of the President Kuchma, who met with the was extremely pleased with is the fact that leading in the polls, than a friendly visit citizens of the Belgorod region have rela­ Ukrainian and foreign media one day after among interested companies were those of representatives from a neighboring tives in Ukraine; they are limited in their his return from Washington, noted that the with an energy profile, oil and gas ven­ Parliament. sovereignty when it comes to family ties. trip was "a working visit to receive politi­ tures, and agricultural firms," he noted. During the two days, Mr. Zyuganov There are wonderful children in Ukraine cal and economic support from both U.S. He said the formation of a special managed to not only meet with leaders of who could study in the great schools of President Bill Clinton and other govern­ U.S.-Ukrainian commission on energy Ukraine's Parliament, but also hold a joint Moscow, which were built by the Soviet ment officials, as well as leaders of inter­ headed by President Kuchma and Vice­ press conference with Ukrainian Union. He cited many other examples as national financial institutions." president Gore was also discussed during Communist Party leader Petro arguments for closer ties. The United States is also interested in the White House meetings. Symonenko, as well as attend large-scale Indeed, with more than 10 million eth­ good, normal relations between Ukraine meetings with members of Ukraine's nic Russians living in Ukraine, many of Media elicits sour note and Russia, explained Mr. Kuchma, Communist and Socialist parties - mostly whom have relatives in Russia, and more which means that the U.S. is committed "Ї am deeply convinced that someone pensioners - at the Ukrainian Home, for­ than 6 million ethnic Ukrainians living in to supporting a sovereign, independent is behind this," said President Kuchma, merly the Lenin Museum in Kyiv's city Russia, Mr. Zyuganov could potentially Ukraine. ''And this is a fact," he said, commenting on recent information in the center. He aIs0 attended a meeting with get the support of these voters - if he adding that the issue of the Washington­ students of Kyiv's School of International Moscow~ Kyiv triangle was brought up (Continued on page 8) Relations, and visited the Monastery of (Continued on page 4) during meetings at the White House. At a time of strained relations between the U.S. and Russia - with the added threat of Communists coming to power Kuchma receives 43rd Freedom Award in the June presidential elections in By Khristina Lew Moscow - observers say supporting strategically vital Ukraine is in the best WASHINGTON - Freedom House interests of the U.S. honored Ukrainian President Leonid President Kuchma reflected on the Kuchma as the 43rd recipient of its annual visit, comparing it to his official state Freedom Award at a banquet held at the visit to Washington in November 1994, Mayflower Hotel here on February 21. four months after his election to the post Mr. Kuchma, who joins the ranks of of president. past recipients like Dwight D. "These were two very different vis­ Eisenhower (1945), Winston Churchill its," noted Mr. Kuchma. "I personally (1955), the Dalai Lama and Vaclav felt that now Ukraine is viewed as a state Havel (1991), was presented the 1996 with an important ro1e - one that guaran­ Freedom Award for "contributions to tees stability, first 0faII in Europe." wor1d peace, regional security and "Very serious changes have occurred inter-ethnic cooperation." in our relations," added President The crystal award was presented to the Kuchma, explaining that scheduled 30­ Ukrainian president by Dr. Zbigniew minute meetings with President Clinton Brzezinski, Freedom House trustee and and Vice-president A1 Gore, ran 65 min­ chairman of the American-Ukrainian utes and 60 minutes, respectively. Advisory Committee, Freedom House "Now, the rest is up to us and how we Vice-Chairman Ambassador Mark will conduct our policy," he underlined. Palmer, and Freedom House President President Kuchma, who left for a 10­ Adrian Karatnycky before 5(Ю U.S. gov­ day working vacation to the western ernment officials, businesspersons and Ukrainian resort town of Truskavets on Ukrainian American guests. February 25, told reporters his visit to Freedom House, a human rights the United States was not a surprise. watchdog organization founded by "I knew it was coming long ago, it is Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Wilkie just that the date for the working visit in 1941 to galvanize U.S. public support was unclear," he explained, adding that for the struggle against fascism, began this was decided during his meeting with conferring the Freedom Award in 1943. U.S, Secretary of State Warren President Leonid Kuchma accepts the 1996 Freedom Award from Freedom Christopher in Helsinki last month. (Continued on page 9) House President Adrian Karatnycky (right) and Ambassador Mark Palmer. "It is very positive that a normal THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 3,1996 No.9 ANALYSIS Russia's elections and Ulcraine. Belarus and Russia draw closer Kravchenko commander of the Black Sea by Volodymyr Zviglyanich the Russian mentality, land still repre­ Fleet, according to a February 21 order. MOSCOW - After a February 28 Prior to his appointment, Vice Adm. sents a value rather than an economic Kremlin meeting with Belarusian President PART I category. Kravchenko was the deputy com.mander Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Russian President of the Russian Baltic Fleet. (Respublika) The results of recent parliamentary elec­ During Mr. Yeltsin's rule, more than 50 Boris Yeltsin said that deeper Russian~ tions in Russia have confirmed the data of million, or one-third of the population, has Belarusian integration is aimed at eventual­ Ukraine may shut 70 unprofitable mines sociological polls that almost unanimously lived below the poverty level, established ly reaching the goal of unity between the predicted the success of the Communists to be earnings of somewhere between S2O two states, Russian and Western agencies KYIV — Prime Minister Yevhen and their leader, Gennady Zyuganov. and S30 monthly. Life expectancy in the reported. Without defining "unity," Mr. Marchuk said the government may close During parliamentary elections in 1993, 1990s has dropped from 65-70 years (as Yeltsin described this goal as "achievable" down up to 70 unprofitable coal mines in sociologists had mistakenly given the victo­ during the Brezhnev era) to 58.8 years, during his presidency. Mr. Lukashenka the next few years, reported ITAR-TASS ry to Yegor Gaidar's Russia's Choice party, putting Russia on a par with such states as agreed and subsequently told journalists on February 27. Kyiv had announced eariier failing to predict the success of Vladimir Ethiopia, Mozambique and Yemen. that in March a major agreement would be it would shut down 28 pits in an effort to Zhirinovsky's Liberal-Democratic Party. In Several foreign advisers, such as Jeffrey signed accelerating the integration of the restructure the ailing coal industry.