www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Scholars, community leaders discuss diaspora’s experiences — page 3. •A former nationalist underground leader returns to Donetsk — page 4. • The unique musical mix of accordionist Chango Spasiuk — page 11. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXIII HE KRAINIANNo. 28 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2005 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine International Association of Ukrainian Studies T U Verkhovna RadaW sessions in turmoil seeks reform in Ukraine’s higher education system as deputies debate WTO-related bills by Zenon Zawada Ministry of Culture and the deputy min- Kyiv Press Bureau ister for humanitarian affairs. Dr. von Hagen’s speech not only called DONETSK – A call for sweeping into question the health and relevancy of reform in Ukrainian higher education IAUS, but also exposed a rift that exists in marked the sixth congress of the the Ukrainian academic community International Association of Ukrainian between the conservative National Studies (IAUS) in Donetsk. Academy of Sciences stalwarts on one side Dr. Mark von Hagen, director of and reform-minded scholars on the other, Columbia University’s Ukrainian Studies namely Westerners and younger Ukrainians. program in New York, stirred the typical- He thanked the Ministry of Education ly placid congress in his opening remarks for providing the necessary funding for on June 29 by stating the nation’s educa- the congress, but then criticized its recent tional and cultural governing bodies need attempt to recentralize control of an Orange Revolution of their own. Ukraine’s higher education system, there- “Despite years of post-independence by “rolling back important gains in uni- reform programs and proposals, the versity autonomy and academic freedom organizations that are most critical to won since the end of Communist rule.” IAUS have failed to construct a meaning- Dr. von Hagen told The Weekly that ful agenda for Ukrainian nation-building the Yushchenko government this year and the development of civic conscious- “significantly” cut financing for the sixth ness through the support of basic scholar- congress to $97,000, revealing that for- ship and culture,” Dr. von Hagen said in mer president Leonid Kuchma’s govern- his speech addressed to more than 600 ment was more committed to financing UNIAN scholars gathered at Donetsk National the IAUS. University during the last week of June. The organization was so strapped for Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn (seated, center) struggles to keep con- Such organizations, which Dr. von cash this year that Donetsk National trol over the parliamentary session as deputies opposed to a package of bills aimed at Hagen identified as impediments to University Rector Volodymyr assisting Ukraine’s entry into the World Trade Organization disrupt the proceedings. IAUS’s progress, are the National Shevchenko had to borrow $100,000 to Academy of Sciences, the National cover remaining expenses, Dr. von by Zenon Zawada and Yana Sedova Social Research in Kyiv. “Russia as a Association of Ukrainianists, the Kyiv Press Bureau full-fledged WTO member could dictate Ministry of Education and Science, the (Continued on page 4) to Ukraine one-sided demands that would KYIV – In the biggest political con- have to be agreed to.” flict since the Orange Revolution, Deputies came to fisticuffs before the Communists and pro-Russian parliamen- first critical vote on July 6 when VP of Millennium Challenge Corp. tary deputies this week raised bedlam in Communist Party National Deputy the Verkhovna Rada as part of a frantic Oleksander Bondarchuk blared an emer- campaign to prevent Ukraine’s entry into gency siren from a megaphone just as outlines program’s goals, challenges the World Trade Organization (WTO). Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko began by Andrew Nynka the 2005 level of funding. For two consecutive days, Verkhovna to speak. Mr. Bush outlined his view of the pro- Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn tried PARSIPPANY, N.J. – As a vice-presi- The gesture so angered deputies of gram in Washington before it was official- to lead Ukraine’s Parliament in voting on dent at the Millennium Challenge Corp., Ms. Tymoshenko’s political faction that ly created. The account would be “devot- 14 bills that would allow for WTO entry a U.S. government entity created last some tried wrestling the megaphone ed to projects in nations that govern justly, by the year’s end – accomplishing one of year to fund needy countries, Ukrainian away from Mr. Bondarchuk, igniting a invest in their people and encourage eco- President Viktor Yushchenko’s economic American John Hewko is aware of the brawl in which more than a dozen nomic freedom,” the president said. priorities. great responsibility of his job. deputies traded punches, grabbed each As the chief of the corporation’s Pro-WTO national deputies outnum- Proposed initially by President other in headlocks and shoved each other Country Programs Department, Mr. bered their enemies, the Communists and George W. Bush in 2002 and created by against walls or onto the Rada’s floor. Hewko is responsible for managing the Social Democratic Party – United Congress two years later, the corpora- relationship with eligible countries and Following the brawl, about 30 tion was meant to create “a new com- (SDPU). Party of the Regions deputies Communist and SDPU deputies sur- maintaining continuous contact with remained neutral. pact for global development,” Mr. Bush them for all phases of the relationship: rounded Mr. Lytvyn and engaged in any told an audience in Washington prior to As of July 7, however, pro-WTO obstructive tactic at their disposal to pre- proposal development, proposal due deputies had managed to pass only two the program’s creation. diligence, compact negotiation and vent him from leading the parliamentary As the program’s vice-president for WTO-related bills – a result of extreme session. Bodyguards separated Mr. compact implementation. and even violent measures to prevent rat- country relations, Mr. Hewko is the man “I’m in charge of maintaining our Lytvyn from his enemies. chiefly responsible for managing the ification of the bills – in the Rada’s last WTO membership is a critical step in relationships from start to finish, work- remaining days before the summer recess MCC’s relationship with countries that ing on proposals, getting the agreements President Yushchenko’s goal to secure mar- receive funds. The program is designed to that starts this weekend. ket economy status for Ukraine and eventu- signed and post agreement implementa- The conflict revealed the serious eco- link greater contributions from developed tion,” said Mr. Hewko, who has been at al integration into the European Union. nations to greater responsibility from nomic implications involved, especially It was also the most important eco- the corporation for a year and a half and if Ukraine manages to gain WTO entry developing nations, Ukraine among them. oversees its largest sector. nomic measure that Western investors and In 2004 Congress provided $1 billion before the Russian Federation does. financiers requested from Ukraine at the He noted that Ukraine is considered Whichever nation gains earlier entry to the Millennium Challenge Account – a candidate country to receive aid from mini-Davos economic summit in June. the fund used by the corporation to will have the leverage to set favorable The Rada passed a law criminalizing the fund, as its per capita GDP income trading guidelines with new entrants, gather money for needy countries. Mr. is below $1,465, the cutoff used by the the piracy of intellectual property by a Bush asked that funding be increased to observers said. 261-44 vote on July 6. This was the most corporation to determine which coun- “Every country puts its own national $3 billion in 2006, though Congress tries are in need. important for WTO admission, and Vice responded recently by giving the MCC interests first,” said Oleksander Prime Minister for European-Integration $1.8 billion, a 20 percent increase from (Continued on page 18) Baranovskyi, the leading expert at the Razumkov Center for Economic and (Continued on page 19) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2005 No. 28 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Criminal charges reach 16 deputies, NEWSBRIEFS Businesses sign deals in Poland between both countries. (RFE/RL Newsline) senior leaders of opposition in Ukraine GDYNIA, Poland – The presidents of Poland and Ukraine – Aleksander Cabinet announces privatizations by Taras Kuzio Yanukovych’s Party of the Regions, Kwasniewski and Viktor Yushchenko, Eurasia Daily Monitor including Vasylii Horbal and Andrei respectively – attended the signing of KYIV – Prime Minister Yulia Kluyev. Mr. Kluyev headed Mr. two major deals at an annual Polish- Tymoshenko told journalists on June 30 Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Yanukovych’s dirty-tricks team (see Ukrainian economic forum in Gdynia on that her cabinet has approved a list of Yurii Lutsenko has publicly announced Eurasia Daily Monitor, September 22 June 30, Ukrainian and Polish media more than 10 enterprises that will soon be that he is seeking to strip 16 parliamentary and 23, 2004) and his voice is heard on reported. The Industrial Union of the offered for sale, the Ukrayinska Pravda deputies of their immunity from prosecu- the Security Service of Ukraine tapes Donbas finalized the purchase of the website reported. The list includes the Kryvorizhskyi Ore Enriching Combine, tion (Interfax-Ukraine, June 28). All 16 transferred to President Viktor Huta Czestochowa steel mill, following a the Odesa Port Plant, the Nikopol Pipe deputies figure in criminal cases that are Yushchenko’s coalition after the second lengthy and controversial privatization Plant, the Kyiv Motorcycle Plant and a not connected to the 2004 presidential round of the contentious 2004 presiden- duel with the Indian-Dutch-British hold- number of hotels. Ms. Tymoshenko also election. However, Mr. Lutsenko added tial election (EDM, December 3, 2004).