INSIDE:• Miss Soyuzivka 2000 — page 3. • Diversity Visa Lottery 2001 announced — page 4. • An exhibit in honor of Leo Mol — page 11. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVII HE KRAINIANNo. 35 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 1999 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine PresidentialT opponentsUINDEPENDENCE CELEBRATEDW IN UKRAINE’S CAPITAL convene in Kaniv sonnel, the tanks, the missiles and the aircraft missile lauchers followed by S- Military parade highlight planes that make up Ukraine’s defense 200 and C-300 missiles and finally Zenit forces, still considered among the class rockets, all mounted on oversized by Roman Woronowycz of eighth anniversary strongest in Europe. diesel rigs, that along with the tanks left Kyiv Press Bureau Soldiers and cadets representing all the the Khreschatyk in a cloud of smoke. by Roman Woronowycz military branches of Ukraine, as well as As the large vehicles moved away KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman the forces of the Ministry of Internal from the crowd, their din was replaced by Oleksander Tkachenko, Ukraine’s legisla- Kyiv Press Bureau Affairs, marched down the nation’s main the scream of aviation flying overhead, tor-in-chief and a presidential wannabee, KYIV – Copying a tradition of its for- artery in the characteristic stiff goose also a first for this parade. On an azure showed that presidential pre-election poli- mer Soviet colonial rulers, Ukraine cele- step manner still practiced in most mili- backdrop of a cloudless summer sky tics should take precedent over official brated its eighth anniversary of independ- taries of the former Warsaw Pact nations. independence day festivities when he MIG 29 jet fighters, SU strategic ence on August 24 by rolling out its mili- They passed Kyiv’s Independence decided to hold his own August 24 com- bombers and helicopter war ships tary hardware for a parade down the cen- Square, their heads held high, their necks memoration at the burial spot of Taras delighted onlookers as they flew the path tral avenue of the nation’s capital. stiffly arched and turned in the direction Shevchenko, Ukraine’s most revered of the parade, highlighted by the Sokol For some the military parade was an of the general reviewing stand, where national hero. Naval Flying Team, which performed an empty show and a wasted expense in a Ukraine’s President Leonid Kuchma, The head legislator was a no-show at aerial manuever in its MIG-29s to end country that remains economically feeble Prime Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko, the official Independence Day Parade on the display. and unable to make the transition to a Minister of Defense Oleksander Kuzmuk the capital city’s main thoroughfare, the The 45 minute show of Ukraine’s mili- free market economy, but for most it was and other government, legislative, judi- Khreshchatyk, and forsook the traditional tary might, which featured 128 pieces of a moment to relax and enjoy, a celebra- cial and military leaders stood overseeing spot for the head of the Verkhovna Rada land-based hardware, 40 airborne vehi- tion of eight years of independence and the proceedings. on the reviewing stand next to President cles and more than three thousand mili- sovereignty symbolized by a military that Then came the military hardware. First Leonid Kuchma, now his chief political tary personnel began with a greeting by stands loyal only to Kyiv. the light armored vehicles followed by rival in the upcoming presidential elec- Defense Minister Kuzmuk. This was the second year that a such the heavy artillery: T-80 main battle tions. Second Vice Chairman of the After reviewing cadets of the various an event has highlighted the tanks, then the older T-72 tanks and SAU Verkhovna Rada, Viktor Medvedchuk, military academies and lyseums associat- Independence Day festivities, but where- howitzers capable of lofting a shell 26 was the only representative of the ed with Ukraine’s armed forces from an as last year it featured both military and kilometers (about 18 miles). It was the Parliament’s leadership present for the old Chaika limousine – similar to those athletic themes, this year the accent was first appearance by the tracked vehicles parade. Along with Mr. Tkachenko, First in which Soviet leaders traveled – the strictly on the defense forces. at an Independence Day event. Last year Vice Chairman Adam Martyniuk, who is a defense minister mounted the reviewing On an uncharacteristically cool sum- Kyiv city officials convinced the military member of the Communist Party, also stand and gave a short speech praising its mer day the Khreschatyk came alive with to leave the hardware at home because failed to appear. improving military readiness and its marching bands, soldiers in military dress they feared the tracked vehicles would Instead, Mr. Tkachenko celebrated accomplishments in peacekeeping opera- of various designs and colors, balloons destroy the street’s freshly paved asphalt. Ukraine’s eighth anniversary of independ- tions currently under way in Kosovo and and blue and yellow national emblems as This year the armored vehicle tracks ence with three other presidential hopefuls Bosnia, as well as the considerable work well as tens of thousands of Kyivans and were equiped with special rubber cover- in Kaniv, a city located south of Kyiv on it did in the Transcarpathia region of visitors from outlying regions and the ings. the shores of the Dnipro river, where the Ukraine during and after last year’s dis- Ukraine’s considerable missile and group announced that they had agreed to abroad. (Continued on page 3) joint actions in the presidential race and The onlookers saw the military per- rocket arsenal brought up the rear: anti- would eventually unite around a single can- didate from among them. Socialist Party candidate Oleksander Moroz, Yevhen Marchuk, who was nomi- Museum of Reconciliation proposed for Canada nated by a coalition of extreme right organi- by Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj Mr. Kennedy said the effort is a step Toronto, has received broad-based sup- zations, but has increasingly been recon- Toronto Press Bureau up because a mention in the Throne port from fellow members of parliament necting with his leftist base, and Volodymyr Speech would have budgetary implica- (about 200 of 243 endorsed C-479). He Oliynyk, head of the Association of TORONTO – Sarkis Assadourian, the tions, indicating that funds would be allo- also garnered a strong response to his Syrian-born Armenian Canadian member Ukrainian Mayors and nominated by voters cated to further the project. Private mem- original initiative from a wide spectrum of parliament (MP) earlier this year intro- of the city of Cherkasy of which he is bers’ bills, Mr. Kennedy explained, can- of Canada’s ethno-cultural and civic duced a private members’ bill, C-479, mayor, joined Mr. Tkachenko on Tarasivska not have a financial component and con- organizations – including the Ukrainian mandating the commemoration of the Hora for the announcement. sist mainly of legal policy recommenda- Canadian Congress (UCC) and the 20th century’s crimes against humanity in “We know that in answer to this deliber- Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties an exhibit mounted by Canada’s Museum tions. ated step, a majority of votes will be cast Association (UCCLA). of Civilization. He has decided to take his The MP’s assistant said Mr. for one of us in the first round ... and that no On August 1, Ukrainian Canadian effort to another level and is calling for Assadourian’s recent experiences in second round will be needed,” reads a part Congress Provincial Council President the establishment of a separate Museum Poland and Israel, as well as the outpour- of the statement released by the four. The Walter Halchuk gave notice that he sup- of Reconciliation. ing of support for his exhibit initiative documents also states that “the black hand ports Mr. Assadourian’s approach. Mr. In late July, Mr. Assadourian launched prompted him to expand his campaign. of dictatorship is being raised over Halchuk sent a letter of endorsement to a postcard-writing campaign urging In a June 27-July 5 visit to Israel, Ukraine,” and that Ukraine’s citizenry must all MPs, writing that his organization Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to organized by the Canadian Israel not simply choose a president but a savior “fully supports ... the establishment of an mention plans to set up such a museum in Committee, Mr. Assadourian met with of the country. It says that if the current inclusive or universal Genocide Museum the Throne Speech this fall. This speech is Israeli, Palestinian and Druze politicians, president remains in office “the country will or Museum of Reconciliation devoted to be ruined and sovereignty lost.” traditionally delivered as an outline of the paid homage to slain Prime Minister government’s plans in the coming parlia- Yitzhak Rabin and visited the Yad the commemoration of crimes against The four candidates who some pundits humanity – a medium that addresses heal- have already dubbed the Kaniv-4, agreed mentary session. Vashem Holocaust Museum. Mr. Assadourian’s executive assistant, During May 27-31, the Armenian ing as well as remembrance.” that they would be able to decide which one On August 3, the Soviet Ukraine would represent them by mid-October. Mr. Daniel Kennedy, told The Weekly that the Canadian MP visited the site of the Nazi parliamentarian arrived at the name, Majdanek concentration camp in Poland Famine subcommittee of the national Marchuk suggested that the sea change of Ukrainian Canadian Congress issued a voter support for the new grouping after the “Museum of Reconciliation,” after read- in a trip sponsored by B’nai B’rith ing scholarly literature and consulting Canada. press release also endorsing the move.