The Ukrainian Weekly 2004, No.47

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• New UNA gift-giving program to benefit CCRF — page 4. • Helsinki Commission focuses on Ukraine’s election — page 9. • Cardinal Husar’s visit buoys Rochester community — page 14. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXII HE No.KRAINIAN 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2004 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine CandidatesT travel to southern,U eastern regions Ukraine’s firstW televised debate in final days of Ukraine’s presidential campaign watched by nationwide audience by Roman Woronowycz and document-signing ceremonies looked by Roman Woronowycz tions on Ukrainian National Television,” Kyiv Press Bureau more like photo opportunities in which Kyiv Press Bureau explained Mr. Yushchenko at a press con- the Ukrainian prime minister was pre- ference a day after the debate. KYIV – The two Viktors who made it sented nearest the Russian president or in KYIV – On the one hand, it was far Mr. Yushchenko was keen to explain to the second round of Ukraine’s presi- earnest conversation with him. from a classic debate, but on the other, it that his opponent had distorted many facts dential election – Yushchenko and The initiation of a railroad ferry was the first time that anything resembling to present him in a bad light, foremost of Yanukovych – used the final 10 days of between the Ukrainian and Russian a standard, direct exchange of opinions and which was that as head of the National their respective campaigns to concentrate mainlands across the Kerch Strait was positions between two finalists in a presi- Bank of Ukraine in the mid-1990s he was on trips to the southern and eastern part of the resolution of the Tuzla Island dential marathon had occurred in Ukraine. responsible for the state of the economy. regions of the country. conflict, one of the sorest moments in In the end, both Viktor Yushchenko, the Mr. Yanukovych rejected his oppo- They also utilized the national air- recent Ukraine-Russia relations. Mr. opposition candidate and winner in the first nent’s allegation of distortions during his waves as provided by the election law to Yanukovych said that, from that low round of voting, who had been blackballed own press conference later that day. He maximize exposure (see separate story on point relations had begun to the warm by the national broadcast mass media, and said that, in his estimation, he had put on the debate). But as the respective cam- between the two countries. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who the better show. paigns moved to the finish line, charges “This way was truly not easy, but it had used the same television channels – “Time will tell who was wrong. I and counter charges continued in an elec- made us even more united and able to owned by the business oligarchs who sup- never feel hurt when people say they dis- tion heavily infused with dirt, illegal tac- take into account one anther’s interests,” port his candidacy – to highlight and agree with me. I will always respect tics and morally dubious strategies. explained Mr. Yanukovych during the embellish his successes as head of govern- them,” noted Mr. Yanukovych. Prime Minister Yanukovych joined ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Kerch ment, said they had gained advantage from The empathetic tone the prime minis- outgoing President Leonid Kuchma on Strait shore, reported Interfax-Ukraine. the debate, which was broadcast live by six ter used in his response was one he had November 12 for a meeting with Russia’s Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs television channels on November 15 and utilized increasingly in the last weeks, as President Vladimir Putin in the Crimean rejected any notion that the event was drew an extensive national audience. he responded to the sometimes shrill and city of Kerch. While officially designated staged purely as a campaign boost for “I am satisfied with the debate if only emotional charges made by the a meeting to renew the Caucasus-Crimea Mr. Yanukovych. because it was the first time in three and Yushchenko camp of falsification of ferry transportation route between a half years that I had a chance to come Ukraine and Russia, the ribbon-cutting (Continued on page 23) before the nation and present my posi- (Continued on page 9) Ukrainians see orange – everywhere Toronto students and community by Yana Sedova The fad has moved to personal cloth- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly ing as well. Near subway stations, where rally for free elections in Ukraine mini-bazaars are found, as well as in the by Zenia Kish Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leader KYIV – For the first time in recent more traditional city bazaars orange-col- Viktor Yushchenko. history Ukrainian citizens of all ages ored apparel is hard to come by. At one of TORONTO – Toronto’s Queen’s Park Under as much scrutiny as the candi- are showing their political preferences the larger bazaars, the Petrivka Market, reverberated with the lively chanting of dates themselves is the election process, openly. Today you could say they are those vendors who can supply the color “Give Ukraine a voice!” and singing of which has received a battery of criticism wearing them on their sleeves, literally, in demand are charging and being paid Ukraine’s national anthem at a rally calling from internal and international organiza- as well as on their heads and backs. much more than the normal price. A nor- for free and fair elections in the upcoming tions. By the accounts of observers posted And orange definitely has become the mal pullover goes for 50 hrv, unless it’s final vote for Ukraine’s new president. To in Ukraine from European and North color of the season. With the definitive orange in color – then its worth rises to be held on November 21, the second round American organizations, the October 31 vote to decide Ukraine’s next president 80-100 hrv. An orange scarf will cost you of voting is widely perceived as being a vote was riddled with violations and fraud. only days away, Kyiv has orange fever. 35 hrv, any other color 25 hrv. watershed moment for Ukraine as it choos- While official orange-colored banners “It is the most popular color today,” es between Russian-backed Prime Minister (Continued on page 8) and flags have been staples at rallies and said a woman who was selling gatherings of the supporters of presiden- pullovers, “It is bright and fits many tial candidate Viktor Yushchenko since sizes and age is often irrelevant.” he declared his candidacy in early Everything orange has become a autumn, a much more spontaneous phe- real eye-catcher. It is impossible to nomenon appeared in Kyiv in the days cross the street and not see orange immediately before the first round of tokens of the opposition presidential elections on October 31. Increasingly candidate attached to coats, students’ one began to see orange ribbons tied to bags and even to baby buggies. car antennas and telephone polls. The local staff of the campaign team Then early on the morning of of Mr. Yushchenko has been besieged by October 29 adherents of Mr. Kyivans who want some campaign attrib- Yushchenko came out onto the streets ute of their presidential candidate and, of and decorated trees and posts on whole course, in the color orange. Lines are long blocks of the capital city. Since then, when the various scarves, bandanas, flags the effort has taken on its own energy. and vests are in stock and being handed With a second round of voting out. It is impossible to satisfy the demand. approaching and the choices strikingly An old man came to the door of the clear, Kyiv is adorned in orange. While press headquarters on Sahaidachnyi Street the trees are now leafless, they still and demanded a scarf. He was refused at wear orange strips. Orange banners first, according to a Yushchenko campaign hang from office and apartment bal- worker at the storefront office. But then he conies. Drivers with strips of orange explained his intention. Zenia Kish attached to bumpers or antennas give the thumbs up as they pass one another. (Continued on page 21) Toronto area students demonstrate for free elections in Ukraine. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2004 No. 47 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Contradictions cloud Yanukovych foreign policy NEWSBRIEFS PM curries favor with civil servants “Following One’s Own Way: Thoughts by Taras Kuzio “pro-American.” Rather, they are pursu- about Economic Reforms in Ukraine.” It is Eurasia Daily Monitor ing a contradictory “multi-vector” for- KYIV – Prime Minister Viktor Mr. Kuchma’s fourth book in four years. eign policy that combines this “pro- Yanukovych has signed a resolution Commenting on the official results of the Unlike the 1994 and 1999 races, foreign American” lobbying with a deep hostility increasing the average salaries of civil ser- October 31 presidential ballot, President policy issues have not played a central role toward the United States and the West. vants, prosecutors and judges by 28 percent Kuchma said they testify that Ukraine is a in Ukraine’s 2004 presidential campaign. Former Defense Minister Yevhen as of November, the Ukrainska Pravda democratic state. “Only under such cir- The main opposition candidate, Viktor Marchuk has described the widespread website (www2.pravda.com.ua) reported cumstances [as a democratic state] was it Yushchenko, has deliberately stayed away use of anti-Americanism in the Ukrainian on November 11. In addition, speaking to a possible to ripen such a powerful opposi- from foreign policy issues. More impor- elections as a return to a “Cold War men- gathering of police inspectors in Kyiv on tion force [as Yushchenko’s Power of the tantly, foreign policy issues are not a major tality” (bbc.co.uk/Ukrainian, November November 11, Mr.

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