38 September 21, 2003

INSIDE:• National Rukh of Ukraine marks anniversary — page 3. • Third Youth Leadership Program held in D.C. — page 9. • Ukrainian named top female wrestler — page 11. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXI HE No.KRAINIAN 38 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2003 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine T U With reservations,W Cabinet and Rada approve Embassy of Russia works against Ukraine’s entry into common economic space SenateWASHINGTON resolution – The Embassy ofonUkraine Famine-Genocide of the 1930s.” by Roman Woronowycz ment’s decision on what it wants to do with Russia in the United States has voiced its He continued: “Many aspects of the Kyiv Press Bureau the united economic space, but I think there opposition to a Senate resolution that rec- realization of the policies of the Soviet needs to be a careful look at how this ognizes the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in leadership of that time headed by Stalin KYIV – Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers agreement fits in with the country’s aspira- Ukraine as genocide. were tragic for many peoples on the terri- and Verkhovna Rada pushed through sepa- tions to join the Euro-Atlantic community,” Radio Liberty reported last week that tory of the USSR, not only for Ukrainians, rate documents on September 17 in support explained Ambassador Herbst. “I believe it sources said Russian officials have con- but also for Russians, Estonians, of the country’s entry into a common mar- is in the interest of Ukraine not to take any tacted officials at the U.S. Department of Chechens, Kazaks, Crimean Tatars and ket with Russia, Kazakstan and Belarus. step that will complicate that process.” State and in Congress in an effort to block many others. In this case, American law- The backing by the country’s execu- However, the Verkhovna Rada and the the passage of Senate Resolution 202, makers are quite readily giving political tive and legislative branches cleared Cabinet of Ministers underscored in their which was introduced by Sen. Ben assessments that have far-reaching conse- away any vestige of internal opposition statements that the treaty on a common Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), co-chair- quences. This testifies to the lack of under- and paved the way for President Leonid economic space could not expound any man of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. standing on the part of American lawmak- Kuchma to sign an agreement on a com- ideas or goals that would contravene Contacted by Radio Liberty’s ers of the juridical essence of the term mon economic space with the three either the Constitution of Ukraine or the Myroslava Gongadze, the press secretary ‘genocide.’ Again, I would like to under- neighboring states, which was to take country’s legislative base, or counter its of the Russian Embassy, Yevhen score that the Russian side categorically place on September 18, the second day of efforts at Euro-Atlantic integration. Khoryshko, stated: “We categorically dis- disagrees with the evaluations contained in the Summit of the Commonwealth of The Verkhovna Rada voiced its support agree with this assessment of the famine in the American legislators’ resolution.” Independent States in Yalta. with 290 voting in favor of the resolution. “The policies of collectivization and the However, the new economic arrange- The 102 members of the Our Ukraine ment, if it comes to pass, would leave in famine in Ukraine of the 1930s in no way faction and the 18 that belong to the serious doubt whether Ukraine could fall under the juridical concept of geno- Tymoshenko Bloc did not take part in qualify for entry into the World Trade cide,” he added. the vote. Organization and whether it could inte- New U.S. envoy Senate Resolution 202 – which carries The Cabinet of Ministers, which had grate into the European Union. the descriptive title “A resolution express- twice failed to find consensus on the mat- Making his first public remarks in ing the sense of the Senate regarding the ter, unexpectedly issued a short four- arrives in Kyiv Kyiv as the new United States ambassa- genocidal Ukraine Famine of 1932-1933” paragraph statement in support of the by Roman Woronowycz dor to Ukraine, John Herbst suggested – was introduced on July 28 and thus far Yalta signing at the beginning of its Kyiv Press Bureau during a press conference on September has eight co-sponsors. weekly session, while bypassing any fur- 18 that the common economic space was KYIV – With little fanfare, It states that “the man-made Ukraine ther discussion on the matter as original- not in Ukraine’s best interest if the coun- Ambassador John Herbst arrived in Famine of 1932-1933 was an act of geno- ly had been planned. try was serious about entering the WTO Kyiv on September 13 to assume cide as defined by the United Nations In the days leading up to the CIS his duties as the fifth United States and the Economic Union. chief diplomat to Ukraine since the (Continued on page 23) “Of course, it is the Ukrainian govern- (Continued on page 10) country gained independence in 1991. In his first official meeting with Ukrainian officials, the former Questions remain on third anniversary of Gongadze’s disappearance ambassador to Uzbekistan held a brief discussion on September 16 by Roman Woronowycz ered on the square. plicity in the death of Mr. Gongadze for with Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Kyiv Press Bureau Mr. Omelchenko, a member of the some time, but this was the first time the Affairs Kostyantyn Gryshchenko – committee he heads had officially sent KYIV – National Deputy Hryhorii Tymoshenko Bloc in the Verkhovna formerly Ukraine’s ambassador to documents to the Procurator General’s Omelchenko, chairman of the parliamen- Rada, had publicly accused the president the U.S. who was appointed to his and his cronies of corruption and com- (Continued on page 3) new post on September 3 – and pre- tary committee investigating the death of sented a copy of his credentials. journalists announced on September 16 Afterwards, the two met briefly that it had unanimously approved a reso- with the press. Reading in lution calling on the Procurator General’s Ukrainian from a prepared text, the Office to open an official investigation new ambassador stated that he into the complicity of the highest eche- seeks to improve relations between lons of state leadership, including Kyiv and Washington. President Leonid Kuchma, in the death “My main goal is to improve our of Heorhii Gongadze. bilateral relations in all aspects,” Mr. Omelchenko reported on the explained Mr. Herbst. results of the committee’s work during a Ambassador Herbst encouraged rally held on Independence Square in the Ukraine to move toward Euro- center of Kyiv on the third anniversary Atlantic integration and held out since the disappearance of the young hope that the 2004 presidential Ukrainian journalist on September 16, elections would prove that Ukraine 2000. Mr. Gongadze’s beheaded remains is a solidly democratic country. He were found a month later buried in a also praised Ukraine’s participation shallow grave outside Kyiv. in the U.S.-led stabilization force in “I am forced to report on the work of Iraq. the committee on the investigation into At his first public appearance at the death of Heorhii Gongadze here a conference on human rights and before you because Verkhovna Rada freedom of speech, held on Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn has refused to allow it to take place in the session Roman Woronowycz (Continued on page 16) hall,” explained Mr. Omelchenko to National Deputy Hryhorii Omelchenko addresses a Kyiv rally held on the third some 2,000 people and politicians gath- anniversary of the disappearance of Heorhii Gongadze. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2003 No. 38 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Communists come to the rescue Ukrainians honor slain journalist said Kyiv should sign this accord with “reservations” in order to avoid violating of President Leonid Kuchma, again KYIV – Some 3,000 people gathered in the country’s Constitution and legislation. Kyiv on September 16 to honor Internet Our Ukraine, led by Viktor Yushchenko, by Taras Kuzio Different oligarchs are pleading for journalist Heorhii Gongadze on the third issued a statement on September 15 calling RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report Mr. Yushchenko to not launch criminal anniversary of his disappearance, on President Leonid Kuchma not to sign cases and other actions against them if he Ukrainian media reported. Mr. this accord. (RFE/RL Newsline) Ukraine’s ruling elites are fearful of is elected. Ironically, these are the same Gongadze’s decapitated body was found the end of the Kuchma era. President kinds of activities that the authorities are at Tarascha near Kyiv in November 2000. Economic zone on Cabinet’s agenda Leonid Kuchma and his oligarchic allies themselves undertaking against the oppo- The secret tapes made by presidential KYIV – The Cabinet of Ministers is have no candidate agreeable to the three sition, such as criminal cases against rad- security officer Mykola Melnychenko expected on September 17 to adopt a stance main clans who could win an election ical oppositionist Yulia Tymoshenko. linked President Leonid Kuchma and for- on the possible signing of the draft accord and act as a neutral “umpire” between If President Kuchma’s political mer Internal Affairs Minister Yurii between Russia, Kazakstan Belarus, and them. reforms are adopted by Parliament, the Kravchenko to Mr. Gongadze’s killing. Ukraine on the creation of a single econom- Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, 2004 elections are more likely to be free “[Gongadze] was the only journalist who ic zone – which has provoked much contro- head of the Donbas clan’s Party of of violence and fair because Mr.

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