46 November 12, 2000

INSIDE:• Yuschenko frustrated over continuing conflicts with opponents — page 3. • Exclusive: excerpts of new book by Kostiantyn Morozov — page 14. • Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus fulfills historic legacy — page 15. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVIII HE No.KRAINIAN 46 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2000 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine VerkhovnaT Rada chairmanU suggests Pope to visitW Ukraine in June Chornobyl will not close without more funds Vatican cites plans for meetings with Church leaders by Roman Woronowycz days after the National Security and by Roman Woronowycz with joy and anticipation, there are con- Kyiv Press Bureau Defense Council ordered the government Kyiv Press Bureau cerns that the larger Orthodox Church to plan purchases of additional fuel rods may cause problems. Leaders of the three KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman for the Chornobyl plant for next year. KYIV – The Ministry of Foreign Orthodox Churches in Ukraine – the Ivan Pliusch told U.S. Ambassador The plant has symbolized the danger of Affairs confirmed on November 7 that Moscow Patriarchate’s affiliate most Pope John Paul II would visit Ukraine in Carlos Pascual on November 3 that he nuclear energy since it was the site in vehemently – have resisted such a visit June of next year. Ihor Hrushko, chief would work to block the closure of the April 1986 of the world’s largest nuclear on the grounds that the pope’s appear- press spokesman of the ministry, dis- Chornobyl nuclear power plant on disaster. ance in Ukraine would increase friction December 15 if Ukraine does not receive closed that the Vatican’s papal nuncio in Ukraine agreed to deactivate the last between the Catholics and the Orthodox, compensation for construction of alter- Kyiv had confirmed the June date sever- remaining working reactor at Chornobyl who often have been at odds. nate reactors and organic fuel purchases. al days ago. by December 15, after years of pressure In a related development, the Vatican “I will join those initiating revision of Ukraine’s nearly 4 million Ukrainian from the international community to do so on November 6 denied a newspaper the decision to close the Chornobyl Greek-Catholics regard the pontiff as – but only under the condition that it would report that Pope John Paul II would retire nuclear power plant,” said the chairman their spiritual leader and have pushed for receive European financing to finish two this Christmas. The Vatican responded to of Ukraine’s Parliament, according to his visit for several years. President nuclear reactors, one at the Khmelnytskyi a report in the German newspaper Bild Interfax-Ukraine. Leonid Kuchma originally invited Pope complex, the other at the Rivne complex. by stating that it was baseless and citing Mr. Pliusch’s remarks came several The country is already largely dependent John Paul to Ukraine in 1998. The visit was delayed, first due to the presidential the planned trip to Ukraine as proof that on Russia for its energy resources and the pontiff remains active as the head of would be even more so after Chornobyl election held in 1999 and the campaign season that preceded it and then because the Catholic Church. closes. The plant provides 5 percent of the A high-ranking official from the country’s required electricity. of the pope’s busy schedule associated Ukrainian Canadians with Millennium celebrations in 2000. Vatican was quoted in The New York Europe has withheld the funding, Times as saying that the pope’s plans for which Kyiv said had been promised by President Kuchma reconfirmed his visiting Ukraine are not yet complete. express disappointment the G-7 most developed countries at their invitation to Pope John Paul II this year, “We have contacts with all three 1995 gathering in Denver, until it deter- and the Vatican finally agreed. Mr. Orthodox Churches, and this pope will mines Ukraine has achieved energy sec- Hrushko announced that the pope’s trip with Chrétien and Liberals would be a state visit. want to meet with all Church leaders, CALGARY – In the run-up to the fed- tor reform and can show that the two Although the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic and any other reli- eral election of November 27, Canada’s plants will be profitable. Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine will gion,” the official said, adding, “It all organized Ukrainian community, a con- (Continued on page 3) undoubtedly greet the announcement depends on their willingness to do so.” stituency of over 1 million citizens, has publicly expressed disappointment with the government of the Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, and the Liberal Party of Canada, for their failure to keep Mr. Kyiv, too, follows U.S. presidential elections Chrétien’s 1993 promise of redress for the by Roman Woronowycz Embassy in Kyiv. Ukrainians could blintzes while watching CNN, reporters injustices done to the Ukrainian Canadian Kyiv Press Bureau view for themselves the in-your-face- had a chance to mingle with members community during Canada’s first national attitude of Mr. Gore in the first debate of the U.S. diplomatic corps and the internment operations of 1914-1920. KYIV – Although Kyiv was not out- and the laid back, conversational pose business community in Kyiv, including During World War I, about 5,000 fitted in red-white-and-blue bunting on taken by Mr. Bush in the informal Ambassador Carlos Pascual. Ukrainian Canadians were categorized as November 7, most Kyivans were well tableside debate. The U.S. ambassador worked the “enemy aliens,” stripped of their rights, aware that on this autumn day people in Students of the prestigious Institute tables of journalists like a seasoned and shipped off to internment camps. the United States were electing a new of Foreign Affairs of Kyiv State politician, while explaining the election They were interned in 24 camps through- president. University held their own debate on process and providing his own insights. out Canada where they served as forced And, while Ukrainians seem to know November 4, sponsored by the Mr. Pascual answered reporters’ most laborers. Others were forced to register the American candidates and even the “Debate” Information and often asked question by assuring them as enemy aliens so that the authorities issues, they were more occupied with Methodology Center in Kyiv. Two stu- that U.S. policy towards Ukraine will could keep a close watch over them; staying dry on this wet and misty day, dents representing the candidates, Gov. not change significantly regardless of their civil liberties were curtailed and and getting food on the table. Bush and Vice-President Gore, present- who is elected the next president, while they were disenfranchised. Nonetheless, Ukrainians have kept ed their presidential programs and emphasizing the strategic and friendly Writing to the prime minister, on an ear turned towards the political cam- debated the issues. The Bush pretender partnership between the two countries. October 22, the director of special proj- paign that has taken place in the United won the mock debate. Peter Sawchyn, the embassy’s press ects for the Ukrainian Canadian Civil States over the last year. This is a well- The major networks also had teams attaché, said he was pleased with the Liberties Association, Borys Sydoruk, educated society that remains more in the United States reporting on the attention the Ukrainian press has given inquired whether Mr. Chrétien and the focused on international affairs and pol- democratic process and U.S. society in the elections. “We were happy with the Liberal Party of Canada would keep the itics than other Western countries. general. In the two weeks prior to the turnout and with the interest the media pre-election pledge made by Mr. People know that George W. Bush is vote, reporters from the two major pri- has shown in the elections,” said Mr. Chrétien on June 8, 1993, to support the son of the former president who vate Kyiv stations, Inter and Studio Sawchyn. redress. A response was requested by made the “Chicken Kiev” speech and 1+1, filed daily reports from Rostyslav Chomiak, a Ukrainian November 6. that Al Gore is the current vice-presi- Washington. On Election Day they American journalist currently residing Instead of answering the question, K. dent, best known for his stiff, unnatural were in Texas and Tennessee, following in Kyiv, said he was delighted with the Hanash, correspondence manager of the public image. the candidates in their home states. general atmosphere in Kyiv surround- Prime Minister’s Office, forwarded the The Ukrainian press displayed a Back in Kyiv, the press of Ukraine ing the elections. “From the bottom of UCCLA’s request to the Liberal Party of keen interest in the process and covered showed up in large numbers on the day my heart, I am very pleased that in Canada. The November 6 response the major events leading up to the vote, after the vote, to size up the results at a 2000 I can order a cab in Kyiv that received from the director of the Liberal including both party conventions. One post-election media breakfast hosted by comes to my door, go to an Irish pub Party of Canada, was likewise non-commit- network even showed all three presi- the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. run by an Englishman to watch tal. All of these documents are publicly dential debates with a Ukrainian-lan- Embassy at the capital city’s premier guage overdub – courtesy of the U.S. Irish pub. Nibbling on canapés and (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2000 No. 46 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS New appointment gives substance Soros praises Ukraine’s development by Vice-Chairman Stepan Havrysh and lawmakers from four caucuses, calls for KYIV – U.S.

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