INSIDE: • ’s economic crisis: interview with noted economist – page 3. • Premiere of Yurij Luhovy’s documentary on the – page 13. • Twin Cities welcome Ukrainian American astronaut – page 16.

THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVII No.22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 $1/$2 in Ukraine Long-promised children’s hospital It’s Tymoshenko vs Yekhanurov turns into public relations mess in latest government scandal by Zenon Zawada by Zenon Zawada Press Bureau Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – What might have started out as KYIV – The Ukrainian government a well-meaning project has become a pub- was wracked by its latest scandal after lic relations mess for First Lady of Ukraine Prime Minister Kateryna Yushchenko. accused Defense Minister Yurii After raising funds from the nation’s oli- Yekhanurov of money laundering and garchs and leading Ukraine’s first telethon fraud, demanding his dismissal at the marathon – which involved all the major May 20 Cabinet of Ministers meeting. television networks – for the Children’s Under Mr. Yekhanurov’s direction, the Hospital of the Future, not a brick has been ministry allegedly bought food and fuel at laid despite Ms. Yushchenko’s assurances double their market prices from fake that it would be treating patients by March intermediary enterprises, then pocketed 2009. the difference. He also forged documents “We want to build it in three years with to misappropriate real estate, the prime Official Website of Ukraine’s President money from Ukrainian and foreign corpo- minister alleged, based on Control UNIAN/Oleksander Yurchenko Kateryna Yushchenko rations,” Ms. Yushchenko told a press Review Administration documents. Defense Minister Yurii Yekhanurov briefing in early March 2006, as reported “I will personally establish control so by the daily newspaper Den (Day). The that the guilty face the most radical pun- for Humanitarian Affairs Ivan Vasiunyk. hospital is one of many projects of the ishment,” Ms. Tymoshenko thundered in After Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Ukraine 3000 International Charitable front of television cameras. “The morality Lutsenko was recently accused of drunk- Fund. and spirituality which the members of the enly brawling with German police at That same year her timeframe was con- Orange team promised is degraded, Frankfurt international airport, the prime firmed by Andrii Myroshnichenko, who defamed and discredited. And, unfortu- minister placed him on temporary admin- monitors the project’s fund-raising, nately, this is all occurring under the larg- istrative leave on May 18, before restor- “Ideally, the building, equipment, person- est cover.” ing him to his post at the May 27 Cabinet nel and the first rooms of the all divisions Ms. Tymoshenko’s government has of Ministers meeting. will be ready in three years.” been besieged by conflict and controver- It’s no coincidence that Ms. Ever since Ms. Yushchenko participated sy, currently lacking ministers of the Tymoshenko made her accusations and in the capsule-burying ceremony on March finance and foreign affairs after their dis- dismissal demands at the weekly 16, 2006, to launch the ambitious $120 Wednesday meeting of the Cabinet, where million project, critics had doubted the hos- missals. National deputies have prepared bills the television cameras of all the major pital would ever be built, arguing that such networks are present. projects take a minimum of 10 years and to dismiss Industrial Policy Minister Zenon Zawada Volodymyr Novytskyi, Health Minister Observers believe her attack against Andrii Myroshnichenko (Continued on page 8) Vasyl Kniazevych and First Vice Minister Mr. Yekhanurov, a close ally of President , was retaliation for the campaign to dismiss Mr. Lutsenko and shift the media’s camera lens away from her own ally to the president’s col- Selfreliance UAFCU donates $10,000 to digital archives project league. WHIPPANY, N.J. – Selfreliance Ms. Tymoshenko needs Mr. Lutsenko Ukrainian American Federal Credit as her internal affairs minister so that they Union, which is based in and has can have authority over the nation’s branches in other locations in Illinois, 300,000-plus police force during the pres- Indiana and New Jersey, has donated idential election. $10,000 to support the ambitious project “There are real scandals, such as in to digitize the archives of the Ukrainian Frankfurt, and there imagined scandals National Association’s two newspapers, which are used by the government’s lead- The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda. ership for certain reasons,” said Vadym The presentation was made by Michael Karasiov, director of the Kyiv-based R. Kos, chairman of the board, and Institute of Global Strategy and advisor to Bohdan Watral, president/CEO, during the Presidential Secretariat. “In a situation the Chicago-based credit union’s annual of pre-catastrophic economic conditions, meeting with the New Jersey community it’s necessary to find guilty persons.” held on Saturday, May 16, at the President Yushchenko refused Ms. Ukrainian American Cultural Center of Tymoshenko’s request to dismiss his New Jersey in Whippany. defense minister, accusing her of “politi- The two newspapers’ editor-in-chief, cal attempts to usurp more power and Roma Hadzewycz, gratefully accepted create chaos, because that’s the best envi- the donation, thanking Selfreliance ronment to conduct an election cam- UAFCU for its multi-faceted support of paign.” countless Ukrainian organizations and Paul Hadzewycz Upon being accused by the prime min- projects, many of whose representatives ister, the flustered defense minister retort- were present at the annual meeting that At the annual meeting of the Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit ed, “I want to say that … they’ve begun day. Ms. Hadzewycz underscored that the Union, representatives of the credit union are seen with the editor-in-chief of The to demand all the documents at the credit union’s generous donation would Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda, Roma Hadzewycz. In the photo (from left) are: Defense Ministry … I very much plead Yaroslav Zaviysky, Walter Kovbasniuk, Michael R. Kos, Michael Szpyhulsky, help make it possible for community with you, I understand your emotions and Bohdan Watral, Daria Twardowsky Vincent, Orest Ciapka, Ms. Hadzewycz, Ihor (Continued on page 4) Laszok, Andrew Hrechak and Michael Dziman. (Continued on page 17) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS

Medvedev forms commission Experts expect 8% drop in GDP author of one of the appeals on the basis of which the Security Service of Ukraine to protect Russian history KYIV – Ukraine’s gross domestic prod- (known by its Ukrainian acronym as SBU) uct (GDP) will decrease by 8 percent in instituted criminal proceedings. Dr. 2009 as compared to the previous year, said by Pavel Felgenhauer high-ranking bureaucrats as well as a num- Yukhnovskyi, who is chairman of the the executive director of the International Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, Eurasia Daily Monitor ber of pro-Kremlin spin-doctors and nation- Bleyzer Foundation, Oleh Ustenko. alistic lawmakers. said on May 26: “We want the Ukrainian Speaking at a roundtable during the last Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has Two commission members - Sergey court to confirm that the Holodomor of week of May, he noted that this is related to recently made public comments about “the Markov and Konstantin Zatulin – have been 1932-1933 was a crime against humanity a drop in export volumes, restriction of con- falsifiers of history” attacking the country banned from entering Ukraine for allegedly and that a terror-regime reigned in Ukraine sumer crediting and reduction of the popula- and its heritage. This was a serious political promoting the transfer of Crimea to . at that time.” He added that today the tion’s incomes, as well as enterprises’ prof- statement of strategic importance – not Mr. Zatulin has been accused of being one Ukrainian Institute of National Memory merely a rhetorical proclamation, made just of the organizers of the mass distribution of its. As a result of a drop in the GDP and the possesses hundreds of thousands of pieces before the World War II Victory Day mili- Russian passports in Abkhazia and South aggregate demand, inflation in 2009 will be of evidences about the criminal actions of tary parade on May 9: “We will not allow Ossetia that was used as a justification of the lower as compared to 2008, and will be the Communist authorities, a part of which anyone to undermine the sacrifice of our Russian invasion last August. Fear has been about 15 percent. Experts of the Bleyzer have already been handed over to the SBU. people” (Eurasia Daily Monitor, May 13). expressed that the commission may punish Foundation forecast that the government’s At the same time, Dr. Yukhnovskyi noted Mr. Medvedev’s statement was followed liberal historians or dissidents (Kommersant, external debt will make up 28 percent of the that the present criminal case will most by the creation of a special presidential Vedomosti, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 20). GDP in 2009, and the private sector’s for- probably not concern any concrete persons. inter-departmental commission “to counter- “There are only three historians there, eign debt will be 58 percent. In addition, the “We will not be able to do it, since thou- act attempts to falsify history that under- and even they are not recognized among state budget deficit is forecast at 4 percent of sands of persons were involved in those mine the interests of Russia.” The presiden- professionals,” prominent historian Roy the GDP. Earlier, President Viktor events and some of them became victims of tial order to set up this “historic truth” com- Medvedev told Kommersant. “I am afraid Yushchenko had stated that he expects the that regime,” he explained. On May 25 the mission was signed on May 15 and pub- that the commission will be used for witch- GDP drop to be 20 percent in the first quar- SBU instituted a case on the basis of the lished on the Kremlin website on May 19, hunts and the settling of scores,” the military ter of 2009. He said the GDP fell by 14 per- genocide of the Ukrainian people in together with a list of its members (www. historian Alexei Isayev commented to cent during the fourth quarter of 2008. At 1932-1933. The Holodomor was recognized kremlin.ru, May 19). Kommersant. “If we are going back to those the same time, the president noted that the as genocide of the Ukrainian people by the The state-controlled television (Rossiya [Soviet] years, then hopes for Medvedev the index of the economy’s basic indicators Parliaments of 14 countries and the Vatican. TV, NTV and First Channel) immediately liberal, in whose name the commission is dropped by 29.9 percent in the first quarter (Ukrinform) lavished praise on “the timely move” to save being established, are somewhat unjusti- of 2009. (Ukrinform) fied,” Alexei Malashenko, an analyst with Kravchuk: proceedings can intensify split Russian history from the “falsifiers” – name- Lytvyn urges PRU and YTB to unite the Carnegie Center in Moscow, warned in ly the authorities in the Ukrainian, Georgian KYIV – Ukrainian ex-President Leonid Nezavisimaya Gazeta. KYIV – Everything should be done to and Baltic republics. Kravchuk said on May 26 that he believes These fears, though justified and genuine, unite Ukraine’s largest political parties, the However, the more independent press the Security Service of Ukraine’s institution might be somewhat misplaced. The Russian Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (YTB) and the was much more critical, pointing out that in of criminal proceedings on the genocide of authorities already possess sufficient legal Party of Regions of Ukraine (PRU), the 28-member commission there are only the Ukrainian people in 1932-1933 is power under the existing “anti-terrorist” and Chairman Volodymyr three professional historians, and even these untimely. “I support it [investigation into “anti-extremist” laws to punish dissidents. Lytvyn said on the ICTV channel on May are not independent researchers, but govern- genocide], but I believe that it is untimely In addition, the Duma is reported to be rush- 26. He described this task as difficult, but ment-appointed directors of two official his- today,” he said on air at Channel 5. The poli- ing through amendments to the Penal Code expressed confidence that, first and fore- torical research institutions and the chief of tician expressed anxiety that the investiga- to make the “falsification of history” a crim- most, this would help create a system of the official Russian government archive. tion could intensify a split in the society. counterbalances, and, secondly, it would not Instead of appointing independent histori- “Those people who did it – are no longer (Continued on page 22) give an absolute majority to any of the par- ans, the commission has been filled with among us, a part of very important docu- ties. Mr. Lytvyn said that he could run for ments is absent as well, and the moods in the presidency “if a mutual understanding is society are such that this can only intensify not reached and if a plan of political truce is the split,” Mr. Kravchuk noted. (Ukrinform) “Falsifiers of history” not realized.” (Ukrinform) Foreigners’ registration discussed Criminal proceedings on Holodomor KYIV – The chief of Kyiv’s police wants targeted by the Kremlin KYIV – The main aim of instituting the Foreign Affairs Ministry to drastically criminal proceedings on genocide in Ukraine shorten the time given to foreigners to regis- by Pavel Felgenhauer Nazi collaborators. But Mr. Medvedev’s in 1932-1933 should be to establish legal ter after arriving in Ukraine, RFE/RL’s Eurasia Daily Monitor statement was vague on who in particular proof of the crime against humanity made are the villains. The ruling United Russia by the court, said Dr. Ihor Yukhnovskyi, (Continued on page 14) In a special video posting on his official party has introduced legislation into the Kremlin blog, President Dmitry Medvedev State Duma that will make it a criminal emphasized that the World War II Victory offense to “question the Soviet victory” in Day on May 9 is an “all-Russian celebra- World War II, punishable with a large fine FOUNDED 1933 tion, uniting the entire nation.” But it is not and a prison sentence. THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY all positive. Liberal commentators on radio “Ekho An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Around half of Mr. Medvedev’s video Moskvy” believe this legislation may be a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. address was spent on renouncing “the fal- used not only against someone in the Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. sifiers of history, who are becoming Baltic or in Ukraine, who are beyond increasingly vicious, ugly and aggres- Periodicals postage paid at Parsippany, NJ 07054 and additional mailing offices. Russian jurisdiction, but to punish liberal (ISSN — 0273-9348) sive.” Mr. Medvedev announced, “We historians or dissidents, who question or must defend historic truth, though it is not investigate Communist crimes (www.echo. The Weekly: UNA: easy and sometimes revolting. We cannot msk.ru, May 8). Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 close our eyes to the terrible truth of the The “anti-falsification” legislation may war, but we will not allow anyone to be used to brand political opponents of the Postmaster, send address changes to: undermine the sacrifice of our people” present regime as traitors. The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz (www.kremlin.ru, May 7). Recent opinion polls show that the 2200 Route 10 Editors: Matthew Dubas Moscow has recently accused the author- Russian public has a unique opinion of P.O. Box 280 Zenon Zawada (Kyiv) ities in the Baltic republics and Ukraine of World War II. A poll by VtSIOM showed Parsippany, NJ 07054 rehabilitating World War II-era nationalistic that 77 percent of Russians believe the Red The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] Army liberated the East European nations from Nazi occupation, and then allowed Correction them to freely live and develop. Only 11 The Ukrainian Weekly, May 31, 2009, No. 22, Vol. LXXVII percent believe that the Copyright © 2009 The Ukrainian Weekly In “Yushchenko waffles on elections as imposed pro-Communist regimes and the end of his term approaches” (April undermined the independence of the former 12), the Kyiv Press Bureau reported that Warsaw Pact nations. A sizable majority (60 ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA President Viktor Yushchenko had retained percent) agree that anyone, who publicly the prerogative to hold pre-term parlia- opposes the “Soviet victory and sacrifice,” Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 mentary elections ever since he issued a is a felon (Interfax, May 9). e-mail: [email protected] September 2008 presidential decree. In This pro-Communist public nostalgia and Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 fact, Mr. Yushchenko issued his decree to the staunch survival of Soviet myths deny- fax: (973) 644-9510 hold pre-term parliamentary elections on ing the occupation of Eastern Europe by the Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] October 9, 2008. On October 20, 2008, Red Army after World War II, is cultivated (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 the president issued another decree can- e-mail: [email protected] celing the October 9 decree. (Continued on page 22) No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 3

NEWS ANALYSIS EU-Russia summit demonstrates signs of strategic division, not partnership by Ahto Lobjakas of the Eastern Partnership was not against be weak when these relations were put to the crisis, Mr. Medvedev advised the EU RFE/RL somebody, definitely not against Russia. the test,” Mr. Medvedev said. “And the to invest in relieving some of the So I hope we reassured President ongoing attempts now to rebuild ties Ukrainian debt he said the country owes The EU-Russia summit, which con- Medvedev that this is our strong posi- between Russia and NATO are encounter- Moscow. cluded on May 22 in the far-eastern tion,” Mr. Klaus said. ing quite serious difficulties.” The EU has been pressing Russia in Russian city of Khabarovsk, served to President Medvedev, however, was EU member-states and the United vain for years to join the Energy Charter, expose the depth of the disagreement that having none of that. In what appeared to States have agreed to give Mr. which would oblige Moscow to put its increasingly bedevils the relationship be a calculated insult, he suggested the Medvedev’s plans a hearing at a meeting energy trade on a transparent, market- between the two sides. EU itself did not know yet why it needs of foreign ministers’ of the Organization based footing. Emerging from the summit, European the Eastern Partnership. for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Russia has refused, with Mr. Medvedev Union and Russian leaders appeared to If its aims were limited to facilitating Corfu, Greece, in late June. But diplomats advocating at the Khabarovsk summit a differ on all major issues currently facing economic cooperation, the Russian presi- say they are not likely to consent to a rad- new accord that would strengthen its them – from security to energy and trade. dent said, he would have no objections. ical revamp of the OSCE, as Russia has position as the dominant supplier of gas The bulk of the post-summit press con- But Mr. Medvedev went on to highlight previously suggested. and oil to Europe. ference was spent on mutual recrimina- divisions within the EU – and flatly reject The failure of the EU-Russia summit EU officials on May 22 also warned tions – voiced discreetly by the EU, less Mr. Klaus’s attempts to assuage Russian to register unity on a single major issue Russia it cannot expect to sign a new so on the part of Russian President was most palpable in Mr. Medvedev’s partnership agreement before it joins the Dmitry Medvedev. concerns. Predictably, the tensions were highest, “But, frankly speaking, what embar- rejection of all responsibility for the dis- World Trade Organization (WTO). The when it came to the two sides’ influence rasses me is the fact that some states view ruptions in Ukrainian and European gas agreement, currently being negotiated by in the former Soviet Union. this partnership as a partnership against supplies in January, at the height of win- the two sides, would contain a free trade Russia, which still considers the region Russia,” Mr. Medvedev said. “I don’t ter. accord which EU officials say presuppos- its backyard, sees the issue as a zero-sum mean, of course, the EU leadership and “The Russian Federation has not es Russian WTO membership. game. The EU believes it can share influ- our partners that sit at this table. I am given, and will not give, any assurances. Russia, for its part, has shown scant ence with Russia in Ukraine, Belarus, talking about other states, but we don’t What for? There are no problems on our regard for the EU’s warnings, sharply Moldova and the South Caucasus coun- want the Eastern Partnership to turn into side,” Mr. Medvedev said. “Everything is increasing import tariffs on a vast range tries – all participants in the bloc’s a partnership against Russia.” fine with us – both regarding gas and the of EU goods earlier this year and threat- Eastern Partnership, launched earlier in Mr. Medvedev also tried to press his fulfillment of our obligations. Let those ening further tariff increases on exports May. advantage at the summit by urging the who must pay for the gas make assuranc- of timber. Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech EU to back his plans for a new “security es. And here there is an opportunity for Republic, who chaired the EU delegation, architecture” for Europe. At the press cooperation [with the EU].” Copyright 2008, RFE/RL Inc. said every effort was made to disabuse conference he sharply attacked NATO – The Russian president’s comments Reprinted with the permission of Radio the Russian leadership of the notion the which includes as members most EU appear to explicitly torpedo the only EU Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 EU is seeking to roll back its influence. member-states. ambition of note it associated with the Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC “We tried to tell, [to assure] President “We have partnership relations, for summit – that of setting up an upgraded 20036; www.rferl.org. (See http://www. Medvedev that the idea of the Eastern example, with the North Atlantic bloc. “early warning mechanism” to avoid just rferl.org/content/At_EURussia_Summit_ Partnership is strictly ‘for’ something, to But, despite what seems to be a special such disruptions. Signs_Of_Strategic_Division_Not_ achieve something positive, that the idea form of relations, this form turned out to Shrugging off any responsibility for Strategic_Partnership/1737474.html.)

UKRAINE’S ECONOMIC CRISIS: Interview with economist Oleh Soskin by Zenon Zawada cials that they allegedly borrowed gov- Kyiv Press Bureau ernment and IMF money to speculate on the dollar and ruin the hryvnia, is entirely In order to provide an in-depth analy- true, Dr. Soskin said. But in the current sis of the economic crisis in Ukraine, The lawless society, no one will likely be Ukrainian Weekly spoke with three econ- prosecuted. omists that are independent of the pres- “There is a criminal group in the ent-day Ukrainian financial establish- National Bank leadership which is linked ment, which is widely accused of corrup- to criminal groups in certain banks,” he tion and mismanagement. Following is said. “These criminal groups need to be the first interview in the series. exposed because they robbed us – Rodovid, Nadra, Bank Kyiv, PromInvest KYIV – The May 8 decision of the and all the others.” International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Dr. Soskin has been on the Ukrainian extend to the Ukrainian government the political scene since 1992, serving as an $2.8 billion second tranche of a $16.4 bil- economic advisor to President Leonid lion loan is a crime against the Ukrainian Kravchuk. people in the view of Dr. Oleh Soskin, After training in the U.S. in 1994, director of the Institute of Society including at the Brookings Institution in Transformation, a Kyiv-based think tank. Washington, he launched the somewhat He’s been among the lone voices awkwardly named Institute of Society amidst a sea of media reports and estab- Transformation, which is financed by lishment economists touting the IMF Western and Ukrainian sources. Zenon Zawada loan, even after at least half of the $4.5 In 1996 he launched the Ukrainian Since the , Ukraine’s leaders have done nothing to reform the billion first tranche was spent for National Conservative Party and still economy and instead have made it worse, in the view of Dr. Oleh Soskin, director unknown aims with little tangible benefit hopes a “national liberal-conservative” of the Institute of Society Transformation in Kyiv. to the Ukrainian economy. political force will emerge. He served as A strong supporter of Ukraine’s Euro- an economic advisor to President Leonid (Ms. Tymoshenko has banned certain Chornobyl engineer, who blew up the Atlantic integration, who is currently con- Kuchma in the late 1990s. statistics from being published, particu- nuclear power plant in 1986. She is slam- ducting lectures and launching informa- During a December 2008 visit to larly the critical gross domestic product, ming these buttons, switching everything tion centers throughout the nation’s uni- Odesa Pedagogical University to open a GDP, figure.) off, knocking out the entire safety system versities on the advantages of NATO Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Center, Dr. Dressed in a lightweight, olive-colored – this is a catastrophe. This is an internal membership, Dr. Soskin at the same time Soskin was assaulted by a pro-Russian suit, Dr. Soskin sat at a table and began default. If not for the IMF, there would doesn’t blindly approve of all Western journalist from a local television network sipping coffee that his female assistant have been an internal default. The IMF policies toward Ukraine. financed by Igor Markov, a millionaire had placed before him, alongside Roshen practically committed a crime against us While the citizens of Iceland and who has allegedly funded and participat- chocolates and cookies that he began in the present day. If it didn’t offer the forced out their prime ministers ed in violent attacks against Ukrainian munching, one after another. He began second tranche, the situation would have and other officials responsible for the col- activists. the interview with The Weekly after been quite different. lapse, in Dr. Soskin’s view the IMF Meeting with The Weekly late in the spending ten minutes reviewing his mate- instead rewarded what he characterized evening of May 12, Dr. Soskin entered rials. So you think there are economists as the corrupt administration of President his institute in central Kyiv looking today who simply toe the establishment Viktor Yushchenko, which was responsi- exhausted. Immediately his assistants line? What can we say about Yulia ble for the hryvnia’s devaluation. greeted him with stacks of paper, among Tymoshenko’s approach to resolving These are so-called “virtual econo- Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s them the latest economic reports obtained the financial crisis? mists,” who don’t understand anything at accusation against the president and from the institute’s sources within the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) offi- Ukrainian bureaucracy. She’s simply conducting herself like a (Continued on page 18) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 THE EURO 2012: A look at Ukraine’s potential host cities by Yuriy Borysov failed to convince UEFA officials that Special to The Ukrainian Weekly they could finance construction of the necessary sites, Mr. Karandeyev said. KYIV – If Kharkiv was to gain the Their financing plan, which failed to right to host the Euro 2012 many expect- re-assure UEFA officials, involved bor- ed it would be at the expense of Lviv, rowing money from Imeksbank, con- which officials said has done the worst trolled by Party of Regions National job in preparing for the soccer champion- Deputy Leonid Klimov, which in turn ship. borrowed money from international insti- Thus, the Union of European Football tutions, he said. Associations (UEFA) surprised Ukrainian They were also unconvinced that the soccer fans when it announced on May soccer stadium would be built in time. 13 that it was dropping Dnipropetrovsk, “But the stadium wasn’t the main prob- the country’s third-largest city, which lem,” Mr. Karandeyev said. “In UEFA’s seemed firmly on track for the Euro 2012 evaluation, the majority of sites are posi- – particularly after being the first to tive. The majority of concerns were unveil a modern soccer stadium in reserved for infrastructure sites. Questions September. arose regarding airport and hotel prepara- Being ahead of the game meant miss- tion, which led to the UEFA’s negative ing out on its rules. Ukrainian soccer conclusion.” authorities revealed at a May 18 press Only Kyiv is guaranteed that it will conference that Dnipropetrovsk billion- host the quarterfinals and semifinals, aire Igor Kolomoisky and his football while is limited only to the first- Yevhen Chervonenko, first-vice chair Andrii Kapustin of the Euro 2012 executives built the Arena without round group tournaments. at the Kyiv City State Administration. Public Control Committee. considering UEFA requirements. Ukraine’s capital would host the final “When the (Dnipropetrovsk) stadium match only if the hotel and transportation In general, UEFA views believes it’s easi- in three-star hotels. was designed and building of the site infrastructure, including the airport, meet er to build a new stadium than renovate Even if Donetsk gains UEFA approval began, no one thought about EURO UEFA standards, which will be deter- an older one. Since Kharkiv is pursuing on November 30, the city will only host 2012,” said Rostyslav Karandeyev, vice mined during a November 30 visit of the first option, UEFA is closely monitor- the group tournaments (before the quar- minister for family, youth and sports. UEFA officials, the executive committee ing its progress, especially since the sta- terfinals), the executive committed decid- “Some of the problems were apparent stated. dium is expected to be completed by the ed. – an insufficient number of seats in the The same requirements and deadline end of 2009. The capital city is best prepared for stadium and inadequate free space outside apply to Lviv, Donetsk and Kharkiv, Meanwhile, the 50,000-seat Donbas Euro 2012, being the first among the the bounds of the arena bowl, which which stand to lose their host city status if Arena will not only meet all UEFA Polish and Ukrainian candidate cities to didn’t provide for the required number of they aren’t able to prove they can meet requirements but also qualify for its five- create a open-air fan zone, equipped with free zones,” he explained. UEFA standards. star Elite category. Mr. Akhmetov invest- a plasma screen for watching matches, With their decision, UEFA officials “We could have lost three or even four ed more than $400 million into the stadi- said Yevhen Chervonenko, first-vice indicated they are still giving Lviv a cities, and UEFA has given us a clear um and park complex, which will be chair at the Kyiv City State chance to get its act together and join understanding that the decision made in unveiled at an August 29 official ceremo- Administration. three other Ukrainian cities – Kyiv, Bucharest is to a large degree an advance, ny. Still, construction of the new stadium Kharkiv and Donetsk – and four Polish considering only Kyiv can host Euro Yet even Mr. Akhmetov’s millions at the site of the former Olympic stadium cities in hosting Euro 2012, the tourna- 2012 today,” Mr. Karandeyev said. aren’t enough to improve Donetsk’s hotel, remains among the key problems because ment held every four years to determine As a result, all the cities have an enor- airport and transportation infrastructure, its plan and cost accounting aren’t yet which European countries have the best mous amount of work to do in preparing which doesn’t meet UEFA standards. confirmed, he said. soccer teams. for the world’s second-most prestigious UEFA President Michel Platini wrote To improve transportation, the city As their desperate bid to keep the tour- soccer tournament behind the World Cup. an open letter to Donetsk City Council government will launch a municipal taxi nament, FC Dnipro executives offered to Lviv remains the worst prepared Chair (Mayor) Oleksander Lukianchenko service and build new terminals at increase the capacity of Dnipropetrovsk’s among the selected host cities, said Andrii requesting a written guarantee by July 31 Boryspil and Zhuliany airports. Dnipro Arena from 27,500 seats to the Kapustin, an expert with the Euro 2012 that the city will secure and implement This year alone, five hotels offering 30,000 required by UEFA, but its execu- Public Control Committee, a non-govern- the necessary financing to renovate the 500 rooms will be opened, while 18 tive committee declined, stating that the mental organization financed by member- airport. hotels offering 3,860 beds are under con- renovation would reduce the stadium’s ship fees. Similar demands were also made to the struction. quality and comfort. He estimated the city’s chances for Donbas cities of and Mariupol, By the end of 2011, Kyiv will have 18 Additionally, Party of Regions Vice- hosting the tournament at 52 percent, which offered their airports as auxiliaries. five-star, 33 four-star and 32 three-star Chair Volodymyr Yatsuba, also former boosted mainly by its attractiveness as a In the same letter, Mr. Platini com- hotels offering 18,000 rooms, in full con- chair of the Dnipropetrovsk State Oblast tourist destination. The stadium is only 5 plained of the lack of hotels in Donetsk, formity with UEFA standards, Mr. Administration, acknowledged that the percent ready and airport renovation is explaining that UEFA has signed only a Chervonenko said. poor financial and physical condition of problematic, he said. few contracts with hotels, the majority of When asked whether he thinks all four the city’s airport posed problems. Lviv’s airport is entirely state-owned, which are located beyond the city center, Ukrainian cities will get to host Euro In particular, the city government giving local authorities the advantage with the rest to be built through 2011. 2012, Mr. Karandeyev offered restrained never resolved who would build a neces- over Dnipropetrovsk in convincing UEFA Cities must offer a minimum of 2,945 optimism, carefully stating, “I have the sary airport runway or the fate of the of their ability to renovate it in time, Mr. rooms for each day of Euro 2012, includ- premonition that all the four cities will nearly bankrupt state enterprise that Karandeyev said. ing 1,420 rooms in five-star hotels, 1,315 host Euro 2012, but we must give clearer owned the airport. The question was He also pointed out Lviv’s obstacles. rooms in four-star hotels and 210 rooms guarantees to UEFA.” whether to renovate the airport with state While Kharkiv and Donetsk have so- funds or sell it to the Privat banking called strategic investors, namely billion- group led by Mr. Kolomoisky. aires Oleksander Yaroslavskyi and Rinat and the compilation of articles chroni- “At the moment, the Dnipropetrovsk Akhmetov, Lviv is dependant on govern- Selfreliance UAFCU... cling Ukraine’s drive toward indepen- airport has an entirely indistinguishable ment funds during a severe economic cri- (Continued from page 1) dence and the first 10 years of its inde- form of ownership,” Mr. Karandeyev sis, Mr. Kapustin said. The Cabinet of members, scholars and researchers to pendence titled “Ukraine Lives!” said. “The airport was not fully trans- Ministers has yet to provide an allocated have unprecedented access to the news- A letter accompanying the credit ferred to the creditor company, which $147 million to build a new runway, he papers’ archives. union’s donation stated: “The Selfreliance would have had the funds for its construc- added. She told the gathering about the signif- Foundation of Selfreliance Ukrainian tion. Therefore, there was no basis to pro- “There’s practically no work being icance of the digital archives project, American Federal Credit Union has allo- vide state guarantees to UEFA for airport done at the Lviv airport presently,” Mr. which will allow visitors to the newspa- cated a donation of $10,000 toward the… construction.” Kapustin said. “The UEFA gave the Lviv pers’ websites to view stories laid out on project of archiving the entire print run of As a result, UEFA officials were con- airport the highest level of risk and its pages just as they appeared in the printed both Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly cerned about the airport’s timely renova- experts are afraid the airport won’t be versions of Svoboda and The Ukrainian so they are available online for historians tion. ready.” Weekly. Eventually, all issues of Svoboda, as well as others readers.” Not everyone was understanding. The In its official statement, the UEFA which began publication in 1893, and of The letter, signed by Oresta Fedyniak, UEFA decision was political, in the view executive committee also expressed con- The Weekly, founded in 1933, will be foundation chair, and Victor Wojtychiw, of Dnipropetrovsk State Oblast cern about Lviv’s transportation infra- available online. secretary-treasurer, added, “The New Administration Chair . structure and reported that the city doesn’t In addition, the Svoboda website will Jersey offices of SUAFCU in particular “Dnipropetrovschyna took the most have enough hotels, particularly at the include the annual Almanacs of the are proud of their longstanding relation- realistic steps on this path of anyone dur- five-star level. Ukrainian National Association (UNA), ship with the UNA and delighted to spon- ing last two years of preparation for Euro Meanwhile, among Kharkiv’s biggest and issues of the children’s magazine sor this important initiative.” 2012,” he said. “When other regions were problems is its stadium, which is 80 per- Veselka. Previous donors to the Svoboda/The just planning work, we built new sites. So cent ready yet doesn’t meet numerous The Weekly’s website, meanwhile, Ukrainian Weekly digitization project are: let’s speak frankly – there was quite a bit UEFA requirements, Mr. Kapustin said. includes its book publications, including the Shevchenko Scientific Society, of politics in the decision.” For example, it’s impossible to evacuate the two-volume “The Ukrainian Weekly U.S.A., Self Reliance New York Federal Although Odesa hoped to be among the stadium in eight minutes and fill it in 2000,” comprising the most significant Credit Union and the Heritage Foundation the Euro 2012 hosts, city authorities one hour (because of entrance turnstiles). stories published between 1933 and 2000, of 1st Security Savings Bank. No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 5 Shevchenko Scientific Society re-elects President Orest Popovych NEW YORK – The Shevchenko Scientific Society in the U.S.A. held its 19th general meeting at the society’s New York headquarters on May 16. Dr. Orest Popovych was re- elected as the scholarly society’s president by a unanimous vote cast by 83 members. Prior to the meeting, morning sessions were conducted by four scholarly sections: mathematics-physics-technology (Dr. Roman Andrushkiw, director), which featured a lecture by Dr. Roman Samulyak on “High-Performance Computing in Modern Science and Engineering”; philology (Dr. Larissa Onyshkevych, director), and the social science sec- tion (Prof. Martha B. Trofimenko, director) and the history- philosophy section (Dr. Taras Hunczak, director), which conferred jointly. The Shevchenko Scientific Society’s (NTSh) general meeting was opened in the afternoon by President Popovych, who extended a special welcome to Prof. Leonid Rudnytzky, a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, former president of NTSh in the U.S. and now the acting president of the NTSh World Council. Dr. Popovych also recognized Ukraine’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Valery Kuchynsky, who is now a corre- sponding member of NTSh. The NTSh president read the names of the society’s 24 members who had departed in the last three years, calling upon the assembly to rise and honor them with a moment of silence. Dr. Popovych then read the names of the 65 new members recruited to join NTSh in the same time period, remarking with satisfaction that many of them are recent immigrants from Ukraine as well as young scholars. Participants of the general meeting of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in the U.S.A.; seated third from left Dr. Rudnytzky read a greeting to the assembly from Dr. is the newly re-elected president, Dr. Orest Popovych. Oleh Kupchynsky, the president of NTSh in Ukraine. The assembly elected a presidium for the meeting com- In thanking the board members who made these accom- Bohachevsky-Chomiak; delegate to the NTSh World prising of Dr. Rudnytzky, chairman, with Drs. Andrushkiw plishments possible, Dr. Popovych singled out two NTSh Council – Dr. Anna Procyk. and Hunczak, vice-chairmen, and Christine Karpevych, employees, Dr. Vasyl Lopukh, director of administration, Nominated as members-at-large were: Drs. Albert Kipa, recording secretary. Also elected were the Nominating, and Prof. Vasyl Makhno, both of whom double as board Serhiy Levkov, Askold Melnyczuk, Procyk and Yuri Verification and Resolutions committees. The minutes of the members, as the two pillars of the society. All of the resolu- Shevchuk. 18th general meeting of NTSh were accepted unanimously. tions of the 18th general meeting, including those calling for The above slate was elected unanimously via a show of All present received a 99-page book containing the support of Ukrainian studies in America and in Ukraine, hands. reports of NTSh officers as well as the society’s chapters have been fulfilled, concluded Dr. Popovych. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Popovych thanked NTSh in Philadelphia and Washington on their activities in the Dr. Daria Dykyj, vice-president and CFO, presented an members for their renewed trust and support, which he said three-year period starting on May 20, 2006. The authors addendum to her report. Dr. Roman Procyk, vice-president will encourage the board members to expend even more of the reports had the option of presenting addenda or and learned secretary, made some critical comments regard- efforts on behalf of the society. He thanked all the commit- highlights at the meeting, but only three availed them- ing the board’s performance. tees and individuals for their enormous work in preparing selves of that opportunity. After a discussion of the reports, the audience heard a and so successfully running the general meeting, includingh Dr. Popovych offered the following accomplishments of very thorough review of the board’s performance by the the election process. Dr. Popovych then introduced the new the NTSh governing board as the highlights of his three-year Auditing Committee, which was read by its chair, Dr. members of the governing board, welcoming each of them tenure: the publication of the Encyclopedia of the Ukrainian Onyshkevych. Despite some critical comments, the outgo- individually. diaspora, Volume 1, of America, Book 1; the ing board was granted a vote of confidence by the Auditing As to the board’s plans for the future, Dr. Popovych first publication of the society’s “Activities and Press Reports Committee. emphasized that under his stewardship all of the resolutions 2000-2008,” a 640-page compilation of English-language Dr. Roman Voronka, chairman of the Nominating and promises made three years ago have been realized. In articles about NTSh and its members as well as a registry of Committee, presented a single slate of candidates for the addition to the society’s customary support for Ukrainian the academic programs for the public which were hosted by new governing board: Dr. Popovych, president; Dr. scholarship and higher education here and in Ukraine, as NTSh in the same time period; the introduction of Andrushkiw, first vice-president; George Grabowicz, vice- well as the continued service to the Ukrainian American Ukrainian-language computer programming by Microsoft president and learned secretary; Dr. Dykyj, vice-president; community via the society’s programs for the public, NTSh for use in Ukraine, as a result of many years of pressure ini- Ruslana Rossi, CPA, vice-president and CFO; Christine is now proposing some new objectives as well: to publish tiated by NTSh; the establishment of full-year post-doctoral Karpevych and Dr. Serhiy Levkov, recording secretaries. the second and eventually the third book of the Encyclopedia fellowships in Ukrainian studies at $35,000 each, of which Also nominated were committee chairs: Bylaws – Dr. of the Ukrainian Diaspora; to organize the NTSh archives, six have been awarded to date; the $100,000 grant for the Adrian Dolynsky; chapters – Dr. Halyna Hryn; library and for which a professional archivist has been hired; to organize publication of an English-language translation of one vol- archives – Tatiana Keis; press – Dr. Lopukh; publications – a more systematic grass-roots fund-raising campaign for the ume of Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s “History of Ukraine-Rus’ ”; Prof. Makhno; scholarships/grants – Dr. Alexander Motyl; society; and to seek professional financial planning for the the $15,000 grant to Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly for membership – Dr. Wolodymyr Petryshyn; finances – Ms. society’s funds. their project to digitize the archives of both newspapers; the Rossi; law advisory – Dr. Andrij V.R. Szul; information Resolutions formulated by a committee chaired by Dr. co-sponsorship (in the amount of $2,500) of the annual technology – Dr. Volodymyr Vasilaky; institutional liaison – Andrushkiw were adopted unanimously by the assembly. competition for young mathematicians in Ukraine. Dr. Myroslava T. Znayenko; auditing board – Dr. Marta – NTSh Press Group

BOOK NOTES: Activities of the Shevchenko Society, 2000-2008 “Shevchenko Scientific Society, U.S.A. the Shevchenko Scientific Society?” As Europe: Borders, Culture, Identities” Activities and Press Reports 2000-2008,” well, it is intended to create a record of (2007). edited by Orest Popovych. New York: NTSh activities in the United States in Biographical information about the Shevchenko Scientific Society, U.S.A., order to preserve it for posterity. major contributing writers to the book is 2009. ISBN: 0-88054-146-6. 640 pp. $25. Included are 142 articles and press included, as is an index. releases that were published about the Though it is not a history of the “Shevchenko Scientific Society, U.S.A. society’s work beginning in the summer Shevchenko Scientific Society, it is a his- Activities and Press Reports 2000-2008,” of 2000 through 2008 (presented chrono- torical record of its activities during a is a newly released 640-page compilation logically) and a register of the 239 week- very fruitful period. A great number of of English-language articles about NTSh ly academic programs held by the society. the articles were previously published in (the society’s Ukrainian-based acronym) The compilation contains several note- The Ukrainian Weekly and on the soci- and its members as well as a registry of worthy scholarly articles, such as Dr. ety’s website (www.shevchenko.org), and academic programs open to the public James E. Mace’s “Is the Ukrainian some in other English-language Ukrainian that were hosted by society in the period Genocide a Myth?” (2003); Dr. Margaret community newspapers and in the journal under review. Siriol Colley’s “Gareth Jones: A Voice The Ukrainian Quarterly. The book was compiled, as noted in Crying in the Wilderness” (2003); Judge The book is edited by Dr. Popovych; the foreword by Dr. Orest Popovych, Bohdan Futey’s “Rule of Law in Ukraine: cover design is by Hilary Zarycky. The president of the Shevchenko Society since A Step Forward or Backward” (2004); book’s publication was supported by the 2006, partially in answer to the question Dr. Larissa Zaleska Onyshkevych’s Ivan Romaniuk Fund. posed last year by a person attending a “Chornobyl in Ukrainian Literature To purchase the book, readers may Ukrainian American community event: 1986-1989 and Glasnost” (2006); and Dr. contact NTSh at 212-254-5130 or info@ “What is it that you people actually do at Serhii Plokhii’s “Ukraine’s Quest for shevchenko.org. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22

THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY The Baloha era The era of at the head of the Presidential Secretariat has come to an end, and it’s worth examining what President Viktor Yushchenko had when he appointed the Zakarpattia businessman, and what he’s left with. When Mr. Baloha replaced in September 2006, President The tragedy of the Yushchenko presidency Yushchenko’s approval rating was about 20 percent. Every Friday night, Ukrainians are economy and international image, giving Recent polls indicate it’s dropped to between 2 and 3 percent. treated to two television talk shows the Russian Federation adequate pretens- In the September 2007 parliamentary election, the Our Ukraine-People’s Self- where they can view their so-called lead- es to portray Ukraine as hopelessly cor- Defense bloc won 14 percent of the vote. ers accuse and deny, lob nasty insults, rupt, as it pursues its ultimate quest to Since then, the People’s Self-Defense party led by Internal Affairs Minister and spin their political rhetoric, which build circumventing pipelines. Yurii Lutsenko has ditched Mr. Yushchenko and allied itself with the Yulia often proves hollow. All this warring and corruption have Tymoshenko Bloc. The Our Ukraine bloc has imploded, and the Our Ukraine Watching President Viktor Yushchenko directly impacted millions of Europeans, People’s Union party couldn’t even qualify for the Kyiv City Council, let alone perform on the Inter network’s who have endured interruptions in their the Verkhovna Rada. “Svoboda” program on May 22, it natural gas supplies in the dead of winter. Before Mr. Baloha arrived on the scene, the president had an entire network of appeared he will stick to a presidential Perhaps it should come as no surprise support, including People’s Self-Defense financer David Zhvania (godfather to campaign strategy similar to that used in that, returning to the government as Mr. Yushchenko’s youngest son), his millionaire business partner Mykola 2004. (The program can be viewed at: defense minister, Mr. Yekhanurov again Martynenko, former Defense Minister Anatoliy Grytsenko and former Verkhovna http://intersvoboda.com/uk/ stands accused of corruption – buying Rada Chair Arseniy Yatsenyuk. food and fuel at double their market pric- Since then, Mr. Zhvania has alleged the president made up his entire poi- Vipusk_22_05_09/video.) es from fake enterprises, as well as mis- soning story, which was caused by something he ate, and the Presidential The problem of establishing and appropriating real estate, according to Secretariat has attempted to deport him to his native Georgia. The Our Ukraine developing the is far government documents and investiga- parliamentary faction has split into three groups, with Mr. Martynenko leading from resolved, he said. The Famine- tions. the largest one, which is loyal to Ms. Tymoshenko. Messrs. Yatsenyuk and Genocide of 7 million to 10 million Mind you, Mr. Yekhanurov was the Grytsenko have each formed their own political movements and are competing Ukrainians must be remembered, its State Property Fund chair for three years for the presidency. organizers must be identified and justice under former President Leonid Kuchma. On top of all this, a group of 10 national deputies loyal to Mr. Baloha used the must be pursued. Does the public believe “his hands stole Presidential Secretariat as a source of “adminresurs” (government resources) to “This is the history of our grandfathers nothing,” to paraphrase Mr. Yushchenko’s launch the Single Center party. Not only did Mr. Baloha destroy the Our Ukraine and ancestors,” he said with firm resolve, famous words? bloc, but he created a political party that is competing with the Our Ukraine like a modern-day William Wallace. Now, with the rise of Vira Ulianchenko People’s Union. “Bitter, possibly. When we speak of to lead the Presidential Secretariat, the Reviewing Mr. Baloha’s report card, it’s clear that he hammered the final nails Ukraine’s history, by the way, like any Yushchenko syndicate has come full cir- into the coffin of Mr. Yushchenko’s political career. His vicious, relentless battles other history, what is a national history cle. with Ms. Tymoshenko ruined any remaining hope that something could be sal- composed of? A national history always Launching her career in the vaged from the Orange Revolution. As political scientist Dr. Taras Kuzio pointed is the history of struggle for your own Communist Party, Ms. Ulianchenko was out during his recent visit to Kyiv, we all recognized this – except the president independence, no matter how much we involved in one of Ukraine’s biggest cor- himself. might not remember those people who ruption scandals during the early Kuchma In the 32 months he has been in office, it never was clear whether Mr. fought and fight so that Ukraine could years. Inheriting one of the world’s larg- Yushchenko or Mr. Baloha was in charge. Following a March 2008 meeting become a state.” est fleets from the Soviet era, the Blasco between national deputies of the People’s Self-Defense and the president, Mr. Hearing such words, you want to reach shipping company, where Ms. Zhvania famously reported Mr. Yushchenko’s words, “You poorly understand the out and embrace the man, and that was Ulianchenko served as the general direc- tendencies and processes taking place in Parliament. You are supposed to listen the diaspora’s reaction in 2004. tor, sold all its ships to foreigners in just to Baloha. Baloha is me.” We overlooked his past life as an a few years. Though he ruined the president’s political career, Mr. Baloha was also the only “honest Communist” (his own words) While the firm’s director Pavlo man able to somehow save it. Yet, the president reportedly rejected his proposals and his direct involvement in Ukraine’s Kudiukin was sentenced to a 10-year to compete for the Rada jointly in pre-term elections. It was the latest baffling corrupt banking sector as early as January prison term (sitting out five years), Ms. move of the “kamikaze president,” a term coined by Dr. Kuzio in the early years 1993, when he already chaired the board Ulianchenko fled to the U.S. in 1994 of the Yushchenko presidency. Now pundits all agree that Mr. Yushchenko has of directors at the National Bank of under the pretext of giving birth to her little to no hope of reviving his career in politics with Vira Ulianchenko at the Ukraine. first daughter. She remained for five helm of the Presidential Secretariat. The tragedy of his presidency is that years before returning to Kyiv and join- With Mr. Baloha gone, the battles are ongoing between the Presidential the one man who seems to care about ing the Our Ukraine movement in 2002. Secretariat and the Cabinet of Ministers. The president wants to fire the internal Ukrainian culture and language has done Skeptics believe Ms. Ulianchenko affairs minister; the prime minister wants to fire the defense minister. It certainly absolutely nothing to deal with the essen- escaped prosecution with the help of appears the president wanted Mr. Baloha to wage war with the prime minister. tial issues that Ukrainians are most con- Kateryna Yushchenko, who helped inte- “When I heard Yushchenko say, ‘Baloha is me,’ then I knew things were going cerned about: corruption, rule of law, grate her into the Yushchenko political to end badly,” President Leonid Kravchuk recently told Channel 5. wages and economic mobility. machine upon her return, allegations We just didn’t think it could get this bad. Many wonder whether President Yushchenko has failed to address these which Ms. Ulianchenko has denied. matters out of sheer incompetence, or if Upon her appointment, she made her he never intended to clean things up in approach to dealing with the nations’ oli- June the first place. The evidence points to the garchs clear, in a complete betrayal of the Turning the pages back... latter, in my view. Orange ideals she allegedly professed Four months ago, I listed the most just a few years earlier. serious crimes President Yushchenko has “I would not want, in the country 2 been accused of. But I neglected to men- where I live, for a part of the people who Two years ago, on June 2, 2007, the Yulia Tymoshenko and tion the biggest crime of all, which is earn money, support labor collectives, 2007 Our Ukraine blocs held congresses in response to the May 27, undeniable. It was President Yushchenko perform work, make production, fill the 2007, compromise reached by Prime Minister Viktor and his close associate Prime Minister budget, for these people to be called ban- Yanukovych, Verkhovna Rada Chair Oleksander Moroz and Yurii Yekhanurov who set up the dits, for these people to be called crimi- President Viktor Yushchenko. RosUkrEnergo natural gas intermediary nals,” she said on May 25, less than a Leaders of the congresses announced that 169 deputies voluntarily surrendered their in January 2006, resulting in disastrous week after she became Presidential mandates and the Tymoshenko Bloc confiscated an additional 26 mandates from depu- consequences ever since. Secretariat chair. “I offer the oligarchs ties who said the surrender violated faction discipline. Ms. Tymoshenko is confident the bil- another system of cooperation.” The move was to satisfy the compromise clause that called for one-third of the dep- lions siphoned from RosUkrEnergo prof- Given her unapologetic penchant for uties’ corps to resign, thereby dissolving Parliament. Messrs. Yanukovych and Moroz its have gone into bank accounts belong- Prada and her “newfound” sympathy for maintained that the Parliament was still legitimate. ing to President Yushchenko and his the nation’s oligarchs, it’s safe to pre- The opposition leaders were confident that Mr. Moroz had more than the necessary entourage, among others, to finance his sume that Ms. Ulianchenko has benefited from “alternate sources of income.” 151 letters from deputies surrendering their mandates, but Mr. Moroz claimed that the political activities. It is an accusation he And let’s not forget Volodymyr deputies themselves did not sign their own mandates. Other deputies wrote that they fervently denies. Stelmakh, Mr. Yushchenko’s old buddy planned on recalling their letters, he claimed. It has made a former nobody, Dmytro with whom he arrived at the National Mr. Moroz also wanted the Constitutional Court and the Central Election Firtash, an overnight billionaire, now Bank of Ukraine in the winter of 1993. Commission to review the legality of the decisions reached by faction leaders at their financing the Inter television network’s In an interview with The Weekly pub- congresses. It was suspected that Mr. Moroz violated the compromise reached days political attacks against Ms. Tymoshenko lished this week, Dr. Oleh Soskin earlier by dragging out the dissolution of Parliament because his faction would not and its promotion of Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s describes how Mr. Stelmakh participated gain enough votes to return to Parliament in the next election. presidential candidacy, and causing the in the currency speculation schemes in President Yushchenko issued a presidential decree on June 5, 2007, that established biggest rift ever in the opposition Party October and November that destroyed the pre-term election date of September 30, 2007, in accordance with the date agreed of Regions of Ukraine. the hryvnia’s value and decimated the This alleged money-laundering scheme (Continued on page 23) has done immense damage to Ukraine’s (Continued on page 22) No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The things we do ... activists, caught the Kremlin’s attention by Orysia Paszczak Tracz Joseph Terelya and were a contributing factor in righting this horrible wrong and helping to allow and U.S. Congress the Church to finally have its “day in the sun.” Dear Editor: Orest Deychakiwsky The Weekly article on the passing of Washington Ridna Pisnia, Chumaky and Vasyl the underground Ukrainian Catholic I sought him out on the Internet, and unbelievably beautiful. Darynka, Ms. Church activist Joseph Terelya (May 17) The letter-writer is policy advisor at found him. After corresponding for a Levenko’s little granddaughter, played in rekindled memories of some remarkable the U.S. Helsinki Commission. while by e-mail, we finally met in Kyiv a the room and, I’m sure, was learning the efforts by the U.S. Congress to press for few summers ago. He told me at which songs by osmosis. religious liberties in Soviet Ukraine, espe- metro station I should exit, and as the sub- During a break, they told me about cially the legalization of the Ukrainian way doors opened, there he was. Even themselves and asked about me. Catholic Church (UCC). Wheeling-dealing though I had never seen him before, I Somehow, after I told them how I learned Joseph Terelya’s eloquent testimony, knew this was Vasyl. How could I not? so many songs from my Mama, we got on referred to in the article, at a hearing in Ukraine There he was in a fine raw linen embroi- the topic of “povstanski pisni” – songs of before the U.S. Helsinki Commission in dered shirt and arms full of books. the (UPA) of October 1987 helped to kick off a two- A few years ago, I had picked up a CD World War II. And they asked me to sing a year period of congressional activity Dear Editor: called “Pyty Chy Ne Pyty” (To Drink or few. Gulp. In front of them! With great focused on the plight of Ukrainian believ- Disappointment by Ukraine’s apparent Not to Drink), and was fascinated by the trepidation, I sang “Zirvalasia ers. These congressional efforts were failure to live up to expectations in the years performers and the concept. It was record- Khurtovyna” and “Idy Vid Mene, Ty actively and effectively supported and of independence seems to be the underlying ed at a concert in Kyiv, with songs on both Moya Kokhana.” Being from central encouraged by the Ukrainian American message in Roman Kupchinsky’s commen- the camaraderie and fun of drinking, as Ukraine, the women were not familiar community, in particular the U.S. tary “Is Ukraine a Failed State?” (May 3). It well as its down side. The performers with UPA songs at all, because the UPA Ukrainian Millennium Committee. is tempting to agree with his take of that included the Chumaky Choir, the trio did not have the same presence there as in One such initiative was a resolution, country’s floundering. But in a letter Zoloti Kliuchi, Nina Matvienko, the septet western Ukraine. introduced by Helsinki Commission responding to Mr. Kupchinsky, Prof. As I sang, for those few minutes I was Co-Chairman Sen. Dennis DeConcini and Ridna Pisnia, the trio Troyan and Olha. Alexander Motyl (May 17) offered a more Immediately I was impressed by the quali- back in the late 1950s at the SUM Rep. William Lipinski commemorating relaxed view of Ukraine’s recent itinerary. (Ukrainian American Youth Association) the Millennium of Christianity in Kyivan ty and clarity of the singing. Having said this, I must note that Mr. I had heard Zoloti Kliuchi and Ms. camp in Ellenville, N.Y., singing on a Rus’ and deploring the Soviet govern- Kupchinsky’s commentary has avoided any Matvienko many times before, and am a grassy hill with sisters Larysa and Valia ment’s suppression of religious freedoms notions of relativity. It is apparent that his big fan. But the other performers were just Mykulenko, and Lesia Falatiuk. They in Ukraine, especially the banned growing up “in a romantic bubble” (as he as excellent. And the Chumaky sang so were older than I by a few years, but were Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian put it) of Plast Ukrainian Scouting purely, clearly and perfectly. Ukrainian kind enough to take this 13-year-old under Orthodox Churches. Organization in the U.S.A. was very distant singing is beautiful most of the time any- their wing. I looked up to them, and In 1988, in an unusual step, deputies of from the socioeconomic underbelly in way, but to hear it at this level was really a thought each was so beautiful. From them the Ukrainian SSR Supreme Soviet sent a Ukraine or in Manhattan. Take, for instance, pleasure. I learned many of the UPA and other typically dissembling Soviet statement to his dismay over Ukrainian girls in prostitu- So I tried to find out more about the songs, such as “Voloshky” and “Z the Congress protesting this resolution as tion in Kyiv. Why, that show has been flour- Chumaky and whether they had recorded Dalekykh, Syvykh Apenin” (from Rimini, gross interference in Ukraine’s “internal ishing in the high civilization of Amsterdam, , where the veterans of the Galicia affairs.” Then-Helsinki Commission more albums. I could only hope. I did what Brussels and Bremen forever, as well as in Division were interned). Chairman Rep. Steny Hoyer (currently would have been impossible a few years Las Vegas and New York City. When I finished singing for Ridna the House majority leader) and Sen. ago – I searched the web. Eventually, I did I could also go into the debate on oli- Pisnia and Vasyl they, in turn, sang a song DeConcini responded with a detailed, find listings for the director of the choir, garchs, but suffice it to mention that the that we in the West would not have known substantive rebuttal to the Ukrainian dep- Vasyl [Vassil] Trylis, and managed to con- rise of the oligarchs in Ukraine (and until the Soviet Union fell apart. uties. The resolution passed overwhelm- tact him via e-mail. We corresponded for a Russia) was fueled by tunneled Western “Soloveyu Kanareyu” is a hauntingly sim- ingly despite Soviet protests. Later that while and then arranged to meet in Kyiv. money (as well as by pilfering of local ple song about someone having a conver- year, in an unprecedented move, a large And what a privilege and honor it was. banks) that has largely bypassed ethnic sation with a nightingale/canary (not a Helsinki Commission delegation that Ruggedly and elegantly handsome, in his Ukrainian hands. It is not surprising that mutant, just a lyrical device). ”Nightingale/ included Rep. Hoyer and Rep. 70s, very energetic and youthful, this man the resulting power structures mostly canary, why are you sad? How can I not Christopher Smith, met in Moscow with is devoted to his homeland and its culture, offered only lip service (if that) to be sad – I am locked in a cage. I will take underground Ukrainian Catholic Bishop especially as expressed in song. He has Ukrainian aspirations. the key off the hook and will let the canary Pavlo Vasylyk. written numerous articles on folk songs The wheeling-dealing in Ukraine (and go. And I will go listen to him sing. I live In fall 1989, in addition to several joint and singing (see below). Mr. Trylis is in Russia until Vladimir Putin turned the in a foreign land, without father and fami- letters signed by over 100 members of especially adamant about the sincere, screws) are a mirror image of the Dodge ly. There is no father, no family, no dear Congress to Soviet leader Mikhial spontaneous and natural Ukrainian folk City legacy imported to Ukraine, rather Ukraine.” Gorbachev expressing support for imme- singing – as opposed to the conservatory- than a unique relic of post-Soviet mentali- This song was sung in the Solovetski diate legalization of the UCC, nearly 200 trained academic singing. The latter may ty. This legacy is the same one that pro- Islands labor/prison camp (Solovky) on senators and representatives sent individ- be lovely, but it is not genuine, and so duced the latest sequel in the unbridled, the shores of the White Sea in the far ual letters concerning the Church. Bishop often it lacks the soul of the natural unregulated financial system that led to the Arctic, where so many prominent mem- Basil Losten, working with Nadia and Ukrainian singing, he says. The singers he Wall Street meltdown that is dragging the bers of the Ukrainian intelligentsia were Bob McConnell, Irene Jarosewich and leads, both Chumaky and Ridna Pisnia, entire planet into economic debacle. imprisoned and perished in the 1930s and others, was instrumental in making this sure have that soul. This catastrophe weighs more on earlier. This was a dangerous song to sing, letter campaign happen. To have such a His background is in science and engi- Ukraine than its lack of political culture or because of its allegorical lyrics. large number of individual letters on any neering, along with interests in many other ethnic conflict. Their rehearsal continued. Afterwards, subject to a foreign leader was virtually fields. He has a Ph.D. and a 30-year career unheard of in the annals of congressional Boris Danik in radio measurements, and has translated as we headed into the night to wait for the history. North Caldwell, N.J. into Ukrainian or Russian about 40 books, bus back into the city, we continued sing- In his testimony before the Helsinki including works by J.S. Mill, F. Capra, J. ing at the bus stop and in the bus. It was a Commission, Mr. Terelya spoke of the Campbell, Evelyn Underhill, Mircea moment I treasure. brutal suppression of the Ukrainian We welcome your opinion Eliade. I am very happy to learn that the Catholic Church, stating that “our Church From the subway we traveled by bus Chumaky are back after a hiatus. And Mr. continues to live and our people hope that The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters directly to a rehearsal of Ridna Pisnia. We Trylis also has a new singing group, one someday we will have our day in the to the editor and commentaries on a vari- sat in the meeting hall of a community made up of students. He is also a docent at sun.” A mere two years later – 20 years ety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian the M. Boichuk Institute of Decorative American and Ukrainian Canadian com- center in Puscha Vodytsia (on the side of ago this year – in September 1989, the highway where the ordinary folks live, and Folk Art, where he teaches Ukrainian munities. Opinions expressed by colum- studies to children. “They like it,” he 150,000 Ukrainian Catholics staged pro- not the other, oligarchs’ side, it was nists, commentators and letter-writers are writes. Regrettably, there are no new CDs tests in Lviv to demand the legalization explained with a meaningful smile), and I their own and do not necessarily reflect for any of his groups, because this is of their Church, 43 years after it was liq- the opinions of either The Weekly edito- listened. The members of the septet are: expensive, and they have no funding. If uidated by . A few short rial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian Hanna Benko, Valentyna Orel, Maria there is a demand for their music, hopeful- months later Soviet authorities relented. National Association. Mischenko, Halyna Onyschenko, ly someone will support their recordings. There were many actors involved in Letters should be typed and signed (anon- Kateryna Levenko, Oksana Hordiyets, and One of the members of Ridna Pisnia, Ms. the effort to legalize the UCC, including ymous letters are not published). Letters are Zinaida Salatova-Mykhailiuk. Ms. accepted also via e-mail at staff@ukrweek- Mykhailiuk, said her late husband, Valentyn, the Reagan administration, Pope John Mishchenko is from Belarus, and the ly.com. The daytime phone number and composed and published Bahriane Paul II, and, first and foremost, the coura- group includes her country’s lyrical songs address of the letter-writer must be given Namysto: Pisni, Romansy. (Kyiv: geous and long-suffering Ukrainian in its repertoire. for verification purposes. Please note that a Muzychna Ukraina, 1999. 109 pp.) This Catholic clergy and laity in Ukraine, The women have remarkable voices, daytime phone number is essential in order collection includes songs about Chornobyl. among them Mr. Terelya. But there is no for editors to contact letter-writers regarding from a brilliant clear soprano to an alto Ms. Mykhailiuk said that the songs are doubt that the efforts of the U.S. clarifications or questions. that could have been a basso. They sang available to anyone who wishes to perform Congress, with the strong support of com- Please note: THE LENGTH OF LETTERS such a variety of songs, from sad women’s mitted Ukrainian American community CANNOT EXCEED 500 WORDS. laments to lyrical romances that were just (Continued on page 22) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 FOR THE RECORD: 130th anniversary of ’s birth Following is the text of a statement on the indisputably linked with Petliura. He has cles, many addressing the problems of Directory of the Ukrainian National anniversary of Symon Petliura’s birth that come to symbolize a renewed spirit of Ukrainian self-awareness and cultural Republic. was issued by the Ukrainian Congress hope and inspiration for a country free development. His prolific writing in both Following the loss of Ukraine’s short- Committee of America on May 20. from domination and oppression. the Ukrainian and Russian languages lived independence, Petliura settled in Born on May 10, 1879, in Poltava, helped shape the mindset of the Ukrainian 1924 in Paris, where he continued to During the month of May the Ukrainian Ukraine, of Kozak extraction, Symon population. write, founding the weekly Tryzub and world community commemorates the Petliura rose to become the head of the As a politician and statesman, Petliura directing the affairs of the Ukrainian gov- 130th anniversary of Symon Petliura’s Ukrainian State during its short-lived was elected to various positions in the newly ernment-in exile. His ultimate demise birth. As a publicist, writer, journalist, independence. As a publicist, writer and formed Ukrainian Republic. From being was on May 25, 1926, at the hands of a Ukrainian politician and statesman, Symon journalist, Petliura’s articles had a signifi- elected as the supreme commander of the GPU agent. He is buried in Montparnasse Petliura was a leader of Ukraine’s fight for cant impact on shaping Ukraine’s national army of the Ukrainian National Republic, Cemetery in Paris. His life has personi- independence following the Russian awareness in the early 20th century. despite of having no formal military train- fied and given impetus to others to con- Revolution of 1917. The entire period of Writing under an estimated 120 non-de- ing, to serving as the leading figure in the tinue Ukraine’s long-fought struggle for Ukrainian struggle for independence is plumes, Petliura penned over 15,000 arti- Directorate, to finally, president of the independence.

Mr. Myroshnichenko, the supervisory project to find available land. In all, the oligarchs have withheld $30 Long-promised... council chairman of the Children’s Hospital Meanwhile, Mr. Hrabovskyi speculated million in promised funds, Tyzhden (Continued from page 1) of the Future Charity Fund, said the that the Children’s Hospital project could reported. advising Ukrainians not to contribute. Feofania territory consisted of ancient trees be “traditional Soviet bungling, banal mon- Even the Ukrainian government has The three-year delay in simply getting which couldn’t be cut, leading organizers ey-laundering or a pre-election PR hit” ducked support. While the national budget the land for the hospital drew suspicions of to decide in the summer of 2008 to look for aimed at raising support for the Our earmarked 42 million hrv ($8.4 million at corruption and accusations of a public rela- another location. Ukraine bloc, particularly since it was the time) for the hospital, the 2009 budget tions stunt from the media and critics of the To secure the site at Holosiyivskyi Park launched just prior to the 2006 parliamen- allocated nothing. president and first lady. the fund collected 317 necessary signatures tary election. Making matters worse, the fund was Only in February of this year did the within the Kyiv bureaucracy, he said. The bigger scandal involves fund-rais- required by law to keep all the funds it hospital’s organizers find land for the proj- “Of course, this effort took an excep- ing. Although Mr. Myroshnichenko report- raised in hryvn, which have fallen more ect, abandoning their original idea of build- tional amount of time, but not because ed in February 2007 that 253 million hrv than 60 percent in value against the U.S. ing it at the elite Feofania medical complex someone held up the process (although were raised ($50.6 million U.S. at the dollar since the fund-raising effort began. on Kyiv’s outskirts and instead gaining the that did happen), but simply because there time), he acknowledged in February this “From one angle, the hrv is losing Kyiv City Council’s approval to build on haven’t been any analogues,” Mr. year that only 100 million hrv ($13 mil- value,” Mr. Myroshnichenko figured. “But 27.5 acres in the city’s Holosiyivskyi Park, Myroshnichenko said in a response to lion) are available now. from another angle, the value of construc- a national park. critics, published on March 3 in Already 15 million hrv ($2 million) have tion labor and materials is declining even “Maybe [I’m] wrong, but the issue of Ukrayinska . been spent on planning work, he reported. more.” obtaining land for construction could That the first lady is leading the project The gap in funds is a result of Ukrainian Ms. Yushchenko has not publicly have been resolved long ago in March “doesn’t automatically solve all problems, oligarchs developing doubts about the proj- responded to the criticisms and accusa- 2006, obtaining all the permits and clari- since no one ever solved them in Ukraine ect. tions, leaving Mr. Myroshnichenko to do fying all the hospital’s parameters when in practice on such a scale,” he wrote. “In Billionaire Serhii Taruta, a member of all the explaining. the capsule was ceremoniously placed at addition, Kateryna Yushchenko never the hospital’s supervisory council, has He has acknowledged it was a mistake the center site, and in December that year believed in applying any administrative withheld $15 million because he’s dissatis- to set unrealistic deadlines as well as raise when it was presented to the nation,” pressure.” fied with the project’s development and funds through a telethon, which succeeded Serhii Hrabovskyi, a prominent journal- Oleh Rybachuk, the former chair of the transparency. in raising $28 million through text-message ist, wrote in February. Presidential Secretariat said he can’t “I have many numerous complaints on donations, but also resulted in tax compli- In explaining the delay in construction, believe it took two years for a presidential many aspects,” he told Ukrayinska Pravda cations. in February. “We earmarked $15 million “It seems like a sincere effort by the for the hospital, but we didn’t transfer first lady to engage in a humanitarian anything because we didn’t fully receive project,” said Ivan Lozowy, a Kyiv law- all the necessary specifications for equip- yer and political observer. “I wouldn’t be ment.” surprised if it got mired in Ukraine’s deep Meanwhile, billionaire Victor Pinchuk corruption.” reduced his donation from $10 million to Following the controversy, the board $28,000, reported Tyzhden, a weekly of trustees of the Children’s Hospital of magazine. He decided, instead, to give the Future met on April 22 and agreed to the money to a charity called “Warm a prepare the construction site, inform the Child with Love” that is led by Vitalina public about the hospital’s progress more Yushchenko, a daughter of President actively and expand its sources of dona- Viktor Yushchenko. tions. No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 9 Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation’s orphan support tops $1 million by Matthew Matuszak ported a program of the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Catholic Church to coor- LVIV – Donations of the Ukrainian dinate the Church’s various ministries for Catholic Education Foundation ear- orphans. marked to help orphans and abandoned The UCEF has also supported pro- children in Ukraine recently topped the grams for street children run by the $1 million mark. Since 2005, an anony- Ukrainian Catholic organization Caritas mous Roman Catholic donor of non- Ukraine in places such as Kyiv and Ukrainian descent has been giving annual Khmelnytskyi. Recently the UCEF has donations for this specific purpose. The begun supporting a new effort in donations, delivered via the UCEF’s Zaporizhia run by enthusiastic graduates “Ginger Fund,” so named after the donor, of Holy Spirit Seminary and the have helped some 50 organizations in Ukrainian Catholic University. Ukraine, mostly Ukrainian and Roman “Every time you visit, your heart can’t Catholic, but also some Orthodox. stop aching,” said Nazar Krayivskyi, a Major beneficiaries of the UCEF’s 2004 graduate of Holy Spirit Seminary orphan fund have been institutions such and UCU who has made mission trips to as an orphanage in Petryky, Ternopil Zaporizhia. “You encounter homeless Oblast, run by Caritas Ukraine and nuns children almost everywhere here.” This of the Sisters Servants of Mary situation brought the native of Khodoriv, Immaculate, and a new institution also Lviv Oblast, back east to try to help. run by the SSMI in Zolochiv, Lviv There are an estimated 200,000 home- Oblast. less children in Ukraine, and Mr. The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation since 2005 has given more than “Caritas has had to suspend some pro- Krayivskyj said that Zaporizhia has the $1 million to support orphans and abandoned children in Ukraine. The girls at grams because of the economic situation. dubious honor of being the country’s an orphanage in the Lviv region run by the Miles Jesu sisters (seen in photo), for We’ve had to let staff go. But we can’t leader in this plight. With help from the example, have received major support every year since 2006. close the orphanage in Petryky,” said UCEF’s Ginger Fund, he has opened the Natalia Mysula, assistant director of Rays of Light center, to work to improve foster in them the sense of their own dig- Semenyuk, a 2008 graduate of Holy Spirit Caritas-Ternopil, which has benefited the lot of homeless children. Rays of nity and the value of their lives.” Seminary and UCU who helped organize from the UCEF’s continuous support Light also tries to help children in state- Roman Catholic projects also receive this year’s Christmas dinner. since 2006. run orphanages receive a better education support from the UCEF, in places like The Ukrainian Catholic University is According to Sister Lubov through informal tutoring conducted by Berdiansk, Fastiv (Kyiv region), Stryi, the administrator of the Ginger Fund in Starzhynska, past provincial superior in Mr. Krayivskyj’s volunteers, mostly local and Lviv. And Orthodox projects have Ukraine for the Ukrainian Catholic Lviv of the SSMI, the considerable gift college students and the faithful of been supported in the Sumy, Education Foundation. from the UCEF allowed the sisters to Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv regions. *** “finish repair work on the house in Disabled children, abandoned by their Some projects that the UCEF supports Zolochiv for orphan children who in these families in state-run institutions, have are full-time, ongoing programs such as Further information about UCU (in days need guardianship and Christian also benefited from the UCEF’s orphan the aforementioned orphanages and out- English and Ukrainian) is available on the education, family affection and love.” fund. Ukrainian Youth for Christ in Novyi reach efforts to street children. Other university’s website at www.ucu.edu.ua. Though the SSMI had hoped state funds Rozdil, Lviv Oblast, has started a week- UCEF-supported projects are more Readers may also contact the Ukrainian would be enough to allow them to operate day workshop for the disabled in their recently established, for example, support Catholic Education Foundation, which is what is called a “family-type” orphanage area. for a program started by a Ukrainian the largest supporter of UCU’s annual in Zolochiv, the nuns have recently asked Before the workshop opened, recount- Catholic parish in a village in the operating budget. for and received help from the UCEF to ed Vasyl Vasylyshyn, local head of Vinnytsia region that gives the children of The UCEF in the U.S. may be contact- offset operating costs, as well. Ukrainian Youth for Christ, “these young alcoholic parents a place to go after ed in writing at 2247 W. Chicago Ave., According to state statistics, there are people with disabilities spent all day in school, or seasonal, such as a Christmas Chicago, IL 60622; by phoning more than 60,000 disadvantaged children government institutions with little activi- project for orphans in Symferopol, 773-235-8462; e-mailing [email protected]; in some 500 state-run institutions ty, or on the street. Now they feel that Crimea, in which the local Ukrainian or browsing its website, www.ucef.org. throughout Ukraine, not counting the they belong to a community. They can Women’s League prepared their own reci- The UCEF in Canada may be contacted smaller homes run by the Church that the creatively realize themselves through pes for the Christmas Eve dinner. “There in writing at 263 Bering Ave., Toronto, UCEF supports. work, interaction with one another, are only three ladies there, but those three ON M8Z 3A5; by phoning 416-239-2495; The UCEF’s orphan fund has also sup- friendship and prayer. And in this way we are a whole army,” commented Taras or emailing [email protected].

Leadership program at UCU galvanizes laity in Ukraine by Matthew Matuszak ties.” The Lay Leadership Center was founded LVIV – Co-organizing a meeting of at the Ukrainian Catholic University in 2003 youth with the Ukrainian Catholic archbish- “to activate the work of laity in the church op of Lviv at St. George Cathedral on April according to the teachings of the Second 12, Palm Sunday according to the Julian Vatican Council,” explained Olha calendar, was only the most recent of many Zarichynska, the center’s founder and direc- activities of the Lay Leadership Center of tor. the Ukrainian Catholic University. Not sur- “Our center has not set as its goal to prisingly, the meeting was geared to the cen- change the world,” admitted Mrs. ter’s target audience the laity, but clergy and religious have also benefited from many of Zarichynska. “But we want to change peo- the center’s training programs. ple, in order to improve the world together. “The meeting, coinciding with the cele- … If we learn how to work together, to be bration of World Youth Day in Rome, gath- kinder, more understanding, more tolerant, ered the most active youth from throughout then we won’t be afraid to take the initiative, the Archeparchy of Lviv,” explained Olenka to be involved and active. And we become Karnaukh, the center’s assistant director. the seed that bears fruit a hundredfold.” “There were some 100 people, youth and The center has now trained some 150 clergy, from various districts. It was a meet- youths age 18-30 ing of youth with Lviv Archbishop Ihor through its Summer Leadership School. Vozniak. The assignment of the Lay This, in turn, led to a special program focus- Leadership Center was to coordinate the ing on leadership training for orphans, which meeting and moderate the discussion.” will be expanded in 2009 thanks to funding Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop of Lviv Ihor Vozniak appends a cross to one of “We tried to prepare the youth not to from the Ukrainian Catholic Education the dozens of youth who came to St. George Cathedral for a meeting co-orga- focus only on limited local concerns. For Foundation. nized by the Lay Leadership Center of the Ukrainian Catholic University. example, ‘we don’t have a priest,’ or ‘we “Orphans suffer from a low level of edu- need premises.’ We tried, really, to train cation,” noted Ms. Karnaukh. “They aren’t focus on charitable aid. To help young peo- explained Ms. Karnaukh. them how to act at a meeting with a bishop. ready for life in the real world. They don’t ple develop their habits of communication, Using an innovative approach, the center And then the Lviv Archeparchy Commission know the basics of religion and faith. They working in a team, overcoming conflict situ- starts with a meeting with administrators of on Youth Matters was responsible for orga- also don’t have habits of effective leader- ations, we offer the ‘Choose your future!’ the orphanages, talking about how staff can nizing a prayer service,” added Ms. ship.” program. So, together with people of almost help the children profit from the training Karnaukh. “At the end, the archbishop “It’s practically impossible to overcome their own age from various Christian organi- they will receive. Then it works with young appended a small cross to each participant, these problems acting independently. But zations, children living in institutions can blessing them for further apostolic activi- nearly all programs for orphans exclusively discover their potential and develop it,” (Continued on page 22) 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 Community College of Rhode Island remembers the Holodomor by Vsevolod Petriv by commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor and to bring attention to the WARWICK, R.I. – In the past six months gallery. Ms. Namaka, who holds her B.A. the Community College of Rhode Island in art history and dance from Rhode Island (CCRI) has hosted two events in commemo- College and is completing her master’s ration of the 75th anniversary of the degree in museum studies at Seton Hall Holodomor, one at the beginning of April of University, solicited local artists, CCRI fac- this year and the other last November. ulty, students and local Ukrainian churches On Tuesday, April 7, David Eliet, local and organizations for contributions to the playwright and director, presented two 20 event. minute films, “Holodomor” and The exhibit was open to the public from “Congregation Vienna.” Over 60 students November 10 through December 5, 2008, attended the screening. Many of the attend- and featured a diverse art works in various ees had never heard of the Holodomor. media. A set of 34 factual posters that told The films complemented each other. the story of the Holodomor hung on one “Holodomor” is about the man-made wall inside the gallery. Famine of 1932-1933 when 7 million to 10 The original poster set was produced by million were starved to death as Stalin and Ukrainian artists in Kyiv, sponsored by the the Communist Party sought to break the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and back of Ukrainian nationalism. The film was the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable produced at the Kirovohrad Social- Fund. These posters have been exhibited Vsevolod Petriv Pedagogical Institute in Ukraine and fea- internationally at various venues and locally A visitor to the Knight Campus Art Gallery views an exhibition of Famine-related tures actors from The Little Globe Theatre at the Massachusetts State House. art during “Holodomor: Remembering the Ukrainian Genocide 1932-1933,” a in Kirovohrad. The film has been perma- The posters where provided for this show multimedia exhibition of art, film and history. nently archived in the Kirovohrad City by the Greater Boston Committee to archives and by the Rhode Island Film Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Collaborative. Holodomor, which is sponsored by the “Congregation Vienna” is a visual poem Boston Branch of The Ukrainian Congress that tells the story of Jewish Vienna prior to Committee of America. The primary contact the Holocaust by traveling through the ruins person from the committee who worked of the Old Jewish Cemetery. The stones bear with Ms. Namaka was Oksana Iwaszczenko, silent witness to a once-thriving and vibrant who responded to the curator’s solicitation community. This film was made possible in for the exhibit. In addition, Mr. Eliet’s film part by a grant from The Rhode Island State “Holodomor” played continuously within Council on the Arts. the gallery and was featured at the show’s Mr. Eliet is the founder of The Perishable opening. Theatre in Providence, R.I. and was one of The opening was a three-part event held the founders of the Trinity Rep Conservatory, on Monday, November 10, 2008, and was now the Brown/Trinity Consortium. He has attended by more than 115 people. The first won several awards for his work, including two portions took place in one of CCRI’s a Kennedy Center New Visions/New Voices auditoriums and featured a presentation by Award, an Edward F. Albee Playwriting CCRI Prof. Cheryl Madden, who delivered Fellowship, an Alden B. Dow Creativity a clear and concise history of the Holodomor Fellowship and a Rhode Island State based on her extensive research. This was Council on the Arts Fellowship. He was a followed by a screening of “Holodomor” Fulbright scholar in 2005-2007 in with comments and background about the Kirovohrad, where he taught, directed and films production. The third portion was a filmed. His plays have been published and reception at the gallery hosted by Ms. The “Holodomor: Remembering the Ukrainian Genocide 1932-1933” exhibition produced both in this country and abroad. Namaka. postcard features some of the art work on display at the Knight Campus Art Gallery. This was the second time the film Prof. Cheryl Madden, who teaches the Rhode Island with no Ukrainian roots. She Both events where covered by school and “Holodomor” was screened on campus. history of Western civilization at CCRI, was came upon the story of the Holodomor when local newspapers. Asked about the exhibi- The first screening was part of a group show recently awarded the Order of Princess Olha she went to Ukraine in 1999, under a tion, Ms. Namaka stated, “I wanted to open at CCRI’s Knight Campus Art Gallery that by President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine Metcalf grant from the Rhode Island up a venue for the local community to com- opened on November 10, 2008. The show for her annotated bibliography of English- Foundation, to do research for a novel she memorate the 75th anniversary of this his- combined art, film and history and was titled language sources on the Holodomor. was writing. When she returned home she torical event. I knew Massachusetts and “Holodomor: Remembering the Ukrainian Ukraine’s first lady, Kateryna Yushchenko, began to research the Famine of 1932 and Connecticut had venues, but the Knight Genocide 1932-1933.” personally presented the award to Prof. 1933. Campus Art Gallery exhibition is the only The exhibit was the creation of Erika Madden last February at a ceremony in After a second trip to Ukraine in 2002, one I know of in Rhode Island.” Namaka, gallery director and curator, who Washington. Prof. Madden published the annotated bibli- Ivanna Hanushevsky, a North Providence sought to both honor her Ukrainian heritage Prof. Madden is a lifetime resident of ography of materials titled “The Ukrainian resident of Ukrainian descent, visited the Famine of 1932-1933: Holodomor.” This show. “I am so impressed that the communi- bibliography can be found online at http:// ty college would go through so much trou- Kent State University hosts shevchenko.org/famine/. Prof. Madden has ble and offer this to the public. I am very been quite active working to raise awareness much interested in history, and I thought this about the Holodomor both by participating was so well done. I think it is wonderful that photo exhibit on Holodomor in Holodomor-related commemorations and so many came. They must have learned an PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Kent State Dr. Michael Kalinski, professor of by writing in various academic journals. awful lot,” she observed. University held the photograph exhibit exercise physiology at Kent State, com- “Holodomor, The History of Genocide by mented that Ukraine’s Great Famine is Famine,” from April 24 though May 8. As one of the greatest tragedies in human his- part of the exhibit, on May 1 Prof. Roman tory that has yet to be fully known to the Serbyn presented “Photographic Evidence world. Dr. Kalinski helped to bring the of the Ukrainian Genocidal Famine, exhibit to the university. 1932-1933.” “The Ukrainian genocide is not well The exhibit and presentation were in known because it was covered up by conjunction with the university’s 10th the Soviets until 1991 when Ukraine annual Symposium on Democracy, became independent,” Dr. Kalinski founded in 2000 to honor the memories said. “Since then, many archives have of the four students killed during a been opened and the truth about what Vietnam War protest on campus on May happened came out.” 4, 1970. “My own grandfather, a Ukrainian A series of 100 posters was produced priest, died in 1932 in the midst of fam- by the League of Ukrainian Canadians in ine,” Dr. Kalinski revealed. He said his cooperation with the Museum of Soviet grandmother dared not tell him of his Occupation of the Kyiv Memorial Society grandfather’s death for fear of being in Ukraine. The poster series is a traveling imprisoned herself for 25 years. exhibit that is making its way to various Dr. Kalinski is a recent Fulbright Greater Boston Holodomor Committee members (from left) Maria Sax, Oksana universities, churches and venues across Scholar who immigrated to the United Iwaszczenko, Patricia Libby, Paul Rabchenuk (chairman) with Prof. Cheryl the United States and to various points States from Ukraine in 1991 and has been Madden, Gallery director Erika Namaka and film producer David Eliet at the open- worldwide. on staff at Kent State since 1998. ing of the exhibit “Holodomor: Remembering the Ukrainian Genocide 1932-1933” at the Knight Campus Art Gallery at the Community College of Rhode Island. No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 11 FILM REVIEW: “The English Surgeon” and Ukraine by Irene Zabytko relationship. flaws beneath good intentions. Dr. Marsh pains and needs. Still, Dr. Marsh has to always adapt to is human after all, and not always the “The English Surgeon” has won sever- Fifteen years ago, English neurosur- Ukraine’s limited resources. One of the savior he is expected to be. al major film awards, including best inter- geon Henry Marsh was invited to deliver most fascinating scenes is of the two men Geoffrey Smith, the film’s director, has national documentary from the presti- a medical procedures lecture in Kyiv, scouring a local bazaar where Dr. Kalinets created a magnificent and poignant film gious SilverDocs Film Festival (Silver where he was appalled by the barbaric buys a chainsaw for a delicate brain sur- that is sensitive and compelling. The out- Springs, Md.), and an audience award conditions of the hospital he visited, gery operation they will be performing door shots of Kyiv in the cruelest winter from the Docudays Film Festival in Kyiv. rebuffed by officious doctors who turned together. The patient, Marian Dolishny, months, juxtaposed with the wooden vil- Currently, it is making the film festival down his offers to help, and overwhelmed is a young unassuming man from a poor lage church where Marian worships circuit throughout the world, but because by the hordes of, as he put it, “impossible village outside of Lviv with a brain tumor before taking off for Kyiv, are all haunt- of its acclaim will most likely be released cases” of desperate patients seeking his who bravely and perhaps naively agrees ingly stunning. More remarkable are the as a DVD soon. expertise. Despite it all, Dr. Marsh to the condition that he must be awake close-ups of the Ukrainians who await At any rate, this is one of those amaz- returned year after year and grew “to love throughout the entire operation. The their turn to consult with Dr. Marsh – ing and provocative films that will reso- this country as much as my own.” chainsaw slashing through his head while stoic, polite and respectful despite their nate with all. His last journey to Kyiv is chronicled conscious is a testament to his trust in the in the marvelous award-winning BBC physicians’ skills. documentary, “The English Surgeon,” Marian’s surgical ordeal is grueling to and we understand why he is so drawn to witness, but he is one of the lucky ones “The English Surgeon” wins Ukraine. Much of it has to do with his whose life was saved in time, unlike the Ukrainian friend and colleague, Dr. Igor countless others who tend to wait too long (Ihor) Kalinets, a compassionate and before blindness and death set in. Even so, yet another documentary award motivated man who was the lone neuro- Dr. Marsh always tries to give them hope surgeon to encourage Dr. Marsh to return as in the case of a young beautiful woman to Kyiv and help the numerous patients in her 20s whose prognosis is fatal. Both waiting for days in a cramped hospital Drs. Marsh and Kalinets refuse to directly corridor for a diagnosis. From Dr. Marsh, tell the patient her fate, and the pain on Dr. Kalinets learned Western surgical their faces is more wrenching than the techniques and the two men developed a graphic scenes in the operating room. close friendship and respect that is evi- Perhaps the most difficult portion of dent beyond their original mentor-ally the film is Dr. Marsh’s obsessive need to seek out the family of a girl named Katia Irene Zabytko is a fiction writer and whose operation resulted in her tragic filmmaker of the Chornobyl documenta- death. Was the visit worth it? Did it cause ries “Epiphany at Chornobyl” and the more grief for the family? Absolution for forthcoming “Life in the Dead Zone” Dr. Marsh? It’s hard to fathom from the (www.lifeinthedeadzone.com) film, but it does illustrate the complex

CONCERT NOTES: Two Solomias at the Lyceum in Alexandria, Va. by Chrystyna Kinal by , ended the concert on a heartwarming and poignant note. ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Washington The two Solomias are co-chairs of the area is truly international, offering many Washingon Ukrainian Choir. The choir opportunities for young Ukrainians to has performed at the Embassy of Ukraine hone their musical skills. Violinist in the Embassy’s open house in May and Solomia Gorokhivska and soprano sings regularly at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Solomia Dutkevych, recent recipients of Orthodox Church in Silver Spring, Md. graduate degrees from Kyiv institutions Ms. Dutkevych also has been singing of higher learning, performed at the solos at the Ukrainian Catholic National Lyceum in Alexandria, Va., on March 29. Shrine in Washington since her recent The concert, which featured violin and arrival. The choir is now enrolling young soprano solos, together with vocal duets singers. of Ukrainian folk songs, was organized The warmth of the local Washington by The Washington Group (TWG) public and the TWG Cultural Fund have Cultural Fund. The finale, the song “Taka provided fertile ground for the flowering Yiyi Dolia” (“Such is her fate”), to words of young musical talent from Ukraine.

Christina Kotlar Dr. Henry Marsh and director Geoffrey Smith at the IFC Center in New York City before the special presentation screening of “The English Surgeon”

by Christina Kotlar Marsh attended the Cinema Eye Honors for outstanding nonfiction filmmaking in NEW YORK – Starting with its world New York City on March 29. Their film premiere at Hot Docs International was nominated in two categories: Documentary Film Festival in Toronto, Outstanding International Feature and “The English Surgeon” won the award Outstanding Musical Composition. for Best International Feature. The film Their mission continues with personal garnered another Best International appearances at film screenings currently Documentary Award at SilverDocs, high- at select theaters in the U.S. (check the ly regarded as the pre-eminent documen- website www.theenglishsurgeon.com) for tary film festival in the United States, dates as a way of raising money for a which is held in Silver Spring, Md. (A neurosurgical clinic in Ukraine. special presentation screening was Readers can listen in on the conversation arranged for the 2008 Kino-Q Ukrainian with Mr. Smith and Dr. Marsh on a “Film Film Festival at Soyuzivka by this writer, Festival reViews” (www.filmfestivalre- Festival Director Christina Kotlar, before views) podcast, Episode 60, “An English the film’s U.S. premiere at SilverDocs.) Surgeon Is Like A Kozak.” As well, they After being accepted as an official can read more on the film review blog at selection at another 60 or more film festi- eyeonindiefilms.blogspot.com. vals – winning awards and the hearts of “The English Surgeon” will be screened Solomia Gorokhivska and Solomia Dutkevych join pianist Teddy Karnizan in a audiences all over the world – filmmaker at Cinema Village in New York City begin- curtain call at the Lyceum in Alexandria, Va, on March 29. Geoffrey Smith and brain surgeon Henry ning on July 24. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 13 A standing ovation for Holodomor documentary “Okradena Zemlya” by Bohdana Hawryluk years of experience in filmmaking. With over 40 hours of material, the editing of MONTREAL – Over 300 people attend- material to fit a 75-minute documentary ed the Montreal Premiere of the Ukrainian- length required difficult choices. language film “Okradena Zemlya,” a newly Mr. Luhovy was called to speak follow- released documentary on the 1932-1933 ing the film. He thanked many of those who Famine-Genocide in Soviet Ukraine. helped in making the documentary and Held on May 20 at the Ukrainian Youth asked those present to stand-up, including Center, the premiere was opened by Orest Andrij Mazepa, graphic design; camera- Humennyj on behalf of the Ukrainian Youth woman Adriana Luhovy; cameraman Istan Association, the Shevchenko Scientific Rozumnyj, who just arrived from Kyiv; Society, the Ukrainian Professional and Luba Demko, transcriptions; Oksana Business Association and the Ukrainian Rozumna, as co-writer; Artem Luhovy and Canadian Congress (UCC). Mr. Humennyj Bohdan Paska, technical support; Dr. introduced introducing the film’s producer Hennadij Boriak of Kyiv, represented by his and director, Yurij Luhovy, and noted that sister Lilli Boriak; assistance Serhij the documentary project was sparked when Savchenko and Pavlo Showhaniuk of the filmmaker noticed no new Canadian “Zustrich,” who provided assistance; Marika documentary on the Famine-Genocide was Putko, president of the UCC; and Simon being planned by the community in Canada Kouklevsky of “Ukrainian Time Radio.” in marking the 75th anniversary of the He particularly thanked the late Prof. Holodomor. Yarema Kelebay and Evhen Czolij for stand- Mr. Luhovy gave a background of how ing by the project from its pre-production the film was made under difficult conditions stage in February 2008, as well as Canadian and how intensely the entire film crew consultant Prof. Jaroslav Rozumnyj. Mr. worked during the shoot in eastern Ukraine. Luhovy acknowledged the work of narrator He thanked the many Ukrainian organiza- Bohdan Beniuk and composer Roman tions that contributed to the making of the Luhovy. documentary. He then asked the survivors and children He added that it was exactly one year to of Famine survivors to stand up. Among the the day that he first flew to the former fam- survivors were Mychailo Hayduk, Anna ine-stricken areas of Ukraine to begin work Lencko, Tetiana Sydorenko, Tetiana on “Okradena Zemlya.” The Montreal com- Oboroniw and Vira Wusata. munity’s start-up funds permitted the film Closing remarks were given by Mr. project to begin in May, with pre-production Czolij, president of the Ukrainian World done earlier, in February 2008. Congress, who emphasized the importance From the moment “Okradena Zemlya” of this new documentary, made at a time began, silence permeated the room. The when efforts are still continuing to re-write story of the Famine-Genocide unfolded, and distort historical truth. He congratulated weaving through the various political events Mr. Luhovy for his determination to do the based on recently uncovered documents on documentary and called for continued sup- Adriana Luhovy the subject and culminating with the port to help cover production expenses and Filmmaker Yurij Luhovy (right) with scout-locator Volodymyr Bandura at the Holodomor in its inescapable tragic result, to help make an English-language documen- cross marking Famine-Genocide victims in Lubiazhe, . including the aftermath. Tension grew as the tary as quickly as possible. film progressed, uncovering a deliberate A reception followed, during which it plan to curtail any effort of Ukrainians to was further evident how touched people secure independence for their country from were after seeing “Okradena Zemlya.” Stalin’s grip. Many commented on the amazing archival As the credits were rolling over the film film footage, photos and documents used. score’s music, silence continued. Slowly the Prof. Roman Serbyn stated, “It is the best clapping started, growing into a prolonged documentary recently made on the standing ovation. The faces in the audience Holodomor,” and Valentina Hayduk, daugh- showed the emotional effect the film’s story ter of Famine survivor, mentioned how the had on them and an appreciation for the film increased her historical understanding film. Among the audience were survivors of of the tragedy, despite growing up with first- the Holodomor. hand accounts about details of the unimagi- Mr. Hummenyj then congratulated Mr. nable. Luhovy on the moving and powerful docu- To arrange for a film showing “Okradena mentary, one that he emphasized is much- Zemlya” or to financially support the mak- needed for schools and the general public to ing of the English-language version, readers understand the Famine as a genocide. He may call 514-481-5871, e-mail mmlinc@ called it a “chef d’oeuvre,” achieved by the hotmail.com or write to Mr. Luhovy at 2330 filmmaker’s sensitivity to and ability to Ave. Beaconsfield, Montreal, Quebec H4A grasp the subject, combined with his 35 2G8. A Toronto premiere of “Okradena Bohdana Hawryluk is the cultural Zemlya” will be held on Sunday, June 14, at chairperson of the Montreal beanch of 3:30 p.m. at Ukrainian Cultural Center, 85 the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Christie St. Film director Yurij Luhovy prepares Famine survivors in the Kharkiv Oblast for an interview.

Adriana Luhovy Producer/director Yurij Luhovy (left) with Evhen Czolij, president of the Organizers of Montreal Premiere (from left): Marika Putko, president of the Ukrainian World Congress, who delivered closing remarks at the Montreal pre- UCC Montreal; filmmaker Yurij Luhovy; Bohdanna Hawryluk, UCC cultural miere of Mr. Luhovy’s new documentary “Okradena Zemlya.” chairperson; and Marika Farmus, UCC executive member. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22

20. He was commenting on the alliance’s NEWSBRIEFS reaction to a recent statement made by for- CLACLASSSSIFIEDIFIEDSS (Continued from page 2) mer German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder Ukrainian Service reported on May 26. who said that NATO should end all talks on TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 Vitalii Yarema, chief of the Internal Affairs membership prospects for both countries. OR E-MAIL [email protected] Ministry’s General Department, told jour- “There’s no government among member- nalists that the current regulation giving for- states of the North Atlantic alliance sharing eigners 90 days to register at their local this point of view. NATO’s position on the SERVICES police station is too lenient. He says the term membership of Georgia and Ukraine, adopt- should be shortened to three days, as it used ed during the alliance’s summit in Bucharest, to be before Ukrainian President Viktor remains unchanged,” Mr. Appathurai said. Yushchenko issued a decree a few years ago (Ukrinform) increasing the time allowed to 90 days. Help for modernization of GTS (RFE/RL) KYIV – Austrian, American, Polish and History not for score-settling Swiss companies are interested in modern- KYIV – Russian historian Leonid izing the Ukrainian gas transit system Mlechin called on Russian authorities not to (GTS), the Ukrainian president’s commis- turn history into a means of score-settling sioner for international energy security, and policy with Ukraine, Ukrinform’s corre- Bohdan Sokolovskyi, said at a press confer- spondent in Russia reported on May 19. ence on May 20. He said that, at present, the Commenting on the air at “Echo of drafting of the rules outlining the mecha- Moscow” radio on the dissatisfaction of nism for the participation of interested com- Russia with regard to Ukraine’s intention to panies in tenders is a top priority for the commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Ukrainian government. “Ukraine’s major Battle of Poltava, Mr. Mlechin said it should task is to draft and announce as soon as pos- be accepted that historical figures in differ- sible rules for the participation in tenders to GEORGE B. KORDUBA ent societies and different states are differ- implement certain projects [on the modern- Counsellor at Law ently appreciated. “We do not have conflict ization of Ukraine’s gas transit system]. As with Sweden because of the Battle of far as we know, the government is working Emphasis on Real Estate, Wills, Trusts and Elder Law Ward Witty Drive, P.O. Box 249 Poltava. If anybody marks the Battle of [in this direction],” Mr. Sokolovskyi said. MONTVILLE, NJ 07045 Poltava, our MFA [Ministry of Foreign Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko Hours by Appointment Tel.: (973) 335-4555 Affairs] does not make any statements. And said earlier that Russia would not join the with Finland the MFA has no conflicts for a Ukraine-European Union declaration on long time, and they have a different view on modernizing the Ukrainian GTS. “This is a FOR RENT ‘the winter battle’ of 1940,” the historian bilateral document, and we don’t see any said. Against this background, the situation point in joining it,” he said. Mr. Shmatko with Ukraine seems to be the exact opposite. also said that Russia could participate in the In addition to differences regarding the role modernization of Ukraine’s gas transit sys- LvivRentals.com of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, there are concerns tem and partially finance it. “We’re ready to about the Holodomor. “The issue is really partially finance this activity,” he said. from $59 per night difficult – was this a genocide or not. The However, he added that Russia does not issue is for historians. And it started out to agree to the cost of the system’s moderniza- be completely denied, as if nothing hap- tion earlier announced by Ukrainian Prime OPPORTUNITY pened at all. And the people did not die, and Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and estimated everything was good. Well, be careful with it to be around 10 billion to 12 billion euros. this! This is a tragic and monstrous date. “I heard the Ukrainian prime minister assess EARN EXTRA INCOME! The people died, they died here and they [this project] at 5 billion to 6 billion euros. died there. Don’t pay off today’s political According to our estimates, this sum should The Ukrainian Weekly is looking scores in the historical and cultural sphere,” be doubled,” Mr. Shmatko said. (Ukrinform) for advertising sales agents. the expert cautioned. Answering a question Presidential awards for Shakhtar team For additional information contact about the reasons for a serious imbalance in views of Russians and Ukrainians toward KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor Maria Oscislawski, Advertising each other (according to surveys, 62 percent Yushchenko on May 26 presented state Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, of Russians say they negatively view awards to the playing and coaching staff of (973) 292-9800, ext 3040. Ukraine, and 91 percent of the Ukrainians FC Shakhtar Donetsk, which won the UEFA view Russia positively), Mr. Mlechin said Cup in a final match against ’s he believes that such data are the result of state propaganda in Russia. “Ukraine has its Werder Bremen. The president presented the problems, but it does not have one problem. Order of Merit (second degree) to the club’s MAY WE There is complete freedom of speech and a chief coach, Mircea Lucescu, as well as orders of courage (second degree) and vic- MERCHANDISE normal discussion in society. Therefore, the HELP YOU? people are not indoctrinated,” he comment- tory medals to the team’s players. Among 19 ed. (Ukrinform) soccer players who received the orders are team captain Darijo Srna and goalkeeper NATO position unchanged on Ukraine Andrii Piatov. Speaking at the awards cere- To reach The Ukrainian mony, Mr. Yushchenko thanked Shakhtar KYIV – NATO’s position on Ukraine’s for its victory in the UEFA Cup final, and Weekly all (973) 292-9800, and Georgia’s membership in the alliance described it as brilliant. He said that not only remains unchanged, NATO spokesman and dial the appropriate James Appathurai said in Brussels on May (Continued on page 15) extension (as listed below).

Editorial – 3049, 3088 Production – 3063, 3069 PROFESSIONALS Administration – 3041 Advertising – 3040 Subscriptions – 3042

Official Website of Ukraine’s President Run your advertisement here, President Viktor Yushchenko shows off a Shakhtar Donetsk jersey with his name on in The Ukrainian Weekly’s it received from club president Rinat Akhmetov (center), as coach Mircea Lucescu CLASSIFIEDS section. and Presidential Secretariat chief Vira Ulianchenko look on. The UEFA Cup trophy is seen in the foreground during a reception at the presidential administration. No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 15

prime minister, wants to mention,” the presi- Ukraine may supply aircraft to Libya cent), restaurants (79 percent), and pubs NEWSBRIEFS dent said. He also described the prime min- (75 percent). A vast majority of respon- KYIV – Ukraine is ready to supply new (Continued from page 14) ister’s demand as a political campaign. “This dents think that the effect of tobacco is a political campaign and a political move An-148 and modernized An-124 aircraft to smoke is a serious (67 percent) or moder- the whole of Ukraine, but also millions of Libya, said the head of the Antonov people abroad had supported the club. The aimed at destabilizing the situation and ate (23 percent) threat to health. The depriving the government system of con- Design Bureau, Dmytro Kiva, during an Ukrainian Parliament has already passed president personally thanked Shakhtar official visit by the Ukrainian delegation President Rinat Akhmetov, Mr. Lucescu, trol,” Mr. Yushchenko said, adding that the in its first reading a bill on the legal posts of first vice prime minister, foreign headed by Prime Minister Yulia responsibility of owners of catering insti- and all team members for their decisive con- Tymoshenko to Libya. “We’re ready to tribution to the victory, and added that this affairs minister and finance minister remain tutions to provide at least 50 percent of vacant. Mr. Yushchenko said that, under the supply An-148 aircraft. We’ll talk about smoke-free space. (Ukrinform) victory was not merely a sporting event. Mr. the modernization of An-124 aircraft, Yushchenko said that such achievements current situation, the Parliament would find it difficult to reach agreement on a new can- An-26 already used by Libya, and An-74, Decree orders new bill on draft increase Ukraine’s popularity around the which is interesting for Libya in its various didate for defense minister. (Ukrinform) KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor world. “We have entered the European modifications,” Mr. Kiva noted on May Yushchenko on May 27 issued a decree league forever after the victory on May 20,” Ecumenical patriarch may open Kyiv office 26. He also said that Ukraine had currently ordering the government to draft by he said. After the ceremony, Mr. Akhmetov supplied one of the three An-74 aircraft to November 1 a bill on amending the regula- presented a Shakhtar T-shirt with No. 20 to KYIV – The ecumenical patriarch might Libya ordered by the country four years tions of the armed forces in connection the president, while the latter, in turn, signed open an office in Kyiv. This question was ago. He forecast that the other two aircraft with a delayed switch to a professional a soccer ball. Shakhtar defeated Werder discussed at a meeting between Ukrainian would be supplied this year. (Ukrinform) Bremen 2-1 in overtime of the UEFA Cup President Viktor Yushchenko and army. In December 2005 the president had final in Istanbul on May 20. (Ukrinform) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Ukraine, Libya to jointly build refinery approved a state program for developing Istanbul on May 20. The office could be in the Ukrainian army in 2006-2011, which Czech Consulate coming to Zhytomyr the form of a churchyard or cultural and KYIV – Ukraine and Libya will jointly foresaw the creation of a professional army build a new oil refinery that will process KYIV – The Czech Republic is planning information center. Mr. Yushchenko called by the end of 2010. In early September for the deepening of an inter-Church dia- about 10 million tons of oil annually, 2008, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to open a consulate in Zhytomyr, Czech Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told Ambassador to Ukraine Jaroslav Basta said logue and preparations for convening an all- forecast a switch to a professional army by Orthodox council, and stressed the need to the government’s meeting on May 27. January 1, 2009. (Ukrinform) during his working visit to the city on May During her official visit to Libya, she said 20. The diplomat, accompanied by a group hold, in conjunction with that council, a that agreements were reached on diversi- New Boryspil terminal is top priority of Czech businessmen, met with Zhytomyr meeting of representatives of local Orthodox fication of Ukraine’s energy resources, in State Oblast Administration Chair Yurii Churches. Mr. Yushchenko said that Ukraine KYIV – Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister particular, about the supply of 600,000 Zabela. Czech trade representatives were remains interested in uniting Ukraine’s Ivan Vasiunyk and Japanese Ambassador tons of oil by Libya to be refined at the interested in investment issues during their Orthodox Churches in one Church. He to Ukraine Tadashi Izawa discussed the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery. (Ukrinform) meeting. Particular attention was paid to expressed confidence that efforts by the ecu- implementation of a project on the con- agriculture, particularly the growing and menical patriarch and his authority in the Public supports smoking ban struction of Terminal D at Kyiv’s Boryspil reprocessing of rapeseed, as well as the con- Orthodox world are one of the significant Airport, it was reported on May 27. This struction of small hydroelectric power plants elements in unification processes. KYIV – According to a survey carried project is being financed under a loan and an incinerator plant. Mr. Zabela said that (Ukrinform) out by the Kyiv International Institute of issued by the Japan Bank for International Sociology, 87 percent of Ukrainians sup- Cooperation (JBIC) and under state guar- last year’s trade between the region and the Ukraine 134th in corruption rating Czech Republic had totaled $16.4 million port the adoption of a law fully banning antees of Ukraine, according to the web- (U.S.), which is nearly two times more than KYIV – Transparency International has smoking in public spaces, including at all site of the Ukrainian government. Mr. in 2007. In the first quarter of this year, the rated Ukraine 134th in the spread of corrup- workplaces, public buildings, offices, res- Vasiunyk briefed the ambassador on the trade totaled $1.6 million. Exports to the tion among 180 countries. This was dis- taurants and pubs. The Coalition for importance of the construction project to Czech Republic totaled $1.2 million, while closed during the May 20 high-level seminar Tobacco-Free Ukraine reported that Ukraine. “It is one of the necessary con- imports amounted to $440,900. (Ukrinform) at the National Security and Defense Ukrainians also supported clauses ban- ditions for the Euro 2012 final match to Council of Ukraine on the topic of fighting ning smoking at hospitals and clinics (97 be held in Kyiv. This project is a top pri- President against Yekhanurov’s dismissal corruption. The seminar was convened with percent), offices and other workplaces ority for the government and for me,” Mr. (90 percent), shops and theaters (96 per- Vasiunyk said. (Ukrinform) KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor the support of Transparency International, Yushchenko has said that Prime Minister Great Britain and the NATO office in Yulia Tymoshenko’s demand for the dis- Ukraine. (Ukrinform) missal of Defense Minister Yurii Yekhanurov Ukraine, Croatia sign memorandum is groundless. He made this comment in Istanbul on May 20. Mr. Yushchenko KYIV – Ukraine and Croatia signed a described accusations of corrupt schemes memorandum of mutual understanding in against the minister as an attempt to conceal the sphere of European integration, the press the true intention of destabilizing the coun- service of the Ukrainian Embassy in Croatia try’s political situation. He said that he did reported on May 26. The memorandum pro- not see any circumstances in the minister’s vides for a wide spectrum of bilateral coop- or ministry’s activities that could result in eration, in particular, the exchange of expe- Mr. Yekhanurov’s dismissal. “Moreover, I rience in European integration processes, want to say that over the last three years the organization of bipartite consultations and ministry has started working stably under exchange of groups of specialists in various financing which nobody, including the fields. (Ukrinform) 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 Twin Cities welcome Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper by Zenon Stepchuk the Plast greeting “Skob.” The second ceremony was the unveiling MINNEAPOLIS – The Twin Cities had of a permanent gallery of photographs and another opportunity to meet and greet its posters of the astronaut’s two space flights native astronaut, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn- to honor her contributions and to inspire Piper on May 3. This event, sponsored by younger generations. Capt. Sefanyshyn- the Minneapolis branch of Plast Ukrainian Piper told the children and youths present in Scouting Organization, was organized by a the audience: “You can achieve your wildest committee consisting of Christine Jermihov, dreams through a good education and perse- branch leader, and members George verance.” Bazarko, Ulana and Zenon Stepchuk, and The Minneapolis branch of Plast and St. Dmytro and Helen Tataryn. Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church The extended Ukrainian community of jointly created this gallery, which will be on the Twin Cities is very proud of Capt. Stefanyshyn-Piper’s accomplishments and permanent display in St. Constantine’s hall. is grateful that Heide has not forgotten her In her remarks, the honored guest empha- home town, visiting and sharing her experi- sized that she has fond memories of Plast ences after both U.S. Space shuttle missions Ukrainian scouting, St. Constantine’s, the on which she flew – STS-115 in 2006 School of Ukrainian Studies, the parish youth dance group and choir, and the influ- (Atlantis) and STS-126 in 2008 The Ukrainian American astronaut with members of Plast Ukrainian Scouting (Endeavour). ence these organizations – and especially her parents – had on her life. Organization: (from left) Ihor Gawrachynsky, Yurko Bazarko, Marusia Greeting her on this occasion were repre- Gawrachynsky, Oles Gawrachynsky, Khrystyna Cybriwska-Jermihov, Heidemarie sentatives of Ukrainian organizations – Her father, she said, taught her to have faith in God, study and work hard, persevere Stefanyshyn-Piper, Katria Hucal, Zenko Stepchuk, Myroslava Hrenchyshyn, Ulana Bohdan Kuchvarsky from the Ukrainian Stepchuk, Oksana Shulakewych, Lubomyr Shulakewych and Dmytro Tataryn. American Youth Association, Olexander in whatever she does, and never to forget her roots. Her mother selflessly drove all five Poletz, from the Association of American working at full capacity, and the ISS can thrilled and filled with pride when the astro- Stefanyshyn children to church, choir and Youth of Ukrainian Descent (ODUM), now accommodate three additional astro- naut took the Plast emblem with her on dance practices, Plast meetings and Dmytro Tataryn from St. Constantine’s nauts. STS-115, and were extremely grateful to her Ukrainian school every Saturday (her only School of Ukrainian Studies, the Very Rev. In her two flights, Capt. Stefanyshyn- for taking “rozviduvach” and “orliatko” Canon Michael Stelmach from St. regret was that she did not sit in class with Piper logged over 27 days in space, and 33 badges (which indicate scout ranks) on her Constantine Parish, and Ms. Jermihov from them to learn Ukrainian). hours and 42 minutes outside the ISS during second flight. Plast. Capt. Stefanyshyn-Piper emphasized that five EVAs. Her talk was supplemented with Following the presentation, Capt. Adelheid Stefanyshyn, Heide’s mother, the ability to speak Ukrainian served her video clips and slides that portrayed not only Stefanyshyn-Piper answered questions from and Paul, her brother, were in the large audi- very well at NASA, and she encouraged the the launch, work inside and outside the ISS, the large number of children in the audience ence. A contingent of Plast members – Ihor children to learn the language. The organiza- but also humorous vignettes about life on and from adults. It was particularly interest- Gawrachynsky, Oles Gawrachynsky, tions in which she actively participated, the the ISS and the Shuttle. ing to watch the children as they listened Lubomyr and Oksana Shulakewych, and astronaut noted, provided opportunities to A very special moment occurred when very intently and hung on to every word this Marusia Gawrachynsky, all from Winnipeg, learn, to develop high moral and ethical the astronaut showed a picture of a Plast special visitors spoke to them. Manitoba, drove to Minneapolis to meet the standards, and to forge lifelong friendships. patch and Ukrainian flag in the Shuttle dur- In answer to one question from the audi- Ukrainian American astronaut who grew up The astronaut also talked about her latest ing the flight – a moment made even more ence, the astronaut stated that she has been in Plast. space flight, STS -126, which launched on memorable when she presented the flag to reassigned back to the Navy, and will be Two special ceremonies made this event November 14, 2008. This flight delivered St. Constantine’s School of Ukrainian serving in the Sea Systems Command in very memorable. The Plast Fraternity Chota supplies and equipment, as well as a replace- Studies. “Let this flag show that you can ful- Washington. This was part of her long-term Krylatykh named Capt. Stefanyshyn-Piper ment astronaut for the International Space fill your dreams, knowing who you are and plan to return to the U.S. Navy after her ser- an honorary member in recognition of her Station (ISS). During the 16-day flight Capt. where you came from, no matter where you vice as a NASA astronaut. accomplishments in astronautics, space Stefanyshyn-Piper completed three EVAs go,” she told the children. Dmytro Tataryn, People in the audience lingered long after walking and active promotion of the United (space walks) outside the ISS to repair and school director, graciously accepted this all the formalities ended to speak to the guest States, Ukraine and Plast. On behalf of the lubricate solar rotary joints (these allow the priceless gift. of honor individually, receive autographed executive of Chota Krylatykh, Mr. solar arrays to face the sun while the ISS Plast members all around the world were photos and be photographed with her. Shulakewych presented her with a framed circles around the Earth), and to install addi- certificate, its patch and neckerchief. The tional equipment both inside and outside new honorary member was welcomed with the ISS. As a result, the solar arrays are

Ihor Gawrachynsky Lubomyr Shulakewych pesents a neckerchief of the Chota Krylatykh Plast fra- ternity and a certificate of honorary membership to Heidemarie Stefanyshyn- Piper as Zenko Stepchuk looks on. No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 17 Literary populism is topic of 10th annual Struk Memorial Lecture TORONTO – The 10th annual Danylo In her lecture, Prof. Hundorova attempted Husar Struk Memorial Lecture was held on to reconstruct the concept of literary popu- May 15 on the University of Toronto cam- lism as a constructivist idea and an intellec- pus. The event consisted of a lecture by tual project by tracing the evolution of its Tamara Hundorova titled “Ukrainian development. This history of the idea of Literary Populism Unveiled: The Question populism also leads to an analysis of the of Popular Literature” and a reception at national, social, cultural and political self- which a brief tribute to Danylo H. Struk was perception that determined the nature of the presented. populist identity. The Struk Memorial Lecture is an annual Since populism, or more accurately, “nar- event sponsored by the Danylo Husar Struk odnytstvo,” insofar as the word “populism” Program in Ukrainian Literature of the in English has it’s own peculiar understand- Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies ing, can have a variety of meanings in dif- (CIUS). It was instituted at the Toronto office ferent contexts. of CIUS in 1999, shortly after the sudden Prof. Hundorova focused on three essen- and unexpected death of Dr. Struk, professor tial arguments: 1) populism is not an organic of Ukrainian literature at the department of phenomenon but a construction of the Slavic languages and literatures of the Ukrainian elite; 2) the essential notion of the University of Toronto and assistant director populist project is popular culture; 3) the of CIUS, where he was the editor-in-chief of populist movement was an attempt at cultur- the Encyclopedia of Ukraine. The program al and social modernization and thus played and lecture honor his memory and his dedi- a peculiar role in the development of aes- Prof. Tamara Hundorova of Kyiv’s Taras Shevchenko University. cation to the study of Ukrainian literature. thetic modernism in the beginning of the The first memorial lecture was delivered 20th century. English, Ukrainian and French. The website Program in Ukrainian Literature. by Marko Pavlyshyn of Monash University Therefore, the role of populism in is the first step in a larger project to publish Members of the audience were encour- in 2000. Over the years, such prominent Ukrainian literary and cultural development these essays, and those of other diaspora aged to support the fund with donations to scholars as George Grabowicz of Harvard is best understood as a deliberate and expan- scholars of Ukrainian literature. These proj- increase the total that would then be doubled University, Oleh Ilnytzkyj of the University sive embrace of popular culture rather than a ects will become possible as a result of the by the University of Alberta. Donation cards of Alberta, Myroslav Shkandrij of the rejection of culturally and socially sophisti- new funding available for the Struk were distributed at the reception and were University of Manitoba, Vitaly Chernetsky cated culture. Program, which was the subject of the final met with a generous response from the audi- of Miami University (Ohio), Taras After the lecture the audience was invited presentation by the president of the ence. Koznarsky and Maxim Tarnawsky (both to a reception. The reception included a brief Canadian Foundation for Ukrainian Studies Donations from supporters are still wel- from the University of Toronto) have deliv- tribute to Dr. Struk. After a brief personal (CFUS), Olga Kuplowska. come for the next two months and can be ered this prestigious lecture. recollection about Dr. Struk by Prof. Ms. Kuplowska announced that the Struk made directly to the CFUS office at 620 This year’s lecture, the 10th, marked a Tarnawsky, the director of the Struk fund, initiated by the foundation together Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S decade of the lecture’s existence and was, Program, Frank Sysyn, director of the CIUS with family and friends shortly after Dr. 2H4; by telephone, 416-766-9630l via appropriately, delivered by one of the lead- Toronto office, spoke about Dr. Struk’s role Struk’s death, was being was being trans- e-mail, [email protected] ing figures in Ukrainian literary scholarship, in shaping the CIUS and its Toronto office, ferred to the University of Alberta to take Those who were unable to attend may Prof. Hundorova, director of the division of and in particular about his dedicated work advantage of the University’s Matching listen to the lecture, which is available on literary theory at the Institute of Literature of on the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, one of the Funds Program. Currently valued at approx- the Struk Program website: (http://www.uto- the Academy of Science in Ukraine and a major projects of Ukrainian scholarship in imately $85,000, the fund capital would be ronto.ca/elul/Struk-mem/mem-lect-archive. member of the faculty of Kyiv’s Taras the diaspora. doubled under this program. The annual htm.) The video tribute to Dr. Struk is avail- Shevchenko University. She traveled to A video tribute to Dr. Struk was played interest from this fund would be used for the able on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/ Toronto from Cambridge, Mass., where she for the audience and then Prof. Tarnawsky exclusive support of the CIUS Struk watch?v=AeSdUgIyKRc). is currently the Petro Jacyk Distinguished spoke about Struk’s literary scholarship and Visiting Fellow at the Ukrainian Research announced the creation of a website featur- Institute of Harvard University. ing all 37 of Prof. Struk’s literary essays, in

‘attack defense,’ which was evidenced in It's Tymoshenko... the Lutsenko affair, by the way.” (Continued from page 1) The Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Weekly Mirror) that the mass media are here. You need to newspaper published detailed information present all this. But please, restrain your- about the Defense Ministry’s alleged cor- self. Let him [Editor’s note: Control ruption in its May 16 issue, days before Review Administration Chair Mykola Ms. Tymoshenko made her accusations Syvulskyi] report on this, and then you against Mr. Yekhanurov. can further put on an act afterwards.” The reporter, Dmytro Mendeleyev, To which the prime minister banged based his information on the Control- her fist on the table, responding, “You’ll Revision Administration’s findings throughout the last three years and denied be putting on an act when you report to involvement in any political attack on the the law enforcement authorities.” defense minister. Mr. Yekhanurov declined to comment Responding to Mr. Yekhanurov’s on the accusations that day, but offered an claims of falsified documents, he said his emotional, at times rambling, defense on documents were dated from the prior a Friday evening talk show, declaring, “In year, when the lands were largely stolen, principle, the Defense Ministry doesn’t food supply concerns surfaced and buy anything. We buy and sell nothing. authorities grew concerned about the We pay for the services of companies expenditures on high-priced fuel. which serve our soldiers.” “Soldiers are tormented by the lack of For the first time since independence, apartments in Perevalne on the Crimean 210 Sevastopol apartments and 52 Crimean peninsula, and with the stroke of a pen apartments were given to officers, he said, officials placed on auction the Zorianyi rattling off random arguments. Hotel in Symferopol,” Mr. Mendeleyev Responding to the accusations of fraud, wrote in his response. the defense minister said soldiers don’t “The 70 families of young lieutenants even eat the kovbasa over which the price could have been accommodated. On 96 falsification allegedly occurred. hectares [240 acres] in Chornomorsk gen- Then on May 26, Mr. Yekhanurov erously given away by Mr. Yekhanurov, demanded Mr. Syvulskyi’s resignation for 96 buildings of 100 apartments each can spreading falsified information and a per- be built,” he added. sonal apology from the prime minister. The defense minister challenged his “It’s well-known the better defense is accusers to forward the documents to the attacking,” commented Volodymyr Procurator General’s Office for prosecution. Fesenko, the board chairman of the Penta The prime minister said she would ask Center for Applied Political Research in the Verkhovna Rada to vote on Mr. Kyiv. I think that Yekhanurov was Yekhanurov’s dismissal. She also called advised, possibly by the Presidential on Parliament and the Internal Affairs Secretariat, on how to better act in this Ministry to form a special investigative situation. The classic example is this group on the matter. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 Interview... “We are borrowing from the IMF a sum larger than our national (Continued from page 3) all. They live in the government’s orbit. debt, which was $15.6 billion before the IMF loan. We are borrowing [First Vice Minister for Euro-Integration Hryhoriy] Nemyria is there among others, $16.5 billion. Therefore we are more than doubling our national who practically say what these ministers of the economy are telling them today. debt. We’ll have a $32-$33 billion government debt by the end of The current government doesn’t have a this year. We’ll need to pay it off at an average annual [interest] finance minister. What can we say when the key figure is absent? And the econo- rate of 8 percent, which is about $2.5 billion this year alone. We’ll my minister is an elementary geography teacher. have to pay back about 20 billion hrv [$2.7 billion] presently just So who is Bohdan Danylyshyn and for this year’s debt.” can we assume that he leads the devel- opment of economic policy in the gov- – economist Oleh Soskin ernment? If he doesn’t lead the policy- making, then who does? [Dr. Soskin asks his assistant to bring Tymoshenko. Most importantly, he didn’t stabilized itself. They issued eurobonds in international exchange reserves is Danylyshyn’s biography.] This is a person say or openly tell everyone – when he was [Editor’s note: international bonds invested in the securities issued by the who never had anything to do with being a minister, not afterwards – that what denominated in a foreign currency] and American Federal Reserve system and in a macroeconomist. He worked in RVPS – Tymoshenko is doing will lead the country paid with them. Then they restructured. other U.S. securities. That’s why the the Council to Learn Productive Forces, to failure. He said this in the memoran- That sum, however, was less than now. National Bank stated, “We are forced to which was led by a Communist. He was dum, but not to everyone. And afterwards, That was $6 billion. The current loan is demand additional payments from you, as always there. he didn’t say whether the memorandum $16.5 billion. a state with these debt obligations, because was his or not. [Editors note: Before Mr. That there is a debt is not necessarily we need this money.” So does he determine economic poli- Pynzenyk officially resigned, a memoran- great danger in it of itself? For the U.S., it would be a very cy? dum was released on January 27 warning unpleasant situation if they are told, He knows nothing about this. He has of economic collapse.] Well, we already have a large debt. We “Why the increase (of payments), to are borrowing from the IMF a sum larger regalia. Look, even [opposition leader What do the first quarter economic return money for its own securities?” And than our national debt, which was $15.6 Viktor] Yanukovych was a professor and data prove? so they took another path. They said, doctor here. [Former prime minister billion before the IMF loan. We are bor- ‘Okay. We will give you money, even a Pavlo] Lazarenko was a doctor of eco- They show that the gross domestic rowing $16.5 billion. Therefore, we are larger sum, but with such a mechanism nomic studies. product is falling, that all the indicators more than doubling our national debt. that you won’t have to sell our securities.’ are falling, that the trade balance is fall- We’ll have a $32-$33 billion government That’s the only way I can explain what is So how do Tymoshenko and these ing, and that the money supply is imitat- debt by the end of this year. We’ll need to taking place right now. All other explana- top politicians choose their ministers? ing all this. Today $24 billion in reserves pay it off at an average annual [interest] tions can be classified as a criminal cor- In my opinion, the main portion of are left in the National Bank of Ukraine, rate of 8 percent, which is about $2.5 bil- rupt conspiracy between certain IMF offi- ministers is people who are chosen to losing $1.2 billion every month. What are lion this year alone. We’ll have to pay cials and the president, the Presidential execute certain money-laundering you doing with this money? And why are back about 20 billion hrv [$2.7 billion] Secretariat and the government of schemes. Therefore, their profession you printing hryvni? In April, the money presently just for this year’s debt. Ukraine. It can’t be explained otherwise. supply rose to 150.7 billion hrv from doesn’t matter. What matters is that they So this can increase the likelihood of 147.1 billion in March, increasing the By the way, there are critics in the can carry out these schemes. That’s all. a default? hryvnia’s supply in circulation by 3.6 bil- U.S. of the IMF giving the U.S. govern- Does former Finance Minister Viktor lion. On what basis? Did anything Yes, and the IMF loan will have to be ment loans. Pynzenyk have legitimate knowledge of improve during the month? No, things returned in two years. This is a floating This is the same. This is being done economics or finances? got worse. On what basis were these 3.6 interest rate. because this mechanism is easier, softer Pynzenyk has knowledge, but it’s artifi- billion printed? So when Western economists sup- let’s say, in which you receive this money cial and detached from the processes. He is What about the government’s port the IMF loans, are they really act- to catch your breath. But reforms are a representative of a certain school. He reserves? ing like IMF agents? being done in America. The IMF gave learned certain rules and knows that, for Iceland money, right? Iceland dismissed example, everyone is supposed to pay the They were $37.3 billion in October, According to the template. Like its National Bank chair and the govern- value-added tax. He knows that money can then $32.7 billion in November. Then Pynzenyk. In standard fashion. ment and held elections. Lithuania did the be borrowed through bonds or fiscal opera- came the IMF loan, but the money was so Therefore everyone believes that this same. The Czech Republic and Hungary tions, such as raising the tax burden, the so- quickly spent that it didn’t last a month. is the way it’s supposed to be done? – all to whom the IMF gives begin to called total taxation of everyone, regardless They were $31.5 billion in December, conduct reforms. They reduce expendi- of whether it’s a small business or a large and the gold-currency reserves [Editor’s That’s the way everyone is treated. You tures. They liquidate the budget deficit. corporation. He knows that you can have 2 note: also known as international have a flu, you need to be cured in such a They conduct small business reform. or 3 percent GDP and gain revenue from exchange reserves] fell to $28.8 billion in way. But we don’t have the flu. We have They don’t waste this money. But here privatization. He knows certain norms. January. February was $26.5 billion. They the HIV infection. The HIV infection is they are wasted. He was a template minister. He worked spent $2.5 billion in gold-currency not treated like the flu. It’s treated in So what’s the IMF’s main mistake with templates that he learned in various reserves. March was $25.4 billion and another way. And they want to cure us in here? Virtually, it gave money to those economic institutions in European coun- April $24.5 billion. Therefore, we lost the way a person who has simple cold who don’t implement reforms, who creat- tries and the U.S. But he himself was not a another billion in a month. In 2008 the symptoms is cured. These treatments ed this crisis, and who are responsible for creative and independent macroeconomist, government had $43 billion in gold-cur- don’t suit us. We don’t need them because all this and don’t want to realize their financer. And when these recipes stopped rency reserves. Now we are left with they don’t implement reforms. mistakes and begin to implement reforms. working, he understood that he had to flee $24.5 billion. They spent almost $20 bil- Structural reforms? They don’t want to – that’s the main [Editor’s Note: Mr. Pynzenyk quit his post lion. And now they will get another $3 thing. Tymoshenko didn’t reduce the defi- in January, and the prime minister has yet billion [from the IMF]. Yes. Pension reform, small business cit and didn’t review the budget. to replace him.] He knew that you couldn’t reform, local self-governance, health, That’s a drop in the bucket? put together recipes the way that Yulia higher education. No reforms are being But maybe the difference is the [Tymoshenko] did this year. And when he It’s a drop. It will last three weeks, enacted, but the IMF is giving money. Russia factor? saw what she did – that this would be a maximum four. Fiscal and budget reforms aren’t being Well, there is the Russia factor. It was implemented, yet the IMF is giving crash even with his understanding of Have IMF loans helped the always there. When was it not there? It’s money. Why are they giving money to things – he quickly fled. Ukrainian economy in the past? there, and so what? What can Russia Regarding Danylyshyn, he finished the those who don’t implement reforms? give? Russia itself doesn’t have money. Ternopil State Pedagogical Institute. Our No, they never helped. Take the largest Banking reform isn’t being implemented information indicates he taught geography loan in 1998, when the IMF loaned – wasn’t the money in the banks stolen? So fiscal discipline is more important on the elementary level, after which he money during the financial crisis in It was stolen. This is an artificial default. than geopolitics? ended up in his institutions, reaching the Ukraine. A financial pyramid was built, Ukraine’s banking system went into arti- Absolutely. Russia estimated $71 per doctorate in economic studies in 2004. and Ukraine lost a great deal. The hryvnia ficial paralyzation practically. Russian barrel of oil for budget revenue. fell by 3.5 times. A dollar was 1.8 hrv in Can we say that Pynzenyk’s political For example, there are many social Its current price is $45 to 48. They are fac- October 1998 and five hrv per $1 by career is finished? payments which … ing enormous revenue shortfalls in their oil January 1999. That was during the presi- sector. They don’t have money to give us Politically, certainly. [Editor’s note: Mr. dential election for Kuchma’s second … aren’t necessary. today. Tymoshenko asked for $5 billion Pynzenyk is chair of the Reforms and term. Yushchenko was head of the But no one wants to be that politi- from them. They can’t give us $5 billion in Order Party, which belongs to the National Bank then. Together they cian who says … real, live money. The one thing they can Tymoshenko Bloc.] I think he completely enabled a complete theft at the expense of do is give us $5 billion in natural gas for a gave himself up to Tymoshenko, then left, an artificial devaluation and inflation. … that this must stop. Social reforms price of $360 per 1,000 cubic meters, like never able to achieve on his own. He prac- are absolutely necessary. I believe the IMF What happened to that loan? Was it credit at a 10 to 15 percent annual rate. tically hid in a bush and that’s all. That gave the loan because the U.S., which is paid? That’s robbery. That’s complete robbery. memorandum – he never said it was his the controlling shareholder in the IMF, was But they can’t give real, live money. memorandum – is not his. He didn’t have The IMF loan? It was returned because forced to do this because a large portion of a precisely argued political position against those were good times and the economy the National Bank of Ukraine’s $24 billion (Continued on page 19) No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 19

rate pension tax for small businesses of But we must name these bandits who withdraw when the exchange rate has Interview... 216 hrv ($28) per person for the State caused the collapse – this is [National calmed. The banks that can are offering (Continued from page 18) Pension Fund. They increased the profit Bank Chair Volodymyr] Stelmakh, [First very nice conditions, plus the situation I spoke with observers who said tax from 13 percent to 15 percent, instead Vice- Chair Anatolii] Shapovalov, [First today has somewhat stabilized itself so far. Tymoshenko is re-writing various defi- of making it 10 percent. They worsened Vice-Chair Oleksander] Savchenko. They So there’s no flight. The flight from depos- cits and revenue shortfalls from the everything. Everything they did has been know all this, and so does Yushchenko. its ended in April. Those 13 banks under first quarter to the fourth … for the worse, and worse, and worse. And But they don’t talk about all this inten- temporary state administration aren’t return- Yushchenko and Tymoshenko. tionally. The owners of these banks also ing money to their clients, neither to physi- … and is collecting taxes beforehand, should be named – Rodovid Bank, cal or legal entities. At other banks, particu- and in such a way states that she fulfilled What gets in the way of these leaders introducing systematic reforms? UkrPromBank, Nadra Bank [Editor note: larly those that belong to foreign capital, the budget’s revenues for the first quarter. champion pole vaulter Serhii Bubka con- depositors aren’t taking their money That’s manipulation. If I’m not mistaken, The desire to become billionaires and trols Rodovid Bank, RosUkrEnergo bil- because they have nice interest rates. the 2009 annual budget revenue is 240 belong to the caste that rules the entire lionaire Dmytro Firtash owns Nadra If I’m not mistaken, cash accounts for billion hrv ($32 billion). Therefore, she is country. Their desire to enrich themselves Bank, and the owners of UkrPromBank nearly 35 percent of the money, which is supposed to raise 20 billion hrv ($2.7 bil- by any means, having 1,000 percent profit haven’t been confirmed, but among them a very high indicator. That’s extremely lion) a month in revenue for the budget. from every operation. Simply the physi- is believed to be Aik Pambukhchian, high, because that’s money that is not in She raised 12 billion hrv ($1.6 billion) in cal greed for money and the entire time, leader of the Union of Armenians of the banking system. It’s a parallel exist- January, if I’m not mistaken. Therefore never surrender positions of power. Ukraine.] ing system of circulation. he was supposed to raise 60 billion hrv I thought the open phase of the eco- Could the economic collapse, which But aren’t they thinking about what ($8 billion) in the first quarter, but I think nomic collapse would begin in June, but began in October, have been avoided? they will do if people lose their faith in she raised 30 billion ($4 billion) maxi- the IMF gave the second tranche. It didn’t the system? mum. But it’s believed she overfilled the They should not have passed a budget have the right to give this money. It broke first quarter budget because she trans- with a deficit of 18 billion hrv ($2.4 bil- [Mimicking an oligarch] The people its basic principles. ferred expenditures to the fourth quarter. lion). When it just began and they knew are fools! They deserve it. And I’m doing there would be a world crisis, they should So it only postpones the collapse? So what was the logic behind that? fine. My money is safe – I transported have immediately drafted a deficit-free and hid it. My businesses are working. I They say we’ll get $2 billion as part of Presidential elections in October. The budget. They should have freed up small saved everything, while millions suffered. a third tranche. And then what? It won’t Constitutional Court ruling is very bad business, introduced reform in local self- solve anything. Every next tranche will But these bank owners won’t have for her [Editor’s note: The Court ruled governance and released money to local be given even harder, because the condi- any business for another five or seven that the Parliament’s decision to hold the communities. tions of its spending will be more opaque. presidential vote on October 25 was years, or maybe longer … Meaning if there’s fiscal discipline, And the economy won’t improve because unconstitutional], and for everyone in then that system can withstand any cri- It’s not a problem for them. They hid reforms aren’t being implemented. As theory because the next jihad gas war sis. their money in other places and think: much as reforms aren’t occurring and with Russia will begin in January. Her something will happen here, the IMF will long crisis cycles have launched, then the chances for the presidency will decline. Calmly, if you don’t live in debt. give money, someone else will give situation will worsen. And if it worsens She was counting on October, follow- Eighty percent of Ukraine’s development money, and afterwards we will return our on top of election instability, that means ing a calm summer, a lull, many tourists, was based on debt. Starting in 2006, the money here through others. We’ll buy virtually parallel forms of other govern- much revenue, agriculture. People are in government and the National Bank should business here through figureheads and will ment organs can emerge. On top of all their gardens, gathering the harvest. That not have borrowed such amounts of rule again, not directly but through some- that, worsening relations with Russia … way she could have said, “Look, inflation money. They are both responsible, one else. But you won’t hear about it. is not high, everything is stabilizing. I’m because the National Bank didn’t control So very complicated times are in great.” But January is a catastrophe for how many corporations were issuing their Concluding the interview, with every front of us? passing month, people are gradually her, for Yushchenko and for Yanukovych. bond offerings (debt obligations). Our Very complicated. They managed to taking their cash out of banks … It will be a very difficult situation. corporations issued internal obligations, put off an implosion in June, but they which they took with money. Afterwards So Yushchenko didn’t select that That has already stopped. The process merely moved it to the fall. And it will be they started to take away this money. date for the nation’s benefit? has stopped because there’s no sense to bigger then. They had to somehow return the debt, but He only did this for himself to extend this money wasn’t used to develop their his presidency. He’s thinking maybe sud- funds. denly a chance will emerge. Maybe I can It was wasted on cars, yachts, land, The Ukrainian Weekly announces a special section implement a state of emergency. buildings and all kinds of parasitical Did Yushchenko, Tymoshenko or needs. This open phase of the crisis arose Yanukovych do anything to improve unexpectedly in 2008, and everyone Congratulations, Graduates! the Ukrainian economy in the last four began withdrawing their money. What to years? Can you offer any concrete do? There’s nothing to return. Then the Every year tens of thousands of students throughout North examples? National Bank did its recapitalization. It America receive undergraduate and graduate degrees at colleges began to give the banks money under and universities, cresting a pinnacle of personal achievement. Nothing. recapitalization, and they began to play with this money on the markets. Zero? The Ukrainian Weekly’s special section – Congratulations, Zero. Yushchenko, Yanukovych and In their own interest? Graduates! – offers readers of The Ukrainian Weekly the oppor- Tymoshenko made conditions worse for Their own. The owners. tunity to place a note congratulating family members and dear small business. That’s for sure, even for friends on their recent achievements. This annual section will be those who pay a single tax. There was [for- What was their logic? They thought, mer President Leonid] Kuchma’s decree, “There’s a crisis. Let’s try and take published on July 5, 2009. which was never canceled, that small busi- advantage of it somehow”? nesses with less than 50 employees and They think this way: as long as we To place an ad congratulating a recent graduate, annual sales of less than a million hryvni don’t suffer as owners, as well as our please send us the following by June 22: ($133,000) can pay a single flat tax of 10 close entourage and those who are in percent, a large percentage that included all power, to whom we need to give bribes • your note of congratulations, in Ukrainian or English, taxes – value-added, profit, extra charges, so they will allow us to engage in these which should be no more than 50 words, including names; deductions. Hundreds of thousands of busi- machinations. And that our corporations • in English, the full name of the graduate, the degree completed or nesses operate that way. don’t suffer. diploma received, along with the date it was presented, a list of awards But in 2008 Tymoshenko came and, In October and November, the National and honors given the graduate, and the name and location of the school; under the guise of the battle for value- Bank offered refinancing. Let’s say it gave • a photo of the graduate (optional); added tax payments, reduced the net sales Nadra Bank 2 billion hrv ($267 million). • paymeny for the ad; ceiling to 300,000 hrv ($40,000). That’s a With these 2 billion, Nadra goes on the hit against small business and it was currency exchange market with its credit • your daytime phone number. improperly done. and buys dollars. As much as it borrowed Yanukovych and the Verkhovna Rada this money at an 8 to 10 percent annual The ad sizes for the greeting are a 1/8 page horizontal for $100 or a 1/4 required that every eighth employee at a rate, it buys the dollar at a more expensive page ad for $180. business had to be a disabled person. Well price than it was. It was at five hrv – it that’s not right. The government collects buys it at six. They bought dollars, and the Please make checks payable to The Ukrainian Weekly money and it’s supposed to create some National Bank receives hryvni instead of and mail along with above information to: social enterprises at the local level where having dollars returned. They tell the The Ukrainian Weekly – Congratulations, Graduates! the disabled can work. Why did it force National Bank – give us 2 billion hrv more 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280 that upon businesses as a law? That leads in credit. With these 2 billion, they return Parsippany, NJ 07054 to various artificial and hidden schemes to the currency market and buy not at 6 Attn. Maria Oscislawski because otherwise you pay a fine if your hrv, but 7 hrv per dollar. It’s all the same to eighth employee is not disabled. them because it’s still profitable because Or e-mail: [email protected] They introduced no reforms in the pen- they borrowed it at 8 to 10 percent annual sion system, which is why the majority of rates and in this way, the banks extorted For further information, please call 973-292-9800 ext. 3040 salaries today are paid in envelopes dollars, stole them and ruined these banks. or visit www.ukrweekly.com because entrepreneurs can’t pay the 40 The money was laundered, the banks are percent charge. They introduced a sepa- sitting empty and that’s all. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22

BOOK NOTES Fictional romance set in Ukraine A collection of all things “Goodbye, Kiev” by Thomas C. Almond. Baltimore, MD. Publish America, 2008. ISBN: 1-60610-994-4. related to Andy Warhol Softcover, 180 pp. $18.95. “Warhol-o-rama,” by Peter Orcsick, Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University “Goodbye, Kiev” [sic] is a fictional Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-88748-503-9.102 romance about an American man, Tom, pp. $16.95 plus shipping. who finds love through an international marriage agency. When his Ukrainian This collection of poetry is a tribute to fiancée, Lyubov, mysteriously breaks pop-artist and icon Andy Warhol their engagement, Tom suspects there is (1928-1987). It uses poetry to explore Mr. more to the story. He goes to Ukraine to Warhol through the eyes of many groups, uncover the truth behind the break-up, including astrologers, philosophers, real- but comes to find that the reasons for the tors and presidents. The anthology was broken engagement are beyond anything released August 8, 2008 – which would he could have imagined. have been Warhol’s 80th birthday. Mr. Almond is a resident of Oregon The unorthodox collection has been and his novel is based on his own experi- described as capturing the essence of ences with finding love through an inter- Andy Warhol in poetry. The style and national marriage agency. He is currently variety of form has been hailed by poetry engaged to a native of Dnipropetrovsk, critic Laurence Lieberman as “ingenious, Ukraine. sparkly, utterly resourceful.” The book is available on the Internet Excerpts of Mr. Oresick’s tributes can directly from Publish America (www. be previewed at www.warholorama.com. PublishAmerica.com), and Amazon.com, thomascalmond.webs.com for $18.95 Like Andy Warhol, the author is of and on eBay. The novel may also be pur- plus $2.23 shipping for an unsigned copy, Carpatho-Rusyn heritage – his paternal chased directly from the author at http:// or $19.95 plus shipping for a signed copy. ancestors are from the Sanok region of Lemko region. Mr. Oresiek is a member of obtained by logging on to www.amazon. St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in com or www.bn.com; or by ordering Ford City, Pa. He coordinates the creative directly from publisher by writing to: writing program at Chatham University, Carnegie Mellon University Press, c/o 1933 issues needed and teaches publishing at the University of Cornell University Press Services, Box Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University. 5625, Ithaca, NY 14850; e-mailing order- The Ukrainian Weekly is searching for original issues Copies of “Warhol-o-rama” can be [email protected] or 1-800-666-2211. of this newspaper published in 1933 in order to scan them for our digital archives. Visit our archive online: If you have original copies of newspapers from 1933, please contact the editorial staff at 973-292-9800, ext. 3049, or [email protected]. www.ukrweekly.com No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 21 Chicago votes for Smokin’ Joe’s as “Best BBQ Restaurant” by Matthew Dubas spare ribs because they are larger, meatier and allow us to maximize the signature PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Two brothers, barbecue flavor by serving each rib sepa- Taras and Slavko Grod, had a dream to rately.” provide a unique barbecue experience for “We grew up on the Southside of Chicago’s Southside. From this dream Chicago and learned to cook from our came Smokin’ Joes BBQ, named “Best BBQ Restaurant” in 2008 by Chicago mom [Anastasia]. After our dad [Joseph] voters on mychicagofox.com. passed away a few years ago, we decided What sets this restaurant, which opened to come back home,” said Slavko Grod, in February 2008, apart from the rest is who named the restaurant after their its St. Louis-style spare ribs, cut from the father. “For us, serving up barbecue right side and belly, rather than the more com- here in our hometown is as good as it mon baby back ribs. The ribs are first gets.” smoked and then grilled individually to Smokin’ Joes BBQ is located on 6523 order so that each piece is exposed direct- W. 127th St., Palos Heights, Ill. 60463. ly to the cooking surface on all sides. Outdoor seating is available in the sum- “We spent years sampling the coun- mer and the restaurant provides catering try’s best barbecue and experimenting services. For more information readers with different techniques of smoking and may visit www.smokinjoes-bbq.com, call grilling,” explained Slavko Grod. “We 708-489-1800 or e-mail slavko@smokin- kept coming back to the St. Louis-cut joes-bbq.com.

Some of the menu offerings at Smokin’ Joe’s include homemade coleslaw on a pulled Taras and Slavko Grod live their dream, providing quality barbecue at Smokin’ pork sandwich, baked beans, smoked sausage, St. Louis-style ribs and cornbread. Joe’s for Chicago’s Southside. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22

aimed to impress and deter foreign powers. intelligence community is represented by Falsifiers of history... The present ones are mainly for internal Medvedev forms... the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) (Continued from page 2) consumption to impress the public and (Continued from page 2) and the Federal Security Service (FSB). and supported by official Russian propagan- shame the “falsifiers.” The most significant inal offense. The first reading of the anti-fal- The commission member from the armed da. Not only does the older Soviet-educated manpower increase this year among the sification law is planned for June 3 forces is the top Russian military com- population believe the narrative, but the units on Red Square was the joint forces (Vedomosti, May 20). mander, Chief of General Staff and First majority of younger people also accept it military orchestra – from 500 in 2008 to However, as a body the new “historic Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Nikolai (Interfax, May 9). 1,100 in 2009 – ensuring that the martial truth” commission per se appears to be too Makarov. The official task of the commis- The restoration of Soviet-style massive music would be louder. Another significant powerful and administratively weighted to sion is to “analyze information about the displays of military might on May 9 on Red change – last week battalion-sized parade be exclusively or primarily aimed at silenc- falsification of historic facts aimed against Square is a deliberate pragmatic policy by columns were goose-stepping on Red ing the few independent researchers, dissi- Russia,” to prepare “recommendations on Square, Soviet-style 20 men in a row instead the present regime, hoping to gain more dents and writers in contemporary Russia. adequate reactions to falsifications that of 12 as since 1995 – increasing their echo legitimacy by parading itself as a direct suc- The overall composition of the “histor- hinder Russian interests and to neutralize off the Kremlin walls (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, cessor of Soviet Communist greatness. ic truth” commission follows the pattern their possible negative consequences” May 7). The last Soviet military parade on Red of other commissions that formulate (www.kremlin.ru, May 19). The Victory-Day parades were held not Square was in November 1990. In 1995 Russian foreign, defense and national- The language is clearly aimed not at only in Moscow, but also in St. Petersburg parades on Red Square resumed, but they security policies by establishing an inter- dissidents, but at Russia’s neighboring and in most other major Russian cities. The departmental consensus – which is the states and the presence of such prominent were relatively low-key reviews with no army command announced that 26,000 men tanks or heavy hardware. President Vladimir foundation of Russian executive decision- figures as the chief of administration and and some 600 army tanks and guns were making. The actual composition of such the Chief of the General Staff might indi- Putin ordered the resumption of Soviet-style planned for parades across Russia (RIA commissions always includes prominent cate that military action such as the war military parades on Red Square in 2008 Novosti, May 8). This number does not representatives of departments and minis- last August against Georgia is not exclud- (Eurasia Daily Monitor, May 7, 2008). This include men from other armed services and tries concerned about particular issues, ed. Rossiya TV on May 19 accused years’ show had added magnificence. The ministries, so the final figure must be much which might prove an indicator as to any Georgian authorities of falsifying history number of soldiers on parade increased from higher. More than 200,000 policemen and sanction they recommend. by assuming that Georgia was annexed by 6,952 in 2008 to 8,729 in 2009. The number 12,000 Interior Ministry troops were mobi- The chairman of the newly established imperial Russia. According to Moscow, of aircraft that flew over Red Square lized to keep order on May 9 nationwide “historic truth” commission is the chief of the Georgians gladly volunteered to join increased from 32 to 69 (Interfax, April 15). (RIA Novosti, May 9). President Medvedev’s administration Sergei the Russian empire. During the foreign military It seems that tens if not hundreds of thou- Naryshkin, a well-known loyal supporter of After the commission makes its recom- diplomats in Moscow used the annual sands of people were working hard for sev- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. A number of mendations and adequate action is taken to parades on Red Square to gain a glimpse of eral months to produce the May 9 show, at a other prominent presidential administration “neutralize” dissidents, the Georgians, new secret Soviet military hardware. cost that is virtually impossible to fully figures are members of the commission. Ukrainians and others might face additional However, the present defense intelligence establish, since the money came from many The justice and culture ministers are pressure to submit to the Kremlin’s views. significance of the parade is negligible. New different local and federal budgets. A full- Russian military equipment may be found at scale replica of Red Square was built near represented by deputies as well as the The article above is reprinted from international arms shows, where it is easier Moscow to train the parade troops. chiefs of the government departments of Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from to examine, than during a swift drive-by. According to Defense Minister Anatoly education, science and the mass media. Moreover, the hardware on Red Square is Serdyukov, the scope of the Soviet-style Deputy chiefs also represent the Foreign its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, almost entirely old Soviet equipment. This parade as been somewhat exceeded and “it Ministry and the Security Council. The www.jamestown.org. year the authorities boasted the presence of is expensive, but on this we must not econo- new S-400 anti-aircraft missiles (Interfax, mize” (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, May 7). May 9). But only launchers with tubes, conducted a session in 2008 in Zhytomyr slightly longer than the well-known S-300 The article above is reprinted from Leadership program... for 50 priests of the archeparchy, which were on parade, without the more important Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from (Continued from page 9) includes the Kyiv, Vyshhorod, Volyn and radars and control-center vehicles. its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, graduates of previous leadership schools, Zhytomyr deaneries. The trainers of the cen- The Cold War parades were primarily www.jamestown.org who will conduct training for the orphans. ter, using various interactive methods, pre- In addition to the main training session, the sented “The Art of Church Leadership.” most active orphans also participate in a Orthodox believers have participated in President Yushchenko leaves office? very active retreat at the end. the leadership schools as well. And in 2006 The tragedy... “Every day this is delayed, I under- Also, in 2005 the center started a school center staff were invited to attend the all- Ukrainian convention of Orthodox youth in (Continued from page 6) stand that sick children may die,” the first of Christian leadership for high school stu- Kyiv. “There has been an ongoing exchange savings of millions of Ukrainians. That lady reportedly said. Perhaps Andrii dents, “Voice of the Future,” in which more should donate one of his cell phones to than 50 youth participate every year. This is of experience, in particular since then,” certainly ranks up there with the creation noted Mrs. Zarichynska. of RosUkrEnergo. the cause. done in collaboration with the university’s To this day, neither President Mr. Yushchenko’s political logic seems Catechetical-Pedagogical Institute. *** Yushchenko nor Mr. Stelmakh has denied to be like this: my pals can hatch all the And the center has trained youths from schemes they want, and I’ll go on televi- various parts of Ukraine. For example, Further information about UCU (in the accusations, and the president has English and Ukrainian) is available on the refused to dismiss his long-time associ- sion and talk about the Holodomor and chaplains and youth involved in student the Ukrainian language. The strategy is ministries at universities in Uzhhorod, university’s website at www.ucu.edu.ua. ate. Readers may also contact the Ukrainian Soon after the Orange Revolution, the an utter failure, as demonstrated by his 3 Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lutsk, Kherson and Odesa participated in a session in Catholic Education Foundation, which is the evidence of the Yushchenko family’s percent approval rating. February. Among the topics covered at that largest supporter of UCU’s annual operating wealth came on display. The president’s By apparently using these sacred issues gathering was how to conduct an auction budget. One of the effects of this assistance son Andrii was cruising around down- as cover for corruption, he is discrediting in order to gather funds to put one’s ideas is to provide scholarships to worthy stu- town Kyiv in BMWs worth $160,000, the Ukrainian language and the legitima- into practice – an important lesson in these dents, allowing them to get an excellent gabbing on Vertu cell phones worth cy of the Holodomor among those Ukrainians who aren’t yet convinced. difficult economic times that have hit education that they otherwise might not be $43,500 and drinking $1,200 bottles of able to afford. And the UCEF is operating at And they’re the majority. Ukraine especially hard. champagne. an outstanding level of efficiency. For every For all my years of reporting in The center has also offered training ses- My father commented: What’s the big dollar the UCEF spends, more than 84 cents Ukraine, I’ll never forget one particular sions in various areas, including the cities of deal? He’s the president’s son. He goes to its charitable programs, ranking the evening earlier this winter. Kherson, Khmelnytskyi and Kyiv, as well as deserves it. the Kyiv Region. UCEF among the most efficient and effec- A large group of teenage boys was But the average monthly wage in The energetic and professional approach tive charities in the nation. marauding through a supermarket, and Ukraine today is $246, and government of the center’s workers has caught the atten- The UCEF may be contacted in writing the elderly guard suspected one of steal- wages aren’t much higher. Remember, tion of clergy and religious, which has led to at 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL ing. Confronting the guard, they all show- Mr. Yushchenko spent his career working an expansion of the center’s initial mission. 60622; by phoning 773-235-8462; e-mailing in government banks. ered him with denials, smirks on their For example, at the initiative of Ukrainian [email protected]; or browsing its website, Meanwhile, the current monthly wage faces. Catholic Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh, auxiliary www.ucef.org. The phone number of the of a national deputy in the Verkhovna At one point, one of the boys shouted, of the Kyiv Archeparchy, center trainers UCEF in Canada is (416) 239-2495. Rada, where Mr. Yushchenko served for “These hands didn’t steal anything,” four years, is about $1,700 a month. drawing the laughter of his colleagues. I don’t steal, Mr. Yushchenko told vot- Just then, a thug smacked the guard on html (songs from the Ridna Pisnia reper- ers throughout the 2004 campaign, and his head, cutting his skin and sending Ridnia Pisnia... toire); millions of people believed and placed blood down his cheek. • http://www.pisni.org.ua/articles/135. their faith in him. The teenagers were acting out what (Continued from page 7) html and Meanwhile, Kateryna Yushchenko is they see at the top of Ukrainian society – them. http://www.pisni.org.ua/articles/136. walking around with Chanel bags that theft, denials, lies, contempt for authority I am in contact with Mr. Trylis and html (My Chumaky, parts 1-2) and violence. Which is why many some members of his octet. Meeting them cost $2,950 a pop – more than what the • http://www.pisni.org.ua/articles/140. Ukrainians cringe when they hear Mr. was another magical and memorable average Ukrainian makes in an entire html (How to love songs); Yushchenko talk about the Ukrainian lan- moment of my too-short trips to Ukraine. year. • http://www.pisni.org.ua/articles/141. guage or the Holodomor. Construction hasn’t even started on the *** html (The folk song as a part of folk medi- Children’s Hospital of the Future, which For if he was genuinely concerned cine). the first lady said would be functioning about the things that are sacred to For more information: by March 2009, fueling speculation that it Ukrainians, then he would have done • http://www.pisni.org.ua/persons/670. was a public relations gimmick. After all, something to ensure their most basic, html (about the Chumaky Choir) Orysia Tracz may be contacted at ory- who’s going to pursue the project once essential needs. • http://www.pisni.org.ua/persons/712. [email protected]. No. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 23 OUT AND ABOUT

June 6-7 Free dance class, Eurasia Dance Society, June 21 Father’s Day Ukrainian Folk Festival, featuring Silver Spring, MD St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Horsham, PA U.S. Amateur Soccer Association’s National Cups [email protected] or 202-841-8325 Region I Championship Tournament, Ukrainian American Sports Center – Tryzub, 215-362-5331 June 12-14 Art Exhibit, “Lviv, Ukraine Pavilion,” Ukrainian or [email protected] Kingston, ON Canadian Club of Kingston, Regiopolis Notre-Dame High School, 613-549-5060 June 24-27 26th Conference, “Contemporary Ukraine: Champaign, IL Challenges and Perspectives,” University of Illinois June 13 Flea market, Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic at Urbana-Champaign, 217-356-9195 Baltimore, MD Church, 410-903-2142 or [email protected]

June 13 “June Wedding: Traditional Ukrainian Wedding June 27 Concert, “Steppes: A Ukrainian Journey,” featuring New York Songs” with Nadia Tarnawsky, The Ukrainian Philadelphia the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Prince Museum, 212-228-0110 or 212-571-1555 ext. 15 Music Theater, 215-569-9700 or www.princemusictheater.org June 13 Open House, Ukrainian Museum-Archives, Cleveland 216-781-4329 June 28 Ukrainian Festival and dinner, St. Anne Ukrainian Warrington, PA Catholic Church, 215-343-3948 June 13 60th anniversary banquet, League of Ukrainian Toronto Canadians, Ukrainian Cultural Center, 416-516-8223 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to June 14 Ukrainian film and food festival, Ukrainian events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome Lehighton, PA American Heritage Foundation, Ukrainian submissions from all our readers. Items will be published at the discre- Homestead, 570-708-1992 or 610-377-7750 tion of the editors and as space allows. Please send e-mail to mdubas@ ukrweekly.com. June 14 Annual picnic, Holy Trinity Particular Ukrainian Silver Spring, MD Catholic Church, 410-997-5382 or [email protected] Taras Chornovil, a Party of Regions Turning the pages... national deputy, said the decree was ille- June 16 Commemorative events, Victims of Communism (Continued from page 6) gal because the president can only call for Washington Memorial Foundation, 202-536-2373 pre-term elections exactly 60 days prior to in the compromise, and substantiated to a prescribed election date – in this June 19 Crab feast, Baltimore Ukrainian Festival claims that the Verkhovna Rada was dis- case, July 30, 2007. Perry Hall, MD Committee, Columbus Gardens Hall, 410-591-7566 solved. or [email protected] Mr. Yanukovych disregarded the Source: “Compromise on pre-term decree and wanted the decision to dis- elections is reached, but two sides dis- June 19-21 Yonkers Ukrainian Festival, St. Michael Ukrainian solve Parliament in the hands of the agree whether Rada is in session,” by Yonkers, NY Catholic Church, 914-963-0209 Constitutional Court, buying more time Zenon Zawada, The Ukrainian Weekly, www.brama.com/yonkersukrainianfest for his coalition. June 10, 2007. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 No. 22 PREVIEW OF EVENTS Saturday, June 6 reservations call 212-228-0110. For further Soyuzivka’s Datebook information call 212-571-1555, ext. 35. NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific Society invites all to a lecture by Prof. George Sunday, June 21 May 30-31 Ukrainian American June 21 UNA Father’s Day Gajecki (New York) titled “The Social Structure in the Hetmanate in the 17th-18th HORSHAM, Pa.: The popular Father’s Day Veterans Reunion Ukrainian Folk Festival will commence at June 21-July 2 Tennis Camp Centuries.” The lecture will be illustrated with slides. The program will take place at noon, at Tryzubivka, the Ukrainian American June 5-7 Wedding weekend Sport Center, located at County Line and June 27 Private party the society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th streets) at 5 p.m. Lower State Roads in Horsham, Pa. A 2 p.m. June 13-14 Program to be deter- For additional information call stage show will feature The Voloshky School mined June 27 USCAK Tennis 212-254-5130. of Ukrainian Dance, the Kosiv Orchestra and Tournament Weekend the Vyshyvanka Women’s Vocal Ensemble. A June 14-19 UNA Seniors Week Saturday, June 13 zabava/dance to the tunes of the orchestra June 28-July 5 Tabir Ptashat 1st NEW YORK: The Center for Traditional will follow. Tryzubivka will also host the U.S. June 19-21 Wedding weekend session; Exploration Day Camp 1 Music and Dance and The Ukrainian Amateur Soccer Association’s National Cups Museum present “June Wedding: Traditional Region I Championship Tournament. From Ukrainian Wedding Songs” with Nadia 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. some of the best ama- Tarnawsky and Ukrainian Women’s Voices, teur soccer teams (men’s, women’s and over an interactive evening of women’s polyphon- 30) in America will compete for the U.S. ic singing in village style, with co-host Julian Open and Amateur Region I National Cups. Kytasty of the New York Bandura Ensemble, There will be plenty of Ukrainian homemade and other special guests, at The Ukrainian foods and baked goods, picnic fare and cool Museum, 222 E. Sixth St. (between Second refreshments. Admission: $5 for adults; chil- and Third avenues) in Manhattan at 7 p.m. dren 13 and under, free. For more informa- Admission: $15 (CTMD/museum member, tion call 215-362-5331 or e-mail eluciw@ student and senior discounts available). For comcast.net; website, www.tryzub.org.

To book a room or event call: (845) 626-5641, ext. 140 PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES 216 Foordmore Road P.O. Box 529 Kerhonkson, NY 12446 Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a E-mail: [email protected] service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Website: www.Soyuzivka.com Ukrainian community.

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