1NS1DE: e Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky speaks on recent synod - page 3. - Ukraine and stability in post-Cold War Europe - page 9. ^ News about Ukraine's embassies in Austria, Egypt, Britain - centerfold. THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association inc., a fraternal non-profit association vol. LXl! No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 24,1994 50 cents Ukraine, Russia Kyyiv signs on to CiS Economic Union as associate agree to split by Roman Woronowycz in a tug of war for almost a year trying to ments must first be ratified by Ukraine's Kyyiv Press Bureau determine how its economic relations Parliament. Black Sea Fleet with countries once part of the Soviet Foreign Ministry official Oleksander KYYiv - Ukraine signed an accord Union proceed. The document may help Chalin said Ukraine agreed to cooperate by Roman Woronowycz with the Commonwealth of independent mollify a faction within the country's in the economic alliance for five years Kyyiv Press Bureau States (CiS) on April 15 that will give it political leadership, including re-elected and that it can withdraw at any time after representation in all structures of the newly Parliament Deputy Leonid Kuchma, giving six months' notice. KYYiv - Ukraine and Russia have established CiS Economic Union as an which has been calling for closer eco– agreed to divide the Black Sea Fleet, a The most involved economic agree– associate member, but will limit its role nomic ties with Russia. ment signed by Ukraine supports estab– Foreign Ministry official announced here within the body to specific agreements. on April 19. Mr. Tarasiuk stressed, "it is important lishing a free trade zone for members of Ukraine's Assistant Minister of Foreign An agreement signed in Moscow on to understand that this does not change the Economic Union, which calls for the Affairs Borys Tarasiuk said Ukraine will April 15 between Ukraine's President Ukraine's position towards the Partnership gradual abolition of customs duties and financially support only those economic Leonid Kravchuk and Russia's President for Peace program or its responsibilities in tariffs. organizations in which it becomes Boris Yeltsin, where both leaders were economic relations with other countries." Another document calls for the even– involved, it will carry a vote where ques– attending the Commonwealth of He also said Ukraine will limit its respon– tual convertibility of currencies of all the independent States summit, will give tions are to be decided on documents the sibility for the work of the Economic member-countries to help smooth pay– each country 50 percent of the flotilla. country has signed or ratified. Otherwise, Union to those documents it has signed. ments for goods. Which currency should Ukraine will also receive 25 percent of its role will be restricted to consultation. He further explained that entry into be the basis of conversion quickly all other property associated with the Ukraine's political leadership has been the coalition and all associated docu– became an issue at the CiS summit held Sevastopil fleet. in Moscow, said Ukraine's Deputy Prime The two countries have bickered over Minister valentyn Landyk. "So far, only the division of the holdings of the naval Chomobyl eight years later the Russian ruble has been proposed," force of the former Soviet Union for said Mr. Landyk. "We are opposed to more than two years. Several previous working on only a Russian ruble basis." agreements seemed to have decided the Devastation and hope at the epicenter Other documents signed were on non- destiny of the flotilla, but dissension by Roman Woronowycz become clearer. The international economic issues, most notably, one that among naval officers on both sides did Kyyiv Press Bureau Atomic Energy Agency sent its second acknowledges the sovereignty and terri– not allow for implementation. team in two months here to review the torial integrity of the CiS member-states. The recent naval maneuverings CHORNOBYL - The cities of conditions of the four Chornobyl reac– Mr. Tarasiuk said he welcomed the CiS between the two countries in Odessa, Prypiat and Chornobyl near the site of tors and to make recommendations for a decision to officially recognize the bor– where on April 9 a Ukrainian hydrograph– the world's largest nuclear accident better analysis of radiation levels as well ders between Russia and Ukraine and ic ship, the Cheleken, was commandeered look as if the town of Tombstone of as to review current safety procedures. that discussions for practical implementa– to Sevastopil, brought the situation to a Wild West notoriety had been brought The team's findings and recommenda– tion of border controls are expected soon. head. back to the future. tions were to be made public at the (Continued on page 14) Deputy Foreign Minister Borys Slowly decaying buildings stand vienna conference of the ІАЕА sched– Tarasiuk said Ukraine will hand most of vacant. Nary a window remains unbro– uled to begin April 21, which Ukraine's its share of the ships over to Russia in ken. Tumbleweeds roll down unkempt Deputy Prime Minister valeriy Shmarov payment for oil and gas debts that have streets, where few people walk. Trucks is scheduled to attend. Four candidates been accumulating because Ukraine lacks and machinery, once used to haul volodymyr Kholosha, director of the financial capability to pay Russia for workers and their equipment to and the Chornobyl zone and deputy minis– vie for presidency much of its energy needs. "Ukraine will from the nuclear complex as they tried ter for Chornobyl issues, explained keep between 15 and 20 percent of the to put out the radiation-charged fires, that Ukraine will soon hire a consult– ships," said Mr. Tarasiuk. "Ukraine does now sit rusting in weed– and litter-cov– ing firm to study the future of cement- as deadline nears not need all of these ships." ered fields. encased reactor No. 4. He said guide- Minister Tarasiuk disputed some in the area between the two towns, by Roman Woronowycz lines were developed at the March Kyyiv Press Bureau Russian press reports that have suggested trees uprooted during the clean-up ІАЕА meetings, by which Ukraine has the fleet would be divided according to effort lie scattered about. Many of the extended a request for bids to interna– KYYiv - With only days remaining the Massandra protocol, an agreement ones that survived the raking over bear tional consulting firms to determine to register, another candidate has entered signed last year that stipulated Ukraine no foliage. Mohyla-like mounds how to best re-seal the crippled reac– the ring for the upcoming presidential would renounce claims to all of the appear sporadically in open fields - tor's cracking and disintegrating sar– elections still scheduled for June 26 of Black Sea Fleet. Many believe President the buried remains of what once were cophagus. "in June we expect to this year, bringing the total to four. Kravchuk signed that agreement under homes. Fields that yielded wheat, now choose a consultant to make recom– The latest to put on his gloves is duress: that Russia had threatened to turn bear wild grass and weeds. mendations for further safeguarding of Director of the Fund for Economic off all oil and gas supplies if Ukraine did Today, however, the major tragedy block No. 4," said Mr. Kholosha. Recovery and Parliament Deputy not acquiesce to Russia's demands. is not what happened at Chornobyl but Mykola Maziukevych, who is in volodymyr Lanovy. The deputy's press Mr. Tarasiuk said, "Ukraine is follow– what little has happened since. charge of monitoring the contaminated secretary, Kyrylo Kulykov, told The ing an integrated approach to the prob– On April 26, eight years will have zone, said that radiation levels have Weekly on April 21 that the vulcan lem of the Black Sea Fleet, taking into passed since reactor No. 4 at the leveled in the last year. However, he worker's collective had submitted signa– account the provisions of the Dagomys, Chornobyl Atomic Energy Station, underlined that the biggest threat to the tures sufficient to register Mr. Lanovy Yalta and Zavidovo agreements, as well located between Chornobyl and stabilization of nucleide levels are the for the elections. as those of Massandra." Prypiat, blew up, sending tons of forces of nature. "Storms and forest He joins Oleksander Moroz of the The details were scheduled to be nuclear debris into the atmosphere. fires, which are especially a threat in Socialist Party, Petro Symonenko of the worked out April 21 when the defense Since then, most of the inhabitants of the summer, are our biggest concern. Communist Party and Leonid Kuchma of ministers of Ukraine and Russia were to this ill-fated place, located a two Other than that, the only real reason the inter-Regional Bloc for Reforms, all meet in Sevastopil. The central question hours' drive north of Kyyiv near the that radiation levels would increase of whom have submitted their petitions to be decided is who will get what. confluence of the Prypiat and Dnipro would be if another steam cloud from for registration through their respective Moscow has proposed that Russia rivers, have been relocated. But their the remaining reactors was to be organizations. should obtain control of strategic war- future as well as that of the reactor released." A fifth candidate, Parliament ships, such as antisubmarine vessels and responsible for their tragedy remains The director of the monitoring labs, Chairman ivan Pliushch, was expected to cruisers, and that Ukraine would take the uncertain. announce his candidacy at a press con– The plight of reactor No. 4 may soon (Continued on page 15) (Continued on page 8) (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 24,1994 No.