INSIDE: l WFUWO at U.N. Commission on the Status of Women – page 5 l Vitaly Portnikov: sober voice in post-Maidan Ukraine – page 8 l Our community: Miami, Boston, Philadelphia – page 14 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 $2.00 Portugal wins Eurovision Song Contest, Poroshenko lauds closer ties with EU, Ukraine touts contest as great success admits ‘there’s much left to be done’ KYIV – Portugal was the top vote-getter inspired by the Soviet authorities’ mass in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, the deportation of Crimean Tatars to Central annual festival traditionally watched by a Asia in that year. The Crimean Tatar singer television audience of an estimated 200 returned to the contest this year, singing her million people. Some 4 million people new song “I Believe in U” as an interval act watched the contest’s grand final, breaking during the grand final on May 13. previous records, according to the official President Petro Poroshenko met with website of Eurovision 2017. organizers and hosts of the European Singer Salvador Sobral was declared the music contest and congratulated them on winner early on May 14 in the Ukrainian the successful completion of the contest. capital of Kyiv, giving Portugal its first victory “My sincere congratulations to you all. since it initially entered the contest in 1964. Eurovision 2017 was organized at a very The winner was determined by a combina- high level. This is the result of a very effi- tion of points awarded by national juries and cient coordination and interaction of your voting by telephone and text message from and our team,” he said. participant countries. The winning song was “Despite concerns of skeptics about pos- titled “Amar Pelos Dois,” written and com- sible threats, I am proud that we have made posed by the singer’s sister, Luisa Sobral. this wonderful event. Nobody could stop Ukraine won the right to host the event by us,” the president underscored, as he invit- virtue of its representative, Jamala, winning the event last year with her song “1944,” (Continued on page 4) Presidential Administration of Ukraine At the signing ceremony for a new visa-liberalization regime with the European Union in Strasbourg on May 17 (from left) are: Malta’s Interior Minister Carmelo Abela (whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU), Member of the European Parliament Mariya Gabriel, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. In his May 14 press conference, Mr. Poroshenko cited Ukraine’s closer ties with the European Union as a major achievement. by Mark Raczkiewycz He said that on May 17 he will visit Strasbourg, where the Council of Europe is KYIV – President Petro Poroshenko tout- located, to attend a signing ceremony of the ed Ukraine’s deepening integration with the visa-free travel legislation on the back of a European Union and fielded questions about working visit to Malta on May 16. Mr. law and order, corruption, progress on Poroshenko, 51, will also start a series of reforms and his businesses on May 14 dur- meetings with the leaders of the Group of ing his first news conference in 16 months. Seven industrialized nations, starting with Speaking of the EU’s decision to waive German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin visa requirements on May 11, the president on May 20. said: “Only crazy people can consider Citing other positive aspects of his Ukraine to be part of the so-called ‘Russian administration, Mr. Poroshenko named world.’ Ukraine is part of a united Europe signing a political pact and free-trade stretching from Lisbon to Kharkiv. For agreement with the 28-nation EU, the three years Russia has tried everything to Vladimir Gontar/UNIAN ongoing prosecution of fugitive ex-Presi- block Ukraine’s path towards the EU. But The winner of Eurovision 2017, Salvador Sobral of Portugal, with last year’s winner, dent Viktor Yanukovych for treason and Crimean Tatar singer Jamala from Ukraine. nothing will stop our path to Europe.” other crimes, and the successful hosting of this year’s Eurovision song contest. “Much has been accomplished. Am I happy? No,” he told reporters. “There were some human errors made, [and] delays in Ukraine Mission hosts “Ukrainian Insights” exhibit at U.N. reforms.” The president also said he isn’t happy by Matthew Dubas The exhibit, curated by Natalia On display at the exhibit were: “Cupola,” Shpitkov skaya and art director Tamara a four-panel ethereal image of people with the investigation into the high-profile UNITED NATIONS – The Permanent Shevchenko, is on display at the Delegates seeming to ascend and descend in midair death of journalist Pavel Sheremet who Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Entrance Hall, is free to the public and and a fiberglass/plastic sculpture was killed in a car bomb explosion on July on May 16 officially opened an art exhibit, concludes on May 26. “Deperso nalization” by Mr. Sydorenko; an 20, 2016. “Ukrainian Insights,” that featured works Nearly 100 people attended the open- installation of the four-panel painting “Regretfully, I was expecting a better by contemporary artists from Ukraine: ing of the exhibit and reception, which “Happiness of Labor” by Mr. Tistol flanked outcome. I’m not satisfied that we haven’t found the killers and that they haven’t been Victor Sydorenko, Oleg Tistol, Mykola was paired with a lecture, “A Dialogue by two 12-panel squares using folk motifs, brought to justice,” he noted. Matsenko and Valentin Popov. The latest with Timothy Snyder About Ukraine,” by “Neofolk,” by Mr. Matsenko; and three Mr. Poroshenko told journalists that Ihor example of “cultural diplomacy” by the Prof. Timothy Snyder of Yale University, paintings by Mr. Popov, “From… to…,” “Red Ustymenko, a former Security Service of Permanent Mission, the exhibit aims to also hosted by the Ukraine’s Mission to Candles” and “Life is painful, suffering is Ukraine (SBU) officer who was at the crime show the cultural, political and spiritual the U.N. (More information about the lec- optional.” scene several times before the bomb deto- aspects of Ukraine and the promise of ture and Prof. Snyder’s latest book, “On nated, according to an investigation by Ukraine’s future in a global context. Tyranny,” will appear in the May 28 issue.) (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 11) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 No. 21 ANALYSIS Moscow spoils every opportunity Visa-free EU travel deal is signed than 300-year history... and today Ukraine is returning home.” Relations between STRASBOURG – Representatives of the Moscow and Kyiv have been severely to improve relations with U.S. European Parliament and the European strained since Russia seized Crimea in Oval Office with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak Council have signed a document in March 2014 and fomented unrest in east- by Pavel K. Baev Strasbourg formalizing a long-awaited visa- was definitely a mistake (Newsru.com, May ern Ukraine, where a war between govern- Eurasia Daily Monitor liberalization deal with Ukraine. The deal 11). Mr. Kislyak is implicated in several ment forces and Russia-backed separatists was signed by the president of the The Kremlin continues to cling to hopes scandals involving key members of Mr. has killed more than 9,900 people. Russia’s European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, and that it can build a rapport with the Trump Trump’s election team, and investigations interference in Ukraine, where Kyiv and Malta’s Interior Minister Carmelo Abela. administration; those expectations copious- into these connections by the U.S. Congress NATO say it has supported the separatists Malta currently holds the rotating presiden- ly developed at the start of the year, only to inevitably generate demands to punish with troops, weapons and other backing, cy of the European Union. Ukrainian succumb to one cold shower after another Russia (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 11). prompted the European Union and the since then. Yuri Ushakov, President President Petro Poroshenko, who was pres- Mr. Trump’s abrupt firing of Federal United States to impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s long-serving foreign policy ent at the ceremony, said the signing of the Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Moscow. (RFE/RL) aide, recently asserted that the “difficult leg- James Comey overshadowed the moderate- agreement represents a landmark in acy” left by the administration of President ly positive effect of Mr. Lavrov’s talks and Ukraine’s history. “It is an absolutely historic Rada backs ban on St. George ribbon Barack Obama was gradually sorted out day for Ukraine, for my 45 million nation, was invariably interpreted in Moscow as KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada has despite the resistance of “certain forces in triggered by the investigations of Russia’s and I am absolutely confident that this is a approved legislation introducing fines and the American establishment” (RIA Novosti, interference in the elections (Novaya historic day for the European Union,” Mr. Poroshenko said after the signing. “Ukraine potential jail time for people who appear in May 12). Yet, he could not refrain from Gazeta, May 11). Mainstream commenta- returns to the European family. Ukraine says public wearing as a black-and-orange rib- warning about the “limits of Russia’s tors argue that the U.S. president has a final farewell to the Soviet and Russian bon widely viewed a patriotic emblem in patience” regarding the diplomatic proper- launched a counter-offensive against empire,” he added. Mr. Tajani said the visa Russia, but which many Ukrainians see as a ty “confiscated” by the United States in “Russophobes” in his own administration, liberalization was a “good message” to “very symbol of Russian aggression.