INSIDE: • Senate resolution supports NATO MAP for Ukraine — page 3. • Plast scouts in Australia celebrate 50th jubilee — page 8. • Gryphon Trio nominated for Canada’s Juno awards — page 13. HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXXVI No. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Ukraine’s president announces Lev E. Dobriansky remembered plans for affordable housing at Georgetown University service by Illya M. Labunka of improved living conditions, while 1.3 Kyiv Press Bureau million Ukrainians are currently on a general waiting list for suitable housing. KYIV – In an effort to stimulate On the average, 87,000 apartments are regional and rural economic develop- constructed every year in Ukraine, of ment, President Viktor Yushchenko is which only 20,000 are earmarked and calling for a plan to make housing more subsidized by the government for low- readily accessible to the middle class. income citizens or those on public assis- And, to support his affordable housing tance, remarked the president. initiative, he is requesting an allocation As a result, Mr. Yushchenko under- of $98 million from the 2008 budget, scored that the construction of affordable which is scheduled to be reviewed next housing is to become a priority for month. Ukraine’s economy in 2008 – especially During a recent meeting with housing since such a policy will directly affect two-thirds of Ukraine’s citizens. authorities and experts, President While visiting Poltava Oblast on Yushchenko said that approximately 17 million Ukrainians are currently in need (Continued on page 17) ANALYSIS: President’s chief of staff Yaro Bihun quits Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party Ukraine’s First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko at the memorial service for Dr. Lev Dobriansky at Georgetown University. by Pavel Korduban interference in the activities of OUPU Eurasia Daily Monitor while serving as chief of the Presidential by Yaro Bihun independence are as actual today as they Secretariat. Mr. Baloha said that he is not were 50 years ago.” Viktor Baloha, the head of Ukrainian Special to The Ukrainian Weekly going to leave party politics, and that he Also addressing the memorial service President Viktor Yushchenko’s staff, has has “specific political plans” to imple- WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s first lady were Deputy Secretary of State John left Mr. Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine ment “that will always be connected with returned to her alma mater, Georgetown Negroponte; Georgetown University People’s Union (OUPU) party. Mr. Viktor Yushchenko.” Mr. Baloha added, University, to honor the memory of her President John DeGiola; Lee Edwards, Baloha apparently gave up on making “The democratic forces should be professor, mentor, long-time former pres- chairman of the Victims of Communism OUPU a reliable, strong political party strengthened so that political parties of ident of the Ukrainian Congress Memorial Foundation; David Rivkin, a capable of winning national elections. It the democratic camp should defeat the Committee of America and prominent former student and now a partner at is widely expected that Mr. Baloha will parties that are trying to impose political advocate of freedom for people living Baker Hostetler; and Dr. Dobriansky’s launch a new political project designed to slogans from the distant past on society.” under Communist oppression, Dr. Lev E. daughters, Larisa and Paula. help Mr. Yushchenko win the next presi- Many commentators interpreted this Dobriansky, who died on January 30 at Among the many government offi- dential election and possibly to help his statement as the start of work to launch a 89. cials, diplomats, friends, relatives, col- new party for Mr. Yushchenko, who will “He realized his dreams,” Kateryna team win an early parliamentary election. leagues and former students gathered in most probably run for re-election in Yushchenko told the several hundred Mr. Baloha declared his departure on the hall were UCCA President Michael January 2010. Vladyslav Kaskiv, leader people who gathered to pay their respects Sawkiw Jr., Ukraine’s Ambassador to the February 15. He explained that this move on February 19 at the university’s ornate should stop “speculations” about his (Continued on page 17) U.S. Oleh Shamshur and former U.S. Gaston Hall. “He realized the goals of Ambassador to Ukraine William Miller. dozens of captive nations, the prayers of Deputy Secretary Negroponte said he millions of oppressed peoples.” got to know Dr. Dobriansky well when She recalled her first meeting with both were serving as ambassadors under Preparations for soccer’s Euro 2012 hampered Prof. Dobriansky as an 18-year-old fresh- the Reagan administration – he in man in his economics class and how, Honduras and Ambassador Dobriansky over time, he convinced her to dedicate in the Bahamas. He characterized him as by Ukraine’s lack of coordination, inexperience her life to the cause of human rights, for being “prescient, tenacious, principled, captive nations and for Ukraine. She warm and resourceful,” as well as a by Illya M. Labunka for Euro-2012 Preparation, during a press became his assistant, headed the UCCA Kyiv Press Bureau conference on February 1. visionary, among other positive attrib- Washington office, worked with the utes. Dr. Dobriansky knew that commu- A close ally of President Viktor National Captive Nations Committee, in KYIV – Nine months after receiving the nism could not last, he said, and he pre- Yushchenko, Mr. Chervonenko, who was Congress, at the White House and, later, nod from the Union of European Football appointed chair of the agency late last year, dicted the collapse of the Soviet Union. she added – “at the earliest opportunity to “Lev Dobriansky did remember the Associations (UEFA) to co-host the 2012 has consistently voiced discontent over his implement what I had learned” – in free past,” Mr. Negroponte said. “His life’s UEFA European Football Championship agency’s inability to fulfill its duties due to and independent Ukraine. tournament together with Poland, work was a sustained effort of ensuring lack of proper authority. Dr. Dobriansky leaves behind thou- that the future would be better for us all – Ukraine’s preparations continue to be ham- “Today we have three competing nation- sands of grateful friends, colleagues and pered by political and commercial intrigue, not just Americans, but for people every- al organizations – the National Agency for students, Mrs. Yushchenko said, as well where.” lack of coordination and overall inexperi- Euro-2012 Preparation, the Ministry of as millions of people in many countries ence in organizing an event of such magni- “To Lev Dobriansky, freedom could Family, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry who, knowingly or not, in some measure have no limits,” he added. “This fueled tude. of the Economy,” stated Mr. Chernovenko. “owe their well-being to a hero, a schol- his extraordinary success, and it makes “There is no clear system of delineation The national agency has already devised a ar, a man who fought for their rights and us all grateful to have had the opportuni- of responsibility, no single body authorized plan of action in accordance with various freedoms, an idealist whose understand- ty to know him, to learn from him and to to make decisions,” said Yevhen ing of the inherent evil of totalitarianism, Chervonenko, head of the National Agency (Continued on page 18) people’s natural desire for freedom and (Continued on page 19) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2008 No. 8 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Differences over NATO may provoke Yatsenyuk has a solution for Rada a national referendum. (RFE/RL Newsline) KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman early Verkhovna Rada elections Arseniy Yatsenyuk has proposed that the Baloha leaves Our Ukraine party by Pavel Korduban Kolesnykov, one of the PRU’s leaders. parties in the Verkhovna Rada sign an KYIV – Presidential Secretariat head On January 25, the last day of the agreement aimed at resuming the Eurasia Daily Monitor Viktor Baloha announced on February 15 Verkhovna Rada’s work before winter Parliament’s work, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian that he will give up his membership in the The Ukrainian opposition has blocked vacation, the opposition blocked entrance Service reported on February 19. The Parliament since the end of January, Parliament has been deadlocked for sever- Our Ukraine People’s Union, the largest to the session hall to protest the MAP let- party in the Our Ukraine – People’s Self demanding a referendum on NATO mem- ter. An inexperienced Mr. Yatsenyuk, who al weeks over the opposition’s objections bership. The Party of the Regions (PRU) to the government’s attempts to move Defense bloc, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian became Rada chair just this past Service reported. Mr. Baloha said that all and the Communist Party (CPU) are con- December, did not know how to behave Ukraine closer to joining NATO. Mr. fident that Ukrainians will say no to Yatsenyuk proposed that the solution to possibilities connected with his member- in the situation. He unconvincingly ship in Our Ukraine were exhausted, but NATO. They believe public support for threatened to deny Parliament salaries to possible accession to NATO should be membership in the alliance has hardly based on the legislation currently in force, he stipulated that he will stay active in opposition national deputies, many of Ukraine’s political processes. “Regardless ever been higher than 25 percent, so a ref- and particularly on the law on the funda- whom are multimillionaires, and he failed of circumstances, my participation in erendum would postpone the membership mentals of Ukraine’s security. He also to adjourn the session properly. political processes will be always linked issue indefinitely. suggested that his signature on the letter This only added to the opposition’s with the person of [President] Viktor The ruling coalition of President Viktor asking NATO Secretary-General Jaap de self-assurance.