www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Kuchma fires procurator general on suspicion of corruption — page 3. • “Famine Remembrance Week” scheduled in New York — page 4. • New stamp honors Ukrainian Canadian astronaut — page 13. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXI HE No.KRAINIAN 44 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2003 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine Montreal Ukrainians protest Dispute over Tuzla changes Ukraine’s stance toward Russia T U by Roman Woronowycz W Russian actions near Tuzla Kyiv Press Bureau by Simon Kouklewsky KYIV – Ukraine’s President Leonid Kuchma signaled on October 27 that the MONTREAL – Montreal Ukrainians dispute over the construction of a dike to gathered in front of the Russian link Russian territory with a Ukrainian- Federation’s General Consulate here on owned island in the Kerch Strait could Wednesday, October 29, to voice their turn Ukraine onto a more direct path disapproval of Russian pretensions to towards Europe. Mr. Kuchma noted his Ukrainian territory. More than 30 surprise and displeasure with the re- demonstrators waved signs reading: emergence of Russian imperialistic “Russia, respect Ukraine’s borders!” – ambition in Moscow’s attitude toward “Russie, respectez les frontières de Kyiv during the crisis. l’Ukraine!” “The recent events will force us to These slogans were also chanted by reconsider our foreign policy once the demonstrators together with: “Good again,” explained President Kuchma in neighbors respect borders” – “Les bons an interview with the Moscow-based voisins respectent les frontières.” Izvestia newspaper, and added that “it The president of the Ukrainian will not make the Russian great power Canadian Congress, Montreal Branch – happy.” Quebec Provincial Council, the Very Mr. Kuchma gave his interview on Rev. Dr. Ihor Kutash, read a press release AP October 23, three days after he aborted a prepared by the UCC National President President Leonid Kuchma looks through binoculars at the Russian dike being state visit to Brazil and returned to Kyiv Eugene Czolij. In addition, historical and constructed near the island of Tuzla, Ukraine. to oversee the escalating crisis over the recent developments were related regard- construction of a dike in the Kerch Strait, ing Tuzla Island. belonged to Ukraine and would not be believe the construction of the [dike] is a which Russia had begun from its Taman The demonstration was conducted in the subject of negotiations, slamming his manifestation of that [type of thinking].” Peninsula without informing Ukraine. Canada’s two official languages. fist to the table to lend emphasis to his President Kuchma said Ukraine would Russia’s President Vladimir Putin The event, which transpired during the declaration, according to the Novyi abandon the Single Economic Space ordered construction halted the same day lunch hour ended with the singing of the Kanal television channel. agreement should the Russian dike cross Mr. Kuchma flew back to Kyiv, after he national anthems of Canada and Ukraine. During his interview with Izvestia the Ukrainian border. spoke with the Ukrainian president via All relevant (French, English and three days later, Mr. Kuchma was just as The construction of the sand-and- telephone. Upon his return Mr. Kuchma Ukrainian) local media received press indignant and emotional. He compared stone wall to Tuzla, which was halted immediately left for Tuzla, the five-mile- releases the evening before. Three cov- Russia’s attempt to take Tuzla to the for- just 100 meters short of Ukrainian terri- ered the demonstration: Radio Canada long strip of an island at the center of the eign policy of the Chinese Middle tory, began on September 29 4.5 kilome- International (Ukrainian Section – diplomatic storm, which Ukraine Empire. ters away, on Russia’s southwesternmost www.rcinet.ca), Ukrainian Time (Radio believes Russia is trying to reclaim in “Everything was declared in their point, the tip of the Taman Peninsula. It CFMB – www.UkrainianTime.com) and order to give itself an advantage in nego- master’s ownership,” noted Mr. Kuchma went on for nearly two weeks before www.Quebec-Ukraine.com/news/ (pho- tiations over delimitation of the Kerch in explaining the foreign policy of Moscow finally responded to two official tos). Strait and the Sea of Azov. China’s Middle Empire. “A similar atti- diplomatic notes from Kyiv requesting At a press conference on the island the tude is typical of some Russians with an explanation. When the reply finally (Continued on page 18) Ukrainian president asserted that Tuzla respect to the CIS member-countries. We came, its contents were quite unexpect- ed: Russia demanded that diplomats in Kyiv present proof the island belonged to Ukraine. Ukraine responded forcefully to the Australians’VICTORIA, Australia tree-planting – Australians ceremony commemorates Famine victims belligerent request from Moscow by on Saturday, October 25, planted many sending armed border troops to the hundreds of trees to commemorate the island and conducting live-fire military millions who perished in Stalin’s act of exercises less than 50 miles from the dis- genocide against the Ukrainian nation, puted building project. the Great Famine of 1932-1933. Even with construction of the dike In gusty conditions at Point Cook now halted, the possibility of armed con- Coastal Reserve, Victoria’s Ukrainian flict receding and official acknowledg- community was joined by: Kaye ment by the two governments that the Darveniza, parliamentary secretary to the issue of ownership of the Kerch Strait premier; Nicola Roxon, federal shadow and the Sea of Azov at long last needs to minister for immigration and multicul- be resolved, the two sides continued to tural affairs; Andrew Olexander, repre- bicker. senting the Liberal Party; Telmo A day after Ukraine’s Prime Minister Languiller, member of the government of Viktor Yanukovych met with his Russian Victoria; Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine counterpart, Mikhail Kasyanov, in Oleksander Mischenko; as well as repre- Moscow on October 24 to negotiate a sentatives of the Croatian, Cypriot, way out of the dispute, the two govern- Laotian, Lithuanian and Scottish com- ments were at it again, this time dis- munities, and journalist Steve Waldon of agreeing over whether the terms they The Age. hammered out in Moscow included the The tree-planting ceremony was pre- removal of Ukrainian border troops from ceded by a solemn church service con- the island. ducted by Catholic and Orthodox clergy During the tree-planting ceremony commemorating the 10 million who perished in Hours after Mr. Yanukovych had flown the Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (from left) are: Stefan Romaniw, (Continued on page 18) Telmo Languiller, Oleksander Mischenko and George Fedyszyn. (Continued on page 21) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2003 No. 44 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Russian-Ukrainian strategic partnership Border guards hunker down the democratic opposition for the next presidential election will be discussed at appears to be in ruins due to Tuzla issue TUZLA ISLAND, Ukraine – A a democratic forum in Kyiv in six weeks’ Ukrainian border-guard unit deployed time. (RFE/RL Newsline) by Taras Kuzio Ukraine has always been for a territorial earlier this month to Tuzla Island in the RFE/RL Newsline status quo; it defends its territorial integrity Kerch Strait is preparing to spend the SBU sees no threat to Yushchenko winter there, Interfax reported on based on everything it inherited from KYIV – The Security Service of The recent dispute over the tiny Tuzla Soviet Ukraine. Ukrainian officials remind- October 29, quoting a State Border Ukraine (SBU) on October 28 said it sees Island in the Kerch Strait, the entrance to ed their Russian colleagues that copies of Troops spokesman. Russian Prime no threat to the life of Our Ukraine leader the Azov Sea, should not be happening. Soviet documents showing Ukraine’s right Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said after his Viktor Yushchenko but added that securi- The Ukrainian-Russian “strategic partner- to Tuzla exist in both Kyiv and Moscow. talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, ty has been provided for his protection, ship” – which was devoid of real content The Ukrainian side was infuriated by Viktor Yanukovych, in Moscow on Interfax reported. The move was prompt- during Ukrainian President Leonid Russia’s claims that it does not possess and October 24, and repeated on October 28, ed by President Leonid Kuchma’s order Kuchma’s first term in office and under is unaware of any such documents. Russia that the two men agreed that the con- that the SBU and the Internal Affairs Russian President Boris Yeltsin – was has also always insisted that there are no tentious construction of a Russian dam in Ministry look into Mr. Yushchenko’s beginning to be filled with some substance legal documents proving that the port of the Kerch Strait will not be extended any recent allegations that political oppo- during Mr. Kuchma’s second term and Sevastopol was transferred together with further toward Tuzla in exchange for the nents are trying to kill him. (RFE/RL under Russian President Vladimir Putin. Crimea to Soviet Ukraine in 1954. removal of Ukrainian border guards from Newsline) As the Kuchmagate crisis unfolded after Russia’s attitude toward CIS “inter- the island. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian November 2000 and the reformist govern- Foreign Affairs Ministry on October 27 nal” borders remains ambivalent. After Prime ministers discuss Tuzla ment of Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko years of territorial demands on Crimea refuted Mr. Kasyanov’s assertion by say- was removed in April 2001, Ukraine’s and the port of Sevastopol, Russia agreed ing that Mr. Yanukovych only stressed MOSCOW – Russian Prime Minister multi-vector foreign policy was reoriented to sign a treaty that recognized Ukraine’s during the talks that Tuzla is an inalien- Mikhail Kasyanov and Ukrainian Prime toward Russia and the CIS. borders only in May 1997.