www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Trade union leaders stage strike — page 2. • Ukraine opens new Permanent Mission to U.N. in Geneva — page 3. • Ternopil institute: a glimpse into private education in Ukraine — page 8. HE KRAINI A N EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXV No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1997 $1.25/$2 in Ukraine Senate confirms secretaries of state, defense Verkhovna Rada chairman calls by Volodymyr Chornodolsky increased concern toward the security of Ukrainian National Information Service countries in Central and East Europe. legislative session a success John Hillen, a defense policy analyst at WASHINGTON – For both the United the Heritage Foundation, said he believes by Roman Woronowycz He did admit that the Parliament and the States Senate and the Clinton administra- Secretaries Cohen and Albright are good Kyiv Press Bureau Cabinet of Ministers had continued to tion, Wednesday, January 22, was a monu- squabble over political power and the direc- choices for their respective positions. KYIV — Oleksander Moroz, chairman mental day. The Senate’s Republican “Secretary Albright is a strong candi- tion of economic reform, which he said was majority officially confirmed the appoint- of the Verkhovna Rada, called the work of no more than the disagreements that have date for Eastern Europe,” said Mr. the recently completed sixth session of ment of Madeleine Albright as secretary of Hillen, “especially with the expansion of plagued relations between the two bodies Ukraine’s legislature a success. Speaking state – the first woman to hold this high NATO moving from theory to reality.” for years. “I believe that the Verkhovna on January 24, he cited among the legisla- level federal position. Also that day, a for- Mr. Hillen estimated that Ms. Albright Rada, generally, has not been the initiator of tive accomplishments the enactment of a mer Republican senator from Maine, will “stand the ground on NATO when the controversies,” said Mr. Moroz. Constitution and a series of laws designed William Cohen, was confirmed by the others might back down.” He played down the fact that the legisla- Senate as the nation’s secretary of defense. On a more cautious note, Mr. Hillen to improve the social and economic condi- ture had been kept in session after its sched- These confirmations are an indication referred to Secretary Cohen as “an open tion of the Ukrainian population. uled Christmas dismissal until January 24 at that the 105th Congress and the newly book, because of the fact that he criti- Putting a positive spin on almost every the urging of President Leonid Kuchma, so re-elected president are moving toward a cized the administration’s waning posi- aspect of the Parliament’s work, Mr. that progress could be made on a tax reform closer bipartisan relationship. Both sec- tion toward Russia’s military doctrine Moroz even went so far as to call the rela- package and on the 1997 budget, which has retaries were confirmed by a vote of 99-0 and aggression, and now he is a part of tions between the legislature and been stalled in the Verkhovna Rada since (one senator from Virginia was not pre- that administration.” President Leonid Kuchma “good, as the end of October. The executive branch sent for the vote). On Friday, January 24, Secretary usual,” which brought a round of smirks and the legislature have tossed the package When asked, during his short Senate Albright held her first major press briefing. from the journalists attending the press back and forth, marking it up and rewriting confirmation hearing prior to the full conference held in the Verkhovna Rada Senate vote, about the likelihood of U.S. (Continued on page 3) Administrative Offices Building. (Continued on page 3) troop deployment throughout the world, Mr. Cohen responded; “Action would be taken to protect vital U.S. interests ... where they are important ... and occa- Bandurist’s memory returns home to Ukraine sionally when American troops are need- by Roman Woronowycz ed in Detroit, where he almost single- As Frank Sinatra might have said, ed in humanitarian operations.” handedly recreated the bandurist tradi- “they did it his way.” The late great Focusing on NATO, the future secre- Kyiv Press Bureau tion within the emigre community and maestro insisted that when individuals tary of defense hinted that he wants to KYIV – The memory of Hryhoriy established or helped create many ban- played his songs they give their own expand NATO over the next several Kytasty returned home to Ukraine on dura schools and choruses before his interpretations. The artists who played years to include countries of the former January 17. In the United States, death in 1984. Warsaw Pact, but not without first fully the first half of the program did just Canada, Germany and Australia, he On the 90th anniversary of his birth consulting with Russia. This is an issue that, giving their own renditions of his was well-known within the Ukrainian in the village of Kobeliaky, Poltava compositions, “Lvivskiy Frahmenty” that has been heavily debated by the U.S. diaspora as a great composer and con- region, he was honored with a grand Congress, Washington policy analysts (Lviv Fragments), the haunting “Homin ductor of the Ukrainian bandurist tradi- concert at the Ukrainian House of Stepiv” (Echo of the Steppes) and “Oy, and administration advisors. tion. In Ukraine, during the Soviet era, Culture in Kyiv. An over-capacity Mr. Cohen further reassured the Senate Sich, Maty” (Oh Sich, My Mother). his name was rarely mentioned. crowd of more than 4,000 people The performers included Liudmyla that he will work to ensure that U.S. troops Following a sojourn shared by many packed the hall to hear renowned are out of Bosnia by the end of the next 18- Posikira of Lviv and Kyivans World War II-era emigres that took him Ukrainian vocalists, bandurists and the Volodymyr Yesypok, Halyna Menkush, month commitment. He stated that he will from Ukraine to Germany and on to National Bandura Chorus of Ukraine travel to Europe in the next few weeks to North America, Maestro Kytasty land- celebrate his legacy. (Continued on page 16) try and convince U.S. allies to assume the full burden of the Bosnia peacekeeping operation by the middle of next year. Acknowledging his role in the new Clinton Cabinet as the only Republican, the nominee from Maine stated, “If I am confirmed, I am certain that, on occa- sion, there will be differences of views among us ... Uniformity of opinion with- in an administration is not an imperative, nor even an ideal to be sought.” The renowned author and expert on Soviet politics – in particular the former KGB – and vice-president of the American Foreign Policy Council, J. Michael Waller noted that he believes, “Cohen has a more realistic view of Central and Eastern European affairs and is definitely not as Moscow-centric [as previous administra- tion appointees] ... While in the Senate, he pressed for the release of documents on the Russian military doctrine and Russian troop activity in other countries.” Mr. Waller previously had expressed strong doubts about the Russo-centric posi- tion assumed by top level State Department officials and their desire to appease Russia. Roman Woronowycz In his opinion, Secretary Albright will pre- The National Bandura Chorus of Ukraine performs in tribute to Hryhoriy Kytasty. sent a favorable approach that reflects 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1997 No. 5 Trade union leaders stage strike in Kyiv to demand unemployment compensation Poland, Ukraine to sign reconciliation Udovenko’s visit last week to Geneva, by Roman Woronowycz with Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna where he said neutral Ukraine is not plan- Kyiv Press Bureau Rada Viktor Musiaka in the afternoon of WARSAW — Ukrainian President ning to join NATO. Earlier this month, January 23, after they had been denied Leonid Kuchma and his Polish counterpart National Security and Defense Council KYIV — Leaders of the National access to Mr. Moroz. The two sides could Aleksander Kwasniewski announced at a Secretary Volodymyr Horbulin had sug- Confederation of Trade Unions (NCTU) not agree on how the matter should be press conference in Warsaw that a declara- gested Ukraine might join NATO by 2010. staged a hunger strike in Ukraine’s resolved, said Mr. Pivovarov, because tion on reconciliation would be signed (OMRI Daily Digest) Parliament building the night of January “Mr. Musiaka’s solution was a lengthy when Mr. Kuchma returns to Poland in 23 after Parliament Chairman Oleksander process that we could not agree to.” May, Polish media reported on January 24. Kuchma greets Clinton on inauguration Moroz refused to meet their demands The group then decided they would not President Kwasniewski reiterated Poland’s regarding the issuance of funds for work- leave the building until they had met with support for Ukraine’s efforts to integrate KYIV — President Leonid Kuchma of ers’ unemployment compensation and Mr. Moroz, and declared a hunger strike. into European structures and the Central Ukraine sent a congratulatory message to how they are to be disbursed. At 10 p.m. they were granted a meeting European Free Trade Agreement, and said U.S. President Bill Clinton on his inaugu- They have accused the Parliament with the Parliament leader, which was NATO should conclude a partnership ration. Mr. Kuchma underlined the broad leader also of acting inhumanely in not “unproductive,” said Mr. Pivovarov. “We treaty with Ukraine similar to the one the range of possibilities for expansion of rela- giving them access to water, toilets and quickly realized that he held a grudge alliance intends to sign with Russia. The tions between the two countries now that emergency medical service.