INSIDE:• Lviv students protest interference in rector’s election — page 3. • Ukrainians in the Canadian census — pages 9-10. • Special section: our community’s debutantes — pages 11-15. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXI No. 13 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2003 $1/$2 in Ukraine HE KRAINIANMajority of Ukraine’sEEKLY citizens Ukraine’sT economicU indicators point W against U.S.-led war in Iraq to robust growth in January-February by Roman Woronowycz factories in some industries, particulary by Roman Woronowycz circumstances.” Kyiv Press Bureau to electricity providers. Kyiv Press Bureau Another 10 percent said the operations In 2002 Ukraine’s economic expan- would be acceptable only if weapons of KYIV – Newly released indicators sion slowed to an annual rate of 4.1 per- KYIV – Not only are Ukrainians over- mass destruction were found on Iraqi ter- show that Ukraine’s economy has cent after hitting 9.1 percent growth in whelmingly against war in Iraq, but large ritory. Only 2.5 percent agreed that there returned to robust growth in the first two 2001. Last year’s slowdown was precipi- numbers of them also see no reason for is no good reason to invade Iraq. The poll months of this year, after an economic tated by a growth rate of only 3.6 percent having sent a Ukrainian army decontami- was conducted prior to the onset of the slowdown in 2002 had caused concern for January-February. The strong initial nation battalion to provide support Iraqi conflict, between February 27 and that a contraction may be imminent. figures for this year have led Ukraine’s should Saddam Hussein order a chemical March 9, and included 1,200 respondents Numbers released by the government Ministry of the Economy to raise its out- or biological attack against U.S. or from all the regions of Ukraine, with a on March 25 show that in the January- British troops in the region. sampling error of 3 percent. look for the year from 4 percent annual February time period the gross domestic These conclusions were revealed by Equally interesting were responses GDP growth to 6 percent. product (GDP) increased by 7.2 percent, several sociological surveys done in given to a survey conducted by the President Kuchma said he was partic- with 7.7 percent growth in January, fol- Ukraine in response to the onset of hos- Razumkov Center for Economic and ularly pleased with a sharp upturn in lowed by a 6.7 percent increase in tilities by a U.S. led coalition against Iraq Political Research which asked machine building, which he said has his- February. and its president. Ukrainians whether they support the torically been the cornerstone of a strong President Leonid Kuchma, speaking at A study conducted by the polling firm deployment of the Ukrainian Army’s Ukrainian economy. In the first two a regular monthly press briefing, praised Taylor, Nelson, Sofrez–Ukraine and 19th Battalion to the Persian Gulf to sup- months of 2003 the sector showed a pro- the government of Prime Minister Viktor funded by the non-governmental organi- port chemical and bacteriological clean- duction increase of 12 percent over 2002. Yanukovych for smoothing out the eco- zation Democratic Initiatives showed that up should such weapons of mass destruc- Industrial Policy Minister Anatolii tion be used. The Verkhovna Rada nomic bumps that had threatened contin- an astonishing 82 percent of Ukrainians ued economic expansion, but said that Mialytsia predicted on March 13 that the hold the view that “the military opera- (Continued on page 22) reforms needed to be completed to (Continued on page 22) tions in Iraq are not acceptable under any assure longer-term growth, which would put the country at a level of development comparable to other European countries. “The performance of the last two months has shown that the negative ten- “Songsby Roman of Woronowyczthe Underground”Near the Kyivfestival Conservatory, raises 14-year- awarenesspassers-by. They say of that poverty by playing on dencies of last year have been dealt Kyiv Press Bureau old Ihor Lobok plays his violin several the street they can earn a living, however with,” said President Kuchma. times a week. The wunderkind, who has meager, while perfecting their art and He noted that he remaines concerned KYIV – Halyna Lobova sings the twice been double-promoted at school attaining public exposure. about the continued large debt carried by “Ave Maria” nearly every day in the and is currently completing the 10th These are but a few of Ukraine’s underpass beneath the Khreschatyk that grade, performs on the square before the poverty-stricken citizens – the ones who connects the two sides of Independence building on a violin he borrows from the still retain initiative and hope. Many more Square. People have become familiar school he attends. He is raising money to have given up. Today they walk the Former minister arrested with her soaring soprano, which she has buy his own. streets during the day and dig through demonstrated at the spot for nearly five Down the road two teenage rockers trash containers, while at night they take on charges of corruption years – ever since she became a pension- scream a punk anthem accompanied by a illegal refuge in apartment buildings for a er. Many of them regularly give her a few Cone folk guitar. They use the instru- few hours of restless sleep. Others find coins as they pass by. ment’s case to hold donations from their sanctuary in a bottle and sleep where by Roman Woronowycz they drop. Kyiv Press Bureau There are few Ukrainian civic organi- KYIV – Ukrainian law enforcement zations that deal with the destitute – per- officials detained a former vice prime haps because most Ukrainians, according minister of agriculture on March 24 on to Western standards, are themselves charges of corruption and tax evasion. considered poverty-stricken. At least one The charges came after President Leonid group, however, has decided that some- Kuchma ordered an investigation into one must bring attention to the plight of reports of huge grain shortages in the the poorest Ukrainians. country. The Union of Humanists of Ukraine, The Procurator General’s Office has an organization of students and journal- charged Leonid Kozachenko with abuse ists, was recently formed with the self- of office for taking bribes for the illegal proclaimed aim of helping those in need. sale of grain to foreign buyers at reduced One of its first projects, held on February prices. He has also been charged with tax 5, was “Songs of the Underground,” a evasion for failing to declare 584,940 hrv festival of musicians who perform in as director general of the firm Kyiv’s underground walkways, at Metro UkrAgroBusiness. entrances and, generally, whereever the As vice prime minister in the govern- public gathers. In return, they receive ment of Anatolii Kinakh from June 2001 whatever passers-by offer – mostly coins, to November 2002, Mr. Kozachenko was but at times also fruits and sweets. in charge of agricultural policy. If con- The organization, which underscores victed he could face up to eight years that it is a non-profit group not connected to any political organization, scoured imprisonment on the first charge and 10 UNIAN years on the second. The case is one of Kyiv’s streets in preparation for the festi- Ihor Lobok, 14, who plays on the streets to raise money to realize his 90 such investigations Ukraine’s chief val, searching for those who were willing dream of owning his own violin, relaxes before appearing at the “Songs of law enforcement agency has been pursu- to come in from the cold for a day and the Underground” Festival. (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 20) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2003 No. 13 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS U.S.-Ukraine relations: revitalization NEWSBRIEFS Ukrainian officers arrive in Kuwait Kinakh re-elected as party leader possible only after Kuchma retires KYIV – A group of 15 Ukrainian offi- KYIV – The third congress of the cers arrived in Kuwait on March 22 to Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Party of by Taras Kuzio percent), with Poland coming in at second prepare the deployment of a Ukrainian Ukraine on March 22 unanimously re- (79 percent). A December 2002 poll by the anti-nuclear, -biological, and -chemical elected former Ukrainian Prime Since Ukraine became an independent Kyiv International Institute for Sociology (NBC) battalion, ITAR-TASS reported. Minister Anatolii Kinakh as its leader, state in December 1991, U.S.-Ukraine rela- (KIIS) found that 61 percent held positive The officers will identify measures to be Interfax reported. Mr. Kinakh was the tions have undergone many changes, one attitudes toward the U.S., a figure still high taken to ensure the safety of Kuwaitis only candidate for the post. The con- reason being that U.S.-Ukraine relations but lower than the Pew poll. The KIIS poll and to gather information about the sani- gress also adopted a resolution that cannot be treated in isolation from U.S.- showed that in the decade between 1992 tary and epidemiological situation in the reads that the main goals of the party Russia relations. In the post-Soviet era when and 2002 there had been a decline of 20 area, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry told are its development as a nationwide U.S.-Russia relations were poor (1995- percent from the 81 percent positive view the news agency. The NBC battalion movement, protection of national eco- 1999) U.S.-Ukraine relations were good. of the U.S. in 1992. comprising 432 servicemen will stay in nomic and political interests, achieve- Conversely, when U.S.-Russia relations These positive views of the United Kuwait for at least six months in accor- ment of worthy and equal integration of were good (1992-1994, since 2001) U.S.- States have not prevented a deterioration in dance with an agreement between the Ukraine into the global community, cre- Ukraine relations were poor.