www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: Euro-Maidan not satisfi ed with pace of reforms – page 4 Fear rife among Crimea’s Tatar population – page 5 Ruslana honored by U.S. secretary of state – page 10 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine G-7 tells Russia to stop ‘annexation’ Th ousands in Washington protest of Crimea or face action against Russian aggression RFE/RL Leaders of the G-7 group of advanced economies told Russia on March 12 it risked facing international action unless it stops its moves toward the “annexation” of Crimea, as U.S. President Barack Obama prepared to host Ukraine’s prime minister at the White House. A statement from the seven nations released from the White House says a referendum on joining Russia, sched- uled for this weekend, “would have no legal effect” and they won’t recognize its results. It said Russia must “cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea.” Credit The statement from the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States – along Yaro Bihun with the European Council and the Protesters gather in front of the White House to condemn Russian aggression in Crimea and Ukraine. European Commission – said “further action, individually and collectively,” by Matthew Dubas across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian will be taken against Russia if it pro- Maryland and the surrounding Washington Catholic Church and Bishop Daniel of the ceeds with what it called the “annexa- WASHINGTON – More than 2,000 people area, were Crimean Tatars, Poles, Estonians, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., tion” of Crimea. gathered on March 6 in front of the White Lithuanians, Latvians, Turks, Circassians, who were joined by clergy from both the The statement did not elaborate on House in Washington, D.C., at the residence Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Georgians and, Orthodox and Catholic Churches. “Let none the nature of the action Russia was fac- of the president of the United States of of course, Ukrainians. surrender to evil and mistrust,” they ing. But earlier on March 12, European America, Barack Obama, to protest against The protest, which ran from 1 p.m. to prayed, asking for prayers for Ukraine’s Commission President Jose Manuel the Russian invasion of Crimea and approximately 3:30 p.m., was organized by oppressors who are “lost souls.” Prayers Barroso told the European Parliament President Vladimir Putin’s violation of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of were offered also for the human sacrifices in Strasbourg that such action would international laws. America (UCCA). of those in Ukraine, who, through their have “far-reaching” effects. Among the protesters, who came by the Following the singing of the Ukrainian, demonstration on the Maidan, showed “no “If meaningful negotiations do not busload from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, U.S. and Crimean national anthems, an begin within the next days and produce Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston and from opening prayer was led by Metropolitan- (Continued on page 11) results within a limited time frame, this will trigger additional measures,” Mr. Barroso said. “And a further deteriora- tion of the situation could lead to far- reaching consequences, which, I sin- Ukraine presses its case at the United Nations cerely hope, can be avoided.” Mr. Barroso also said the 28-nation by Roma Hadzewycz news conference on March 7, have been bloc will discuss next week an addi- recognized by the U.N. Security Council as NEW YORK – Since Russian forces invad- tional $1.39 billion in assistance for acts of aggression under the provisions of ed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula on Ukraine. U.N. Resolution 3314 (adopted in 1974), February 28, Ukraine has been the topic of Meanwhile, German Chancellor which defined aggression. Ambassador five meetings in the course of 10 days of the Angela Merkel said on March 12 that Sergeyev noted that 14 of the 15 members United Nations Security Council. The num- the political part of a key agreement of the Security Council agree that Russia ber of Russian troops in Crimea has since between Ukraine and the European has violated the U.N. Charter, as well as the grown to 30,000, according to Ambassador Union could be signed as early as next principles of the Security Council. Russia, of Yuriy Sergeyev, Ukraine’s envoy to the U.N. week. Speaking after talks in Warsaw course, is the lone holdout and, since it is Yet another meeting of the Security Council with Polish Prime Minister Donald one of the five permanent members of the was scheduled for the afternoon of March 13 Tusk, Merkel said the Association Security Council, it holds veto power. as Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was to Agreement would be signed “probably Furthermore, Mr. Sergeyev said, Russia is address that body a day after he met with U.S. at the next EU summit” scheduled for telling “bald-faced lies” as it continues President Barack Obama in Washington. March 20-21. toward its goal of taking over Crimea. Such Mr. Sergeyev, whose formal title is Deposed Ukrainian President Viktor lies include references to the Russian- Ambassador Extraordinary and speaking population being threatened and Yanukovych’s sudden decision not to Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative sign the agreement last November its rights violated; the presence of anti-Sem- of Ukraine to the United Nations, has been at ites and Nazis in the interim government of sparked mass protests that led to the the forefront in pressing Ukraine’s case at toppling of his government and the Ukraine; and statements that refer to the United Nations. In addition, he has been Russian self-defense forces, and not Russian subsequent Russian intervention in presenting Ukraine’s position to numerous Crimea. Roma Hadzewycz military, as being on the ground in Ukraine. news media, giving some 80 interviews in Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev, Ukraine’s Russia, he explained is employing “the (Continued on page 18) the two weeks since the crisis began. envoy to the United Nations, speaks at a Russia’s actions in Ukraine, he said at a press conference on March 7. (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2014 No. 11 ANALYSIS Russian forces in Crimea: Who are they NATO to deploy AWACS Agreement with Ukraine, while also offer- ing Kyiv an economic aid package worth BRUSSELS – NATO will start flying $15 billion over the next few years, amid and where did they come from? AWACS reconnaissance missions over the standoff with Russia over Crimea. In Poland and Romania as part of the alliance’s the Black Sea Fleet, but in Russia just down addition to seeking to prop up Ukraine’s by Ron Synovitz efforts to monitor events in Ukraine. NATO economy, the EU is seeking to apply pres- RFE/RL the coast from Crimea. Also, in the same ambassadors on March 10 endorsed the military command structure... there are sure on Moscow to withdraw forces from proposal from the alliance’s top military Crimea. The EU has already canceled nego- There has been much speculation about two special forces brigades and a designat- commander, U.S. Air Force General Philip tiations with Moscow on visa cooperation Russian forces deployed in Crimea since ed airborne division.” Breedlove. A NATO official said the flights and a new trade and investment pact. It is February 28. The West says they’re Russian would “enhance the alliance’s situational What are the limitations for Russian also preparing targeted sanctions including combat troops. Russian President Vladimir awareness.” The official made clear all the forces on the Crimean peninsula under asset freezes and travel bans. (RFE/RL) Putin says they’re just local defense folks. So its Black Sea Fleet agreements with flights “will take place solely over alliance just who are they? This article, dated March territory.” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Ukraine? World Bank proposes $3 B for Ukraine 4, attempts to answers some pertinent ques- Reuters and Agence France-Presse) tions. Under various agreements between WASHINGTON – The World Bank says it Russia and Ukraine, Russia is allowed to EU offers Kyiv trade benefits is prepared to offer $3 billion to Ukraine How many Russian troops are now keep up to 25,000 troops on the Crimean this year to help it advance reforms and thought to be in Crimea? BRUSSELS – The European Commission Peninsula. Those troops are allowed out- has adopted a proposal to extend unilateral support crucial development projects. Ukrainian authorities have said there side of their bases for operations consid- trade benefits to Ukraine worth nearly 500 Bank President Jim Yong Kim said in are about 16,000 Russian troops in the ered normal to maintaining the facilities. million euros ($693 million) a year. EU Washington on March 10, “We are commit- Crimean Peninsula – with more pouring But there are limitations on deployments – Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso ted to supporting the people of Ukraine in into the country every day by air and by even for training operations. said the move was “a concrete, tangible” these difficult times and very much hope naval ships. [Editor’s note: According to Ukraine’s measure of support for Ukraine after the that the situation in the country stabilizes Independent military analysts agree that Ambassador to the United Nations Yuriy ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych. soon.” The bank said Ukraine’s economy there are at least this many troops in Sergeyev, although Russia is allowed up to Once member states and the European faces some serious challenges that will Crimea.