INSIDE:• Obituary: Joseph Lesawyer, former UNA president — page 4. • Book launch for Mary Mycio’s “Wormwood Forest” — page 8. • Profile: Bishop Emeritus Basil Losten of Stamford — page 12. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXIV HE No.KRAINIAN 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2006 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine AmbassadorT OlehU Shamshur visits InternationalW business conference Ukrainian organizations in New York promotes opportunities in Ukraine by Zenon Zawada business, according to the World Bank’s Kyiv Press Bureau “Doing Business in 2006” report. Such a ranking is far behind Hungary and KYIV – Now is the time to give Poland, Mr. Wolfensohn said, which Ukraine a second look, former World ranked 52nd and 53rd, respectively. Bank President James Wolfensohn told Such problems exist despite Ukraine’s more than 300 international businessmen excellent geographic position, abundance of attending the second annual Renaissance natural resources and educated population. Capital conference. Only 8.4 per 100 Ukrainians are Bankers, investors and their represen- Internet users, an incredibly low number tatives converged upon Kyiv on February for a nation so well-educated, he said. 7 and 8 to feel out the business climate “The problems in Ukraine are not fun- and examine the latest opportunities damental problems,” he said. “They’re available in post-Orange Ukraine. bureaucratic problems.” Ukraine is a nation “with absolutely Mr. Wolfensohn said Ukraine’s agri- enormous potential, yet “there is a lack cultural future is exceptional and pointed of political strength to get things done,” out that Renaissance Capital has already Mr.Wolfensohn said, citing the domina- recognized the opportunity for moderniz- tion of entrenched oligarchs and few ing the sector. “I salivate at the prospects market-friendly systems. of agriculture,” Mr. Wolfensohn said. “The potential here just makes you Andrew Nynka In his opening remarks, Mr. want to cry in terms of what can be Ambassador Oleh Shamshur is presented with bread, salt and flowers by Wolfensohn mentioned that his Jewish done,” he added. UNWLA New York Regional Council President Nadia Sawczuk (left) and grandparents had emigrated from While European Union and World UNWLA President Iryna Kurowyckyj. Ukraine, having been “asked to leave at a Trade Organization membership are wor- less hospitable time.” by Andrew Nynka of 1932-1933 and the upcoming parlia- thy goals, “Ukraine’s problems can be While Mr. Wolfensohn spoke positively Special to The Ukrainian Weekly mentary elections in Ukraine. solved internally in Ukraine by and optimistically of Ukraine’s potential, In visits that stretched throughout the Ukrainians,” he said. Joining those government officials did little to buttress NEW YORK – Ukraine’s newly day, Dr. Shamshur, 49, met with repre- organizations are mere extras. his endorsement and impress investors. appointed ambassador to the United sentatives of various Ukrainian American For example, corruption and bureaucra- President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime States, Oleh Shamshur, stressed during a diaspora organizations based in this city. cy continue to plague the economy, despite Minister Yurii Yekhanurov and National visit here on February 4 that his Embassy During his visit, the ambassador the fact that there are impressive govern- Security and Defense Council Chair would “cooperate fully with members of answered questions and touched on a ment officials who are competent and have Anatolii Kinakh didn’t appear at the con- the diaspora,” particularly on issues wide variety of topics, among them the a desire to move the country forward. ference, despite being scheduled to so. involving investment in Ukraine, recog- Ukraine ranked 124th out of 155 nition of the Ukrainian Famine Genocide (Continued on page 6) nations in terms of the ease of doing (Continued on page 5) Ukraine’sKYIV – The Ukrainian OlympicOlympians team was honored at a honored at send-off ceremony in Kyiv send-off ceremony at Independence Square on February 3, Ukrinform reported. The team, which consists of 53 athletes who will compete in 10 types of sports, will represent Ukraine at the XX Winter Olympic Games to be held in Turin, Italy, on February 10-26. Ivan Vasiunyk, first deputy head of the Presidential Administration, read a message from President Viktor Yushchenko to members of the team. Mr. Yushchenko expressed the hope that the athletes will be worthy representa- tives of Ukraine at Turin. Sports, Youth and Family Minister Yurii Pavlenko, Ukrainian National Olympic Committee President Serhii Bubka, Kyiv Mayor Oleksander Omelchenko and UMC mobile communica- tions company head Adam Wojacki also participated in the sendoff ceremony. UMC is the general sponsor of the National Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Olympic team. President Yushchenko met with the team separately on February 3 to wish the athletes victory and to sign the flag of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, Ukrinform reported. Mr. Yushchenko announced that he had signed a decree on the creation of a National Council on Physical Education and Sports a few hours earlier, and that he would head the council. The Ukrainian president said the council would convene its first meeting after the Olympic Games to discuss all urgent issues. NOC President Bubka noted that those include the need Official Website of the President of Ukraine for an extensive network of specialized sports bases and the President Viktor Yushchenko and National Olympic Committee of Ukraine President Serhii Bubka completion of the Olympic House. with a group of Ukrainian Olympians before they left for Turin, Italy. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2006 No. 7 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Terms of new gas deal remain unclear Kyiv removes envoy to Canada Putin, Russia today is neither a democracy by Jan Maksymiuk tal of 5 million hrv ($1 million U.S.) with nor one of the world’s leading economies, RFE/RL Newsline stakes shared evenly between its founders. KYIV – President Viktor Yushchenko and I seriously question whether the [Group The same day UkrGazEnergo and on February 7 relieved Mykola of Eight] leaders should attend the [upcom- Officials in Kyiv announced on RosUkrEnergo signed a contract under Maimeskul of the position of Ukraine’s ing] St. Petersburg summit,” mosnews.com February 2 the finalization of a gas deal which Ukraine is to obtain 34 billion cubic ambassador to Canada in connection reported. Sen. McCain argued that “the from January, under which Ukraine is meters of gas in 2006 and some 60 billion with a new job. Mr. Maimeskul had Kremlin ... continues to pursue foreign and now to receive gas from Russia at $95 per cubic meters annually in 2007-2010. served as Ukraine’s envoy to Canada domestic policies strongly at odds with our 1,000 cubic meters. According to Kyiv, Naftohaz Ukrayiny spokesman Eduard since March 20, 2004. (Ukrinform) interests and values.” He noted that Russia’s the price of $95 is to remain unchanged Zaniuk told journalists in Kyiv on “broadcast media are Kremlin-controlled, New Rada session is opened for five years. However, RosUkrEnergo, February 2 that neither gas storage facili- as are the Parliament, the provincial gover- a Swiss-based company that was made ties nor gas pipelines in Ukraine will be KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman nors and the judiciary. All of these were free the monopolist of gas supplies to included in UkrGazEnergo’s charter capi- and independent when ... Putin took office.” Ukraine, signals that this is not quite so. Volodymyr Lytvyn opened the ninth ses- tal. Mr. Zaniuk was thus addressing the sion of the Verkhovna Rada of the fourth (RFE/RL Newsline) On February 2 Naftohaz Ukrayiny, common fears in Ukraine that Moscow is Ukraine’s gas transportation company, convocation on February 7. All members Population below 47 million using gas price as a weapon to gain control of the government, Prime Minister Yurii signed an accord with the Swiss-based gas over Ukraine’s gas transportation network. Yekhanurov, representatives of judicial K YIV – The State Statistics Committee trader RosUkrEnergo in Kyiv on the cre- In a no less important statement, Mr. bodies, the ombudsperson, the Central announced in mid-January that Ukraine’s ation of a joint venture to sell gas in Zaniuk announced that the new gas price Election Committee chairman, the population has fallen to 46,958,740 as of Ukraine. Both companies were obliged to for Ukraine will remain stable for five Accounting Chamber chairman, the State December 1, 2005. As of December 1, do so by a framework gas agreement of years: “Responding to questions from Property Fund chairwoman and other Ukraine’s urban population was 31,886,688 January 4, under which RosUkrEnergo skeptics in Ukrainian political circles, we officials were present at the session hall. (a decrease of 0.01 percent, or 3,534) while became the monopolist of gas supplies to announce that the gas price defined in Mr. Lytvyn said the session will “have a its rural population was 15,072,052 (a fall Ukraine for the next five years. this contract is fixed for five years and is clear election content.” Among the ses- of 0.2 percent, or 25,238). In the January- Ukrainian Prime Minister Yurii $95 for 1,000 cubic meters.” sion’s main tasks the chairman listed pre- November 2005 period, the country’s popu- Yekhanurov praised the five-year accord as If this is really so, then the new contract vention of any spontaneous or uncivilized advantageous for Ukraine. But he told jour- represents a major victory for Kyiv, which lation fell by 0.7 percent, or 322,060. manifestations, which are possible during nalists that he is also fully aware that the had initially been promised the price of According to the nationwide census con- the election campaign. (Ukrinform) document may be bitterly criticized by his $95 per 1,000 cubic meters just for the first ducted in December 2001, Ukraine’s popu- political opponents.