INSIDE:• Vienna conference focuses on nuclear safety in East bloc — page 2. • New visa procedures issued by U.S. Embassy in Kyiv — page 7. • What’s on the air, new releases, book reviews — pages 8-9. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVII HE KRAINIANNo. 26 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1999 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine TrilateralT cooperative programU aims to strengthen Ukrainian troopsW not yet ready Ukraine’s market economy and civil society to serve as peacekeepers in Kosovo by Roman Woronowycz The program, supported by a $2 million by Roman Woronowycz Although Ukraine has participated Kyiv Press Bureau grant from the United States through its Kyiv Press Bureau actively in the United Nations peacekeeping Agency for International Development, efforts in Bosnia and announced that it was KYIV – The United States Embassy on which will be managed by the Eurasia KYIV – Ukrainian soldiers will join their ready to organize such a force for Kosovo June 11 announced a cooperative program Foundation, calls for financing projects to NATO and Russian counterparts in a even in the first days of the air campaign between Ukraine, Poland and the United be proposed by higher educational institu- Kosovo peacekeeping force only after the against rump Yugoslavia, the country has States to strengthen Ukraine’s market econ- tions, local governments and state institu- proposed plan for Ukrainian involvement been slow to approve a peacekeeping con- omy and civil society. tions. Three areas of reform are being winds its way through the bureaucratic tingent for Kosovo. The project, named the Poland-America- emphasized: macroeconomic policy; small approval warrens of the government and While the United Nations Security Ukraine Cooperation Initiative (PAUCI), business development; and local govern- gets a final nod in the Verkhovna Rada. Council has approved the Kosovo peace- envisions a mutual exchange of information ment reform. One hurdle was cleared on June 18 when keeping operation, the council will not and expertise between Poland and Ukraine, Mr. Pifer explained that an important Britain’s Minister of Defense Joseph supervise the mission, as in Bosnia. That with a focus on the transfer to Ukraine of objective will be to strengthen the institu- Robertson formally invited Ukraine to join role is now planned exclusively for NATO, Poland’s experience in successful market tional capabilities of organizations involved NATO peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. even though Russia has already demonstrat- and democratic transformations. in the three areas through the transfer of “I fully expect that Ukraine will send its ed that it wants its own peacekeeping “Poland has successfully faced many of know-how and its practical applications. troops, with their high standard of training, regime in the Yugoslav region. the democratic and economic reform prob- The effort will award money to non-gov- to Kosovo,” said Mr. Robertson during a Whether a majority of the Ukrainian lems that Ukraine now faces,” said U.S. ernment organizations, higher educational one day visit to Kyiv. Parliament, whose leadership has already Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer at the institutions as well as local and state institu- The United Nations, however, has yet to shown its contempt for NATO in several June 11 kick-off forum. “We want to take tions for projects they develop in the three extend an invitation, and many politicians failed resolutions to break all ties with the advantage of that in the PAUCI initiative.” designated areas for training programs, here doubt that Ukraine, which has taken a Atlantic Alliance, will approve a Ukrainian seminars, consultations, expert analyses, position that it can only participate under contingency under NATO’s command is far publications and other types of information the auspices of the United Nations or the from certain. Further speculation exists in exchanges. Organization For Security and Cooperation Ukraine that the government is waiting for Tadeusz Pawlak, Polish chargé d’affaires in Europe, will join NATO and Russia in greater clarification of Russia’s role in UNWLA holds in Kyiv, who also was present at the forum Kosovo until such an offer is received. Kosovo. along with Ukraine’s First Vice Minister for Questions remain in Ukraine as to who In actions that some Ukrainian newspa- Foreign Affairs Yevhen Bersheda and will have command over the Ukrainian pers call evidence of the governments sup- 25th convention PAUCI Secretariat Manager Nick peacekeeping battalion, how it will be port for Russia’s pre-emptive move into by Maria Tomorug financed and when Ukrainian authorities ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Ukrainian (Continued on page 10) will finalize the plan. (Continued on page 19) National Women’s League of America Inc. (UNWLA) held its 25th Convention on Friday, May 28, through Monday, May 31, here at the Hotel Westin O’Hare, located Leaders of two Rukh parties comment on split near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Hennadii Udovenko and Yurii Both Mr. Udovenko, 68, and Mr. in September 1997, after having served Approximately 200 delegates from across Kostenko are the respective chairmen of Kostenko, 48, have held positions in for many years – both during the Soviet the United States and 100 guests who the two national Rukh parties that Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers. Mr. period and once Ukraine became inde- attended the four-day convention. formed after the single party led by the Udovenko served as minister of foreign pendent – as Ukraine’s ambassador to The UNWLA’s Chicago Regional late Vyacheslav Chornovil split in affairs in August 1994-April 1998 and the U.N. Council, whose president is Lubomyra February. Mr. Kostenko as minister of the environ- Mr. Kostenko has been a member of Kalin, hosted the convention; the Mr. Udovenko was elected chairman ment and nuclear safety in July 1995- Rukh since its inception and served as the Convention Committee, which was in of the original Rukh after Mr. Chornovil’s May 1998. head of the Kyiv regional organization in charge of all preparations for the triennial sudden and tragic death in April. Mr. Mr. Udovenko, who also was a 1991-1992. Mr. Udovenko took party convention, was chaired by Olena Kostenko took the reins of the splinter career diplomat during the Soviet era, membership after his election in May. Semianczuk-Matwyshyn. Rukh after the 10th Congress of also served as independent Ukraine’s The following edited interviews, As the 1999 UNWLA convention was February 28, which ousted Mr. ambassador to Poland. He was elected translated from Ukrainian, were con- being held at the dawn of a new century, the Chornovil as leader of the party and president of the United Nations ducted on June 4 and June 7 by Roman theme of the convention was “Our Glorious effected the party’s split. General Assembly for a one-year term Woronowycz of the Kyiv Press Bureau. Path is the Bridge to the Future.” The 25th Convention Book provided a good review of the accomplishments of the Kostenko: Rukh needed new mission Udovenko: Split did not have to occur UNWLA during the last three years. It con- tained reports by President Anna Krawczuk Legally, where does the Rukh that you lead stand today The Rukh party led by Yurii Kostenko claims that the and all the members of the national board, after the Ministry of Justice did not register you and the late Vyacheslav Chornovil caused the split in Rukh by as well as reports submitted by branches Kyiv Oblast Court rejected your claim that the ministry banning any further meetings of the Central Leadership, and regional councils. It also included had denied you your rights? which was not within his authority as the chairman to do, greetings from various dignitaries and when it became clear that there was a move being organ- It stands equal to Rukh-Udovenko. With regard to the fact ized to oust him. They also claim that he called the second organizations on the occasion of the con- that the Ministry of Justice registered the changes to the statutes vention. Jaroslawa Rubel was the editor of half of the Ninth Congress illegally, because, as they of Rukh-Udovenko: we were not bringing suit against the party claim, only the Central Leadership of the All Ukrainian the convention book. that Udovenko leads, we were suing the Ministry of Justice for A pre-convention program on Friday Congress could do that. How do you react to these asser- the unclear actions of the ministry in regard to the manner in tions? evening kicked off the conclave. The theme which it handled the registration of changes to the statutes of of the program was human rights and the the political party that is [our] National Rukh. I just want to say that the question is directed more at the moderator was Iryna Kurowyckyj, I don’t want to deal with the legal fine points here, that’s not legal-judicial process that is now taking place in Rukh, the UNWLA’s vice-president in charge of pub- all that interesting. I want to talk about the political aspects. reasons that led to the conflict in Rukh. lic relations. You ask where Rukh-Kostenko stands. My answer is that, as The Kyiv Oblast Court has already addressed this question Nina Kovalska, first woman ambassador (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 12) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1999 No. 26 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Vienna conference focuses G-8 defers decision grant for reactors Criminal Code,” she said announcing that 12 lawsuits have been initiated in Ukraine COLOGNE – The G-8 summit here, on such charges. (Eastern Economist) on nuclear safety in East bloc which was attended by the Group of by Anthony Wesolowsky “safety culture” at nuclear power plants.