www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Yanukovych determined not to let Tymoshenko go – page 3 l Patriarch Sviatoslav pays a visit to Palatine, Ill. – page 11 l Second annual Ukrainian Festival at UACCNJ – pages 12-13 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXIX No. 43 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine UCC presents Shevchenko Medal EU disinvites Yanukovych to Prime Minister Stephen Harper Brussels meeting is postponed until conditions are ‘more conducive’ PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The European The Associated Press reported that Union on October 18 abruptly canceled a the postponement of Mr. Yanukovych’s planned visit by Ukrainian President visit to Brussels came after there were Viktor Yanukovych following the sen- indications from Kyiv that Ms. tencing a week earlier of former Prime Tymoshenko would not be quickly Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to seven released based on legal amendments to years’ imprisonment followed by three the law that would turn her misdemean- more years’ prohibition against holding or from a criminal offense to a milder office. economic violation. Party of Regions Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for national deputies refused to consider EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine such a bill on the morning of October 18 Ashton, said Mr. Yanukovych’s visit and the president himself indicated in an would take place when “conditions will interview with U.S. and European news- be more conducive to making progress papers that passing those legal reforms on bilateral relations.” would take time. Mr. Yanukovych was scheduled to “If the EU is not ready for one reason meet with EU president Herman Van or another, or Ukraine is not ready, the Rompuy and European Commission decision can be made not now but later, president Jose Manuel Barroso on when we are ready,” he was quoted as October 20. The talks were to focus on an saying by The New York Times on Association Agreement between Ukraine October 17. “We are open to discussion, Prime Minister Stephen Harper (left) receives the Taras Shevchenko Medal and the EU, as well as a free trade pact. but I do not have the right to stand in for from Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Paul Grod. EU-Ukrainian relations were strained the Ukrainian court of law. The court is TORONTO – The Ukrainian “Today we want to thank and recog- by the sentencing of Ms. Tymoshenko for independent and makes its own deci- Canadian Congress bestowed its high- nize Prime Minister Stephen Harper abuse of power in connection with a con- sions. We cannot very quickly change est honor – the Taras Shevchenko for his dedication to public service, for tract she signed with Russia’s Gazprom laws which have been in force in Ukraine Medal – on Canada’s prime minister, his leadership and in particular to the in 2009. The EU, which along with the for more than 50 years.” Stephen Harper, at a tribute dinner on outstanding contribution he has made United States said the case was politically In addition, Mr. Yanukovych was quot- October 14 attended by almost 600 of towards the development of the motivated and an example of selective ed by The Times as saying that the new members of the Ukrainian Canadian prosecution in Ukraine, said it wanted to criminal case opened on October 14 by community. (Continued on page 10) see “progress” on Ms. Tymoshenko’s situ- ation and the rule of law in Ukraine. (Continued on page 4) Vitali Klitschko visits D.C. in new role as political leader by Yaro Bihun Washington think tanks and with con- gressional leaders interested in Ukraine Special to The Ukrainian Weekly developing into a Western-oriented dem- WASHINGTON – Vitali Klitschko, bet- ocratic and free-market country. ter known as the heavyweight boxing In response to a question about the champion of the world, visited the U.S. Tymoshenko sentencing during a discussion capital in his recently acquired new – at the Brookings Institution, Mr. Klitschko political – role in life, as the leader of the called it another example of the “slide back” Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for from the democratic development in Reforms (UDAR) party. Ukraine, and added that the Yanukovych His October 11-12 visit here began on administration now is trying to find some the day a Kyiv court sentenced Ukraine’s kind of an acceptable resolution to it. opposition leader and former prime min- The court system, like the other parts ister Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years in of Ukraine’s government, are corrupt, Mr. prison for abuse of power in signing an Klitschko said, adding that politicians and other officials – at all levels – make Yaro Bihun expensive natural gas deal with Russia. promises to get into power and then act Vitali Klitschko with Ukrainian American community leaders who accompanied him This development heightened the inter- in their own self-interest. to the Taras Shevchenko monument in Washington, Andrew Futey (left), executive est to his discussions of Ukraine’s politi- vice-president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and Michael cal and economic reform issues at two (Continued on page 4) Sawkiw, director of the Ukrainian National Information Service. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 No. 43 ANALYSIS Putin attempts to reinvent Yanukovych: no grounds to delay EU pact The Ukrainian opposition described the cancellation of the president’s visit to KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor Brussels as backsliding on Ukraine’s Customs Union as Eurasian bloc Yanukovych has said that he sees no European integration. (Ukrinform) by Erica Marat and international politics. Union member- grounds to delay the signing of an ship is regarded as an indicator of political Association Agreement between Ukraine Eurasia Daily Monitor Tymoshenko sued in three more cases alignment with and support of the and the European Union. He announced Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Russian leadership in the post-Soviet this in an interview with one of the leading KYIV – On October 18, Yulia Tymoshenko is yet to win the presidency formally next space. Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan German newspapers, Frankfurter was interrogated in the case concerning the year, but he has already laid out ambitious are being pressured to join the club. Allgemeine Zeitung, on October 19. “It is debts of United Energy Systems of Ukraine foreign policy plans in regard to former Moscow easily convinced Belarus and important for us to sign the association (UESU) to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Soviet states, Russia’s “traditional sphere Kazakhstan to support the idea of a com- agreement, which contains clear EU mem- Procurator General Viktor Pshonka told a of influence,” as the Kremlin often defines mon market. The isolated Belarusian bership prospects for Ukraine. If the EU is press briefing on October 19. He said that it. In his recent op-ed piece in Izvestiya, economy is deeply dependent on Russian not prepared for this or we’re not prepared the pre-trial investigation of the case is Vladimir Putin proposed deepening the credits, and President Alyaksandr for this, then this decision cannot be made being conducted by the Security Service of integration of former Soviet states within Lukashenka’s domestic political support right now, but only when both sides are Ukraine (SBU), while the Main Directorate a newly proposed Eurasian Union (www. is contingent upon his relations with his prepared for this. Today we at least have of the Procurator General’s Office (PGO) is izvestia.ru, October 3). much larger neighbor. political will for this. We also feel that the overseeing compliance with the law during Mr. Putin sees the Eurasian Union as an For Kazakhstan, on the other hand, the Ukrainian people want this. Therefore, we the investigation. As for resolutions by ex- extension of the CIS and the Russia- Customs Union is more a symbol of good currently see no grounds to delay this mat- Procurator General Sviatoslav Piskun on the Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union, neighborly relations with Russia rather ter,” Mr. Yanukovych said. The president closure of similar cases against Ms. arguing that it will be a long-term project than of economic integration. Unlike promised to do everything he can “to Tymoshenko in 2005, these documents that intends to function independent of Belarus, Kazakhstan’s biggest trade part- ensure that this agreement contains a pas- require more detailed legal evaluation. political regime changes in its member ner continues to be the European Union, sage about [Ukraine’s] future EU member- “Following this assessment it will be possi- states. Mr. Putin also pledges that the new and the country is also expanding its eco- ship.” When asked whether the signing of ble to say whether those decisions were union, “connecting Europe and the Asia- nomic cooperation with China and the the agreement with the EU could fail due to legal or illegal,” Mr. Pshonka said. Regarding Pacific region,” will promote the develop- United States. Kazakh experts, however, the case of former Prime Minister Yulia two other cases against Ms. Tymoshenko, ment of domestic industries and expand link 12 percent inflation in the country Tymoshenko, the president said: “I’m not Ms. Pshonka said investigations into the trade ties between its members. over the past few months with the union clairvoyant nor a prophet. We are in the acquisition of ambulances and the diversion The Russian leader, however, denies agreement. process of discussions that will continue. of funds received under the Kyoto Protocol All points of view have a right to be heard that the new union will be a mere resto- By contrast, Ukraine’s current pro- have been completed and Ms. Tymoshenko’s and to be respected.