' У ХРИСТОС РОДИВСЯ! CHRIST is BORN! THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association inc., a fraternal non-profit association vol. LXIX No. 51 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23,2001 $^^f$2 in Ukraine Toronto program on Famine-Genocide Use of government resources emerges focuses on educating students as an issue as Rada elections approach by Roman Woronowycz 31 parliamentary elections in which it by Lesia Korobaylo teacher Nicholas Latyshko retold his Kyiv Press Bureau noted that: "the use of administrative desperate survival story to the spell- TORONTO - in order to promote resources in the upcoming parliamentary bound students. Mr. Latyshko empha- KYiv - As lawmakers from Ukraine's elections of 2002 will be sufficiently public awareness about the unprece- sized that the Famine was not the result verkhovna Rada gear up for the March dented and tragic Famine-Genocide in high." The center also reported that in a of climatic conditions or poor harvest, 2002 elections and as the first strategies recently conducted survey about half of Soviet-occupied Ukraine during 1932- but was deliberately perpetrated on the are implemented, the issue of govern- Ukrainians agreed with that assertion. 1933, the Toronto Branch of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet regime. ment administrative resources and how The same report claimed that only Ukrainian Canadian Congress organ- Education consultant valentina they will affect the races has become an about 3 percent of the population actually ized and sponsored a commemorative Kuryliw and educator Marika increasingly important issue here. would succumb to pressure from govern- week whose focus was educational pro- Szkambara provided historical lessons; There is widespread belief among the ment structures to vote a certain way. grams for students. Ms. Dmytryshyn covered the elements population and acknowledgment among However, those who represent political Over 370 elementary and high of art related to the children's art exhib- political experts that those who hold interests that will have no access to the school students actively participated in it. information kits included a Famine- power or have direct access to it - and political benefits the government can these educational programs, which took Genocide booklet featuring an exten- that means some ability to control gov- supply say the influence will be much place at the Ukrainian Canadian Art sive bibliography, current articles, ernment finances as well - will have a stronger. Foundation (UCAF) during the week of quotes, facts, as well as questionnaires direct bearing on how the political cam- "Even today, everywhere we look as November 17-25. for students. paigns play out and who the winners will we prepare for the elections, we see Displayed throughout the founda- Of paramount importance were the be. administrative resources at work. All the iioirs gallery was a children's art exhib- presentations by students Oleksa Rewa What is not yet certain, and probably major parties will be utilizing them. The it titled "Famine-Genocide Through the and Mykhaylo Reay, both very active will only become apparent after the 0 structures opposed to the president have Eyes of a Child.' This exhibit com- members in various Ukrainian youth results are in sometime after March 31, is no chance," explained National Deputy prised 210 paintings produced last year organizations. Mr. Rewa is a University how the use of government power in the Natalia vitrenko, an influential presiden- by Toronto area students during art of Toronto student majoring in Life form of media^access, public relations tial candidate in 1999, who leads the workshops created and conducted by Sciences with a minor in Ukrainian strategies, influences over cadres and just small, radical Progressive Socialist Party. art educator Halia Dmytryshyn. The Studies. Two years ago while simulta- plain old money will affecf^e outcome During a speech in a hall adjoining the broad spectrum of these dramatic and neously completing his international of the vote. ^s. colorful paintings depicted life in Baccalaureate and his О AC (grade 13) Razumkov Center roundtable, President During a roundtable heldW Leonid Kuchma, whose office would Ukraine from the prosperous years at the Toronto French School he wrote a December 18, sponsored by the before the Famine-Genocide to the major essay, entitled "The Ukrainian have the most influence over how admin- Razumkov Center for Economic and istrative resources are allocated to politi- paintings representing the brutal Soviet Famine of 1932-1933" for which he Political Studies, the consensus reached campaign of food confiscations, earned an А-к Mr. Reay, who is current- cal organizations, rejected any such pos- by an array of experts was that the degree sibility. destruction of property, terror and mur- ly an OAC student at St. Michael's of influence would vary. However, most "it simply will not be possible. There der. agreed that of Ukraine's 127 political will be more EelectionJ observers in Famine-Genocide survivor and (Continued on page 8) parties, those positioned politically clos- Ukraine for this election than anywhere est to the presidential structures would else ever," explained the president. benefit the most. "Merely from the Organization for That same day the Razumkov Center Security and Cooperation in Europe there issued a report on expectations and polit- ical scenarios in the run-up to the March (Continued on page 8) Ukrainian and Russian representatives meet at business summit in Kharkiv by Roman Woronowycz single currency, the euro, in a few weeks, Kyiv Press Bureau for having a realistic currency policy, according to interfax-Ukraine. KYiv - Russia's chief economic envoy viktor Chernomyrdin, Russia's ambas- to Kyiv on December 19 rejected an asser- sador and chief economic envoy to tion by the leader of his country's main Ukraine, rejected the possibility at least businessmen's association that Kyiv and for the near term on December 19 when Moscow should emulate the European he told Kyiv journalists that he doubted Union countries and join in a single cur- the two countries are ready socially, eco- rency. nomically or politically for such a move. Arkadii volskyi, president of the The comments by Mr. volskyi were the Russian League of industrialists and most controversial in the first-ever offi- Entrepreneurs, added controversy to a cially sponsored summit of Russian and rather mundane Russian-Ukrainian busi- Ukrainian business-types. The presidents ness forum held in Kharkiv on December of both countries, Leonid Kuchma of 13-14 when he called on the two countries Ukraine and viadimir Putin of Russia, to adopt a single currency to simplify eco- visited the proceedings on December 14 nomic ties and trade between them. after touring several local manufacturing He told fellow businessmen during a centers in the Kharkiv area. forum session that such a move would Speaking before the business represen- lvan Terefenko help avoid losses in trade that occur dur- tatives, President Kuchma emphasized Survivor Kateryna Scherban recounts the terror of the Famine. ing currency exchanges and cited the European Union, which will introduce a (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2001 No. 51 ANALYSIS^^^^^ Oligarchic Social Democrats suffer setback Miensk tough on Kyiv's Soviet-era debtt "1 will never sign another decree on byTarasKuzio vblkov, a businessman who is reputed to holding a referendum, even if one is CHERNlHiv -. Ukrainian Primlee RFEJRL Newsline have ties to organized crime and is want- urgently needed, because 1 have no right ed by Belgian police on money-launder- Minister Anatolii Kinakh and hi1Ss to do so until the results of the previous On December 13, 234 members of the ing charges, received a medal from Belarusian counterpart, Henadz NavitskilC1,' referendum have been implemented," the Ukrainian Parliament voted to dismiss President Kuchma in February in honor met in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, oDn president said. (RFE7RL Newsline) vice-Chairman viktor Medvedchuk from of his "selfless work and personal merits December 18 to discuss trade and ecoo- his position. Mr. Medvedchuk is also the in promoting Ukraine's socioeconomic nomic issues, Belarusian and Ukrainiaan Kuchma opposes joint border checkpoints chairman of one of Ukraine's most development." But since then his star has media reported. The prime ministerrs important, but least liked, oligarchic endorsed a plan of bilateral economic also waneid:. ' . ilc KYiv - "We are ready to consider political parties - the Social Democratic cooperation for 2002 calling for an A new party of-power, Regions of an joint border checkpoints with Moldova, Party (United). increase in annual trade turnover to Si Ukraine, was created by the head of. the jl But we cannot accept this on the border Mr. Medvedchuk achieved notoriety billion from the current level of some State Tax Administration, Mykola ne with the Transdniester region," President during the Soviet era when he helped S700 million. However, the sides did not Azarov, earlier this year in the Donbas, l0t Leonid Kuchma told journalists on send well-known Ukrainian dissident address the contentious issue of and many deputies from Mr. volkov's 0f December 18. Mr. Kuchma recalled that poet vasyl Stus to the Gulag, where he Ukraine's Soviet-era debt to Belarus Moldova wants "to place Moldovan cus- Parliament faction joined it. The final us died in 1986. in the 1990s, Mr. because an intergovernmental commisi -. toms officers on Ukraine's territory" and indication that Mr. Yolkov had fallen out s Medvedchuk's rise to fame was meteoric, sion has failed to produce a relevant join t added that such a possible move should of favor with President Kuchma and was mt and he recently set his sights on the post- resolution. Mr. Navitski told Belapan thatt be approved by the Ukrainian no longer needed as an "adviser" was his ia Kuchma presidency. Miensk will not ratify the border agree.- Parliament.