INSIDE:• Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reacts to Russian Duma resolution — page 2. • Memorial concert to mark Chornobyl anniversary in Toronto — page 8. • Lviv’s Les Kurbas Theater in Metropolitan New York area — page 9. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIV HE No.KRAINIAN 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1996 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine RussianT Duma UU.S. secretary of state denouncesW Duma resolution negates decision by Marta Kolomayets Kyiv Press Bureau dissolving USSR KYIV – In yet another reaffirmation of the growing relationship between the United States and Ukraine, Secretary of by Marta Kolomayets State Warren Christopher arrived in Kyiv Kyiv Press Bureau on March 19 for a six-hour visit to meet KYIV – The Russian Duma – the with top government officials – includ- lower house of that country’s Parliament ing President Leonid Kuchma, Prime – adopted a resolution on March 15 Minister Yevhen Marchuk, Foreign reversing a Soviet legislative decision Minister Hennadiy Udovenko and made in December 1991 that renounced Parliament Chairman Oleksander Moroz. the 1922 treaty forming the Soviet Union. Mr. Christopher denounced the Russian In effect, this resolution denounces the Duma for its March 15 vote on reconstitut- Belaya Vezha pact of December 1991, ing the Soviet Union, calling it “highly and calls for the rebirth of the USSR – an irresponsible.” He was to travel to action that sent alarming signals through- Moscow on March 21 following a visit to out the former Soviet republics, includ- Prague where he addressed Central and ing Ukraine. East European foreign ministers. Voting overwhelmingly – 250-98 with “It was disturbing to us, as I know it no abstentions – that the break-up of the was for Ukraine, for President Kuchma Soviet Union was illegal, Communist was certainly correct when he said that and nationalist forces in Russia offered a the tide of history cannot be turned back. strong sense of what is brewing in the Ukraine and other countries of the for- mer Soviet Union are independent, sov- Efrem Lukatsky (Continued on page 4) ereign nations. Any unilateral attempt to change their status will be rejected by the Secretary of State Warren Christopher with President Leonid Kuchma in Kyiv. international community,” said the “I think it will spur Eastern European position regarding NATO and is commit- American diplomat. countries wanting to join NATO (North ted to this position,” he noted, explaining His comments to reporters, delivered that Ukraine wants to remain a neutral after a 45-minute meeting with President Atlantic Treaty Organization) to become UNA executives state unaffiliated with any military bloc. Kuchma at the Mariyinsky Palace, were more active,” added the Ukrainian leader. Ukraine’s position regarding NATO the sharpest warning to date made by an “In spite of the decision taken by the review finances, American official about the mood in the Russian Duma, Ukraine has determined its (Continued on page 8) State Duma on the eve of presidential discuss mergers elections in Russia, where popularity JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The polls show Communist Party leader Ukrainian National Association’s Gennadiy Zyuganov commanding a Executive Committee held its regularly strong lead. State Department says Ukraine scheduled meeting here at the fraternal Secretary Christopher said: “The organization’s Home Office on March 8. United States feels that the action of the makes progress on human rights Uppermost on the agenda was a review Duma is a highly irresponsible one. It by Yaro Bihun been made toward ensuring an inde- of the UNA’s financial status, continu- seems to be designed to have a certain Special to The Ukrainian Weekly pendent judiciary, the report adds, “the ing merger discussions with two other quality of intimidation. It simply seemed Soviet tradition of political interference WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s Ukrainian fraternals, the sale of the prudent to make known our views in in judicial decisions continues to affect human rights record in 1995 got a bet- UNA’s headquarters building in Jersey advance.” He offered his assessment dur- the judicial process.” ter than passing grade in the U.S. State City, and selection of a hotel for the ing a brief joint press conference with At the behest of Congress, the State Department’s annual human rights UNA’s next convention scheduled to Foreign Minister Udovenko. Department began reporting on the report released on March 6. take place in Toronto in May 1998. Secretary Christopher, who has met state of human rights in foreign coun- “Over all, Ukraine continued to make The meeting was chaired by the presi- with President Kuchma three times in the tries in 1977. Then, it covered the 82 significant progress toward building a dent, Ulana Diachuk. In attendance were: past six weeks – during a brief encounter countries receiving U.S. assistance. law-based civil society,” the report Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky, in Helsinki, an official working visit in Since then, the mandate has been states, noting that the “already low” Secretary Martha Lysko, Treasurer Washington and now a meeting in Kyiv broadened to all member-states of the rights violations in 1994 decreased fur- Alexander Blahitka, Director for Canada – hailed Ukraine as a “very important United Nations, and this year’s report ther in 1995. Peter Savaryn and Vice-Presidentess partner for the United States.” covers 194 countries. The report found some problems, Anya Dydyk-Petrenko. Also present to “The many times we are meeting I The detailed, 6,500-word report on however, in the “unreformed legal and report on the meeting in their respective think is a good index of the importance Ukraine notes that there were no politi- prison systems, occasional govern- newspapers were Editors-in-Chief Zenon of the relationship between our coun- cal prisoners, “no known political ment attempts to control the press, Snylyk of Svoboda and Roma tries,” noted Mr. Christopher in empha- killings by government agents,” nor beatings by police and prison officials, Hadzewycz of The Ukrainian Weekly. sizing and endorsing U.S. support for the any “politically motivated disappear- territorial integrity, independence and limits on freedom of association, First on the agenda following a review ances” in Ukraine in 1995. (The yet- sovereignty of Ukraine. restrictions on foreign religious orga- of the minutes of the previous Executive unexplained disappearance of a Rukh He also noted that the U.S. “appreci- nizations, societal anti-Semitism, some Committee meeting was the treasurer’s leader, Mykhailo Boychyshyn, hap- ates Ukraine’s determination to develop discrimination against women, and report. pened in January 1994.) a pragmatic relationship with Russia, ethnic tensions in the Crimea.” Report of UNA Treasurer While the Ukrainian Constitution based upon mutual respect for each Ukraine continues to take steps prohibits torture and inhumane treat- As of December 31, 1995, the UNA’s nation’s sovereignty.” toward replacing its 1978 Soviet ment of those arrested or imprisoned, ledger assets rose to $75,535,225 – an President Kuchma condemned the Constitution, such as the Constitutional the State Department says that police increase of $1,412,009 or 2 percent. This vote by the Russian Duma, pointing out Accord between the president and and prison officials “regularly beat” compares with an increase of only that, while it was not legally binding, “it Parliament accepted last June, the cannot be neglected from a social and report says. But while progress has (Continued on page 13) (Continued on page 5) political point of view.” 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1996 No. 12 FOR THE RECORD NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry Civic Congress calls for renewed union who recently visited Moscow and signed a number of political and economic docu- reacts to Russian Duma resolution KYIV — “To struggle for a renewal of ments with Russian President Boris the union on the territory stretching from Yeltsin, union between the countries, and Statement by the Ministry of Foreign countries that have been established on the White to the Black seas, from the especially Russia and Belarus, is dictated Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the the territory of the former USSR, and in Baltic to the Pacific Ocean,” that is the by the times and cannot be rejected. He adoption of the resolution of the State the development of the CIS at large. strategic task announced at the sixth con- said all reasonable political forces in Duma of the Russian Federation “On Ukraine condemns such actions as a ference of the Civic Congress of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus must work with the Deepening the Integration of the Peoples threat to peace and stability not only for as reported on March 17. Over 100 dele- presidents to correct past mistakes. Mr. Who Had Been United in the USSR, and these countries, but for the entire world gates gathered to listen to CCU chairman Lukashenka recommended that the the Abolition of the Resolution of the as well. Oleksander Bazyliuk, who announced that Belarusian Parliament look into ways of Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR of December Over four years have passed since in the past year alone, the party’s member- speeding up the integration process at its 12, 1991”(This statement was released in Ukraine has realized its right to self- ship had doubled. The CCU is now active next session, and said he would be willing Washington by the Embassy of Ukraine.) determination pursuant to universally in 20 oblasts of Ukraine, but, according to to attend the session if Parliament would recognized principles and norms of inter- Mr. Bazyliuk, the organization “does not support his proposals. On March 15, the On March 15, 1996, the State Duma of national law delivered in the Charter of strive for quantity, rather we need active former collective farm director comment- the Russian Federation adopted a resolu- the United Nations and the Helsinki Final and professional people.” Mr.