INSIDE:• Belarus: the black sheep of Eastern Europe? — page 2. • Presidential questionnaire: Clinton and Dole campaigns on Ukrainian issues — page 3. • Ukraine’s justice minister speaks at prestigious Empire Club in Toronto — page 4. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIV HE No.KRAINIAN 41 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1996 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine Parliament elects deputy chairman, In whirlwindT visit, Ukraine’sU justice minister W a lawyer popular among his peers signs series of judicial agreements in Canada by Andrij Wynnyckyj Legal Assistance Treaties ... an important by Roman Woronowycz for approval of the Constitution “uncon- Toronto Press Bureau step in the fight against organized and Kyiv Press Bureau stitutional.” transnational crime.” Since passage of the Constitution, TORONTO — Over one intensive Canada has now signed a number of KYIV — Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada the presidential administration and the work-week in late September, Ukraine’s these agreements with other states, overwhelmingly elected National Deputy Parliament have been at loggerheads Justice Minister Serhiy Holovaty met including the United States, the United Viktor Musiyaka to the post of deputy over who will control the reigns of with Canada’s legal establishment as part Kingdom, Australia and France. chairman on October 3 by a vote of 277- power that are not explicitly delineated of his government’s ongoing effort to The two ministers also signed an 55, after failing to vote in two previous in the new Constitution. reform its justice system and consolidate Understanding in Principle on coopera- nominees. Deputies from UNA-UNSO through the rule of law in his country. tion in the field of justice. With this He replaces Oleksander Diomin, who to the Communists agreed that the man On the first day of official meetings, understanding, Canada’s Department of opted to remain Kharkiv Oblast chair- from Mykolaiv is right for the job. September 23, Mr. Holovaty was in the Justice and the Ministry of Justice of man and leave the Ukrainian Parliament. Deputy Oleh Vitovych, of the far right host nation’s capital, Ottawa, to sign a Ukraine agreed to offer each other the The Ukrainian Constitution does not political organization the Ukrainian bilateral treaty “On Mutual Assistance in widest measure of mutual assistance in allow for individuals to hold more than National Assembly, said Mr. Musiyaka Criminal Matters” with his Canadian coun- promoting a better knowledge of their one post in government. was the best electable choice. “He may terpart, Allan Rock. respective systems of justice and sharing Mr. Musiyaka, 50, who hails from not be a good politician, but he is a good The charter, which goes into effect on their expertise on issues such as legisla- Mykolaiv Oblast, received support from and honest person, and that is probably November 1, provides for assistance in the tive drafting and organization of a min- a large part of the political spectrum in most important today. Even we agree investigation and prosecution of all offens- istry of justice. Ukraine’s legislature, from rightists to that he is the best choice.” es proscribed by the respective Parliaments This kind of sharing was already going Communists. He is respected as a lawyer From the far left, Anatoliy Levchenko of Ukraine and Canada, specifically men- on immediately prior to the signing. and legal expert. More importantly, in of the Communist Party said he voted for tions those offenses concerning “taxation, Earlier that morning, Minister Holovaty June, during the fight between President Mr. Musiyaka. “He is the right person to duties, customs and international transfer met with Canadian Deputy Minister of Leonid Kuchma and the Parliament over bring order to the Parliament.” of capital or payments,” and provides for Justice George Thomson and Associate the proposed Constitution, he resigned Former President Leonid Kravchuk, the freezing, seizure and confiscation of Deputy Minister Richard Thompson to his position as the president’s representa- currently a deputy, also gave a nod of proceeds of crime. discuss administrative and managerial tive in Parliament over the issue of the approval. “He is a lawyer, a professor, a According to a press release issued by issues concerning Ukraine’s efforts to legality of a referendum on the legal expert, and he abides by the law. Canada’s Department of Justice, the intent reorganize its Justice Ministry. Constitution — a move that endeared He is tolerant. He isn’t the type that is of the treaty is in part to make Ukraine part him to many of his colleagues. He called going to cause conflict but will resolve of “an international network of Mutual (Continued on page 5) Mr. Kuchma’s threat to go to the people it,” said Mr. Kravchuk. “He is the type that could unite the Parliament and even bring some cooperation between the leg- islature and the executive.” Flying Hospital lands in Kyiv to provide free health care Mr. Kravchuk also said it is high time by Roman Woronowycz that a legal expert sit on the Presidium of Kyiv Press Bureau the Parliament. “Both Moroz and Tkachenko are agronomists,” he explained. KYIV — An unusual L-1011 passenger aircraft descended Some members of Parliament also from the heavens on September 28 into Kyiv’s Boryspil believe that because Mr. Musiyaka is not Airport, carrying to Ukraine 65 doctors, and $12 million in beholden to Parliament Chairman medicine from the United States and the latest in medical Oleksander Moroz and First Deputy technology in a humanitarian mission called “Operation Chairman Oleksander Tkachenko and Blessing.” their dictatorial style of parliamentary The plane, the Flying Hospital, had been outfitted with procedure, he could be a unifying force. surgical, dental and ophthamological equipment, and with Natalia Vitrychenko, a member of the medicines and skilled personnel also aboard, it arrived ready Socialist Reform Party, said, “He is not to give Ukraine a medical helping hand. going to switch off microphones, nor Ukrainians rarely have access to Western medical treat- will he block the release of bills to the ment and all the heralded hi-tech procedures and equipment floor of Parliament, like Moroz, and associated with it. They have consoled themselves with the especially Tkachenko, does.” fact that at least they have access to cost-free medicine, Even with what seems like a widespread which is becoming less true as clinics and hospitals attach base of support, the fact remains that Mr. service fees (although minimal) for treatment to subsidize Musiyaka was only Parliament’s third expenses. choice for the post of deputy chairman. So, when Operation Blessing set up shop in Ukraine to Valentyn Symonenko, a deputy from give free health care to Kyiv’s residents from September 21 the Odessa region, had received the high- to October 4, the turnout was as could be expected. est tally in a ratings vote that was taken Thousands jammed nine polyclinics and hospitals in Kyiv by Parliament to determine the favorites that were staffed in all by 80 doctors and 170 support staff for the post. He withdrew his candidacy from America. They were looking for medical advice, treat- on September 18, after being nominated ment and prescriptions for their various ailments and dis- by Chairman Moroz. The ex-mayor of eases. At one place, the Boryspil Polyclinic, 2,500 people Odesa explained that concern for the were examined in the first two days, according to Operation city’s problems (at that time a hurricane Blessing Public Relations Manager Sharon Gabriel. had devastated a portion of the coastal When a radio station mistakenly aired a telephone number area) would not allow him to effectively that was supposed to be used only by reporters as an informa- carry out his duties as deputy chairman tion source, the response was such that the district telephone Operation Blessing of Parliament. A second nominee presented by Mr. (Continued on page 7) Surgery is performed aboard the Flying Hospital. (Continued on page 2) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1996 No. 41 NEWS ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Belarus, the black sheep of Eastern Europe? Marchuk to run for president many categories of public sector employ- by David R. Marples Moscow regarded him as a potentially ees to hold public protests against the gov- KYIV — Former Prime Minister ernment, which has not paid out wages for dangerous nationalist. This was symbol- Yevhen Marchuk announced that he will The political situation in Belarus has ized by his appearing in public in national months. Reportedly, the Ukrainian govern- again become tense as another confronta- run against President Leonid Kuchma in the ment owes more than $1.5 billion in wages. costume and speaking the native language 1999 presidential election, reported tion looms between the president and the at some official functions. The educators said the nation’s students Parliament. At issue is a November 7 refer- Ukrainian TV on October 2. Mr. Marchuk, have been most affected by government He can be compared to the leader of who has held a parliamentary seat since endum on an amended Constitution, initiat- the Communist Party of Ukraine Petro cutbacks in education, which have created ed by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, December 1995, made the announcement a shortage of textbooks and left many Shelest both in outlook and politics. after being elected head of the 24-member that would greatly extend the powers of the Whereas Mr. Shelest was removed in schools unable to pay for badly needed presidency, providing him with an extend- Social-Market Choice faction in the repairs. (OMRI Daily Digest) 1972, however, and replaced by a Ukrainian legislature. Although the next ed term in office (from four years to six), Russophile hardliner in Volodymyr allowing him to dissolve the assembly in presidential elections are not scheduled until Russia taxes Ukrainian imports Shcherbytsky, Mr.