1NS1DE: e Ukrainian Americans at White House briefing - page 4. в George Shevelov honored by fellow scholars - page 5. 7Л " Conference on Ukraine's military held at Harvard - centerfold. Published by the Ukrainian National Association inc., a fraternal non-profit association vol. LXII No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE IS, 1994 50 cents Ukraine's negotiating team reports Objective reporting of presidential race progress in talks with the Crimea is goal of newly formed media center by Roman Woronowycz The Crimean "situation," as Ukrainian by Roman Woronowycz Although many did not support us, most Kyyiv Press Bureau leaders are now referring to the Crimea's Kyyiv Press Bureau utilized the information we gathered." He move toward independence (until recent– said he cares only that the press properly KYYiv - The Crimean talks have ly, it was termed a crisis), continues to KYYiv - As presidential hopefuls criss- inform its readership. proved fruitful thus far in bringing the simmer, but the heat steadily is dissipat– cross the country proposing political and Crimea back into Ukraine's fold, said the economic solutions that might lift Ukraine A direct hindrance to the media cen– ing as leaders from both sides keep meet– ter's efforts during the parliamentary leader of the Ukrainian negotiating dele– ing to resolve the issues. out of the rut it has fallen into, a media cen– gation on June 7. ter has formed to stimulate objective elections was Ukraine's Central Electoral Progress has occurred to the extent Commission, which refused to recognize Deputy Yoiodymyr Butkevych, reporting in this country where balance and that the June 6 date Ukraine's Parliament Elections 94 and would not share infor– recently appointed chairman of the objectivity are still novel ideas. set as the deadline for the Crimea to rec– mation with it. "This time we are regis– Committee on the Crimea that held talks oncile its recently approved Constitution Serhiy Naboka, editor-in-chief of the in Symferopil with members of the Hot Line press center, which opened on tering with the city of Kyyiv and the with Ukraine's passed quietly. Ukrainian information Bureau. The cer– Crimean Parliament, termed discussions Mr. Butkevych explained that his June 6, says the Ukrainian media is stilbfar to find common ground between the run- too strongly controlled by various interests. tificate we receive will force the CEC to committee has asked the Parliament to deal with us," said Mr. Naboka. away peninsula and Kyyiv "successful in move the deadline date to June 15. "Every paper here is supported by some government structure or politician," said How does Mr. Naboka see the elec– defusing the situation." He said a parlia– "Everybody agrees a month is what we the 38-year-old journalist and former politi– tions turning out? The co-founder and mentary working group would shortly actually need. There are many points that cal dissident. "Every radio or television sta– owner of the multi-media outlet, the leave for the Crimea, in addition, an eco– we are working on where we are close to tion is either government-owned or, if com– nomic committee will soon be formed agreement," said Mr. Butkevych. mercial, influenced by the owner." (Continued on page 15) comprising lop Ukrainian economists to The committee head emphasized that continue discussions. no compromise will be allowed regard– Mr. Naboka, who was also chief editor The committee chairman said that, in ing the issue of conflicting constitutions. of the Elections 94 press center, which his opinion, the situation had been blown "The Crimea must bring its Constitution operated up until the Parliament elections were concluded, said the Hot Line press U.S. cargo plane up out of proportion. "1 do not think the into line with Ukraine's, in effect imme– center is an outgrowth of Elections 94. group that desires separation is that large, diately. The Constitution is the basic law that organized or that important," said He said lack of financing and internal to airlift supplies Mr. Butkevych. (Continued on page 20) political problems led to the closing of the highly regarded press center. for Chornobyl relief "We never lost track of the need to continue the idea of Elections 94 into the SHORT H1LLS, N.J. - A coali– !eet talks cut short by stalemate presidential elections," said Mr. Naboka. tion of relief groups led by the He noted that "maximum objectivity" Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund by Eorys Klymenko However, Ukrainian negotiators said and non-partisanship are the goals for the (CCRF) and the Catholic Medical and Roman Woronowycz during the talks that their counterparts press center in gathering and disseminat– Mission Board (CMMB) is sched– were simply seeking another stalemate, ing information to the mass media that uled to launch a major airlift on KYYiv — The latest negotiations on and were waiting to see the outcome of can be utilized by Ukrainians in making June 21 to aid the growing number the division of the Black Sea Fleet took the upcoming presidential elections in their choices in the presidential elections of victims of the 1986 nuclear dis– place here on June 8-9 but ended in stale- Ukraine. Russia recently tabled a propos– and ones for local leaders. aster in Chornobyl, Ukraine. mate on June 9, with Russia's delegation al that would have its fleet stationed in This press center, like the last one, is The airlift will be staged from the cutting short the discussions and quietly the Crimea and Ukrainian naval forces funded by the Soros Foundation, which Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del, slipping out of the Ukrainian capital. restricted to territory outside the peninsu– has agreed to cover up to 320,000 of the aboard a C-5 military cargo plane The Russian side was represented by la. Ukraine immediately dismissed this as center's expenses for technical support approved by the U.S. Department of Special Consul Yuriy Dubinin and the unacceptable. Sources close to the and housing. Defense. A press conference is sched– commander of the Russian Federation's Ukrainian military said the Russian side The Ukrainian Congress Committee of uled for 11 a.m. on the morning of navy, Admiral Feliks Gromov. Ukraine's found every reason to end this round of America also is providing a major por– June 21 prior to takeoff. The press delegation consisted of Deputy Prime talks quickly. tion of the financing, covering what the conference will be held on the air base. Minister Уаіегіу Shmarov, Deputy During the negotiations, the chief of Soros Foundation has not provided for, The airlift has received support Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk, the Russian delegation, Mr. Dubinin, said which includes staff salaries and pay– from a task force of Congressional Ukrainian Navy Commander Admiral the tone of the talks was constructive and ments to free-lance contributors. spouses led by Bonnie Livingston Yoiodymyr Bezkorovainy and Deputy expressed the hope that a final agreement in addition, they have extended to the (wife of Rep. Bob Livingston of Defense Minister Gen. lvan Bizhan. on division of the fleet could be reached press center the support of Mark Suprun, Louisiana), Judy Bonior (wife of Mr. Shmarov, head of the Ukrainian before the fall. He said the fact that work who will act as English-language editor. House Majority Whip David Bonior delegation, said a document is ready on on the question had begun at all was a Yuriy Sandul will act as managing of Michigan), Annette Lantos (wife the division of the fleet but that a key positive development because in previous editor, supervising a staff of approxi– of Rep. Tom Lantos of California) issue, concerning the eventual location of situations disagreement had kept both mately 24 paid and volunteer workers. and Jane Spratt (wife of Rep. John remnants of the Soviet navy not part of sides away from the negotiating table. He will also coordinate the work of cor– Spratt of South Carolina). the Black Sea Fleet, stalled the talks. Mr. Dubinin said, "Earlier, we would respondents in the field, who are located The Congressional Wives Task Prior to the negotiations, former not agree on such issues, but argued at a in Ukraine's 25 oblasts. Force was formed last summer, speaker of Parliament and presidential distance: Was the territory sovereign The center will put out daily press after a large U.S. delegation visited candidate lvan Pliushch asserted that EUkrainianJ or not? Well, of course it's releases in Ukrainian, English and Kyyiv and examined conditions in Ukraine should be given not a fraction of sovereign, there's no question." Russian. A weekly summary, which will children's hospitals there. The fact- the Black Sea Fleet, but 16.37 percent of in another marked departure from pre– include analysis and commentary, will finding mission and the aftermath the entire former Soviet navy, using a vious Russian positions, Mr. Dubinin said also be published, said Mr. Naboka. in of the Chornobyl disaster became formula used to assess Ukraine's share of the Black Sea Fleet issue was primarily a addition, the press center will hold round- the focus of a recent hearing before the defunct USSR's assets. Responding humanitarian and psychological one. tables featuring political analysts and the Congressional Human Rights to a question, Gen. Bizhan concurred that "Somewhere at the tail end of the problem sociologists examining election trends. Caucus chaired by Rep. Lantos. this would be the optimum result of you begin dealing with the military dimen– Mr. Naboka underlined that he hopes tSee "News and views article on negotiations, considering that the Black sion, which, we expect, has changed sig– to work with all of Ukraine's press agen– Sea Fleet constituted only 9 percent of cies and newspapers.