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Action Ukraine Report

"UKRAINE REPORT 2003"
"The Art of Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the World"

"Ukraine has been and will be an integral part of the European political,
economic and cultural space, from which it was artificially separated for
centuries, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko has said.

"A return to Europe, that is, to ourselves, is our hard-earned choice and
unchangeable priority," he said, addressing a meeting of OSCE foreign
ministers' council." [article seven]

"UKRAINE REPORT 2003," Number 109
U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION (USUF)
www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)
Washington, D.C., Kyiv, Ukraine, morganw@patriot.net
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2003

INDEX OF ARTICLES:

1. UKRAINE FACES DEFINING CROSSROADS
By Natalia A. Feduschak, The Washington Times,
Washington, D.C., Sunday, November 30, 2003

2. UKRAINE ADOPTED AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED
NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)
UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

3. REMEMBERING RED VICTIMS
By Jeffrey T. Kuhner, Assistant National Editor
The Washington Times, Washington, D.C., Sunday, November 30, 2003

4. ECONOMICS MINISTRY: GOVERNMENT OF YANUKOVYCH
PROVIDED MACRO-ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
OF ECONOMICS
UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

5. SPU, BYT AND "OUR UKRAINE" LIKELY TO PROPOSE
YUSHCHENKO AS THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER
STATES MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LEVKO LUKYANENKO
UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, December 2, 2003

6. POLISH COMPANIES INVEST IN UKRAINE TO GAIN FOOTHOLD
IN POST-SOVIET MARKET AHEAD OF EU ACCESSION
Polish News Bulletin; Warsaw, Poland, Dec 02, 2003

7. UKRAINE VIEWS NATO, EU MEMBERSHIP AS MEDIUM-TERM
GOALS STATES FOREIGN MINISTER HRYSHCHENKO
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian, 1 Dec 03
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Dec 01, 2003

8. GENOCIDAL FAMINE (HOLODOMOR) EXHIBITION IN KYIV
People's Deputy of Ukraine, H. Udovenko Writes in Visitor's Book
www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)
Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

9. BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, RUSSIA, UKRAINE FAIL TO COME
TO TERMS ON FREE TRADE ZONE
Interfax, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 1, 2003

10. LETTER FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II MARKS COMMEMORATION
OF GENOCIDAL FAMINE IN UKRAINE 1932-1933
"May This Never Be Repeated Again!"
ZENIT, Rome, Italy, November 26, 2003

11.WEIGHT OF WORLD ON UKRAINIAN BOXER VITALI KLITSCHKO
Vitali Klitschko returns to national stage Saturday night at Garden.
By Tim Smith, New York Daily News Sports Writer
New York, New York, December 2, 2003

12. TWO GENOCIDAL FAMINE (HOLODOMOR) BOOKS PUBLISHED
"Ukraine 1933: A Cookbook" and "Famine 1932-1933 Years in Ukraine"
www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)
Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003
=====================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
=====================================================
1. UKRAINE FACES DEFINING CROSSROADS

By Natalia A. Feduschak, The Washington Times,
Washington, D.C., Sunday, November 30, 2003

KIEV - Opposition leader Victor Yushchenko's eyes suddenly sadden
when he is asked about billboards depicting him as a Nazi, which
recently appeared in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

"This for me was a shock," said Mr. Yushchenko, whose father was a
Red Army soldier and survived several Nazi death camps, including
Auschwitz.

"On this theme, you would think one would be holy. At the beginning
of the third millennium, to talk about the [German] SS or fascism, in
the whole civilized world, it isn't accepted. ... There are too many
elements of political advertisement here."

With less than a year before critical presidential elections, Ukraine
has found itself at its most defining crossroad since winning
independence from the Soviet Union 12 years ago.

This nation almost the size of Texas has been at important junctures
in the past. But the stakes rarely have been higher for a country
whose leadership is still not sure whether its fate lies with a more
democratic Europe or a more autocratic Russia.

Kiev's leaders have consistently stressed Ukraine's future lies with
Europe. Yet even after several recent high-profile trips to
Washington by the prime minister and parliament speaker, events here
have raised troubling questions about the current leadership's
commitment to democratic change.

Some opposition leaders say the recent resignation of Georgia leader
Eduard Shevardnadze, amid massive opposition protests over rigged
elections, has buoyed their hopes for political change here.

But opposition lawmaker Yuriy Pavlenko said at a recent demonstration
outside parliament, called to protest a decrease in the mininum wage,
that the Georgia scenario was not likely in Ukraine.

"It's a different situation here," Mr. Pavlenko said. "Ours will be a
different route."

Mr. Yushchenko, who has remained the presidential front-runner in
opinion polls for nearly two years, has been harassed in meetings
with constituents around Ukraine.

The country's prosecutor-general was sacked by President Leonid
Kuchma only days after implicating former high-ranking officials in
Ukraine's Interior Ministry in the death of journalist Georgy
Gongadze, who investigated government corruption.

The country's parliament has been pressing for constitutional reforms
that would weaken the president's authority and allow lawmakers to
pick the head of state, rather than electing him or her in a popular
vote, as is the case today.

"This is all tied together," said Danylo Yanevsky, director of the
nongovernmental Institute of Political Modeling in Kiev.

"All these political dances are around one theme - the presidential
elections of October 31, 2004."

A particularly troubling incident for pro-democracy forces occurred
last month, when Mr. Yushchenko and some 5,000 delegates from various
political parties that belong to his parliamentary faction were
prevented from holding a summit in Donetsk, considered a conservative
stronghold with a large ethnic-Russian population.

The building where the summit was to have taken place was filled with
students several hours before the gathering. Young people were
provided with free beer and vodka by unknown sources, according to
opposition leaders. Anti-Yushchenko demonstrations were held in the
city center.

The summit was canceled, but even some parliament members from
Donetsk said the demonstrations were the closest Ukraine has come to
a "civil war."

"A dress rehearsal for civil war happened in Donetsk today," Serhei
Harmash, a representative from Donetsk, told Ukrainian media. "If the
drunk crowd just yelled 'Yushchenko, go away,' that would be
political opposition.

"But when anti-Yushchenko sentiments are agitated under interethnic
and interregional symbols and appeals, this is a kindling of
interethnic animosity. These are dress rehearsals for a civil war."

The anti-Yushchenko protests drew staunch criticism from Western
diplomats based in Kiev, including U.S. Ambassador John Herbst.

The events in Donetsk, however, haven't stopped some pro-presidential
lawmakers from calling Mr. Yushchenko's pro-democracy ideal,
"Nashism."

The word plays on the Ukrainian name of the opposition leader's
bloc, "Nasha Ukraina," or Our Ukraine.

The country's political crisis has also virtually stalled further
investigation into the death of Mr. Gongadze, whose headless body was
found in a forest outside Kiev more than three years ago. He was an
ardent critic of Mr. Kuchma.

The journalist's death remains the Pandora's box of Ukrainian
politics. A voice purported to be that of Mr. Kuchma was heard on
tapes - secretly recorded by a former presidential bodyguard, who now
has asylum in the United States - telling aides to get rid of Mr.
Gongadze.

Only days after Ukraine's prosecutor-general, Sviatoslav Piskun,
implicated former high-ranking officials in Ukraine's Interior
Ministry in the journalist's killing, Mr. Kuchma sacked him. Mr.
Piskun indicated he was on the verge of taking the case to court when
he was dismissed.

"We now have the operation of camouflaging the situation and burying
it," Socialist leader Oleksandr Moroz, who three years ago made
public the secretly recorded tapes, said of Mr. Piskun's
ouster. "They needed to do something. [Piskun] hit the nerve."

Mr. Kuchma said at a news conference recently that the prosecutor-
general was removed for professional, not political, reasons.

The president has denied any involvement in the killing.

It is not clear whether the new prosecutor-general will continue with
the investigation into Mr. Gongadze's death, or how quickly.

Resolving Mr. Gongadze's killing has become a key component to better
relations among Ukraine, the United States and the European Union.

Troubling for many citizens have been efforts to have the nation's
legislature, rather than the people, to elect the president in 2006,
only two years after the 2004 vote.

Ukraine's Supreme Court recently ruled the election of the president
by parliament would not violate the constitution.

Because Mr. Kuchma ran for his second term under a constitution that
was passed in 1996, some analysts have suggested Mr. Kuchma could
theoretically run again, which he repeatedly has said he would not
do.

The president cannot hold office for more than two terms under the
current constitution.

Polls suggest up to 89 percent of those questioned want to directly
pick the president. Mr. Kuchma told journalists he also favors a
public vote.

Leonid Kravchuk, Ukraine's first president, said parliament should
pick the president because the nation is not ready to choose its
leader. That is particularly true of older people who are used to the
old-style Soviet system, when choices were made for them, he
suggested.

"We still don't have democratic life in Ukraine," Mr. Kravchuk
said. "There is no freedom of the press. We have to grow into that."

Mr. Kravchuk, who lost to Mr. Kuchma after calling for early
presidential elections, also said he didn't want to see another
president with the same wide-sweeping powers enjoyed by the
incumbent.

For his part, Mr. Kuchma has asked the Supreme Court to determine
under what conditions he can dismiss parliament, which for weeks has
been in a logjam. (END) (ARTUIS)
======================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
======================================================
2.UKRAINE ADOPTED AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)

UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

Kyiv. December 2. Ukraine has become a member of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to the press-service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, such a
decision has been made at the 32nd FAO conference, which took place
in Rome on November 29.

UN's FAO is a specialized institution, founded as early as in 1945. Its main
aim is boosting of the living standards in all countries of the world,
provision of efficiency of agricultural production and spread of all kinds
of foodstuffs and agricultural production. As of today, 187 world countries
are FAO members.

Ukrainian delegation chairman at 32nd FAO conference, Agricultural Policy
Minister Serhiy Ryzhuk thanked the delegates of the FAO member countries
for the support of Ukraine in its intention to become a full-fledged member
of
this organization. Having underscored that Ukraine, by its potential and
natural wealth is one of the most perspective countries of Europe, he
expressed a belief that Ukraine will be able to render real support to the
efforts of the world community in the solution of such a global problem as
hunger overcoming. (END) (ARTUIS)
=======================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
=======================================================
3. REMEMBERING RED VICTIMS

By Jeffrey T. Kuhner, Assistant National Editor
The Washington Times, Washington, D.C.
Sunday, November 30, 2003

The 20th century will be remembered as the bloodiest century in
history. A major reason was the 1917 establishment by Vladimir Lenin
and his Bolsheviks of a Marxist regime in Russia. The Soviet Union
was the epicenter of a communist empire that, until its
disintegration in 1991, spread doctrines of economic collectivism and
class struggle to almost every part of the globe. From Eastern Europe
to Africa to Latin America to Asia, hundreds of millions suffered the
brutality of Marxist-Leninist dictatorships.

Now, if some in Washington have their way, the memories of the
countless victims of communism will be remembered. Led by its
courageous president, Jay Katzen, the Victims of Communism Memorial
Foundation (www.victimsofcommunism.org) is seeking to erect a
monument in D.C. dedicated to those who perished under Marxism's
murderous reign. Their goal is to have the Memorial Monument built by
October of next year. A monument is desperately needed because,
sadly, communism's crimes risk being forgotten.

Lenin's project resulted not only in unprecedented economic and
ecological destruction, but more importantly the greatest system of
mass murder ever invented: More than 100 million individuals were
killed at the hands of communist regimes. Yet many Western academics
continue to deny or downplay the full extent of communist atrocities.

It is common on many campuses in the United States to hear that
Marxism-Leninism, unlike its totalitarian twin, fascism, was a
benevolent ideology that sought to impose universal peace and social
justice - that it was a good idea gone bad. Nothing could be further
from the truth.

>From its inception, communism sought to forge a new order based on
genocide and mass murder. Lenin set the precedent, followed by
subsequent Marxist regimes, that to establish a revolutionary
proletarian state, entire categories of humans needed to be
systematically wiped out: the bourgeoisie, kulaks,
counterrevolutionaries and intellectuals who refused to follow the
Bolshevik line. The totalitarian essence of Lenin's vision was that
it sought to erect the perfect society by imposing one-party rule and
smashing all dissent and opposition.

Recent history has been littered with Lenin's evil offspring - Josef
Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Josip Broz Tito, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, Nicolae
Ceausescu, Fidel Castro. The atrocities committed by these dictators
need to be remembered not only to honor the dead but because they
reveal the seminal lesson of the past century: Utopianism leads to
totalitarianism; the road to Utopia goes through Golgotha.

The millions slaughtered by communist regimes were not accidental
byproducts of misguided policies, but central to the Marxist project.
For example, during the 1933 terror famine, Soviet leader Josef
Stalin systematically starved to death about 10 million Ukrainian
peasants. His genocidal goal was to eviscerate the Ukrainian
peasantry, hoping to crush the heart of the Ukraine nation and
consolidate his iron grip on power. Stalin's victims also included
other captive peoples: the Poles, Slovaks, Czechs, Hungarians,
Romanians, Chechens, Latvians, Estonians, Lithuanians and the Crimean
Tatars (who were literally wiped off the map after World War II).

The same pattern repeated itself in Asia. The withdrawal of U.S.
power from Southeast Asia in 1973 resulted in unimaginable horrors
for those living in the region. Communist regimes were installed in
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Millions of Cambodians were slaughtered
by Pol Pot, while countless South Vietnamese risked their lives on
the high seas to flee the rampaging North Vietnamese army.

However, the most brutal communist tyrant was Mao. In 1959, "the Red
Emperor" launched his crash collectivization program, his so-
called "Great Leap Forward," which was supposed to bring China into
modernity. Instead, it led to the deaths of more than 20 million
Chinese. Many of the victims were children who were eaten by starving
peasants.

Yet while the crimes of fascism are rightly remembered by Western
academics and journalists, the ghastly crimes of communism remain
largely ignored. This is wrong. The lives of those who were murdered
by Hitler's thugs are not worth more than those who died at the hands
of Stalin. The victims of communism deserve better. And if Mr. Katzen
has his way, they will finally get the recognition that has been
denied to them for so long. (END) (ARTUIS)
========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
========================================================
4. ECONOMICS MINISTRY: GOVERNMENT OF YANUKOVYCH
PROVIDED MACRO-ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
OF ECONOMICS

UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

Kyiv. December 2. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine under the
chairmanship of Victor Yanukovych, during the year of its work, has provided
a macroeconomic stability in the state and the growth of national economics.
Deputy Minister of Economics and European Integration Volodymyr Pershyn has
said it representing the achievements of the government during the year of
its operation at the governmental committees session in the Cabinet of
Ministers.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, in his words, the government of
Victor Yanukovych had to work under difficult conditions. "The governmental
activities started under difficult conditions: the year 2002 was the less
favorable for the economic development during the last three years, the
decisions, aimed at solution of short-term problems, prevailed in the
economic policy, and the political struggle complicated the economic
situation", said V.Pershyn.

In addition, in his words, the plans on privatization were not implemented,
the credits to WB were not returned, and Ukraine was under the threat of
FATF sanctions.

The deputy Minister has also added that the beginning of the year
characterized with bad weather conditions, which negatively influenced the
food situation in Ukraine.

However, V.Pershyn underscored the government, despite these negative
factors, managed not only to preserve the macroeconomic stability, but also
provided a growth of the economics. Thus, in his words, the GDP growth made
7.2% during 10 months of the current year, which will allow to achieve the
level of 8% (the program of actions of the government envisioned the GDP
growth in 2003 at 5-6% - UNIAN).

In addition, in his words, during this period the salary grew up by 5.6%. At
the same time, the state observed a low level of inflation and 100-%
fulfillment of the budget.

The deputy Minister has underscored the government has achieved such results
owing to the support of the Ukrainian President and an active collaboration
with the parliament. (END) (ARTUIS)
========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
========================================================
5. SPU, BYT AND "OUR UKRAINE" LIKELY TO PROPOSE
YUSHCHENKO AS THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER
STATES MP LEVKO LUKYANENKO

UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Kyiv. December 2. SPU, BYT, and "Our Ukraine" are likely to propose
the candidature of Victor Yushchenko for the post of the Ukrainian
President. Former political prisoner, member of parliament, member of Yulia
Tymoshenko's bloc, [former Ukraine ambassador to Canada] Levko Lukyanenko
has announced it in the air of "Vremya" program on 5th channel.

In such a way L.Lukyanenko has commented on the decision of "Batkivshchyna"
Lviv organization to propose the party session to promote candidature of
Yu.Tymoshenko to the post of the Ukrainian President.

The MP says this decision of the Lviv organization of "Batkivshchyna" has no
juridical value. He has added that "Our Ukraine", Socialist Party and BYT
apply efforts to agree a united candidature. "The ideal of the three faction
is to propose Victor Yushchenko for the post of the Ukrainian President",
says L.Lukyanenko.

As reported earlier by UNIAN, on December 1 an informed source said to
UNIAN to the Communist Party of Ukraine has decided to participate in
the future elections separately, and will propose its own candidature - CPU
leader Petro Symonenko. (END) (ARTUIS)
========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
========================================================
6. POLISH COMPANIES INVEST IN UKRAINE TO GAIN FOOTHOLD
IN POST-SOVIET MARKET AHEAD OF EU ACCESSION

Polish News Bulletin; Warsaw, Poland, Dec 02, 2003

...............In Ukraine, Polish direct investment has...been rising
sharply, reaching $98.4m last year, up from $69.3m in 2001, according to the
Polish embassy in Kiev. Among the largest investors are packagings producer
Can Pack, furniture makers Nowy Styl and Forte, dressings maker Bella, car
accessories manufacturer Inter Groclin, and Kredyt Bank.

Polish companies are present mainly in the financial sector (35.2 percent of
total investment to date) and industry (35.1 percent), with commerce
accounting for 22 percent, and other sectors for 7.7 percent.

There are some 1,800 Polish-owned companies in Ukraine, and the number has
grown sharply since 2001. In the Jaworow special economic zone alone, Polish
producers of building materials, plastics, paints and lacquers, food
products, and vitamins, invested a total of $12m.

Polish companies are present in Chernikhov (cables), Kharkov (furniture),
Lugansk (WIKO, office and store furniture), Lvov (retail), or Kiev (hotels).
Clothing retailer LPP operates a number of stores across Ukraine, and
Bydgoszcz-based bicycle manufacturer Romet invested $0.6m together with an
Ukrainian partner into the development of Ukraine's first bicycle plant in
Novovolynsk, which started operations in May 2002.

Among new Polish investors that started operations in the Jaworow tax-free
zone this year are Cyfral (cordless phones), Bella (dressings), Terpol
(pharmaceutical formulas), Marbet (home furnishings), Lamella (plastics),
and Polfarmex. Opening a branch enables Polish companies to curb illegal
imports of their products into Ukraine. Lamella, for instance, estimates
that before it set up a business in Ukraine, 90 percent of its products
there were sold illegally. Among the largest Polish investment projects in
Ukraine is a $35m can packagings plant opened by Can Pack. The plant has
target capacity of 2 billion cans annually.

In the furniture industry, Poland's leading sitting furniture maker Nowy
Styl, operates a plant in Kharkov; 60 percent of output is exported to the
CIS countries, mainly Russia. Another Polish furniture manufacturer, Forte,
has set up a production plant in Donyetsk.

Inter Groclin, Poland's leading maker of car upholstery, will spend some 10m
euro to start a plant in Uzhgorod that will make elements for car seats.
Among Ukraine's leading banks are Kredyt Bank, based in Lvov, and Pekao.
While Kredyt Bank is winding up its foreign operations and is seeking a
buyer for its business, Pekao has signalled plans to boost its involvement
in Pekao Ukraine to 75 percent. Most recent Polish investments in Ukraine
include Centrostal-Domstal (building materials, $0.8m), Delicja
(confectionery, $2.5m), Perfekt ($8m), and Peri Polska (boarding, $1.75m). -
Vitaliy Gayduk deputy prime minister, Ukraine

Polish-Ukrainian trade turnover officially reached some 1.5bn euro last
year, but if unregistered trade were counted in, the figure would be
two-three times higher. In the last 10 years there were two stages of trade
relations between our countries ? first there was a massive flow of Polish
goods to Ukraine, and then the direction reversed and Ukrainians started
bringing goods from Ukraine to Poland. Hence Poles and Ukrainians know
themselves and their markets well.

Now the question is to move from "suitcase trade" to normal, civilised trade
relations. On the inter-governmental level, most issues have already been
regulated. Commodity trade levels are determined chiefly by product
competitiveness and transport capabilities. We also see a need for closer
contacts between our chambers of commerce. (END) (ARTUIS)
=========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
=========================================================
7. UKRAINE VIEWS NATO, EU MEMBERSHIP AS MEDIUM-TERM
GOALS STATES FOREIGN MINISTER HRYSHCHENKO

Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian, 1 Dec 03
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Dec 01, 2003

Kiev, 1 December: Ukraine has been and will be a integral part of the
European political, economic and cultural space, from which it was
artificially separated for centuries, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn
Hryshchenko has said.

"A return to Europe, that is, to ourselves, is our hard-earned choice and
unchangeable priority," he said, addressing a meeting of OSCE foreign
ministers' council.

"That is why we support EU and NATO enlargement processes. We see
ourselves as members of these organizations in the medium term," Hryshchenko
stressed. In this regard, he said, Ukraine considers the OSCE to be an
important partner.

"We would like to see a united Europe without division lines. We realize
that there is no alternative to such a future. Any other scenarios would
inevitably lead to new conflicts and would set our countries and peoples
back as we strive to attain a common aim," Hryshchenko said.

In conclusion, he thanked everyone who supported the initiative to remember
the victims of the artificial famine in Ukraine in the 1930s.

"Unfortunately, in 1933 the world did not react to that tragedy, believing
the propaganda of the USSR, which was selling bread abroad while 17 people
were dying of hunger in Ukraine every minute," Hryshchenko said, ending his
speech with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma's words: "We do not wish to
settle scores with the past. We only wish to make our tragedy known to as
many people as possible and to have this knowledge help us avoid such
catastrophes in the future." (END) (ARTUIS)
=========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
=========================================================
8. GENOCIDAL FAMINE (HOLODOMOR) EXHIBITION IN KYIV
People's Deputy of Ukraine Udovenko Writes in Exhibition Visitor's Book

www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)
Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

Kyiv, Ukraine.........People's Deputy of Ukraine, Hennadiy Udovenko, visited
the "Ukrainian Genocidal Famine (Holodomor) 1932-1933 70th Anniversary
Commemoration Exhibition "To the Dead, and the Living and the Unborn,"
held last week in Kyiv. Member of Parliament H. Udovenko previously served
as Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs, Ukraine's ambassador to Poland
and as Ukraine's permanent representative to the United Nations.

After visiting the exhibition for an hour the Ukrainian political leader
wrote the following in the holodomor exhibition visitor's book:

"The Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine was the biggest tragedy in the
history of the Ukrainian people. The exhibition calls on those who visit it
not to let anything like this happen again: neither physical, nor spiritual,
nor language holodomor.

We are very grateful to the organizers and sponsors of the holodomor
exhibition and especially to Mr. Morgan Williams [U.S.-Ukraine Foundation],
that he has gathered such an exhibition about holodomor and organized its
display in the days when Ukraine commemorates the 70th anniversary of the
holodomor.

A lot of thanks to him and our deep respect,

People's Deputy of Ukraine
Hennadiy Udovenko"
=========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
=========================================================
9. BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, RUSSIA, UKRAINE FAIL TO COME
TO TERMS ON FREE TRADE ZONE

Interfax, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 1, 2003

Kyiv. (Interfax) - The high-level group for creating a single economic space
between Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine failed to come to terms on
the mechanism for creating the free trade zone in Kyiv on Saturday.

"The high-level group will continue the talks on the basic measures to
create a free-trade zone at a meeting of the Economic Council of the
Commonwealth of Independent States in Moscow on December 18 and 19,"
Vitaliy Lukyanenko, spokesman for Ukraine's first deputy prime minister,
told journalists on Saturday.

"The Moscow meeting will address about one third of the problems connected
with the free trade zone on which no agreement has been reached," he said.

The plan of basic measures for creating a free trade zone comprises 168
issues. (END) (ARTUIS)
======================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
=======================================================
10. LETTER FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II MARKS COMMEMORATION
OF GENOCIDAL FAMINE IN UKRAINE 1932-1933
"May This Never Be Repeated Again!"

ZENIT, Rome, Italy, November 26, 2003

LVIV, Ukraine, NOV. 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the
Ukrainian-language text of a letter from John Paul II for the commemorations
of the Stalin-engineered famine that killed millions of Ukrainians.

The text of the letter dated Nov. 23 was released through the Ukrainian
Greek Catholic Church.

Highly honored Brothers
Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, Major Archbishop of Lviv for Ukrainians,
and Marian Cardinal Jaworski, Archbishop of Lviv for the faithful of the
Latin rite,

1. Recalling the dramatic events of a nation, besides the fact that it is
simply a necessity, as never before shows itself to be beneficial in
stirring up a desire in new generations so that under all circumstances they
become watchful guardians of respect for the dignity of every human being.
Prayer for the repose of the souls of the dead follows from such
recollection, and it becomes for the faithful a balm that softens the pain
and becomes active prayer to God, who is "The Lord of all the living," so
that He would grant eternal rest to all those who were unjustly deprived of
the gift of life. Appropriate memory of the past, in the end, brings about
the ability to pass the boundaries of one nation, going out to other peoples
who were also the victims of fatal events and who, sharing grief, can
receive consolation.

So, the 70th anniversary of the sad events of the famine-genocide call forth
such feelings in my soul: millions of people suffered a terrible death
through the pernicious activities of an ideology that throughout the 20th
century became the cause of suffering and grief in many parts of the world.
On this occasion, Honored Brothers, I wish to participate spiritually in the
memorial ceremonies that will be held in honor of the countless victims of
the great famine that occurred in Ukraine during the reign of the communist
regime. I speak of the terrible plan carried out with cold calculation by
those in power in that era.

2. Returning to those sad events, Honored Brothers, I ask you to express to
the civil authorities and your fellow citizens, who are especially dear to
me, my solidarity and participation in prayer. These planned memorials are
intended to commemorate the victims of the country's children, to strengthen
true love for the homeland. This is not directed against other nations, but,
rather, hopes to revitalize in the human soul feelings of the dignity of
every human being, regardless of which nation he or she belongs to.

The persuasive words of my predecessor, Pope Pius XI of blessed memory, come
to mind, as he was considering the policies of the Soviet government of the
time. He saw a distinct difference between the rulers and the ruled and, at
that time as he spoke in defense of the latter, he clearly revealed the
responsibility of a system that "ignores the true origin and purpose of the
State; because it denies the rights, dignity and liberty of human
personality." (Encyclical "Divini Redemptoris" [March 19, 1937], 14)

In connection with this, how can one fail to recall the destruction of so
many families, the suffering of countless orphans, the collapse of all
social structures? Feeling close to all those who suffered the consequences
of the sad events of 1933, I again wish to confirm the necessity of
preserving the memory of these facts, so that yet another time together it
may be said: May this never be repeated again! Becoming aware of the
mistakes of the past becomes a constant stimulus for building a future that
is more suited to human needs. This combats any ideology that distorts the
life, dignity and proper desires of the human being.

3. The experience of this tragedy should today guide the feelings and
activities of the Ukrainian people on the road to concord and cooperation.
Unfortunately, communist ideology has left its mark with deep divisions also
in the spheres of social and religious life. It is necessary to make efforts
for a sincere and active reconciliation: in this way the victims, who belong
to the whole Ukrainian nation, can be properly honored.

The Christian feeling of sorrow for those who died as a consequence of
insane, death-dealing plans, should be accompanied by a desire to build a
society in which the common good, natural law, justice for all, and human
rights will be the constant guides for the active renewal of the hearts and
minds of all those who have the honor to belong to the Ukrainian nation. In
this way, recalling the past becomes a source of inspiration for present and
future generations.

4. During my unforgettable visit to your country two years ago, speaking of
the sorrowful period that Ukraine suffered through 70 years ago, I recalled
"the terrible years of the Soviet dictatorship and the dreadful famine at
the beginning of the 1930s, when Ukraine, 'the breadbasket of Europe,' was
no longer able to feed its own children, who died by the millions." (Meeting
with representatives of the worlds of politics, culture, science and
business at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, June 23, 2001)

We hope that, with God's assistance, the lessons of history will help us to
find lasting encouragement for mutual understanding. I have in mind
constructive collaboration, in order to build together a country which will
develop on every level in a harmonious and peaceful manner.

Achieving this noble goal depends, first of all, on Ukrainians, to whom has
been entrusted the preservation of the Eastern Christian tradition and
responsibility for developing it into an original union of culture and
civilization. This is a special inheritance, which Ukraine is called to
carry into the construction of the "common European home," in which each
nation will be able to find an appropriate reception with respect for the
values of its own originality.

5. Honored Brothers, on such an exceptional occasion, how can we not return
in thought to the planting of the Gospel carried out by Saints Cyril and
Methodius? How can we not anew recall with gratitude the witness of St.
Volodymyr and his grandmother, St. Olha, through whose mediation the Lord
granted your people the grace of Baptism and new life in Christ? With soul
enlightened by the Gospel, it is possible to better understand how it is
necessary to love one's homeland, so that it actively makes its contribution
as it progresses on the road of culture and civilization. Membership in a
certain nation should be accompanied by sacrificial efforts and the sincere
exchange of gifts received as an inheritance from previous generations, in
order to build a society open to other peoples and the exchange of
traditions.

I express my wish that the Ukrainian people will know how to look upon
historical events with the eyes of reconciliation. I trust in the spiritual
consolation of the Most Holy Mother of God for all those who still suffer
from the consequences of these tragic actions. I accompany these feelings
with the Apostolic Blessing that I share with you, Honored Brothers, and
with all those who are entrusted to your pastoral care, asking the generous
blessings of heaven upon all.

Vatican, November 23, 2003, feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the
World

John Paul II
=========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
========================================================
11. WEIGHT OF WORLD ON UKRAINIAN BOXER VITALI KLITSCHKO
Vitali Klitschko returns to national stage Saturday night at Garden.

By Tim Smith, New York Daily News Sports Writer
New York, New York, December 2, 2003

In an HBO commercial, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko are shown in an
island lair plotting the domination of the heavyweight division. At
the conclusion of the spot, the brothers laugh diabolically, an
homage to Dr. Evil, the megalomanical character from the "Austin
Powers" movies.

Except for the setting, the spot is rooted in reality. There is a
scheme to have the Klitschkos dominate the heavyweight division. It
is not diabolical, but methodical and systematic. The first part of
the plot has already taken hold: most everyone in the sport believes
they are among the elite in the heavyweight division.

Now the rest is up to them. They must beat quality opponents in
meaningful bouts to keep the public interested and advance their
cause.

First up is Vitali, who will meet Kirk Johnson in the main event of a
heavyweight doubleheader at the Garden Saturday night on HBO. The
co-feature is a 10-round heavyweight match pitting Joe Mesi, a Buffalo
sensation, against Monte Barrett of Queens.

The Garden is a bright Broadway stage the 32-year-old Ukrainian
heavyweight can use to make a bigger name for himself or regress into
boxing oblivion.

"To make this fight in New York in Madison Square Garden is a great
opportunity for me," Klitschko said. "It's a special place where
there have been some important fights in history. Everybody all over
the world wants to fight at Madison Square Garden. Now I have my
chance."

The stakes are high - a multi-million dollar, multi-fight agreement
with HBO and a clear-cut shot at the WBC heavyweight title.

"It has been three years since I lost my world title (WBO) and I have
worked very hard to get back to being a world champion," Klitschko
said. "It is a dream and it is my goal. Without a win in this fight,
I don't need to be the world champion."

If champ Lennox Lewis decides to retire, the winner of Klitschko-
Johnson would meet Corrie Sanders for the WBC crown. If Lewis
sticks around, the winner would meet him.

Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, said the network is merely
following the lead of the print media in identifying the Klitschkos
as the next big thing.

"We don't know what Lennox Lewis is ultimately going to do. Vitali
and Wladimir are on a short list of those boxers who are ready to
make their mark in the heavyweight division. The public has caught on
(to them)," Greenburg said. "The loss to Lennox Lewis gave Vitali the
sympathy of the American public."

Vitali Klitschko (32-2, 31 KOs) lost on a sixth-round TKO on June 21
after sustaining some severe cuts around his right eye. He was
leading on all three scorecards when the match was stopped. Most
people present thought that Lewis, who seemed out of shape, received
a gift. Rather than face Klitschko in a rematch on Dec. 6, Lewis said
he was going to take off the remainder of the year. He also announced
that he is contemplating retirement.

"I didn't surprise myself," Klitschko said. "I know what I can do. I
know me better than anybody else knows me."

It didn't hurt that Klitschko's performance against Lewis came in
front of a large HBO audience and more than 15,000 fans at the
Staples Center in Los Angeles. And it won't hurt him that his next
bout will be at the Garden.

The Lewis bout was a situation in which a loss became a win for
Klitschko. Before that match, Vitali, who is five years older than
Wladimir, had been deemed too wed to the straight-up European style
to be a serious threat. The younger Wladimir, who was more fluid, was
considered most likely to succeed in America.

Two things happened to alter that perception. Wladimir was knocked
out in the second round by Sanders and lost his WBO crown. And Vitali
stood up to Lewis, weathered a major storm and showed tremendous
heart.

Considering the dearth of talent in the division, Vitali Klitschko
has as good a chance of making it to the top as any other top-10
contender. And as David Tua, Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz and Kirk Johnson
have proven, losing in a heavyweight title match does not spell the
end of the line.

Ruiz, who lost his title to Roy Jones Jr. back in March, is meeting
Rahman on Dec. 13 in Atlantic City in a WBA heavyweight title
elimination match. The winner is supposed to meet Jones for another
title shot.

Vitali has the size of a prototypical 21st century heavyweight (6-8,
250 pounds) and his story is a promoter's and marketer's dream. The
son of a former Soviet Union military officer and a military officer
himself, Klitschko compiled a brilliant amateur record (119-15, 80
KOs) before turning pro in 1996 at 25.

Promoter Don King recognized the talents of both brothers - Wladimir
won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta - and wanted to sign
them. He invited them to Las Vegas for a wine, dine and sign, but
they declined and instead signed with German promoter Klaus Peter
Kohl. They relocated from Ukraine to Hamburg, Germany, to work with
trainer Fritz Sdunek.

Vitali was racking up victories while working toward a Ph.D. in
sports psychology from the University of Kiev in Ukraine. He won the
WBO heavyweight title after knocking out British heavyweight Herbie
Hide in London on June 27, 1999. But three matches later, Klitschko
ran into his first professional hiccup. He was fighting Chris Byrd on
April Fools Day 2000, but it was no joke when Klitschko tore the
rotator cuff in his left shoulder in the fourth round. He couldn't
battle through the pain and quit in the ninth round. As was the case
in the Lewis bout, he was ahead on the scorecards when the bout was
stopped.

Some viewed the resignation as a sign that Klitschko lacked
fortitude. But it may have been an indication of just how high his
pain threshold is.

"I stopped the fight because I couldn't fight anymore," Klitschko
said. "So when I hear people say that I don't have any heart, it is
very hard for me to hear those words. It's not true."

He recalled that experience when he was cut in the Lewis fight. Even
though he was bleeding profusely, Klitschko protested the doctor's
decision to stop it. His performance against Lewis opened a lot of
people's eyes to his skills and courage.

Yet there is still a large measure of doubt about Klitschko's ability
to dominate the division.

Promoter Dan Goossen has his own agenda in place for James Toney, a
former middleweight champ who beat Evander Holyfield back in October.
Goossen has no faith that Vitali or even Wladimir can rule the
division. He believes if Toney can defeat Jameel McCline, a 6-7, 260-
pound behemoth, on Feb. 7, then no heavyweight is safe.

"I feel like their momentum will be destroyed before it can become
established," Goossen said. "Could Kirk Johnson do it? Of course he
could. But I know James Toney can."

It is still a big gamble for HBO to hitch its heavyweight wagon to
Vitali Klitschko. But the network has come up short before with guys
like Shannon Briggs and Michael Grant. Johnson, when sufficiently
motivated, is dangerous because he is a superb boxer with decent
power.

Greenburg doesn't know if the Klitschkos and HBO will have the last
laugh. But he is certain that they are here to stay, regardless of
what happens between Vitali and Johnson on Saturday night.

"It's easy to bounce back and have another chance," Greenburg
said. "Just ask Kirk Johnson. With the heavyweight division, we're
dealing in a sea of wild cards." (END) (ARTUIS)
========================================================
UKRAINE REPORT 2003, No. 109: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
========================================================
12. TWO GENOCIDAL FAMINE (HOLODOMOR) BOOKS PUBLISHED
"Ukraine 1933: A Cookbook" and "Famine 1932-1933 Years in Ukraine"

www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)
Kyiv, Ukraine, December 2, 2003

Kyiv, Ukraine..........Two outstanding new books about the genocidal famine
in Ukraine 1932-1933 have been published.

For complete information on the very unique, interesting book, "Ukraine
1933: A Cookbook," linocuts by Ukrainian artist Mykola Bondarenko,
click on: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/bondarenko.htm. Artist
Mykola Bondarenko visited the holodomor exhibition in Kyiv last week
where some of his artwork from the new book was exhibited.

For complete information on the new 888 page book from Kyiv,
Ukraine, "Famine 1932-1933 Years in Ukraine, Reasons and Consequences,"
click on: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/reasons_conseq.htm
=========================================================
. "UKRAINE REPORT 2003," No. 109: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2003
TWELVE ARTICLES
FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY
=========================================================
To check out the latest NEWS and other information about UKRAINE click on:
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One of the largest website galleries in the world on the genocidal famine
FOLK ART MAGAZINE: http://www.artukraine.com/primitive/artmagazine.htm
NEWS-DAILY GALLERY: http://www.artukraine.com/newsgallery.htm.
CURRENT EVENTS GALLERY: http://www.artukraine.com/events/index.htm
BUILD UKRAINE GALLERY: http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
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========================================================
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