"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis, and Commentary
"The Art of Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the World"
"A senior U.S. official on Thursday expressed deep concern over a
fraud-marred mayoral election in Ukraine that many see as a harbinger of
democracy deteriorating ahead of October's presidential vote.
'It's something that must be corrected,' Assistant Secretary of State
Elizabeth Jones said from Washington in a video news conference, saying
there was 'severe disappointment with the abuses' reported during Sunday's
vote in the town of Mukachevo." [article nine]
"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" Year 2004, Number 65
Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC), Washington, D.C.
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net
Washington, D.C.; Kyiv, Ukraine, FRIDAY, April 23, 2004
INDEX OF ARTICLES
1.ACTION UKRAINE COALITION HOLDS "U.S.-UKRAINE RELATIONS"
BRIEFING SESSION WITH A TOP STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL
AMBASSADOR STEVEN PIFER
By Natalka Gawdiak, Journalist, Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC)
Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 22, 2004
2. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS EXPANSION OF
UKRAINIAN-NATO COOPERATION A "PROBLEM."
Contentious issue of Russian language use in Ukraine
RIA news agency, Moscow, Russia, in Russian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
3. THE CASE OF UKRAINE: NATO INCHES CLOSER
By Yana Amerlina, Translated by Howard Goldfinger
ROSBALT, Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 22, 2004
4 TOP U.S. OFFICIAL WARY OF UKRAINE'S MEMBERSHIP IN
SINGLE ECONOMIC SPACE ECONOMIC UNION
Decision at odds with Ukraine's declarations of integration with Europe
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
5.UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS RATIFICATION OF ACCORDS WITH
RUSSIA; AZOV SEA, KERCH STRAIT, SINGLE ECONOMIC SPACE
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
6. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT KUCHMA PRAISES CES TRADE
TREATY RATIFICATION BY UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 23, 2004
7. UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS SINGLE ECONOMIC SPACE
AGREEMENT WILL HELP UKRAINE'S INTEGRATION WITH RUSSIA
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
8. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT KUCHMA CALLS BAN OF USE OF
RUSSIAN IN BROADCASTING UNCONSTITUTIONAL
AP Online, Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
9. SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL EXPRESSES 'SEVERE DISAPPOINTMENT
WITH ABUSES' IN UKRAINE MAYORAL VOTE
AP Online, Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
10. UKRAINIAN ELECTION WATCHDOG DEMANDS THE
MUKACHEVE MAYORAL ELECTION RESULT ANNULLED
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 22, 2004
11. REHEARSAL IN MUKACHEVO
The Mukachevo election only proves that Europe needs to overcome its
reputation for fecklessness and force Ukraine's government to get its house
in order. OP-ED, Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 22, 2004
12. NOBODY HEEDS THE LESSONS OF CHERNOBYL TRAGEDY
WHICH HAPPENED 18 YEARS AGO ON APRIL 26, 1986
By Academician Yevgeny Velikhov, RIA Novosti, Moscow, April 22, 2004
13. A CRIMEA LEFT ONLY IN PICTURES
European Cultures Museum in Berlin stores Crimean Tatar works of art
By Mykyta Kasianenko, Simferopol
Interview with Crimean Deputy Minister of Culture Ismet Zaatov
The Day Weekly Digest in English, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 20, 2004
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65 ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
===========================================================
1. ACTION UKRAINE COALITION HOLDS "U.S.-UKRAINE RELATIONS"
BRIEFING SESSION WITH A TOP STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL
AMBASSADOR STEVEN PIFER
By Natalka Gawdiak, Journalist, Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC)
Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 22, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C.-According to Deputy Assistant Secretary for
European and Eurasian Affairs in the U.S. State Department and the former
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer, the U.S. vision for Ukraine
continues to be one of "a stable, independent, democratic country with an
increasingly strong market economy and with increasingly strong ties to
Europe and Euro-Atlantic institutions."
Pifer expressed this view at a briefing on "U.S.-Ukraine Relations." The
briefing was the fourth in a series of such meetings on Ukrainian issues
organized by the Action Ukraine Coalition composed of the Ukrainian
American Coordinating Council, the Ukrainian Federation of America, and
the US-Ukraine Foundation.
Invited participants included heads or representatives of Ukrainian American
organizations, U.S. government agencies, senior Congressional assistants,
U.S. business community, think tanks, and the media. Ihor Gawdiak,
President of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, served as the
briefing's moderator. Meeting arrangements were made by Morgan Williams,
AUC Coordinator and Editor of AUC's "The Action Ukraine Report." The
meeting was held in the conference room of the Citizens Network for Foreign
Affairs.
Both in his opening remarks and in answer to questions following, Pifer
emphatically rejected the notion that U.S.-Ukrainian relations are
determined primarily by Ukraine's commitment and contribution to the U.S.
invasion of Iraq. He insisted that the question of democracy in Ukraine
remains the most important consideration for U.S. policy toward Ukraine and
that no issue is going to have more impact on U.S.-Ukraine relations than
what happens during the run-up to the October presidential elections.
He reminded his audience that this was the message Deputy Secretary of
State Armitage delivered during his recent visit to Ukraine both publicly
and in private talks with President Kuchma.
Referring specifically to the Ukraine-Iraq issue spoken of in the previous
AUC meeting by the Honorable Ukrainian Rada Member Borys Tarasyuk,
Mr. Pifer asserted that the United States very much appreciated Ukraine's
decision to contribute a "significant number of troops to the stabilization
force in Iraq."
This is a very high US national security interest. "It has had a positive
impact on the broader relationship, but as the Deputy Secretary said when
he was in Kyiv, it is not going to cause us to turn our eye away from the
democracy question. Democracy still remains the number issue for us in
our relationship with Ukraine looking out toward the election."
U.S. CONCERNS
Pifer listed a number of U.S. concerns connected with presidential election
campaign in Ukraine: increasing pressure on the independent media, with
specific reference to the shutdown of broadcast outlets for Radio Liberty,
increased pressure from such state agencies as the State Tax Administration
on opposition candidates or businesses that support the opposition, and the
manipulation of local elections.
The U.S. believes that the proposed Constitutional change, especially its
timing--"a major shift in the Constitution against the backdrop of an
election year" is not advisable. Such a major change ought to be the
subject of previous discussion by a broad segment of Ukrainian society and
not just a determination made within the Rada. The U.S. recommended
that this be deferred.
In as much as Ukraine wants to eventually join NATO, the United States has
continually stressed that while "NATO is a defensive alliance, it is also a
community of values, and democracy is a big element of that." If Ukraine
wants to draw closer to NATO and the European Union, "it has to develop a
democratic system which is seen as compatible with those that are the norm
in Western Europe." Pifer emphasized that most members of NATO share the
U.S.'s concerns about Ukraine.
SOME RECENT POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS
The U.S. welcomes President Kuchma's announced moratorium on tax inspections
and tax audits on media outlets. The U.S. wants to see the same moratorium
allowed for business enterprises supporting opposition candidates, however.
Dropping the idea of having the president elected directly by the Rada
instead of by the people also was seen as a positive step, the Ambassador
stated, because "polls showed that 90% of the Ukrainian population preferred
direct election of the president."
DEMOCRATIC, FAIR, AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS
Ambassador Pifer concluded his opening remarks by stating that the United
States is "not concerned with who wins the election, our focus is on the
process; we want to see a process that is free and fair and one that meets
the standards that Ukraine is committed to as a member of the OSCE.
We want to see a level playing field. We want to see the abuses of
democratic processes ended. We want opposition candidates to be able to
speak freely and independently, and we want to see a situation in which the
media is able to cover what issues it chooses, how it chooses, when it
chooses."
"We are looking at ways to get Radio Liberty back on the air because it has
a well earned reputation for objective broadcasting, and we think that would
be a real asset to Ukraine in the campaign.
We will have a presence on the ground in Mukachevo to demonstrate our
interest in the May 18th election there."
The Ambassador noted that various U.S. officials and members of Congress
will be going to Ukraine, and private individuals will also be asked to
stress the democracy issue. He also said that he would be in Ukraine in 10
days to see how the "democracy situation" has developed. He also revealed
that he will be meeting with opposition figures as well.
VIGOROUS QUESTIONING
Although a variety of issues were raised in a lively question-and -answer
period that followed, the overriding concern of the participants in the
briefing was that the Bush Administration has not sufficiently and
forcefully enough communicated to the Kuchma government how much the future
of US-Ukrainian relations depends on the "free and fair" October elections
and the process leading up to it.
Recalling the previous AUC meeting at which Rada Member Borys Tarasyuk
stressed the importance of sending a high level administrative person to
Ukraine, one questioner asked whether there is any plan for a U.S. official
at the Cabinet level to visit Ukraine in the near future.
Mr. Pifer replied that Deputy Secretary of State Armitage visited three
weeks ago and carried a message from President Bush as well to President
Kuchma, focused on democracy and a free and fair election. This was the
highest level person from the U.S. in the last two and a half years. No
decisions on others have been made yet. "It is something we are thinking
about," he said.
When a questioner stated that during the Armitage visit to Ukraine, the
Iraq issue totally trumped the "democracy message" the U.S. supposedly
emphasized, Mr. Pifer said if anyone doubted the strength of the U.S.
message, they could visit the State Department website and read the
Armitage transcript.
Some participants, not satisfied by the U.S. reaction to negative
developments in Ukraine, pressed the Ambassador for specifics on anticipated
U.S. reaction to these developments. What steps were actually going to
follow the words that we are expressing in favor of fostering democracy?
For example, are we just merely going to say "we hope" that Radio Liberty
can get back on the air? What steps are we willing to take? "Words don't
seem to be working," one participant asserted.
"We have told the Ukrainian government some things that we see will be
possible if the election goes well and others that will not happen if the
process does not go well. If the election process goes badly, you will see
much less energy devoted to Ukraine. It is not proper to lay out all the
specifics in public, however," the Ambassador replied.
Pressed further on the need to ratchet up the U.S. government's involvement
in fostering democracy in Ukraine, the Ambassador again referred to the
Armitage message and the statements of others who have visited Ukraine. "We
had a problem with selective reporting of Armitage's message in Ukraine, but
we are making the message," he said, "both publicly and privately and also
putting in resources."
About 30% of the Freedom Support Act going to Ukraine is for democracy
programs--monitoring, support for independent media. "We are pretty
comfortable that we have targeted as much as we can in resource terms."
"We can debate about whether or not there are gaps."."Ultimately,
however," he said, "it is going to be a Ukrainian decision.we don't have a
magic way to make that election happen democratically."
.
Asked if the U.S. would compensate the family of the Ukrainian camera man
Taras Protsuk, a Reuters employee killed by U.S. friendly fire while
embedded in Iraq a year ago, the answer was also in the negative. "That was
a tragedy; we regret that it happened, but the context was important to
remember. It was a combat situation. We did request a report from the U.S.
Central Command, and we shared that with Ukrainian authorities. Journalists
made a conscious decision to go into a war situation and that entails some
risk."
On a question concerning investing in Ukraine's high tech capabilities, the
Ambassador said there was good potential there, but that American companies
are still fearful of Ukraine's investment climate. He pointed out that there
were some successes, such as Boeing's $400 million dollar Sea Launch
project. Ukraine has to work on making its business climate more favorable
to investments.
The other problem is for Americans to learn to see how they can marry
their capital with the sources of scientific and technical expertise in
Ukraine, such as are available in Kharkiv, for instance.
Ambassador Pifer agreed that Ukraine has met the requirements of
Jackson-Vanick and stated that the Administration would be in favor of
graduation from it should Congress propose such legislation.
He stressed that the decisions that are made now in Ukraine will affect the
country 10 years down the road. "The economy is moving in the right
direction; it needs to move faster, but the question is can Ukraine get it
right democratically," the Ambassador concluded. (END)
============================================================
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
Become a financial sponsor of The Action Ukraine Program Fund
==========================================================
2. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS EXPANSION OF
UKRAINIAN-NATO COOPERATION A "PROBLEM."
Contentious issue of Russian language use in Ukraine
RIA news agency, Moscow, Russia, in Russian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 22, 2004
MOSCOW - There are contentious issues in Moscow's relations with Kiev,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the Federation Council [upper
chamber of parliament] today.
"We are not closing our eyes to the continuing problems in Russian-Ukrainian
relations and to contentious issues, including the expansion of Ukraine's
cooperation with NATO," Lavrov said.
"It is necessary not to make a drama out of this issue, but to look for ways
of coupling our own relations with NATO with our relations with Ukraine,"
Lavrov said.
Both the Russian and Ukrainian sides ought to agree steps to help develop a
system of collective security, Lavrov thinks.
Russia's relations with Ukraine are an important part of Russian foreign
policy. "Over the past few years, thanks to an active political dialogue,
trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation, it became possible to
strengthen the Russian vector in Ukrainian foreign policy and also to
strengthen relations of trust," the minister said.
In his speech, dealing with relations with Ukraine, Lavrov also noted the
humanitarian problems which exist there. He said Moscow was aware of the
humanitarian problems of Russia's fellow-countrymen connected with the
Russian language [reference to Ukrainian broadcasting authority's decision
to ban Russian from the airwaves].
The minister stressed that this question was under constant consideration of
the Russian government and the president personally. (END)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITOR'S NOTE: Russia has no real reason to be concerned about the
expansion of NATO. Their concern is about having control over Ukraine.
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
Check Out the News Media for the Latest News From and About Ukraine
Daily News Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/newsgallery.htm
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3. THE CASE OF UKRAINE: NATO INCHES CLOSER
By Yana Amerlina, Translated by Howard Goldfinger
ROSBALT, Moscow, Russia, April 22, 2004
Late last week the State Duma adopted a resolution, "On the Widening of
NATO," advanced by its committees on international relations, defense and
national security. The resolution was a response to the April 7 signing by
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma of a Memorandum of Understanding
between Ukraine and NATO's Atlantic and European commands on
Ukrainian support for NATO operations.
The Memorandum between the parties was signed in Kiev on July 9, 2002, in
connection with the "Partnership for Peace" program. Ratification by the
Supreme Rada came on March 17, 2004, followed by the Kuchma signing. The
Memorandum stipulates the procedures and rules for rapid entry into Ukraine
by forces of the North Atlantic alliance, including for offensive missions.
For its part, Ukraine promises to supply NATO with all required technical,
informational, medical and other assistance for the conduct of training
exercises, as well as full-fledged military or peacekeeping operations
under the Partnership for Peace program.
Ukraine's actual assistance for NATO operations is to be decided on a
case-by-case basis. The assistance is to be paid for, and NATO would pay
no taxes for operations in Ukraine. In case of need, the alliance could move
its military technology across Ukrainian territory.
The Memorandum also mentions the movement of alliance vessels through
Ukrainian territorial waters, which include the Sea of Azov and Kerch
Straits. However, late last year the presidents of Russia and Ukraine
signed an agreement on the status of the Azov-Kerch basin that stipulates
that vessels belonging to third parties may not pass through the Straits
without the specific agreement of Russia and Ukraine. Yet the NATO-Ukraine
Memorandum says nothing about agreement by other states with respect to the
movement of NATO vessels through the Straits.
According to Ukrainian officials, ratification of the Memorandum is
evidence of Ukraine's desire to integrate with the Europe-US bloc, and will
help fund the national budget. Ukrainian foes of the alliance with NATO say
the Memorandum violates the Ukrainian constitution's stipulation against
bloc affiliation, and puts in doubt the legal status of Russia's Black Sea
Fleet in the Crimea (Ukraine's national-democrats have already called
several times for a review of agreements between Russia and Kiev). Surely,
after Kiev's rejection of its so-called "multi-vectored" foreign policy and
its re-orientation strictly toward the West, this can come as no surprise.
Typically, in this "most pro-Russian" Ukrainian parliament in the past 10
years (it was so described by several Russian analysts immediately after
the voting in 2002), the only votes against ratification of the Memorandum
came from the Communists and their sympathizers. "During the campaign for
the Supreme Rada, not a single party came out openly for Ukraine to join
NATO," Aleksandr Svistunov, chairman of Ukraine's Russian Movement
(RDU), said in an interview with Rosbalt.
"Everybody knew how very much the Ukrainian people don't like the North
Atlantic Alliance. Therefore, the RDU considers the decision by parliament
as one more betrayal of its own people. The actions of the Ukrainian
authorities can be seen not simply as unfriendly, but as openly hostile to
the Russian Federation. Ratification of the Memorandum is, in short, a
sellout of the interests of Ukraine."
It is obvious that what has happened is a step by Kuchma -- and surely not
the last -- to assure himself of US and European neutrality (one cannot yet
speak of support) toward domestic decisions that he faces in the context of
Ukraine's presidential election next fall. And they are going to be asking
a lot more from him. Immediately after the ratification, Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer, NATO's general secretary, declared that "NATO is closely
following events in Ukraine, especially those connected with the
approaching presidential election."
The Kiev information agency UNIAN was expressly told in NATO headquarters
in Brussels that the integration of Ukraine in North Atlantic structures,
and particularly its entry into the alliance, will depend on its "political
reliability." Alliance representatives noted that NATO had already called
for the Ukrainian leadership to abide by European values in connection with
freedom of speech, the holding of free and honest elections and in
guaranteeing unimpeded media access to all candidates in the presidential
campaign of 2004.
Russian dissatisfaction with Kiev's unfriendly decision showed itself first
in unofficial fashion. Russian media broadcast an opinion from an unnamed
source in the Russian Foreign Ministry averring that "Ukraine's readiness
to allow its territory to be used for unspecified NATO operations without
Russian permission does not accord with Article 6 of [our treaty] . . .
that stipulates, specifically, that neither side may allow its territory to
be used in any way that jeopardizes the security of the other."
Moscow is also disturbed by the Memorandum's declaration of Ukrainian
support for any NATO operation, including operations not sanctioned by the
UN Security Council. The anonymous source in the Russian Foreign Ministry
expressed the modest hope that his remarks might be taken into account by
Kiev in working out its relationship with NATO. At the same time, Russia's
ambassador to Ukraine, Viktor Chernomyrdin, called the signing of the
Memorandum an internal Ukrainian matter.
On April 12 Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, expressed
official concern about developments between Ukraine and NATO. "We consider
this Memorandum to exceed the principles of cooperation between NATO and
its partner-countries. Thus, naturally, we are following the situation very
attentively. In the first place, I would make reference to the declaration
of state sovereignty of 1990, where Ukraine's non-bloc status is made a
matter of law," the diplomat underlined.
However, by the very next day the position of Russia's agency for foreign
affairs appears to have changed. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks
in Kiev with his Ukrainian counterpart, Konstantin Grishchenko. At a joint
press conference, Lavrov commented on the ratification: "Mere episodes can
hardly affect the development of our relations." Grishchenko echoed: "The
question of the Memorandum isn't worth the attention that it's getting."
Russia's legislators have a different view of the matter. In their just
adopted resolution -- it was put forward by Konstantin Zatulin -- the
deputies express profound regret at Kiev's decision and state that they
find it necessary to urge the Russian president and cabinet to seek
immediate consultations with Ukraine. "The State Duma is convinced that
further development of the special, friendly relations of the Russian
Federation with Ukraine must take into account how Ukraine responds to the
Russian Federation's concern that arises from this increased threat to its
defense and security," the resolution states.
Typically, the matter of the Memorandum (just as happened with the recent
Munich declaration by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, in which he
said that, in view of NATO's expansion eastward, Russia might review its
stance on the Stambul Accords, in that Russia therein had agreed to pull
its troops from Moldova and Georgia "under other military-political
circumstances," did not get the attention it deserved in the Russian press.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the recent events in Kiev went
unremarked in Moscow.
Certainly, the situation is too serious to place one's hope on Duma
resolutions. "Our country can and should pose all these most important
questions with Ukraine, including the status of the Crimea and Sevastopol,
and the bad -- from Russia's standpoint -- agreement on the status and
basing of the Black Sea Fleet," insisted Kiril Frolov, head of the Ukraine
and Crimea Department of the Institute for the Countries of the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
"Russia should return to the idea of a non-time-limited lease for Sevastopol
as the home base of the Black Sea Fleet, should temporarily halt talks
preceding ratification of the border with Ukraine and the agreement on
joint use of the Kerch Straits. Ukraine's violation of the Treaty of
Friendship, Cooperation and Strategic Partnership inescapably puts before
the Russian side the question of reviewing its stance on that document.
Before NATO bases are in place near Bryansk, it is necessary to return to
a principled policy of defending Russia's national interests in Ukraine."
However, while the time for such diplomatic moves is long past, Moscow
might at least try to save face. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
Major Articles About What is Going on in Ukraine
Current Events Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/events/index.htm
You can become a sponsor of The Action Ukraine Program Fund
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4. TOP U.S. OFFICIAL WARY OF UKRAINE'S MEMBERSHIP IN
SINGLE ECONOMIC SPACE ECONOMIC UNION
At odds with Ukraine's declarations of integration with Europe
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 22, 2004
KIEV - The USA believes that the ratification by the Ukrainian parliament of
an accord on forming the Single Economic Space [economic union with Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan] is to a certain degree at odds with Ukraine's
declarations of pursuing a policy of integration with Europe. US Assistant
Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones said this during a video conference
today.
In particular, Jones said: "Of course, this is a decision which Ukraine has
to approve for itself. However, there are certain considerations which are
very important. Ukraine has said unambiguously that it wants to be part of
European structures and join the WTO. Indeed, it has been making a lot of
effort to achieve this."
"Joining the Single Economic Space seems to be at odds with this, but this
is a choice Ukraine itself has to make," she added.
"More productive and relevant is what we have been hearing from Ukrainian
NGOs, political and economic leaders," who believe that "integration into
European structures will be more beneficial for Ukraine's wellbeing and
creation of new jobs, which is the end goal Ukraine would like to have,"
Jones also said. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
Exciting Opportunities in Ukraine: Travel and Tourism Gallery
http://www.ArtUkraine.com/tourgallery.htm
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5. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS RATIFICATION OF ACCORDS WITH
RUSSIA; AZOV SEA, KERCH STRAIT, SINGLE ECONOMIC SPACE
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 22, 2004
KIEV - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed laws ratifying the
agreements with Russia on the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, the state
border and the creation of the Single Economic Space [customs union of
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.].
Kuchma signed the following laws: "On the ratification of the treaty between
Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in using the Azov Sea and
the Kerch strait", "On the ratification of the treaty between Ukraine and
the Russian Federation on the Ukrainian-Russian state border", and "On the
ratification of the agreement on creating the Single Economic Space".
[Passage omitted: Kuchma signs the ratification of the navigation agreement
with Turkey.] (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
The Story of Ukraine's Long and Rich Culture
Ukrainian Culture Gallery: http://www.ArtUkraine.com/cultgallery.htm
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6. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT KUCHMA PRAISES CES TRADE
TREATY RATIFICATION BY UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 23, 2004
KYIV - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma on Wednesday hailed the
ratification of a trade treaty by Ukraine and Russia, calling it "an
important step forward."
The parliaments of Ukraine and Russia ratified a treaty on the Common
Economic Space [Single Economic Space] on April 20. The agreement will
form a common market between Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Speaking at a conference on Ukrainian economic reform in Kyiv, Kuchma said
participation in the CES would not prevent Ukraine from engaging in other
international unions.
"Ukraine was, is, and will always be interested in broad cooperation with
the CIS. The Verkhovna Rada's ratification of the CES agreement is an
important step forward," Kuchma said Ukraine should not be caught in a
dilemma between integration initiatives, but should engage in constructive,
mutually beneficial economic cooperation, the president said.
However, said the CIS states had much to do to eliminate existing problems
and prevent the threats of asymmetric development in member countries. (END)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITOR'S NOTE: Most experts do not agree that the implemention
of the Single Economic Space will not interfere in a big way with Ukraine
engaging in other international unions, such as the WTO, the EU, etc.
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
The Genocidal Famine in Ukraine 1932-1933, HOLODOMOR
Genocide Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/index.htm
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7. UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS SINGLE ECONOMIC SPACE
AGREEMENT WILL HELP UKRAINE'S INTEGRATION WITH RUSSIA
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 22, 2004
KIEV - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said the formation of a
common economic territory of four CIS states [Single Economic Space] would
help the integration of Ukraine and Russia and their admission to the World
Trade Organization (WTO).
Speaking ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Ukraine, he
told ITAR-TASS that Russia and Ukraine "should not hinder but interact and
help each other by including the Single Economic Space (SES) in the
pan-European space, asserting the norms and standards of the European
Union".
"The European Union should not separate us. This is a principal moment: it
must not be so that each plays only his own game, we must act together,"
Yanukovych said. By ratifying the agreement on the SES, Russia and Ukraine
"both realize their national interests and participate in international
life", he said.
The SES formula must written so as "not to cause contradictions in the
relations of Ukraine with the EU and Russia with the EU, not to contradict
the concept of Ukraine's European integration", Yanukovych said. The
formation of a free trade zone within the SES should be the next step.
This accord "by all means should be based on the principles of the WTO", as
"such standards are of priority importance for both Ukraine and Russia,
which are export-oriented states", Yanukovych said.
"We seek joining the WTO and have agreed that we are simultaneously going in
this direction. We must be efficient and principled in this question with
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov." Yanukovych stressed that the two
countries' prime ministers "must fulfil their functions well in keeping with
political will and decisions of the heads of state".
It is necessary to "create mechanisms for intensification of cooperation,
abolition of obstacles in the interests of each side", he said. "I think
that out points of view coincide: despite the high intensity of our contacts
at all levels of legislative and executive power, we are just short of
implementing decisions," Yanukovych stressed. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Ukraine's History and the Long Struggle for Independence
Historical Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/histgallery.htm
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8. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT KUCHMA CALLS BAN OF USE OF
RUSSIAN IN BROADCASTING UNCONSTITUTIONAL
AP Online, Kiev, Ukraine, Apr 22, 2004
KIEV - President Leonid Kuchma criticized a government agency's recent ban
on Russian-language programming Thursday, calling it unconstitutional.
Last week, the National Broadcasting Council said that all nationwide radio
and television stations must broadcast solely in Ukrainian, the nation's
official language.
"The decision doesn't comply with the constitution and should be reviewed,"
Kuchma's office quoted him as saying during a visit to the Crimean
peninsula, where he was to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on
Friday. Kuchma did not elaborate, and it was unclear whether he was calling
for the decision to be revoked or amended.
Up to half of Ukraine's 48 million people call themselves Russian speakers,
and about 25 percent are ethnic Russians. Many TV and radio stations in the
former Soviet republic have broadcast both in Russian and Ukrainian.
Russia's lower house of parliament complained about the ruling earlier this
week, declaring that it "ignored traditional Ukrainian-Russian bilingualism"
and violated citizens' rights. (am/sbg/jh) (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
The Rich History of Ukrainian Art, Music, Pysanka, Folk-Art
Arts Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/artgallery.htm
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9. SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL EXPRESSES 'SEVERE DISAPPOINTMENT
WITH ABUSES' IN UKRAINE MAYORAL VOTE
AP Online, Kiev, Ukraine, Apr 22, 2004
KIEV - A senior U.S. official on Thursday expressed deep concern over a
fraud-marred mayoral election in Ukraine that many see as a harbinger of
democracy deteriorating ahead of October's presidential vote.
"It's something that must be corrected," Assistant Secretary of State
Elizabeth Jones said from Washington in a video news conference, saying
there was "severe disappointment with the abuses" reported during Sunday's
vote in the town of Mukachevo.
Jones urged "the leadership of Ukraine to understand that only through
assuring of free and fair election, this is a strong element of Ukraine's
integration into Europe and transatlantic structures."
Jones's comments added to European criticism of the vote that a branch of
the Council of Europe, the continent's premier human rights watchdog, called
an "unfortunate dress rehearsal for the upcoming presidential election, with
the two main interest groups waging a bitter fight for power."
President Leonid Kuchma's critics say democracy has suffered during his 10
years in office, accusing his administration of using its power to slant
elections.
Local election officials said preliminary results indicated the candidate
from the Social Democratic Party United, led by Kuchma's chief of staff
Viktor Medvedchuk, won the election.
But the opposition Our Ukraine party contended that its candidate won and
accused Medvedchuk and Interior Minister Mykola Bilokon of organizing
clashes in which it said lawmakers who monitored the election were beaten by
police and gang members.
Jones's statement came on the third day of heated debates in Ukraine's
parliament about the election, which opposition lawmakers said was marred by
violence and fraud in favor of a candidate from a pro-presidential party.
The second opposition attempt to call on Kuchma to fire Bilokon and
Medvedchuk failed fell two votes short of the 226 votes needed for passage
in the 450-seat parliament. (am/jh) (END)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITOR'S NOTE: If anyone has seen any official statements from the
Canadian government regarding election violations in Ukraine please send
them to us. Why is the Canadian government, with such a large number of
citizens with Ukrainian heritage so terribly silent on important Ukrainian
matters? What about Austrailia? Do they ever speak on Ukrainian issues?
==========================================================
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
==========================================================
10. UKRAINIAN ELECTION WATCHDOG DEMANDS THE
MUKACHEVE MAYORAL ELECTION RESULT ANNULLED
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 22 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 22, 2004
KIEV - The Committee of Voters of Ukraine has demanded that the official
results of the mayoral election in Mukacheve [Transcarpathian Region, held
on 18 April] be annulled. This was mentioned in a report that summarized the
monitoring of the election campaign in the town of Mukacheve, which the
committee presented in Kiev today.
The committee said that, despite all violations, Mukacheve voters managed to
carry out the election, but its result was completely distorted by the
decision of the Mukacheve electoral commission. The Committee of Voters
thus demands that the official results of the election be annulled, but it
is against annulling the mayoral election itself.
The monitoring showed that the Mukacheve election was accompanied by
violations of most provisions of Ukrainian election legislation. The
violations were registered at the stages of preparing and announcing the
election campaign, and at all further stages, including the creation of the
electoral commission, registration of candidates, voting, vote count and the
events after the results were announced, the report said.
The biggest problems, which discredit the principle of free election in
Mukacheve, are controversial and groundless court decisions, an
unprecedented lack of transparency of the work of the Mukacheve electoral
commission and commissions at polling stations, interference in the election
process by unidentified individuals, open and unconcealed threats, pressure
and violence against voters, Ukrainian MPs, observers and journalists, and a
complete falsification of official results, which contradict exit polls and
a parallel vote count, the report said.
The Committee of Voters recommends that relevant law-enforcement agencies
carry out a thorough investigation into the crimes that, the committee says,
occurred in Mukacheve, and punish those who committed them in line with
Ukrainian legislation. [Passage omitted: details on the Mukacheve election]
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65 ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
==========================================================
11. REHERSAL IN MUKACHEVO
The Mukachevo election only proves that Europe needs to overcome its
reputation for fecklessness and force Ukraine's government to get its house
in order
OP-ED, Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 22, 2004
H.L. Mencken wrote that in the United States, all things happen that defy
the probabilities and the decencies. Mencken was lucky he never had a chance
to visit contemporary Ukraine, which might have proven too much for even his
cynicism and sent him running for the lunatic asylum.
The latest nastiness in the run-up to this autumn's crucial election comes
from the western Ukrainian city of Mukachevo, where the authorities are
allegedly stealing a mayoral election from the opposition the old-fashioned
way: with burglary of polling sites, brownshirt-style violence, brazen
lying, and leering defiance of parliament observers. They're not even trying
to be subtle about it.
The full-on effort to make sure Our Ukraine's candidate, who credible
accounts say won more votes, falls before the candidate of Presidential
Administration head Viktor Medvedchuk's Social Democratic Party of Ukraine
(united) should be considered a dress rehearsal for the presidential vote.
This week, thugs moved about the city in organized packs, smashing polling
place doors to steal ballots and beating up at least six deputies from a
large parliament contingent who had come to observe the balloting. Imagine
the international sensation that would develop if a group from the U.S.
Congress or the House of Commons were beaten and denied their mandate by a
Nazi-style rabble, in their own country.
Nor was this even the first time the authorities have destructively romped
through Mukachevo. In a mayoral election there last year, the victory of
another Our Ukraine candidate prompted President Kuchma to disband the local
courts and election commission and stock them with his own allies.
Unfortunately, the West can't or won't do enough to improve this situation.
U.S. diplomacy toward Kyiv seems now predicated on ignoring Ukrainian
misbehavior in return for Bankova's participation in the war effort. A
cynical Europe, it seems, would rather have a stable Ukraine than a
democratic one, and doesn't want to impose more sanctions that might drive
Ukraine further into the Russians' arms.
Faced with what could be another political disaster in its backyard, Europe
keeps issuing condemnations and statements, as if the men organizing
political violence in Ukraine care about the moral sensibilities of what
they must consider effete bureaucrats in Brussels. Maybe a Europe that
couldn't summon the will to deal with problems like Belarus and the Balkans
shouldn't be expected to do anything about Ukraine, either.
One small thing it can do, however, if it wants to chip away at its
reputation for fecklessless is send lots of election observers here: for the
October presidential election and for every contest until then. There should
be teams at every polling place located in a significant population center,
in sufficient numbers that they can neither be hoodwinked nor intimidated.
The usual arrangement whereby observers shuttle between polling places by
car is obviously no longer tenable.
Europe should live up to its responsibilities in its own backyard; it has to
try harder to make its work in Ukraine effective, rather than use it as an
opportunity to issue pompous announcements that Ukraine's power class holds
in contempt. Taking a hands-on approach to elections in this crucial year
would be one good way to do it. (END)
===========================================================
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
Check Out the News Media for the Latest News From and About Ukraine
Daily News Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/newsgallery.htm
===========================================================
12. NOBODY HEEDS THE LESSONS OF CHERNOBYL TRAGEDY
WHICH HAPPENED 18 YEARS AGO ON APRIL 26, 1986
By Academician Yevgeny Velikhov, RIA Novosti, Moscow, April 22, 2004
MOSCOW - When the Chernobyl tragedy happened on April 26, 18 years
ago, one of my fiends in the USA sent me a cable where he wrote that
iodine pills must be immediately issued to children. I immediately called
Vice-Premier Ivan Silayev to tell him about that recommendation.
I was invited to the session of the State Commission and accompanied it
to Chernobyl, though I am a physicist and specialise in different problems.
But along with others I participated in the elimination effort of the
aftermath of that terrible tragedy.
Today, 18 years after the tragedy, I would like to share some of my views
with you. First, the consequences of the Chernobyl tragedy were greatly
exaggerated all this time. No medical documents prove that Chernobyl had a
serious effect on public health.
The medical statistics of the Kurchatov Institute [formerly the Kurchatov
Institute of Atomic Energy] shows that the 600 researchers of the institute
who have been working, one and off, in Chernobyl in the past 18 years
are in good health.
One more thing to note: Chernobyl demonstrated the country's inability to
cope with such problems, though there had been a similar tragedy before -
an explosion and radioactive emission at the Mayak chemical works in
Chelyabinsk, Urals, in 1957.
By decision of the Soviet authorities, the Mayak tragedy was kept under
a tight lid, along with the analysis of the tragedy and conclusions drawn
from it by the best specialists and scientists of the country who studied
its causes and consequences. As a result, society was not prepared for
Chernobyl.
Regrettably, the time that has elapsed since it shows that nobody needs the
Chernobyl experience, which was not classified. Nobody in the world
analysed it and drew conclusions from it, which is very bad because it is
truly invaluable. It can be used to create a behaviour model for such
situations.
Regrettably, man-induced disasters at nuclear power plants can happen,
though much has been done to make nuclear power engineering a safer
business since the Chernobyl tragedy. We should also take into account
the current political situation in the world, in particular the looming
threat of terrorism. There may be a truly tragic situation with radioactive
pollution.
It is a paradox but the Chernobyl experience is not being used in Russia,
too. At least, we do not keep it handy, which would be logical. The only
section of the population that has learned the lesson is the nuclear power
scientists.
Since Chernobyl, the RBMK reactors (the first ever created in the Soviet
Union for nuclear power stations) have been modernised and made
safer, and they keep working to this day. This means that they could have
been made safer before the tragedy, and it is the nuclear power engineers
who are to blame for the failure to do it.
One major drawback of the reactor was that the human factor could provoke
fatal consequences. Another weak element was the inadequate systems of
reactor control and personnel training. A chain of inadmissible actions by
Chernobyl operators on that tragic morning provoked the explosion at the
fourth block. Regrettably, accidents also happened at the first nuclear
power plants in other countries.
No industry can be made fail-safe, yet today we can reliably guarantee
nuclear reactor safety. We also guarantee that, should an accident happen
for some unfathomable reason, it will not lead to the evacuation of the
people or any other consequences harmful for the health and welfare of the
people.
In the past ten years, Russia has not built a single nuclear power plant,
yet the output of electricity at the existing nuclear power plants has
grown from 12% to 16% of the total. This positive result was attained
thanks to the improvement of management, modernisation of nuclear power
plants, and several other factors. Since mineral resources (oil, gas and
coal) are finite and humankind's energy requirements are growing, nuclear
energy, which has no discernible rivals so far, has a bright future. In
fact, the planet's further progress is not imagined without it. (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 65: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
Check Out the News Media for the Latest News From and About Ukraine
Daily News Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/newsgallery.htm
===========================================================
13. A CRIMEA LEFT ONLY IN PICTURES
European Cultures Museum in Berlin stores Crimean Tatar works of art
By Mykyta Kasianenko, Simferopol
Interview with Crimean Deputy Minister of Culture Ismet Zaatov
The Day Weekly Digest in English, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Ismet Zaatov, Crimean Autonomous Republic's Deputy Minister of Culture, took
a month-long course of on-the-job training in Germany, invited by Prof.
Barbara Kelner-Heinkele, Director of the Institute for Turkic Studies at the
Free University of Berlin, and Dr. Konrad Wolier, Director of the Museum of
European Cultures.
The museum is known to have in storage some 3,000 objects d'art reflecting
Crimean Tatar culture and daily life, contributed to the museum by German
ethnographers in 1842-1994.
The Day attempted to have a closer look at their background and the Crimean
deputy minister kindly agreed to an interview.
ZAATOV. I would list Nata and Hans Viendeisen's collection among the
interesting discoveries in the Museum of European Cultures. Both visited the
Crimea in 1929 and spent more than half a year on the peninsula. Their
expedition was aimed at collecting and studying artifacts originating from
various Crimean regions and reflecting Crimean Tatar everyday life,
traditions, and crafts. This collection includes children's footwear,
garments, headgear.
Their condition and the manner in which they were made dates most of them
from the mid-nineteenth century. There are practically no such items in the
Crimean museum stock. Also, there is a very interesting collection of tools
used by Crimean Tatar tanners, jewelers, and embroideresses. Relying on this
data, it is possible to establish exactly what kind of tools the craftsmen
used two centuries ago, the tools' names, and so on.
I met with people at the head of Turkic foundations in Germany. I read
lectures at eight such foundations, on the socioeconomic and cultural status
of the Tatars in the Crimea. I also met with Akhmet Ozai, representative of
the Crimean Tatar Majlis in Germany; with Rakhet Karanlyk, head of the
Society for Culture and Mutual Assistance of Crimean Tatars in Western
Europe; with people in charge of the offices of the Turkish newspapers Zaman
and Milliyet in Germany; with Abdurahman Gjunesch, a Crimean Tatar leader in
Berlin.
I also had an interesting meeting with the sculptor Eskender Ediler. His
father had had to emigrate from the Crimea in 1937 to avoid Stalin purges,
settling in Esk i þ sehir [city in western Turkey, capital of Esk i þ sehir
Province]. Eskender had received an excellent education in Germany and his
parents subsequently joined him there. He graduated from three art academies
in Germany, Switzerland, and Great Britain.
He has an excellent command of the Crimean Tatar language and is the author
of interesting works using various materials, including rock, metal, and
plastics. We arranged with the Goethe Institute for his on-the-job training
at the Decorative and Applied Art Chair of the Crimean State Engineering
Pedagogical University, and for an exposition of his works in the Crimea.
How did all those items reflecting Crimean Tatar crafts and everyday life
find their way to Germany?
ZAATOV: In a variety of ways. Some were collected by German researchers,
others were brought by Tatars who immigrated to Turkey and eventually
finding themselves in Germany. I believe that the collection of works by the
ethnographer and artist Wilhelm Kieseweter is the greatest contribution to
the Berlin museum stock. He was the first ethnographer to visit the Crimea
in the late nineteenth century.
He painted over sixty pictures, portraying the Derviza (a.k.a. Panayir)
festivities in the Baidarska Valley, a Crimean Tatar wedding party in 1842,
a Crimean Tatar school in Hurzuf, then a village, showing how girls and boys
were taught, also large folk instrumental orchestras, musicians playing at
coffee houses, full-scale layouts of the village of Hurzuf and the Khan's
Palace. Wilhelm Kieseweter tried to convey the minutest details in his
paintings.
German scholar Albert Wache visited the Crimea in 1903. After returning to
Germany, he donated a collection of Crimean Tatar maram shawls to the Berlin
museum. Some of the shawls had been made by embroideresses from the
Baidarska Valley, Akmechet, and Bakhchisarai. All of these shawls have
stylistic distinctions. Incidentally, I couldn't spot Baidarska needlework
technique at any other museums, nor even in private collections or in any
modern Crimean Tatar embroideries.
Paintings must be most interesting in studying Crimean Tatar folkways,
homes, and culture.
ZAATOV: Yes, such paintings are of utmost importance, considering that all
traces of the Crimean Tatar culture were deliberately erased by the Soviets
after World War II. Wilhelm Kieseweter's canvases are almost photographic
images of our ancestors living in Hurzuf, Baidarska Valley, and
Bakhchysarai, by whom I mean Crimean Tatar craftsmen known as esnaf:
jewelers, bakers, merchants, and shoemakers.
Or consider the pictures created by artists in the first half of the
nineteenth century, like the Italian Bossoli and the French Rafe. They
portray Crimean Tatars in a somewhat stylized manner, a little embellished,
producing a somewhat oblique physical type. As an art critic, I believe that
Kieseweter's works are far above them, were done professionally, and appear
more accurate in terms of detail and inherent ethnic features. Their
ethnographic accuracy is of tremendous scientific value.
His works can be used to build a true picture of the Crimean Tatars in the
first half of the nineteenth century; we can see how they dressed and what
their homes looked like. Some canvases show the interior of coffee houses
and other public places in Akmechet and Karasubazar. Kieseweter succeeded in
accurately portraying that stratum of the traditional Crimean Tatar culture,
no traces of which are left on the peninsula after the deportation [ordered
by Stalin in 1944 -Ed.].
While in Germany, did you raise the matter of returning Crimean Tatar
cultural and other treasures to the peninsula, considering their having been
unlawfully extracted?
ZAATOV: The items I saw on display at German museums had been contributed
to the stock in a perfectly legitimate manner; these items had been legally
purchased from Crimean Tatar owner in the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries by German ethnographers and private collectors visiting the
Crimea. However, the leadership of those Berlin museums assured me that that
they were willing to help us locate and return such Crimean Tatar cultural
valuables as had been unlawfully exported during World War II.
Could an exposition of such Berlin museum displays be arranged in the
Crimea?
ZAATOV: We arranged with the museum management to photograph such exhibits,
so we could put at an art album featuring Kieseweter's works as part of a
project or with financial aid from philanthropists. We have this kind of
experience in the Crimea. One of the Crimean foundations has published an
album with Carlo Bossoli's works.
Do you intend to maintain contact with your German colleagues?
ZAATOV: I have a gentleman's agreement with Prof. Barbara Kelner-Heinkele,
Director of the Free University's Institute for Turkic Studies, that we will
join efforts preparing for publication an anthology of German studies on
Crimean Tatar history, culture, and everyday life. A number of German
travelers, diplomats, and researchers have visited the Crimea beginning in
the Middle Ages, collecting vast materials relating to the Crimean Tatars
and their political system.
Such studies ranged between military, economic, and cultural essays. We will
try to sum up and categorize this data and I believe that the results will
be of interest not only for Germany and the Crimea, but also for the rest of
the international scholarly community. (END)
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