"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR"
An International Newsletter
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"
RECONCILIATION BETWEEN UKRAINE AND POLAND
Two memorials opened in Lviv in spirit of forgiveness
(1) President Viktor Yushchenko and Poland's President Aleksander
Kwasniewski open a memorial to soldiers of the Ukrainian Halychyna
Army at the Lychakivske cemetery in Lviv.
(2) President Viktor Yushchenko and Poland's President Aleksander
Kwasniewsky reopen the Orleta Polish Military Cemetery in Lviv.
"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR" - Number 509
Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net
Washington, D.C. and Kyiv, Ukraine, SUNDAY, June 26, 2005
------INDEX OF ARTICLES------
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"
1. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO AND POLAND'S PRESIDENT
KWASNIEWSKI OPEN MEMORIAL TO POLISH SOLDIERS IN LVIV
AND TO SOLDIERS OF THE UKRAINIAN HALYCHYNA ARMY
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, June 24, 2005
2. PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO AND POLAND'S PRESIDENT
ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI OPEN A MEMORIAL TO
SOLDIERS OF THE UKRAINIAN HALYCHYNA ARMY
AT THE LYCHAKIVSKE CEMETERY IN LVIV
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24, 2005
3. PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO SPEAKS AT THE OPENING OF THE
MEMORIAL TO THE WARRIORS OF THE UKRAINIAN GALICIAN ARMY
Source: UT1, Kiev, in Ukrainian 0810 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Friday, June 24, 2005
4. POLISH PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI URGES YOUNG POLES,
YOUNG UKRAINIANS TO CONTINUE RECONCILIATION
Monument to the Sich Riflemen of the Galician-Ukrainian Army
TV Polonia, Warsaw, Poland, in Polish, 0813 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Friday, June 24, 2005
5. UKRAINIAN, POLISH PRESIDENTS HAIL "HISTORIC" POLISH
MILITARY CEMETERY OPENING
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1215 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, June 24, 2005 (12:15)
6. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAYS RECONCILIATION WITH POLAND
BOOSTS EUROPE'S UNITY AND IS HISTORIC EVENT FOR EUROPE
Ceremony to reopen Polish military cemetery
UT1 State TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1025 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Fri, June 24, 2005
7. POLISH PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI SAYS REOPENING
ORLETA POLISH CEMETERY SYMBOL OF RECONCILIATION WITH UKRAINE
TV Polonia, Warsaw, Poland, in Polish 1009 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Friday, June 24, 2005
8. COMMENTS ON PROSPECTS FOR POLISH-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS
AFTER CEMETERY OPENINGS IN LVIV
PAP News Agency, Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 24, 2005
9. SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS UNITES POLES AND UKRAINIANS
Financial Times, London, UK, Saturday, June 25 2005
10. UKRAINE WINS HOT DEAL ON POLAND'S HUTA COLD STEEL
The Ukrainian corporation Industrial Union of Donbas has
successfully completed talks on the acquisition of the
Polish steelworks Huta Czestochowa
Andriy Pysarevskiy, Kyiv Weekly, Issue #24 (164)
Business and Social-Political Weekly
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24 - July 1, 2005
11. RIA MEDIA CORP IN VINNYTSIA AND NORWEGIAN ORKLA MEDIA CO
SET UP JV TO PUBLISH DAILY NEWSPAPERS THROUGHOUT UKRAINE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24, 2005
12. EUROCAR IN UZHHOROD TO BEGIN LARGE-SCALE ASSEMBLY
OF VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT B6 BY SEPTEMBER
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24, 2005
13. UKRAINIAN POLICE EXHIBIT LARGE COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS,
ICONS, SAMOVARS, ARMS SEIZED FROM APARTMENTS OF
FORMER SUMY GOVERNOR VOLODYMYR SCHERBAN
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Sat, June 25, 2005
14. 'THE DAY' IS PREPARING BOOK ABOUT JAMES MACE
A collection of articles by the late Professor
Wanting persons who knew James Mace to share their memoirs
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: From: Maria Zamyatina, time@day.kiev.ua
To: Morgan Williams, Editor, The Action Ukraine Report (AUR)
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005
Subject: Re: Memoirs Wanted For New Book About James Mace
15. STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY OF UKRAINE
Website: www.vistacom.ca
From: vistacom@rogers.com
To: announce@infoukes.com
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 10:40 AM
Subject: [announce] Stock Photography of Ukraine
16. TWO BAD MISPRINTS IN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON MOZART
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: "assya humesky" assyahu@webtv.net
To: "UKRAINE REPORT 2005" <ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: AUR#500 Jun 12, 2005, Mozart & Ukraine
17. UKRAINE: TAKING THE DNIPRO RIVER CRUISE
By Serhiy Shevchenko, Kyiv Weekly, Issue #24 (164)
Business and Socio-Political Weekly
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jun 24 - Jul 1, 2005
18. UKRAINE: SPIRIT OF KHOLODNIY YAR LIVES ON
Capital of the partisans
By Dmytro Antonyuk, Kyiv Weekly, Issue #24 (164)
Business and Socio-Political Weekly
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jun 24 - Jul 1, 2005
===============================================================
1. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO AND POLAND'S PRESIDENT
KWASNIEWSKI OPEN MEMORIAL TO POLISH SOLDIERS IN LVIV
AND TO SOLDIERS OF THE UKRAINIAN HALYCHYNA ARMY
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, June 24, 2005
KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko and Poland's President Aleksander
Kwasniewski have opened a memorial near the site at the Lychakivske
cemetery in Lviv where Polish soldiers were buried in the 1918-1920 period.
The central slab of the memorial, which is located near an arc at the
central section of the burial site, bears the words "Here Lies a Polish
Soldier who Died for the Fatherland."
A memorial to the French marines and American pilots who fought alongside
Poland in the 1919-1920, which is located opposite the central slab of the
memorial, also bears inscriptions in the Polish language. Specifically, the
memorial to the American pilots bears the words: "To the Americans Who
Died Fighting for Poland in the 1919-1920 Period."
A plate at the right entrance to the memorial to the soldiers of the
Ukrainian Halychyna Army bears the following words in the Ukrainian
language "We the Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland
Ceremonially Declare Historical Reconciliation and Mutual Understanding
between Our Peoples by Opening a Memorial to the Ukrainian Halychyna
Army and the Polish Burial Sites of 1918-1920 at the Lychakivske Cemetery
in a Bid to Strengthen Ukrainian-Polish Harmony for the Benefit of the
Common European Home."
The following words are written below: "President of Ukraine Viktor
Yushchenko," "President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski."
The following words in the Ukrainian language are written on the wall
surrounding the cemetery near the left entrance: "On the Threshold of the
XXI Century, We will Remember the Past While Thinking about the Future."
The following words are written below: "President of Ukraine L. Kuchma,"
"President of Poland A. Kwasniewski."
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yushchenko and Kwasniewski opened
a memorial to soldiers of the Ukrainian Halychyna Army at the Lychakivske
cemetery in Lviv on June 24. The Lviv municipal council recently set June 24
as the date for opening a memorial to soldiers of the Ukrainian Halychyna
Army as well as at the sites where Polish soldiers were buried at Lviv's
Lychakivske cemetery during the 1918-1920 period.
Ukraine and Poland recently reached agreement on the ceremonial opening
and consecration of the Polish military memorial and the graves of the
soldiers of the Ukrainian Halychyna Army at the Lychakivske cemetery on
June 24.
The cemetery where Polish participants in the Ukrainian-Polish war of 1918-
1919 are buried was renovated in 1999, but was not officially opened
because of disagreements over how to describe those interred there. -30-
===============================================================
1. PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO AND POLAND'S PRESIDENT
ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI OPEN A MEMORIAL TO
SOLDIERS OF THE UKRAINIAN HALYCHYNA ARMY
AT THE LYCHAKIVSKE CEMETERY IN LYIV
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24, 2005
KYIV - President Viktor Yuschenko and Poland's President Aleksander
Kwasniewski have opened a memorial to soldiers of the Ukrainian
Halychyna Army at the Lychakivske cemetery in Lviv.
In his address during the opening of the memorial, Yuschenko thanked
Kwasniewski for attending the memorial's opening and described this as a
brave step. "We are all indebted to these glorious knights," Yuschenko said.
"Germans, Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews fought shoulder to shoulder in the
ranks of the Ukrainian Halychyna Army," he added.
Kwasniewski said he was happy that many young people attended the
opening of the memorial, after which he and Yuschenko laid wreaths at the
memorial and the Ukrainian national anthem was played.
A column bearing the status of Archangel Michael is placed on a pillar at
the center of the memorial. The column bears the words "To the Warriors
of the Ukrainian Halychyna Army who Died Defending Lviv in 1918-1919."
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Lviv municipal council recently set
June 24 as the date for opening a memorial to soldiers of the Ukrainian
Halychyna Army and Polish soldiers buried at Lviv's Lychakivske cemetery
during the 1918-1920 period. The Lviv municipal council invited Yuschenko
and Kwasniewski to attend the opening ceremony. -30-
==============================================================
2. PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO SPEAKS AT THE OPENING OF THE
MEMORIAL TO THE WARRIORS OF THE UKRAINIAN GALICIAN ARMY
Source: UT1, Kiev, in Ukrainian 0810 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Friday, June 24, 2005
KIEV - President Yushchenko speaks at the opening of the memorial.
to the warriors of the Ukrainian Galician Army.
The following is the text of Yushchenko's speech, which was broadcast live
by Ukrainian state-owned UT1 TV on 24 June; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
[Yushchenko] Holy fathers, esteemed Mr President of Poland, esteemed
guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. The whole of Ukraine, from the
steppes of Azov to the Carpathian mountains, is strewn with the graves of
heroes who sacrificed their lives to it. In these expanses, our great
ancestors fought for the Ukrainian state for centuries.
But often, there is no cross at their final resting place, and we do not
know the noble names of the fallen. All of us who now exist in Ukraine are
greatly indebted to the glorious knights of freedom. Today's opening of the
memorial to the warriors of the Ukrainian Galician army is a sign that the
Ukrainian nation is ready to carry out the sacred duty of honouring and
commemorating our heroes.
The day has come when the state is marking one of the brightest chapters
of our history, which is unfortunately also one of the most tragic ones.
UKRAINE'S MILITARY GLORY --------
We have not always commemorated the glorious Ukrainian army and its
noble warriors. The Ukrainian Galician army is an army of the whole of
Ukraine. Galician in origin, it became the most battle-ready part of the
whole Ukrainian army. It fought its way from Lviv to Kiev. Following the
call of their hearts, the best, the most educated and beautiful students,
teachers and engineers volunteered to join it.
Because there were not enough weapons, only one out of four volunteers
was allowed to join the army. Ukrainians, Germans, Poles and Jews fought
shoulder-to-shoulder within the ranks of the Ukrainian Galician army. Their
military fraternity was a prototype for the modern-day Ukrainian political
nation.
The Ukrainian Galician army became a legend. For decades, the truth about
it lay hidden beneath the burden of enemies' myths. Even its soldiers'
gravestones were hidden beneath the pedestal of a monument to a foreign
idol. However, Ukraine sang the Red Snowball-Tree [folk song], Ukrainians
from abroad called to each other - do you hear, my brother?
In time, the people replaced the word rifleman with the word cossack in the
song. The riflemen's glory, as well as the cossack glory, became part of the
Ukrainian identity. The Ukrainian Galician army defended the nation's honour
in a bloody war. It did not dishonour its standards, which were consecrated
by great Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytskyy, with either cruelty or crimes.
Its soldiers remained faithful to their oath and their duty to the people.
They tasted the bitterness of defeat, but they never tasted dishonour. The
Sich Riflemen's fight and sacrifices were not in vain.
A wise man said - I will arise where there are graves. The Ukrainian state
arose from the dream and blood of numerous generations of Ukrainians.
Today, it is independent and free. It was made so by people who stood on
the Maydan [Kiev's Independence Square, the focal point of the Orange
Revolution].
The Ukrainian nation and the Ukrainian state scored a peaceful victory
thanks to bravery, selflessness and our faith. This is the spiritual weapon
which we inherited from the Sich Riflemen. With it, we are invincible.
RECONCILIATION WITH POLAND --------
It is very important that the free Ukraine is now honouring slain Ukrainians
together with a free Poland. This cemetery holds the remains of former
fellow students, schoolchildren, neighbours and relatives. Some of them
[fought under] the Ukrainian trident, others under the Polish eagle. In the
past, as fate willed, the two peoples fought each other on many occasions.
One people's defeat never was another people's victory. The fact that the
two presidents visited the Lychakivske cemetery together shows that Ukraine
and Poland are brave enough to look the past in the eye. We have enough
honour not to rewrite the tragic pages of history and enough wisdom to draw
the right conclusions from this story.
The main one is that there is no free Poland without a free Ukraine, and
there is no free Ukraine without a free Poland. Let these great words float
above this holy place. They bring peace and prosperity to our peoples. They
bring peace to the souls of those fallen.
I would like to thank all Ukrainians and Poles who led our peoples towards
this great truth. I would particularly like to thank Polish President
Aleksander Kwasniewski for everything that he has done for understanding
between Ukraine and Poland.
Mr President, your visit to the Ukrainian Galician army memorial is a brave
act which can be committed only by a true patriot and a true European.
Praise and glory to the glorious city of Lviv, and to all its residents who
built this memorial. I am convinced that here lies the start of the nation's
great road to bringing its objects of worship back and to restoring its past
glory. Ahead of us lies the reconstruction of Baturyn and Khortytsya
[cossack glory sites], commemorating cossack knights and the heroes of
World War II.
[Poet] Ivan Franko, who inspired the Sich Riflemen, willed that they should
be strong in the realm of spirit in order to fight despotism and obscurity.
To be strong, the Ukrainian nation is recalling all of its great moments. We
will be worthy of our great ancestors.
Eternal memory to heroes! Let the Ukrainian Galician army's glory lie in
ages! Let there be peace and understanding between Ukraine and Poland.
Glory to all of you, glory to God and glory to Ukraine! [Applause] -30-
==============================================================
3. POLISH PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI URGES YOUNG POLES,
YOUNG UKRAINIANS TO CONTINUE RECONCILIATION
Monument to the Sich Riflemen of the Galician-Ukrainian Army
TV Polonia, Warsaw, Poland, in Polish, 0813 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Friday, June 24, 2005
WARSAW - [Announcer] President Aleksander Kwasniewski will now
make his address.
[Kwasniewski] Esteemed Mr President of Ukraine, Mr Mayor [of Lviv], Your
Eminencies, Cardinals, Your Excellencies, Bishops, Ambassadors,
esteemed residents of Lviv, ladies and gentlemen.
We are standing at a particular place depicting the dramatic history of
Ukraine striving for freedom. This place commemorates the sacrifices of the
Sich Riflemen of the Galician-Ukrainian army. We Poles, remember the
bravery and valour of these soldiers who, led by Symon Petlura, and at the
side of Jozef Pilsudski, arm in arm fought for the homeland together with
Polish units.
For the longed-for freedom of two nations. This brotherhood-in-arms takes a
particular form: we cannot remain indifferent: we thank you, and we pay you
our tribute.
In the convoluted picture of Europe which emerged after World War I, battle
paths towards the desired freedom crossed in different places. The history
of Polish-Ukrainian relations was similar to that. Our nations did not
always stand on the same side of the barricade. [Passage omitted].
The price of freedom was steep and paid for by thousands of victims. Today
we can read and understand the pages of that difficult history of our
nations better. The fate of history is not placing us before such drastic
choices any more. But we too have been given an important task.
Wiser, after the past, often painful, experiences, we must respect this
priceless value - freedom. We must build and enrich our mutual relations
based on reconciliation - often difficult because it is deep and frank.
However we have the willingness to accomplish this task. That is why, with
particular care and respect we should treat places like this monument of the
Sich Riflemen or the cemetery of the Lviv Orleta - places where memory
about the great price paid for freedom is cherished.
These are our obligations for the past generations which paid the price with
their lives. Let us visit these places of the dead, let us keep the memory
in our hearts and let us build the future in the spirit of peace, dialogue,
reconciliation and partnership.
May the places of commemoration and reflection become places of hope and
promise. Both for Poles and Ukrainians. For us, who are creating this new
history, but first and foremost for new generations.
I am extremely happy that today's ceremonies are attended by so many young
people. Because this place is calling particularly you, young Poles and
young Ukrainians. May you hear that calling. Learn about our joint history;
learn about yourselves; learn about respect for freedom; learn about
patriotism which consists of pride of your own identity but also kindness
for neighbours, openness to others.
The price of freedom was steep and paid for by thousands of victims.
Today we can read and understand the pages of that difficult history of our
nations better. The fate of history is not placing us before such drastic
choices any more. But we too have been given an important task.
Wiser, after the past - often painful - experiences, we must respect this
priceless value - freedom. We must build and enrich our mutual relations
based on reconciliation - often difficult because it is deep and frank.
However we have the willingness to accomplish this task.
That is why, with particular care and respect we should treat places like
this monument of the Sich Streltsy or the cemetery of the Lviv Orleta -
places where memory is cherished about the great price paid for freedom.
These are our obligations for the past generations which paid the price with
their lives.
Let us visit these places of the dead let us keep the memory in our hearts
and let us build the future in the spirit of peace, dialogue, reconciliation
and partnership.
May the places of commemoration and reflection become places of hope
and promise. Both for Poles and Ukrainians. For us, who are creating this
new history, but first and foremost for new generations.
I am extremely happy that today's ceremonies are attended by so many
young people. Because this place is calling particularly you, young Poles
and young Ukrainians. May you hear that calling.
Learn about our joint history; learn about yourselves; learn about respect
for freedom; learn about patriotism which consists of pride of your own
identity but also kindness for neighbours, openness to other nations. And
may you hand over this grand lesson to the next generations. Poland's and
Ukrainian's success, the success of the uniting Europe is in your hands.
==============================================================
4. UKRAINIAN, POLISH PRESIDENTS HAIL "HISTORIC" POLISH
MILITARY CEMETERY OPENING
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1215 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, June 24, 2005 (12:15)
KIEV - President Viktor Yushchenko has described the opening of a Polish
military cemetery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv as marking a
"historic reconciliation" between the two countries.
Speaking in opening remarks at a joint press conference with Polish
President Aleksandr Kwasniewski after the ceremony on 24 June carried
live by Ukrainian 5 Kanal TV, Yushchenko thanked the Lviv city council and
community and Kwasniewski, whom he described as "a great and patient
friend of Ukraine". "I know that it took a lot of patience, wisdom and
mutual respect for today's event to happen," he said.
Kwasniewski also described the opening as a "historic event", and an
important milestone in the ongoing reconciliation between the two countries
since the fall of the Soviet Union.
"Ukrainians and Poles have good prospects of meeting in the European
Union," he concluded. "You can count on us." -30-
==============================================================
5. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAYS RECONCILIATION WITH POLAND
BOOSTS EUROPE'S UNITY AND IS HISTORIC EVENT FOR EUROPE
Ceremony to reopen Polish military cemetery
UT1 State TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1025 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Fri, June 24, 2005
KIEV - President Viktor Yushchenko has said that Ukraine's reconciliation
with Poland is a historic event for Europe. Addressing a ceremony to open
a controversial Polish cemetery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv,
Yushchenko said the step marked a key stage in reinforcing Europe's unity.
Earlier on 24 June, Yushchenko spoke at a ceremony to open an adjoining
cemetery housing the remains of Ukrainian soldiers who were killed fighting
Polish troops in 1918-20. Both ceremonies were attended by Polish President
Aleksander Kwasniewski. Yushchenko also quoted Kwasniewski as promising
that a similar memorial to Ukrainian soldiers would be opened in Poland
soon.
The following is an excerpt from Yushchenko's speech, carried live by
Ukrainian state-owned television UT1 on 24 June; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
[Yushchenko] Highly esteemed Mr President [Poland's Aleksander
Kwasniewski], holy fathers, esteemed guests, dear Poles and Ukrainians.
People who loved their motherland and were carrying out their duty to it are
buried at this cemetery in Lviv. None of our words will take away or add
anything to what they did. The soldiers died in battle, and their graves
made this place a holy site for Poles.
The remains of those fallen became part of the Lviv land. It is only here
that the Polish nation can honour their memory. It is fair to provide their
children with an opportunity to do this. It is their right and, I am sure,
our Christian duty.
It is worthy of us Ukrainians to honour all those who suffered or were
killed in the tragedy which unfolded in our land and in which brothers were
killed. Our honour demands this. We are not afraid to look the past in the
eye. Our responsibility to the future demands this.
Esteemed gentlemen, the rows of graves to the left and to the right remind
us of the mortal combat between Ukrainians and Poles in Lviv's streets,
where they used to live side by side. Both peoples hope - and they hoped
back then - that a victory in that war would make them independent. Our
peoples did not know back then that there were not going to be any winners
among them. [Passage omitted: Ukraine and Poland need each other to be
free - had before.]
UKRAINIAN-POLISH RECONCILIATION CRUCIAL FOR EUROPE
Thanks to you, dear Lviv community, your city hosts an event which is
historic for the whole of Europe - reconciliation between Ukraine and Poland
[applause].
Once, reconciliation between the Germans and the French paved the way for
the unification of European peoples. It was the beginning of a new history
of our continent's unity, which grows from understanding and forgiveness.
Many European peoples wrote their chapters in it. Now our turn has come.
Reconciliation between Ukraine and Poland is the final stone in building the
cupola of peace and unity over Europe. Without it, the high dome will not be
strong.
To those who lie in these graves, we say together - we remember the lessons
of history. Free Poland is a friend and strategic partner of free Ukraine.
Ukrainians and Polish soldiers are now defending the peace and security
around the globe. Warsaw consistently works to open Europe's doors to Kiev.
Our peoples see themselves together in a united Europe.
SIMILAR MEMORIAL TO UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS TO BE OPENED IN POLAND
Together, we cleanse historical memory of falsehood, which, I am convinced,
degrades our freedom. I believe that soon we will be able to pay appropriate
homage on Polish land to Ukrainian heroes who fell fighting for the
Ukrainian state [applause].
The Polish side has expressed readiness for this. European and democratic
Poland will walk its part of the way towards understanding, President
Kwasniewski assured me - an old, honest and patient friend of Ukraine.
He will go down in history as a great builder of Polish-Ukrainian
partnership. [applause].
I trust the word of the Poles, because it is the will of thousands and
thousands of Poles, whose hearts were with Ukrainians on Independence
Square [the central point of the Orange Revolution in late 2004] during the
cold November and December. I believe in the brotherhood of peoples
[applause].
Esteemed friends, many friends of the Ukrainian-Polish understanding have
come to attend today's event. It is a great pity that Pope John Paul II - a
great Pole with Ukrainian roots - is no longer with us. He like nobody else
understood how tragic the confrontation between our peoples was. He did a
lot to see this day arrive. His legacy remains with us. I quote - unity and
accord is the secret behind peace and the precondition for true social
progress.
I pray to God that he give strength to our peoples to carry this great will
out. Eternal glory to the Ukrainian and Polish soldiers who fell in the old
war.
Glory to the Ukrainian and Polish peoples. Let peace and understanding live
forever in our souls. Thanks be to God, glory to each of you, glory to
Poland and glory to Ukraine! [Applause] -30-
===============================================================
6. POLISH PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI SAYS REOPENING
ORLETA POLISH CEMETERY SYMBOL OF RECONCILIATION WITH UKRAINE
TV Polonia, Warsaw, Poland, in Polish 1009 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, June 24, 2005
WARSAW - Speaking at the ceremonial reopening of the Orleta Polish war
cemetery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, which was systematically
devastated during the Soviet era, President Aleksander Kwasniewski has
said that the opening was "the fulfilment of a need of Polish hearts, a sign
of peace, reconciliation and friendship.
Only today can we fully understand the tragedy that took place here in the
past." Kwasniewski noted that "the fact that Poland's and Ukraine's
presidents are together at this cemetery, the fact that our nations can talk
to one another with mutual respect and sensitivity even about the most
painful events from the past is evidence of how strongly and with what
conviction we are striding along the path of reconciliation. It is proof of
how frankly we are shaking hands over history, over the graves to proceed
together into the future"
The following is an excerpt from the live report by Polish international
satellite TV service on 24 June:
[President Aleksander Kwasniewski ] Esteemed President of Ukraine, my
dear friend Viktor, Sejm and Senate [Polish lower and upper houses of
parliament] Speakers, Ministers, esteemed Mayor [of Lviv], esteemed
residents of Lviv, dear compatriots, dear Ukrainian friends.
The opening of the Cemetery of the Lwow [Lviv] Orleta is the fulfilment of a
need of Polish hearts, a sign of peace, reconciliation and friendship
flowing from Ukrainian hearts. We can appreciate this. On behalf of Poland
and Poles, I speak with emotion on this grand historical day: We thank you.
We thank you. [applause]
Poles and Ukrainians - we are shaking hands over history. We are shaking
them over the graves and I am certain that we are proceeding into the future
together. The Lwow Orleta Cemetery is a special place. It's stormy history
is written into the convoluted history of the city and the history of
difficult relations between Poles and Ukrainians in the past century.
The remains of participants of Polish-Ukrainian battles are resting here,
mostly young men, who paid with their lives to keep Lwow a city of a new
independent Poland that was being formed at the time. Two desires, two
forms of patriotism, two national types of pride clashed with each other.
Today, we, Poles are bowing our heads before the sacrifice of the Lwow
Orleta.. We are paying our tribute to them, moved by their heroism,
devotion, ardent sacrifice to the national cause. At the same time we think
with respect about the Ukrainian victims of those fights, who also gave
their lives in the struggle for their independence, for a sovereign
Ukrainian state. They also wanted to achieve the good of their country, they
were also brave, and their sacrifice also demands our respect.
Only today can we fully understand the tragedy that took place here in the
past. [passage omitted]
The place where we are now is taking on a new symbolism. In the past it was
a witness of battles, today it becomes the symbol of Polish-Ukrainian
reconciliation which began with the downfall of the totalitarian system. The
reconstruction of the Orleta cemetery was possible only because a free and
democratic Ukraine had been formed. Our countries signed the reconciliation
declaration in 1997. [passage omitted]
Reconciliation is always a double-sided process. Poles understand Ukrainian
sensitivities. We feel obliged to pay moral debts. I trust that Ukrainians
too will find more and more understanding for the Polish suffering, for
Polish wounded memories. [passage omitted]
And today we are witnessing another historical step. The fact that Poland's
and Ukraine's presidents are together at this cemetery, the fact that our
nations can talk to one another with mutual respect and sensitivity even
about the most painful events from the past is evidence of how strongly and
with what conviction we are striding along the path of reconciliation. It is
proof of how frankly we are shaking hands over history, over the graves to
proceed together into the future.
I send my heartfelt thanks to President Viktor Yushchenko, to all our
Ukrainian friends, all those who have contributed to the rapprochement of
Poland and Ukraine, to finding understanding, cooperation and strategic
partnership between our countries and peoples. Thank you Mr President,
thank you Viktor. [applause]
[Kwasniewski] Ladies and gentlemen, Your Eminencies, Cardinals, Your
Excellencies Bishops, esteemed residents of Lviv, dear compatriots.
The bad luck of the 20th century was the fact that forms of nationalism that
were born at the time destroyed co-existence, dialogue and the mutual
cultural enrichment of people from different nations, including Poles and
Ukrainians. [passage omitted].
The desired freedom [for Ukraine] finally arrives. We are happy in Poland
and have been taking examination in this for the past 16 years. The voice
calling for freedom of the nation and dignity of people, for truth and
democracy emerged with all its force from your hearts at the Square of
Independence [in Kiev] in November and December of last year. And
Poland heard the Ukrainian call. [passage omitted]
We are happy because of your success. The path you have chosen is not an
easy one. But we want to assure you that you are not alone. Poland wants to
and will assist you with your strife. And we believe that the moment will
come when we are able to welcome you in the family of European Union
nations. [applause]
Ladies and gentlemen, this cemetery is an important witness of the era. The
history of this necropolis was a stormy one. It was built over 20 years, but
the outbreak of World War II made its completion impossible. After the war,
the condition of the Orleta Cemetery deteriorated. At the beginning of 1970s
it was destroyed with premeditation, crushed by Soviet tanks and bulldozers.
This shameful desecration of the graves of the Lwow Orleta was directed
against our pride and the memory of Polish heroes. However, first and
foremost, it was an act of barbarism directed against the culture and
tradition of the civilized world which orders respect for human remains.
[passage omitted].
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank with all my heart all those who
made our ceremony today possible: I would like to thank the authorities of
both countries, local self-government and all those involved in this
project, cardinals, bishops, priests for a moving ceremony. We are aware
that the re-opening of the cemetery was a difficult issue both for you and
for us.
We worked a lot to be able to stand before you today. I also thank Lviv
residents who for years have been caring for this necropolis, thanks to whom
it has survived. Without you - the guardians of memory - today's ceremonies
would not be possible.
And I would like to ask you: take proper care of this place so that the acts
of vandalism that which occurred here in the past may never happen again.
And despite the blood that was shed, may this cemetery bring together
rather than divide our nations. Poles and Ukrainians have inflicted a lot of
suffering upon one another. [passage omitted]
Both in Ukraine and in Poland there are many places we should take care
about. There are many graves with the remains of the fallen and killed,
Poles and Ukrainians. It is our joint task to take care about these places.
We should -perform this task with conviction and with sensitivity with
mutual respect and tolerance.[passage omitted]
And that is why, here and today, over history and over graves, Poles and
Ukrainians are shaking their hands and are saying - we want to go into the
future together. [applause]. -30-
===============================================================
7. UKRAINIAN-POLISH CEMETERY EVENTS FINISH IN LVIV
UT1, Kiev, in Ukrainian 0800 gmt 24 Jun 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Fri, June 24, 2005
KIEV - An event to mark the opening of Ukrainian and Polish military
cemeteries in Lviv, Western Ukraine, has come to an end.
The Ukrainian and Polish presidents, Viktor Yushchenko and Aleksander
Kwasniewski, spoke and attended religious services at the opening of
cemeteries to the Ukrainian Galician army and Polish soldiers.
There were brief military ceremonies, a lengthy Polish religious service and
brief readings by other denominations, including by a Jewish cleric. There
followed two more addresses by the presidents, then various military
ceremonies The whole event lasted over three hours.
The state UT1 channel showed the event live from start to finish. 5 Kanal
also showed most of it live. -30-
===============================================================
8. COMMENTS ON PROSPECTS FOR POLISH-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS
AFTER CEMETERY OPENINGS IN LVIV
PAP News Agency, Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 24, 2005
WARSAW, LVIV - Minister of Foreign Affairs Adam Daniel Rotfeld has
attributed the successful opening of the Polish [1919 war] cemetery in Lviv
on Friday [24 June] to Poland's active involvement in last autumn's
transformations in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Warsaw on Friday, Rotfeld said he was pleased with
the reconciliation mass celebrated by Polish and Ukrainian Catholic bishops,
which may start the process of reconciliation between the two nations. The
opening of the Polish cemetery in Lviv leads to fuller understanding and
reconciliation between the two nations, believes Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk expressed the conviction that the
opening of the cemetery will become a message for future generations of
Poles and Ukrainians. The country's Culture Minister Oksana Bilozir stressed
it was a proof that Ukraine deserved to be present in Europe.
The chairman of the Community of Poles Abroad (Wspolnota Polska)
Professor Andrzej Stelmachowski and writer Jerzy Janicki, born in Lviv, did
not try to conceal that they were deeply moved by the ceremony. Satisfaction
in connection with the opening of the Polish cemetery in Lvov was also
expressed by Poland's last President-in-exile Ryszard Kaczorowski.
However, some former Lviv residents did not spare sceptical opinions.
World-renowned composer Wojciech Kilar, who was born in Lviv said that
improvement in Polish-Ukrainian relations, as symbolised by the opening of
the cemetery was based on shaky foundations and was rather not conducive
to reconciliation between the two nations. -30-
===============================================================
9. SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS UNITES POLES AND UKRAINIANS
Financial Times, London, UK, Saturday, June 25 2005
Western Europeans may have forgotten that one fundamental reason for the
creation of the European Union was to keep ancient enemies from going to
war, but the lesson remains fresh for Poland and Ukraine.
Just as the EU helped end hatred and misunderstanding between France
and Germany, Poland is hoping that the prospect of EU membership for
Ukraine will play a similarly constructive role in eastern Europe - despite
complications following the French and Dutch referendum rejection of an
EU constitution.
"This wave of reconciliation is moving from west to east. First it was
between the French and Germans, then between Poles and Germans and
now it is Poles and Ukrainians," said Janusz Onyszkiewicz, a former Polish
defence minister and now a member of the European Parliament.
Yesterday leading Polish and Ukrainian politicians met in the west Ukraine
city of Lviv to take part in the formal reopening of a Polish military
cemetery that has been a source of contention for decades.
In 1919, a newly independent Poland fought against Ukrainian forces over
the ownership of Lviv, an ethnically Polish and Jewish city surrounded by a
Ukrainian-majority countryside. The Poles won, and built a grand pantheon
to the young fighters who had fought for Lwow, Lviv's Polish name.
The Polish victory was reversed after the second world war. The Jews were
murdered in the Holocaust, millions of Poles were expelled by the Soviets
and the area - now almost entirely ethnically Ukrainian - was incorporated
into the USSR, and later independent Ukraine.
The cemetery stayed although Soviet authorities bulldozed part of it and
the rest fell into disrepair.
The cemetery's restoration ceremony ends one historical dispute, and
bishops from both countries took steps last weekend to end others.
In language that purposely echoed a similar appeal by Polish bishops to
their German counterparts 40 years ago, Roman Catholic bishops from
Poland and Greek Catholic bishops from Ukraine signed a call for mutual
reconciliation.
"We forgive and we ask for forgiveness," said the statement from the two
churches.
Before the second world war, the Polish government clamped down on
Ukrainian nationalists, who responded with a low level terror campaign.
During the war, Ukrainian militias murdered tens of thousands of Poles,
and after the war the Polish military killed thousands of Ukrainians on the
Polish side of the border and deported more than 100,000. Those
memories remained fresh for decades and healed slowly only after the
end of communism.
Unlike Serbs in the former Yugoslavia, Poles did not reopen issues of
borders and population transfers. Poland was the first country to recognise
an independent Ukraine in December 1991. Polish politicians and thousands
of ordinary people flooded into Ukraine during last year's Orange Revolution
and helped push the issue to the forefront of the EU's concerns.
"The new Ukrainian government is more willing to pursue reconciliation. From
the Polish side, they really look at Ukraine differently," said Hryhory
Nemyria, chairman of Kiev's International Renaissance Foundation. "There
has always been a gap between the political leaders, who were more ready
for reconciliation, and that of the populations, particularly in border
regions.
Since the Orange Revolution you can see that gap decreasing."
Historical reconciliation has been helped by expanding economic ties, too.
Last year, trade between the two totalled $3bn (Euro 2.5bn, £1.7bn), up by a
third over 2003, and overall Polish investments in Ukraine came to $192m.
Ukrainian steel producer Donbas Industrial Union is finalising the takeover
of Polish steel maker Huta Czestochowa. Ukrainian car maker AvtoZAZ is
concluding the purchase of struggling Polish carmaker FSO with Poland's
Treasury. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
==============================================================
10. UKRAINE WINS HOT DEAL ON POLAND'S HUTA COLD STEEL
The Ukrainian corporation Industrial Union of Donbas has
successfully completed talks on the acquisition of
the Polish steelworks Huta Czestochowa
Andriy Pysarevskiy, Kyiv Weekly, Issue #24 (164)
Business and Social-Political Weekly
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24 - July 1, 2005
As KW learned, IUD agreed on June 17 to pay 1.252 bn zloty (US $377.1 mn)
for the steel mill. Poland's Property Minister Jacek Socha expressed his
hopes that the "money will be transferred by the end of June". He added that
the price offered by IUD fully satisfies the ministry.
As a reminder, in February the Ukrainian side proposed 1.110 bn zloty (US
$334.3 mn), while their competitor Mittal Steel of India called and raised
the bet to 1,250 bn zloty (US $376.4 mn). Therefore, the amount IUD will end
up paying for the enterprise is higher than the bid offered by Mittal Steel.
The Ukrainian corporation also signed a social package with the plant's
trade unions, which stipulates a guarantee of 10-year employment for the
staff, an increase in average wages by 350 zloty (US $105) and a
privatization bonus based on tenure and seniority. For example, those
employees who have worked for 5 years will receive a 1,500 zloty (US $452)
bonus. For every additional month of work, the workers receive a 16 zloty
(US $5) bonus.
An employee that has worked at the plant for 25 years will receive a 4,400
zloty bonus (US $1,325). The wages at the plant will grow proportionally to
inflation starting from this year. In total, the cost of the social package
exceeds 800 mn zloty (US $241 mn). Ukrainians also promised to invest 440
mn zloty (US $132.5 mn) into Huta Czestochowa over a period of 7 years.
"It should be noted that the victory of IUD in such a strenuous and
exhausting tender proves that the Ukrainian company truly deserves to be in
the "big league" in the metallurgy industry on an equal playing field the
rest," said a source of KW that has close ties to the Polish government and
requested to remain anonymous.
"However, the victory is a new challenge - IUD management will have to solve
the complicated task of pulling Huta Czestochowa out of its crisis on the
background of falling demand on the world steel market. Unfortunately, last
year, which was characterized as a comparatively favorable situation, is
lost due to the inconsistency of the Polish side in the privatization
process.
Now, the Ukrainians will have to seek some unique anti-crisis measures while
"building the steelworks into" a well-oiled mechanism of cooperation between
IUD and its partners." In the middle of June, it was also announced that IUD
and System Capital Management reached the final of the tender on the
privatization of the Czech-based Vitkovice Steel, while Mittal Steel, which
attempted to acquire the plant through its daughter company Global Steel,
failed to make it through.
And though according to latest information, the Czech Privatization
Committee recommended to the government on June 20 to declare Russia's
YevrazHolding the winner in this tender, the Ukrainians have clearly secured
a place in the "top league" of the global steel industry. -30-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK: http://www.kyivweekly.com/english/article/?779
===============================================================
11. RIA MEDIA CORP IN VINNYTSIA AND NORWEGIAN ORKLA MEDIA CO
SET UP JV TO PUBLISH DAILY NEWSPAPERS THROUGHOUT UKRAINE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24, 2005
KYIV - The RIA media corporation (Vinnytsia) and the Norwegian newspaper
company Orkla Media (Oslo) have decided to set up a joint venture to issue
daily newspapers in all regions of Ukraine and the Crimea. RIA corporation
president Oleksandr Chovhan reported this to Ukrainian News, with reference
to an agreement on the JV creation signed on Wednesday, June 22.
According to him, during the second half of 2005 the JV structure will be
created and a strategy of development will be defined. Chovhan added that
from 2006 through 2010 daily newspapers of the JV will be issued in all
regions of Ukraine. "Joint venture creation is a result of our seven-year
cooperation with Orkla Media," he said.
The RIA media corporation issues weekly papers and magazines in Vinnytsia,
Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Lviv and Chernivtsi. The media
corporation also issues daily paper 20 Minutes in Vinnytsia and monthly
magazine Capitalist in Kyiv.
Orkla Media, which is part of the Orkla Group international holding, issues
newspapers and magazines in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland,
and Lithuania. In 2004 revenues of Orkla Media hit USD 59.4 million. -30-
===============================================================
12. EUROCAR IN UZHHOROD TO BEGIN LARGE-SCALE ASSEMBLY
OF VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT B6 BY SEPTEMBER
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 24, 2005
KYIV - Eurocar company (Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia region) is going to begin
a large-scale assembly of Volkswagen Passat B6 by September.
Eurocar general director Oleh Boiarin made this announcement. He said the
assembly of the new model will begin on August 26. At the moment, the
company assembles Volkswagen Passat B5.
"It is going to be a car on the new platform, more electronics, a different
engine. It is going to be an absolutely different car," Boiarin said.
Apart from that, Eurocar plans to begin assembly of Volkswagen Bora under
the name VW Getta.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the company reduced production by 3.9%
or 96 cars to 2,382 cars in January-May compared with the same period of
2004. In 2004, Eurocar increased production by 59.69% or 3,323 cars over
2003 to 8,890.
According to the Agency for Development of the Stock Market's
Infrastructure, 68.8% of CJSC Eurocar shares belonged to Atoll Holding
(Kyiv) as of December 2004. The same agency reported in April 2004 that
30.4% shares in Atoll Holding belonged to two private investors each, and
one more individual held 14.2%. -30-
===============================================================
13. UKRAINIAN POLICE EXHIBIT LARGE COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS,
ICONS, SAMOVARS, ARMS SEIZED FROM APARTMENTS OF
FORMER SUMY GOVERNOR VOLODYMYR SCHERBAN
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Sat, June 25, 2005
KYIV - The police have seized paintings, antique icons, collection of
samovars, arms and ammunition from the apartment of Volodymyr Scherban,
former chair of the Sumy regional state administration. Ukrainian News
learned this from the report of the liaison department of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs.
According to the police report, officers of law-enforcement agencies seized
159 paintings and antique icons of historical and artistic value, 178
samovars, 22 cold steel arms, 33 firearms and 6,000 cartridges from
Scherban's apartments.
Upon consent of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal
Affairs put part of seized items on exhibition in the Ministry 's Center of
Culture and Arts. While the opening of the exhibition of seized items, the
Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Lutsenko said that the aim of this
exhibition is to demonstrate the corruption of the old power.
Lurtsenko said the legal wage of governors reached UAH 1,000-2,000 while
items found in Scherban's apartments cost more than thousands of dollars.
"I did this (exhibition) to show people that police is not persecuting
politicians. Police struggles against those who had been plundering the
state and robbing people," Lutsenko made a statement.
He said that all seized items now have a status of material evidence in
cases filed against Scherban. Lutsenko said that seized valuables will be
handled differently. Part of them was stolen from museums and thus can be
returned to these museums after court decisions, and the other part may be
returned to owners of these valuables in cases they were stolen. Exhibited
items are valued from UAH 1,000 to several thousand hryvnias.
Lutsenko mentioned that experts made such evaluation to prevent accusations
that police overestimated the price of these items for political reasons. At
the same time, the minister said, if these valuables are sold on auctions,
their price may grow by 5-10 times.
According to the data of the police, Sumy regional prosecutor's office is
investigating four criminal cases against Scherban. On April 26,
prosecutor's office filed a case based on article 189, clause 2 of the
Criminal Code into the fact of extortion of shares in Interregional Center
of Stock Market Technologies from heads of enterprises of light and
processing industry.
On May 4, prosecutor's office filed a case based on Article 365, clause 1
of the Criminal Code into the fact of abuse of office, namely, threats to
representatives of local power aiming to force them to vote for presidential
candidate Viktor Yanukovych on election.
On May 19, prosecutor's office filed the case into Article 364, clause 2 of
the Criminal Code based on the fact that Scherban forced representatives
of local power to canvass in their constituencies to ensure Yanukovych's
victory on election in August-October 2004.
On May 27, prosecutor's office filed a case based on the same article for
illegal use of charter flight services of Aerostar company in 2004-2005. As
Ukrainian News reported, the Internal Affairs Ministry launched an
international search for Scherban and located him. -30-
===============================================================
14. 'THE DAY' IS PREPARING BOOK ABOUT JAMES MACE
Collection of articles by the late Professor Mace
Wanting persons who knew James Mace to share their memoirs
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: From: Maria Zamyatina, time@day.kiev.ua
To: Morgan Williams, Editor, The Action Ukraine Report (AUR)
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005
Subject: Memoirs Wanted For New Book About James Mace
Dear Morgan,
Thanks for your willingness to allow us to use, for our new book about James
Mace, the photographs of the paintings and graphics, from your Holodomor
collection, we wrote you about. I'm sorry for asking so many things for this
book, but here's one more thing I'd like to suggest.
Could we publish a short address in your Ukrainian Report saying that 'The
Day' is preparing a book about James Mace and that we invite all those, who
worked together with James and knew him personally and have something to
say about him, to share with us their memoirs and/or materials referring to
him. Memoirs should be sent to time@day.kiev.ua.
Our deadline is July 10, and it proved extremely difficult to contact people
across the ocean who could contribute to our book, so such an address
could be extremely helpful.
Thank you a lot in advance,
Marina Zamyatina, The Day, Kyiv, Ukraine
===============================================================
15. STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY OF UKRAINE
Website: www.vistacom.ca
From: <vistacom@rogers.com>
To: <announce@infoukes.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 10:40 AM
Subject: [announce] Stock Photography of Ukraine
Stock Photography of Ukraine: www.vistacom.ca
For all your publishing needs!
It is a land of great beauty and on this website we will try to provide
the best images available. All images are available for purchase. They
are *royalty free* and all the images carry the same cost.
Vistacom Images has been setup to provide anyone that requires high
quality photography of Ukraine for publishing purposes. With Ukraine’s
newly found democracy there will be alot of publishing and information
dissemination being done about Ukraine and therefore the need for high
quality publishable photos of Ukraine.
These images are royalty-free, which means that there is only a one time
fee and no usage restrictions as with traditional stock photo agencies.
We will provide a wide range of themes ranging from landscape, buildings,
cityscape, political, portraits or anything else that might be required to
fulfill your photographic needs. -30-
===============================================================
16. TWO BAD MISPRINTS IN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON MOZART
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: "assya humesky" assyahu@webtv.net
To: "UKRAINE REPORT 2005" <ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: AUR#500 Jun 12 Mozart & Ukraine
Dear Sirs,
In the very informative and interesting article on Mozart which is
reprinted here, I noticed two bad misprints: the name of the last
Ukrainian Hetman was Rozumovsky not Rozumkovsky; also the
name of the Polish noble family was Sapega not Sapeg.
It is not your fault, of course, but could your editors correct such
errors before reprinting the material?
Sincerely, Assya Humesky
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: The article "Mozart's Connection to Ukraine" republished
in the AUR #500 was from Culture & History: by Stanislav Tsalyk, Kyiv
Weekly, Issue #20 (160), Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 27 - Jun 3, 2005
LINK: http://www.kyivweekly.com/english/article/?684.
==============================================================
17. UKRANIA - THE LADIES' VOCAL QUINTET
From: "Yakov Revyakin" yaaaa@list.ru
To: info@artukraine.com
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 11:18 AM
Subject: Ukrania- the ladies' vocal quintet
Ukrania - the ladies' vocal quintet. They perform Ukrainian folk songs
with arrangements by modern Ukrainian composers.
Concert activity. The Ensemble has been performing their songs for
the President of the Ukraine, leaders of foreign countries, famous
politicians and high diplomats. URL: http://ukrania.kiev.ua
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEBSITE: UKRANIA - THE LADIES' VOCAL QUINTET
http://ukrania.kiev.ua
Ukraine is our Motherland. Ukraine has thousand-years history.
We have chosen the ancient name of our country – Ukrania – as a name of
our Quintet. We love Ukraine. We love our nation. Using traditional folklore
as a basis we string the pearls of national music on the straight and
harmonious thread of classical singing. We sing for you.
Why did we choose folk songs to perform? Even classical music may
discover ethnic peculiarities of the nation to which a composer is belong
to. But folklore help us to reveal character, temperament, psyche and,
finally,
soul of a nation.
Folk music is phenomenon that could not be conceived in full at the moment.
But history of a nation is often reflected by content of the songs.
The history of Ukraine is not simple. Therefore Ukrainians have a lot of sad
songs. But our nation has never been in sorrow for a long time. The bridge
between joy and sorrow is not long.
Playful songs kept up national spirits. The exhaustion of hard work flew
away while people were walking home and singing. Therefore singing is
peculiar medicine for human soul.
The competition of languages took place in 1928 in Paris with the purpose of
determination which language is the most euphonious. There were declaimed
the texts in various languages. There were also declaimed poetry of Taras
Shevchenko. Ukrainian language took the 3rd place after the French and
Italian languages and before the Farsi (Persian) language.
All earthly flowers warmed with sun,
Amorous heat and clear feelings,
All hues and tints of sunny day, -
Thy songs are filled with them, Ukrania.*
Ukrainian folk songs are generously filled with the best human emotions:
love, joy, pleasure... Generally, love is the best feeling in the world.
Love warms the hearts, makes the heads drunk an gives us a lot of energy.
Love is guarantee that life could be continued.
So let's march on, dear fate of mine!
My humble, truthful, faithful friend!
Keep marching on: there glory lies;
And glory is my testament.**
* - Unknown author. Translated by Serhii Brovkin.
** - Taras Shevchenko. "Fate". Nizhny Novgorod. February 9, 1858.
Translated by John Weir. -30-
==============================================================
17. UKRAINE: TAKING THE DNIPRO RIVER CRUISE
By Serhiy Shevchenko, Kyiv Weekly, Issue #24 (164)
Business and Socio-Political Weekly
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jun 24 - Jul 1, 2005
A cruise down the Dnipro River has many hidden attractions, mysteries and
places to discover. Indeed, cities and towns along the riverbank are rich in
historic, architectural and cultural sights, of which many are not aware
The amount of free time one is ready to devote to a river voyage is perhaps
the main factor that dictates the choice of route down the Dnipro. If we’re
talking about one day or several, then the best decision is a boat trip to
the islands located down the river. But if you have several weeks to spend,
go on a voyage to the most interesting sights of Kaniv, Zaporizhzhya and
Dnipropetrovsk.
THE INHABITED DNIPRO ISLES --------
Let’s start with a description of the outlying areas nearest to Kyiv.
Zhukov Island, located in the vicinity of Koncha Zaspa, is the one of the
most popular places for outings. This place offers all the conditions for
having a fun time in good company and out in nature. The island has cozy
beaches, meadows, where you can have a picnic or barbeque, and sand
dunes where children can have good fun.
Zhukov is the most mysterious of all islands along the Dnipro. Indeed, on
the island there is a construction, the history of which is up to this day
shrouded in mystery. It is the so-called “concrete train”, which is actually
a section of the Southern Tunnel, the construction of which began in 1936.
At that time, Kyiv authorities came up with the idea of building tunnels for
trains under the Dnipro.
The secret construction began on two sites — specifically the Southern (on
Zhukov Island) and Northern (in the Obolon district). But when World War II
broke out, construction was suspended. Today the fragment towering over
the low forest of Zhukov Island is the only reminder of the grandiose
Southern Tunnel. This fragment goes a bit on land and then submerges into
the waters of the Dnipro for approximately 500 meters. In any case, to this
day the river guards its secret.
Meanwhile, the islands of the Olhinskiy Bay are unique for having the
richest flora among all of the Dnipro isles. Experts say, here Asian and
European flora and fauna grow side by side. Given the natural richness of
the islands, this territory should have long been given the status of a
reserve. Here one can find white and white and pink water lilies,
pasque-flower, wild pale yellow iris and Siberian and Hungarian blue flag,
grey alder and many other rare plants.
TRAVELING TO RIVER RIFTS --------
Although Kyiv yachtsmen offer their yachts for lease to sail to the islands
in the vicinity of Kyiv or on longer distances, it is still much more
comfortable to go on a long river cruise by ship.
The first stop down the Dnipro is Kaniv, one of the oldest cities of Europe
mainly known as the place of eternal rest of the Ukrainian poet Taras
Shevchenko. Here the ashes of his remains, which were brought from St.
Petersburg in 1891, are buried on Chernecha Hill (today renamed to
Tarasova)
Near the poet’s grave is the Taras Shevchenko the museum, which
preserves originals and copies of the poet’s manuscripts, pictures,
editions, portraits and photographs. The next city on the cruise route is
Dnipropetrovsk. The city founded by Count Potyomkin is known for its rich
historical museum.
Its collection, which was founded in 1849, contains thousands of items,
including archeological findings of different historic eras and cultures,
Zaporizhzhian kozak relics, church antiquities, ethnographic and numismatic
artifacts and paintings. Little do people know that the museum of Yelena
Blavatskaya is located in Dnipropetrovsk. This woman, who is called the
godmother of theosophy, had once enchanted the famous Russian painter
Nikolai Rerikh.
The must see on a tour of Dnipropetrovsk is Shevchenko Park. Its two
sections — inland and island — are connected by a cableway. In the warmer
seasons of the year, visitors can take this trip to the largest aquarium of
freshwater fish in Europe located on Monastyrskiy Island.
Probably the most famous tourist spot along the Dnipro is the legendary
island of Khortytsia, located near the city of Zaporizhzhia. This was the
cradle of the Ukrainian kozaks and the land, which they proclaimed free
from any other rule but theirs. Khortytsia is the largest island on the
Dnipro, stretching 12.5 km and 3 km wide. Its cliffs rise 35 meters above
the river.
Here the first Zaporizhzhian Sich first appeared in the middle of the 16th
century. An interesting museum and the entertaining Zaporizhzhian Kozaks
show on horseback preserve and revive the past glory of this the Sich.
By the way, the first dam built on the Dnipro is located in Zaporizhzhia.
Dnipro HES (Dnipro Hydro Power Station) is a massive construction during
the Stalin era. Although many might have heard or read about the Dnipro
rifts, not everyone knows that the Dnipro Valley, located below the Dnipro
HES dam, is the only preserved section of the rifts. Before the construction
of this dam, nine rifts crossed the Dnipro riverbed. These rifts actually
make up a chain of underwater cliffs.
In short, the area near Khortytsia is a geological monument of the Rifted
Prydniprovya, which managed to survive after human intervention into the
nature.
TRAVELER'S NOTICE --------
If you choose to go on a long cruise, then you should know a bit more about
the ships and their routes. The main river routes are Kyiv — Kaniv, Kyiv —
Dnipropetrovsk — Zaporizhzhia. In addition, you can choose one of the
combined “river-sea” routes. For example, the most popular route is Kyiv —
Zaporizhzhia — Kherson — Sevastopol — Odesa — Dnipropetrovsk —
Kremenchuk — Kyiv.
One can only imagine how many tourist attractions one will discover on
this route! Besides, on board travelers are entertained with performances
of folklore ensembles, concerts of Ukrainian pop stars and domestic wine
testing. -30-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK: http://www.kyivweekly.com/english/article/?802
===============================================================
18. UKRAINE: SPIRIT OF KHOLODNIY YAR LIVES ON
Capital of the partisans
By Dmytro Antonyuk, Kyiv Weekly, Issue #24 (164)
Business and Socio-Political Weekly
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jun 24 - Jul 1, 2005
For the majority of Ukrainians the word partisans is connected with the
explosion of railways under fascist trains somewhere in Belarus or with the
troops of Denis Davydov, who complicated the life of French soldiers in
remote areas of Russia nearly 200 years ago. Meanwhile, the history of
Ukraine knows its own partisans. Their capital was Kholodniy Yar
Kholodniy Yar is located in Chyhyryn county in the Cherkasy oblast and
half a day’s drive by car from Kyiv. The roads are more or less normal
and navigable for jeeps and regular automobiles. It is definitely takes a
weekend trip to check out this place, which preserves an untapped nature
and a rustic way of life over a hundred years old.
Electricity is apparently the only achievement of civilization available
here. There are no barbeque restaurants on the roadsides or grocery stores
in the villages. This area does not even have mobile coverage. Indeed, here
you will find yourself face-to-face with the captivating beauty of nature.
The picturesque meadows with kozak graves are replaced by deep hilly
narrows, which gradually turn into a dense deciduous forest of maples, oaks
and birch trees. The new road to this place was paved only last year. Before
that it was pretty difficult to get to Kholodniy Yar.
UNDER THE OAK OF ZALIZNYAK --------
The first “folk avengers” to showed their might in 1768. And how! Their
revolt from the forest of Kholodniy Yar turned into an entire liberation
movement called Koliyivshchyna. The shadow of a new national war engulfed
Polish landowners, who in those years owned Pravoberezhna Ukraina
(Right-bank Ukraine). But the Russian army came in time to help the Poles.
The leaders of Koliyivshchyna, Ivan Honta and Maksym Zaliznyak, were taken
as prisoners. The former of the two was executed, while the latter was sent
to Siberia, where he, according to one of the versions, participated in the
Pugachov Revolt.
The road from Kyiv to Kholoniy Yar passes through the village of Medvedivka,
where Zaliznyak was born. The etymology of the village’s name is quite
interesting. One would initially glean from it that bears were raised
(medved means ‘bear’ in Russian), but this is not the case. In fact, this
place is known for beekeeping and the name Medvedika is the combination
of the Russian words “med vedat”, which means to know about honey.
Much has remained intact in Kholodniy Yar since the years of Koliyivshchyna.
Almost in every forest clearing one can see kind of a historic memorial
sign. In the depths of the forest there is a lake, where according to the
legend the haidamaky (as the first Ukrainian partisans called themselves)
“consecrated their knifes” before the start of an insurrection. Sometimes
tourists are “admitted into the kozak army” here by drinking a large glass
of moonshine from the blade of a sword.
The Motronin Monastery is located near the lake. As legend has it, back in
the years of princedom one of the commanders of the Kyivan prince decided
to check the vigilance of the local residents in an original way. He and his
troops dressed in the attire of the Polovtsi (a Turks that were enemies of
Kyivan Rus) and came up to the forest outpost. Its protectors were on guard
and one of their arrows killed the ill-fated commander. His widow Motrya
founded a monastery on the site of her husband’s death.
Recently, the monastery was reopened and now has a totally European look
on the natural, rustic backdrop. They say that nuns of the Motronin
Monastery take baths with 24-hour running hot water.
Two kilometers from the monastery stands a huge concrete drum on the side
of the road. It is a memorial to the drum the guards beat as soon as they
noticed the enemy approaching back in the years that Zaliznyak lived. A
little ways further one can observe a miracle of nature of Kholodniy Yar — a
thousand year-old oak tree. Its trunk is so large that at least ten people
lock hands and embrace it.
Last year the local peasants noticed that the oak started drying out and
asked help from the Academy of Sciences. But the scientists ignored the
request. Meanwhile, a compassionate Canadian lady of Ukrainian origin
agreed to help them. For her money a horse, a cow and several bags of
sugar were bought and buried under the tree. This rescued the massive
oak tree.
REPUBLIC OF KHOLODNIY YAR --------
The partisan past of Kholodniy Yar was not limited solely to Koliyivshchyna.
In 1918-1922, a real republic existed here, which fought against the
Bolsheviks and white guards for the ideal of “the yellow and blue”.
The head of this republic was a local teacher by the name of Vasyl
Chuchupaka. The achievements of the Republic of Kholodniy Yar were no
less impressive than the feat of arms of Zaliznyak and the haidamaky. The
partisans on several occasions liberated Chyhyryn from the occupying
German troops. On December 31, 1919, they surprised the White Guards
under Denikin and forced them out of the city of Cherkasy.
When the rest of Ukraine was long occupied by the Bolsheviks, who were
actively fighting against the wealthy residents, the republic lived by its
own laws and rules. Naturally, such a state of affairs could not persist for
very long. Only after several thousands of the best soldiers of the
Commission for Emergency Situations, one of whose commanders was a
fellow by the name of Frunze, were sent on the personal order of Lev
Trotskiy (more commonly known as Leon) to this area, the Repubic of
Kholodniy Yar Republic ceased to exist.
Many people were shot and some of the local residents managed to flee or
continued living under invented names. Chuchupaka was true to the slogan
on the flag of the republic, which read “either freedom or death”, and shot
himself when surrounded by soldiers.
The freedom-loving spirit, which had either developed from the perception
of the vicinity of Bohdan Khmelnytskiy’s grave in the village of Subotove,
located close to Kholodniy Yar, or from the influence of the primeval
nature, still breathes to this day.
In conclusion, it should not be ruled out that if the authorities do not
supply the local villages with the long-promised gas, establish bus routes
connecting the forest settlements with other residential places in the
region and provide the local grocery stores with the necessary commodities,
then the Republic of Kholodniy Yar No. 2 could eventually be established.
Indeed, it is quite likely that somewhere in the woods there are still some
shelters where the haidamaky hid preserved from the years of Chuchupaka
or even Maksym Zaliznyak. -30-
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