"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"

"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" Year 2004, Number 57
Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC), Washington, D.C.
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net
Washington, D.C.; Kyiv, Ukraine, FRIDAY, April 9, 2004

INDEX OF ARTICLES

1. UKRAINIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM VOTE FALLS SHORT
Vote raised many questions that remain unanswered
Inside Ukraine Newsletter, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 9, 2004

2. UKRAINE'S CONSTITUTION REFORM VOTE FAILS
Breakdown by faction
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

3. UKRAINIAN PROGOVERNMENT MP'S DOWNBEAT ON
CONSTITUTION REFORM VOTE
Ukrayinska Pravda web site, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 08, 2004

4. UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON CONSTITUTION
REFORM AGAIN---SENIOR MP STEPEN HAVRYSH
Inter TV, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thursday, Apr 08, 2004

5. URBAN WARFARE GRIPS IRAQ
[Ukrainian forces failed to defend the compound and pulled out of
Kut..The rout of the Ukrainian forces underlined the weakness
of the coalition forces in most of the south.
By David Blair in Baghdad and Alec Russell and David Rennie
Telegraph, London, UK, Thursday, April 8, 2004

6. UKRAINE DENIES PEACEKEEPERS VIOLATED ORDERS IN IRAQ
ICTV television, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

7. UKRAINIAN DNIPROPETROVSK REGION MAY RECLAIM
PROPERTIES CLAIMED ILLEGALLY SOLD BY LAZARENKO
Inside Ukraine Newsletter, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 9, 2004

8. NATIONAL POLL IN UKRAINE SHOWS CITIZENS HAVE A
NEGATIVE VIEW OF THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS
Inside Ukraine Newsletter, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 9, 2004

9. USA INSISTS ON QUESTIONING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT
IN THE FUGITIVE PREMIER LOZARENKO CASE
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

10. UKRAINIAN PARTY OF BUSINESSMEN FACING SPLIT
By Oleksandr Serhiyenko, "Working Ukraine on brink of split?"
Glavred, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian, 29 Mar 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 01, 2004

11. YUSHCHENKO VOWS TO BUILD LAW-GOVERNED DEMOCRACY
IN UKRAINE IF ELECTED PRESIDENT
Interview with Viktor Yushchenko
Andry Mykselyuk and Dmytro Honhalskyy
Halytski Kontrakty, Kiev, in Ukrainian 29 Mar 04; p 32-34
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 01, 2004

12. GENOCIDES HELPED MAKE 20TH CENTURY BLOODIEST EVER"
U.N. Secretary-General Warns of Another Possible Genocide in Western Sudan
REUTERS, Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, April 7, 2004

13. THE EASTER SERMON OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Pastoral Witness
Website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
South Bound Brook, New Jersey, April, 2004
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57 ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
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1. UKRAINIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM VOTE UNSUCCESSFUL
Vote raised many questions that remain unanswered

Inside Ukraine Newsletter, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 9, 2004

KYIV - At the end of lengthy floor debate and back room maneuvering, the
Verkhovna Rada Thursday voted Thursday on a constitutional reform package,
but the measure drew only 294 yeas, six votes short of a constitutional
majority. The vote left opponents of the measure elated and proponents with
no clear picture of what next step, if any, may be available.

The entire plenary session of the Rada was devoted to a heated debate on the
measure that had already passed the Rada by a simple majority, was later
cleared by the Constitutional Court, and required only a vote of 300
deputies to become a part of the constitution.

The Rada's discussion early in the day transformed into a heated and
protracted debate between the two extremes on the bill, i.e. former Prime
Minister Viktor Yushchenko's 'Our Ukraine' bloc and the Yulia Tymoshenko
bloc on one side and the Communists on the other.

However, as the debate raged on, it was clear that the 20-member Socialist
faction headed by Oleksandr Moroz held the deciding vote margin. For his
part, Moroz insisted that the Socialists would only support the measure if
an amended version were voted.

A 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. lunch break in the Rada session was used to hold an
all-factions meeting to attempt to broker an acceptable compromise. Finally,
an agreement was reached on supplementing the court-approved version of
the bill with a specific provision meeting the demands of Moroz that the
constitutional reforms, if approved, would come into effect only after the
2004 presidential elections.

When the final vote showed that the bill had come up short of the required
constitutional majority, the parliament hall was a scene of opposition
jubilation. However, many observers are questioning the real motives of
President Leonid Kuchma, since some of his closest political associates,
including Oleksandr Volkov and both Leonid and Andriy Derkach, did not
cast any vote, yea or nay, on the measure that was theoretically a major
presidential initiative.

Also, in formal terms the bill on the constitutional amendments, registered
as Rada document #4501, was not voted on. Instead a version slightly altered
to meet the demands of Moroz was the one actually voted. Thus, some of the
more radical proponents of the constitutional reforms are claiming that it
may be possible to bring the original version up for another vote. Of
course, that would again raise the Moroz issue, since the original version
does not carry the amendment Moroz continues to demand.

Some skeptical observers believe that the Thursday vote may have been a
well-planned ruse that would now allow Kuchma to use the failed reforms as
a pretext to a run for a third presidential term, something he had
vociferously disavowed prior to Thursday's vote.

At the end of Thursday's session, there appeared to be a consensus that the
constitutional reforms are probably dead, at least for the near-term future.

However, just which names may appear on this year's presidential ballot,
especially from the pro-presidential forces, eems considerably less certain.
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57 ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
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2. UKRAINE'S CONSTITUTION REFORM VOTE FAILS
Breakdown by faction

UNIAN news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

KIEV - The Ukrainian parliament has failed to approve a bill on amending the
constitution of Ukraine. A total of 294 out of 307 members of parliament
registered in the session hall supported the bill [a two-thirds majority of
300 votes was needed].

The breakdown by faction looks as follows:

Regions of Ukraine - 61 out of 68 MPs voted in favour of the bill,
Communist Party - 58 out of 59,
Working Ukraine and Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - 37 out of
42,
United Social Democratic Party - all 38,
Socialist Party - 19 out of 20,
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc - none,
People's Power - 17 out of 18,
Agrarian Party - 15 out of 16,
Democratic Initiatives - 16 out of 17,
People's Democratic Party - all 14,
People's Choice - 13 out of 14,
Six out of 24 unaffiliated MPs voted in favour of the bill.

[None out of 100 members of opposition faction Our Ukraine voted in favour
of the bill, Radio Roks, Kiev, in Ukrainian, reported at 1530 gmt on 8 April
2004.]

[The bill significantly cuts the president's powers. Opposition leaders said
it is aimed at making the presidency irrelevant and thus prolonging the
current authorities' stay in power.] (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: 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
=========================================================
3. UKRAINIAN PROGOVERNMENT MP'S DOWNBEAT ON
CONSTITUTION REFORM VOTE

Ukrayinska Pravda web site, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

KIEV - The Supreme Council [parliament] has rejected a bill on amending the
constitution. The reform bill was supported by 294 out of 300 votes needed
to adopt it.

After the vote, the opposition MPs began singing "Ukraine is still alive"
[the Ukrainian anthem] and chanting "Yushchenko!" [Ukrainian opposition
leader].

The coordinator of the [propresidential] parliamentary majority, MP Stepan
Havrysh, described the reform's fiasco as the defeat of the authorities
rather than the victory of the opposition. "It is the fiasco of the wide
democratic coalition project [of the pro-presidential parties]," Havrysh
said.

The permanent representative of the Ukrainian president [Leonid Kuchma] in
parliament, MP Oleksandr Zadorozhniy, declined to comment. Asked what
would come next, he said that "it will get worse still".

MP Nestor Shufrych, a representative of the United Social Democratic Party
[whose leader Viktor Medvedchuk is in charge of the presidential
administration] said that "we should draw conclusions as to the stand of
certain MPs from the majority". Shufrych said that some forces from the
majority failed to implement decisions which had been reached by the
majority.

He added that some [parliamentary ID] cards failed during the vote. "During
the vote we could see some cards work, but during the vote we did not," [as
published], he added. Shufrych did not rule out that the bill could be put
to vote again after parliament makes a decision to this effect.

[The Ukrainian opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, called the outcome of
the vote "one of the first victories of the democratic forces in this
parliament", according to Interfax-Ukraine, Kiev, in Russian, 1607 gmt]

[The opposition believes that the proposed reform, coming just months ahead
of the October presidential election which Yushchenko is likely to win, is
aimed at making the presidency irrelevant.] (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
Major Articles About What is Going on in Ukraine
Current Events Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/events/index.htm
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4. UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON CONSTITUTION
REFORM AGAIN---SENIOR MP STEPEN HAVRYSH

Inter TV, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

KIEV -The failure of the controversial constitution reform bill, cutting
powers of the new Ukrainian president, in parliament on 8 April, has been
the matter misunderstanding, the coordinator of the propresidential
parliamentary majority, Stepan Havrysh, said.

Appearing live on Ukrainian TV, Havrysh said that constitution reform bill
was rejected the parliament speaker had put to vote a wrong draft law. Now
parliament should consider voting on proposed amendments to the constitution
again, Havrysh said.

The following is the text of Havrysh's interview with Ukrainian Inter TV on
8 April:

[Presenter] The coordinator of the [propresidential] parliamentary majority,
MP Stepan Havrysh, is the guest of our programme today. So 294 MPs [out of
the required minimum of 300] supported constitution reform today. What does
this mean? Defeat for the parliamentary majority?

[Havrysh] We should not make a tragedy of this. I believe that at issue is a
phantasmagorical misunderstanding. I would like all viewers to recall that
an ad hoc special commission, which was authorized by parliament to prepare
the draft law, has developed it and submit it to the session hall. I mean,
this draft law. It is called the law of Ukraine "On amending the
Constitution of Ukraine" No 4105. This is very important for the
understanding of the further events.

Accordingly, the Supreme Council [parliament] was expected to vote on the
draft law which had been approved by the Constitutional Court, and it took
300 votes to adopt this law. Yesterday, we adopted a resolution obliging to
vote on the law on amending the constitution on 8 April, in accordance with
the constitution and this resolution, or without considering the
parliamentary procedure. In this resolution we reflected a very important
point that during the debate on the draft law, no addenda or exclusions are
accepted.

Today, the coordinating council agreed with the proposal of [Ukrainian
Socialist leader] Oleksandr Moroz on introducing an addendum to draft law
4105. We agreed with this and consulted the Constitutional Court. It seemed
that it took just amending the resolution on which we had voted yesterday
because parliament was not authorized to introduce any changes without
amending this resolution. But this is not so important either.

At 1828 [1528 gmt], the speaker announced that 307 MPs were registered in
the session hall. Perhaps, these were the MPs who had to vote for this law.
He put to vote the law which had not been discussed by the ad hoc special
commission, which has no relation to the draft law approved by the
Constitutional Court, which had a different number.

I am quoting the text of the transcript which I received before coming to
the studio, which has the following passage: "I am putting to vote,
attention please, [a resolution] on adopting as a whole the draft law on
amending the constitution of Ukraine with clarification of the amendments to
the constitution of Ukraine as described in the law of Ukraine of 8 April
2004 No 1674-4 on amending the constitution of Ukraine, which comes into
force on the first day in office of the president of Ukraine elected at the
coming election of 2004. Please vote."

So, esteemed viewers, the Supreme Council today voted on an unknown,
unregistered in parliament, draft law which had not been approved by the
Constitutional Court, which has a different number. So this is probably
where this figure 294 comes from, because many MPs who intended to support
this draft law and who were accustomed to hearing about 4105 did not vote
for it. And they were right.

[Presenter] So are you implying that 294 - all Socialists, all Communists
who supported this law and the majority - what happened to the majority?

[Havrysh] It was the result of emotion. We could not hear the number of this
draft law, we could hear amending the constitution. Well you know, it was on
the spur of the moment when an emotion dominates which, to a certain degree,
causes an appropriate reaction. Just like it was last time, when there was a
bug in the Rada system [voting system in parliament], but today human nerves
just failed.

[Presenter] Mr Havrysh, what are you going to do next?

[Havrysh] I think it is very simple. We should put to vote draft law 4105 on
amending the constitution in accordance to the draft law which was approved
by the Constitutional Court earlier.

[Presenter] When?

[Havrysh] It could be tomorrow, or the next parliamentary week. The
procedure committee and the coordinating council of the Supreme Council of
Ukraine should set the date. I think that the stand is absolutely clear and
the draft law should be put to vote in parliament. (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
Exciting Opportunities in Ukraine for Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism Gallery: http://www.ArtUkraine.com/tourgallery.htm
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5. URBAN WARFARE GRIPS IRAQ

[Ukrainian forces failed to defend the compound and pulled
out of Kut...The rout of the Ukrainian forces underlined
the weakness of the coalition forces in most of the south.]

By David Blair in Baghdad and Alec Russell and David Rennie
Telegraph, London, UK, April 8, 2004

LONDON- America abandoned restraint in Iraq yesterday and launched an
all-out attempt to impose its will on the country, bombing a mosque compound
and promising to destroy the militia of the rebel Shia leader, Moqtada
al-Sadr.

In the heaviest fighting since the fall of Saddam Hussein a year ago, US
forces dropped two 500lb bombs and fired rockets on a mosque in Fallujah,
the centre of the Sunni insurgency against the occupation. Iraqis said that
at least 25 people had died, raising fears of an explosion of anger in the
Muslim world.

Last night there were signs of the trouble spreading north when police in
Kirkuk reported that 13 people had been killed and 20 wounded by American
soldiers in a battle that erupted during demonstrations against the bombing
of the mosque. US commanders said the bombs were dropped after insurgents
took refuge in the mosque compound.

Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt said in Baghdad: "My understanding is that we went
after insurgents who were hiding behind the outer wall, not the mosque
itself."

He said that mosques were generally protected from assault but that the
rules of engagement permitted US forces to return fire if they came under
attack.

"I understand there was a large casualty toll taken by the enemy, who were
abusing that mosque and everything it stood for. When you start using a
religious location for military purposes, it loses its protected status."
Donald Rumsfeld insists the unrest in Iraq is just a 'power play'

The attack was launched on the fourth day of the intensifying conflict, with
coalition forces fighting on two fronts against Sunnis and Shi'ites and as
new flashpoints flared across the country.

President George W Bush spoke to Tony Blair about the upsurge of fighting
before their talks next week as their opponents pressed them to clarify
their plans to hand over sovereignty to Iraq on June 30. But officials in
Washington and London insisted there was no crisis.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, said coalition forces faced a
"serious" problem but played down the scale of the insurgency. "The stakes
are high," he said. But he insisted that the unrest was a "power play" by a
small number of "increasingly desperate terrorists". While the fighting
worsened in Fallujah and Ramadi, west of Baghdad, the coalition effectively
surrendered a provincial capital to gunmen loyal to Sadr.

The Coalition Provisional Authority's headquarters in the city of Kut, 100
miles south-east of Baghdad, was evacuated under heavy fire from Sadr's
militia. Thirteen Britons were among those who fled as a South African
security contractor was killed.

Ukrainian forces failed to defend the compound and pulled out of Kut.
Previously, only Iraqi policemen had abandoned their positions under attack
from Sadr's Mahdi army.

The rout of the Ukrainian forces underlined the weakness of the coalition
forces in most of the south. Coalition sources said the allied armies were
not in a position to confront Sadr's militia except in Baghdad.

But Gen Kimmitt was confident. He said: "The coalition and Iraqi security
forces will continue deliberate, precise and powerful offensive operations
to destroy the Mahdi army throughout Iraq." Sadr should "turn himself in".

The biggest of the offensives was on Sunni insurgents in Fallujah and
Ramadi. About 2,000 soldiers from 1st Marine Expeditionary Force were
engaged in house-to-house fighting. In Ramadi, where 12 American marines
were killed on Tuesday, mosques broadcast calls for a holy war against the
troops.

Operation Vigilant Resolve, the offensive against gunmen responsible for
daily attacks on US forces, has now claimed at least 150 Iraqi lives. More
than 30 American soldiers have been killed on the two fronts since the
weekend.

The attack on the mosque was launched by a jet fighter and a helicopter
gunship. They struck the compound after worshippers had gathered for
afternoon prayers.

The Americans said that gunmen in the mosque had destroyed a Humvee vehicle
with a rocket-propelled grenade, wounding five marines. Lt-Col Brennan
Byrne, the commander of 1st Bn 5th Marine Regiment, said his men had now
pressed into the centre of Fallujah.

The 250,000 people of the city are running short of food. A local doctor
said that 16 children and eight women had been killed in an air strike on
houses on Tuesday. A huge area of western Iraq has been sealed off, with
the highway linking Baghdad with the Jordanian capital, Amman, closed to all
traffic. An American helicopter was shot down in Baquba, 20 miles north-east
of Baghdad, and a British civilian contractor, Gary Teeley, was kidnapped in
the southern town of Nasiriyah. (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: 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. UKRAINE DENIES PEACEKEEPERS VIOLATED ORDERS IN IRAQ

ICTV television, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

KIEV -[Presenter] In Kiev today, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn
Hryshchenko and military personnel denied a report by British journalists
[published by the Daily Telegraph on 8 April] that Ukrainian peacekeepers
allegedly violated an order when they left [the Iraqi town of] Al Kut.

Ukrainian servicemen are on a peacekeeping mission in Iraq, guarding
civilians and representatives of international organizations. This mission
does not envisage combat operations, which is why the Ukrainians have only
light arms. The Ukrainian contingent is not based in the town itself but at
the base Delta outside Al Kut.

The Ukrainians guarded a bridge over the river Tigris, a TV centre and the
mayor's office. For that reason, when the first attacks of rebels were
repelled, the commanders decided to leave the town and to evacuate 37 civil
administration staff.

Ukrainian servicemen had no order to hold Al Kut. All of them are currently
at places of their permanent deployment, that is, at the base camp at the
Delta base in the town of Al Suwayrah and at the base of the Arafat check
point on the Iranian border.

[Oleh Syvushenko, captioned as deputy chief of the General Staff of the
Ukrainian armed forces] There was no order for the Ukrainian contingent to
hold the town. How can one violate something that did not exist? An
incompetent individual who is not familiar with military terms wrote that.
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: 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 DNIPROPETROVSK REGION MAY RECLAIM
PROPERTIES CLAIMED ILLEGALLY SOLD BY LAZARENKO

Inside Ukraine Newsletter, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 9, 2004

KYIV - A recent session of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council approved a
resolution that could return to region ownership several buildings in the
center of Dnipropetrovsk city that the region alleges were illegally sold to
United States' firms at the behest of Pavlo Lazarenko, the former prime
minister now on trial in the United States.

Regional Prosecutor General Serhiy Sorokhin claimed that the order to sell
the buildings was illegal and therefore the sales should be consider null
and void. Sorokhin also said that the multi-story buildings had been resold
or let for rent and that all revenues obtained were transferred to the
United States' firms that had been allowed to illegally acquire the
properties.

The regional council has canceled the ruling by the former deputy chairman
of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council that permitted the outright sale of
the properties and regional officials expect that in the near future those
building subject to action by the regional prosecutor general will be
returned to the ownership of the region.

Sorokhin claimed that there is no connection between his action and the
Lazarenko trial in California on money-laundering and other charges. (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: 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. NATIONAL POLL IN UKRAINE SHOWS CITIZENS HAVE A
NEGATIVE VIEW OF THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS

Inside Ukraine Newsletter, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 9, 2004

KYIV - A recent public opinion poll conducted by the National Academy
of Sciences Sociology Institute showed that most Ukrainians have a negative
view of their ability to protect their rights.

One poll question asked, "What is the extent of your agreement with the
following statement: I have a possibility to defend my rights, honor and
dignity as a person and citizen."

Of the 1,800 poll respondents in all areas of Ukraine, only 2 percent said
they completely agreed with the statement. Another 7 percent were inclined
to agree with the statement. About 30 percent had no opinion on the issue.

Some 25 percent of respondents said they were inclined to disagree with the
statement, and the largest number of respondents, 36 percent, said they
disagreed with the statement. (END)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: 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. USA INSISTS ON QUESTIONING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT
IN FUGITIVE PREMIER LOZARENKO CASE

TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine in Ukrainian, 8 Apr 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 08, 2004

KIEV - The USA insists that Ukrainian President [Leonid] Kuchma, Defence
Minister [Yevhen] Marchuk and First Deputy Prime Minister [Mykola] Azarov
be questioned as witnesses in the case of [fugitive former Ukrainian Prime
Minister] Pavlo Lazarenko [who is facing trial in the USA on money
laundering charges].

The US court instructed the [US] prosecutor's office to send a repeat
official request to Ukraine. The USA had already asked the [Ukrainian]
Prosecutor-General's Office to question Ukrainian officials but received no
reply.

Businessman [and Lazarenko's former business partner] Petro Kyrychenko
appeared in court in San Francisco yesterday. He is the main witness for the
prosecution. Kyrychenko said that when Lazarenko was head of the
Dnipropetrovsk regional state administration he demanded that businessmen
give half of their profits to him.

The USA charges Lazarenko with laundering 14m dollars through US banks.
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57 ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
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10. UKRAINIAN PARTY OF BUSINESSMEN FACING SPLIT

By Oleksandr Serhiyenko, "Working Ukraine on brink of split?"
Glavred, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian, 29 Mar 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 01, 2004

Shifting alliances within Working Ukraine mean that the party is heading for
a split, a Ukrainian web site has said. The party of big business has close
personal links with President Leonid Kuchma's family. The quarrel between
Kuchma's son-in-law, Viktor Pinchuk, and media magnate Andriy Derkach is
irreconcilable, while bringing in National Bank Chairman Serhiy Tyhypko as a
conciliatory party chairman has failed, according to the web site.

The following is the text of the article by Oleksandr Serhiyenko entitled
"Working Ukraine on brink of split?" published on the Ukrainian web site
Glavred on 29 March; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

The Working Ukraine party has recently been invigorating its activity. Until
recently the press was speaking about individual politicians from the party
(Viktor Pinchuk, Serhiy Tyhypko, Andriy Derkach, Ihor Sharov). Now the party
has decided to remind people of its existence and potential. By a decision
of the party leadership, seminar conferences are being held in Ukraine for
regional activists, not only discussing problems of the current political
situation, but also providing training regarding the organization and
functioning of election headquarters. It is not yet entirely clear what the
party is preparing for.

It may be that the activists are learning how to create headquarters for the
2006 parliamentary elections (prepare your sledge in summer, as the saying
goes). Or maybe for the [presidential] 2004 elections? Not for nothing is
there talk in the political milieu about the possible candidacy for the
highest state post in Ukraine of the leader of Working Ukraine, Serhiy
Tyhypko.

"-----------------------------------------------------------"

NOTE: To read the entire article click on:
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/working_ukraine.htm
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
The Rich History of Ukrainian Art, Music, Pysanky, Folk-Art
Arts Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/artgallery.htm
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11. YUSHCHENKO VOWS TO BUILD LAW-GOVERNED DEMOCRACY
IN UKRAINE IF ELECTED PRESIDENT

Interview with Viktor Yushchenko
Andry Mykselyuk and Dmytro Honhalskyy
Halytski Kontrakty, Kiev, in Ukrainian 29 Mar 04; p 32-34
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Apr 01, 2004

Our Ukraine opposition bloc leader Viktor Yushchenko has promised to create
a healthy business environment and to eradicate corruption if he is elected
president in October 2004. Speaking to a business weekly, Yushchenko
described the ongoing political reform in Ukraine as an attempt at a coup
d'etat, adding it would fail.

Yushchenko urged the unity of Ukraine's democratic forces and criticized the
Socialists for backing the political reform bill developed by the
presidential administration. Yushchenko accused the cabinet of concealing
budget revenues and complicating VAT refund procedures for exporters.

The following is the text of Yushchenko's interview with journalists Andriy
Mykselyuk and Dmytro Honhalskyy, entitled "Viktor Yushchenko: 'There
will be no redistribution of property'" and published in the Halytski
Kontrakty weekly on 29 March; subheadings inserted editorially:

In his interview to Halytski Kontrakty, Yushchenko has first ever revealed
his steps as the president in case he wins the election.

All opinion polls show that Yushchenko is standing the highest chance of
winning the presidential election in October this year. The polls also show
a gradual narrowing of the gap between Yushchenko and the candidate from the
authorities (voters believe it will be Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovych).

However, Yushchenko himself does not view Yanukovych as the main threat to
his future as the president and is preparing a presentation of his strategic
state development project after October 2004.

"-------------------------------------------------------------"

NOTE: To read the entire interview with Vickor Yushchenko click on:
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/yushchenko27.htm
==========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
The Genocidal Famine in Ukraine 1932-1933, HOLODOMOR
Genocide Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/index.htm
==========================================================
12. "GENOCIDES HELPED MAKE 20TH CENTURY BLOODIEST EVER"
U.N. Secretary-General Warns of Another Possible Genocide in Western Sudan

REUTERS, Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, April 7, 2004

GENEVA - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday warned
of another possible genocide in western Sudan as he marked the tenth
anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, in which 800,000 people died.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court -- the only permanent global
court capable of trying those accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes
against humanity -- said genocide has helped make the 20th century the
bloodiest in history.

Below is a partial list of genocides -- defined as the systematic and
planned extermination of a national, racial, religious or ethnic group --
plus acts of mass political slaughter committed in the 20th century.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE - 1915-1923: About 1.5 million killed

FORMER SOVIET UNION - 1918-1921, 1930-1938: About
100-200,000 Jews killed, five million Ukrainians, 14-15 million peasants,
and three million "enemies of the people"

HOLOCAUST - 1941-1945: Six million Jews killed plus five million
others including Gypsies, Poles and homosexuals

INDONESIA - 1965-1966, 1972, 1999: About 500,000 killed in
Indonesia; 200-300,000 killed in East Timor

BURUNDI - 1972: 100,000-200,000 Hutu killed in ethnic violence

CAMBODIA - 1975-1979: One- to three million killed

IRAQ - 1987-1988: About 100,000 Kurds killed

BOSNIA - 1992-1995: About 200,000 killed

RWANDA - 1994: About 800,000 killed

SUDAN - Ongoing: About two million killed since 1983

CONGO - Ongoing: About 3.5 million killed in past four years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Sources: International Criminal Court, www.endgenocide.org.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4777900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The www.endgenocide.org website belongs to The Campaign to End
Genocide, an initiative of the World Federalist Association. The
information used in the Reuters article about the Soviet Union can be found
at: http://www.endgenocide.org/genocide/soviet.html.
==========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-2004, No. 57: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
The Genocidal Famine in Ukraine 1932-1933, HOLODOMOR
Genocide Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/index.htm
==========================================================
13. THE EASTER SERMON OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Pastoral Witness,
Website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
South Bound Brook, New Jersey, April, 2004

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America
http://www.uocofusa.org/reflections/episcopal/index.shtml
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