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Action Ukraine Report

"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 04, Number 83
Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC), Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA), Huntingdon Valley, PA
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net
Washington, D.C.; Kyiv, Ukraine, WEDNESDAY, May 19, 2004

INDEX OF ARTICLES
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"

1. EUROPEAN UNION COURTS NEW NEIGHBOUR UKRAINE
Brussels takes bold steps to strengthen ties with Ukraine
The election campaign will be a delicate issue.
Lewis Crofts, EUpolitix.com, Brussels, Belgium, Tues, May 18, 2004

2. PM YANUKOVYCH SURPRISED AT THE EU'S POSITION
REGARDING UKRAINE'S RIGHT TO INTEGRATE INTO EU
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian, 8 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

3. UKRAINE HOPEFUL OF GAINING MARKET ECONOMY
STATUS FROM EUROPEAN UNION
EU Commission President Prodi said an agreement was close.
Associated Press Worldstream, Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2004

4. UKRAINE-EU RELATIONS: PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE
Speech by Janez Potocnik, Member of the European Commission
Ukraine-EU Relations: Prospects for the Future
EPC Dialogue, Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, 8 May 2004
Communiques de Presse, www.europa.eu.int

5. EX-PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TO VISIT UKRAINE
ON FRIDAY, 21 MAY
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian, 18 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

6. THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY IN UKRAINE
BBC Monitoring Research ServiceUK, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

7. U.S. CONCERNED POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT OF UKRAINE'S DANUBE DELTA CANAL PROJECT
Press Statement, Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC, Monday, May 17, 2004

8. UKRAINE: 100,000 PEACEFULLY COMMEMORATE
CRIMEAN TATAR DEPORTATION IN 1944 BY STALIN
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 18 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

9. CHURCH: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD SAYS
TOO EARLY FOR POPE TO VISIT MOSCOW
Expansionist attitude of the Roman Catholic Church especially in Ukraine
Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian, 18 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

10. ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI: UKRAINE IS NEITHER A PAWN NOR
A QUEEN BUT A VERY IMPORTANT FIGURE"
Brzezinski Interview by Viktor Zamyatin, The Day
The Day Weekly Digest in English, Kyiv, Tuesday, May 18, 2004
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83 ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
========================================================
1. EUROPEAN UNION COURTS NEW NEIGHBOUR UKRAINE
Brussels takes bold steps to strengthen ties with Ukraine
The election campaign will be a delicate issue.

Lewis Crofts, EUpolitix.com, Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

BRUSSELS - A fortnight after Europe's historic enlargement, Brussels has
taken bold steps towards strengthening ties with its new Slavic neighbour
Ukraine.

Kiev is far from being the perfect partner for the new Europe, but Brussels
is focussed on exerting positive pressure on the central European behemoth
beset by reports of corruption and malfunctioning democracy.

"We didn't organise enlargement just to move the Iron Curtain a few metres
east," said European Commission president Romano Prodi at a press
conference.

"We are serious with our neighbourhood policy vis-à-vis Ukraine," he added.

Kiev is currently pushing for the Holy Grail of trade policy - the
designation of 'market economy status'. Brussels has so far been reluctant,
Prodi citing pricing and bankruptcy levels as the contentious points.

Ukrainian premier Viktor Yanikovich reacted strongly, branding it an
"outdated problem". "Many problems named today have already been solved,"
he told journalists in Brussels. "This issue must be solved during the
summit," he added, referring to June's EU-Ukraine summit.

Other sticking points to be addressed at the summit cover trade in steel and
grain, visas and policing Europe's new borders.

Prodi also sought to remind Yanikovich of the importance of democracy in
Ukraine's upcoming elections. The Organisation of Security and Cooperation
in Europe has long had its eye on transparency in Ukrainian elections as
well as the sometimes brutal treatment of the media.

"The election campaign will be a delicate issue," said Prodi. "We hope it
will be transparent and democratic with the appropriate use of media." (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
The Genocidal Famine in Ukraine 1932-1933, HOLODOMOR
Genocide Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/index.htm
=========================================================
2. PM YANUKOVYCH SURPRISED AT THE EU'S POSITION
REGARDING UKRAINE'S RIGHT TO INTEGRATE INTO EU

Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian, 8 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

BRUSSELS - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is surprised
at the European Union's position regarding the recognition of Ukraine's
right to integrate into the EU.

"I don't understand another thing: why can't the European Union confirm
politically what has already been stipulated in the EU's fundamental
documents, namely the right of any European country to obtain membership of
the EU," the Ukrainian head of government said, speaking at the conference
"Ukraine-EU: future prospects" in Brussels on Tuesday [18 May].

Yanukovych noted that Ukraine did not make a tragedy out of the fact that it
found itself in a new geopolitical and geoeconomic situation following EU
enlargement. "We make no tragedy out of our failure to get in on the current
European integration wave. It is regrettable, but it is not a tragedy. It
simply pushes us towards searching for a new model of our European
integration strategy," the Ukrainian prime minister said.

He also noted that Ukraine's main strategic aim is to raise the living
standards of its citizens to the European level regardless of whether
Ukraine becomes an EU member or not. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: 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. UKRAINE HOPEFUL OF GAINING MARKET ECONOMY
STATUS FROM EUROPEAN UNION
EU Commission President Prodi said an agreement was close.

Associated Press Worldstream, Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2004

BRUSSELS - Ukraine's prime minister said Tuesday he was confident the
European Union would soon grant his country market economy status, a key
step for it to be considered for membership of the World Trade Organization,
and perhaps the EU.

"These are outdated problems," Viktor Yanukovych told reporters after
meeting EU officials. He suggested the decision could come in the next two
months.

EU Commission President Romano Prodi also said an agreement was close,
saying only problems concerning pricing and Ukraine's bankruptcy laws were
holding up the decision.

"I am really confident that we'll arrive at this goal very, very soon, no
other problem on the table," Prodi said.

Yanukovych said his government was working to bring the country's laws
closer to EU standards. Although the EU is wary about Ukraine's prospects of
joining the bloc, the Ukrainian government hopes to be ready to enter in
2011.

During a visit to Brussels, Yanukovych also visited NATO headquarters where
he requested help dealing with stockpiles of munitions like those that
exploded earlier this month near the town of Melitopol killing one, forcing
the evacuation of thousands of homes and causing damage estimated at US$480
million.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer encouraged Yanukovych to
press ahead with reforms of Ukraine's armed forces. He also stressed the
need for strong democratic standards and media freedom.

On a lighter note, de Hoop Scheffer congratulated Ukraine on the victory of
its singer Ruslana in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest. (pa) (END)
========================================================
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
Major Articles About What is Going on in Ukraine
Current Events Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/events/index.htm
Become a financial sponsor of The Action Ukraine Program Fund
========================================================
4. UKRAINE-EU RELATIONS: PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

Speech by Janez Potocnik, Member of the European Commission
Ukraine-EU Relations: Prospects for the Future
EPC Dialogue, Brussels, Belgium, 18 May 2004
Communiques de Presse, www.europa.eu.int

Prime Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be with you tonight at the heart of the
Brussels think tanks. I would like to congratulate Fraser Cameron for the
excellent timing for this dialogue:

So shortly after the EU enlargement - which will change the EU more
than most of us imagine;

Less than a week after the European Commission presented its strategy
on its new neighbourhood policy;

And only 2 days after Ukraine won so admirably the European song
contest - which is probably the most popular European festival, if not
for its music then certainly for its truly European dimension.

Before sharing with you my thoughts on European Neighbourhood Policy and
what it means for the relations between the EU and the Ukraine, let me start
with a few words on the present enlargement.

The enlargement we have prepared for over the last years - and celebrated
over the last days - brings the EU back to its roots as a political project.
We all know how today's European Union has started: After two world wars,
which began in Sarajevo and in Gleiwitz, this visionary and at the same time
very practical project was launched of putting under a common,
supra-national control those economic sectors which were at the basis for
last century's wars.

With time and the tremendous success of this European integration model, the
political nature of the project tended to be forgotten: The Single Market -
with its important social and "sustainability" components - was the most
visible "raison d'être" of the EU.

And of course, the current enlargement brings considerable economic
opportunities for all. It is no surprise and no coincidence that throughout
the process, economic and business leaders were among the staunchest
defenders of the enlargement process.

But more important than its economic benefits, this enlargement brings the
political nature of EU integration back to the heart of its policies. Just
think of the importance of the political criteria in the accession process
an accession process which is not over: We have a very clear target for
Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU in 2007. We have a very clear
"rendez-vous" for an assessment of Turkeys compliance with the political
criteria and as a consequence, a recommendation whether or not negotiations
can be started.

We also have a very clear and positive Commission opinion on Croatia's
application for membership, which is on the agenda of the June European
Council. Finally, the EU has made it very clear that the remaining countries
in the Western Balkans will become an integral part of the EU once they meet
the established criteria.

The new Neighbourhood Policy is another important element of this
recognition of the EU's political nature which I wholeheartedly welcome.

EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY

Ladies and gentlemen, what is the European Neighbourhood Policy formerly
known as 'Wider Europe'? Where does it come from? Where will it lead us?
Clearly, European Neighbourhood Policy is a response to EU enlargement.

We need to avoid new dividing lines. Ukraine is a perfect example. Poland's,
Slovakia's, Hungary's and Romania's integration into the EU should not and
must not lead to a weakening of the traditional relations. Quite the
contrary. Thorough knowledge and historical experience of the region and its
peoples means our new members can play a key role in strengthening the EU's
relations with the countries further east.

Therefore, the first and foremost policy aim is to strengthen substantially
the relationship with the neighbours of the enlarged EU. The European
Neighbourhood Policy is a top foreign policy priority for the European
Commission. It signals substantially increased attention being paid to the
Union's neighbours. And, it covers the entire breadth of our relations with
partners:

political cooperation, including democracy and human rights, political
dialogue, fight against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction,
conflict resolution economic cooperation, including economic reform,
trade, progressive integration into the EU internal market, justice and
home affairs, infrastructure networks, people-to-people contacts,
cross-border and regional cooperation and associated EU assistance.

Two fundamental principles underlie this policy: joint ownership and
differentiation among partners.

When President Prodi launched this initiative back in 2002, it raised
considerable interest within the EU and among partners. Being a new
initiative, it has also led to many questions.

Inside the EU, there has been concern that this is a precursor to further
enlargements, especially to the East, and that it could endanger the
integrity of the internal market, or the security of borders.

Among partners, again especially in the East, it has sometimes raised high,
perhaps even too high expectations.

What is our answer to these questions?

Let me be very clear: European Neighbourhood Policy is distinct from the
issue of possible further enlargements. Distinct does not mean that it
excludes enlargement. My personal conviction is that we have no right to
exclude membership perspectives of a European State, neither morally nor
legally. However, let me be equally clear, the European Neighbourhood Policy
is distinct from "Enlargement Policy" because, currently, the question
whether these neighbour countries should also become members, is rightly not
on the table.

Let me add one more point before addressing more specifically our relations
with Ukraine.

Is this project of European Neighbourhood Policy credible?

For those who, like me, think that mankind does not fundamentally change and
will always keep its potential for wonderful acts of "fraternité", but will
also always be capable of being "homo homini lupus", well to those I would
say:

Yes, it is credible, not just because it comes from the EU, the unique and
certainly best of all Unions, but because it is in the EU's enlightened
self-interest: Its own expanded area of freedom, stability and prosperity
cannot be safeguarded unless this is projected to its neighbours.

EU-UKRAINE RELATIONS

Our Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which was signed in 1994 and
entered into force in 1998, is and remains a sound contractual basis for our
cooperation for the short- to medium-term future. The full potential of this
agreement has not yet been realised.

The European Neighbourhood Policy will help us to further reinforce
EU-Ukraine relations:

Within this framework, we will define a more focused policy approach towards
Ukraine, bringing together the principle instruments at the disposal of the
Union and its Member States;

We will upgrade the scope and intensity of political cooperation with
Ukraine;

Most importantly, European Neighbourhood Policy provides the perspective for
Ukraine to move beyond cooperation to a significant degree of integration,
including though a state in the EU Internal Market.

How shall we proceed in practical terms ?

We are now elaborating together an Action Plan. We should be in a position
to finalise our consultations by July for the EU-Ukraine summit. This plan
will lay down a sequence of concrete steps. Let me give you some example of
what we have in mind:

[1] further strengthening the stability and effectiveness of
institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law
[2] ensuring respect for the freedom of the media and freedom of
expression;
[3] removal of import and export restrictions that impede bilateral
trade and implementation of regulatory reforms in preparation for WTO
accession;
[4] deepening trade and economic relations, including review of the
feasibility of the establishment of an FTA following Ukraine's
accession to the WTO;
[5] improving the investment climate, through non-discriminatory,
transparent and predictable business conditions and by the fight
against corruption;

Then it comes to implementation of the agreed measures. That is the hard
part. But clearly, a closer EU-Ukraine relationship will also have to
reflect further progress in the reform process. An important moment for us
will be the Presidential elections later this year. They need to comply with
democratic standards, to which we have both committed.

The freedom of the media must be respected. The Neighbourhood Action Plan
will be an important instrument for cooperation. On its side, the EU is
ready to provide support and assistance.

Taking into account further progress on implementation, we can then, with
time, address the question of a possible new level of contractual relations.

Let me conclude:

EU enlargement will not only benefit the Union as a whole and those
states which have just acceded or will soon be acceding to the Union.
It will also benefit our neighbours. Increased prosperity in an
enlarged Union, based on the rule of law and well-functioning, open
market economies will generate opportunities for trade, investment and
economic cooperation.

These opportunities are first and foremost for our neighbours: The EU
is now Ukraine's biggest trading partner. Ukraine is in a good position
to take advantage of the single market of 450 million people.
Approximating to EU standards and legislation in key sectors will
facilitate this.

Neighbourhood policy is distinct from enlargement. It neither leads to
enlargement, nor rules it out at some future point. For the time being
the accession is not on our agenda.

Within the neighbourhood policy, we can move beyond cooperation to a
significant degree of integration, including though a state in the EU
Internal Market. Thank you for your attention. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
Exciting Opportunities in Ukraine: Travel and Tourism Gallery
http://www.ArtUkraine.com/tourgallery.htm
==========================================================
5. EX-PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TO VISIT UKRAINE
ON FRIDAY, 21 MAY

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian, 18 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, May 18, 2004

KIEV - The former US president, George Bush Senior, will pay a private
visit to Ukraine on 21 May, the US embassy has told ITAR-TASS.

According to preliminary information, the father of the current president
was invited to visit Kiev by one of the most powerful figures in Ukrainian
business, Viktor Pinchuk. [Pinchuk, a Member of Parliament , industrialist
and media mogul, is the son-in-law of President Leonid Kuchma.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: According to the latest information available from reliable
sources President George Herbert Walker Bush will be meeting in Kyiv
with President Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and
MP Viktor Pinchuk. Bush will not be meeting with Viktor Yushchenko
we were told.
===========================================================
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
The Story of Ukraine's Long and Rich Culture
Ukrainian Culture Gallery: http://www.ArtUkraine.com/cultgallery.htm
===========================================================
6. THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY IN UKRAINE

BBC Monitoring Research ServiceUK, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

KYIV - Ukraine has a vibrant and politically diverse newspaper industry,
which contrasts sharply with the country's TV and radio sectors.

An explosion of new national and regional titles in the past 10 years has
largely supplanted the Russian papers, which dominated Ukraine's market
until independence in 1991.

But economic hardships and Ukrainians' disappointment in politics after a
decade of stalled reforms have left the papers with plummeting circulation
figures and a sea of red ink on the balance sheets.

Although the leading tabloids claim to be selling up to a million copies a
day, the figures are thought to be exaggerated. Some of the most influential
weeklies have a circulation of fewer than 50,000 copies. Many titles are
believed to be kept afloat by their wealthy owners, who put up with the
losses for the sake of political influence.

Although most of the industry is privately owned, publicly available
information about ownership structure is patchy, unreliable and hard to come
by. Political affiliations, on the other hand, are prominently on display,
with all but a handful of titles showing obvious preferences in favour of
one of the pro-government groupings or opposition blocs.

Newspaper journalists routinely complain of censorship and government
pressure, but the wide range of opinions represented in the national press
suggests that the printed media in Ukraine enjoy much more freedom than
television or radio.

Western Ukraine in particular has a strong tradition of critical newspaper
journalism. In other parts of the country, such as the industrialized
Donetsk region in the east, opposition papers are few and far between.

Catering to Ukraine's large Russian-speaking population, many titles have a
Ukrainian and Russian edition. Several big-selling tabloids publish only in
Russian. All major national papers are based in Kiev, but local papers also
have a lot of clout in their home regions. Many Russian tabloids have local
editions in Ukraine, but their popularity seems to be declining.

MAIN PAPERS

ZERKALO NEDELI
Based: Kiev; Founded: 1994; Circulation: 48,000
Zerkalo Nedeli is Ukraine's most influential analytical weekly. Partially
Western-funded and widely read by the Ukrainian elite, the paper is
non-partisan, but often scathingly critical of the government. It employs
high journalistic standards and offers political analysis, exclusive
interviews and opinion.

FAKTY I KOMMENTARII
Based : Kiev; Founded: 1997; Circulation: 1m
Ukraine's biggest-selling tabloid offers straight news and interviews, but
little analysis. It is controlled by President Kuchma's son-in-law and
influential businessman Viktor Pinchuk, who also owns several national TV
channels.

DEN
Based: Kiev; Founded: 1996; Circulation: 60,000
The centrist, pro-presidential broadsheet offers serious political and
economic analysis, often highly critical of the opposition. It is linked to
Defence Minister Yevhen Marchuk and edited by his wife, Larysa Ivshyna.
The paper has long been campaigning for NATO membership and closer
ties with the West.

SEGODNYA
Based: Kiev; Founded: 1997; Circulation: 700,000
The country's second-biggest tabloid is linked to the Donetsk political and
business group. It is loyal to current Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych,
who hails from Donetsk.

UKRAYINA MOLODA
Based: Kiev; Founded: n/a; Circulation: 99,000
The leading Ukrainian-language opposition daily is geared mostly towards a
young audience. It supports the reformist and pro-Western former prime
minister Viktor Yushchenko, and is sharply critical of the Kuchma
administration. It offers prompt news reporting, both domestic and
international, as well as analysis and interviews.

VECHERNIYE VESTI
Based: Kiev; Founded: 1999; Circulation: 530,000
The popular tabloid's trademarks are aggressive writing and fierce criticism
of the president and his entourage. The daily is controlled by former First
Deputy Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, who is a prominent critic of
President Kuchma.

SILSKI VISTI
Based: Kiev; Founded: 1920; Circulation: 500,000
The pro-opposition daily targets Ukraine's rural population and boasts the
largest number of subscribers. It is known for supporting Socialist leader
Oleksandr Moroz, and for sharply criticising the Kuchma administration. A
court in Kiev ordered the closure of the paper in January 2004 on the
grounds that it had published two anti-Semitic articles. Critics of the
government described this move as an attempt to muzzle the opposition media.
The paper is still publishing, pending an appeal. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
The Story of Ukraine's Long and Rich Culture
Ukrainian Culture Gallery: http://www.ArtUkraine.com/cultgallery.htm
===========================================================
7. U.S. CONCERNED POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT OF UKRAINE'S DANUBE DELTA CANAL PROJECT

Press Statement, Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC, Monday, May 17, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States is deeply concerned about
the potential substantial negative environmental impact of a proposed
shipping canal sponsored by the Government of Ukraine in the Danube
Delta region. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on May 11, 2004,
and construction has begun.

The planned route for the canal will in all likelihood cause significant
environmental destruction to an ecologically sensitive area of the Danube
Delta, the Bystre Estuary.

The area has been designated both a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere
site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance at the request of
the Government of Ukraine. As a party to these international agreements,
Ukraine is committed to preserve and protect the Danube Delta.

The biosphere region of the Danube Delta provides crucial habitat for
endangered species, vital nesting grounds for over 300 species of
migratory birds and spawning grounds that support a vital herring fishery.

The U.S. Government has urged the Government of Ukraine to conduct
the necessary impartial environmental impact assessment for the proposed
canal and to select a route that will minimize the destructive impact on the
environment, thus fulfilling its international commitments under the
environmental agreements to which it is a party. (END)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
See http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/ for all press statements.
===========================================================
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Ukraine's History and the Long Struggle for Independence
Historical Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/histgallery.htm
===========================================================
8. UKRAINE: 100,000 PEACEFULLY COMMEMORATE
CRIMEAN TATAR DEPORTATION IN 1944 BY STALIN

TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, 18 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

KIEV - [Presenter] Commemorative events are being held in Crimea to mark
the 60th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars from the
peninsula. A memorial march took place in Simferopol. The organizers had
previously warned of the possibility of acts of provocation during the
rally. Our correspondent Volodymyr Aryev is on the line with the 5 Kanal
studio. How is the rally going, Volodya?

[Correspondent] Hullo, Natalya. In fact, everything so far has been
absolutely peaceful. There have not been any incidents around the venue of
the rally on the central square in Simferopol, where a lot of police are
concentrated. Crimean Prime Minister Serhiy Kunitsyn said that it was
decided to use mainly Crimean Tatars employed by the Interior Ministry for
policing the event.

Really, it was absolutely quiet and peaceful, and no incidents have been
observed so far. The meeting was addressed Ukrainian MP and Majlis
[self-styled Crimean Tatar parliament] leader Mustafa Dzhemilyov, Crimean
Prime Minister Kunitsyn and the head of the [parliament] committee for
ethnic relations Hennadiy Udovenko. No representatives of the executive
power from Kiev took part in the commemorations.

Now the meeting is finishing. The participants, of whom there are estimated
to have been up to 115,000, are now dispersing in different directions.

[Presenter] Did the rally participants make any specific demands?

[Correspondent] They voiced various demands. They were mainly to give Crimea
the status of an ethnic autonomous region. In addition, they are demanding
that the Crimean Tatar language should be given the status of a state
language in Crimea. And that was really as far as they went. And one more
detail - the participants were very unhappy to receive the news from Kiev
that the parliament did not today adopt a law that would give certain
privileges to formerly deported people.

[Presenter] That was Volodymyr Aryev on the line from Simferopol. [Passage
omitted: Historical background.]

[Presenter] As Volodymyr Aryev has just said, MPs sent the law on restoring
the rights of deported people for repeat second reading. According to the
bill, deported Crimean Tatar should receive the same budget benefits as the
victims of political repression.

[Our Ukraine MP (and Majlis deputy leader) Refat Chubarov] The bill was
agreed with everyone - with the government, and with all sides, the subjects
that gave their proposals. And it was not adopted for some political
reasons. I just think this is a disgrace.

[Socialist Party MP Yuriy Lutsenko] If this law was adopted as a whole, that
would be morally and politically right. But it would be impossible to
implement financially. That means we would be storing up conflicts in Crimea
and in western Ukraine too. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
The Rich History of Ukrainian Art, Music, Pysanka, Folk-Art
Arts Gallery: http://www.artukraine.com/artgallery.htm
Support "The Action Ukraine Report"...Send A Check Today
=========================================================
9. CHURCH: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD SAYS
TOO EARLY FOR POPE TO VISIT MOSCOW
Expansionist attitude of the Roman Catholic Church especially in Ukraine

Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian, 18 May 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

MOSCOW - The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad does not welcome
the idea of a papal visit to Russia while problems remain between the Moscow
Patriarchate and the Vatican.

"The meeting of the patriarch and the pope would not be appropriate because
at the moment there is too much opposition from the Roman Catholic Church,
especially in Ukraine," Archbishop of Berlin and Germany Mark, one of the
most influential figures in the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, told
journalists in Moscow today.

"The expansionist attitude of the Roman Catholic Church is not conducive to
a meeting at the highest level, which could not assist in the solution of
the existing conflicts," Archbishop Mark said.

The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has thus shown solidarity with the
position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the question of a papal visit to
Moscow.

For his part, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the head of
the Moscow Patriarchate's external affairs department, noted that progress
had been made in the dialogue between Moscow and Rome.

"Before, the Catholic side proposed an intensification of dialogue, denying
the existence of problems," Metropolitan Kirill said. Now, he said, the
Catholics are not denying that there are problems. The first meeting of the
working group on dialogue which took place recently showed through specific
examples that there are problems, he added.

"I think that this change (in the Vatican's position - Interfax) is a very
positive sign," Metropolitan Kirill said. (END)
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THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 83: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
Politics and Governance, Building a Strong, Democratic Ukraine
http://www.artukraine.com/buildukraine/index.htm
If The Action Ukraine Report is beneficial to you, support it.
=========================================================
10. ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI: UKRAINE IS NEITHER A PAWN NOR
A QUEEN BUT A VERY IMPORTANT FIGURE"

Brzezinski Interview by Viktor Zamyatin, The Day
The Day Weekly Digest in English, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 18, 2004

The visit of renowned expert in geopolitics Zbigniew Brzezinski to Kyiv
couldn't but arouse lively interest. Though the former adviser to the US
president on national security came to Kyiv on a private visit, President
Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Yanukovych found time in their schedule
to meet with him. Mr. Brzezinski has long retired from big politics.

However, his expert opinion is highly evaluated and it goes without saying
that the American leadership takes it into consideration. Perhaps precisely
this was the reason for Ukraine's public interest to the visit of the
American political scientist, author of the Grand Chessboard geopolitical
bestseller focusing, in part, on Ukraine's future. Most experts explain his
current interest to Ukraine by primarily the presidential campaign in our
country. The expert himself admitted this to a certain extent, saying that
other countries' interest to the elections outcome should be taken as
inevitable.

"Right now I don't know who will be the next president of Ukraine. I don't
know who will be the next president of America. I did know before the
Russian elections who would be the president of Russia. As long as we are
not sure who the next president will be there is still a possibility that
elections will be free," Mr. Brzezinski opined.

His view on Ukraine's present and future - in his interview with The Day.

Your previous visit to Ukraine took place on the eve of the presidential
elections. This time, again, you came to Ukraine on the elections eve. Do
you see any changes?

I think the economic situation has strikingly improved. One can see it, one
can feel it, and that's very important. It gives to the society more
optimism. The political situation is more mixed and more complicated.

Mukachevo was a surprise, and it has generated some concern. I think it is
very important that Ukraine continues on the democratic course and
demonstrates to Europe and to America that it is going to be both an
economic and political success. It will also have a very important impact on
the transformation of Russia. Obviously, it is also in everybody's interest.
Ukraine is an important country and what happens in Ukraine therefore has
international ramifications.

Your most renowned book is called The Grand Chessboard. What role on this
chessboard would you assign to Ukraine?

I can't exactly assign the figure. It certainly is not a pawn; it may not be
the queen, but it certainly is an important element on the chessboard - one
of the most important. The future of Ukraine is important to the future of
Europe because Ukraine is a European state with great traditions. It should
at some point be part of Europe if it wishes to be part of Europe, but it is
up to Ukraine to decide whether it wishes to be part of Europe and not wait
for Europe to invite Ukraine.

The Baltic republics and Poland demonstrated their determination to be part
of Europe, of the European Union to be more specific, and as a result they
are today part of the European Union. In addition, what happens in Ukraine
is going to have enormous influence on the future of Russia.

Are you sure the European and US leaders share your views?

I think they share them up to a point but they are also more preoccupied
with their own affairs, and their political horizons are necessarily
narrower. They don't have a luxury that I have: of being sufficiently free
to look further ahead.

You mentioned the Baltic States and Poland. Could you describe the
difference between them and Ukraine?

The differences are important. Ukraine has bigger negative legacies to
overcome. Poland was part of the Soviet bloc for forty-five years. It was
under a Communist dictatorship and this dictatorship was never completely
totalitarian. The Baltic republics were incorporated into the Soviet Union
but were also fully dominated by it for only forty-five years, though that
domination was considerably more extensive than in the case of Poland.
Ukraine was under Communism for seventy years and was part in effect of the

Russian Empire on a continuing basis for several hundred years, since the
eighteenth-seventeenth century. That lives its imprint, and it is bigger
burden to overcome.

However, it seems that Western leaders give much more attention to Russia
than Ukraine, which they probably don't see as an important enough country.
I think they certainly pay more attention to Russia than to Ukraine and to
certain extent this is understandable. I think one has to be realistic in
these matters. I don't quite agree that they have no interest in Ukraine.

However, it is a fact that Western leaders are preoccupied with more
immediate problems. The European leaders now face the task of digesting ten
more countries. That's a big step.

America is preoccupied with what I call in my most recent book "the new
global Balkans," that huge area from the Suez Canal to China's frontier,
from Russia's Southern frontier to the Arabian Sea. America is involved
militarily and politically within that huge area. That necessarily focuses
the attention of both the American and the European leaders on their
respective more immediate geopolitical preoccupations.

You criticized President Bush's policy toward Iraq. What do you think about
it now?

I feel more strongly that my criticism was justified. I felt that there was
no immediate need to launch a military campaign by the United States alone,
that one could of waited for quite a long time, if necessary, to develop a
common international position. I think there was insufficient planning for
the post-military phase and there have been obviously scandalous human
rights abuses committed against some prisoners.

All of that damages the credibility of the United States and I deplore the
decisions and the actions that have been involved in these developments.
However, I think it is also important for the solidarity that exists between
America and some countries, including Ukraine, in dealing with the problems
of Iraq be continued because a deterioration of the situation would have
adverse impact eventually on everybody concerned.

Many believe that due to Ukraine's involvement in peacekeeping in Iraq the
United States might turn a blind eye to Ukraine's domestic situation.
I don't think so. I think the United States realizes that what happens
within Ukraine has major implication for the future of this country. This
country is a big and important European country, and we are very aware of
that. Therefore, we cannot be disinterested in what happens in Ukraine,
particularly insofar as continued democratization is concerned.

In what ways can we achieve this democracy?

The first and most immediate test this year is the presidential elections.
It's essential that they be free, transparent, open, and therefore
legitimate. America does not have a candidate in these elections, because it
is up to the Ukrainian people to decide. However, how they are conducted
will define the extent to which Ukraine is fully a modern democratic
European state or to what extent Ukraine still is burdened by the twin
legacies of the past which I mentioned earlier: the legacy of Communism and
imperialism.

A friend of mine once described Ukraine's political system as "mutant Soviet
one." Do you agree?

I'm not sure that I would say this about the political system as such. The
political system is still in the process of transformation and it's very
much complicated by personal and clique conflicts. The party structure is
still fluid and weak. But it isn't really similar to the Soviet system. The
economic system is very oligarchic, and it is a mixture of the enterprise
and Soviet "statism."

Don't you feel that the level of relations between the Ukrainian and US
leaders is insufficient?

I agree. I think it should be higher. There should be more direct contacts,
more opportunities for exchange of views, more high-level visits. I am
pleased that former President Bush is coming here. I think that is a good
symbolic step.

As far as I understand, President Bush Sr. was among the Western leaders who
didn't believe in your forecasts.

I don't know whether he did or did not believe my forecasts but in any case
the fact that he is coming here speaks for itself and says something about
his current views about Ukraine.

What should be Ukraine's contribution into the global security system?

You are making a contribution to the global security system. You are
involved in peacekeeping in the Balkans and in Iraq. You are an essential
country. I mean countries like Ukraine, Poland, Italy, or the Netherlands,
which have reasonably substantial forces engaged in the Middle East, for
example, should also be engaged in shaping the common political prospective
on the problems of that region and should not hesitate to express that
common political prospective to others, including the United States as well
as the United Nations. Alone, the contribution, say, by Poland of 2000
troops or alone by Ukraine of 1700 troops or by Italy of about 3000 troops
doesn't make much difference.

But if you add up the troops contributed by Ukraine, Poland, Italy, and the
Netherlands, it becomes a reasonably significant factor that should be
translated also into political influence. Not decisive, of course - I do not
want to exaggerate that, but certainly countries that contribute forces to
the resolution of some conflict should have a voice in the definition of the
political solution. And they will have that voice to greater extent if they
express it collectively.

Does Ukraine have real chance to become NATO member?

I think so if Ukraine wants it. I want to emphasize this point very
strongly. Neither NATO nor the EU are in the business of issuing invitations
or of seeking new members. I think there is some misunderstanding on that
subject here in Ukraine. There is a tendency to expect invitations and to
expect expressions of a desire of either organization for Ukraine to join.

It doesn't work that way. The Baltic republics or Poland, for example, did
two things. One, they made it absolutely clear that they want to be members,
and secondly, they did everything that is needed to demonstrate that they
are meeting the criteria for membership. That is absolutely essential.

That is not an operation like getting a credit card. This is a serious
long-term undertaking. I am impressed that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry
has done a very good job in preparing Ukraine for membership in NATO. I'm in
no doubt that under the present leadership Ukraine has made significant
progress in meeting the military criteria of membership in NATO. But even in
the case of NATO the criteria are not only military. They are also
political, and the most important political criterion for membership in NATO
is that the country be a proven and successful democracy.

What, in your view, will NATO's role in the global security system look
like?

NATO is clearly not just a European defense system but a trans-Atlantic
security system with increasing global reach. For example, NATO is involved
in Afghanistan. NATO probably will be involved in some fashion in Iraq and
maybe in guaranteeing an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace. So it is
expanding its role and is becoming not just a European-focused defense
alliance but a broader international security system.

Could you give a forecast for Europe's future and trans-Atlantic relations
after the Iraq crisis for the next decade?

That's a very big question, and I don't think I can answer it in just a
couple of sentences. I'm writing a book in America that deals with that
issues called The Choice. It's a book about American foreign policy and
American global leadership. I discuss in the book the choice that America
has to make, particularly in relations with Europe.

Particularly, with Ukraine?

I consider Ukraine to be an important European country. But the decision
whether you are going to be part of the European Union is yours, not ours.
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