ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR
An International Newsletter, The Latest, Up-To-Date
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis and Commentary
Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the World
DAY OF MEMORY: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25
For the Victims of the Holodomor 1932-1933 [Induced Starvation,
Death for Millions, Genocide] and other Political Repressions
Against the People of Ukraine
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR - Number 791
Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor
PUBLISHED IN KYIV, UKRAINE, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2006
-------- INDEX OF ARTICLES --------
Clicking on the title of any article takes you directly to the article.
Return to the Index by clicking on Return to Index at the end of each article
1. PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO PROPOSES PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZE
1932-1933 HOLODOMOR AS GENOCIDE OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, November 2, 2006
2. DRAFT BILL ON THE HOLODOMOR 1932-1933 IN UKRAINE
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE TO THE RADA
Press office of President Victor Yushchenko (in Ukrainian)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 2, 2006
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #791, Article 2 (in English)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, November 19, 2006
3. UKRAINE: YUSHCHENKO SUGGESTS PARLIAMENT PASS LAW
ESTABLISHING FINES FOR PUBLIC DENIAL OF 1932-1933 FAMINE
He also suggests punishing production, distribution and possession of
materials denying the famine with the same fine.
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 2, 2006
4. FAMINES IN UKRAINE:
INDUCED STARVATION, DEATH FOR MILLIONS, GENOCIDE
By Roman Serbyn, Professor Emeritus
Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Action Ukraine Report (AUR), #791, Article 4
Kyiv, Ukraine, D.C., Sunday, November 19, 2006
5. UKRAINE'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY SURPRISED BY
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY'S STATEMENT ABOUT
PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE 1932-1933 FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 2, 2006
6. PRESIDENTIAL BILL ON 1932-1933 FAMINE NEEDS REVISION,
LEADER OF REGIONS PARTY BELIEVES
President's bill restricts the Constitution's right on freedom of expression.
Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 8, 2006
7. LANGUAGE AND FAMINE: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI
LAVROV IDENTIFIES THE TWO MOST ACUTE ISSUES IN KIEV
Attempts made to portray the famine as "ethnocide of the Ukrainian people"
By Svetlana Stepanenko, Vremya Novostei, No. 206
Moscow, Russia, Thursday, November 9, 2006
8. PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT PLEASED PARTY OF REGIONS TO
DISCUSS RECOGNITION OF UKRAINIAN FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
Aim is to "restore historical justice and to avoid such tragedies in future."
Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 9, 2006
9. 65% OF UKRAINIANS POLLED BELIEVE 1932-1933 FAMINE
WAS CAUSED BY ACTIONS OF AUTHORITIES
11.4% expressed the belief famine was caused by a natural phenomenon
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 9, 2006
10. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WRITES LETTER TO GEORGE BUSH
THANKING HIM FOR SIGNING LAW TO GIVE UKRAINE A
PLACE IN WASHINGTON TO BUILD A HOLODOMOR MONUMENT
Press Office of the President of Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
11. RUSSIA INITIATES FORMATION OF UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN
COMMISION ON STUDYING 1932-1933 FAMINE IN UKRAINE
UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, 10 November, 2006
12. PRES SURPRISED AT RUSSIA'S LACK OF UNDERSTANDING
OF IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING HOLODOMOR OF
1932-1933 AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIANS
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
13. UKRAINIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY CALLS ON YUSHCHENKO TO
ISSUE A DECREE TO ABOLISH SYMBOLS OF SOVIET REGIME
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
14. IVANO-FRANKIVSK REGIONAL COUNCIL CALLS ON RADA TO
RECOGNIZE 1932-1933 HOLODOMOR AS AN ACT OF GENOCIDE
AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
Extreme public, political, historic and moral importance for Ukrainian society
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
15. RUSSIA: NO REASONS TO REGARD 1932-1933 FAMINE IN
UKRAINE AS ETHNIC GENOCIDE
Soviet policy was not based on nationalities principle
Itar-Tass, Moscow, Russia, Monday, November 13, 2006
16. RUSSIA AGAINST POLITICIZING UKRAINIAN FAMINE ISSUE
SAYS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Interfax, Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
17. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REGARDS HOLODOMOR OF
1932-33 NOT AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
There are no reasons for interpreting this event as ethnic Genocide
Ukrainian News Service, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
18. UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES MOSCOW'S
SOFTENING POSITION ON RECOGNIZING UKRAINIAN
1932-1933 FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
19. UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER COUNTS KEY DISAGREEMENTS
WITH RUSSIA: FAMINE, LANGUAGE, BLACK SEA FLEET, AZOV SEA
Interfax Ukraine News, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 15, 2006
20. PRES YUSHCHENKO URGES GOVERNORS TO HOLD EVENTS
DEDICATED TO DAY OF MEMORY OF FAMINE VICTIMS
AND VICTIMS OF POLITICAL REPRESSIONS ON NOVEMBER 25
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 16, 2006
21. UKRAINE CALLS ON SLOVAKIA TO RECOGNIZE 1932-1933
FAMINE AS GEOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 16, 2006
22. YUSHCHENKO CALLING ON RADA TO DECLARE 1932-1933
FAMINE AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Ukrainians should find in themselves the bravery
to declare that the nation was the victim of a terrible crime - the crime of
genocide - that should never be repeated and convince others of this.
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 16, 2006
23. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SEEKS SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT
FOR BILL DECLARING SOVIET-ERA FAMINE GENOCIDE
The author of this evil act was Stalin's regime
Associated Press (AP), Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov 16, 2006
24. TYMOSHENKO BLOC SUPPORTS RECOGNITION OF HOLODOMOR
AS AN ACT OF GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN NATION
BYUT leader complains Pres Yushchenko not to be present to support bill
ForUm, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 17, 2006
25. SOME IN UKRAINE WANT WEAKER SOVIET-ERA FAMINE BILL
REMOVING THE WORD "GENOCIDE" FROM IT
Proposed dropping genocide, calling 1932-33 Great Famine a tragedy instead
By Natasha Lisova, Associated Press Writer
Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, November 17, 2006
26. UKRAINIAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DECIDED TO POSTPONE
INDEFINITELY BILL TO RECOGNIZE 1930'S FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1300 gmt 17 Nov 06
BBC Monitoring Service, United Kingdom, Friday, Nov 17, 2006
27. UKRAINE'S PARLIAMENT POSTPONED CONSIDERATION OF
THE BILL ON RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE
Working on new draft of the Holodomor of 1932-1933
FORUM, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 17, 2006
28. COMMEMORATION OF THE HOLODOMOR AT THE UN
Special commemorative event on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006
The Ukrainian Weekly, Parsippany, NY, Sunday, Nov 12, 2006
29. BUILD THE HOLODOMOR COMPLEX NOW
Holodomor - induced starvation, death for millions, genocide of 1932-1933
OP-ED: By Morgan Williams
Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sep 07 2006
30. THE FOLLY OF JAILING GENOCIDE DENIERS
Democracy's test: Do we tolerate a view that it is thoroughly repulsive?
COMMENTARY: By Garin K. Hovannisian
The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, MA, Mon, Nov 6, 2006
========================================================
1. PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO PROPOSES PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZE
1932-1933 HOLODOMOR AS GENOCIDE OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, November 2, 2006
KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko proposes the Verkhovna
Rada [parliament] recognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a Genocide
against the Ukrainian people.
This proposal is included in a draft bill 'On The Holodomor of 1932-1933
in Ukraine,' the text of which Ukrainian News has obtained.
"The Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine is a Genocide of the Ukrainian
people", the first article of the bill states. By this, to deny publicly the
Holodomor of 1932-1933 means desecration of the memory for the five
million victims and humiliation of the Ukrainian nation's dignity.
With this bill Yuschenko proposes to oblige power bodies and local
self-governments to participate in the renewing and keeping the national
memory of Ukrainians, promote the nation's consolidation and also to
disseminate information about the Holodomor and study this event.
The authorities also have to take part in immortalizing the memory of the
tragedy victims, particularly, by raising monuments and memorial signs to
them. They also must provide access to archives and other materials
related to the Holodomor.
Yuschenko proposes to appoint the Ukrainian Institute of the National
Memory, which is funded by the state budget as a designated authority of
the governmental policy in this sphere. By this the Cabinet of Ministers has
to create environment for it to work.
The President also proposes that the state would ensure conditions for
conducting investigations and activities on immortalizing memory of the
Holodomor victims basing on the governmental program.
This program is approved by the Cabinet of ministers and is submitted by
the Institute Of The National Memory. Money for this program have to be
provided from the budget.
Yuschenko introduced this draft bill in order to revere the Holodomor
victims' memory and in honor of those who survived this tragedy.
Yuschenko also thinks that it is a moral duty and a necessary act of
restoring historic justice.
As Ukrainian News already reported, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 has
been recognized as an act of genocide against the Ukrainians by the
parliaments of 10 countries. -30-
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[return to index] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) Monitoring Service]
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2. DRAFT BILL ON THE HOLODOMOR 1932-1933 IN UKRAINE
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE TO THE RADA
Press office of President Victor Yushchenko
Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 2, 2006
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #791, Article 2 (in English)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, November 19, 2006
KYIV - According to Article 93 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Victor
Yushchenko has submitted a bill on the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine
to parliament and demanded that parliamentarians pass it without delay.
The President commissioned Ihor Yukhnovsky, Acting Head of the
Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, to present this bill at a plenary
session of the Verkhovna Rada. -30-
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Draft Bill
Submitted by the President of Ukraine to the
Law of Ukraine
On the Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [November 2, 2006],
Honoring the memory of millions of fellow countrymen who became
victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its effects;
Honoring all citizens that survived this horrible tragedy in the history of
the Ukrainian people;
Being aware of the moral responsibility to former and future generations of
Ukrainians and recognizing the necessity of restoring historical justice, of
solidifying in society an intolerance towards any form of violence;
Noting that the tragedy of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine officially
was denied by the USSR government over the course of many decades;
Condemning the criminal acts of the USSR totalitarian regime aimed at the
Holodomor's organization, which resulted in millions of people, the social
foundations of the Ukrainian nation, her age-old traditions, spiritual
culture and ethnic identity being destroyed;
Highly valuing the solidarity and support of the international community in
condemning the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine that is reflected in
parliamentary acts of Australia, the Republic of Argentina, Georgia, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Italy, Canada, the Republic of
Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the United States of America, the
Republic of Hungary, and also in the combined statement circulated as an
official document of the 58th session of the General Assembly of the UN on
the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Holodomor-Great Famine of
1932-1933 in Ukraine, signed by the Republic of Argentina, the Republic of
Azerbaijan, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Belarus,
the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic
of Guatemala, Georgia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Islamic Republic of
Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Canada, the State of Qatar, the Republic
of Kyrgyzia, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Macedonia, Mongolia, the
Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of
Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab
Republic of Syria, the United States of America, the Republic of Sudan, the
Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Jamaica, and also
supported by Australia, the State of Israel, the Republic of Serbia and
Montenegro and the 25 member-states of the European Union;
Taking into consideration the Recommendations of parliamentary hearings
concerning honoring the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor
approved by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of March 6, 2003
No. 607-IV and the Appeal to the Ukrainian people of the participants of a
special session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of May 14, 2003, which was
approved by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of May 15, 2003
No. 789-IV, in which the Holodomor is recognized as an act of genocide of
the Ukrainian people, and also taking into consideration the Appeal of the
IV World Forum of the Ukrainians of August 20, 2006 to the President of
Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, numerous
appeals of the community regarding recognition of the Holodomor 1932-1933
in Ukraine as a genocide;
Recognizing the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine according to the Convention
of December 9, 1948 on the prevention of the crime of genocide and the
punishment of it as an intentional act of mass destruction of people,
enacts this Law.
Article 1. The 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian
nation.
Article 2. Public denial of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is an insult
to the memory of millions of victims of the Holodomor, a humiliation of the
dignity of the Ukrainian people and is forbidden.
Article 3. State bodies of power and local bodies of self-governance
according to their authority are obligated to:
Take part in the formation and realization of state policies in the areas of
renewing and preserving the national memory of the Ukrainian people;
Facilitate the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, her
historical consciousness and culture, the dissemination of information about
the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine among Ukrainian citizens and the global
community, to ensure study of the tragedy of the Holodomor in educational
institutions of Ukraine;
Take measures to memorialize the memory of victims of the 1932-1933
Holodomor in Ukraine, including building memorials and mounting of
memorial signs to the victims of the Holodomor;
Ensure by the established order access to archived and other materials on
issues that concern the Holodomor to research and civil establishments and
organizations, scholars, individual citizens that research issues of the
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its effects.
Article 4. The Ukrainian Institute of Memory is a specially authorized
central organ of executive power in the sphere of restoring and preserving
national memory.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ensures the creation of conditions for
the proper functioning of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.
The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory is supported by funding from
the State budget of Ukraine.
Article 5. The State provides the conditions for carrying out research and
executing activities related to the memorializing of the memory of the
victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine on the basis of state
programs that are confirmed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and
submitted by the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. Funds for
carrying out this program are allocated yearly in the State budget of
Ukraine.
Article 6. Closing principles
1. This law is in effect from the day of its publication.
2. To incorporate such changes into the Code of Ukraine on Administrative
Offences (News of the Verkhovna Rada of the URSR (1984), addendum to
No. 51, article 1122):
1) To supplement chapter 14 with article 1722 to this effect:
"Article 1722. Public denial of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine
Public denial of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine, and also preparation,
distribution or possession with the intent to distribute materials with such
a denial-
Carries a fine of 10-15 minimum-wage [monthly] salaries before taxes.
Actions committed by the mass media, as foreseen in the first part of this
article-
Carry the imposition of a fine from 20-30 minimum-wage [monthly] salaries
before taxes;
2) To replace the figures "173-173 (2) in article 221, the first part of
article 255 and the first part of article 294 with "172 (2)-173(2)".
To supplement the second portion of article 268 after the number a
"160 (2) with the figures "172 (2)."
3. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Kyiv City State
Administration are to ensure in the appointed order construction of a
Memorial to the memory of the victims of the Holodomors in Ukraine
before the 75th anniversaries of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Translation of this draft bill from the original Ukrainian into
English by Heather Fernuik for the Action Ukraine Report (AUR).
English translation can be used with proper credits to the AUR.
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LINK: http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/data/1_11463.html
LINK: http://www.president.gov.ua/done_img/files/pr_golod.html
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FOOTNOTE: The Parliament of Ukraine has already declared the
1932-1933 Famine (Holodomor) an act of genocide. They did this through
a resolution passed on May 15, 2003 (see article and links below). It is not
clear to many observers why President Yushchenko wants to raise this
issue again and pass a law declaring the Holodomor a genocide. The main
agenda should be to obtain the approvals and funding necessary to build
a Holodomor Educational-Research Complex in Kyiv. AUR EDITOR
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PARLIAMENT OF UKRAINE DECLARES THE 1932-1933 FAMINE "AN
ACT OF GENOCIDE," AND A "DELIBERATE TERRORIST ACT OF
THE STALINIST POLITICAL SYSTEM"
By Morgan Williams, Director
www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)
Kyiv, Ukraine, May 19, 2003
Kyiv, Ukraine, May 19---The Parliament of Ukraine (RADA) declared the
1932-1933 famine in Ukraine "an act of genocide," a "deliberate terrorist
act of the Stalinist political system," an as "one of the important factors
for the gaining of Ukraine's Independence," and also stated, "Let us not
forget the past in the name of the future!" in an important, historic
resolution passed by the RADA on May 15, 2003.
The resolution passed with 226 members voting in favor, the minimum
required for its adoption, out of the 410 members attending the session.
The resolution as passed by the Parliament of Ukraine is in Ukrainian. The
following English translation of the resolution is by ArtUkraine Information
Service in Kyiv, Ukraine:
RESOLUTION: TO THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE BY THE PARTICIPANTS
IN THE SPECIAL SITTING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA ON
COMMEMORATING VICTIMS OF FAMINE 1932-1933
Submitted by I. Spodarenko, Socialist Party of Ukraine Faction
Human Rights, National Minorities and Relations Between
Nationalities Committee, #3451-1
Verkhovna Rada, Kyiv, Ukraine, May 14, 2003
We, the participants in the special sitting of the Verkhovna Rada of
Ukraine, guided by the ideals of humanism and social justice, defending the
rights of a human and a citizen from the position of Universal values,
address the people of Ukraine, and Ukrainian citizens of all nationalities,
on the year of a tragic date in our history, the 70th anniversary of the
famine organized by Stalin's totalitarian regime.
The Ukrainian and International public are marking the 70th anniversary of
the Ukrainian National catastrophe, when, perhaps for the first time in the
history of humankind, food confiscation was used by the state as a weapon of
the mass destruction of its own population for political reasons. The famine
of 1932-1933, which was the inhuman means for the liquidation of millions of
Ukrainians, is proof of the criminal nature of the regime at that time.
The cruel confiscation of the 1932 harvest, taking it out of Ukraine, the
confiscation of all food products from every single peasant family,
destruction of temples and sacred places, mass repressions of Ukrainian
intelligentsia and clergymen, all of this was targeted to undermine the
national spirit of Ukrainians, to root out its elite, and for the
liquidation of the economic independence of peasants.
The total destruction of millions of Ukrainian bread-producers, by means
of the artificial famine, was a deliberate terrorist act of the Stalinist
political system. The social grounds of the Ukrainian nation and its
centuries-old traditions were destroyed, its spiritual culture and unique
ethical identity were undermined.
The tragedy of 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine, during many decades, was not
just kept silent but officially denied by the top rulers of the USSR. Its
reasons, character, mechanism of organization, and scale were carefully
hidden not only from the international community, but also from several
generations of our compatriots. But attempts to silence it forever and to
bury in the course of history the truth about the famine of 1932-1933 all
turned out to be in vain.
They have known since 1933 in the west and have written about this
Catastrophe of Ukraine. In 1988 the U.S. Congress officially recognized the
famine of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people. The International
Jurists Commission did this also then.
As for the citizens of Ukraine, the truth about the events of 1932-1933
started to become available to them on the eve of the break up of the USSR.
It was then when the official silencing of these tragic facts of history was
first broken through.
Today, one can assuredly state that the first words of truth about the
famine of 1932-1933 played a distinctive role in the national rebirth, and
became one of the important factors for the gaining of Ukraine's
Independence.
At the same time we consider that in the realities of an independent Ukraine
it is the state that has to officially make public the horrifying truth
about those years since the famine of 1932-1933 was deliberately organized
by Stalin's regime and has to be publicly condemned by Ukrainian society and
the international community as one of the largest, in number of victims, of
any genocide in the history of the world.
We, the participants in the special sitting of the Verkhovna Rada on May 14,
2003, do that today, recognizing the famine of 1932-1933 the act of genocide
of the Ukrainian people by the devilish plan of Stalin's regime.
We consider that the qualification of this Catastrophe of the Ukrainian
nation as a genocide has a principal significance for stabilizing social and
political relationships in Ukraine, is an important factor in
re-establishing historical justice, in the moral healing of several
generations from terrifying social stress, and serves as an irrefutable
proof of the irreversibility of the democratization processes in our
society, and as a severe warning to any attempts of establishing a new rule
of dictatorship in Ukraine and ignoring the major right of a human --the
right to live.
Having considered the issue of famine as of the act of genocide, during this
special sitting of the Verkhovna Rada, we have fulfilled to some extent our
citizen and patriotic duty to the memory of the millions of people and to
the generation now growing up.
At the same time we are deeply certain that only after giving the official
(on the highest state level, and on behalf of all the branches of power in
Ukraine) appropriate political and legal assessment of the social
Catastrophe that the famine of 1932-1933 was in the history of our State,
and only after a worthy annual commemoration of its innumerable victims,
and only after informing the world community of the fact of the famine as
genocide against the people of Ukraine--only after all this can we call
ourselves a wholesome civilized Nation.
Let us not forget the past in the name of the future!
[English translation by www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service]
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LINK: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/fam_resol.htm.
Kyiv Post article: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/fam_hearing8.htm
LINK: http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/fam_hearing.htm
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[return to index] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) Monitoring Service]
========================================================
3. UKRAINE: YUSHCHENKO SUGGESTS PARLIAMENT PASS LAW
ESTABLISHING FINES FOR PUBLIC DENIAL OF 1932-1933 FAMINE
He also suggests punishing production, distribution and possession of
materials denying the famine with the same fine.
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 2, 2006
KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is suggesting the
Verkhovna Rada to pass the law establishing administrative amenability
for public denial of the famine of 1932-1933 and punish such actions
with fines of 10-15 nontaxable minimum incomes of citizens.
This follows from the bill on the famine of 1932-1933, a copy of which
was made available to Ukrainian News.
In such a way, Yuschenko proposes supplementing the Code on
Administrative Violations with an article on public denial of the famine
of 1932-1933 in Ukraine.
He also suggests punishing production, distribution and possession of
materials denying the famine with the same fine.
He also proposes that such actions performed via mass media should be
punished with the fine of 20-30 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yuschenko submitted a draft law that
suggested the Verkhovna Rada to acknowledge the famine of 1932-1933
as genocide against the Ukrainian people.
Parliaments of ten countries acknowledged the famine of 1932-1933 as
genocide against the Ukrainians. -30-
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[return to index] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) Monitoring Service]
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4. FAMINES IN UKRAINE:
INDUCED STARVATION, DEATH FOR MILLIONS, GENOCIDE
By Roman Serbyn, Professor Emeritus
Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Canada
Action Ukraine Report (AUR), #791, Article 1
Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, November 19, 2006
During the 70 years of communist rule in Ukraine, this Soviet republic
suffered a number of severe famines, the most destructive of which was
the terrible Holodomor of 1932-1933.
The term "holodomor" was coined from the Ukrainian noun "holod" (hunger,
starvation, famine) and verb "moryty" (to cause to be wasted, to kill).
Since it is now known that all the famines were preventable, many Ukrainians
apply the term to the other Ukrainian famines as well.
Recent studies, based on documentation released since the fall of communism
and the breakup of the Soviet Union show clearly, that throughout the whole
period, the Ukrainian Soviet Republic produced enough foodstuffs to be able
to feed all of its inhabitants.
The famines were the result of Moscow's diverting of Ukrainian resources to
purposes other than the satisfaction of Ukrainian population's hunger.
FAMINE OF 1921-1923
The first widespread famine began in the summer of 1921 and lasted for two
years. It affected the grain rich southern half of the republic, where two
consecutive years of drought completely destroyed the harvest.
Approximately one million people died, mostly in the villages but the urban
centres were also affected.
Had Ukraine been truly an independent country with a government which
put the vital interests of the Ukrainian population at the centre of its
preoccupations, this famine could have been avoided.
Ukraine had not yet been completely despoiled by the German occupation of
1918, or by the part of the Russian civil war fought on Ukrainian soil, or
by the White and the Red Russian wars of reconquest of the Ukrainian "bread
basket". The harvest in the northern half of the republic were adequate and
even in the southern part there were still some, if insufficient, reserves.
An truly independent Ukrainian government would have arranged to have
foodstuffs transferred from the north to the south, and no human lives
needed to have been lost.
But Kharkiv, now the capital of an officially sovereign and independent
Ukrainian SSR was in fact an administrative centre taking direct orders from
Moscow. And Moscow had other priorities than to safeguard the lives of
rebellious Ukrainians.
Drought had also devastated the Volga valley and the Northern Caucasus
regions in the RSFSR and affected several times more people than in
Ukraine. Famine casualties there were also much higher than in Ukraine.
Moscow decided to come to the rescue of the starving population of the
RSFSR. All taxation in the famine regions were suspended while they were
twinned with regions that had a regular harvest, and the latter were ordered
to provide famine relief.
At the same time, Moscow ignored the famine in Ukraine and ordered the
Ukrainian republic, designated as a single unit, to help the starving
population along the Volga . Moscow also appealed to the West for foreign
aid for Russia, keeping silent about the famine in Ukraine.
In fact, when in November 1921, a fact-finding mission of the American
Relief Administration enquired about conditions in Ukraine, it was told by
Moscow that there is no reason to go to Ukraine because that Republic was
providing famine relief to Russia.
What the Russian authorities failed to mention was that Ukraine was doing
this at Moscow's orders and at the expense of it's own population's
starvation and death.
Ukraine was eventually opened to famine relief, due to the perseverance of
the ARA-JDC effort to bring aid to the starving Jewish population of
southern Ukraine.
Since the 1921-1923 famine was a regional scourge, decimating the urban as
well as the rural dwellers, the Jewish population of southern Ukraine also
suffered greatly and alarmed their relatives and friends in Western Europe
and North America. The American Joint Distribution Committee was already
a participant in the ARA relief effort in the RSFSR.
Together with the ARA it prevailed upon Moscow to allow a fact-finding
mission to go to Ukraine and eventually American aid, paid for the most part
by the JDC, was allowed to come to Ukraine. ARA soup kitchens were opened
in Ukraine in April 1922, eight months after their appearance in Russia.
Other charitable organizations were also allowed to set up famine relief in
Ukraine in 1922. In October 1922, the Kremlin declared the famine vanquished
and Moscow began exporting grain from Odessa, to the disgust of
international charitable organizations, which continued to provide famine
relief for another year.
GREAT FAMINE OF 1932-1933
The great famine of 1932-1933 differed from the one in 1921-23 in which
there were important adverse climatic conditions, the harvests in 1932-1933
were adequate.
All serious scholars agree that in spite of the upheavals due to
dekulakization and collectivization, and even grain export, there was enough
cereal grain reserves to feed all the population of the Soviet Union.
The 1930s famine also differed in that its target was the whole rural
population of Ukraine, while the urban centres received survival rations.
The people who died from starvation in the urban centres were mostly
peasants who had come to seek food.
Unlike the 1921-23 famine, the 1932-33 catastrophe affected primarily
Ukraine and the Kuban' region of Northern Caucasus, while the food
shortages in the regions of the RSFSR contiguous to Ukraine were much
less severe.
As a result of the famine the Ukrainian SSR lost, according to various
estimates, from four to ten million people, overwhelmingly ethnic
Ukrainians, since they made up 90 % of the republic's agriculturalists.
Perhaps as many as one million farmers died in the RSFSR, but we do
not have a clear idea of their ethnic composition.
One of the most heavily devastated areas was the Northern Caucasus
Territory, where 2/3 of the population of the Kuban region was Ukrainian;
other affected regions were inhabited by Germans, Tatars and other ethnic
minorities.
The great famine came in the wake of the so-called Stalin's revolution from
above. Having outmaneuvered his competitors for Lenin's mantle, Stalin
could finally undertake the transformation of the backward Soviet empire
into a modern industrial and military superpower.
Most of the capital for this endeavor would have to come from agriculture,
which would also have to sustain the growing industrial population with
food.
Tsarist agriculture had shown Stalin that the best providers of marketable
grain were the large estates of rich landowners, while the more recent
Bolshevik experience taught him that door to door confiscation of peasants
produce was a very inefficient method of procurement.
Since most of the arable land was now in the hands of the middle and poor
peasants, most of the food produce was now consumed by the farmers and
little was left for the State procurement.
COLLECTIVIZATION
Collectivization would recreate large agricultural exploitations over which
the State would have a direct control and could squeeze out of them as much
as it wished. Collectivization would also correspond to Marxist ideology and
the satisfy the Party's quest for better control over the peasant
population.
Stalin and the party hierarchy was well aware that collectivization would be
strongly opposed by the peasantry, especially in Ukraine, the Kuban, and
other regions that did not have the Russian tradition of peasant obshchina
(sort of commune).
They also knew that forceful imposition of collectivization would have very
disruptive consequences for Soviet agriculture and that total production
would undoubtedly decline.
Finally, Stalin and his henchmen could not fail to realize that in Ukraine,
the opposition to the destruction of the peasants' traditional way of life
would assume national overtones.
In fact, recent documents such as Stalin's correspondence with Kaganovich
and Stalin-inspired decisions of the Politburo reveal that the "peasant"
and "national" questions became intertwined in Kremlin's policies during the
early 1930s.
DEKULAKIZATION OF THE VILLAGES
Collectivization was adopted as part of the first Five Year Plan in December
1927 but was not strongly implemented until 1929. In December of that year,
the Politburo ordered the dekulakization of the villages.
Kulaks were rich peasants or those deemed to have a kulak mentality.
Theoretically numbering about 5 % of the peasant population they were
divided into three categories and dealt with accordingly.
The first category, the richest and most ferocious adversaries of the State,
were exiled into special settlements outside Ukraine, after some of the
heads of families were executed.
The second category was exiled to other regions of Ukraine and third
category was allowed to stay in the same village. In both cases they were
prevented from joining collective farms and were allotted poorer lands for
their own use.
In this way several hundred thousand of Ukraine's most dynamic and
productive agriculturalists were destroyed or marginalized from the
Ukrainian society.
The property confiscated from the "kulaks" was turned over to the
collective farms in order to draw to them the poor peasants.
Dekoulakization thus fulfilled several goals for the regime: it brought
class struggle into the village, it provided property for the new collective
farms, it provided cheap labor in remote desolate regions of Russia, and
it removed the natural leaders of the Ukrainian peasant opposition.
Dekulakization weakened but did not prevent active peasant opposition to
collectivization. This opposition manifested itself in various ways, from
armed resistance to the so-called "babs'ki bunty" (women's revolts).
Dekulakization was over by 1931, and most of Ukrainian peasants had been
forced to join the kolkhozes by the fall of 1932 when the great famine
began. Throughout the dekulakization, collectivization and the famine
itself, USSR exported huge quantities of grain: 1930 - 5.8 million tons;
1931 - 4.7 m.t.; 1932 - 1.6 m.t.; 1933 - 2.1 m.t.
One million tons was sufficient to feed five million people for one year. It
should also be noted that even with the exports, the State's grain reserves
never dipped below 1.5 m.t., i.e., enough to save the starving population
from untimely suffering and death.
The first wave of induced famine hit Ukraine in the winter-spring 1932 when
half a million died; the second wave commenced in the fall of that year and
peaked sometime in the early spring days of 1933.
FAMINE CAUSED BY HIGH PROCUREMENT QUOTAS
The direct cause of famine were high procurement quotas which most of the
kolkhozes and remaining individual peasants were unable to meet and which
Stalin refused to lower to a manageable level.
Stalin knew very well the situation in Ukrainian villages. He was
continually informed by his envoys to Ukraine Molotov, Kaganovich, Kosior
and Postyshev. He received complaints and requests for lowering of
procurement quotas from the Ukrainian leaders Petrovsky, Chubar, Terekhov.
The OGPU sent periodic reports showing the catastrophic situation in the
Ukrainian villages. Stalin's response was always the same: there is grain in
Ukraine, saboteurs are hiding it, the grain must be found and the saboteurs
be punished.
During the worst months of the famine, party faithfuls, helped by workers
sent to Ukraine from Russian industrial centres and by local peasant
activists went from house to house, seeking hidden grain and other
foodstuffs, confiscating the last pieces of edibles from the peasant tables.
Kolkhozes and individual farmers were put on "balck boards" (black lists),
forbidden to buy the basic necessities of life: matches, kerosene, and other
manufactured goods.
EXTERMINATION POLICY DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY
AGAINST UKRAINIANS
Two documents which have recently come to light reveal that Stalin's
extermination policy was directed specifically against the Ukrainian people.
On 14 December 1932 a joint resolution of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party and the Council of Peoples Commissars of the USSR
condemned the process of Ukrainization which had been carried out in
Ukraine and Northern Caucasus (especially Kuban) for the problems in
State procurement in these regions.
Ukrainization had allowed, according to the document, Petliurites, Ukrainian
bourgeois nationalists to infiltrate local administrations, educational
establishments and the mass media outlets, create counterrevolutionary cells
and pursue a policy of sabotage and destabilization.
The solution ordered by the Party/State hierarchy was put Ukrainization in
Ukraine on its original track: to integrate the Ukrainian people into the
Soviet system. Petliurites and Ukrainian bourgeois nationalist were to be
removed from Soviet institutions in Ukraine and punished.
The punishment of the 8 million Ukrainians in the RSFSR amounted to
complete annihilation of their ethnic identity: Ukrainian bourgeois
nationalists were to be removed from all public institutions in RSFSR,
the Russian language was to replace Ukrainian in all sectors of social life
where Ukrainian was used: local administration, newspapers and journals.
All Ukrainian schools were to be Russified. In addition, the inhabitants of
many of the Ukrainian stanytsias, settled by descendants of the Ukrainian
Zaporozhian cossacks were to be deported to the north and resettled with
loyal Russian peasants from infertile lands.
The second document, which shows Stalin's intent to exterminate a part of
the Ukrainian nation, is his directive cosigned by Molotov, and sent on 22
January 1933 to the republican authorities in Ukraine and Belarus, and five
Russian regional administrations along the Ukrainian borders.
The order blames the OGPU for allowing the previous year peasants from
Ukraine and the Kuban to go north, allegedly in search of food, but in fact
to spread propaganda against the kolkhoz system. These Petliurites and
agents of Pilsudski must not be allowed to do the same this year.
A mass movement has already started once more in Ukraine and the Kuban,
and it must be nipped in the bud. The addressed authorities must warn their
peasants against leaving their villages and take all the necessary means to
prevent a peasant exodus. The Railways are forbidden to sell tickets to
peasants in those regions.
The OGPU is ordered to arrest all peasants who do not heed the warning
and try to cross the Ukrainian border. As a result of this directive, in the
ensuing six weeks, the OGPU arrested some 220,000 people, sent about
190,000 back to their starving villages and dealt otherwise with the rest.
STALIN-MADE-FAMINE OF 1932-1933, A GENOCIDE
These two documents provide convincing evidence that the Stalin-made famine
of 1932-1933 meets the requirements of genocide as defined by the United
Nations Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, adopted by the General
Assembly on 9 December 1948.
The crucial element of the definition, the question of intent to destroy in
whole or in part, is demonstrated by Stalin's decision to close internal
Soviet borders thus isolating peasants of Ukraine and the Kuban to prevent
them from seeking refuge in the more benign conditions of Russia and
Belarus.
The second element of the definition, that the target group be identified as
national or ethnic is also met. The segregated peasants made up a national
group (in the civic sense of the term) as citizens of Ukraine, while at the
same time 90 % of them were ethnic Ukrainians.
Some three quarters of the Kuban peasants and Cossacks were of Ukrainian
ethnic background and thus compose an ethnic group. The nexus between
the two targeted groups was their Ukrainianness.
THIRD FAMINE BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 1946
The third famine began in the fall of 1946 and reached its peak in the
spring of 1947. The main causes of the famine were similar to those of the
previous famines: exorbitant procurement quotas for grain and other
agricultural produce, which drained the country side of vital resources, and
Stalin's unwillingness to aid the starving population in those regions that
suffered from drought and a poor harvests.
During the famine period, the Soviet Union shipped cereals to its new
satellites: Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia and
even Finland and France. Some 2.5 m.t. of grain was exported.
The famine touched particularly the newly annexed Izmailivs'ka and
Chernivets'ka oblasts, where collectivization of agriculture had dire
consequences for the agrarian population. Other regions of Central and
Eastern Ukraine were also affected by food shortages.
To escape the famine, peasants fled to Western Ukraine, where the climatic
conditions had been more benign and the harvest more plentiful. To prevent
this peasant movement, the authorities posted guards along the main routes
to turn the refugees back.
In Western Ukraine, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and
the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) tried to impede the export of Ukrainian
grain to the West. Soviet authorities provided famine relief only to those
who worked in the fields, where soup kitchens were set up during working
days.
In all, about one million Ukrainians, mostly peasants, perished from
starvation during the famine of 1946-1947.
In conclusion, all three famines, 1921-1923, 1932-1933, and
1946-1947 were the result of Moscow's deliberate diverting of
Ukrainian resources to purposes other than the satisfaction of
Ukrainian population's hunger. -30-
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5. UKRAINE'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY SURPRISED BY
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY'S STATEMENT ABOUT
PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE 1932-1933 FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 2, 2006
KYIV - The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry is surprised by the Russian
Foreign Affairs Ministry's statement that Ukraine is launching a campaign
around the issue of the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry's press service announced this in a
commentary, a text of which Ukrainian News obtained.
'The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry received with surprise the claim
about the so-called launching of a campaign around the issue of the 1932-33
famine in Ukraine. Even greater surprise was caused by the insinuation that
this issue is aimed against modern Russia,' the commentary states.
The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry also says that it fails to understand
why the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry writes the words famine and
genocide in quotes.
The Ukrainian side says that the famine in Ukraine has been a topic of broad
debate and discussion in Ukraine for many years and that these debates and
discussions are aimed at honoring the memories of the victims of the famine
and providing political and legal assessments of this tragedy involving the
Ukrainian people.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ukraine has raised the
issue of the famine in Ukraine at the international level several times and
intends to continue doing so as a way of building on earlier initiatives.
Ukraine is convinced that securing recognition of the historical truth will
facilitate avoidance of a repeat of the genocide and mass violations of
human rights in the future.
'We are counting on cooperation from the Russian side during discussion
of the issue of the famine on the international arena,' the commentary states.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasiuk
is hoping that member-countries of the United Nations Organization will
recognize the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine as an act of genocide against the
Ukrainian people during the a session of the General Assembly of the
organization in autumn 2007.
During his address to the 61st Session of the general Assembly of the United
Nations Organization in New York on September 25, Tarasiuk called on
member-nations of the organization to recognize the 1932-1933 famine in
Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
Tarasiuk believes that the overwhelming majority of the member-states of the
United Nations Organization will support Ukraine's proposal on the issue
while a few delegations will oppose. According to various estimates, between
3 million and 7 million people died in the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine.
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6. PRESIDENTIAL BILL ON 1932-1933 FAMINE NEEDS REVISION,
LEADER OF REGIONS PARTY BELIEVES
President's bill restricts the Constitution's right on freedom of expression.
Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 8, 2006
KYIV - The leader of the Regions Party Rayisa Bohatyriova suggested to
complete a bill "On 1932 to 1933 Famine in Ukraine", submitted by the
President as urgent.
Rayisa Bohatyriova believes the article 2 of the Presidential bill doesn't
correspond to the article 34 of the Constitution.
The President, suggesting to set administrative responsibility for public
denial of the 1932 to 1933 famine in Ukraine, according to her, restricts
the Constitution's right on freedom of expression.
Therefore, the President's bill doesn't specify which norm envisages
prohibition of the famine's denial.
Rayisa Bohatyriova states that she upholds the bills' idea, however, states
her doubt in support of the bill by the Parliament. Through lack of
compromise on several sensitive issues for some members of the coalition.
In this view a working group on revision of the bill, with participation of
President Viktor Yushchenko should be formed.
Notably, the famine was recognized as the genocide by parliaments of 10
countries. According to data of historical experts the famine resulted in
the death toll of 7 to 10 M. Ukrainians, which means Ukraine experienced
death of 25,000 people every day.
Some experts claim that the Ukrainian population would have reached 100
M. people under absence of the famine.
Official Day of Memory of Famine and Political Repression Victims is
marked annually on the forth Saturday of November. -30-
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FOOTNOTE: For a person who has spent considerable time and raised
a fair amount of private funds over the past ten years to tell the world about
the genocide in Ukraine in 1932-1933, the Holodomor, [induced starvation,
death for millions, genocide] the section of the Holodomor legislation
recommended by the president establishing administrative fines for public
denial of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is very alarming.
Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union fifteen years
ago and is supposed to be a country that now believes strongly in and
protects freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This section of
the legislation destroys freedom of speech and freedom of the press and
one would hope, would be absolutely unconstitutional in Ukraine.
This section of the legislation has no place whatsoever in a free and
independent society. There should be a public outcry in Ukraine and
around the world to have this section of the legislation withdrawn. (See
article two above for the draft legislation) AUR EDITOR Morgan Williams
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7. LANGUAGE AND FAMINE: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI
LAVROV IDENTIFIES THE TWO MOST ACUTE ISSUES IN KIEV
Attempts made to portray the famine as "ethnocide of the Ukrainian people"
By Svetlana Stepanenko, Vremya Novostei, No. 206
Moscow, Russia, Thursday, November 9, 2006
MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Kiev
yesterday with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister
Viktor Yanukovych, and Speaker Alexander Moroz. Lavrov and
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasiuk chaired the first meeting of
the Yushchenko-Putin commission's international cooperation sub-
committee, discussing over twenty issues. Three technical documents
were signed, defining the sub-committee's regulations and results.
The date for a Putin-Yushchenko meeting remains uncertain,
although Lavrov's visit to Kiev was supposed to clarify that. As
Lavrov explained, the two presidents will meet within the framework
of the Yushchenko-Putin Ukrainian-Russian interstate commission.
However, the commission can't convene at the presidential level
until its defense and humanitarian cooperation sub-committees have
met. Citing a source close to the negotiations, the Interfax Ukraine
news agency reported yesterday that the defense sub-committee will
meet on December 4. The date for Putin's visit to Ukraine may be set
after that.
Tarasiuk called on Lavrov to stop "politicizing" bilateral
relations and focus on "the lives and actual needs of citizens." The
two foreign minister discussed social guarantees, pension payments,
and expanding the network of border-crossing checkpoints.
The language issue was also mentioned. Lavrov said: "We want to
ensure equal rights for Ukrainians in Russia and Russians in Ukraine,
on a reciprocal basis, so that their wish to speak and think in their
native language can be satisfied to the maximal extent."
They also discussed the conclusion to sea border demarcation and the
start of land demarcation, and the terms for withdrawing Russia's Black
Sea Fleet from Ukrainian territory after 2017.
TWO MOST ACUTE ISSUES IN BILATERAL RELATIONS
After meeting with Yushchenko and Moroz, Lavrov said that the
two most acute issues in bilateral relations are the famine in
Ukraine and reciprocal language use. Yushchenko and Moroz told
Lavrov that the Ukrainian language needs support, since it's been
displaced almost entirely in Ukraine's eastern and central regions.
On the topic of mass starvation in Ukraine in the 1920s and 1930s,
Moroz said that "this tragedy actually happened, and it must not
become the object of silencing or speculations."
At Lavrov's meeting with Yanukovych, it was noted that efforts
to overcome inertia in bilateral relations, including economic
relations, are finally succeeding.
Bilateral trade turnover rose by one-third between July and September,
to $900 million. Yanukovych assured Lavrov that Ukraine will not only
defend its own interests, but also take Russia's interests into account.
Ukrainian political analyst Vladimir Malinkovich says that the
discussion of the language problem at the interstate level is a
positive factor, since "the topic of two languages will be relevant
in Ukraine for a long time to come, with a substantial proportion of
its residents being Russian-speakers."
But Malinkovich describes the famine issue as "artificially inflated,"
since attempts are being made to portray the famine as "ethnocide of
the Ukrainian people" - even though its victims included one million
Kazakhs and 2 million residents of Russia as well as 4 million
Ukrainians.
"If the famine is recognized at the international level as genocide directed
against the Ukrainians, that would raise the question of Russia
being the Soviet Union's successor state and its accountability for
Soviet actions" - which is certainly a cause of concern for Moscow.
Malinkovich notes that Russia has "made some progress on the
question of dividing the waters of the Sea of Azov, agreeing that
the decision should be based on the principles of international
law."
But it's "premature" to talk of withdrawing the Russian Black
Sea Fleet, according to Malinkovich. The Black Sea Fleet question
will be decided closer to 2017, when present-day leaders "will have
long since left office" and other people take charge of Russia and
Ukraine. (Translated by Elena Leonova) -30-
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8. PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT PLEASED PARTY OF REGIONS TO
DISCUSS RECOGNITION OF UKRAINIAN FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
Aim is to "restore historical justice and to avoid such tragedies in future."
Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 9, 2006
KYIV - The Secretariat of the President of Ukraine is pleased by the
majority coalition's plan to discuss urgent recognition of the Ukrainian
artificial famine, known as the Holodomor in Ukrainian, as an act of
genocide, according to presidential secretariat first deputy head Ivan
Vasiunik.
Commenting on Regions Party faction leader Raisa Bohatyriova's proposals
regarding a presidential draft bill on the Holodomor on Thursday, Vasiunik
said the secretariat would soon host discussions on the issue with a variety
of political forces and experts.
The topic of the Holodomor may also be a subject for discussion in the
political council under the president. He said the presidential draft bill's
aim was to "restore historical justice and to avoid such tragedies in
future."
He said the norm of the draft bill introducing administrative punishment for
public denial of the Holodomor as genocide would prevent political
speculation by 'political outsiders.'
He said denial of the tragedy of the Jewish Holocaust is prohibited by law
in at least ten countries.
"It is appropriate to mention here that [Premier Viktor] Yanukovych's
government took significant steps to recognize the Holodomor in 2003. Now,
the government is demonstrating the logic of its position," Vasiunik said.
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9. 65% OF UKRAINIANS POLLED BELIEVE 1932-1933 FAMINE
WAS CAUSED BY ACTIONS OF AUTHORITIES
11.4% expressed the belief famine was caused by a natural phenomenon
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 9, 2006
KYIV - 65.1% of Ukrainians polled by the Kyiv International Institute of
Sociology (KIIS) believe that the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine was caused
by the actions of the authorities. This is indicated by the results of the
poll, a text of which Ukrainian News obtained.
Respondents in the poll were asked whether they thought that the famine was
caused mainly by the actions of the authorities or by a natural phenomenon.
Out of the respondents who expressed the belief that the famine was caused
by the actions of the authorities, 79.5% were in western Ukraine, 72.6% in
central Ukraine, 59.1% in southern Ukraine, and 46.3% in eastern Ukraine.
Moreover, 11.4% of the respondents expressed the belief that the famine was
caused by a natural phenomenon (5.3% in western Ukraine, 7.1% in central
Ukraine, 15.2% in southern Ukraine, and 19.6% in eastern Ukraine).
Meanwhile, 5.1% said they had not thought about the cause of the famine,
12.7% said they could not answer the question, while 5.7% said they had
not heard about the famine.
54.8% expressed the belief that the authorities deliberately organized the
famine (this belief was expressed by 73.3% of respondents in western
Ukraine, 64.1% in central Ukraine, 45.2% in southern Ukraine, and 33.1%
in eastern Ukraine).
3.7% said they did not believe that the authorities deliberately organized
the famine (1.3% in western Ukraine, 2.3% in central Ukraine, 4.5% in
southern Ukraine, and 7.3% in eastern Ukraine), 5.9% said they could not
say, 0.6% said they did not think about it, while 35% said they had not
heard about the famine or did not connect it with the actions of the
authorities.
Moreover, respondents were asked whether the famine was aimed at all
residents of Ukraine, regardless of their ethnicity, or only at ethnic
Ukrainians.
33.3% expressed the belief that the famine was aimed at all residents of
Ukraine (35.7% in western Ukraine, 41.5% in central Ukraine, 31.8% in
southern Ukraine, and 20.6% in eastern Ukraine).
14.3% said the famine was aimed only at ethnic Ukrainians (30% in western
Ukraine, 13.3% in central Ukraine, 7.4% in southern Ukraine, and 7.6% in
eastern Ukraine).
6.1% said they were unable to answer this question, 1% said they did not
think about it, while 45.3% said they had not heard about the famine or did
not connect it with deliberate actions of the authorities.
KIIS polled 2,012 people in all regions of Ukraine from September 8 to 14.
The statistical margin of error does not exceed 2.3%.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, various estimates put the number of
people killed by the famine in Ukraine at between 3 million and 7 million.
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10. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WRITES LETTER TO GEORGE BUSH
THANKING HIM FOR SIGNING LAW TO GIVE UKRAINE A
PLACE IN WASHINGTON TO BUILD A HOLODOMOR MONUMENT
Press Office of the President of Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
KYIV - Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko has written a letter to U.S.
President George Bush to thank him for signing a law to give Ukraine's
government a plot of land in Washington on which to erect a Holodomor
monument [1932-1933 Holodomor - induced starvation, death for millions,
genocide, in Soviet Ukraine, (Action Ukraine Report - AUR)]
"I thank you for honoring millions of innocent people whose lives were put
on the dreadful altar of the totalitarian Soviet regime. A monument in the
heart of the free world, Washington, will remind us that freedom and
democracy can guarantee that this terrible tragedy will never happen again,"
he wrote.
The President also sent letters to U.S. Senator Carl Levin [Democrat-
Michigan] and U.S. Representative Sandy Levin [Democrat - Michigan]
to thank them for helping pass the bill in the Senate and the House.
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11. RUSSIA INITIATES FORMATION OF UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN
COMMISSION ON STUDYING 1932-1933 FAMINE IN UKRAINE
UNIAN, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, 10 November, 2006
KYIV - Russia initiates formation of the Ukrainian-Russian Commission on
studying 1932 to 1933 famine in Ukraine, NCRU reports.
This was disclosed by Deputy Chief of the Presidential Secretariat Oleksandr
Chalyi. Russian recognition of the famine in Ukraine was considered at a
meeting between President Viktor Yushchenko and Russian Prime Minister
Sergei Lavrov.
The Russian Foreign Minister put the matter into a question as he believes
the problem's solution is disputable.
Oleksandr Chalyi noted that the President stated his surprise of Russia's
lack of understanding of a necessity of the issue and suggested to exchange
ideas on strategic approaches in solution of this matter. -30-
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12. PRES SURPRISED AT RUSSIA'S LACK OF UNDERSTANDING
OF IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING HOLODOMOR OF
1932-1933 AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIANS
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko is surprised that Russia cannot
understand the importance of recognizing the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a
Genocide of the Ukrainian nation. The Presidential Secretariat deputy head
for external policy Andrii Chalyi reported this at a briefing.
"Yuschenko pronounced his surprise that the Russian party does not
understand importance of this question for Ukraine and proposed to exchange
opinions about strategic approaches to his decision and also called on
searching for consolidated decisions in order to tell people the truth about
those events that took place", said Chalyi.
According to him, Yuschenko during the meeting with Russian Foreign Affairs
Minister, Serhii Lavrov, proposed that a common commission be created,
which would include historians and scientists who could work on this
question.
As the Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Foreign Affairs Ministry was
surprised by the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement that Ukraine promotes
a campaign of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 subject.
Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk hopes that the General Assembly of the
United Nations Organization of the fall of 2007 will recognize Holodomor of
1932-1933 as genocide against Ukrainian people.
Yuschenko proposed the Verkhovna Rada to recognize Holodomor of
1932-1933 as Genocide against Ukrainian people. -30-
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13. UKRAINIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY CALLS ON YUSHCHENKO TO
ISSUE A DECREE TO ABOLISH SYMBOLS OF SOVIET REGIME
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
KYIV - The Ukrainian Republican Party (UPP) has called on President Viktor
Yushchenko to abolish the remaining symbols of the Soviet totalitarian
regime in Ukraine. The party made the call in an appeal to Yushchenko, a
text of which Ukrainian News obtained.
The UPP is calling on Yuschenko to issue a decree entitled 'On Abolition
of the Symbols of the Totalitarian Regime on the Territory of Ukraine.'
The party stressed in the appeal that the generation of Ukrainians who were
born in independent Ukraine will participate in the presidential and
legislative elections at all levels for the first time during the next
election cycle.
According to the party, these are people who are presently 15 years old and
whose civic consciousness is presently developing. It stressed that the
future of the country would depend largely on the slogans that accompany
these processes.
According to the party, a split into two can be observed in this sphere
because the country has its own coat of arms, anthem, flag, and
Constitution; it is immortalizing the names of its leading national
activists.
That not withstanding, the party says that symbols of the former USSR
remain in many Ukrainian towns and villages and that old street names
remain.
'At the same time, symbols of the totalitarian regime still 'beautify' the
facades of buildings in many towns and villages of Ukraine while the names
of Lenin, Frunze, Kirov, Postyshev, and other punishers of the Ukrainian
people remain in the names of streets,' the appeal states.
UPP said that the active presidential decree of February 2001 that directed
local government organs to ensure removal of symbols of the former USSR,
former Soviet republics, and slogans of the Communist Party of the USSR
during reconstruction of buildings does not solve this problem because it
does not provides for mandatory removal of these symbols.
Moreover, the party said that the previous Ukrainian parliaments considered
several draft laws on removal of such symbols but rejected the draft laws
due to the efforts of the Communist Party's parliamentary faction.
UPP believes that the current parliament will also be unable to adopt such
an important decision.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Parliamentary Deputy Levko Lukianenko
of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc has proposed that the parliament abolish all
Soviet names and all symbols of the former USSR all over Ukraine within
three months (draft law No.2332 entitled 'On Abolition of the Symbols and
Names of the Former USSR in Ukraine,' which was registered with the
parliament on October 16).
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14. IVANO-FRANKIVSK REGIONAL COUNCIL CALLS ON RADA TO
RECOGNIZE 1932-1933 HOLODOMOR AS AN ACT OF GENOCIDE
AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 10, 2006
KYIV - The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council has called on the Rada to
recognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as Genocide against the Ukrainian
people. This appeal to the Rada was adopted at the 6th session of the
Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council on November 10.
"The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council asks you (members of parliament) to
overcome political disputes and support the draft bill proposed by President
Viktor Yushchenko On the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine", states the
document.
The deputies believe, that the adoption of this bill will be of extreme
public-and-political, historic and moral importance for the Ukrainian
society. "It will promote its consolidation and strengthening of our state's
international authority", says the appeal.
The regional council deputies reminded the members of parliament, that the
question of the necessity of working out his bill, in which political-and-
legal assessment of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as Genocide in
Ukraine was made, was repeatedly raised during the Verkhovna Rada
proceedings.
"In particular, this demand is expressed in the recommendations approved by
the Verkhovna Rada resolution No, 607-4 of March 6, 2003", emphasize the
deputies.
As Ukrainian News reported, Yuschenko proposed Rada to recognize the
Holodomor of 1932-1933 as Genocide against Ukrainian people. The
Holodomor of 1932-1933 is recognized as an act of Genocide against
the Ukrainian people by the parliaments of 10 countries. -30-
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FOOTNOTE: Many times in information distributed by the Presidential
Administration and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ukraine it is stated
that the Congress of the United States has specifically recognized the
Holodomor of 1932-1933 as an act of Genocide against the Ukrainian
people. I am not aware of any resolution or law passed by the U.S.
Congress that meets this criteria. AUR EDITOR
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15. RUSSIA: NO REASONS TO REGARD 1932-1933 FAMINE IN
UKRAINE AS ETHNIC GENOCIDE
Itar-Tass, Moscow, Russia, Monday, November 13, 2006
MOSCOW -- However tragic the 1932-1933 events in Ukraine were,
there are no reasons to regard them as genocide under ethnic principle,
says the commentary of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday in
connection with the discussion in the press of the 1932-1933 famine in
Ukraine.
It is quite often stated that famine in that period "was deliberately
provoked by the leadership of the USSR and aimed precisely against the
Ukrainian people," the ministry noted. "The existing archive materials
indicate that the massive famine of the early 30s indeed largely stemmed
from the policy of the Soviet Union's leadership," the foreign ministry
said.
"It is quite clear, however, that the policy was not based on nationalities
principle." "We all should take a more balanced attitude to such complicated
and sensitive matters of our common history, and not to allow for their
politicisation," the ministry said.
The ministry recalled that "at the 58th session of the UN General Assembly
in 2003 most countries, members of the CIS, including Ukraine and Russia,
as well as many other states, adopted a joint statement expressing deep
grief over the deaths of millions of Ukrainians, Russians, Kazakhs and
people of other ethnic origin claimed by famine in those years."
"However tragic those events were, there are no reasons to define them as
genocide for ethnic reasons," the ministry stressed. "This statement was
circulated as an official document of the United Nations."
Russia "has a grievous memory of the tragedy that took the toll of millions
of lives of Ukrainians, Russians, Kazakhs, and people of other ethnic groups
of the Soviet Union." "This is our common grief and common memory," the
ministry said.
"At the meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with Ukrainian
leaders on November 8 an understanding was reached in principle about
in-depth study of this problem by historians of the two countries," the
ministry said. -30-
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16. RUSSIA AGAINST POLITICIZING UKRAINIAN FAMINE ISSUE
SAYS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Interfax, Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
MOSCOW - The issue of the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine, the Holodomor,
must not be politicized, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website on
Monday.
"We all should take a more balanced approach to such complex and painful
issues of our modern history to prevent them from being politicized," the
ministry said.
The Ukrainian press suggested "that the famine at that time was deliberately
provoked by the Soviet leadership and was aimed exclusively against the
Ukrainian people," the ministry said.
"Indeed, the archive documents available to us indicate that the mass famine
in the early 1930s was largely triggered by the policy of the then Soviet
government. However, it is quite obvious that it [the policy] did not target
any certain ethnic group," it said.
"At the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in 2003, most CIS
member-countries, including Ukraine and Russia, as well as a large number of
other states adopted a joint statement extending profound condolences over
the millions of Ukrainians, Russians, Kazakhs and representatives of other
ethnicities who were victims of the famine," the ministry said.
"Although the events of that period were a tragedy, there are no grounds to
describe them as an act of genocide along ethnic lines. This statement was
circulated as the UN's official document," the ministry said.
"Today people recall the tragedy which claimed the lives of the millions of
Ukrainians, Russians, Kazakhs and representatives of other peoples in the
Soviet Union with sadness. This is our common pain and common memory,"
it said.
"Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov and senior
Ukrainian officials agreed in principle at their meeting on November 8 that
our countries' historians will continue studying this problem in great
detail," the ministry said. -30-
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17. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REGARDS HOLODOMOR OF
1932-33 NOT AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
There are no reasons for interpreting this event as ethnic Genocide
Ukrainian News Service, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
KYIV - Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry does not regard the Holodomor
of 1932-1933 as Genocide act against the Ukrainians.
This reads the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry's press service report, text
of which Ukrainian News has obtained.
According to the statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry is not agree with the
thesis that starvation of 1932-1933 was not only deliberately provoked by
USSR authorities but directed at the Ukrainian nation alone.
In Russia's Foreign Ministry opinion, archive materials as to this testify
that mass starvation of the early 30's was really much conditioned by then
Soviet Union authorities policy but it is absolutely evident, that it was
pursued not on the national basis.
"All of us should treat more balanced such complicated and painful questions
of our mutual history, prevent their politization", tells the press service
statement.
According to the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry data, in 2003 at the 58th
session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization most
member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, including
Ukraine and Russia, and also many other states adopted a mutual statement
in which they expressed their deep sympathy to millions of Ukrainians,
Russians, Kazakhs and representatives of the other nations that fell prey to
starvation of those years.
"Taking all the tragedy of then events into account, there are no reasons
for interpreting this as ethnic Genocide," this statement was distributed as
an official UN document.
"Today Russian people with bitterness remember this tragedy, which took
lives of millions of Ukrainians, Russians, Kazakhs and representatives of
the other Soviet Union nations. It is our common pain and common memory",
tells the press service statement.
According to the statement, on November 8 during the meeting of the Russian
Foreign Affairs Minister, Serhii Lavrov, with Ukrainian authorities they
reached principal agreement on further studying of this problem by the
historians of both countries.
As Ukrainian News already reported, early October President Viktor Yuschenko
proposed Verkhovna Rada to recognize Holodomor of 1932-1933 as Genocide
against Ukrainian people.
In October Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasiuk hoped that the General
Assembly of the United Nations Organization of the fall of 2007 would
recognize Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide against Ukrainian people.
In April Russia spoke against politization of situation around recognizing
Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide against Ukrainian people. Holodomor
of 1932-1933 was recognized as Genocide act against the Ukrainians by the
parliaments of 10 countries. -30-
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18. UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES MOSCOW'S
SOFTENING POSITION ON RECOGNIZING UKRAINIAN
1932-1933 FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
KYIV - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry appreciates the latest, softer,
comments by the press department of Russian Foreign Ministry on the
recognition of the Ukrainian artificial famine of 1932-1933 as act genocide
against the Ukrainian people.
"The tone of the comment is more favorable than that of the previous
comment. The very fact that the tone of the comment is more favorable,
indicates that the talks between [Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk
and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov] were not fruitless," Andriy
Deschytsia, the top spokesman for the Ukrainian ministry, said at a briefing
in Kyiv on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Russian foreign ministry urged Ukraine not to politicize the
topic of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, also known as Holodomor, as
the tragedy was not an act of genocide against Ukrainians alone, and killed
people of all ethnic groups of Ukraine, including Russians.
Deschytsia said Lavrov discussed the topic during his visit to Ukraine with
President Viktor Yuschenko and the leadership of the Ukrainian ministry.
"We appreciate the fact that Russia considers it appropriate to conducted a
more detailed study of the topic by historians of the two countries, and we
hope that the work will continue," the Ukrainian spokesman said.
Ukraine, however, will continue initiating the recognition of the Holodomor
as genocide against the Ukrainian people at the level pf bilateral
negotiations and at the level of international organizations, he said. -30-
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19. UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER COUNTS KEY DISAGREEMENTS
WITH RUSSIA: FAMINE, LANGUAGE, BLACK SEA FLEET, AZOV SEA
Interfax Ukraine News, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 15, 2006
MOSCOW - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk has said he "radically"
disagrees with the Russian Foreign Ministry's positions regarding the
so-called Famine, a massive famine in the Soviet Ukraine in 1932-1933, and
the status of the Russian language in Ukraine and mentioned other important
issues on which the two countries have disagreements.
"If Russia sticks to the position voiced in its Foreign Ministry's
statements that commemorating the victims of the Famine is an anti-Russian
campaign, we cannot reach mutual understanding. This interpretation of the
Famine is absurd and disrespectful toward the Ukrainian people's
sufferings," Tarasiuk said in an interview published in the Wednesday issue
of Vremya Novostei.
Ukraine is not seeking the recognition of one or another people in Russia as
personally responsible for the Famine, but "we cannot ignore the memory of
seven to ten million of innocent victims, who were our fathers and
grandfathers," Tarasiuk said.
"Ukraine also deems inaccurate the Russian Foreign Ministry statements
regarding the discrimination of the Russian language. When the first
Ukrainian school opens in Russia for the 4.5 million [ethnic] Ukrainians,
then we can talk at least about getting nearer to parity and mutual
respect," Tarasiuk said.
Another issue on which Ukraine and Russia hold opposing views is the
observance of the agreements on the presence of the Russian Black Sea
Fleet in the Ukrainian territory, Tarasiuk said.
"Whatever government comes to power in Ukraine, it cannot ignore the
constitution, which bans the presence of foreign troops in the country's
territory. The president has clearly voiced Ukraine's position: we have
obligations on the Russian Black Sea Fleet only until 2017," he said.
Tarasiuk also said he does not see "a platform for a compromise in the
issue of the Kerch Strait."
"An administrative borderline between the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was defined
in early 1940 and was later confirmed repeatedly, including on the Soviet
General Staff's maps.
The former Soviet republics automatically recognized the Soviet
administrative borders as national ones in 1991. And now the Russians are
suddenly telling us that there was no border in the Kerch Strait. So what
way should we take to find a compromise?" Tarasiuk said.
"As for the delimitation of borders in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea,
we can find a solution here if we abide by international maritime law, as
proposed in a report by the co-chairmen of the commissions.
But the delimitation of borders in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea still
hinges on the definition of the border in the Kerch Strait. The point
through which the border in the Kerch Strait runs to the Sea of Azov in fact
defines how the maritime borders are to be delimited," he said. -30-
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20. PRES YUSHCHENKO URGES GOVERNORS TO HOLD EVENTS
DEDICATED TO DAY OF MEMORY OF FAMINE VICTIMS
AND VICTIMS OF POLITICAL REPRESSIONS ON NOVEMBER 25
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 16, 2006
KYIV - President Viktor Yuschenko has urged chairmen of city state
administrations of Kyiv and Sevastopol, regional state administrations and
chairmen of the Crimean Council of Ministers to hold events dedicated to the
day in memory of famine victims and victims of political repressions on
November 25. The presidential press service has disclosed this to Ukrainian
News.
In particular, Yuschenko urged heads of regions to organize laying of
mourning wreaths to the monuments and at the sites of burying.
The president also proposes to step up work via attraction of studying youth
on collecting documentary materials, evidences of people living at the time
of famine, on studying local archive materials, and also to organize
correspondent thematic exhibitions.
Yuschenko considers it necessary to attract people to participate in the
events and to participate in national event entitled Light a Candle!
He also urged chairmen of the state administrations to address head of
religious organizations requesting to hold requiems in the morning of
November 25.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yuschenko had urged First Deputy Head
of the Presidential Secretariat Ivan Vasiunyk and Vice Premier Dmytro
Tabachnyk to hold Day in memory of victims of famine and political
repressions.
About three-seven million people died due to famine in Ukraine in 1932-1933.
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21. UKRAINE CALLS ON SLOVAKIA TO RECOGNIZE 1932-1933
FAMINE AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 16, 2006
KYIV - Ukraine has called on Slovakia to recognize the 1932-1933 famine in
Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. The presidential
press service announced this to Ukrainian News.
According to the press service, President Viktor Yuschenko made this call
during a meeting with Slovakia's Parliament Speaker Pavol Paska.
Yuschenko also confirmed during the meeting that Ukraine's European-
integration aspirations remained unchanged.
Yuschenko said that Ukraine was interested in cooperation with the European
Union in the energy industry, particularly in the area of facilitating
deliveries of energy resources to the European Union and diversifying the
routes for their delivery.
Yuschenko and Paska discussed development of political dialogue as well as
trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia.
Yuschenko expressed gratitude to Slovakia for meeting the cultural and
educational needs of its Ukrainian ethnic minority.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yuschenko proposed in early November
that the Ukrainian parliament declare the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine as an
act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
In October, Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasiuk expressed the hope that
member-countries of the United Nations Organization would recognize the
1932-1933 famine in Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian
people during the autumn 2007 session of the General Assembly of the
organization.
Russia has expressed opposition to politicization of the situation
surrounding the efforts to secure recognition of the 1932-1933 famine in
Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
The parliaments of several countries have recognized the 1932-1933 famine
in Ukraine as an act of genocide. -30-
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22. YUSHCHENKO CALLING ON RADA TO DECLARE 1932-1933
FAMINE AS GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
Ukrainians should find in themselves the bravery
to declare that the nation was the victim of a terrible crime - the crime of
genocide - that should never be repeated and convince others of this.
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, November 16, 2006
KYIV - President Viktor Yuschenko is calling on the parliament to declare
the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian
people. The presidential press service announced this.
'In connection with the need to establish historical justice, moral and
spiritual healing of the Ukrainian people, I am calling on all Ukrainian
people's deputies to back the draft law of Ukraine "On the 1932-1933
Famine in Ukraine,'' the press service quoted Yuschenko as saying.
Yuschenko stressed that since independence the Ukrainian authorities have
repeatedly stated that the famine was an act of genocide: in decisions and
public statements of all the three presidents and other leaders of the
country as well as in resolutions of the parliament.
According to Yuschenko, Ukrainians should find in themselves the bravery
to declare that the nation was the victim of a terrible crime - the crime of
genocide - that should never be repeated and convince others of this.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yuschenko submitted to the parliament
the draft law 'On the 1932-1933 Famine in Ukraine,' in which he proposed
that the parliament declare the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine as an act of
genocide against the Ukrainian people.
According to various estimates, between 3 million and 7 million people died
in the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine. The parliaments of 10 countries have
recognized the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine as an act of genocide. -30-
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23. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SEEKS SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT
FOR BILL DECLARING SOVIET-ERA FAMINE GENOCIDE
The author of this evil act was Stalin's regime
Associated Press (AP), Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov 16, 2006
KIEV, Ukraine -- President Viktor Yushchenko appealed to lawmakers on
Thursday to support legislation declaring the Soviet-era famine that killed
up to 10 million people in Ukraine as genocide, a move that Russia has
strongly opposed.
Moscow has argued that the 1932-33 famine was part of Communist Party
repressions that also targeted other ethnic groups in the former Soviet
Union, and that it is wrong to single out the Ukrainian people and call it a
genocide against them.
The Great Famine, as the event is known by Ukrainians, was started by Soviet
dictator Josef Stalin when he ordered the government to seize crops as part
of a campaign to force Ukrainian peasants to join collective farms.
"We aren't accusing any people, any country or anyone in Ukraine of
genocide," Yushchenko said in his letter to the 450-member parliament.
"That is not the aim of this bill. The author of this evil act was Stalin's
regime."
No vote has been scheduled on the bill.
The issue remains highly charged in the former Soviet republic because
calling it genocide would amount to an indictment of Soviet policies --
something some Communists and many pro-Russian politicians oppose.
Russia, as the successor state of the Soviet Union, has also been reluctant
to look too deeply into Communist-era crimes.
Ten countries have already recognized the famine as genocide, including the
United States, Canada and Austria.
Yushchenko noted that all three presidents since Ukraine's 1991 independence
from the Soviet Union have supported the effort, and he said opinion polls
show most Ukrainians support such a pronouncement.
"Ukrainians have to find in themselves the courage to recognize this and
convince others that our nation became the victim of a horrible evil -- the
evil of genocide that can never be allowed to happen again," Yushchenko
said. -30-
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24. TYMOSHENKO BLOC SUPPORTS RECOGNITION OF HOLODOMOR
AS AN ACT OF GENOCIDE AGAINST UKRAINIAN NATION
BYUT leader complains Pres Yushchenko not to be present to support bill
ForUm, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 17, 2006
KYIV - Parliamentarian Serhiy Polishchuk, member of the BYuT faction,
declares that BYuT will second the draft bill on recognition of Holodomor
as an act of genocide against Ukrainian nation. He told Friday in an interview
to journalists.
"Our position is unanimous. We will vote for the bill and will insist on
giving it not only first reading, but general approval," the deputy said.
He assumed that SPU and PR factions will vote against the bill as these
deputies perceive unfriendly actions as regards Russia in approval of this
document.
"I do not understand what it has to do with Russia. We consider it a
genocide of the Ukrainian people and both Ukrainians and Russians
suffered from it. Everyone, who lived on the territory of Ukraine at that
time suffered," the MP stated.
At the same time, Polishchuk complained that President Yushchenko does
not intend to be present in the VR during consideration of the bill.
"Yushchenko sent a letter to the VR with a request to support this draft
bill, but did not appear personally. I don't know if he is afraid of the
parliament or he is absolutely indifferent to what he writes," the deputy
noted. -30-
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25. SOME IN UKRAINE WANT WEAKER SOVIET-ERA FAMINE BILL
REMOVING THE WORD "GENOCIDE" FROM IT
Proposed dropping genocide, calling 1932-33 Great Famine a tragedy instead
By Natasha Lisova, Associated Press Writer
Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, November 17, 2006
KIEV, Ukraine - President Viktor Yushchenko's bid to include the word
"genocide" in legislation on the Soviet-era famine that killed up to 10
million people in Ukraine ran into difficulties Friday from lawmakers
seeking to water the bill down.
Some lawmakers allied to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, bowing to
Kremlin complaints, proposed dropping the word and calling the 1932-33
Great Famine a tragedy instead.
Ukraine's 450-member parliament failed to consider the bill submitted by
Yushchenko and instead registered their own version.
The move is a blow to Yushchenko, who had personally lobbied lawmakers to
pass his bill ahead of the Nov. 25 anniversary, saying Ukraine must have the
courage to convince the rest of the world of its position.
The Great Famine was started by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin when he ordered
the government to seize crops as part of a campaign to force Ukrainian
peasants to join collective farms. The famine is already recognized as a
genocide by 10 countries, including the United States, but such a move is
strongly opposed by Russia.
Moscow has argued that the famine was part of Communist repression that also
targeted other ethnic groups in the former Soviet Union and should not be
considered a genocide against the Ukrainian people. Russia, the successor
state to the Soviet Union, has been reluctant to tread too deeply on
Soviet-era crimes.
Roman Zvarych, Yushchenko's representative in parliament, criticized
attempts to water down the bill. "A tragedy is not necessarily a planned
action. It can be caused by natural reasons," said Zvarych, noting that if
Yanukovych's allies do not want to recognize the famine as genocide, they
must say it openly.
Yanukovych's ally Taras Chornovil, however, said that ultimately he thinks
Yushchenko's bill - with the word "genocide" - will be supported. "Some
lawmakers just need time to study the real facts about the famine,"
Chornovil told The Associated Press. "Recently, they've gotten a lot of
confusing information."
Ukrainian Communists also strongly oppose declaring the famine a genocide.
Yanukovych's pro-Russian party won March parliamentary elections and
formed a governing coalition, pledging to improve relations with Russia. -30-
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26. UKRAINIAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DECIDED TO POSTPONE
INDEFINITELY BILL TO RECOGNIZE 1930'S FAMINE AS GENOCIDE
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1300 gmt 17 Nov 06
BBC Monitoring Service, United Kingdom, Friday, Nov 17, 2006
KYIV - The Supreme Council of Ukraine [parliament] has decided to
postpone indefinitely the consideration of a bill that recognizes the 1930s
famine as genocide of the Ukrainian nation.
Yesterday, speaker Oleksandr Moroz assured Ukrainian President Viktor
Yushchenko [who tabled the bill] that parliament will support it.
The bill which was to be considered today includes a provision on
administrative responsibility for a refusal to recognize in public the
famine as the act of genocide.
MPs decided not to consider the bill despite the president's request to do
so.
Ukraine will mark the famine anniversary on 25 November. Eight countries
of the world, including the USA, Australia and a number of European states,
have recognized the famine as a deliberate crime against the Ukrainian
people.
[Interfax-Ukraine reported at 1157 gmt on 17 November that the council of
the parliamentary coalition made a proposal to amend the bill by replacing
the words "genocide of the Ukrainian nation" with the phrase "the famine to
which the Ukrainian people fell victim" and to form a working group which
would continue working on the bill.] -30-
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27. UKRAINE'S PARLIAMENT POSTPONED CONSIDERATION OF
THE BILL ON RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE
Working on new draft of the Holodomor of 1932-1933
FORUM, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 17, 2006
KYIV - There are two draft bills of Holodomor of 1932-33 years in Ukraine,
leader of the SPU faction Vasyl Tsushko told journalists. One document
submitted by the President, the second one was worked out by the deputies -
members of Party of regions.
"In order not to turn the situation with Holodomor into Satanic dances on
tombs we decided to set these two draft bills on repeated first reading and
to form a working group to find a way out," the deputy said.
He noted that the parliamentary majority proposes to remove the wording
"genocide of the nation" from the bill and to write "Holodomor, that the
Ukrainian people suffered from," as it is written in the Constitution.
"When we write 'genocide of the nation' we mean only one nationality -
Ukrainians. But Holodomor annihilated all nationalities; it was a tragedy of
the Ukrainian village. I can cite my family as an example. I am a Moldavian
born on the territory of Ukraine. My ancestors lived in Ukraine. And if to
write 'genocide of the nation' my nationality won't be included. That is
unfair," Tsushko underlined.
The deputy also asked how to treat Crimea, which belonged to Russia in
1932-33 years, but now is the part of Ukraine.
First vice speaker Adam Maartynyuk proposed not to consider the draft bill
on Holodomor today, but to proceed to the next item of the agenda for lack
of time. 236 deputies supported this decision. -30-
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28. COMMEMORATION OF THE HOLODOMOR AT THE UN
The Ukrainian Weekly, Parsippany, NY, Sunday, Nov 12, 2006
On the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the 1932-1933 Great Famine
(Holodomor) in Ukraine, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United
Nations will hold a special commemorative event on Tuesday, Nov. 21,
2006 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The commemoration will take place at the Dag Hammarskjold Library
Auditorium of the United Nations. Presentations will be by Prof. Taras
Hunczak and Prof. Mark L. von Hagen.
Those wishing to attend should notify the Mission of Ukraine via fax
(212-355-9455), or e-mail (vpohribnyi@yahoo.com), if possible by Nov.
17, 2006, so that necessary arrangements for U.N. ground passes could
be made on time.
The ground passes will be available for pick-up on November 21 beginning
from 2 p.m at the Visitor’s Entrance to the U.N. Headquarters (Fist Avenue
between 45th an 46th streets). The invitation comes from Viktor
Kryzhanivskyi, Charge d’Affaires.
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29. BUILD THE HOLODOMOR COMPLEX NOW
Holodomor - induced starvation, death for millions, genocide of 1932-1933
OP-ED: By Morgan Williams
Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sep 07 2006
Among the major crimes committed against the Ukrainian people, the
Holodomor of 1932-1933 (induced starvation-death for millions-genocide)
stands apart and forms a category of its own.
It fits the criteria for genocide according to the United Nations Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The 75th
commemoration of the Holodomor takes place in 2007-2008.
The deliberate starvation of millions of Ukrainian citizens and the horrible
suffering endured by millions more is seen as the most destructive and
costliest in terms of human lives in Ukraine's history. Its main target was
the peasantry, the mainstay of the Ukrainian nation.
A large portion of Ukrainian peasants died and the Kremlin engineered
the execution of a large part of Ukrainian national elites (cultural,
educational, religious, political).
Millions of these victims died from starvation, others were executed
with a shot in the head, or sent to the gulag to die.
The genocide against the Ukrainian nation as a whole and included the
Ukrainian minority living in the RSFSR, especially the Kuban region of the
Northern Caucasus, where the Ukrainian peasantry was starved to death,
and a large part of the Ukrainian elites physically exterminated. This
Ukrainian ethnic minority should also be remembered.
HOLODOMOR COMPLEX
Dr. James Mace, outstanding U.S. scholar on the Holodomor, called for the
establishment of a Holodomor Commemoration, Educational, Research and
Historical Complex in Kyiv. Sadly, Mace's many calls fell on deaf ears.
Leaders in Ukraine and around the world have felt strongly it was important
for the Ukrainian genocide to find its proper place in the collective memory
of the Ukrainian nation and the world community after being covered up and
denied by the Soviet Government for 55 years.
In 2002 the Ukrainian World Congress called for the building of a complex.
I wrote an opinion piece in the Kyiv Post back on Nov. 28, 2002.
On Feb. 12, 2003, the humanitarian deputy prime minister at that time,
Dmytro Tabachnyk, representing the government, called the famine a
voluntary terrorist act that claimed the lives of up to 10 million people,
and turned Ukrainian villages into "a horrible social reservation the size
of which shocked the entire world," in a hearing before Parliament.
Minister Tabachnyk announced the government was planning to build a
National Famine Memorial Complex to include a monument, museum and
a historical research center.
President Yushchenko told the IV World Forum of Ukrainians
recently that he would make sure a Holodomor complex is built by fall
2008. He said the complex would be appropriate to the level of the tragedy.
COMPLEX NEEDS TO BE BUILT NOW
The Holodomor Complex needs to be built now. It must be a separate,
stand-alone institution, not combined with another facility, or organization
that covers other repression events or periods in Ukrainian history. It must
be wholly devoted to the Ukrainian genocide.
The historical complex should be a world-class structure with a research
center, library, exhibition hall, museum, monument, chapel, archive center,
bookstore and memorial gallery, as in the leading historical centers of the
world.
There are precedents for this type of genocidal commemorative structures.
One is the Vad Yashem in Israel and the Holocaust Museum in Washington
are devoted exclusively to the Holocaust and not to other crimes the Jewish
people have suffered.
Thus, the Holodomor Complex must be focused on the Ukrainian genocide,
otherwise its role in the education of Ukrainian youth and its testimony to
the world will be greatly diminished.
INSTITUTE OF MEMORY
The Institute of Memory, created recently by the Cabinet of Ministers, is
said to be devoted to the crimes against the Ukrainian nation committed by
various regimes in the 20th century. There are two main concerns about the
Complex being included under this Institute.
Firstly, the 20th century is full of tragic moments for the Ukrainian
nation. Crimes were committed by the Tsarist regime, the Polish regime in
Western Ukraine between the two wars, the Soviet regime (three famines,
mass deportations around WWII and at other times), and German atrocities
during 1918 and WWII, including the Holocaust.
Secondly, an institute devoted to a whole century of Ukraine's national
history must not delve exclusively into the tragic moments of the country's
past.
This is certainly not a healthy or sound way to cultivate national
consciousness, especially among the younger generation.
The Institute of Memory should also include heroic moments of the Ukrainian
struggle for independence or such joyous moments as the proclamation of
Ukrainian independence in 1918 and 1991.
The Holodomor Complex, representing the most destructive event in Ukraine's
history, under the Institute, could get lost and just become one more event
in the long list of destructive and heroic moments in Ukraine's history.
GROUND LEVEL MONUMENT
The Holodomor Complex design jury met last week in Kyiv to review the final
designs and it will meet Sept. 8 to make the final decision. It will be
built underground with a large monument on top.
It should make a major, dramatic and strong statement against communism and
the people who were in charge, on behalf of the people, families and nation
who suffered under this horrible tragedy and pay tribute to those who died.
The monument itself can become a world recognized symbol for the Holodomor.
One that moves the human mind and heart to remember the evil systems of the
past and also present governments that destroy millions of lives.
Most current Holodomor monument models focus mainly on the victims, look
like church structures, and do not make a strong enough statement about the
crime.
When one looks at the Holodomor monument it is important it not be easily
confused with or mistaken for a church monument. It should clearly signify
to the viewer that this is the Holodomor Monument and become a world
recognized symbol of the Holodomor, about the crime and the victims.
Since the final decision will be made this week, it is far too late to begin
the process once again. Officials should work with the winner to develop a
design that focuses on the crime and the victims.
The President should issue the appropriate orders now, negotiate the
necessary political deals and ensure the Complex is completed by the end
of 2008.
Its construction would provide the momentum to the Holodomor 75th
commemoration programs around the world and become a world center for
the most tragic event in Ukraine's history. No more speeches or promises,
just actions that deliver results. -30-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Williams is Director, Government Affairs, Washington Office,
SigmaBleyzer Private Equity Investment Group. He is a member of the
Organizational Committee, 75th Anniversary of the Holodomor appointed
by the Cabinet of Ministers; Trustee, Holodomor Exhibition Collection,
"The Holodomor: Through the Eyes of Ukrainian Artists"; Chairman,
James Mace Memorial Holodomor Fund of the Ukrainian Federation of
America. He is publisher and editor of the Action Ukraine Report (AUR)
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[return to index] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) Monitoring Service]
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30. THE FOLLY OF JAILING GENOCIDE DENIERS
Democracy's test: Do we tolerate a view that it is thoroughly repulsive?
COMMENTARY: By Garin K. Hovannisian
The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, MA, Mon, Nov 6, 2006
LOS ANGELES - Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can
incarcerate you. Thus spake the National Assembly of France last month,
when it voted to fine deniers of Turkey's 1915 genocide of Armenians up
to 45,000 euros or send them on a maximum yearlong holiday to prison.
The measure would join a series of European laws that have criminalized
denial of the Jewish Holocaust.
Although it has dim hope of clearing the Senate and President Jacques
Chirac, the bill reminds us that France's Socialist Party - and many
European elites - believe truth is decreed, not discovered.
The news drove Armenian communities into raptures. In Armenia's capital,
Yerevan, college students besieged the French Embassy in ecstasy.
In Los Angeles, their counterparts hurried to chat rooms and blogs to
register Hollywood's admiration of François Hollande, the bill's chief
advocate.
Hilda Tchoboian, president of the European Armenian Federation, welcomed
this "historic step," noting that "the hydra of denial is a tumor on freedom
of expression," which proved that you can mix metaphors and talk nonsense
in the span of five nouns.
A GOVERNMENT THAT PUNISHES LIES.....
Genocide denial might be a tumor on truth, memory, or even human dignity,
but it's not even a pimple on the freedom of expression. It's an exercise -
however false or disgusting - of that freedom, which Ms. Tchoboian wants to
ration.
A government that has the power to punish lies also has the power to punish
truth (consider Turkey's law that punishes those who denigrate
"Turkishness") and, really, to punish anything it pleases.
This was the terrible lesson of the 20th century, fleshed out in millions
upon millions of carcasses across Joseph Stalin's gulags, Adolf Hitler's
concentration camps, Pol Pot's killing fields, and Mao Zedong's torture
chambers.
Indeed, this was the lesson of the Armenian genocide, which was perpetrated
by a regime that tried to build one people, one religion, and - most
important - one idea, "Ottomanization," on the rubble of human rights.
That lesson, sadly, is lost on some French parliamentarians and the Armenian
diaspora, whose notion of politics ends where the genocide begins.
"If we have to muscle their view to death then that's just what we'll do!"
the Armenians seem to say, not realizing that this is precisely what the
Young Turks said about them.
Facing charges of insulting Turkishness for acknowledging the Armenian
genocide, Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish writer and 2006 Nobel Laureate, declared
at his trial this year, "What I said is not an insult. It is the truth. But
what if it is wrong? Right or wrong, do people not have the right to express
their ideas peacefully?"
That's the key clause: right or wrong. Genocide deniers insult us. Yet in
any decent society, their rights are the most vital, precisely because they
are the most difficult to respect.
Here's the test of true democracy: Do we tolerate another's view when it is
thoroughly repulsive? France has failed the test.
It is easier to shut deniers up than to make them stop believing. In a
perilous reversal of its intended effect, this law would give to deniers two
advantages they crave: exemption from the debate and the position of the
oppressed.
The deniers will gain not only immunity from our persistent challenges, but
an underdog's advantage in "speaking truth to power" when power is against
them. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt; it's soon to be an underground
fashion in Paris.
Censorship has long been the tool of people who are threatened by the
facts - who can't win a debate on equal terms.
Censors have sought to gain through power what they lack in argument: the
truth. France has just exerted its power in Armenia's name. And Armenians
rejoiced. But it will not strengthen our people and it will not redeem the
reality of the 1.5 million who were massacred beginning in 1915.
DON'T SILENCE DENIERS, EXPOSE THEM
Like that of the Holocaust, the cause of bringing greater recognition to the
Armenian genocide is best served through total freedom of speech, in which
historians can argue the deniers into silence.
We should long for a society where those who deny documented crimes against
humanity will not be fined or jailed, but worse, be exposed, humiliated, and
condemned to oblivion.
Winston Churchill said, "History will be kind to me, for I intend to write
it." History is less kind to people who try to rewrite it.
In its most recent move, the French National Assembly has deprived history
of its final redemption. It has revealed to the world that Armenians would
rather stifle debate than win it once and for all. -30-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garin K. Hovannisian is the editor of UCLA's journal of opinion and
culture, www.BruinStandard.com .
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LINK: http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1106/p09s01-coop.html
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