PEREYASLAV: WHAT MOTIVATES PRESIDENT KUCHMA?

     The observance of the 350^th anniversary of the Pereyaslav Council, which resulted in Ukraine’s subjugation by Russia for centuries, has been quite a conundrum. Initiated by President Kuchma, who upon confrontation downplayed the nature of the observance and insisted on exclusively academic analytical discourse and no fanfare. However, apparently the commemoration as a celebration of Russian and Ukrainian unity kicked off on January 23-24, 2004 and included Russia’s President Putin’s visit to Kyiv. The UWC, assured many times over the last year by President Kuchma that the observance would be innocuous politically, forwarded one last desperate letter to President Kuchma on January 18, 2004 requesting reconsideration and a withdrawal of the invitаtion to President Putin. Unfortunately, President Kuchma decided to move forward. In fairness, the Ukrainian press did report the Putin visit as a working one, with political overtones only in terms of the conclusion of Russia’s Year in Ukraine 2003 and no mention of Pereyaslav.

UWC PURSUES SANCTIONS FOR PETLIURA GRAVE DEFILEMENT

RUSSIAN CHAUVINISM MANIFESTS ITS UGLINESS

     Recently, the Ukrainian community in Russia was invited to participate in a round table discussion organized by a Russian non-governmental organization in Moscow on the subject of Pereyaslav. What transpired was an exposition of Great Russian chauvinism. The Russians decried the existence of a separate Ukrainian nation and language and insisted that the formation of an independent Ukrainian state was a mistake. Jurij Kononenko, the vice chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Russia, replied that the formation of the Ukrainian state in 1991 was the climax of a centuries’ long desire of the Ukrainian people to have an independent state, that the Ukrainian community in Russia fully supports the development of that state, strives to retain and cultivate its national identity and relies in this regard on the cooperation of government agencies and non governmental organization within Russia.

THANKS UKRAINIAN AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FINANCIALS

     Over the last year, a sizable portion of UWC’s financial support came from Ukrainian financial institutions in the United States and Canada. A listing of financials contributing to the UWC over 2003 is a follows: SUMA (Yonkers) FCU – $15,000 US, Buduchnist Toronto CU – $11,000 Can., Self Reliance (NY) FCU – $5,000 US, 1^st Security Federal Savings Bank Chicago – $2,000 US, Ukrainian National (NY)FCU – $1,500 US, Self-reliance Ukrainian American (Chicago) FCU – $1,500 US, Ukrainian FCU Rochester – $300 US, St. Mary’s CU Toronto – $200 Can. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all. Special recognition must be accorded to the SUMA (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union in the United States and Buduchnist Credit Union in Canada, which have been the most supportive.

BAD TIDINGS FROM PAVLODAR

     On December 21, 2003 the Ukrainian community in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan suffered a major setback. A fire destroyed the facilities of the Ukrainian community there, which housed a museum and the community’s archives. The community leaders have stressed that they are prepared to rebuild on their own, but bemoan the loss of unique artifacts. We extend our condolences to the community and urge anyone interested in being of assistance or merely providing solace to communicate electronically with Mykhajlo Paripsa, the chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Kazakhstan who resides in Pavlodar: paripsa@eksi.kz

UKRAINE REPRIMANDED BY PACE BUT MEMBERSHIP IN CE INTACT