DIASPORA COMMUNITIES COMMEMORATE FAMINE 1932-33

          Ukrainian communities outside Ukraine commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the Great Famine during the month of November. In New York City, an annual ecumenical Requiem was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The US House of Representatives passed legislation enabling the government of Ukraine to establish a monument to the Great Famine victims on public lands in Washington, DC. In Windsor, Canada the community unveiled a monument to the victims. Requiems and candle lighting marked the anniversary throughout Australia. The Lithuanian parliament passed a resolution condemning the Ukrainian Famine as genocide against the Ukrainian people. Additionally, Lithuanians and Ukrainians marked the anniversary throughout Vilnius and, in particular, at the site of the Genocide Museum with public rallies. Our member organizations are urged to furnish information about their observances.

UWC URGES UKRAINE’S FOREIGN MINISTER TO FACILITATE ELECTION PROCESS

          In a November letter to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk, the UWC urged that voter lists outside Ukraine be published on the official websites of Ukraine’s diplomatic missions thereby facilitating access to the lists without travel. We await a response.

ELECTION APPEAL TO OUR NATIONAL CENTRAL REPRESENTATIONS

EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF UKRAINIANS CONVENES IN KOSICE

          The European Congress of Ukrainians held its annual session near Kosice, Slovak Republic, November 11-13, 2005 electing new leadership headed by Jaroszlava Hаrtyányi from Hungary. The following communities were present: Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia,  Hungary, Greece, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Spain and the United Kingdom.  UWC General Secretary Victor Pedenko attended the session and offered greetings from the UWC. A more complete report is available at http://www.eukrainians.net.

PATRIARCH FILARET VISITS UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES

          The Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv Patriarchate visited Ukrainians in the United States in November 2005, stressing the need for Ukrainian Orthodox unity, cooperation between all Ukrainian Christians and urging active participation in Ukraine’s upcoming March 2006 elections. UWC President Askold S. Lozynskyj greeted Patriarch Filaret at a banquet honoring the Patriarch and observing the founding of the Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Clifton, New Jersey.

REP OF UKRAINIANS IN KAZAKHSTAN VISITS THE UNITED STATES

          Mykhailo Parypsa, the chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Kazakhstan visited the United States from November 3-17, 2006. His itinerary included a visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, attendance at various Ukrainian events, meetings with communities in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, including the leadership of various Ukrainian organizations, in particular, Self Reliance (N.Y) Federal Credit Union, the Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union New Jersey office, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee etc. Mr. Parypsa stressed the viability of the Ukrainian community in Kazakhstan and solicited assistance for the publication of a Ukrainian newspaper there.

IV UKRAINIAN WORLD FORUM TO BE RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 2006

          The Ukrainian World Coordinating Council met in Kyiv for an extraordinary session November 19-20, 2005. The UWCC decided to request that Ukraine’s President convene the IV World Forum of Ukrainians sometime in August 2006 on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. The UWC was represented at the UWCC session by its General Secretary Victor Pedenko and Ukrainian Canadian Congress Chair Orysia Sushko.  Others in attendance included representatives from Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

UKRAINIAN CENTRAL REPRESENTATION IN ARGENTINA ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

          The UCRA held its Congress on October 29, 2005 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Jorge Balanda, a third generation Ukrainian from Missiones was elected President and Jorge Danylyshyn from Buenos Aires was elected Chair of its advisory Council.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

          In Christian Ukrainian tradition, on the eve of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we offer best wishes for all humanity, in particular our Ukrainian brothers and sisters throughout the world, our clergy, political leaders, especially Ukraine’s President Victor Yushchenko and the leaders of those countries that have manifested friendship towards the Ukrainian people. On the threshold of a New Year we appraise last year’s accomplishments and deficiencies. As always expectations are greater than reality, glaringly more so following the heroic events of the Orange Revolution. Nonetheless, the foundation for a better Ukraine has been laid and we need to stay the course. Deficiencies are grave particularly, in the national sphere.  Ukrainian spiritual and cultural affairs remain ignored, history is selectively forgotten and heroes are disrespected. We urge the Ukrainian people to persevere. May this annual birth of Our Lord and the New Year mark the renaissance of our Christian Ukrainian spirituality and culture. Christ is born. Let us praise Him!