SLOVAK REPUBLIC

          From August 11-13, 2005, Ukrainian World Congress President Askold S. Lozynskyj was a guest of the Association of Rusyn-Ukrainians in the Slovak Republic (ARUSR). The Slovak Republic(SR) is particularly interesting from the Ukrainian perspective in that Ukrainians-Rusyns reside on their ethnic native land but outside the borders of Ukraine and thus are considered a part of the Diaspora. The total population of the SR is a little more than five million with approximately one hundred thousand Ukrainians-Rusyns. Unfortunately, the last census resulted in a smaller calculation and divided Ukrainian-Rusyns into two groups. A significant problem for Ukrainians in Slovakia is “political Rusynism” which insists that Ukrainians and Rusyns are two different nationalities. The Slovak authorities exploit the ancient maxim “divide and conquer” and popularize the two nationalities theory, thereby diminishing the size and influence of both groups.

           The predominant share of Ukrainians resides in the Presov region (one of seven regions in the SR), in such cities at Presov, Svidnik etc. The headquarters of the ARUSR is situated in Presov. Svidnik is the site of an extraordinary Museum of Ukrainian-Rusyn culture, an art gallery and a “museum beneath the open sky,” where traditional church, school and dwelling architecture from different villages within the Presov region are on display. Svidnik hosts an annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival attracting an audience from all of the SR. The governor of the Presov region and the mayor of Svidnik are both ethnically Ukrainian. Ukrainians have radio programs, newspapers, magazines, schools, Ukrainian language classes, a state professional theatre, choirs and various folklore ensembles. However, the names of streets in areas largely inhabited by Ukrainians are strictly in Slovak in contrast to areas largely concentrated by Hungarians where Hungarian is a second language. The presiding bishop of the Greek Catholic eparchy is Slovak. Financial difficulties arise since funding is earmarked for specific projects only and not administrative expenses. The economic situation in the SR and the lack of financial resources of its citizens does not enable adequate private funding. Further, the community feels an intentional attempt to assimilate Ukrainians within both the Slovak and Roman Catholic amalgams. 

         In the course of his visit, the UWC President met with the SR’s former President Rudolph Schuster, the Governor of the Presov  region, the Mayors of both Presov and Svidnik. Additionally in Presov he visited with Ukraine’s Consul General Inna Ohnivec. Relations between Ukraine and the SR are normal, yet limited. Even after the Slovak Republic’s admission into the European Union, trade with Ukraine increased with the balance favoring Ukraine. During the second day of his visit, the UWC President was hosted at the home of the President of the European Congress of Ukrainians Levko Dovhovych in Kosice. Additionally there was a meeting with the Presidium of the ARUSR, during which both sides provided information about themselves and discussed mutual concerns and the parameters for future cooperation. The press conference held in Presov was widely attended by Slovak and Ukrainian media. Of particular interest was the Slovak Rusyn-Ukrainian community’s imminent induction into UWC membership. Press coverage extended throughout the SR 

          The UWC President was escorted throughout his visit by the Chair of the ARUSR Ivan Laba, his two deputies – Petro Sokol and Pavlo Bohdan together with Ukraine’s Consul General and the ECU President.

            On August 17 2005 the UWC Board of Directors meeting in Kharkiv voted to accept the ARUSR for membership in the UWC.

Askold S. Lozynskyj

President

From left to right:      

Levko Dovhovych,   Governor of Presov, Ukraine's Consul General  Inna Ohnivec, Askold Lozynskyj, and Ivan Laba.

                                                                       

Museum under the open sky in Svidnik.