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m
lis h e d
b y th e U k r a in ia n
N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n
In c .,a fra te rn a l n o n -p ro fit a s s o c ia tio n !
ra in ia n W e e k lV
V o l.L iX
N o .7
TH E
U K R A IN IA N
W EEKLY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY
17, 1991
5 0
c e n ts
H e ls in k i C o m m is s io n
h e a r in g
U k r a in ia n P a r lia m e n t v o te st o in c lu d e
fo c u s e s
o n
S o v ie t c r is e s
s e c o n d q u e s tio n
o n u n io n re fe re n d u m
by Eugene Iw anciw
U N A W a s h in g to n O ffic e
W A S H IN G T O N
-
In view of recent
d e v e lo p m e n ts in th e S o v ie t U n io n , th e
U .S .
C o m m issio n
o n
S e c u rity
a n d

C o o p e ra tio n in E u ro p e (C S C E ) h eld a h e a rin g o n F e b ru a ry6 o nth e to p ic " T h e U SSR

in C risis: S tate of the U nion."
C o m m issio n
C h a irm a n

R e p . S te n y H o y e r (D -M d .) o p e n e d th e h e a rin g w ith a n

announcem ent
that com m ission
m em bers
w o u ld
tra v e l
t o
th e

S o v ie t U n io n a n d th e B a ltic s ta te s d u r in g th e February Congressional recess.

T h e d e le g a tio n w ill first g o to S to c k \ue000
h o lm
t o
m e e t w ith S c a n d in a v ia n
o ffi\ue000
c ia ls ,th e n p ro c e e d to th e B a ltic s ta te s to
m e e t w ith e le c te d
officials, and
fin a lly
travel to
M oscow
w h e re th e y h o p e to
m eet w ith
R u ssian
P re s id e n t
B o ris
Y eltsin .
In his opening rem arks, R ep. H oyer
s ta te d
th a t " th e S o v ie t g o v e rn m e n t is
n o w
s ig n a lin g a re tre a t fro m
P re s id e n t
(M ik h a il) G o rb a c h e v 's e a rlie r g o a ls a n d
a s p ira tio n s ," th a t th e y
a re

p ro c e e d in g "in a m istaken belief that order can be g a in e d b y d e s tro y in g lib e rty its e lf a n d w arned

that "order
a n d
s ta b ility
a re
m eans to prom ote dem ocracy, and not
g o a ls
fo r
w h ic h
dem ocracy
c a n
b e
s a c rific e d ."
C o m m issio n
C o-C hairm an
S e n .
D e n n is
D e C o n c in i (D -A riz .), a d d e d
th a t
h e
fin d s
h im self
"w ondering
if
m any
le a d e rs
in
the W est
h a v e n 't
re p la c e d
th e
o b je c tiv e
o f

p ro m o tin g d e m o c ra c y in th e S o v ie t U n io n w ith th e desire to prevent civil w ar at any cost" and w arned of the danger of the rise of M r.

G o r b a c h e v 's
" p e rs o n a lity
c u lt
am ong W estern governm ents."
I n
h is o p e n in g
rem arks, Rep. Don
R itter (R -Pa.) also w arned

of a "dan\ue000 gerous relapse" by Soviet leaders. He added that M r. G orbachev has changed his m otto

to " if y o u c a n 't b e a t th e m , th e n b e a t o n th e m ." A lso a tte n d in g th e h e a rin g

w ere H elsinki C om m ission
m em bers
S e n s .
M a lc o lm
W allop
(R -
W y o .), W yche
F ow ler (D -G a.), T i\ue000
m o th y
W irth
(D -C o lo .), J o h n
H e in z
(R -P a .),a n d
A lfonse
D 'A m a to

(R - N .Y .), Rep. Edward M arkey(D-M ass.), a n d

A ssistant
S e c re ta ry
o f
S ta te
R i\ue000
c h a rd
S c h ifte r.
T he
o p e n in g
w itn ess w as
fo rm er
N a tio n a l
S e c u rity
A d v is o r
Z b ig n ie w
B rz e z in s k i, w h o is c u rre n tly

c o u n s e lo r a t th e C e n te r fo r S tra te g ic a n d In te rn a \ue000 tional Studies. D r. B rzezinski began by p o in tin g o u t th a t " w h a t is h a p p e n in g in th e S o v ie t U n io n is m o re h is to ric th a n th e

w ar" and
c ritic iz e d
th e
" u n fo rtu \ue000
n a te
a n a lo g ie s
b e in g
m ade
t o
1 9 5 6 "
w h e n th e W e s t w a s in v o lv e d in th e S u e z
c ris is a n d th e U S S R in v a d e d H u n g a ry .
H e w e n t o n to e x p la in th a t W e s te r\ue000
n e rs w e re ta k e n

by surprise by recent e v e n ts in th e S o v ie t U n io n b e c a u s e o f a "lack of understanding of the depth of th e n a tio n a litie s p ro b le m

in th e S o v ie t U n io n a n d th e m is in te rp re ta tio n o f th e h is to ric

m e a n in g
o f
p e re s tro ik a
a n d
G orbachev's role."
O n th e n a tio n a litie s is s u e , h e p o in te d
out that Soviet spokesm en
o fte n m a k e
th e a n a lo g y o f th e c o n te m p o ra ry p r o \ue000
b le m
in
th e
U SSR
w ith
th e
U n ite d
S ta te s d u rin g
th e c iv il w a r c o m p a r in g
G orbachev
t o
Lincoln. D r. Brzezinski
a rg u e d
th a t th e re
is a
fundam ental
d iffe re n c e
betw een the tw o situations.
" T h e U n ite d S ta te s is d iv e rs e o n a n

in d iv id u a l b a s is w h ileth e S o v ie t U n io n is d iv e rs e o n a n a tio n a l b a s is ," h e s ta te d . H e w e n t o n to e x p la in th a t th e U S S R is " a n

a m a lg a m
o f
p o litic a l
n a tio n s o n
th e ir
ow n
la n d
w ith
th e ir
d is tin c t
la n g u a g e s ,
c u ltu re s ,
histories, and

re lig io n s . T o h a v e n a tio n a l c o n s c io u s \ue000 n e ss is to b e a n ti-C o m m u n is t a n d a n ti- im p erialist."

T he
fo rm er
C arter
a d m in is tra tio n

o ffic ia l p o in te d o u t th a t R u s s ia n d e m o \ue000 crats have a problem . T hey m ust decide w h e th e r

t o
h a v e
a
dem ocracy
or an
em pire based

o n d ic ta to ria l p o w e r. " T h e p re s e rv a tio n o f th e S o v ie t s ta te is b a s e d

on coercion and suppression of
non-R ussians," he argued, but pointed
(C o n tin u e d o n p a g e 3 )
b y M a r ta K o lo m a y e ts
K IE V -
T he Suprem e Soviet of the
U k ra in ia n
S S R
v o te d
t o
h o ld
tw o
separate referendum s on M arch
17 : th e
f ir s t
w ill ask
th e
M oscow -im posed
u n io n
q u e s tio n ,
w h ile
th e
second, a
re p u b lic a n
referendum ,
w ill ask
th e
c itiz e n s o f U k ra in e w h a t k in d o f u n io n
th e y w a n t.
The decision, which was passed
o n
W ednesday afternoon, February 13,
;
a v o te o f 2 8 8 -4 7 , (w ith
10 a b s te n tio n ^
a n d
2 9
n o
v o te s)
w as
a p p la u d e d
b y
m e m b e rs o f th e N a tio n a l C o u n c il, w h o
s a w
it as
a
v ic to ry
fo r
th e

Suprem e Soviet President Leonid K ravchukover U k ra in ia n

C o m m u n is t P a rty
le a d e r
S ta n is la v H u r e n k o .
"The fact that Kravchuk's proposal
to h o ld a b a llo t, a re p u b lic a n
re fe re n \ue000
d u m , a n d to h o ld it p a ra lle l to G o rb a \ue000
c h e v 's w ith o u t in te rfe rin g w ith G o r b a \ue000
c h e v 's
te x t,
is a
w in
fo r
K r a v c h u k 's
g ro u p

of supporters," said O les Shev- c h e n k o , a N a tio n a l C o u n c il d e p u ty fro m

K ie v .
"A nd, we
a c h ie v e d
th e
o p tim u m
v ic to ry
possible in the kind of Parlia\ue000
m ent we have today," he added.
D u rin g
alm ost
a n
e n tire
d a y
o f
d e b a te s , m o re th a n
2 0 d e p u tie s v o ic e d
their views on
th e
u p c o m in g

re fe re n \ue000 d u m . A s a re s u lt, tw o c o n c re te o p tio n s em erged: the first w as presented by the P re s id iu m

o f
th e
Suprem e

S o v ie t o f U kraine, which hoped to conduct one re fe re n d u m

o n
M arch
1 7 , th a t w o u ld
a s k
tw o questions. The first question,
"D o
y o u
not consider it necessary
t o
p re s e rv e th e U n io n o f S o v ie t S o c ia lis t
R e p u b lic s
as a renewed
fe d e ra tio n
o f
equal sovereign
re p u b lic s
w h ic h
fu lly
(C o n tin u e d o n p a g e 9 )
U .S . m e d ic a l
a s s is ta n c e
d e s tin e d
fo r B a ltic
s ta te s a n d
U k ra in e
JE R S E Y
C IT Y , N .J .
-
P re s id e n t
G eorge Bush on February6 authorized
s h ip m e n ts
of em ergency
m e d ic a l s u p \ue000
plies to the B altic states and
U k ra in e ,
c irc u m v e n tin g
norm al
p ro c e d u re s
under which M oscow
d e te rm in e s h o w
UNA to pay S I.2
m illio ni n d iv id e n d s
d e c re a s e d
b y
5 3 3 8 ,0 0 0
t o
a
total of
5 6 3 ,9 8 0 ,4 6 8 . T h e
principal reason
fo r

th is ,h e e x p la in e d , is th a t th e U N A h a d to cover costs of the 1990 quadrennial c o n v e n tio n ,

w h ic h
a m o u n te d
t o
5 4 0 8 ,0 0 0 . A s w e ll h e c ite d p a y m e n ts o n
endow m ent
c e rtific a te s
to ta llin g
5 1 4 0 ,0 0 0 .

M r. B ia h itk a c o n tin u e d h is re p o rt b y n o tin g th a t d u rin g th e first1 1 m o n th s o f th e y e a r, in te re s t in c o m e o n th e U N A 's lo a n

fo r
its
h e a d q u a rte rs
b u ild in g
cam e to 5175,000, a sum
5 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 le s s
th a n d u rin g th e p re v io u s y e a r.
S o y u z iv k a
in c o m e
d e c re a s e d
b y
5 1 1 2 ,0 0 0 , b u t s o d id
expenses, to
th e
tu n e o f 5 3 2 ,0 0 0 , h e n o te d .
E x p e n s e s
a t
th e
S v o b o d a

P re s s reached a total of 51,351,252 during the f ir s t

1 1
m o n th s
o f
1990, having
in \ue000
c re a s e d
b y
5 1 3 3 ,0 0 0 . T h e
p u b lis h in g
h o u s e 's
in c o m e
to ta lle d
5 1 ,3 3 1 ,7 7 3 ,
w h ic h
is
5 8 8 ,0 0 0
m ore
th a n
in
th e
p re v io u s y e a r, M r. B ia h itk a s a id .
T he
U k ra in ia n
N a tio n a l
U rban
R enew al
C o rp .
re c o rd e d
in c o m e
o f

5 2 ,2 5 3 ,9 2 8 ; th is a m o u n t is 5 5 7 3 ,0 0 0 le s s than in1 9 8 9 . T he cause ofth is decrease, M r. B ia h itk a p o in te d o u t,i s th a ta p p r o -

(C o n tim ie d o n p a g e 1 3 )
JE R S E Y
CITY, N.J. -

T h e U k ra i\ue000 n ia n N a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n w ill p a y its m e m b e rs 5 1 .2 m illio n

in d iv id e n d s , it
w as
a n n o u n c e d
at the
U N A
H om e
O ffice
fo llo w in g
a m e e tin g
of the
fra te rn a l
o rg a n iz a tio n 's S u p re m e E x e \ue000
c u tiv e
C o m m itte e
o n
J a n u a r y
2 1 .

T h e e x e c u tiv e o ffic e rs p re s e n t a t th e m e e tin g a ls o v o te d to a llo c a te a s tip e n d of 510,000 to an econom ist w orking on a

U k ra in ia n
d ic tio n a ry
o f

e c o n o m ic term s, a project that is m eant to assist U kraine on its trek tow ard

a m odern,
free-m arket econom y.
U N A S u p re m e P re s id e n t U la n a D ia -
c h u k
c h a ire d
th e
Suprem e
E x e c u tiv e
C o m m itte e
m e e tin g . In
a tte n d a n c e
were: Suprem e

V ice-P resident N estor O lesnycky, S uprem e D irector for C ana\ue000 da John

H ew ryk, S uprem e V ice-P resi-
d e n te s s
G lo ria
Paschen, Suprem e Se\ue000
c re ta ry
W alter
S o c h a n
a n d
Suprem e
T r e a s u r e r
A le x a n d e r
B ia h itk a . A ls o
p re s e n t
w as
S te p a n
H aw rysz
o f
th e
S u p re m e A u d itin g C o m m itte e .
T he
m e e tin g b e g a n
w ith
o f f ic e r s '
reports, and first to speak was the UNA
tre a s u re r.
M r. B ia h itk a re p o rte d th a t d u rin g th e
first 11 m onths
o f
1990, U N A
a s s e ts
a n d w h e re s u c h m a te ria ls a re d is trib u te d .
T he
U .S . h a s a llo c a te d
55 m illion
fo r
adm inistrative support and, if needed,
tra n s p o rta tio n .
T h e s h ip m e n ts w ill b e m a d e w ith th e
k n o w le d g e
a n d
c o o p e ra tio n
of the
central government in M oscow, which
s t i l l
m ust
is s u e
visas and
s h ip p in g
p erm its.
T he
s u p p lie s to
be sent to
U k ra in e
w ill in c lu d e
p rim arily
m e d ic a l e q u ip \ue000
m ent and
m e d ic a tio n
to tre a t p a tie n ts
su ffe rin g
fro m
th e
a fte re ffe c ts
of the
1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident.
A
d e le g a tio n
of Project
H o p e In c .,
the lead agency and coordinator of this
U .S .
effort, w ill visit K iev on February
1 9 -2 1
t o
m eet w ith
o ffic ia ls
at the
U k ra in ia n
S S R
M in istry
o f
H e a lth ,
m em bers of the U krainian
P a rlia m e n t
a n d
le a d e rs
o f
R u k h , th e

P o p u la r M ovem ent of U kraine. T he purpose of th e

th re e -d a y
v is it
is to
d e te rm in e
U k ra in e 's
needs and
to d e v e lo p
a n
a p p r o a c h fo r h e lp in g s e le c te d h o s p ita ls
o v e r th e n e x t
12 m onths. The delega\ue000
tio n
w ill also
s to p
in
V iln iu s
a n d
M oscow .
The first shipm ents of m edical assis\ue000
ta n c e to th e B a ltic s ta te s a n d

U k ra in e are expected to be sent as early as the e n d o f th is m o n th .

T he
m edical assistance
is
b e in g
o ffe re d
under the auspices of a presi\ue000
d e n tia l in itia tiv e b e in g
u n d e rta k e n
b y
th e
U .S . g o v e rn m e n t
in
c o o p e ra tio n
w ith
A m erican
p riv a te
v o lu n ta ry
o r\ue000
g a n iz a tio n s
a n d
A m erican
m anufac\ue000
turers and suppliers. T hus, the govern-
(C o n tin u e d o n p a g e 1 4 )
TH E
U K R A IN IA N
W EEKLY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY
17, 1991
N o .
7
U k r a in e c r itic iz e s S o v ie t c ra c k d o w n
at G eneva
U N
hum an
rig h ts fo ru m
G E N E V A
-
F or the first tim e ever,
U k r a in e
u s e d
th e
fo ru m
o f
th e
U .N .
H u m a n R ig h ts C o m m issio n to assert its
sovereignty byc ritic iz in g
S o v ie t p o lic y
i n
th e
B a ltic
s ta te s
a n d
re s ta tin g
i t s
in te n tio n
t o
becom e
a
fu ll-fle d g e d
m em ber of the C onference
o n
S e c u rity
a n d
C o o p e ra tio n
i n
E u r o p e ,
re p o rte d
th e
A ssociated
P r e s s
a n d
R a d io
L i\u00ad
b e r ty ,
I n
h is
a d d r e s s ,
d e liv e re d
d u rin g
a
J a n u a r y
3 1
d e b a te
b y
th e
4 3 -n a tio n
com m ission
o n
th e
rig h t o f p e o p le s
t o
s e lf-d e te rm in a tio n ,
U k ra in e 's
c h ie f
envoy, V olodym yr V asylenko, said
th e
S o v ie t
U n io n
s h o u ld
d e v e lo p
in to
a
c o m m o n w e a lth
th a t
r e s p e c ts
f r e e d o m
o f c h o ic e a n d
re je c ts " th e u s e o f v io le n t
m e th o d s
i n
a n y
fo rm
or by
a n y b o d y ."
H is w o rd s w ere aim ed specifically at th e
S o v ie t
m ilitary
crackdow n
la s t
m o n th
i n
L ith u a n ia
a n d
L a tv ia .
S e a te d
n e x t to th e S o v ie t d e le g a tio n ,
M r.
V asylenko
n o te d
th a t
th e
U k rai\u00ad
n ia n re p u b lic h a d a d o p te d a d e c la ra tio n
of sovereignty
last July, asserting
th a t
th e
right to
n a tio n a l^ e lf-d e te rm in a tio n
"is an
essential prerequisite
fo r
r e s p e c t
a n d
p ro m o tio n
of hum an
rig h ts ."
"A ny
in frin g e m e n ts
o n th e p rin c ip le s
of self-determ ination
o f n a tio n s ... h a v e
always been accom panied
b y v io la tio n s
o f
hum an
rig h ts
a n d
th e
rig h ts
o f
p e o p l e s ,
b ro u g h t
a b o u t
d a n g e r o u s
re g io n a l c o n flic ts
a n d
th re a te n e d
in te r\u00ad
n a tio n a l
o r d e r
a s
a
w h o le ,"
th e
A P
q u o te d
h im
as saying.
H is to ry h a s p ro v e n th a t p e o p le d e te r\u00ad
m in e d
t o
a c h ie v e
f r e e d o m
w ill
in e v i\u00ad
ta b ly
d o
so, M r. V asylenko said, using
th e e x a m p le
o f N a m ib ia , w h ic h
g a in e d
in d e p e n d e n c e
fro m
S o u th
A frica
i n
D ecem ber
1 9 8 8 .
L e o n id
K ravchuk,
c h a irm a n
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n S S R

Suprem e Soviet, echoed th e U k ra in ia n e n v o y 's s e n tim e n ts d u rin g a

s p e e c h
b e fo re
th e
com m ission
o n
F e b r u a r y
6 ,
a c c o r d in g
t o
R a d io
L i\u00ad
b e rty .
T h e U k ra in ia n p re s id e n t sa id th a t h is
re p u b lic
w as com m itted
t o
the task
o f
c re a tin g
a
tru ly
d e m o c ra tic
s o c ie ty
w h ic h
w ill
c o n fo rm
t o
in te rn a tio n a l
hum an
rig h ts
s ta n d a r d s .
H e
a ls o
re \u00ad
m in d e d
th e
p a n e l
th a t
U k ra in e
h a s
d e c l a r e d
i t s
in te n tio n
t o
becom e
a
m em ber-state
of the
C S C E .
T he
rem arks
b y
M essrs.
V asylenko
a n d
K ravchuk

d u rin g th e c o m m is s io n 's 47th session m arked the first tim e one of the tw o

S o v ie t re p u b lic s , U k ra in e
a n d
B yelorussia,
r e p r e s e n te d
s e p a r a te ly
a t
th e
U .N ., u sed
th e
fo ru m
t o
ta k e
is s u e
w ith
S o v ie t p o lic y , w r o te
th e
A P.
T he
G eneva-based
com m ission,
th e
U n ite d
N a tio n s '
m ain
hum an
rig h ts
fo ru m ,
m e e ts a n n u a lly
for six
w eeks.
U S S Rp ro s e c u to r to in v e s tig a te
c u lp a b ility o f C h o m o b y I o ffic ia ls
JE R S E Y
C IT Y ,
N .J.
-
N ik o la i
T ru b in , th e U S S R
Prosecutor G eneral,
a n n o u n c e d
th a t
h e
h a d
in itia te d
a
c rim in a l in v e s tig a tio n in to th e h a n d lin g
of the
C h o rn o b y l
n u c le a r
pow er
p la n t
c a ta s tro p h e
o n
F e b r u a r y
7 in
M oscow ,
re p o rte d
th e
W a s h in g to n
P o s t.
M r. T ru b in
c o n c e d e d
th a t th e re
h a d
b e e n
g ro ss
fa ilu re s
i n
th e
S o v ie t
g o \u00ad
v e rn m e n t's
c le a n -u p
p la n
a n d
c h a r g e d
th a t a n
u n s p e c ifie d
num ber
o f
o ffic ia ls
in v o lv e d
i n
th e
c le a n -u p
h a d
fa ile d
t o
e
e v a c u a te p e o p le a s q u ic k ly a n d sa fe ly a s
th e y
s h o u ld
h a v e ,
ig n o re d
d a n g e r o u s
ra d ia tio n
r e a d i n g s ,
u s e d
s lip s h o d
m e th o d s
t o
b u ry
m asses
o f
c o n ta m i\u00ad
n a te d
w astes,
a n d
b u ilt
re s e ttle m e n t
hom es
i n
c o n ta m in a te d
r e g io n s .
M r.
T ru b in
s a id
th a t
th e
o ffic ia ls
w o u ld
f a c e
crim inal
c h a r g e s
o f
n e g li\u00ad
gence, abuse of authority, and
v io la tio n
o f h e a lth
norm s.
M r.
T ru b in
a ls o
a n n o u n c e d
th a t
h e
h a d
a s s ig n e d
the case to a special team
o f
in v e s tig a to rs fro m
R u ssia,
U k ra in e
a n d
B yelorussia.
S o m e 8 0 0 p ie c e s o f h e a v y
e q u ip m e n t
e m ittin g r a d ia tio n still lie a b a n d o n e d
a t
C h o rn o b y l.
H undreds
o f
b u ria l
p its
f i l l e d
w ith
c o n ta m in a te d
m aterial
fro m
h o u s e s ,
f o r e s t s ,
a n d
farm s
a re
c o n -
tin o u s ly
d r e n c h e d
b y
r a i n
f a l l .
L o c a l
a u th o ritie s
f e a r
th a t
ra d io a c tiv e
r e s i \u00ad
d u e
i s
s e e p in g
in to
th e
g ro u n d
a n d
c o n ta m in a tin g
th e w a te r
ta b le .
A
s t r i n g
of 30 railroad
c a r s
c o n ta in \u00ad
in g
to n s
o f ^ jo n ta m in a te fl
b e e t
su p -,
p o s e d jy
re frig e ra te d
s in c e
th e
a c c id e n t
c o n tin u e
t o
sit a w a itin g
a safe
d is p o s a l
s ite .
T he
S o v ie t
g o v e rn m e n t,
w h ic h
h a s
b e e n
r e s p o n s ib le
fo r
th e
C h o rn o b y l
c le a n - u p ,
h a s
e v a c u a te d
o n ly
1 0 0 ,0 0 0
p e o p le
fro m
th e
c o n ta m in a te d
z o n e .
T he
U k ra in ia n
a n d
B yelorussian
g o \u00ad
v e rn m e n ts
h a v e
s u b s e q u e n tly
o r d e r e d
m ore
evacuations, accusing
th e
S o v ie t
governm ent
o f s e ttin g d a n g e ro u s ly
lo w
s ta n d a r d s
fo r
ra d ia tio n
to le ra n c e .
T he
U k ra in ia n
P a rlia m e n t
h a s
a ls o
v o te d
t o
c l o s e
th e
th re e
re m a in in g
reactors at
C h o rn o b y l.
V lad im ir
L o m e ik o , S o v ie t
am bassa\u00ad
d o r to th e U n ite d N a tio n s
E d u c a tio n a l,
S c ie n tific
a n d
C u ltu ra l
O rg a n iz a tio n ,
said at a cerem ony m arking a U N E S C O
p ro g ra m
t o
h e lp
S o v ie t
a u th o ritie s
ta c k le
th e
afterm ath
of C h o rn o b y l
o n
F e b r u a r y
1 1
i n
P a r i s ,
th a t,
" L a te n t
ra d ia tio n , d e v o u rin g
hum an
life as in a
c a n c e r o u s
tu m o r,
h a s
e ffe c ts
fa r
fro m
th e
im m ed iate
z o n e
o f
c o n ta m in a tio n .
T o d a y
m ore
th a n
4
m illio n
p e o p le ,
am ong
th e m
8 0 0 ,0 0 0
c h ild re n ,
a re
su ffe rin g
th e
c o n s e q u e n c e s ,"
re p o rte d
R euters.

T h e S o v ie t g o v e rn m e n t h a s m a in ta in \u00ad ed that only 31 people w ere killed by the e x p lo s io n

a n d
f i r e
a t
C h o rn o b y l,
b u t

s o m e S o v ie t s p e c ia lis ts e s tim a te th a t th e to ll m a y b e in th e h u n d r e d s if th e e ffe c ts of severe radiation carried by the fallout c lo u d

a re
c o n s id e r e d .
T r ia l o f C a th o lic a c tiv is t D e m yd a s b e g in s
K IE V
-
T he
t r i a l
o f
U k ra in ia n
C a th o lic
a c tiv is t
Y aroslav
D em ydas
b e g a n
h e r e
o n
T u e s d a y ,
F e b r u a r y
1 2 ,
am id
tig h t
s e c u rity
a s
o n ly
p e r s o n s
h o ld in g
s p e c ia l
p r e s s e s
w ere
a llo w e d
in to
th e
c o u r t
b u ild in g ,
re p o rte d
th e
R e s p u b lik a
P r e s s
A gency.
M r.
D em ydas,
a n
a c tiv is t
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
R e p u b lic a n
Party w ho heads
th e
T e rn o p iL O ^ b la s t-C o rn m itte e
i n
D efense
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
C a th o lic
C hurch,
is c h a r g e d
w ith
in c itin g
m ass
disorder on
O c to b e r
2 ,
1990, near
th e
U k ra in ia n
S S R
Suprem e
S o v ie t
b u ild \u00ad
in g
i n
th e
U k ra in ia n
c a p ita l.
It w a s o n th a t d a y th a t s tu d e n ts b e g a n
th e ir
h u n g e r
s t r i k e
t o
p r o te s t
th e
p ro \u00ad
p o s e d
u n io n
tre a ty
a n d
dem and
th e
re s ig n a tio n
o f
U k ra in ia n
P rim e
M i-
(C o n tin u e d
o n
p a g e
1 1 )
'
N e w s b rie fs
fro m
U k ra in e
9
K IE V
-
T he
U k ra in ia n
P a rlia \u00ad
m ent
o n
F e b r u a r y
6 a d o p te d
a law
o n
e m p lo y m e n t o f th e p o p u la tio n . T h e b ill,
w hich w as prepared
in a c c o r d a n c e w ith
In te rn a tio n a l
L a b o r

O rg a n iz a tio n g u id e lin e s , d e fin e s th e le g a l s ta tu s o f th e u n e m p lo y e d ,

w hose
num bers
a re
e x \u00ad
pected to reach
1 .5 m i l l i o n p e o p l e i n t h e
in d u s tria l
s e c t o r
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
econom y
a lo n e .
T he
la w s a ls o
e n v is io n s th a t a b o u t 3
p e r c e n t
o f
th e
re p u b lic a n
a n d
lo c a l
b u d g e ts
s h o u ld
b e a llo c a te d
fo r
unem \u00ad
p lo y m e n t
b e n e fits ,
re tra in in g
e tc .
D u rin g
th e
f i r s t
th re e
m o n th s
th e
u n e m p lo y e d
s h o u ld
re c e iv e
th e ir
n o r\u00ad
m al
s a l a r y
fro m
th e ir
l a s t
p la c e
o f
e m p lo y m e n t.
U n e m p lo y m e n t
b e n e fits
s h o u ld
b e
5 0
percent of the last salary
b u t n o t less th a n th e m in im u m
m o n th ly
w age:
tim e
s p e n t
u n e m p lo y e d
w ill
b e
c o u n te d a s tim e s p e n t w o rk in g w h e n o ld
a g e
p e n s io n
is c a lc u la te d .
D u rin g
th e
d e b a te s
o n
re p u b lic a n
u n e m p lo y m e n t
p o lic y , h o w e v e r,
d e p u \u00ad
tie s d o u b te d
th a t th o s e a ll-u n io n
e n te r\u00ad
p r is e s
th a t
a re
lo c a te d
i n
th e
re p u b lic
w ill fo llo w
th e
law . (R ad io
L ib e rty )
\u0444
K IE V
-
T he
n e w ly
a d o p te d
U -
k ra in ia n
la w
o n
p ro p e rty

e n v is io n s in d iv id u a l, c o lle c tiv e , s ta te a n d in te lle c \u00ad tual form s of property, and declares the re p u b lic

a s
th e
s o le
ow ner
o f
i t s

la n d , natural resources and part of the Soviet gold reserves. T h e law , how ever, fails to c l a r i f y

the status of property
b e lo n g in g
t o
p o litic a l
o rg a n iz a tio n s .
D u rin g
th e
\u0438 \u043a \u0433 \u0442 /\u0416
\u0420 \u0430 \u0433 /\u0428
\u0435 \u043f \u0491
v o te st o g ra n t
C rim e a a u to n o m y
K IE V
-
T he
S u p r e m e S o v ie t o f th e
U k ra in ia n S S R
voted on February
1 2t o
g iv e
th e
C rim e a
a u to n o m y
w ith in
th e
U k ra in ia n
re p u b lic ,
d e s p ite
p ro te s ts
fro m
th e
d e m o c ra tic
o p p o s itio n
N a\u00ad
tio n a l
C o u n c il,
w h ic h
a r g u e d
th a t
U k ra in e
s h o u ld
f ir s t
d e fin e
i t s
s o v e \u00ad
re ig n ty
as a
re p u b lic .
T h e v o te o f 2 5 3 fo r, w a s c e le b ra te d b y
th e
C o m m u n is t
m a jo rity ,
w hose
m em \u00ad
bers referred
to th e J a n u a r y
2 0
re fe re n \u00ad
d u m
i n
C rim e a
i n
w h ic h
re s id e n ts
o f
th a t
re g io n
v o te d
o v e rw h e lm in g ly
(9 3
p e rc e n t) fo r
th e
o b la s t's
a u to n o m y .
\u2014
M aria
K o lo m a y e ts
d e b a te s
d e p u tie s
p o in te d
o u t
th a t
th e
K om som ol
a n d
th e
C o m m u n is t
P a rty
h a v e b e e n c o n d u c tin g th riv in g c o m m e r\u00ad
c ia l
e n te r p r is e s ,
in c lu d in g
th e ir
ow n
com m ercial banks. (R adio
K ie v )
^
G E N E V A
\u2014
D uring his speech
a t
th e
e c o n o m ic
fo ru m
h e r e ,
U k ra in ia n
P r e s id e n t
L e o n id
K ravchuk
c a lle d
fo r
m ore
fo re ig n
in v e s tm e n t
i n
th e
U k rai\u00ad
n ia n
SSR. The
176 jo in t v e n tu re s
th a t
n o w
e x is t
i n
U k ra in e
a re
n o t
n e a rly
e n o u g h
t o
re fle c t
th e
in d u s tria l

p o te n \u00ad tia l o f th e re p u b lic , s a id M r . K r a v c h u k . H e prom ised

th a t fo re ig n

in v e s to r s w ill b e tre a te d o n a n e q u a l fo o tin g w ith lo c a l entrepreneurs and

w ill be able to
r e p a \u00ad
t r i a t e
p a r t
o f
th e ir
e a rn in g s
w h ile
e n jo y in g
fa v o ra b le
ta x
tre a tm e n t.
(R ad io
K ie v )
^
B O R Y S P IL
-
A
re q u ie m
s e r v ic e
g a th e rin g
som e
5 0 0
p a rtic ip a n ts
w as
h e ld
h e r e
o n
J a n u a r y
2 6
i n
m em ory
o f
th e
a u th o r
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
n a tio n a l
anthem , "Shche
N e
V m erla
U k ra in a ,"
P a v lo
C hubynsky.
F o llo w in g
th e
s e r \u00ad
v ic e ,c e le b ra te d
b y
th e
R ev.
S o fro n iy ,
th o s e
g a th e re d
m et
w ith
U k ra in ia n
P e o p le 's
D e p u tie s
P a v lo
K y sly , S e rh iy
H o lo v a ty
a n d
V a le riy
I v a s iu k .
(R es\u00ad
p u b lik a
P r e s s )
^
K IE V
\u2014
A n
In te rn a tio n a l A to m ic
E n e r g y
A gency conference w as recently
h e ld
i n
th e
v illa g e
o f
Z e le n y i
M ys
assem bling
a
la rg e
num ber of
s c h o la r s
fro m
v a rio u s c o u n trie s
t o
d is c u s se p r o -
b le m s
stem m in g
from , the
C hernobyl
d is a s te r .
T h o s e
g a th e re d
f o c u s e d
th e ir
in te re s ts o n d e -a c tiv iz a tio n
a n d
p ro te c \u00ad
tio n
of the
p ro d u c ts
of nuclear energy,
e p id e m io lo g y
a n d
ra d io lo g y . ( R e s p u b \u00ad
lik a
P r e s s )
^
K IE V
\u2014
R a d io
K ie v
re p o rte d
o n
January 30 that U krainian
p s y c h ia tris ts
fo rm ed
a n
in d e p e n d e n t
a s s o c ia tio n
t o
s tre n g th e n
h u m a n ita ria n
a n d
m oral
v a lu e s in
p s y c h ia tric
w o rk .
T he
g ro u p
w ill
s e e k
t o
p ro te c t
th e
s o c i a l
in te re s ts
of psychiatrists
a n d
o th e r
m e d ic a l
s p e c ia lis ts ,
a s
w e ll
a s
e s ta b lis h
c o n ta c ts
w ith
c o lle a g u e s
i n
o th e r
S o v ie t
re p u b lic s
a n d
a b r o a d .
(R ad io
L ib e rty )
' \
^
M U N IC H
-
A
n e w
ro u te

a c r o s s th e b o r d e r , re c e n tly o p e n e d in V o lh y n ia , U kraine, will decrease

th e
d is ta n c e
fo r
(C o n tin u e d
o n
p a g e
1 1 )
U k r a in ia n W e e k n
F O U N D E D
1 9 3 3
A n
E n g lis h - la n g u a g e
U k r a in ia n
n e w s p a p e r
p u b lis h e d
b y
th e
U k r a in ia n
N a tio n a l
A s s o c ia tio n
In c .,
a
n o n -p ro fit
a s s o c ia tio n , a t
3 0
M o n tg o m e ry
S t., J e rs e y
C ity ,
N .J .
0 7 3 0 2 .
S e c o n d -c la s s
p o s ta g e
p a id
a t J e rs e y
C ity , N J . 0 7 3 0 2 .
(IS S N
-
0 2 7 3 -9 3 4 8 )
Y e a rly
s u b s c rip tio n
ra te : S 2 0 ; fo r
U N A
m e m b e rs
-
S 1 0 .
A ls o
p u b lis h e d
b y
th e
UNA: Svoboda, a
U k r a in ia n - la n g u a g e
d a ily
n e w s p a p e r.
T h e
W e e k ly
a n d
S v o b o d a :
(2 0 1 ) 4 3 4 -0 2 3 7 , -0 8 0 7 , -3 0 3 6
U N A :
(201) 451-2200
P o s tm a s te r, s e n d a d d re s s
c h a n g e s to :
T h e U k r a in ia n W e e k ly
P .O .
Box 346
J e rs e y C ity , N J . 0 7 3 0 3
E d ito r: R o m a
Hadzew ycz
A s s o c ia te
E d ito rs : M a r ia
K o lo m a y e ts
C h rys tyn a
L a p y c h a k
Th e
U k r a in ia n
W e e k ly , F e b r u a r y
1 7 , 1 9 9 1 , N o . 7 , V o l. L IX
C o p y r ig h t 1 9 9 1 b y T h e
U k r a in ia n
W e e k ly
N o.7
TH E
U K R A IN IA N
W EEKLY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY
17, 1991
3
K ie v o r p h a n s
v is itin g N J .
N E W A R K , N J . -E ig h t
1 l-to l3 -
y e a r-o ld o rp h a n e d c h ild re n fro m K iev
S c h o o l N o . 3 a rriv e d
in the U nited

States on M onday, February 12, for a tw o-w eek visit in the tri-state (N ew Jersey-N ew Y ork-C onnecticut) area.

T he
c h ild re n , a lo n g
w ith
th e ir
school principal and
th e ir
te a c h e r,
a re h e re a t th e in v ita tio n o fS t. J o h n
th e
B a p tist
U k ra in ia n

C a th o lic School of N ew ark, N .J. Their trip was coordinated

b y A n ita R e a m , a
re s id e n t
o f
M o u n ta in
Lakes, N .J.,
a n d
Ire n a
Labenskyj of M endham ,
N .J.
M rs.

R e a m , a n a tiv e C h ile a n , w h o h a s e m b ra c e d th e U k ra in ia n c u ltu re , said, "W e hope to m ake th e children's s ta y

a w o n d e rfu lly

e n ric h in g e x p e \ue000 rie n c e a n d in tro d u c e th e m to c u ltu ra l and every day life experiences." She is active in New Jersey's Friendship F o rc e ,

w h ic h
o rg a n iz e s
num erous
e x c h a n g e s w ith U k ra in e .
M rs.

L a b e n s k y j, a lo n g -tim e a c ti\ue000 vist for U krainian causes,stated that w ith th e help of S ister M aria, princi\ue000 pal of S t. John's,C hristine B ytz,head o f

S t.
J o h n 's
M o th e r's
C lu b , a n d
M ic h a e l
K o z iu p a ,
h e a d
o f
S t.
J o h n 's
F a th e r's
C lu b , th e

c h ild re n a n d th e ir te a c h e rs w e re p la c e d w ith U krainian fam ilies in New Jersey.

A m o n g th o s e m e e tin g th e c h ild re n
a t
N ew
Y o r k 's
K ennedy
In te rn a \ue000
tio n a l
A irp o rt,
in
a d d itio n
t o
S t.

John's representatives, w ere Bishop B a sil L o ste n o f th e S ta m fo rd , C o n n ., U k ra in ia n

C a th o lic
E p a rc h y ,
w ho
h a p p e n e d to b e re tu rn in g to th e U .S .
a t
th e
sam e
tim e,
a n d
A le x a n d e r
B o u ts k o
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
S S R
M ission to the U nited N ations.

A n u m b e r o f a c tiv itie s a r e p la n n e d fo r th e c h ild re n , in c lu d in g s ig h ts e e \ue000 in g

visits to
N ew
Y ork

C ity a lo n g w ith children of the sam e age group fro m

S t. J o h n 's S c h o o l. M r s . L a b e n \ue000 skyj said, "The M other's and Father's C lu b s o f S t. J o h n h a v e o p e n e d th e ir hearts and donated m oney to cover som e of the expenses."

A ny
o rg a n iz a tio n
o r
in d iv id u a l
th a t
w o u ld
like to
d o n a te
m oney,
g if ts ,fa c ilitie s

or to sponsor events fo r th e c h ild re n , s h o u ld im m e d ia te ly contact M rs. L abenskyj at (201) 543- 4 2 0 0 , or fax

in fo rm a tio n
to her at
(2 0 1 )5 4 3 -2 9 1 8 .
H e ls in k i...
(Continued from
page 1)
o u t
th e
c o m p le x ity
of the
s itu a tio n
s ta tin g
th a t 6 5 m illio n
S o v ie t c itiz e n s
liv e o u ts id e th e ir a n c e s tra l h o m e la n d s .
I n
a n a ly z in g
M r.
G orbachev,
D r.

B rz e z in s k i s ta te d th a t th e S o v ie t le a d e r w as truly appalled by the rule of S talin, a n d w a n te d to in s titu te a " s ta te o f la w ." H e

a ls o
re a liz e d
th a t th e
U SSR
w as

fa llin g fu rth e r b e h in d th e W e st e c o n o \ue000 m ic a lly a n d w a n te d a n e c o n o m ic r e n e \ue000 w a l. T h e

e a rly
p o litic a l re fo rm
w as
s u c c e s s fu l,
b u t
th e
n a tio n a litie s
p ro \ue000
b le m
a r o s e . W ith e c o n o m ic
re fo rm

how ever, M r. G orbachev did not realize it c o u ld n o t b e d o n e p ie c e m e a l. O n th e o th e r

h a n d ,
h a d
th e
S o v ie t
le a d e r
im p le m e n te d th e S h a ta lin p la n , it w o u ld
h a v e
d e c e n tra liz e d
th e
econom y
a n d
g iv e n
th e n a tio n a lity fo rc e s a n e c o n o \ue000
m ic base, D r. Brzezinski argued.

H e p o in te d o u t th a t P re s id e n t G o rb a \ue000 c h e v 's s p e e c h a t t h e e n d o f N o v e m b e r clearly stated the desire for reform , but th a t

th e
p rin c ip le s
of socialism , i.e.
ow nership
o f
p ro p e rty ,
a n d
a
m u lti\ue000
n a tio n a l s ta te c o n tro lle d
b y th e c e n te r
w o u ld n o t b e c o m p ro m is e d .
D r. Brzezinski concluded
w ith n in e
p o lic y
re c o m m e n d a tio n s
a rg u in g
th a t
th e U .S . s h o u ld :
9
n o t " p u t a ll o u re g g s in o n e b a s k e t" ;
^
" e n c o u ra g e
d e m o c ra tic
fo rc e s
in
R u ssia";

^ " re la te to d e m o c ra tic g o v e rn m e n ts in th e re p u b lic s to e n h a n c e th e ir le g iti\ue000 m acy";

^
"support dem ocratic m ovem ents in
o th e r
re p u b lic s " in c lu d in g
" th e
R ukh
m o v e m e n t in
U k ra in e a n d
th e S o v ie t
tra d e
u n io n s , p a rtic u la rly
the m iners,
th e
o il
w orkers, and
th e
ra ilro a d
w orkers";
fr "prom ote as m any legislative visits
to th e re p u b lic s a s p o s s ib le " ;
9
" s e n d
o b s e rv e rs
fo r
th e
re fe re n \ue000
dum ";
9"channel and
d is trib u te
p h ila n th \ue000
ro p ic
a s s is ta n c e
th ro u g h

re p u b lic g o \ue000 vernm ents, dem ocratic m ovem ents, and trade unions";

9"register concern regarding repres\ue000
s io n in in te rn a tio n a l b o d ie s " ; a n d
^
"fo rm alize
o u r re la tio n s w ith
re \ue000
p u b lic g o v e rn m e n ts ."
O n
th is
la s t
p o in t,
D r.

B rzezinski stressed that he does not support form al re c o g n itio n o f th e re p u b lic s a s in d e p e n \ue000 d e n t

states at this
tim e. Rather, he
a rg u e d
th a t
th e
U .S . s h o u ld
use the
" T a iw a n
p re c e d e n t,"
i.e. set
u p
U .S .
in s titu te s fo r re p re s e n ta tio n a l p u rp o s e s ,
a s a m o d e l.
Sen. D eConcini asked
w h e th e r it
w o u ld
b e
p o s s ib le
fo r
th e
U SSR
t o
fo llo w
th e C h ile a n a n d S o u th
K orean

m o d e l, i.e . a n a u th o rita ria n g o v e rn m e n t w ith a fre e m a rk e t e c o n o m y . D r . B rz e \ue000 zinski responded that it w ould not w ork b e c a u s e of n a tio n a litie s d iffe re n c e s, th e r e is n o p re c e d e n t in R u s s ia fo ra fre e econom y, and that therei s already m ore p o litic a l a c tiv ity in th e U S S R th a n th e re was in

S o u th
K orea.
He argued

th a t such an approach is "a prescription for b ru ta lity a n d fa ilu re ."

R ep.
R itte r in q u ire d , " H o w fa r c a n o r
s h o u ld
w e
g o
w ith
re p u b lic
g o v e rn \ue000
m ents?" D r. B rzezinski recom m ended a
re v ie w
of treaties
w ith
th e
id e a o f

lo o k in g fo r o p p o rtu n itie s . H e p o in te d o u t th a t U k ra in e a n d R u s s ia , L ith u a n ia a n d

P o la n d , a n d
H ungary
a n d
m any
re p u b lic s
h a v e
a lre a d y
e s ta b lis h e d
re la tio n s .

In re s p o n s e to S e n . W irth 's q u e s tio n of th e ro le of th e m ilitary , h e stated th a t "the tw o institutions left to preserve the em p ire

are the arm y
a n d
the security
p o lic e ."
In response to Sen. H einz's question
o n
h o w
t o
support the

d e m o c ra tic forces, he stated thatw e "should not be tim id

in
our support," ttottbe
p o s t\ue000
ponem ent
o f
th e
sum m it
s h o u ld
n o t
h a v e
b e e n
d e lin k e d
fro m
th e

B a ltic c r is is ,a n d th a t B o ris Y e lts in s h o u ld b e in v ite d

t o
th e
W e s t. S e n . H e in z th e n
in q u ire d
w h e th e r
th e
a d m in is tra tio n
s h o u ld d ire c t fo o d a id to th e re p u b lic s .
D r.
B rzezinski
re s p o n d e d
th a t
th e
re p u b lic s
" h a v e
a d e q u a te
e ffic ie n t
m eans" to
d e liv e r th e a id
a n d
if "the
c e n tra l g o v e rn m e n t s to p s th e s h ip \ue000
m ents, then let the people see that."
M arshall
G oldm an, professor
o f

S o v ie t e c o n o m ic s a t W e lle s le y C o lle g e , te s tifie d n e x t. H e b e g a n b y p o in tin g o u t th a t

" it
w o u ld
b e
in a c c u ra te
t o
c a ll
G orbachev
a dem ocrat and
m arket
refo rm er,"
a n d
p ro c e e d e d
t o
p ro v id e
h is to ric a l
b a c k g ro u n d
fo r
c u r r e n t
e v e n ts .
H e
m ade
th e
com parison
t o

Khrushchev's 1957 program of regional econom ic groups. In 1957, the plan w as som ew hat

s u c c e s s fu l
b e c a u s e
of "the
c o n tin u in g
fe a r
o f th e p o lic e a n d
th e
a r m y " w h ic h
p re v e n te d
"the cry of
in d e p e n d e n c e o r n a tio n a l rig h ts ."
P ro f.
G o ld m a n
a rg u e d
that now
" d iffe re n t
e th n ic re p re s e n ta tiv e s b e g a n
' t o
s e n s e
th a t
th e
c e n te r h a d

becom e perm issive, even encouraging the idea of m ore pow er to local groups. U nlike th e K h ru s h c h e v e ra , th is le d to c a lls n o t o n ly fo r e c o n o m ic b u t a ls o fo r p o litic a l in d e p e n d e n c e ."

T he
p o litic a l re fo rm s w h ic h
n o w
th re a te n
th e
center are even
ram pant
am ong
com m unists. "Thus, when
th e
L ith u a n ia n s in
1989 becam e m ore and
m ore
restive, G orbachev
c a lle d
th e
L ith u a n ia n
h e a d
of the
C o m m u n is t
P a rty , A lg ird a s
Brazauskas, and
to ld
h im
t o

rein in the local officials. B ra\ue000 z a u s k a s re p lie d th a t ifh e d id , h e h im se lf w o u ld

n o t
b e
re -e le c te d
a n d
so he
re fu s e d
t o
accede to
G o r b a c h e v 's d e \ue000
m ands."
W ith th e in tro d u c tio n o f th e S h a ta lin
500-D ay
P la n , th e

m ilita ry -in d u s tria l com plex \u2014 "the leaders of the defense in d u s trie s , th e a rm y a n d th e re d la n d \ue000 owners \u2014

this is the chairm en of the
s ta te
a n d
c o lle c tiv e
farm s"
b e g a n
t o
p a n ic b e c a u s e th e p la n " c a lle d fo r th e
tra n s fe r o f p o w e r to th e re p u b lic s ."
W h ile th e re w ere ru m o rs of a m ilitary
c o u p ,D r.
G o ld m a n
a rg u e d
th a t " n o
c o u p in th e tra d itio n a ls e n s e o c c u rre d ...
b u t th e
e ffe c t
was much the same \u2014
G orbachev
s h i f t e d

d ire c tio n s ." T h e re s u lt w a s th a t " re p u b lic s a n d fo r th a t m a tte r c itie s a re b e g in n in g to sig n b a rte r a g re e m e n ts w ith e a c h o th e r o u ts id e th e c o n tro l o f th e c e n te r." H is

c o n c lu s io n
was that "chaos of this sort has to be
h a rm fu l" a n d
he argued

th a t " w h a t is n e e d e d is a s o lid , s ta b le a n d a c c e p ta b le c u rre n c y ."

D r.
G o ld m a n
e n d e d
h is
testim o n y
w ith
th e p essim istic
note that "it may
well take
a
c o n s id e ra b le
tim e
b e fo re
S o v ie t
le a d e rs
c a n
b u ild
u p

e n o u g h c re d ib ility a g a in to w in th e c o n fid e n c e o f

th e
S o v ie t
p e o p le
fo r

yet another round of reform s. G orbachev has given re fo rm

a b a d n a m e in th e S o v ie t U n io n
a n d
it w ill ta k e tim e to o v e rc o m e th a t
le g a c y ."
T he last w itness w as retired arm y L t.
G en.
W illiam
O dom , w ho
s e rv e d
a s
d ire c to r
o f
th e
N a tio n a l
S e c u rity
Agency from
1985 to 1988. H e m ade it
c le a r th a t " fo r lib e ra l re fo rm
to proceed
v e ry
f a r ,
e s p e c ia lly
in
th e

e c o n o m ic s p h e re , th e S o v ie t U n io n w o u ld h a v e to yield pow er to the re p u b lic s . G orbachev set sail in tw o b o a ts w ith h is p erestro ik a p ro g ra m : lib e ra l re fo rm

a n d th e m a in \ue000
te n a n c e o f th e S o v ie t U n io na s a u n ita ry
s ta te .S o o n e r o r la te r th e tw o
b o a ts h a d
to sail apart."
T he
re s u lt
o f
th e
d e m o c ra tiz a tio n
p ro g ra m
" a llo w e d th e n a tio n a l r e p u b \ue000
lic s
t o
a s s e rt
th e ir d e m a n d
for sove\ue000
reignty" and they "used the concept of
'e c o n o m ic ,' a s
o p p o se d
t o
'p o litic a l'
s o v e re ig n ty
t o
c h a lle n g e
M oscow
fo r
control ofre s o u rc e s ," he said.W hile the

W est has m onitored the shift of pow er to " e ith e r lib e ra l o r re a c tio n a ry p o liti\ue000 c a l fa c tio n s in M o s c o w ...th e re a l sh ift in pow er has been to the republics. N o one is in

c h a rg e
in
M oscow
p re c is e ly b e \ue000
c a u s e
of these
g ro w in g
c e n trifu g a l
forces in the republics."
G en. O dom
s tre s s e d

that "it is one th in g fo r th e B a ltic re p u b lic s to th re a te n t o

secede from

th e u n io n . R e p re s s in g th e m is q u ite fe a sib le . Iti s a n o th e r th in g w h e n th e R u s s ia n re p u b lic th re a te n s to s e c e d e .

R epressing
it
is
lik e ly
t o
b e
im p o ssib le."
H e w ent on to point out that "in 1917
a n d
1918, the
R u ssian
C o n s titu tio n a l

D em ocrats( i . e . the liberal party) backed e m p ire a g a in s t n a tio n a l s e lf-d e te rm in a \ue000 tion, failing

t o
re a liz e th a t m o d e rn
lib e ra lis m

is in c o m p a tib le w ith e m p ire . Today, he noted, a num ber of Russian lib e ra ls a re a rg u in g th a t R u ssia h a s to o long been shackled by the em pire and th a t it m u st th ro w off th a t b u rd e n ." T h e re s u lt is th a t S o v ie t p o litic s is a c o n te s t o f

"S t.
B o ris
o f
H o ly
R u ssia
v e rs u s
C om rade
G orbachev
of the
M arxist-
L e n in is t S o v ie t U n io n ."

W h e n c o n s id e rin g w h e th e r th e S o v ie t s ta te c a n b e re c o n s titu te d , th e g e n e ra l p o in te d o u t th a t th e " p u b lic d is c o n te n t w ith the m ilitary leadership infested the lo w e r ra n k s o f th e m ilita ry a s w e lla s th e c iv ilia n

p u b lic . T h e c o n ju n c tio n
of all
these factors has seriously
u n d e rm in e d
th e
m o rale
a n d
d is c ip lin e
w ith in
th e
arm ed
forces." This and

o th e r fa c to rs raise "the real prospect of th e end of the S o v ie t U n io n a s w e h a v e k n o w n it in th e p a s t."

A s to w h o w ill w in , th e g e n e ra l s a id that it w as a close call in the fall, but that if h e w a s b e ttin g n o w , h e w o u ld sa y th e republics. H e saidh es e e s no prospect of an arm y coup and com m ented that "if Y eltsin can w in senior m ilitary support, then he w ill be able to dictate term s to G orbachev

a n d
th e S o v ie t g o v e rn \ue000
m en t."

Two argum ents m ade in support of c o n tin u e d U .S . b a c k in g fo r G o rb a c h e v a n d

c e n tra liz e d
pow er, G en. O dom
stated. T he first
is th a t c e n tra liz e d
pow er is needed for reform

to w hich he posed the question: "W hat reform ?" H e went on

t o

p o in t o u t th a t " th e u n io n itself stands as a huge obstacle to liberal p o litic a l a n d e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t."

Responding to the second argum ent, th a t a c o lla p s e o f th e u n io n w o u ld c a u s e c iv il w a r, G e n . O d o ms a id , " m a y b e " b u t "the road to the m odern W estern liberal d e m o c ra tic p o litic a l sy ste m

w a s a lo n g a n d b lo o d y o n e " fo r th e U n ite d S ta te s and most countries of Europe.

G en. O dom
stated: "From

the view \ue000 p o in t o f A m e ric a n p o litic a l v a lu e s , it is d iffic u lt to s u p p o rt th e c o n tin u a tio n o f S o v ie t p o w e r if th e n a tio n a l m in o ritie s a r e a g a in s t. T h a t w o u ld v io la te a ll o u r p rin c ip le s a n d fo re ig n p o lic y tra d itio n s s in c e

W o o d ro w
W ilso n 's

F o u rte e n P o in ts . I p e rs o n a lly c o m e d o w n o n th e side of letting the centrifugal forces of s e lf-d e te rm in a tio n

w in ."
The general said he does not "advo\ue000
c a te a n
aggressive U .S. policy of pro\ue000
m o tin g
it," b u t s u p p o rts " ta k in g
a
p u b lic a n d
p rin c ip le d
s ta n d
o n
th e
issue." The
o n ly
e x c e p tio n
t o
th is

re s tra in t a re th e B a ltic s a n d M o ld a v ia s in c e th e y " c a m e u n d e r S o v ie t ru le a s th e re s u lt o f th e N a z i-S o v ie t P a c t."

H e c o n tra s te d
U .S . s u p p o rt fo r th e
s o v e re ig n ty
o f K u w a it a n d
s ile n c e o n
th e
B altics stating
th a t " th is
s h a r p
c o n tra d ic tio n
n o t
o n ly
re fle c ts
h y p o \ue000
crisy; it also
u n d e rc u ts o u r e ffo rts
t o
design a post-C old W ar security order
in
which we propose to
play an even
h a n d ."
The general also strongly
recom \ue000
m ended

in v itin g " th e h e a d s o f re p u b li\ue000 c a n g o v e rn m e n ts a s o ffic ia l v is ito rs to W a s h in g to n " a n d

e s p e c ia lly
P re s id e n t
Y eltsin .
G roups' letters draw
p re s id e n t's a tte n tio n
to USSR events
JE R S E Y C IT Y , N .J. -

P residents of tw o U k ra in ia n A m e ric a n c e n tra l o rg a \ue000 n iz a tio n s ,

th e
U k ra in ia n

C ongress C om m ittee of A m erica and the U krai\ue000 n ia n

A m erican
C o o rd in a tin g C o u n c il,

a n d th e n e u tra l g ro u p in g o f u n a ffilia te d o rg a n iz a tio n s k n o w n a s th e C o n fe re n c e o f

U k ra in ia n
A m erican

P ro fe s s io n a l a n d C iv ic O rg a n iz a tio n s , re c e n tly s e n t tw o

joint letters to

President George B ush in an effort to draw his attention to d e v e lo p m e n ts in U k ra in e , th e B a ltic s ta te s a n d th e S o v ie t U n io n .

In a J a n u a ry8 le tte r, th e th re e g ro u p s fo c u se d o n th e S o v ie t re g im e 's e ffo rts to s to p

th e
d e m o c ra tic
p ro c e s s e s
u n d e r
w ay
in
U k r a in e , w h ile
a January
1 4

le tte r c o n d e m n e d S o v ie t m ilita ry a c tio n in V iln iu s , L ith u a n ia , w h ic h re s u lte d in th e V iln iu s m a s s a c re .

T he
letters w ere signed
b y
Ig n a tiu s
(C o n tin u e d o n p a g e 1 1 )
of 00

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