1993: THE YEAR IN REVIEW: Diaspora activities elsewhere in the world (12/26/93)

1993: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Diaspora activities elsewhere in the world

The World Congress of Free Ukrainians dropped the "Free" from its name during its sixth congress, held November 3-7, and elected Dr. Dmytro Cipywnyk, former president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, as its president. The congress was the first since the declaration of Ukraine's independence. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Zhulynsky addressed the congress, as did parliamentary deputies. They stressed the continued need for the WCU's existence. In a significant development, Ukrainian delegations from Poland and Romania were officially represented for the first time in the congress' history.

The main themes of the congress were the commemoration of the 1932-1933 famine, work with newly independent Ukraine, and a new definition of the term "diaspora" as the focus of WCU activity. It was significant that there was a marked lack of the party line divisions so often seen at previous conclaves of the WCFU. Perhaps this lack of ideological conflict was related to the lack of any concrete action taken on virtually every important issue facing both Ukraine and the diaspora. The congress was also marked by the near total absence of young delegates. The few that did attend were chiefly from Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

The past year saw Ukraine making substantial progress in establishing a network of diplomatic representations. As of June 17, the Ukrainian Embassy in Bonn, Germany, is located in its own building. Until that day, Ukraine's diplomatic corps in Germany worked out of the old Soviet, now Russian Embassy. Now the staff of 12 is based in a small structure on the outskirts of the city. But this move is just a temporary one, for once Berlin reassumes its status as the German capital, Ukraine's Embassy will be transferred and the building in Bonn will likely become a trade mission or consulate.

In a related development, Ukraine's Embassy to France was officially opened on September 15.

Ukrainian troops have been part of the United Nations humanitarian aid and peacekeeping effort in Croatia and Bosnia since early 1992. They have been one of the most effective contingents stationed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, according to outside observers. There have also been some allegations of Ukrainian troops engaging in black market activities with Serbian Chetnik guerrillas. It was against this mixed background that Ukraine's Parliament voted to increase the troop contingent from 800 to 1,220 soldiers by year's end. The legislature acted after a request from U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who cited the Ukrainians' linguistic and religious similarities to the local inhabitants and their consequent ability to carry out their mission most effectively.

Staying on the topic of former Yugoslavia, it has become apparent that the Ukrainian diaspora communities throughout the war-torn lands of Croatia, Serbia and especially Bosnia have been gravely damaged. Of the approximately 25,000 Ukrainians and several thousand Rusyns living there before the war, the majority have become refugees. Estimates of Ukrainian deaths number in the thousands. Ukrainians have fought on all three sides, either having been drafted, or having volunteered, to serve in the armed forces of the warring Serbs, Croats and Bosnian Muslims.

At an April meeting with the Ukrainian American community in Washington, survivors of the Balkan war spoke of Ukrainians rounded up and shot by Serb Chetnik guerrillas at Vukovar, Croatia, and of Ukrainians forcibly drafted into the Bosnian Serb forces. Many Ukrainian Catholic churches have been burned in Serbia. Apparently, Russian U.N. peacekeepers helped Serbs evict Ukrainians from parts of Bosnia. The remnants of the community look to the onset of winter with fear and despair.

In Australia, the Consulate of Ukraine held its first official celebration of Ukraine's independence on August 24 in Melbourne. The event, which took place in the Mayoral Hall of Essendon Civic Center, was hosted by Zina Botte, honorary consul of Ukraine. More than 100 members of the consular corps, members of the state and federal parliaments, representatives of strategic military and air command, trade union leaders, as well as local officials, scholars, businesspersons and the news media attended the gala, which was Ukraine's first consular reception on Australian soil. Honorary Consul Botte said: "Ukrainians are proud and grateful to God that, after long years of bitter oppression, they have repossessed Ukraine's ancient rights - achieving freedom and independence by means of a bloodless revolution." Phil Honeywood, parliamentary secretary on ethnic affairs, also addressed the festive gathering, noting the significant contributions the Ukrainian community has made to Australia and raising a toast to Ukraine's president, Leonid Kravchuk.

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