LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (09/27/98)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Re "fault lines" and the UWC

Dear Editor:

In the news story by Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj "Fault line appears as World Congress of Ukrainians approaches seventh conclave" (August 9), there are numerous inaccuracies and contradictions. The article, unfortunately, does the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and me a great disservice. I therefore, regrettably, have to respond to it.

In the third paragraph it is reported, "In an apparent direct contradiction to a resolution adopted by the UWC Presidium in February, UWC General Secretary Yaroslaw Sokolyk traveled to Ukraine to attend a meeting of the Kyiv-based Ukrainian World Coordinating Council (UWCC) on May 22-23."

A few paragraphs further, it is reported that at the April 6 meeting of the UWC executive, "Mr. Sokolyk ... was instructed that he, Mrs. Sokolyk and Mr. Veryha were free to travel to Kyiv, with a stipulation that 'in participating in discussions they will not make any decisions or issue any statements on behalf of the UWC.' "

In the paragraph that immediately follows, the story refers to a statement by UWC President Dr. Cipywnyk that "in early May, he [Dr. Cipywnyk] sent out a letter to notify the UWC's constituent central organizations of the February resolution and of the April motion stipulating that Mr. Sokolyk was attending the UWCC meeting as an individual, not as a UWC representative."

In the space of a few paragraphs, there are three versions of events related to my attending the UWCC meeting in Kyiv. Unfortunately, not one of them is accurate.

The UWCC May 22-23 meeting in Kyiv was attended by a host of other delegates (not mentioned in the article) on the basis of a decision made by the UWC Presidium on April 6. At the UWC meeting the question of attending the UWCC meeting was widely discussed, and a resolution was passed (8 for, 1 abstaining) that "the UWCC meeting of May 22-23 will be attended by the Secretary General Y. Sokolyk, President of WFUWO Mrs. [Oksana] Sokolyk, and Dr. [Wasyl] Veryha representing the [UWC] president" (from the minutes of the April 6 meeting).

At the UWC meeting there was a proposal that UWC representatives not participate in discussions or make policy statements on behalf of the UWC. Because the proposal did not have adequate support, it was dropped.

The article suggests that only I traveled to Kyiv to attend the UWCC meeting. In fact, eight out of 14 Western diaspora UWCC members (or their representatives) attended the meeting, including UWC Vice-President Dr. Veryha (representing the UWC president), WFUWO President Oksana Sokolyk, Ihor Gawdiak, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council; L. Raichynec, Czech Republic; O. Masley, Poland; I. Spiech, Germany; Yu. Chaikivsky, Estonia and this writer.

There are many more inaccuracies in the article. In the interest of the UWC, particularly now on the eve of its seventh Congress, I do not wish to discuss them in the press.

The Ukrainian World Congress does not have fault lines as the author suggests, nor are there "games being played" as the president of the UWC says in the article. There is, though, a difference of opinion regarding the UWC's relationship with the UWCC. The story fails to analytically and evenhandedly address this difference.

The majority of the UWC Presidium believes that more can be achieved through open discussions than through confrontation. That is the reason why at the April 6 meeting of UWC the attendees voted on a new resolution, thus keeping the door open for dialogue by attending the May UWCC meeting.

Lastly, the presence of Western diaspora UWCC members at the Kyiv meeting was greatly appreciated by the delegates of the Eastern diaspora. These community activists desire to continue fostering contacts and avenues of cooperation with the West, as they strive to revive the Ukrainian identity in their countries.

Y. Sokolyk
Toronto

Stefko Kuropas, a true fraternalist

Dear Editor:

Boston Ukrainians recently welcomed UNA's newly elected vice-president, Stefko Kuropas, who had flown into town with his wife to introduce the new "heir apparent" to the Kuropas dynasty, young Andrijko, to his maternal grandparents, Walter and Larissa Dijak. The Dijaks are activists in the greater Boston community, as well as members of both the Ukrainian National Association and the Ukrainian Fraternal Association.

Following divine liturgy at the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as an honorary member of the UFA General Assembly, I congratulated Stefko on his election to this high UNA office. Stefko, in turn, expressed his high regard for my years of service as a faternalist in the Ukrainian Fraternal Association, serving as both a local and national officer for 60 years. Both of us expressed our views that it was not yet the right time for the proposed merger of the UNA and the UFA. Both groups have a duty to strengthen their organizations, so that such a union could then be feasible.

While admiring young Andrijko, I said, "I would love to have such a handsome Kuropas as a member." Stefko, without hesitation said, "Here is my card. Mail me an application, and I will be pleased to enroll my son as a member of the UFA."

Vice-President Kuropas showed that he will be a fraternalist in the tradition of our forebears. Brotherly love is obviously something that should and will be practiced by this new generation of officers.

Thank you, Stefko Kuropas. We will save one of our scholarships for Andrijko Kuropas.

Joseph A. Charyna
Stoughton, Mass.

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