Ukrainians in Washington mark anniversary of Chornobyl disaster (05/07/00)

Ukrainians in Washington mark anniversary of Chornobyl disaster

by Yaro Bihun
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - The Ukrainian American and Ukrainian diplomatic communities here marked the 14th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster with two events: a commemorative ceremony in front of the White House and a literary/musical evening at the Embassy of Ukraine.

Some 50 Ukrainian diplomats and their families, and members of the Greater Washington community gathered at Lafayette Park on April 26 beside the Chornobyl Tree - planted there 12 years ago as a reminder of the tragedy that befell Ukraine and its neighbors.

The main speaker at the commemoration was Ukraine's new ambassador to the United States, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, who honored "those who fought the fire, knowing that they were doomed and paying the ultimate price to save Kyiv, Ukraine and Europe."

He also expressed his country's gratitude to all who helped Ukraine since the accident, and especially the Ukrainian communities in the United States and Canada.

The Ukrainian government has made the decision to close the Chornobyl power station this year, he said. "We are counting on the international community to respond appropriately during the planned pledging conference," he said. He added that Ukraine also expects this will be a priority item on the agenda of the planned visit of President Bill Clinton to Ukraine in June.

Following Ambassador Gryshchenko's remarks, Ihor Gawdiak, vice president of the Ukrainian World Congress and president of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, called on the Clinton administration, the U.S. Congress and the American people to help Ukraine achieve "to the fullest extent possible the adequate resolution of the Chornobyl problem and to urge its European partners to meet their obligations as well."

Also speaking at the commemoration were Michael Sawkiw Jr., director of the Ukrainian National Information Service, who also heads the local chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; Ihor Kotlarchuk, president of the Ukrainian Association of Washington; and Laryssa Fontana, of the Chornobyl Committee of Washington, who compared the "frailty" of Ukraine and other countries suffering from the affects of the nuclear disaster to the frail condition of the Chornobyl tree itself, which, although planted in Lafayette Park 12 years ago, "is still struggling."

The Very Rev. Stefan Zencuch, rector of St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, officiated over the religious part of the service.

The Chornobyl anniversary theme was introduced a week earlier, April 19, during a literary and musical evening at the Ukrainian Embassy.

Sponsored jointly by the Embassy and The Washington Group Cultural Fund, the evening featured writer Irene Zabytko, whose first novel, "The Sky Unwashed," about the aftermath of the Chornobyl accident, was published recently by the Algonquin Press. It has received strong pre-publication reviews and has been nominated for the Barnes and Noble "Discover Great New Authors" series.

The musical part of the evening featured Taras Lazurkevych, a bandurist from Lviv, and flutist Daria Lassowsky Nebesh, who performs, teaches and composes in the Baltimore-Washington area. The program included duets and solo pieces by the artists, including Ms. Lassowsky Nebesh's composition "Elegy for Hanusia, a Chornobyl Victim."

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