Columbia dinner highlights achievements, tasks ahead (04/21/96)

Columbia dinner highlights achievements, tasks ahead

by Yarema A. Bachynsky

NEW YORK - A cross-section of individuals and organizations involved in the monumental and ongoing task of helping the children of Chornobyl gathered at Columbia University's Low Library Rotunda on April 8, to reaffirm their commitment to ameliorating the devastating consequences of the world's worst nuclear accident.

The commemorative dinner, hosted by Ukraine's Mission to the United Nations and the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, began as Ukrainian Parliament Deputy Volodymyr Yavorivsky gave the invocation. Dr. Mark von Hagen, director of Columbia University's Harriman Institute, acquainted guests with the evening's program and introduced the university's president, George Rupp. The program proceeded with several speakers giving their takes on the problems spawned by Chornobyl.

Anatoliy Zlenko, Ukraine's permanent representative to the United Nations, in his memorial address, pointed out that, although it had occurred a decade ago, the effects of the Chornobyl disaster would continue being felt for generations throughout Ukraine, Belarus and indeed throughout the entire world, in the form of increased incidence of many cancers and suppressed immune system response.

Ambassador Zlenko also highlighted the immense psychological toll that the disaster has taken and continues to take on the affected population, which is scattered throughout all parts of Ukraine. He compared the stress and depression suffered by many Chornobyl victims to that of the "Vietnam War syndrome," a form of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The ambassador called on the G-7 countries to help the severely overburdened Ukrainian government deal with Chornobyl.

"We are all one people, and we all have our common tragedies," he concluded, calling on the international community to make a serious and unified effort to deal with Chornobyl.

Ivan Kuras, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, currently visiting various programs affiliated with CCRF in the United States, echoed the ambassador's thoughts in his keynote address. Mr. Kuras pointed out that the accident of Chornobyl was and remains the worst in the entire history of nuclear power generation. It was a "special disaster" never before experienced by mankind. It must therefore be treated as such by all countries, said Mr. Kuras.

Following Mr. Kuras' address, Vira Hladun Goldman read greetings from Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.

The highlight of the evening came just prior to Mr. Kuras' keynote address, as the CCRF Executive Director Nadia Matkiwsky introduced WABC News anchor Roz Abrams. Ms. Abrams had visited Ukraine and become acquainted with the CCRF while filming a special program on the Chornobyl disaster. Her brief but moving comments conveyed an admonishment to the Ukrainian American community.

"Children do not ask to be born. We all owe them a responsibility," the news anchor stated.

"In 10 years we've lost sight of the tragedy"[of Chornobyl], continued Ms. Abrams, referring to the U.S. news media's scanty coverage of the accident and its consequences. It is up to the Ukrainian American community to keep Chornobyl in front of the media eye, according to Ms. Abrams. If this is not done effectively, then the community should not expect additional significant mainstream coverage until the 25th anniversary, i.e. in 2011.

Commenting on seeing children in Kyiv hospitals suffering from Chornobyl-induced cancers, Ms. Abrams simply said: "It changed me. You, too, must be changed."

Joseph Vena, chairman of the CCRF board of directors, read a statement by Jack Palance, in which the actor told of the great suffering caused by Chornobyl and the absolute need for the world to focus more clearly on the truly global effects of the accident. Mr. Palance was unable to attend the dinner due to illness. He will travel to Ukraine to participate in Chornobyl commemorations there.

Following brief remarks by Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky, president of the CCRF, and Kate Coyne, vice-president of the St. Barnabas Health Care System, which has been involved in CCRF airlifts since 1989, Deputy Yavorivsky delivered closing remarks. Mr. Yavorivsky recalled how his and Dr. Yuri Shcherbak's investigations of the Chornobyl accident were censored and covered up by Soviet authorities in the months following the disaster. Mr. Yavorivsky said the cover-up propelled him and Dr. Shcherbak, today Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., into politics and served as a wake-up call for proponents of Ukrainian independence.

However, warned Mr. Yavorivsky, Chornobyl can still serve as Ukraine's undoing. "If an economically sound and powerful country could not fully cope with a Chornobyl-like disaster without any outside assistance, then how can Ukraine be expected to?" questioned Mr. Yavorivsky.

The program ended with a benediction by CCRF's Ksenia Kyzyk, as all lit candles in memory of Chornobyl's victims.

Sixteen countries' diplomatic missions to the U.N. were represented at the dinner, among them those of Austria, Belarus, Russia, Germany, Japan and France.

Representatives of U.S. corporations contributing aid to CCRF operations were also present. Among these are the Monsanto Co., whose representative, former Congressman Toby Moffett, spoke on the need for corporate investors in Ukraine to help resolve the consequences of Chornobyl; Pharmacia-Upjohn; Searle Pharmaceuticals; and Ramada Corporate Hotel Center of East Hanover, N.J.

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