Top diplomat receives farewell from Ukrainian community in New York

by Irene Jarosewich

NEW YORK - "Swans are amazing creatures, very beautiful to look at, powerful in their bearing" said Walter Nazarewicz, president of the Ukrainian Institute of America, "but most importantly, they have another characteristic - they are joined for life ... and, when threatened, fight to the death to protect one another." This kind of love and loyalty, he continued, bind the diaspora and Ukraine. As a symbol of this unity, and on behalf of the institute, Mr. Nazarewicz presented Hennadii and Dina Udovenko with a farewell gift of two lovely Steuben glass swans.

As he thanked the assembled guests who came to honor Mr. Udovenko, Mr. Nazarewicz noted that the departing diplomat "is a man, I believe, who has done more for Ukraine, outside of Ukraine, than anyone I know ... and has filled us with pride."

At a reception in the institute's newly renovated rooms on the second floor, against the backdrop of an exhibit of work by Jacques Hnizdovsky, approximately 100 guests bid a warm and affectionate farewell to one of Ukraine's top diplomats, a man who began serving in 1959 in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Ukrainian SSR and ended his diplomatic career on September 8, with, according to Mr. Udovenko, "my final diplomatic address" as president of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr. Udovenko served in several capacities at U.N. headquarters in both New York and Geneva, and Walter Baranetsky, former president of the UIA reminded the guests of Mr. Udovenko's quiet patriotism on behalf of Ukraine at the U.N., even during the Soviet era. In turn, he pointed out to the Udovenkos that the Ukrainian community will always remember them with great fondness.

Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine's representative to the U.N., attended the reception, as did the first secretary at Ukraine's U.N. Mission, Yuri Bohayevski, who was introduced by Mr. Udovenko as the newly designated consul general in New York.

Mr. Udovenko was gracious and kind in his good-bye to his guests, noting that some of the best examples of the achievements and success of which Ukrainians are capable can be found among the diaspora, individually thanking many of those who had been especially helpful throughout the years.

The crisis that Ukraine is undergoing will end, Mr. Udovenko noted resolutely, and he asked his guests to remain firm in their convictions and support for Ukraine.

Then amid heartfelt renditions of "Mnohaya Lita," Mr. and Mrs. Udovenko walked around to each table to thank their guests and bid each one farewell with a clink of champagne glasses.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 11, 1998, No. 41, Vol. LXVI

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