LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (12/03/06)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Karatnycky responds to Kuzio's charges

Dear Editor:

On October 15 The Weekly printed my letter correcting an error-laden paragraph that Taras Kuzio wrote in September. Instead of a direct response, Dr. Kuzio now charges me and The Orange Circle with new alleged improprieties.

His primary accusation is that The Orange Circle is on Rynat Akhmetov's payroll - an allegation that is false. As I already indicated, the net amount we received from an Akhmetov energy company was $ 3,000 and was used to cover expenses for organizing an energy conference in Houston earlier this year.

Dr. Kuzio further claims that The Orange Circle receives no support from "Our Ukraine businesses." If by this he means Ukrainian companies that include President Viktor Yushchenko's sympathizers, his claims are not accurate: at least two of some two dozen corporate donors to The Orange Circle are companies headed by associates of the president. They, along with nine other donors, participated in our energy conference.

Our energy policy forum was addressed by two members of Our Ukraine's national board; the deputy head of the National Security and Defense Council, a presidential body; and a Pora leader. Dr. Kuzio can confirm with parliamentarian Hryhorii Nemyria our earnest efforts to secure a speaker from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc.

Support for the Houston energy conference was solicited openly. We approached dozens of energy companies. In the interests of transparency, we listed all donors on our website. We believe that engaging Ukraine's key economic and political players in discussions on energy diversification is in the interest of Ukraine's sovereignty and economic growth.

But Dr. Kuzio goes further. He claims that I sought to "ingratiate" myself with Mr. Akhmetov by publishing a "flattering article" in the Wall Street Journal, implying that The Orange Circle was rewarded for this article with the businessman's support.

What Dr. Kuzio doesn't point out is that the interview was conducted nine months before The Orange Circle was launched and while I was with Freedom House.

My article was factual and reportorial. In it I wrote: "Ukraine's Orange Revolution ... gained momentum due to public anger at crony capitalism and high-level corruption ... Many of Mr. Yushchenko's supporters are convinced that many of Ukraine's economic magnates acquired their wealth illegitimately - if not criminally - and want the new government to vigorously prosecute illegal financial transactions." In proper journalistic protocol, I asked Mr. Akhmetov to respond to this charge.

The Wall Street Journal has an editorial board that safeguards quality and doesn't publish "flattering" articles.

I am saddened that Dr. Kuzio is lowering the level of discourse by resorting to "kompromat," guilt by association and innuendo. I don't want to further waste your readers' time in responding to the groundless insinuations made by Dr. Kuzio, who in recent years has publicly heaped scorn on Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian leaders and institutions, as well as on Viktor Yushchenko, whom he likes to call the "kamikaze president." I am honored now to be in their company.

Adrian Karatnycky
New York

The letter-writer is president of The Orange Circle.

Parliamentary immunity and democratic standards

Dear Editor:

I have previously sent registerd letters to President Viktor Yushchenko, Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yanukovych about revisiting the issue of parliamentary immunity, but have not received any reply.

A democratic country's parliamentary immunity is granted only for slander or libel within the Parliament. Outside of the Parliament, there is no immunity for parliamentarians.

However, Ukraine's 450 national deputies have immunity inside Parliament and also outside of Parliament, where they may have illegal activities in finance and customs and nefarious dealings in the economy and business, take bribes and engage in money laundering, and participate in illegal activities. And yet they cannot be prosecuted under the present laws of Ukraine.

To be truly democratic, Ukraine must cancel these immunity guarantees for its 450 national deputies and adopt the standards of Europe, Canada, England and the United States where parliamentarians are prosecuted for any and all activities outside of the Parliament.

If Ukraine does not comply with the democratic standards of parliamentary immunity, the future for Ukraine in democracy, its economic development and human rights will be stagnant for many years - and probably for future generations.

I. I. Mayba, M.D.
Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Weekly impacts readers near and far

Dear Editor:

We have been experiencing amazing feedback on the article featuring the Glaucoma Center of San Francisco and the Hnizdovsky collection. Most of the inquiries have been from people concerned about their eyes, and we have been happy to help point them in the right direction for appropriate care.

It is great to see that The Ukrainian Weekly does impact a wide range of Ukrainians both near and far.

Andrew Iwach, M.D.
Marta Klufas, O.D.
San Francisco

The letter-writers are executive director and research director, respectively, of the Glaucoma Center.

We welcome your opinion

The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor and commentaries on a variety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian communities. Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators and letter-writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian National Association.

Letters should be typed and signed (anonymous letters are not published). Letters are accepted also via e-mail at [email protected]. The daytime phone number and address of the letter-writer must be given for verification purposes. Please note that a daytime phone number is essential in order for editors to contact letter-writers regarding clarifications or questions.

Please note: THE LENGTH OF LETTERS CANNOT EXCEED 500 WORDS.

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