News as of October 14th - 16th, 2006

[stepanstas]

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Bush Authorizes Memorial To Victims Of Ukraine Famine

October 14, 2006 -- President George W. Bush has signed a law that authorizes the construction on U.S. government land of a memorial to the millions who died in Soviet Ukraine due to dictator Joseph Stalin's forced collectivization policies in the early 1930s.

The law authorizes the Ukrainian government to build the memorial in Washington.

The law says the 1932-33 famine that killed millions was manmade, not the result of natural causes, and that Stalin and those around him committed "genocide" against Ukraine.

Anti-Soviet fighters rally in Ukraine demanding recognition as World War II veterans

KIEV, Ukraine Veteran Ukrainian nationalist fighters who fought both Soviet and Nazi forces in World War II rallied in the Ukrainian capital Saturday, demanding the same recognition as the Red Army veterans.

The nationalists briefly scuffled with opposing socialists, who were holding a counter-rally, but police were largely successful in blocking protesters from clashing. They detained about 20 socialist and nationalist activists who attempted to break through police cordons.

Some 2,000 veteran nationalist fighters and their supporters gathered in front of St. Sophia Cathedral to honor victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which marked the 64th anniversary of its founding today.

During Soviet times, schoolchildren were taught that members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army were enemies of the people who committed atrocities alongside Nazi troops. After the 1991 Soviet collapse, the former guerrillas have sought to win financial and moral recognition similar to what Red Army veterans have long enjoyed.

The "best sons of Ukraine gave up their lives for our Motherland. Unfortunately we have not been recognized yet. It is a shame," ex-partisan Orest Vaskul said.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Saturday hailed the guerrillas for fighting for Ukraine's independence and signed a decree calling for more studies of the partisans' history and for drafting a law that would extend them official recognition.

Since Western-leaning Yushchenko came to power last year, his government has been striving to win recognition for some 100,000 partisans as Ukrainian patriots who struggled to create an independent homeland. His efforts, however, have met a stiff resistance of Communists and Red Army veterans.

On Saturday, about 1,000 supporters of communist and socialist progressive party held competing rallies in Kiev to denounce the former guerrilla fighters as enemies of Ukraine, waving red flags as Soviet war songs played over loudspeakers.

"They are our enemies, they shot our soldiers in the back," said 69-year-old teacher Volodymyr Protstenko, noting that he tells his students "about crimes of partisans."

Hostility toward the partisans runs deep in Ukraine. During the early years of the war, the anti-Soviet partisans aligned themselves with the Nazis, seeing the invasion as a way to get rid of the Soviet regime. But after the Nazis rejected their calls for an independent Ukraine, they started fighting against both the Nazis and the Soviets. The Red Army drove out the Nazis in 1944, and the partisans continued their struggle until 1951.

About 10,000 partisans are believed to still be alive, while there are 3.8 million World War II veterans still living.

The issue has divided Ukraine, with the more nationalistic west supporting recognition of the partisans, and the Russian-speaking east ≈ the support base for Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych ≈ opposing it.

A pro-partisans rally was held in the western city of Lviv, and supporters and opponents of the partisans held competing rallies in the southern city of Simferopol.

An estimated 7 million Ukrainians died in the fighting against the Nazis, and 2.4 million people were sent to Nazi concentration camps. Yushchenko's father was a Soviet Red Army soldier who spent four years in a Nazi camp.

Ukraine 2 Scotland 0

Scotland▓s good luck ran out as they lost their first game of the Euro 2008 Qualifiers to a clearly superior Ukrainian team in Kiev▓s Olympic Stadium.

An adventurous spirit was snuffed out by a

Andriy
Shevchenko penalty after Olexander Kucher had fired the home side ahead late into the second half.

To add insult to injury Steven Pressley was red carded after a dramatic dive from the ubiquitous Shevchenko, while James McFadden and Darren Fletcher will also miss the next match in Georgia after picking up second yellows.

The euphoria of beating France on Saturday was evident throughout the fans and the squad and it was an upbeat Scotland that Robbie Neilson joined to replace the banned Dailly.

Miller▓s return to the side brought smiles, as did Shevchenko▓s for Ukraine.

Scotland started their first match slowly, settling into their trademark defensive cluster as Ukraine probed insistently from a midfield they dominated for the most part.
Shevchenko showed early menace, slipping through two defenders via a deft touch to himself, before setting up Oleg Gusiev whose low shot was cleared by Steven Pressley.

The ball was breaking often for both sides as poor passing marred good moves, and Scotland looked aggressive as McFadden and Hartley pushed up front to support Miller.

An foolish stamp early on earned McFadden his next-match suspension, and soon after Gordon was called upon to hold a header from Maxim Kalinichenko thanks to Anatoliy Tymoschuk's cross.

Minutes later Fletcher broke from a Hartley through pass but his attempted square ball to Miller in space failed to cut out the defender; a golden opportunity wasted.

Robbie Neilson▓s long throws caused unease for the sometimes flailing Ukrainian keeper, but Scotland▓s harrying was producing few chances.

Shevchenko won a free-kick 30 yards out, earning fletcher a harsh yellow card and the shot slammed against the wall with man-of-the-match Gordon marshalling well at the back.

Sviderskiy and Kalinichenko both had efforts while Scotland showed perhaps too much optimism as they pushed up, harassing the home defence. Ukraine▓s lack of crisp passing gave them ample opportunity to try.

McFadden was brought down just outside the box shortly before the break while attempting his second nutmeg of the night. Graham Alexander▓s quick free-kick set up Barry Ferguson for the shot but he screwed his effort wide.

Gordon produced a strong one-handed save at the near post, staying big as Voronin thundered down on him after Pressley lost his footing.

As the second half started Kenny Miller nearly got a boot to a lofted ball into the box as Ukraine struggled to clear simple balls. But it was Shevchenko who nearly poked the ball in from five yards, only to watch as it rolled agonisingly to the back post before meekly touching away.

Nesmachniy struck a screamer which was cleared onto the crossbar by a superb header from Caldwell.

Soon Scotland▓s luck ran out though, and a clearance cannoned back into the box for Kucher to drill past a helpless Gordon on 60 minutes.

Miller nearly scored through an attempted cross but soon found himself the perpetrator of the worst miss of the night, barely making contact with a free header as he was unmarked and five feet from goal.

Please see link for full article.

Kiev police detain 10 activists who protested against UPA march

KIEV, October 14 (Itar-Tass) -- Police detained 10 members of the Progressive Socialist Party for blocking the way for a nationalist march along Kiev▓s main street on Saturday.

A group of Progressive Socialist Party activists broke through police cordons, which had been set up in order to prevent clashes between the supporters of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and their opponents.

The Interior Ministry public relations centre said one of the party activists sprayed tear gas in the face of a policeman.

Only six regions in western Ukraine have so far recognised UPA members as independence fighters. In the Crimea, southern Ukraine, however, about 300 UPA opponents rallied on Saturday, chanting "No to fascism!", "Shame on nationalists!" and "Fascism won't pass!"

So, here is that special part. Since asking questions did not help, i decided to start leaving comments and have you comment on my comments.

Some people say that President Victor Yuschenko will be known for puting more monuments and memorials. Those same people also say that that's about all he will be known for. Either way, these articles showed a lot. Its very nice and i am very surpriced and happy that a monument will be put on government land in the capital of the USA. Thats big. I wonder when it will be complete.
I am also very glad to here that he respects veterans and will make a law to make sure people know more about them. I am happy as well about Ukraine's win and knowing that they still may be qualified. I think Shevchenko play's a big role, just now when its Ukraine v. Italy. And its good to know that Ukrainian police are keeping order. I just hope they get soem tof tha order into Ukraine's borders.