Looks like the Party of Regions wants Ukraine in the WTO ahead of Russia. Better safe than sorry.

Slightly off-topic - article about Russia's refusal to recognize Ukrainian Holodomor as genocide, from the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-oe-goldberg8apr08,1,1668592.column

Taras - That is good news but they may want it because of political bargaining power, being at the negotiating table with RF, and with Ukraine going into WTO - having this happen not on their watch and then when problems occur reserving the right to rant about it and mud sling, etc. What's not to like from their standpoint? only the CPU has been firmly we must go in at the same time. All other political parties have played instrumental roles at one time or another (in all their diff. versions and evolutions) in getting Ukraine into WTO. Pace, motivation, end goals, notwithstanding being very diff.

Elmer - My assumption is that u agree with the author's argument that there is a 'loophole'. Let me be very provocative (esp. in light of the following) and pose the question: The author sees the UN defn as too narrow then what should be substituted for it in your opinion.Which definition of genocide should be used? - according to an expert in the field, there are now a total of 24 different definitions. And should the 'new' definition be applied retro-actively? (kicking it around esp. because it is at the center of a major debate and imho I think that this is positive. Like the famous saying goes - if there is no dissension, someone is not thinking.)


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Thanks for the comments - been away and imo deservedly so because the Bucharest summit before, during and after was cramping my hand into the dreaded 'claw' aka carpal tunnel syndrome and then the article in the NY Times about how bloggers are having heart attacks, convinced me to back away from the monitor, mouse and keyboard.

And there remains to be no "downtime", no respite, no lull. Intrigues among the political elite, gas negotiations, bilateral negotiations with Russian Federation, local news, events in Crimea, and so on and so on. All during a season ("Spring has sprung"), when thoughts should be centered on renewing life, keeping track of the advance of greenery and revelling in cherry/apple/fruit tree blossom, crocus, daffodil etc. time.

So I am off to chase rainbows and butterflies, and I do so knowing that readers r in good hands. Future posts from Dan will illuminate, summarize current events, with Taras wonderfully accomplishing his goal of creating a bridge between Ukraine and the world with traffic going in both directions, click to Hans for energy/gas news, insider track from LEvko, photos and life from Neeka, Leopolis is back in the groove, Michelle provide heart and hope, and so many more bloggers/sites/etc. and with media, news resources :unian, edm, mirror weekly, ukrayinska pravda..., no worries. It's covered. My thanks to all. (exit stage right)

I'll answer the question 2 ways, keeping it on a very simple basis.

First, use the definition that was used by the countries that have already recognized the Holodomor as a genocide.

Second, one can define anything into oblivion. Or, to put it differently, the answer one gets depends on the question one asks.

The Russians claim that it's OK, others besides Ukrainians were killed, so it's not genocide,

By that little Russian artifice, the Holocaust was not genocide of Jews. Because, as we all know, not only Jews were killed in the concentration camps, not only Jews were taken into slave labor or concentration camps, and not only Jews were targeted.

The Russians are very good at lying. It's obvious, and it got tiresome a long time ago.

On a different note - Leopolis has a very good link recently to Poland's position on the WTO, and Poland's position on Russia's efforts to join the WTO and EU.

Sorry to digress, but anyone know what persuasion this professor might be http://www2.pravda.com.ua/news/2008/4/24/75178.htm.

Not sure what is being asked, what do u mean by "persuasion"?

and my apologies for the long time in responding. Was out and about.