Crimean News No13


A New Book About Crimean Tatars

"Unknown Crimea"

News of the Mejlis

"Small steps" of the legislative branch or the next political turn?

The Requirements Have Been Set

The Problems of Integration

Crimea Will Have Enough Bread

The Kurd Demonstration in Simferopol


A New Book About Crimean Tatars

On June 30 a presentation of a book called "Crimean Tatars: Ethnic History and Traditional Culture" (author Refat Kurtiev) took place in the Gasprinskiy Republican Crimean Tatar Library. The author presented a new variant of periods in ethnic history of Crimean Tatars and examined the problems of the names "Tatars" and "Crimean Tatars". The readers will learn about the original traditional culture of Crimean Tatars. The book also contains maps and a dictionary. Preparation and publication of this book was made possible by the "Crimean Tatar Initiative" Foundation, the chief editor Elvedin Chubarov and the financial support of "Renaissance" International Foundation.

Ibraim Abdullaev, newspaper "Golos Kryma" ("Voice of Crimea"), No28 (295), 9th July 1999, p. 1.

"Unknown Crimea"

An exhibition called "Unknown Crimea" opened in Haidelberg, Germany which presented some of the archeological treasures of Crimea. Some of the exhibits were borrowed from the collections of the Crimean Republican Museum of History. This is the first time that such a large collection of more than 700 exhibits, from the Crimean Museum of History, is demonstrated abroad. The biggest attraction was the colored figure of Polovets soldier. The items presented at the exhibition represented the history and culture of numerous people who lived in Crimea from VI B.C. until XIII A.D. – Tavrs, Sciffians, Greek colonists, Sarmats, Alans, Germans, Gunns, Bulgars, Hazars, Pechenegs and Polovets.

L.Milina, newspaper "Krymskaya Pravda" ("Crimean Truth"), No123 (22295), 8th July 1999, p. 4.

The Exhibition of a Crimean Painter

An exhibition of the works of a well-known Crimean Tatar painter Ramiz Netovkin was opened in Kastamone. The exhibition was part of the "Bridge of Friendship" between Crimea and Turkey. In his paintings, Ramiz Netovkin reflected the history and the beauty of Bakchisaray and Kastamone. All of his paintings were sold in just two hours. The Mayor of Kastamone expressed a hope that this action will strengthen the cultural and social links between Kastamone and Bakchisaray.

Izzet Sari.

News of the Mejlis

On June 29 the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev met with a researcher of Harvard University, Oksana Shevel, who is working on a book about the history and the modern situation of the Crimean Tatar national movement. He answered her numerous questions.

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On July 2 the chairman of the Mejlis, M.Dzhemilev, took part in a diplomatic reception organized by the U.S. Embassy in Kiev on account of the celebration of the 213 anniversary of the independence of the United States of America. He was invited by the U.S. ambassador Steven Payfer.

Mejlisinform, newspaper "Yani Dunya" ("New World"), No27 (477), 10th July 1999, p. 1.

"Small steps" of the legislative branch or the next political turn?

On the last day of June the problems of the formerly deported people were discussed in the Parliament of the Autonomy. The meeting was organized by the members of the Verkhovnaya Rada (Parliament) of Crimea. The representatives of several ethnic communities participated as well. They discussed the best ways to spend the 2.5 million US dollars, which will be in the Crimean budget-2000, allocated for the deported people. There are 250 thousand Crimean Tatars in Crimea, 5088 Armenians, 4010 Greeks, 1303 Bulgarians, 2242 Germans. About 36% of the money that was set aside for minorities by the Ukrainian government will be used for Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Germans. The rest - 64% - will be used to help the Crimean Tatars.

Lentara Khalilova, newspaper "Golos Kryma" ("Voice of Crimea"), No28 (295), 9th July 1999, p. 1.

The Requirements Have Been Set

The Program for Preparation of National Staff-Workers has been adopted by Council of Ministers of Crimea in 1995 in order to solve social problems of Crimean Tatars. This program somewhat resembles the U.S. version called Affirmative Action, which was created not too long ago to help the minorities. 83 places have been reserved for Crimean Tatar students in several universities. Some of the universities such as Simferopol and Zapporizzya Medical Universities and Kharkov University of Culture refused to reserve any spots in their enrollment for the formerly deported. Those in charge of the program analyzed the results and decided to continue this Program in the future. The appeal to Ministry of Education of Ukraine with request to continue this program has been made by its advocates.

Program "Haberler" ("News") "Crimea" State TV and Broadcasting Corporation.

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40 Crimean Tatar families moved to new apartments in Feodosia. The Feodosia Construction Firm, within the framework of the Program of Returning and Settlement of Formerly Deported Peoples, in 1992 began construction of an apartment building for Crimean Tatars. However, when the sponsors cut off the monetary supply in 1995, construction had to be stopped. On the 1st of January, 1999 the firm "Konsol" renewed the construction of this building.

Program "Haberler" ("News") "Crimea" State TV and Broadcasting Corporation.

The Problems of Integration

In the Council of Ministers of Crimea took place the meeting of members of the government with special representatives of the Council of Europe. The problems of migration and integration of the formerly deported to the Ukrainian society, the questions of their returning and settlement and measures connected with restoration of their rights and interethnic relations have been discussed. The return and settlement of Crimean Tatars coincided with the economic crisis in the country. The resolution of these problems needs the support of some international organizations. The meeting of the Council of Europe and Council of Ministers of Crimea for discussion of these questions is the first step within the framework of international co-operation. The Council of Ministers of Crimea hopes to have the support of international organizations, particularly the Council of Europe since Ukraine can not solve these problems on its own.

Program "Haberler" ("News") "Crimea" State TV and Broadcasting Corporation.

Crimea Will Have Enough Bread

It appears that there will be enough bread in Crimea despite the increasing prices of grain and an unusually bad harvest this year. The Government has solved the main problem with petrol. Due to the increase of prices of petrol and electric power the price of grain will increase as well. This, however, will not have a very considerable effect on the grain prices.

V.Alexeev, newspaper "Krymskaya Pravda" ("Crimean Truth"), No125 (22297), 10th July 1999, p. 1.

The Kurd Demonstration in Simferopol

On July 9 there was a demonstration of Kurds near the walls of Verkhovnaya Rada (Parliament) of Crimea. This is the second time that the Crimean Kurds come to demonstrate in Simferopol. At the first demonstration the participants carried slogans that demanded the release of Abdulla Ocalan. Today the Kurds asked the Ukrainian Parliament to ask the government of Turkey to repeal the death sentence of the leader of Kurdish Liberation Movement Ocalan. The deputies said that perhaps during the next session of the Crimean Parliament (21 July) they will express an official protest against the capital punishment of Ocalan.

The News Program "Volna" ("Wave") TV and Broadcasting Corporation "Chernomorskaya".