"Viva-Ukraine" Issue 9, December 2014

№9, DECEMBER 2014

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MAGAZINE

PRESENT DAY>>

Ukraine will celebrate another national holiday — Dignity and Liberty Day PLACES WORTH VISITING>>

The city of Kremenchuk.

Are you afraid of ghosts?

TRAVELLING>>

Visa-free countries: where Ukrainians can travel to

MAIN FEATURE>>

Letters of hope from children to the front

Charity Project «Classical Fairy Show» The unique annual charity project is aimed at helping children from socially disadvantaged groups of population by holding world-class classical music concerts under the slogan — «The world of music — to children».

The proceeds from ticket sales will be used for the project «Breathe.

Live. Fight» realized by the Charitable Foundation «Zabota».

Where:

Kharkiv

National

Theater of Opera and Ballet.

When: December 27, at 18:00.

Price: from 150 UAH to 1 000 UAH.

Academic

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INSIDE: Miss Africa Vinnitsa 2014 page. 18

In Moldova Poroshenko and Komorowski were awarded with orders page. 6

Myths about Ukraine. The look from inside for those who still have doubts page. 14

Letters of hope from children to the front

Visa-free countries: where Ukrainians can travel to

page. 12

page. 8

President awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to the Heavenly Hundred

Social and political magazine

page. 2

№9, DECEMBER 2014 license No20601-10401Р of 28.03.2014

Founder and Chief Editor Butt Umair Ahmad The published materials express their authors’ point of view that may not coincide with the editorial team’s official standpoint.

The editorial team does not carry responsibility for the content of advertisements.

The magazine is published in Ukrainian and English.

Some copies are distributed through diplomatic missions of foreign states in Ukraine and embassies of Ukraine in different countries of the world.

Translated by Natasha Pradan.

Circulation: 10 000 copies

The magazine “Viva Ukraine” wants to express gratitude for help in creating the issue to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Pakistan Volodymyr Lakomov.

The telephone numbers of the editorial office: +380 577816557 +380 949779557 www.viva-ukraine.com info@viva-ukraine.com

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Present Day

A mobile library appeared in the Kharkiv metro in Kyiv, Lviv, Zhytomyr, but not under the ground. There are lots of youths and students in Kharkiv. The level of using smart-phones in Kharkiv is much bigger than in Ukraine on the average. So if this rate throughout Ukraine is about 25%, it means that in Kharkiv it is more than 40 %“, Victoriia Ruban says.

The mobile library contains around 500 books in Ukrainian, Russian and English. They represent different genres, including classical literature and modern literature by foreign and Ukrainian authors. The creators of the mobile library emphasize that it is impossible to get many of these books from the internet for free. As the company has bought licenses for the books, they are available for anyone. Victoriia Ruban also says that soon the book collection will be expanded with new books.

For some time mobile librarians will work there helping everyone download the books. Also, it is possible to read a download instruction on the shelves.

The mobile library at Pushkinska metro station will work up to the New Year. If the company “MTS Ukraine” sees that the innovation is popular among Kharkiv citizens, the virtual library may go on working next year.

On the official Kharkiv city council website there is information that an innovation ‘mobile library’ started working in the hall of Pushkinska metro station on November, 20.

Victoriia Ruban, Head of the Public Relations Department of the company “MTS Ukraine” (mobile network operator), informed that there are QR-codes on the book spines drawn on the bookshelves. Using that code one can download digital books to a smart-phone or to a tablet for free using Wi-Fi. “It is said that nowadays people don’t read a lot, but we disagree with that. Perhaps it is not interesting to read a paperback, but if a person gets an e-book instead of a paperback, he or she will read it with pleasure. That’s why we along with the city authorities are opening an underground mobile library, which is the first in Ukraine or even in the world. Similar libraries have already worked

Reference. “Mobile library” is an innovation cultural and educational project aimed at popularization of reading and giving tourists and citizens a free access to the most interesting informational sources: monuments of Ukrainian and world culture, science, education and works of modern authors.

Ukraine will celebrate another national holiday — Dignity and Liberty Day On November 21 Ukrainians will celebrate Dignity and Liberty Day, and on January 22 — the Day of Unity of Ukraine. According to the press office of the President, this is stated in the decrees of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. The corresponding documents are posted on the President’s official website.

«Ukraine is a territory of dignity and liberty. Not one, but two revolutions have contributed to this - our Maidan in 2004, which was a celebration of liberty, and the revolution of 2013, the revolution of dignity. It was a very difficult test for Ukraine, when the Ukrainian people demonstrated its European character, dignity, its desire for freedom. As the President of Ukraine I should just confirm it signing a decree on Dignity and Liberty Day, which Ukrainians will celebrate on November 21 from now till the end of times,» the head of state said.

As stated in the decree on Dignity and Liberty Day, such a date was chosen «for the purpose of establishing ideals of freedom and democracy in Ukraine and also to preserve the objective information about the momentous events in Ukraine at the beginning of the XXI century and to tell it to the present and future generations, and also to pay the tribute to the memory of patriotism and courage of the citizens who in autumn of 2004 and in November 2013 - February 2014 stood in defense of democratic values, rights and freedoms of an individual and a citizen, of the national interests of the state and its European choice».

And on January 22, according to the President of Ukraine, the country will celebrate the Day of Unity of Ukraine. «The Day of

Unity of Ukraine, the Day of Unification,» he underlined.

Since December 30, 2011, January 22 has been the Day of Unity and Freedom of Ukraine. In fact, a new holiday arose from the change of the date of the Day of Freedom from November 22 (this date was chosen in 2005 by the Third President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko - in honor of the start of the Orange Revolution).

A decree by Yanukovych combined these two holidays.

We shall remind you that Euromaidan started on November 21. It happened after the government of Mykola Azarov decided to stop the preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the EU. 2

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Present Day

President awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to the Heavenly Hundred On the Dignity and Liberty Day, November 21, Kievers brought flowers to the cross dedicated to the Heavenly Hundred in the center of Kyiv to honor the memory of those who had died.

Among the commemorating were their relatives, friends and sworn brothers with whom they had defended Maidan. People brought flowers and lamps to the memorial, some took with them photos of the loved ones who had given their lives during the actions of disobedience.

The participants said that day was particularly painful for them as people guilty of shooting down the Heavenly Hundred hadn’t been punished yet. Soldiers of ATO killed in the East were commemorated as well. Relatives of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred expressed criticism towards the government. They believe it should intensify the investigation of the tragic events.

Politics and leaders of the country joined the commemoration too. However, the relatives of the victims could not cope with their emotions, and they started demanding the official recognition of the victims’ status from the President. Accompanied by outraged cries the President first left giving no answer, but came back a minute later and said that during the day he would sign a decree which would name the fallen activists Heroes of Ukraine. Petro Poroshenko emphasized that when the country was suffering from external aggression the society needed unity and understanding, «surely now we need to be united. Our enemy is at the gate. And I have decided that today I will sign a decree on awarding the

title of Heroes of Ukraine to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred...

I would like to apologize if I offended anyone, if we had not found understanding. Nevertheless, today we are united».

The same day, the press secretary of President Sviatoslav Tseholko wrote in his Twitter: «President has awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to our Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. The decree has just been signed, right during the meeting with the Heroes’ relatives,» he wrote.

Later, according to the press service of the President, Poroshenko noted that according to the procedure the title of Hero of Ukraine could not be given to the three foreigners who had died during the Revolution of Dignity. Therefore, they will be awarded with the order of the Hero of the Heavenly Hundred.

Earlier Poroshenko approved the charter and the image of the Order «Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred».

Are you cold?

Think of those who are sleeping in a trench The action «Warm a hero» swept the cities of Ukraine. In Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Mykolayiv, Svitlovodsk, Zhytomyr and other cities volunteers collected money for warm clothes for our soldiers standing on the first snow in summer wear.

This way people wanted to draw attention to the problems of military men who are in the East. It had snowed, and in Donbas the temperature may drop to -12 degrees, while some fighters simply have no thermal underwear and warm sweaters. With the first cold winter days when the thermometer inexorably creeps down, Ukrainian soldiers need our support more than ever. So on Maidan and elsewhere girls and boys encouraged Ukrainians to help the soldiers on the front sending them warm clothing. Dressed in T-shirts and shirts, skirts and shorts, some even standing on the first snow in sandals, they were holding in their hands posters with volunteer accounts, where one could transfer money for warm clothes for the soldiers. Activists and volunteers wanted to use this flash mob to show the citizens that while they had an opportunity to wear warm coats and sweaters, our soldiers had no thermal underwear and sleeping bags that could protect them from the cold weather.

The action was called «Warm a hero» and the flash mob participants held posters with inscriptions «Are you cold? Think of those who are sleeping in a trench», «Warm clothing is the guarantee of health», «Take care of your defenders,» «Are you cold? Do you think it is warmer in a trench? «, «Do you think I am warm? Provide a soldier with warm clothing!».

Activists also carry out a permanent campaign «ЗігрійГерояChallenge» (“WarmAHeroChallenge”). One should make a photo wearing summer clothes in the snow-covered streets and holding posters that motivate to donate warm clothing for the soldiers. Then the participants of the campaign give some money for winter clothing. Photos should be posted in social networks and the baton – passed to the friends.

During the previous actions the arrangers managed to collect 40 sleeping bags and a few sets of thermal underwear. During two days the activists managed to gather around 4 thousand UAH. The funds raised at this event will be used to purchase winter sleeping bags for the 95th airmobile brigade and good thermal underwear.

All the accounts, to which one can transfer money, can be found in social networks on the participants’ pages. It is easy to recognize them – they have icons with appropriate labels or with the hashtag «#ЗігрійГероя» (“#warmahero”).

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Places worth visiting

The city of Kremenchuk.

Are you afraid of ghosts?

While the city sleeps, they come out into the streets: the creatures we have heard about, but which we are afraid to mention before bedtime. They can be seen only by the select few and sometimes - by random passers-by. However, the latter try to forget it as soon as possible...

Kremenchuk is a big industrial center of Poltava region. Today, the city has 86 powerful industrial enterprises, 58 construction companies with different forms of ownership and around 14 thousand businesses. According to the rating of regions, cities and districts of Ukraine, conducted by the non-governmental analytical center «Institute of Reforms» (Kyiv), Kremenchuk lies in the 8th place among 494 regions of Ukraine. In addition, due to its economic performance it ranks 15 among 45 major cities of Ukraine.

One can have a good rest in Kremenchuk, because there are many interesting buildings, monuments, clean beaches at the banks of the Dnieper River, lakes and the Kremenchuk Reservoir (which is also called the Kremenchuk Sea due to its large size). Comfortable hotels function for tourists, and several children’s camps - for kids. It is a nice city for leading a quiet life. But we would like to show you the city not basing on the classic characteristics - how many museums there are, which of historical figures traveled Kremenchuk roads, how many universities function there and what politicians and public figures live in the city. We’d like to show you the mystical side of life, Kremenchuk legends and stories. The memorial «To the Ever-living» («Vichno zhyvym») erected where a concentration camp had been situated, Kremenchuk bridge that is notorious for the number of accidents that happen there, the mysterious Deivska mountain. These are just legends, but no one says they are not true. You are welcome, if you aren’t afraid.

The cursed bridge

The riddle of the eighth fugitive

- Die on this bridge yourself! May all people die here - until my soul finds eternal rest! - it could be heard over the waves of the Dnieper River. A moment later horse hoofs trampled a gypsy beggar, and the young landlord who was in the wheelchair ordered the coachman to go on... The old gypsy woman died in the end of the XVIII century. Almost 200 years have passed since then, but the curse hasn’t lost its power. Let us recall the mysterious death of the driver who jumped down form the bridge and numerous fatal car accident. Therefore, Kremenchuk bridge remains an anomalous zone as people die there despite all the security measures. This is probably because the gypsy spirit wants to get eternal rest. But how many more victims does it need?

During the Great Patriotic War there was a concentration camp in Kremenchuk, namely near the modern BC «KrAZ». Once eight daredevils decided to escape from there. They managed to pass the fence, but then the fugitives were caught and shot by the Nazis. But when the latter came to take the bodies, there were only seven of them. So one of the bravehearts survived.

The war ended, the Germans were forced out from the city, the concentration camp was razed to the ground. People erected a monument to the bravehearts and named it «To the Ever-living» («Vichno zhyvym») in their honor – the seven figures stood there as if they were alive. If you try to count the figures, do not be surprised if there will be eight of them. Yes, only seven figures were made, but do not doubt your ability to count. The old residents even have a legend that the eighth fugitive from the concentration camp allegedly comes to his dead friends. But he always takes place slightly to the left of the group, at a distance of several meters, as if he is ashamed to face the dead. Maybe he feels guilty that he survived and that is his expiation. We will never find out...

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Places worth visiting

When the witch keeps silent...

The ring of desires

Deivska mountain in Kriukiv has long been considered a strange place, and therefore - scary. And with good reason. There is a legend saying that several centuries ago there was a young woman who lived in the town. The townsmen called her a witch for an exceptional talent for folk medicine. She lived alone on the outskirts of the town so eventually the locals started fearing her, then got frightened, and then – started hating the recluse.

Soon a trouble came: a terrible disease swept the town and no one could cope with it. The town women respectfully asked the sorceress to help them or they would die. «I will help you. But you have to promise you are not going to ask me about the things I’m not willing to tell you». The citizens simply did not have a choice.

The witch took two girls with her and went to Deivka. Three days later she returned. A week later the disease left the city. But the girls never came home. People sounded the alarm, rushed to the witch, but she was silent. Having accused the recluse of immolating the girls to the Satan, the citizens burned her. A year later the girls came back and brought terrible news: the witch just could not say where they were, otherwise she would have violated the ritual. Hence, the disease would have returned with a vengeance.

The recluse died so as not to reveal the mystery and prevent the townsmen from dying of the plague. Years and centuries go by, and the ghost of the witch still comes to the fires of the daredevils who decide to spend the night on Deivska mountain...

This is neither a fairy tale nor a dream. This is a reality that everyone can benefit from! We like watching the sunset, listening to the sound of a surf and dreaming of something. It is in this fantastic environment where one’s dreams can be implemented into life.

There is a «ring of desires» on the granite brows near the Dnieper River. Almost no one knows its origin for sure, but it is enough only to rub the ring and think of something – and every wish will come true. The main thing is not to get carried away. For the desire to get something ethereal can become a pathological addiction.

The price of love Once a year, at midnight, when the full moon shines in the sky, she comes. Passing the graves of Kostroma cemetery, the ghost comes to the monument to a crying angel, gets on her knees and asks to forgive the only sin in her life. She made a huge mistake - claimed the life of a girl who was to marry her beloved one. She was to, but she never did. A jealous friend put poison into her glass of wine. The bride was smiling to her friends and parents and a moment later she already lay dead on the floor of the room, where the celebration was held. The legend of the dead bride would have remained a story to frighten children, but for a series of strange events, starting from the stones of the monument which were moved a little and ending with numerous evidence of seeing a strange girl who comes to the cemetery and disappears as soon she approaches the grave. People never forgave the murderer – she was burned at the stake, and the monument to her victim still stands at Kostroma cemetery, reminding passers-by of the terrible crime and the cruel punishment…

A childhood cut off A children cemetery is always a scary place. So many small bodies lying under a thick layer of soil with a granite top. As if we were afraid of them coming back and taking revenge on us for having allowed them to die. Coming to Reivske cemetery one cannot but feels guilty because he or she is an adult who keeps living, and they - little and defenseless - will never see the light again. Amid the sea of graves, a small island can be distinguished, where at times one can feel the breath of life and childhood.

Especially noticeable is the night of Sunday to Monday. At that time the boundary between our world and the afterworld grows thinner. So getting lost in the sepulchral maze generated by dark forces is not difficult for those who were unlucky enough to get there. People say there have been six people who got lost like that.

In addition, after another child’s burial, the cemetery enlivens. A swing appears in the middle of the night as a symbol of a life that ended so suddenly... one can hear children’s laughter and happy voices over the dead ground. That is how the childhood conquers the death.

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Present Day

In Moldova Poroshenko and Komorowski were awarded with orders According to the press service of the Administration of the President of Ukraine, on Thursday, November 20, in the morning Petro Poroshenko arrived to Moldova with an official visit. During the visit to Moldova Poroshenko held tripartite negotiations with the President of Moldova Nicolae Timofti and his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski, who was also in Chisinau that day.

The heads of the three states discussed the urgent issues of the international agenda, the cooperation between Ukraine and Moldova in integration to Europe and the acceleration of negotiations on the Transnistria settlement in the «5 + 2» format. We shall remind you that on November 13 the European Parliament ratified the Association Agreement with Moldova.

The program of the visit provided for signing a joint declaration of the heads of the three states, the negotiations between Petro Poroshenko, Bronislaw Komorowski, the Head of the Moldovan Parliament Igor Corman and the Prime Minister Iurie Leanca. Talks in the expanded format of members of the official delegations also took place.

During the visit the President of Moldova Nicolae Timofti awarded the Presidents of Ukraine and Poland Petro Poroshenko and Bronislaw Komorowski with the Order of the Republic, which is the highest state award of Moldova.

As stated in the text of the corresponding decree of the President of Moldova, the leaders of Poland and Ukraine were awarded «for their continuous support of the reforms and the European development of Moldova».

During the official visit to Moldova the President of Ukraine also visited Beltsy where he had a meeting with the representatives of the Ukrainian community and laid flowers at the monument to Taras Shevchenko.

The president visited the building of the Ukrainian Union of Moldova «Zapovit», called the «Ukrainian House». Poroshenko left a record in the book of honorable guests.

Speaking to the representatives of the Ukrainian community in the Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, the president thanked them for their commitment to the traditions of spirituality and culture of the Ukrainian people.

«Ukraine must drastically change the attitude to the Ukrainians living in Moldova,» the president said. According to Poroshenko, it is necessary not only to maintain the culture and language, but also to do everything to make the borders between the two countries disappear. «This can be possible only under one condition: the joint motion and membership in the European Union,» the president underlined.

During the communication were raised the following issues, in particular: the issue of student exchange, establishment of a Ukrainian-language TV channel, restoration of the department of the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian studies in the university of Chisinau. In conclusion, according to the report, everyone along with the president performed the Ukrainian anthem.

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Present Day

Pakistan held an exhibition dedicated to Ukrainian Famine and Genocide Memorial Day On November 20 the Ukraine Embassy in Pakistan opened a photo exposition dedicated to the memory of the victims of famine and political repression in Ukraine. The event was attended by members of the public of Islamabad, journalists and Ukrainian citizens residing in the Pakistani capital.

the same time, Stalin ordered the collectivization of agriculture.

The state confiscated the property of the independent farmers and forced them to work on government collective farms. More prosperous farmers (owning a few head of livestock, for example) and those who resisted collectivization were branded kulaks (rich peasants) and declared enemies of the state who deserved to be eliminated as a class. Thousands were thrown out of their homes and deported.

In 1932, the Communist Party set impossibly high quotas for the amount of grain Ukrainian villages were required to contribute to the Soviet state. When the villages failed to meet the quotas, authorities intensified the requisition campaign, confiscating even the seed set aside for planting and levying fines in meat and potatoes for failure to fulfill the quotas. Special teams were sent to search homes and even seized other foodstuffs.

Starving farmers attempted to leave their villages in search of food, but Soviet authorities issued a decree forbidding Ukraine’s peasants from leaving the country. As a result, many thousands of farmers who had managed to leave their villages were apprehended and sent back, virtually a death sentence. A law was introduced that made the theft of even a few stalks of grain an act of sabotage punishable by execution.

Although informed of the dire conditions in Ukraine, central authorities ordered local officials to extract even more from the villages. Millions starved as the USSR sold crops from Ukraine abroad. The USSR vigorously denied that the Holodomor had ever occurred.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the government archives became accessible for researchers. They support the conclusion that the famine was caused by the Soviet state policies and was indeed intentionally intensified by Soviet authorities.

Since 2006, Ukraine officially marks Holodomor Memorial Day – an annual national remembrance day of Ukraine - on the fourth Saturday of November. This year the official Memorial Day of Remembrance of Victims of Hunger-Genocide of the years 193233 was marked on the 22-nd of November, 2014. That day the Ukrainian Embassy in Pakistan officially opened a topical exhibition in remembrance of those Ukrainian compatriots who had been killed by the manmade artificial Famine-Genocide of 1932-19 (also known in Ukrainian as “Holodomor”) designed by the general secretary of the Communists Party Central Committee Joseph Stalin.

The term Holodomor (“mass starvation death”) refers to the starvation of millions of Ukrainians as a result of the Soviet policies.

Holodomor can be seen as the culmination of an assault by the Communist Party and Soviet state on the Ukrainian peasantry who resisted the Soviet policies.

This assault occurred in the context of a campaign of intimidation and arrests of Ukrainian intellectuals, writers, artists, religious leaders, and political leaders who were seen as a threat to Soviet ideological and state-building aspirations.

By the end of the 1920s, the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin decided to curtail Ukraine’s cultural autonomy, launching the intimidation, arrest, imprisonment and execution of thousands of Ukrainian intellectuals, church leaders, as well as Communist Party functionaries who had supported Ukraine’s distinctiveness. At

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Travelling

Visa-free countries: where Ukrainians can travel to Soon the New Year holidays will come, so it’s time to think where it is possible to have a good weekend abroad and then to plan a future trip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine promises a visa-free regime with the EU next year, but while we are waiting, let’s look through the list of the countries where you can go without a visa anytime.

Georgia An amazing country where old traditions, history and culture tightly interwove with modern architecture. Ancient temples, cave monastery complexes, natural parks, excellent ski resorts – all this can be found in Georgia. Here you can admire the beautiful Caucasian mountains, relax on the beaches of the Black Sea, and enjoy the splendid local cuisine. And the Georgian hospitality is truly legendary.

Thailand Though Thailand does not completely belong to visafree countries (a visa can be purchased at the airport), one certainly should come here. Thailand is a unique country. There is entertainment for all tastes. Ancient cities and temples, the highest in the world 127 meter high statue of Buddha, palaces, rainforests, waterfalls, bright national holidays, Thai massage, incredible beaches, diving - all this and more can be found in Thailand.

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Travelling

Serbia Due to moderate climate and good nature local resorts are known are among the best in Europe for therapeutic qualities.

Rafting, fishing, hunting, skiing, spa-tours are cheaper and more available than in the rest of Europe. Many fairs and festivals are held in Serbia. Festival Exit — one of the best music festivals in Europe is among them. Night clubs in Belgrade are as popular as in Ibiza. The magazine Lonely Planet has included Serbia to the list of the best countries for traveling in 2015.

Mongolia The main hallmarks of Mongolia are natural landscapes.

Steppes with lakes and rivers, taiga and mountains, a vast Gobi Desert. There are many rare plants and animals in Mongolia.

Here yurts are not a relic of the past, but a proper house. Fishing, hunting, hiking, rafting, horseback riding - all these activities are at your service in Mongolia. Many architectural monuments of the medieval Mongol Empire have been preserved - Buddhist monasteries and temples, the ancient city of Karakorum.

Brazil Incredible beaches, coffee plantations, hot samba and the best football players in the world. It is not surprising that despite significant poverty Brazilians are considered the happiest nation in the world. The World Football Cup in 2014 and Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 have significantly developed the infrastructure of the country. A lot of tourists go to Rio annually to open the carnival. If you have enough courage - go and conquer the Amazon jungle.

Albania It is a real jewel of the Mediterranean Sea. Because of the long isolation the majority are not aware of its rich cultural heritage and an extremely beautiful nature with spectacular canyons and crystal clear beaches. Due to being less advertised the prices in Albania are lower. And there is really something to see. Albania has preserved monuments of the city and fortress architecture, castles and fortresses. But a clean sea and beautiful beaches are still the most attractive here.

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Travelling

Hong Kong A special administrative region of China, formerly a British colony, located on many islands and peninsulas in the southeast of China. Hong Kong is the third best financial center in the world and the first in Asia. Because of the small area of land suitable for construction Hong Kong has the highest concentration of skyscrapers in the world. Ukrainians can stay there with no visa up to 14 days.

Turkey Turkey resorts are famous all over the world. But Turkey has more than just golden beaches of the four seas. It also has the thermal springs of Yalova, the monasteries of Cappadocia, ski resorts and cool shopping. And, of course, impressive Istanbul with the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. It is a country that combines East and West, past and modernity. A country where everyone will find something for themselves.

Namibia It combines both the wild and the civilized Africa. Now Namibia is a dynamic country with a developed infrastructure, good roads, comfortable hotels. Namibia is a place where two elements meet: the desert and the ocean. In national parks one can watch a real wild Africa. The Namib and the Kalahari deserts, the Fish River Canyon, diamond mines, abandoned cities, a stone forest, where the world’s largest meteorite fell – all these are the landmarks of Namibia.

Belarus It is possible to go to the neighboring country not only with no visa, but with no international passport. Belarus has many national parks, health centers, castles, museums and architectural monuments. The lack of a language barrier and affordable prices make Belarus a very promising country for a journey.

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Travelling

Mexico Very ancient, slightly creepy, but incredibly interesting and attractive Maya and Aztec civilizations retain so many mysteries that up to this day not all of them have been solved. And one can dive into this amazing world only in Mexico. Besides, the beauty of the architecture of the colonial era will impress everybody.

The nature of the country is diverse. Here one can enjoy his or her vacation on sandy beaches, admire the views of deserts and huge volcanoes, explore endless coral reefs. And the Mexican carnival is a single page in the history and culture of the country.

Bolivia Here one can enjoy views of the Cordillera peaks that soar in the clouds, explore cities of the Incas lost in the midst of emerald plateaus, immerse oneself in silent contemplation of the Uyuni salt flat, almost go deaf due to exotic birds’ twitter in the humid Amazon jungles... and then walk with dignity through cozy colonial streets of Sucre and then – let’s be honest - try coca leaves (only to meet the ancestor of «Coca-Cola», nothing else!).

And then certainly buy a pair of fluffy socks made of alpaca wool!

Here is the complete list of the countries, which don’t require Ukrainians to have a visa in advance or in which a visa can be issued at the border: the CIS - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan Europe - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro North America - Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, Grenada, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica Asia - Bangladesh, Brunei, Bhutan, Yemen, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Cambodia, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, East Timor, Sri Lanka Africa - Benin, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape, Verde, Kenya, the Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda South America - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru.

The best and the most reliable source of information in this area is the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, which details visa requirements for each country in the world. So learn the rules and have a good trip!

Source: tenews.te.ua

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Main Feature

Letters of hope Letters from children to the front

Sometimes children understand things much better than adults. Being very wise, children do not think that there is nothing they can do. Some refuse the money collected for a bike/tablet/ phone to buy at least one body armor for a Hero with the help of the parents. And those who cannot support financially, do that morally. They write letters, make up poems, paint pictures emphasizing the bright sun, the Ukrainian flag and wish us to have a peaceful sky. Then they send the paintings to the front. To their Heroes. Do not worry, the kids are pretty aware of what a war is like, but unlike adults they believe that maintaining the morale of soldiers is as important as the material support. And looking at pictures of hard-baked soldiers with gentle children’s drawings in hands, at touching letters that they write back to the kids, we can say that the children are right.

We suggest that you see a selection of letters and drawings from children all over the country who send their letters of support and hope to the East to their Heroes with only one wish - come back alive.

«Our dear soldiers! I want to thank you for defending our Ukraine. We should look up to people like you. And we will always help you any way we can. We collected a lot of products and we hope that you have got all of them. We really want the war to end and all of you to come back alive.»

Vadym, 9 years old, Ternopil

«Dear soldier!

I know it is hard.

Hold on! The fate of our nation and motherland depends on you. I am proud of the fact that Ukraine has such defenders. To me, you’re a hero and an example of best human qualities. I want to be as brave as you. I wish you and your comrades to come back home alive and healthy with the victory. I really want to hear your story about how you defended our country from the invaders and how you won. Glory to Ukraine! «

«Dear soldiers! Thank you for protecting our country from enemies. Thank you for sacrificing your lives and health for us. Hold on, because everybody believes in you.

And I believe that it will end soon and we will win. Thank you.»

Andrii, 12 years old, Mykolaiv

Illia, 14 years old, Kyiv

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Main Feature «Hello, my wounded friend! The nature did not give me the possibility either to hear my mother talking or a nightingale singing or people performing Ukrainian songs.

Neither I hear the roar of guns. But every day while watching TV shows translated by the teachers to sign language, I see Russian mercenaries shooting, destroying towns and villages, killing, robbing civilians, mocking at prisoners, and my heart bleeds. I am proud of you, my wounded warrior, for you weren’t afraid of death, you did not spare your health fighting for freedom, honor and glory of Ukraine».

Nataliia, form 9, Terebovlianskii Education and Rehabilitation Center.

«Hero! A huge thank you for being on the front. Thank you for existing. Thank you and your comrades for being the guards of goodness and peace. Please take care of yourself and come back alive and healthy. I know you will. I believe that your home will be full of peace and harmony, you will hear happy children’s voices and will enjoy life. Peace is sure to come to Ukraine, as our country has such warriors as you. My heart is with you, Heroes! « Victoriia, Dnipropetrovsk

«My dear defender!

My dear soldier! Thank you for fighting for our future. I will pray for your coming back alive!!! Soldier, first of all, you should not be discouraged! You should know we are waiting for you at home. I want to thank all the volunteers who went to fight for their children, for peace in Ukraine! « Alina, 14, Mala Vyska, Kirovohrad region.

«Dear soldier! Thank you for having gone to fight for our beloved Ukraine. We praise your name! I appreciate that you fight for our future, for children’s laughter, for your old gray-haired mother. I will pray for your coming back alive!!! « Daria, 13 years old, Rohizky, Chernihiv region.

Pigeons, guelder-rose, Ukrainian flags, blue skies, yellow and blue hearts and flowers in the muzzle of a tank. Inscriptions «Glory to Ukraine!», «We stand for peace», «Come back alive,» «Waiting for you», «You are my hero.» Today, such messages are being sent from all over Ukraine to real heroes, not just characters from books, who are fighting for our peaceful skies.

Source: «Facts»

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Present Day

Myths about Ukraine The look from inside for those who still have doubts The foreigners watching Russia Today TV channel get a wrong impression of the present day tragic events. This channel, that is nothing but a tool of Kremlin to create a false image among English-speaking world, is constantly using censorship, denying facts and publishing fake news. Therefore, we suggest that you look at the selection of the widest-spread myths about Ukraine.

Looking through it may be interesting not only for foreigners, but also for those Ukrainians who still have any doubts.

week of protests, whilst after students had been beaten, protesters brought Ukrainian flags to Maidan, which became a blue-yellow ocean of freedom. Even the main location of protests shifted from the European Square to Maidan (Independence Square).

Myth 2. EuroMaidan was a far right movement

Myth 1. Ukrainian revolution was all about the EU

No doubt, some of the radical groups took part in the revolution as, for instance, football fans. However, despite their contribution in terms of forming defense structures and serving in the volunteer battalions when the war began, they were neither at the core of the Maidan nor influential enough to shape revolution’s progress.

In fact, Ukrainian revolution was driven by the most active part of modern Ukrainian society. There were entrepreneurs, intellectuals, artists, academics and students. It could be called a creative and middle class revolution, but definitely not a far right-wing one. In fact, according to the results of a social survey conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, professionals with higher education constituted the major part of Maidan.

No doubt, it was a struggle for human rights, freedom and justice. In fact, Euromaidan was culturally and religiously tolerant, it spoke different languages. At the early Presidential election both right-wing candidates – Tiahnybok and Yarosh – together received less than 5% of votes, which is insignificant comparing to nearly 20% of seats that far right parties got in the parliaments of France and Hungary (Front Nationale and Jobbik respectively). Obviously, the role of the far right in the Revolution of Dignity is overestimated.

Social protests started with student demonstrations against Yanukovich’s decision not to sign the Association agreement.

In fact, the Ukrainian youth was protesting under the slogan “molod nacii za evrointegraciu” (“Youth of the Nation for European Integration”), which clearly underlines the ProEuropean orientation. Such student movements took place all over Ukraine. However, after an active week, the mood became more pessimistic. Frankly speaking, while being on Maidan at that time I thought that those were the last days of the movement.

However, on the night of November 30th, the state special forces, “Berkut” and riot police brutally dispersed peaceful protestors, mainly consisting of students, who were seriously injured. As a result of beatings of defenseless students, the discourse and people’s attitude on Maidan shifted. In two days, hundreds of thousands came to Maidan.

There were no more indecisiveness and youthful credulity.

The questions of EUUkraine relations and European Integration became irrelevant for protestors, as antiregime, anti-Yanukovich and anti-police rhetoric prevailed, later followed by Pro-Ukrainian and anti-war discourse. Moreover, the shift from “the European” to Ukraine-centred approach was easily noticeable by the amount of EU and Ukrainian flags on Maidan. Indeed, flags with official symbolic of the EU constituted the majority of flags during the first

Myth 3. Maidan took place only in Kyiv It is true that Maidan square is physically located in the center of Kyiv. In geographical terms, Kyiv’s Maidan was dominated by people from other regions (88%), while only 12% of protesters were Kyiv citizens.

Moreover, Maidan was geographically diverse: while the majority of 55% of visitors – were from Western Ukraine, 24% were residents of Central Ukraine, 21% 14

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Present Day Myth 4. Annexation of Crimea was legal and was conducted according to the international law

from the East and South. Thus, by the end of 28th of January, 23 out of 24 oblasts (regions) of Ukraine held mass protests (see the map below). But what is more important, “Maidan” was a social and mental sphere.

“Maidan” was also a virtual public sphere. Facebook communities, free on-line consulting services, and online fundraising campaigns were created by people from all over Ukraine and around the Globe. There are specific groups of Maidan activists in all regions of Ukraine. Actually, wherever a protest occurred, in Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv or Kyiv, all the protesters were called “Maidaners”. Thus, Maidan and Ukrainian Revolution were not entirely Kyivan, but were supported all over Ukraine.

Nevertheless, it was supported not only in Ukraine, but also far beyond its borders. The Ukrainian expatriate communities in France, Germany, Austria, the USA, Ireland, Israel and other countries also supported their compatriots. Their members went to the Ukrainian embassies with yellow and blue flags thus creating their own Maidan.

First of all, the referendum was organized by the selfannounced and self-appointed “head of Crimea” Sergey Aksenov (with criminal alias “Goblin”), an individual with abundant criminal past. The referendum was held on 16th of March only on Crimean peninsula, which unequivocally contradicted the Constitution of Ukraine, as questions on border changes can only be decided in a national referendum. Secondly, the referendum was organized in three weeks and was not supported by Ukrainian government. Third, the indigenous dwellers of Crimea, the Crimean Tatars, boycotted the referendum. Moreover, the referendum was held at the barrel of the gun of hundreds of so-called “green men”, in fact, Russian militants who later received medals of honor for “returning Crimea back» from Putin. Additionally, the Crimean referendum was rigged. According to the official information, 123% of Sevastopol citizens voted for joining Russia. In fact, Crimean Annexation was never recognized by the international community, and even was announced illegal by the UN General Assembly which supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Given all the above-mentioned, claims on legality of the Crimea Annexation have nothing to do with reality and the international law.

Maidan in Italy

Myth 5. MH17 was attacked by the Ukrainian military

Maidan in France

In addition to official resolution of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which clearly proves the responsibility of Kremlin-backed terrorists and militants, there are multiple evidences of Russian militants involvement in the tragedy. First of all, Russian journalists started reporting from the crash scene a couple of minutes after the tragedy had happened, and as it was in the field far outside the urban areas, this probably means that they had known about the location of a crash beforehand. Secondly, military weapons that were used to hit the MH17 require additional professional

Maidan in Ireland 15

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Present Day

According to the multilateral agreement between the OSCE representatives, Donetsk and Luhansk People`s Republics, Russia and Ukraine (this role was played by the second president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma), the ceasefire was announced in the warzone. After that, Poroshenko’s so-called “peace plan” should also have been implemented.

However, this agreement has been permanently broken by the Kremlin-baked separatists and Russian militants. Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State, affirmed in October: «From our perspective, Minsk resolution was a proper agreement, but it is not implemented. Shootings are still taking place in Donetsk airport, Debaltseve, Shakhtarsk. All external military forces have to leave Ukrainian territory».

Another evidence of having a “ceasefire” only on paper is the official statistics from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: by October 15th 2014, the terrorists had violated the ceasefire for more than 1400 times in the war-zone. As a result, 68 Ukrainian soldiers died and 428 were injured. Moreover, at least 51 civilians were victims of the fire from terrorists’ side. Thus, constant shootings have not yet stopped.

training. In fact, Ukrainian army has neither these weapons nor professionals to use them. Third, a Ukrainian military plane had been shot down with nearly 50 casualties in the same region few weeks before the MH17 tragedy. Moreover, Strelkov, one of the leaders of separatists, posted on Facebook a note boasting about another Ukrainian plane shot by separatist immediately after the crash of MH17. Few minutes later, as it became clear that is was not a Ukrainian plane, he deleted the post.

Other countries’ intelligence services supported this point of view too. In fact, the U.S. officials said that, first, a U.S. spy satellite tracked the launch of a surface-to-air missile from rebel-held territory shortly before the crash.

Second, U.S. voice analysis confirms the authenticity of a damning cell phone conversation between two prominent separatist leaders discussing the crash that was intercepted and made public by Ukrainian officials.

German intelligence also blames pro-Russian separatists as responsible for the tragedy.

Myth 7. The war in the East of Ukraine is a civil war Indeed, it is a true fact that Ukrainians are on both sides of a war conflict. However, there are enough evidence of the Russian army presence deep inside the Ukrainian territory. There are hundreds dead Russian soldiers that are being constantly sent back to Russia.

“Community of soldiers’ mothers” in Russia activated campaigns towards releasing official information about the location of Russian soldiers. In fact, organization’s secretary, V. Melnikova, reported that, according to their estimations, approximately ten thousands of Russian soldiers had been deployed to Ukraine. Moreover, there are multiple photos of Russian soldiers with weapons and

Myth 6. There is a ceasefire now in Ukraine according to Minsk resolutions

Negotiations in Minsk 16

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Present Day victim to) that everyone who is speaking Russian is pro-Russian. It was easy to meet Russian speaking Ukrainian patriots during the EuroMaidan.

Moreover, according to the result of IRI survey of residents of Ukraine, conducted on September 12-25, 2014, no less than 79% of Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine oppose the decision of Russian Federation to send its army to protect Russian speaking citizens of Ukraine. In fact, the total majority of people in the Russian-speaking South and East definitely do not support this decision.

Myth 9. Poroshenko was elected only by people from Western and Central Ukraine, as it was not possible to vote on early presidential elections in the East of Ukraine and in Crimea

equipment in the Eastern Ukraine, which is known thanks to a geolocation tagging of social networks where these photos were posted. A Russian lawyer Olena Vasileva reported that overall number of dead Russian militants in Ukraine was no less than 4,5 thousand. Lately, Russia has officially declared the deaths of nearly 900 of soldiers form the list. Moreover, people who were wounded or injured are not counted.

Dutch MP in the European Parliament Hans van Baalen told that both the EU and NATO had satellite photos of Russian troops presence deeply inside Ukraine. Amnesty International also released photos from the space that proved the presence of Russian militants in Ukraine. Moreover, the majority of the “leaders” of people’s republics in the East have Russian citizenship. This is why it is more accurate to speak about this war as a proxy war of Russia in Ukraine, rather than a Ukrainian civil war.

In fact, Poroshenko won the elections in all but one District Election Commissions (of nearly 2 hundreds) located all over Ukraine. Moreover, at 106 DECs more than a half of voters gave him their votes. On the map below, the electoral support for Poroshenko is shown. As one could see, Poroshenko received the overwhelming support throughout Ukraine.

Moreover, Central Election Commission of Ukraine started a project that simplifies the process of changing the voting address.

Thus, the residents of areas with non-operational polling stations could sign to vote into another precinct beforehand. In fact, this opportunity was used not only by the residents of a war-zone in the East, but also by Crimean citizens, as they went to Kherson, the nearest oblast, to vote.

Myth 8. Russian speaking population of Ukraine wants to join Russia It is a huge delusion (that actually Putin first has fallen a

Source: thinking Europe outside the Union: http://beyondthe.eu/

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Culture

Miss Africa Vinnitsa 2014 On November 15 the most beautiful students of Mykola Pirogov Vinnytsia National Medical University gathered in Feride Plaza to compete for the title of Miss Africa Vinnitsa 2014. The contest was to establish friendly relations between Africa and Ukraine, and the girls managed to show how African and Ukrainian traditions can interweave. Eight charming girls from Ghana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Morocco danced Ukrainian and African folk dances, demonstrated vyshyvankas and extraordinary evening dresses.

Namibia, Salma Sheeni from Ghana, Rihab Haddid from Morocco, Joy Job from Nigeria, Bonnety Mumbalu from Namibia.

One by one the girls walked the podium smiling charmingly to the jury and the audience. Each participant wore what she considered necessary: skirts, trousers, dresses, - what in their opinions, fitted them most. An interesting fact was that all of them were heeled.

Meanwhile, little girls were preparing for their performance.

The sports gymnastics club with the dance «Mini Jackson Girl dance» won the hearts of the audience. The master of the ceremony introduced the team and commented by saying: «Nobody else dances like this». He certainly was right. From time to time the impressed audience exploded with applause and cheers when the girls again intertwined into incredible poses accompanied by Michael Jackson’s well-known song.

The arrangers the president of «MAV Deluxe» Ebere Mercy Onyesoh and the administrator Nedonsel Mabido took care of the multinational audience who came to support the girls, so the show was held in two languages: a charming Ukrainian girl spoke Ukrainian and Nedonsel Mabido himself spoke English. The holiday began with a ceremonial raising of the flags of all the participating countries. Boys and girls of various nationalities were dressed in vyshyvankas and held the flags of African countries. It was quite a colorful spectacle. Thus, they expressed their respect for our country.

Then the first joint appearance of the contestants took place.

The girls were dressed in Ukrainian costumes - vyshyvankas, skirts with red ribbons and belts - and danced a Ukrainian folk dance.

The performance contained a surprise. Suddenly the music stopped, and then continued with an African folk song, and the girls started dancing to it. This way the participants managed to combine the two very different cultures very harmoniously.

During the performance of the flexible girls from the gymnastics club, the contestants prepared to demonstrate their creative abilities. The girls sang, danced and acted small scenes.

By the way, the contestant who showed a scene raised an important issue of women’s rights. She stressed that in any situation women should protect their rights and not let others offend them.

The next task for the African beauties was to demonstrate the casual style. The task was not easy as this style provides practicality, simplicity and comfort. But a contestant claiming the main crown cannot wear track bottoms on stage! But the girls coped with this task pretty well wearing comfortable jeans and T-shirts, tastefully complemented by colorful jackets and shawls.

To diversify the show, the arrangers decided to please the female half of the audience and spend a little beauty contest among boys. «Mr. Africa» was elected with loud applause. The girl audience supported the contestants they liked very actively

Other groups performed as well, such as singing duo of two Ukrainians Diana and Olha. The girls sang a wonderful Ukrainian song «Teche voda» (“The water flows”). Of course, they were dressed in traditional costumes. The next to perform was Valentin Stoliarchuk who sang a gentle lyric song «Isabel».

After the creative performances the masters of the ceremony suggested watching a video, in which they showed how the contestants of the beauty show had been preparing for that day.

The girls had visited the gym to maintain their figures, had taken dance and acting lessons, had learned to smile delightfully, walk heeled and so on. After all, each of them was claiming the crown of the beauty queen and the owner of that title should be perfect in everything.

When the video presentation ended, the contestants were finally presented to the judges. Eight participants came to the stage, they were: Christabel Kissi from Ghana, Chido Bosha from Zimbabwe, Goodangel Esther from Nigeria, Monika Kramer from 18

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Culture «Why do you think you will be the winner?» etc. Of course, all the beauties stood for world peace.

While the jury was deciding who would receive the crown, the audience was happy with male performances. A performance of an African guy excited the audience and the viewers started waving their hands, and loudly shouting accompanied by his rhythmic rap. This energetic boy made the whole room stand up.

And then the long-awaited time came – the moment when the Beauty Queen was to be announced. The last year’s Miss Africa Vinnitsa, which was to pass the crown to his successor, came to the stage. The audience welcomed Julieta Ango, who had won the title of Miss Africa Vinnitsa 2013.

The second Vice-Miss was participant №1 - Christabel Kissi from Ghana, the first Vice-Miss was participant №3 - Goodangel Esther from Nigeria and the winner of the contest was beauty №4 - Monica Kramer from Namibia. Throughout the show she smiled charmingly, which, probably, affected the jury. Answering the question of the judges in the final interview «What would you change in yourself?» she boldly said - «nothing, I am what I am».

The rich and colorful show took place thanks to the sponsors: Ukrainian International Education Council, Mr Maxim Firm radio company, VIP, Auto driving school, Starcon education, Optimal, Tele canal, Phonex media, C3 media, VEVO, ZD fashion designer and others.

as the boys fascinated them with their appearance, charisma, confidence. One by one they walked the catwalk causing a storm of applause.

The girls’ most picturesque task was to demonstrate national costumes. Of course, each of them prepared a special performance. The participants danced traditional dances, jumped, used props, because each of them wanted to attract attention. Some held kercheifs, and one of the participants came out with a large white and green flag of Nigeria. The girls decorated their hair with special beads and put bracelets and other jewelry on their hands and feet. Pink, yellow, red, bold leopard print and other vibrant colors of the traditional costumes showed up colorfully in front of the audience. The contestants came to the stage accompanied by food tapping or vice verse slow music, each of them had chosen an interesting image. But all had one thing in common: heels can’t be put on with such clothes, so the girls either wore special sandals or went barefoot.

While the contestants were preparing for the last phase of the competition, a rock band was performing «Bésame mucho» to its own music. A charming music played with charming instruments, but it is high time that the most anticipated contest — the contest of the evening dresses — started.

The girls wearing satin and silk with fine gentlemen went out to the audience from different doors so one couldn’t concentrate, so many beauties came from different sides. The boys accompanied the beauties to the stage and the girls lined up in a most beautiful row. The judges had to decide who of the amazing beauties was the prettiest. The choice was difficult, of course, because each of them certainly deserved the crown. In the end, the audience burst into applause, it was the time to announce the best five girls. It included participants №1, №8, №7, №3, №4. To choose the best one the judges asked each one a question like this «what would you change in the world?»,

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Culture The president of «MAV Deluxe» Ebere Mercy Onyesoh answers questions on the organization of the contest «Miss Africa Vinnitsa 2014»:

After the contest we talked to the winner Monica Kramer. The beautiful and happy owner of the crown was genuinely smiling and answered our questions with pleasure.

What is the purpose of this event? Why did you decide to hold such a contest?

The event was created to show the African culture, traditions, clothing, to establish a link between the African and the Ukrainian peoples. There are 54 countries on the African continent, from which people come to Ukraine to study. Therefore, such events should be held in order to improve cultural relations.

My congratulations on your victory! You are the owner of a long-expected crown. How are you feeling?

It is really an overwhelming feeling! I am very excited! I just wanna say thank you to all those who came here to support me.

Thank you so much.

Did you expect such a result?

To tell the truth I didn’t know what to expect. Of course, anyone who takes part in such competitions dreams of getting a crown and becoming a winner, but no one can know for sure. All the girls are good, talented and self-reliant. So it is very difficult to predict who will get the top prize.

What is the difference between the event this year and last year?

This year’s event is organized much better. This year we are supported by more sponsors, more girls take part in the competition.

Many students came to support the contestants.

What was your first thought when you were announced “Miss Africa”?

My first thought was: “Really? They’ve said my name? Is it me?

Could it really be me?” I didn’t expect it. Of course, I really wanted it, I tried very hard, but the other contestants did the same.

Did the girls get ready by themselves or someone helped them?

The girls prepared their evening dresses and national costumes by themselves and in everything else they got assistance. African students and sponsors were very helpful. The contestants had choreographers, they helped the girls master primarily Ukrainian dances.

What are your impressions of the show?

It’s a great contest. I would definitely encourage every girl to try it at least once in her life. It really builds up the confidence. It’s just amazing. It really helped me and the other girls.

Why did you decide to take part in this Beauty Show?

I wanted to represent the African culture, so that the Ukrainian community could understand where I come from. And the victory wasn’t my main goal. I understood that this contest was, first of all, an opportunity to acquire new knowledge, to meet interesting people.

Who can participate in the contest? In what way is the preselection realized?

First of all a participant must be from Africa. There should have been a representative from each country. Nevertheless, our university lacks girls from all the African states. So, for example, Ghana and Namibia had two representatives. And, of course, it’s an African beauty contest, therefore the figures of the contestants should be like those of typical African girls.

What was the most difficult for you during the process of preparation to the Show?

I guess, dancing preparation.

Because we had to keep on rehearsing and rehearsing, but in the end we managed to perfect it. It was very difficult, especially the Ukrainian dance, as it is extremely unusual to us, but learning it was very interesting. We learned something new, especially the dances of the country where we are living and studying now.

What qualities should a participant have to get the crown?

I believe, the winner should be beautiful, kind, talented, smart, neat. And the most important thing is the ability to present herself well and be everybody’s favorite.

Can you describe the atmosphere among the participants?

Did you feel like you were competing? What can you say about the other contestants?

There was nothing of a war. It was definitely a friendship.

All the way. We supported each other, whenever somebody fell down or felt that they did something wrong, we helped each other. We were like sisters, everything was very sincere.

It is not so easy to appear on stage, how did you control your excitement? What helped you to feel confident?

Well, mostly people think that if I am smiling, it means that I am not nervous, but I was definitely nervous as well the others. I tried to do my best. I just went out like “This is me. This is who I am”.

I tried to keep me feelings under control, but I didn’t manage to do that all the time.

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Culture

Biography

What are the standards of beauty in Africa? Do they differ from the Ukrainian standards?

I really don’t think there are different standards. I regard all women as beautiful women. It doesn’t matter whether they are Ukrainians or Africans,.

This year’s winner of «Miss Africa Vinnitsa» is 20-year-old Monica Kramer from Windhoek in Namibia.

The girl is a sophomore in Mykola Pirogov Vinnytsia National Medical University, she specializes in «Medicine».

Monica likes reading books on medicine, biographies of different people and interesting fictional stories. As for movies, she prefers hilarious comedies. The girl likes the following styles of music: Hip Hop, R’n’B and classical music.

Miss Kramer chose Ukraine to study here because she believes our country is a good place to study medicine. She has always wanted to get education abroad, especially because some of her friends study here, so she decided to grind away at her studies in a Ukrainian university. Monica has wanted to be a doctor since childhood, so when she managed to enter a university in Ukraine, the parents supported her.

Monica has not yet been able to visit many places in Ukraine, but in future she hopes to visit as many of them as possible. So far she has visited Kyiv and Donetsk, Vinnytsia remaining her favorite city. « Vinnytsia is a beautiful city, and I like to study here. Vinnytsia also has an interesting history especially dealing with Mykola Ivanovych Pirogov,» Monica says sharing her impressions.

According to your opinion – why did they choose you?

It is a difficult question as all the girls deserved the victory. I guess I stood out from the other girls somehow, and the rest was up to the judges.

What would you like to wish the future participants of the Beauty Show?

Don’t hesitate, take part and have fun. When I decided to participate, I didn’t think about winning. I just wanted to have fun, to get new experience. As medical students do not have much free time, it was a great opportunity to have fun. So go ahead and try it. This is an amazing experience.

And the last question... What do you like here, in Ukraine, most of all?

A lot of things. I like that people in Ukraine are friendly. I like the university and the teachers, who are always ready to explain everything to us and help us as it is hard for foreigners to get used to studying in a completely different country. Well, of course, it took me some time to get used to the weather, you know in Africa it’s hot, and here it’s really cold. Slowly I got used to it, you just have to buy some warm jackets and then it’s all right.

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Present Day

The unique retro museum «Time Machine» was opened in Dnipropetrovsk On Thursday, November 13, the unique museum opened in Dnipropetrovsk, able to move its visitors back for a generation or two into the past. The museum founder Myhailo Prudnikov has been building his dream museum for a year and a half. During this time he has turned an abandoned floor of injection molding machines into a unique structure, which can not be called just a museum — it is a real «time machine» that takes the visitors to the 1970s.

In «Time Machine» you will not see glass cases and strict museum attendants - all the exhibits are open and available to the visitors. The centerpieces of the exhibition are, of course, the cars - each one has its own story: how they lived, how they moved, who owned them, how they were looked for and then how they were repaired and restored.

The exhibition features not only vintage cars from Myhailo Prudnikov’s collection - other collectors from Dnipropetrovsk also contributed their cars and motorcycles. They even managed to take out from Donetsk an old “Chaika” and put it into the museum.

«Many collectors just don’t have enough space in the garage for the cars and they contribute them to our exhibition,» Prudnikov says.

Serhii Adolfovych, the guide, gladly tells about each retro car. He even shows the «insides» of the cars - the exhibition specially contains an open engine with all the mechanisms, and all the cars are put on car lifts so that everyone could see their construction below.

«Raising the hood of a modern car, one sees only the plastic plate of the engine and does not understand what is underneath.

And if earlier, when a car was «technically laid out», it was irritating, now that is interesting. Bridges, engines, transmissions - all this can be seen in our museum. Now a father can explain to his son where the carburettor, the car starter, the pump are situated and where the gasoline comes from,» Prudnikov says.

But there are other interesting things in the museum, except cars — there is a collection of very different and seemingly

everyday retro things. But today they are valuable because collected altogether they provide a wonderful and to some extent even romantic effect of moving in time to the era of our parents and grandparents, beautiful Soviet films about a happy life in the country which is already gone. Household items, parts of interiors, everyday objects — everything that seemed familiar and eternal, today belongs to unique rarities. Here one can see old fuel filling columns, a telephone booth and the benches, which in the Soviet times were situated in the squares and parks of Dnipropetrovsk. The exhibition even includes a tobacco shop with a collection of cigarettes of those times. The founders of the museum managed to reconstruct a whole street from the 1970s.

The museum will also have a thematic cafe where the visitors will be able to try ice cream in plastic dessert bowls and juice in faceted glasses.

In the future a driving school and a library will be established there, so the museum will not be a static exhibition center (especially taking into account that the collection keeps being updated). It is rather kind of a club both for adults and children.

The museum waits for visitors every day from 10:00 to 18:00 (including Saturday and Sunday) at Mandrykivska Street, 44, where a floor of injection molding machines of the combine plant was situated. Tickets for adults cost 30 UAH, for children - 15 UAH. Veterans and combatants can come to the museum for free.

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Present Day

Ukraine and Denmark have simplified the visa regime The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin and his Danish counterpart Martin Lidegaard signed an agreement on visa regime facilitation between the two countries. According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the document was signed on November 10 in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

establishment of Danish energy center attached to the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine. «Denmark will offer a number of specific initiatives in the energy sector, which it considers as a priority for future cooperation with Ukraine,» Lidegaard said.

«Denmark has always been one of the driving forces of our support within the European Union. And the fact that today we have signed an agreement on visa facilitation is another evidence of this support. We have identified energy cooperation and the rule of law as two major tracks for our cooperation,» Klimkin said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Martin Lidegaard confirmed that Denmark was interested in carrying out reforms and getting energy independence. The minister said that the people of Denmark expressed its solidarity with the struggle of Ukrainians for independence and democracy.

While in Kyiv, Lidegaard visited the National Art Museum of Ukraine to see the exhibition dedicated to the events of Euromaidan («Freedom Museum»).

Denmark has only limited participation in the Schengen Agreement, so the previously concluded agreement between Ukraine and the EU on visa facilitation did not affect Denmark automatically - Ukraine negotiates on visa facilitation with it, as well as with the members of the Schengen Agreement from outside the EU, separately.

In particular, the agreement expands the list of categories of Ukrainian citizens eligible for simplified registration of free and multiple entry visas.

Also the document clearly defines the validity of multiple entry visas, sets the possibility of urgent visa processing (during 3 days) for people living far from the place of submission of visa application (subject to payment of an urgent processing fee). In addition, it introduces a visa-free travel regime for Ukrainian citizens using biometric service passports.

The parties also agreed that by the end of this year Ukraine and Denmark will have signed a bilateral agreement on the

MPs called their coalition «European Ukraine» The new parliamentary coalition will be named «European Ukraine». The decision was made at a meeting of the coalition on Thursday, October 30. «Our coalition was created in the Ukrainian pro-European parliament by the absolute constitutional majority 302 deputies,» the representative of the faction «Petro Poroshenko Bloc» Volodymyr Groisman said.

agreements have been implemented at best. So I don’t want us to try to hide our real intentions among numerous pages».

The basis for the formation of the new coalition, according to the Prime Minister, is the Action Plan on implementing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which has already been approved by this Government.

Yatsenyuk reminded that the draft laws that should be approved by the Verkhovna Rada had already been prepared and published. According to him, they have 26 bills ready, some of which have been sent to the Parliament, and some are subject to the new coalition’s approval by the end of this year: “We ask the political forces that will participate in the coalition to make their edits to the text of these laws, so they could be urgently adopted by the new Parliament.”

«I appeal primarily to Petro Poroshenko Bloc, because I consider this party and personally the President the main strategic partner to implement changes in the country. The responsibility for the country’s fate now rests with the President and the party that won the first place during these elections. I also consider it necessary to invite Yulia Tymoshenko and Batkivshchyna, Self Reliance and Andriy Sadovyi, and the Radical Party, which also received votes of a million of Ukrainians, to the official and public talks on forming a coalition,» he said.

«We offer a clear, simple and effective text of the coalition agreement of 2.5 pages. The coalition is called «European Ukraine».

We also provide simple rules of the coalition actions on two pages - how decisions are made in the coalition. We have prepared all the laws and all the decisions necessary for Ukraine, which are subject to approval of the new make-up of the Parliament and the new Government,» Yatsenyuk summed it up.

The coalition will include «Petro Poroshenko Bloc,» «People’s Front», Self Reliance, the Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko, AllUkrainian Union «Fatherland» (Batkivshchyna).

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced the basic principles of the formation of the new pro-European Government and the new reformist European majority in the Parliament, able to carry out urgent reforms.

Yatsenyuk said that the parallel vote count had been completed: «The political party «People’s Front», which won the first place during the parliamentary elections, is obliged to begin the process of forming a coalition.»

He suggested calling a new coalition «European Ukraine»: «Because it is what the people on Maidan stood for and what they expect from us: the implementation of the agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and the formation of Ukraine as a European state.»

The proposed text of the agreement, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, can be fit in 2.5 pages - «it is clear, simple and effective».

In addition to the text of the agreement, the rules have been proposed as well - «how the coalition acts»: «We have worked out the main thing – what we are to do».

The Prime Minister showed the coalition agreements of previous years: «There are lots of pages, only 10% of these

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№9, December 2014

World

Passengers had to push the plane while the temperature was -52 C At the airport Igarka, Krasnoyarsk region, at a temperature of -52 degrees 70 passengers pushed a liner that froze down to the runway. The airline had used the oil for the chassis, which was not intended for the Far North, and the plane had just frozen down.

It was a charter flight of duty men performed by the airline «KatekAvia.» Just before the takeoff the temperature in the region dropped to -52 degrees, and as a result, according to the preliminary data, the chassis froze down to the airport ground, not allowing the plane to get to the runway and build up speed. The frosts chained the aircraft to the ground so hard that a specialized pushback tug failed to put it in motion.

The crew had no choice but to appeal to the passengers for help. Dozens of duty men went outside and started pushing the Tu-134.

Their efforts ended in success. «A person can do everything when he or she wants to go home,» one of the passengers commented on the incident. The flight went well, the duty men safely got to Krasnoyarsk.

Meanwhile, the cause of the incident is investigated. Norilsk transport prosecutor’s office started an investigation of the incident, during which it will assess the actions of the airport, the crew, the airline and the passengers. According to the preliminary data of experts, the aircraft could freeze down to the cover of the

airport, because the chassis surface is likely to have been covered with oil that is not adapted to such extreme frosts.

Meanwhile, CTO of the airline “KatekAvia” Volodymyr Artemenko commented on the event categorically denying the version that Tu-134 could freeze down. «The plane was completely technically sound and could not stick to the platform. Neither could the brake systems of the chassis freeze down. In this case while pulling the plane from the parking lot the pushback tug started losing traction, and therefore the assistance of the passengers became necessary,» he said.

Igarka Airport is a regional air traffic hub of Krasnoyarsk region.

Currently, its passenger handling is about 100 thousand people per year, which is quite a significant number for the permafrost zone.

An analog of Hogwarts was opened in Poland

The video for the song «Gangnam Style» by Psy has broken YouTube’s counter

If you thought that the world’s admiration of Harry Potter was slowly declining, you were wrong. In Poland, for example, everybody once again turned to J.K. Rowling. Thus, the Poles opened a school in the ancient castle Czocha, which is a real analog of Hogwarts.

South Korean rapper Psy’s video for the song Gangnam Style, which brought him worldwide success, has surpassed the record high for YouTube views and has almost broken the video hosting’s view counter. The problem has lead to the official statement of YouTube that the counter should be redesigned.

The castle was built in 1241 in one of the towns of Lower Silesia, and it is the unique cultural heritage of the country. Due to volunteer work today there functions the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where, according to the plot of the British writer, the boy who lived studied.

The first semester will start on December 11 at 20.00, the second enrollment is planned for April 2015. Interestingly, enrollment was closed just two days after it had been opened — the participation was estimated 280 euros. The price included clothes, room, meals and course materials. It is expected that there will be students from 12 countries of the world. The founders recreated Hogwarts interiors and also filled the classes with requisite details: furniture, books, dishes, and other small items. «We cannot transmit special effects of the movie, but we can help to feel a lot of visual sensations,» the project site says.

The learning process will take place in the form of staging events of the books and Harry Potter films. Of course, it is unlikely that the school students will learn to perform miracles using a magic wand, but fans of «Harry Potter» will surely get lots of positive emotions. Only adults can participate.

«We never thought a video would be watched in numbers greater than a 32-bit integer (=2,147,483,647 views), but that was before we met PSY,» the representative of the video hosting explains.

«Earlier it was cool to get a million views on YouTube. It seemed that 800 million was more than enough to make a clip the most popular video. But the chronically popular video Gangnam Style doesn’t stop at 2 billion and hits the limit». After the video had been watched 2,147,483,647 times, the counter started showing a wrong number.

However, Google has explained to the reporters that the counter certainly didn’t break in a literal sense. It has been announced that the tool to count the views was improved.

Gangnam Style is the most popular video over the internet.

It was posted in July 2012 and received the first billion of views about seven months later. Less than a year and a half later it broke the two-billion barrier. On December 5, at 15.40 the counter showed 2,158,086,259 views. The video hosting added animation, which runs when one hovers over the figure and which shows the counter’s frantic work.

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HTC Nexus 9 is a new fruit of cooperation between HTC and Google. It is the world’s first tablet using the operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is the biggest update in the history of the operating system. The tablet is based on the high performance platform NVIDIA Tegra K1, which supports 64-bit architecture and uses GPU Kepler. A built-in 6700 mAh battery allows using HTC Nexus for 9 or 9.5 hours of browsing or watching videos.