Posted by /|EMKO BACKO on August 07, 2000 at 13:07:58:
Ihor posted this message:
>>"This "aid" is also given to the Union of Rusyn-Ukrainians which, says Lipinsky, "is aimed at deceiving the public by creating the impression that it represents the interests of Rusyns."
[Ihor:] That Union may represent Ukrainian Rusyns. Does Lipinsky claim that in some magical way he represents all Rusyns, in both Slovakia and Ukraine? There are more Rusyns in Ukraine than in Slovakia, right? Therefore it represents the majority. And at least it represents Rusyns in a country where most of them live (actually I've heard somewhere that this country is US, but I find it kinda
hard to believe). While I don't think any organisation represents ALL Rusyns, Slovakian org. doesn't represent Ukr. Rusyns and
vice versa. I'm just clearing that up so they'll be no more misunderstandings like in the answer of yours I'm replying to.
Ihor, obviously you completely misunderstand the situation.
1) The "Union of Rusyn-Ukrainians of the Slovak Republic" does not speak for anyone in Ukraine. It's a cultural organization registered in the Slovak Republic which represents the Ukrainian national minority in Slovakia. Most of its members are natives of Slovakia and are ethnic "Rusyns"; some members are emigres from Ukraine.
2) Jan Lipinsky's organization ZIRS is likewise an organization registered in Slovakia, which represents (though not exclusively) the Rusyn national minority (say whatever you want, that's how Slovak government terms it) in Slovakia.
"All Rusyns" are represented by two organizations:
1) the World Council of Rusyns, on which sit representatives from Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, the Czech Republic, and North America;
2) the European Union of Rusyns, which has representatives from Rusyn communities in eleven European countries.
Obviously there is no official way they can "speak for all Rusyns" just like I doubt the World Congress of (Free) Ukrainians thinks it reasonably speaks for ALL Ukrainians.