New Jersey Chapter

“Rusyns in Ukraine: A Struggle for Minority Rights”

Saturday, March 31, 2007 – 2PM

Wayne Public Library

461 Valley Road

Wayne, NJ 07470

Refreshments will be served.

You are cordially invited to attend a program entitled “Rusyns of Ukraine: A Struggle for Minority Rights” on Saturday, March 31 at 2 PM at the Wayne Public Library. Elaine Rusinko, Ph.D., Victor Haburchak, Ph.D. and Mikulas Popovic, MD Ph.D., members of the C-RS’s National Capital Chapter, will present the program to members, friends and invited representatives of the US Government.  They have visited foreign embassies, members of Congress and have recently been in touch with the office of the Secretary of State to call attention to this human rights issue.

While Carpatho-Rusyns are recognized as a distinct nationality in the neighboring countries of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary Czech Republic and Romania as well as in Serbia and Montenegro, the government of Ukraine refuses to acknowledge the existence of “our people” as a distinct national minority living within its borders.  Instead, it re-codes Rusyns as a “sub-ethnic” group of Ukrainians. This human rights issue is particularly important as Ukraine prepares to apply for membership in the European Union and NATO and it has implications for Rusyns worldwide.

Because we have invited New Jersey’s senators and members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation (or their representatives), we would like to encourage a large turnout at this important meeting in support of this issue. For further information, send an E-mail to Lee Hrehovcik at americanbaba@optonline.net or call her at (973) 256-1839.

Directions: From Route 46 to the Riverview Drive Exit in the direction of Wayne. Continue on Riverview Drive to the traffic light at Valley Road.  Turn right onto Valley Road and proceed to the second traffic light at Nellis Drive at the Wayne Municipal Complex. Turn left and then right to access the library ans its parking lot.

From Manhattan: Take New Jersey Transit bus number 197 from the Port Authority Bus Terminal at Eighth Avenue at 42^nd Street to the Valley Road/Preakness Avenue stop in Wayne which is across the street from the WayneLibrary.  The bus departing Manhattan at 1:00 PM arrives at 1:47 PM: the round trip fare is approximately $10.