With what is going on in Ukraine now around Eurointegration i tend to agree - interesting times indeed. But as i perceive history, the process of EuroIntegration was started by Moscow long time ago.
In 1978 Western Europe and USSR started discussion about building natural gas pipeline from Siberia to Uzhgorod known as Urengoy - Pomary -Uzhgorod. Project brought political controversy to such level that event is referred to as Transatlantic Crisis during Cold War. Nowadays, especially after its cost to modern Ukraine and impact on my life, I call that project "damned pipeline" - compliments to famous quote of Ronald Reagan "Well, they can have their damned pipeline. But not with American equipment and not with American technology". It is probably destiny that i live now in neighborhood off the road named after one of best modern age US Presidents - Ronald Reagan.
But back to "damned pipeline". Because of shortage in equipment my hometown Uzhgorod got brand new factory TurboGaz - one of leading manufacturer of equipment for gas and oil pipelines. I'm not the person to tell about TurboGaz much, but it impacted me personally: 1st, it gave me my first blue collar paycheck as locksmith of 3rd grade (слесарь 3-го разряда) in 1988, and 2nd, it brought to Uzhgorod in early 90s first private venture - cooperative "Spoiler" (manufacturer of garages for personal cars) - enterprise that gave Uzhgorod garage-like kiosks and was, supposedly, ran by Valeriy Birman. His son, Felix, recruited me in 1994 to support 2(!) computers for political campaign of Uzhgorod most controversial mayor - Serhiy Ratushniak. Later at Felix wedding with room filled with people dancing to Jewish tune Hava Nagila if somebody would have told me what people are telling about ex-mayor now, i would call them insane and dial ambulance. Really sad...
But going back to 70s. Year later, in 1979, Soviet Union started war in Afghanistan, and later, because of it, countries led by USA declared boycott of 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. I sometimes think that "damned pipeline" was real reason for boycott, not war in Afghanistan. But regardless of reason, the Soviet leaders did not take boycott well and started massive propaganda of coming Olympic Games. Bear with Olympic rings on his belt , official mascot of games, was seen everywhere. Some overly enthusiastic communist decided to put mascot even at Chess Olympiad.
My parents were first generation of college graduates working as math teacher (Mom) and mainframe software engineer (Dad). Pursue of Education was more important for my parents than pursue of Happiness. So when it was time to choose school the choice went immediately to #1 rated school in Uzhgorod. But I was only 6 years old and in School #1 parents were told to wait another year. They didn't want to loose the whole year and mom found way to enroll me in School #5. Later, to make sure I'm busy, dad signed me to study chess at Palace of Pioneers. Chess coach was World War II veteran (i believe his name was Tokarev) and all i remember now that he was amazing teller of stories about WWII...
Couple years later official Chess Club of Uzhgorod hosted Chess Olympiad for high school students. I came just to watch, but to one of city team was missing player for desk #2 and I was asked if i can play. I agreed. Big mistake. Team of 4 players were ranked by their skills and had to play at appropriate table: best player at 1st table, next best at 2nd, and so on. My table was #4 as least skilled. But then one of player suggested to put me at table #2 where missing supposed to play. Reasoning was clear: with shifting up chess tables our #3 and #4 would had to play stronger opponents with ranking #2 and #3. By violation of rules we were better if i went to table #2 to play 2nd best opponent and leaving weaker opponents and chances to win to my teammates. Agreed again and even bigger mistake.
In 1978 Western Europe and USSR started discussion about building natural gas pipeline from Siberia to Uzhgorod known as Urengoy - Pomary -Uzhgorod. Project brought political controversy to such level that event is referred to as Transatlantic Crisis during Cold War. Nowadays, especially after its cost to modern Ukraine and impact on my life, I call that project "damned pipeline" - compliments to famous quote of Ronald Reagan "Well, they can have their damned pipeline. But not with American equipment and not with American technology". It is probably destiny that i live now in neighborhood off the road named after one of best modern age US Presidents - Ronald Reagan.
But back to "damned pipeline". Because of shortage in equipment my hometown Uzhgorod got brand new factory TurboGaz - one of leading manufacturer of equipment for gas and oil pipelines. I'm not the person to tell about TurboGaz much, but it impacted me personally: 1st, it gave me my first blue collar paycheck as locksmith of 3rd grade (слесарь 3-го разряда) in 1988, and 2nd, it brought to Uzhgorod in early 90s first private venture - cooperative "Spoiler" (manufacturer of garages for personal cars) - enterprise that gave Uzhgorod garage-like kiosks and was, supposedly, ran by Valeriy Birman. His son, Felix, recruited me in 1994 to support 2(!) computers for political campaign of Uzhgorod most controversial mayor - Serhiy Ratushniak. Later at Felix wedding with room filled with people dancing to Jewish tune Hava Nagila if somebody would have told me what people are telling about ex-mayor now, i would call them insane and dial ambulance. Really sad...
But going back to 70s. Year later, in 1979, Soviet Union started war in Afghanistan, and later, because of it, countries led by USA declared boycott of 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. I sometimes think that "damned pipeline" was real reason for boycott, not war in Afghanistan. But regardless of reason, the Soviet leaders did not take boycott well and started massive propaganda of coming Olympic Games. Bear with Olympic rings on his belt , official mascot of games, was seen everywhere. Some overly enthusiastic communist decided to put mascot even at Chess Olympiad.
My parents were first generation of college graduates working as math teacher (Mom) and mainframe software engineer (Dad). Pursue of Education was more important for my parents than pursue of Happiness. So when it was time to choose school the choice went immediately to #1 rated school in Uzhgorod. But I was only 6 years old and in School #1 parents were told to wait another year. They didn't want to loose the whole year and mom found way to enroll me in School #5. Later, to make sure I'm busy, dad signed me to study chess at Palace of Pioneers. Chess coach was World War II veteran (i believe his name was Tokarev) and all i remember now that he was amazing teller of stories about WWII...
Couple years later official Chess Club of Uzhgorod hosted Chess Olympiad for high school students. I came just to watch, but to one of city team was missing player for desk #2 and I was asked if i can play. I agreed. Big mistake. Team of 4 players were ranked by their skills and had to play at appropriate table: best player at 1st table, next best at 2nd, and so on. My table was #4 as least skilled. But then one of player suggested to put me at table #2 where missing supposed to play. Reasoning was clear: with shifting up chess tables our #3 and #4 would had to play stronger opponents with ranking #2 and #3. By violation of rules we were better if i went to table #2 to play 2nd best opponent and leaving weaker opponents and chances to win to my teammates. Agreed again and even bigger mistake.
My opponent seeing me as opponent got condescending and rushed to beat me in chess match. Made mistake and lost one pawn. Got serious, then worried, then pulled it together. Game was going extremely slow as i kept capitalizing pawn advantage. Rook ending with pawn advantage is one of most complicated to calculate in chess. And I was "drowning" in calculation, had to start over and spent too much time. Chess clock started to lift my red flag
Now it was my time to start worrying, opponent smiled watching my peaks at the clock. After couple of minutes the only option left was to offer truce. Our team already lost at 3 other tables, so outcome didn't really mattered. Opponent accepted truce. I received congratulations for well played game, but it didn't matter. I cried because i didn't win.
Few weeks later i got diploma with printed Moscow Olympic Bear and recognition in junior sport achievement. Whoever came up with idea to reward chess players sport titles did not understand what is definition of sport in Transcarpathia, Ukraine. Football was and is as big as gladiator fights were in Ancient Rome. Now if you add to this that my school class had nephew of famous player from Dynamo Kiev then you can picture how well i was accepted by classmates. I decided to drop chess and switch to hockey.
Few weeks later older by couple years neighbor from same apartment block - Aleksandr Mateyko - approached me with unusual request for help. It was start to what i now call adventures of Ukrainian "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn". We became friends for years, but in 1989 we had fight, caused by my family legacy that i was not allowed to know until almost the end of USSR. We barely spoke again. I thought he owes me an apology, but it didn't happened. After his tragic death in mid-90s i didn't even say final goodbye as I couldn't hold tears and was embarrassed to enter night club. I left flowers at his grave only after funeral ceremony was over...
Olympic Games since 80s are so dear to my heart, that I actually dreamed to host Eastern European Olympic Games in Uzhgorod (together with 4 other neighboring countries) when President of Ukraine Kuchma announced course for Eurointegration dozen years ago.
It is meant to be for Ukraine to join European Union. That direction was set 30+ years ago by that "damned pipeline".
Roman Havrylyak
12/5/2013
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