Franko finds it cozy in Vienna

Though there is also a Polish version of Kulczycki's national origin, according to which, of course, he was a Pole. Therefore searching for things less doubtful and facts more conclusive The Day correspondent has addressed to the source the most official on earth—an attachЏ for culture, science, and education in the Ukrainian Embassy to Austria, Vasyl Pylypchuk.

VP: "The most recent development is the opening of a Chair of Ukrainian Philology at the University of Vienna. Since last October Austrian students interestedix Slavistics (and there quite a few) have had the opportunity to attend lectures on Ukrainian language and literature. This project was carried out first of all due to the persistence and above all financial maintenance by Ukraine. Now, with this already done, the Austrian side has also begun to display activity and has assumed part of the expenses. This was done through their Ministry of Science and Transport (a bit strange a combination, it seems).

Q: Sometime I heard that soon in Vienna there will be a monument to Ivan Franko...

VP: This is a rather long story. I shall begin from the fact, that this year marks 105 years since Franko defended his doctoral dissertation in Vienna. This city is rather important in his biography. Franko, an extremely learned and erudite person, loved to come here, to meet and debate with the most delicate minds of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy. Now, in 1993 in the Institute of Germanic Philology of the University of Vienna a commemorative plaque in honor of Franko's defense centennial was dedicated. Another commemorative tablet is on Wipplingstrasse, on the house where Franko lived when he visited Vienna.

The idea for this monument belongs to our embassy. It was actively supported by the Austria-Ukraine Society, now headed by Minister of Finance Rudolf Edlinger. And this is no easy matter.

Q: Financial problems?

VP: And not only. At our suggestion, the monument is to be established in the historic center of Vienna, in the first district, most popular among both Viennese and tourists, in the middle of the small square opposite the Ukrainian St. Varvara Church. Strangely this square still has no official name. On the plans of the city it is marked as a part of Postgasse, though actually it is a square, not a street. And from this comes another suggestion by us: to name the square after Franko. Certainly, it is for the Viennese magistrate and administration of the first district to decide. For this reason, the project for the monument Lviv sculptor Lubomyr Yaremchuk will have to undergo profound and repeated examination. In general, according to the plans of the city fathers, this still nameless square somehow or other will be reconstructed, in particular, it is planned to remove an improvised parking lot from it. It is supposed to become for pedestrians only and landscaped. And here arises the problem of money. In this year's budget funds for reconstruction of the square are not sanctioned by the magistrate. We are ready to cover part of the expenses connected with the monument's construction. At its meeting the Austria-Ukraine Society created a special fund, setting up two accounts, one in Austria and the other in Ukraine. The only question is whether the monument will be unveiled this year or later.

Q: What other Ukrainian names can be found in Vienna streets?

VP: In October, 1996 we dedicated a commemorative plaque to Mykhailo Hrushevsky at Kestlergasse 6, where our first president once lived. In the eighth district on Skodagasse there is a commemorative plaque placed there by Ukrainian ЏmigrЏs to Panteleimon Kulish and Ivan Puliy. Now we plan to replace this marker with a more harmonious one. We are negotiating with the owners of the house at 8 Florianigasse, where Lesia Ukrainka stayed on her way to Italy and Egypt. By the way, similar negotiations do not always go easily. Just try to convince people who more often than not are miles from literature, in the genius of our scholars...

Q: And what about Kulchytsky's coffeehouse? Recently, passing by it, frankly speaking, I was disappointed. It left the impression that somehow this establishment did not exactly prosper.

VP: Theoretically it could have been a purely Ukrainian corner in Vienna, perhaps a restaurant with Ukrainian cuisine and beverages. But the Viennese know the national cuisine of, say, Portugal or Mexico better for the time being. Probably, with some enterprising Ukrainian at the helm such a business would go quite well. But in general, we Ukrainians have already gained a bit higher profile in Vienna.