NEWSBRIEFS FROM UKRAINE (09/01/91)

NEWSBRIEFS FROM UKRAINE

KIEV - The Presidium of the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet issued a declaration announcing a "new era" in the development of inter-nationality relations in Ukraine in connection with its declaration of independence. Broadcast by Radio Kiev on August 28, the declaration states that the Presidium has assumed the responsibility of guaranteeing that the republic's independence would in no way result in the violation of the human rights of anyone irrespective of nationality. (RFE/RL Daily Report)
KIEV - The Presidium of the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet issued a declaration in answer to a statement by Russian President Boris Yeltsin's press secretary on the Russian SFSR's right to raise border questions with republics that declare independence, including Ukraine. The declaration states that territorial questions were settled between Ukraine and Russia in November 1990, when a bilateral treaty was signed. According to that treaty, borders between the two republics are inviolable.

Ukrainian Supreme Soviet Chairman Leonid Kravchuk said that "territorial claims are very dangerous" and that Mr. Yeltsin had promised to "give a clarification of the press secretary's statement." Rukh issued a statement that raising border questions "is an attempt to divide our homeland." (Respublika/Radio Liberty)
IVANO-FRANKIVSKE - On August 27 Mykola Yakovyna, chairman of the Oblast Council of People's Deputies, signed a decree halting the use of symbols of the Soviet Union, including the hymns of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR, throughout Ivano-Frankivske Oblast. The decree was effective immediately, and the city and regional executive committees are responsible for carrying it out. (Respublika)
KIEV - On August 26 the executive committee of the Kiev City Council decided to rename October Revolution Square as Independence Square, as it has been popularly known since October of 1990. The statue of Lenin that stands in the plaza will be demolished as soon as a safe method that does not harm the Metro station underneath is devised. However, impatient Kievans began to destroy the enormous statue on their own after a meeting at the plaza on August 28. The monument has also been defaced with graffiti.

Permission from the Monument Preservation Society must be given before another monument of Lenin located on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard at its intersection with the Khreshchatyk can be demolished, as that statue is considered to be of historical value. (Respublika)
LVIV - Applications for service in Ukraine's newly proclaimed national guard are being accepted in this western Ukrainian city. On August 28, more than 200,000 Lviv city and oblast residents declared their readiness to serve in the national guard. Among them are many officers of the existing armed forces. (Respublika)
KHMELNYTSKY - During a public meeting on August 25 marking the Declaration of Ukrainian Independence the Moscow junta was condemned and a commission to investigate the Communist Party's participation in the coup was demanded. As well, the crowd demanded that monuments of Lenin be dismantled in the city and region. People's deputies and leaders of democratic organizations and parties spoke at the meeting, which ended with a march through the main streets to the future site of a monument to Taras Shevchenko. Similar meetings were held in other regional centers. (Ukrainian Republican Party - URP Inform)