NEWSBRIEFS ON UKRAINE (01/10/93)

NEWSBRIEFS ON UKRAINE

KYYIV - Ukraine renounced on December 31 the debt accord signed with Russia last November, ITAR-TASS reported. A Reuters report said the renunciation occurred because Russia never provided a list of the former Soviet property abroad that is to be divided up. Ukraine had agreed to assume 16 percent of the Soviet Union's outstanding debt to the West in return for a proportionate amount of the collapsed empire's former assets. (RFE/RL Daily Report)
TIRASPOL - The commander of Russia's 14th Army in Moldova, Lt. Gen. Aleksandr Lebed, has charged that "on orders from the Kyyiv leadership, Ukrainian special services have made repeated attempts to discredit the 14th Army." Basapress reported the general's remarks on December 30, as he addressed a session of the "Dniester Republic" Supreme Soviet. Mr. Lebed had previously called on Ukraine to rejoin Russia in a single state, but this marks the first time he publicly lashed out at Kyyiv. Ukraine has indicated that it regards the 14th Army's presence on its borders as a serious security problem. (RFE/RL Daily Report)
CHISINAU - Igor Smirnov, "Dniester Republic" president said on December 25 that "Dniester residents are being conscripted into, and serving with, the 14th Army," and that he regards the Russian Army as a "compatriot army," reported Rossiskaya Gazeta. He added that the army's presence in the Transdniester region has been "legalized." Smirnov's statement is the first open acknowledgement by local leaders of 14th Army conscription, although local media have been speculating about this for some months. It marks another step towards redefining the 14th Army as a "home" force in order to avoid its withdrawal from Moldova. (RFE/RL Daily Report)
KYYIV - The Ukrainian Peace Fund recently spent nearly 40 million karbovantsi to resolve various social problems in Ukraine, such as improving childrens' health care, purchasing medical supplies, building orphanages and assisting pensioners, it was announced at the fund's conference on November 20. It is expected that 95 million karbovantsi will be allocated from the fund's budget next year. However, Board Director Yuriy Bedzyk, said a positive budget balance in Kiev, Ivano-Frankivske, Odessa, Kherson and other oblasts is dropping. In addition, the peace group believes the 18 percent revenue tax on the fund is unjust. (IntelNews)
KYYIV - President Leonid Kravchuk has set up a presidential commission on nuclear energy policy, Ukrainian Radio reported on January 4. It is to be headed by Viktor Baryakhtar. A new minister for energy and electrification has also been appointed - Anatoliy Hrytsenko. (RFE/RL Daily Report)
KYYIV - Prime Minister Leonid Kuchma has been chosen by Kyyiv residents as their "Man of 1992," Ukrainian Radio reports. Meanwhile, across the border, Belarusian radio reported on January 3 that the residents of Minsk chose U.S. President George Bush as their man of the year. (RFE/RL Daily Report)
KYYIV - The Ukrainian Institute of Sociology conducted a poll among Ukraine's populace to reveal actual expenditures on food. Results released on November 20 indicate that 2 percent of those surveyed spend less than half of their monthly incomes on food; 25 percent spend approximately half of their salary; 31 percent spend two-thirds; while 38 percent said they spend their whole monthly income on food. Statistics show that the monthly minimum physical needs for November averages 8,500 karbovantsi per capita. The survey also revealed that 1.5 percent do not face financial difficulties, while 69 percent responded they are cutting back on food expenditures; 34 percent spend less money on public services; 34 percent on vacations, and 29 percent on alcohol. (IntelNews)

Oops!

In last week's Newsbriefs, a story about President Leonid Kravchuk upon his return from Egypt commented on Ukraine's ties to the CIS and inaccurately quoted Mr. Kravchuk as saying that the CIS is an "effective" organization, when he actually called the organization "ineffective."

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