NEWSBRIEFS (10/10/93)

NEWSBRIEFS

"Dniester" activists side with Parliament

MOSCOW - Russian President Boris Yeltsin, in an interview aired on Ostankino TV on October 1 specifically warned fighters from the "Dniester Republic" and other armed supporters of the Russian Supreme Soviet against spilling Russian blood in Moscow. That same day, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets also warned that "Dniester" activists and other extremists may provoke bloodshed. Another deputy prime minister, Vladimir Shumeiko, told ITAR-TASS that "criminal suspects from the Dniester battalion" are among those who "call the tune in the [Moscow] White House." (RFE/RL Daily Report)

Rally supports pro-democracy forces

KYYIV - Independence Square in the Ukrainian capital was the site on October 4 of a public meeting in support of pro-democracy forces in Russia. The organizers of the rally were the Kyyiv coordinating center of the Green Party of Ukraine, the New Ukraine coalition, the Ukrainian Republican Party and the Liberal-Democratic Party of Ukraine. Speakers told gathering it is time for Ukrainian political forces to consolidate in order to avert similar occurrences in Ukraine. A Green Party spokesman noted that extremist groups similar to those opposing President Boris Yeltsin in Russia exist also in Ukraine. (Respublika)

Ukraine's ex-communists back Rutskoi

KYYIV - Representatives of several parties picketed the Russian Embassy here on October 2, and presented officials with petitions to both warring sides of the neighboring country's government. However, it appears that the protesters supported the Parliament against President Boris Yeltsin, in that the assembled members of the Citizens' Congress of Ukraine, the Socialist Party of Ukraine, and the Party of Slavic Unity called for a lifting of the blockade on the Russian White House, a renunciation of force, and acceptance of the Russian Supreme Court's rulings. (Respublika)

Kyyiv denounces Abkhaz advance

KYYIV - The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine on October 1 denounced the Abkhaz advance southward after the capture of the Black Sea resort of Sukhumi. Kyyiv said the advance is a violation of the a previously concluded ceasefire in the region and said Russia had failed in its role as a mediator of the dispute. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze had visited the Ukrainian capital twice in recent months to ask Ukraine to play the role of intermediary. (Reuters)

Georgian welcomes Ukrainian presence

TBILISI - On October 4, Eduard Shevardnadze, the embattled president of Georgia, offered comments on the large numbers of irregular forces in his country. Mr. Shevardnadze accused Russian forces present in Abkhazia of intentionally destabilizing Georgia, and called their policy of fomenting unrest and supplying rebels with arms neo-imperialist. On the other hand, Mr. Shevardnadze welcomed the presence of the irregular Ukrainian National Self-Defense (UNSO) forces, whom he considers helpful. (Respublika)

Sociological poll results are released

KYYIV - The sociological center "Democratic Initiatives" on October 5 released the results of its latest poll of 400 Kyyiv residents. Sixty-eight feel Ukraine should retain its nuclear arms, 22 percent are categorically opposed. Thirty percent support NATO membership for Ukraine as in independent entity, while a like number believe Ukraine should maintain neutrality. Forty-eight percent do not support the Massandra agreement entered into by President Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine and Boris Yeltsin of Russia, while 24 percent support the pact. When asked about their confidence in Ukraine's government, 81 percent expressed no confidence in Parliament, 55 percent no confidence in the president, 69 percent no confidence in the Cabinet of Ministers. Seven percent have confidence in the Supreme Council, 27 percent have confidence in the president, and 8 percent have confidence in the Cabinet of Ministers. Sixty percent said they would participate in elections of a new Supreme Council, and 67 percent said they would vote in presidential elections. Twenty-five percent of the respondents said the situation in Ukraine would improve after the elections, 40 percent believe there will be no change, and 16 percent said they were sure things would get worse. (Respublika)

Former German colonist returns with help

SARATA, Odessa oblast - In order to establish a textile workshop here, Prof. Hans Weisshaar of the Hamburg Polytechnical University brought 10 sewing machines, material, needles and other supplies, valued at over 1 million DM. Prof. Weisshaar was born in Svitlo-Dolynske, Sarata district, which was the site of a sizeable German colony prior to World War II. (Respublika)

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