NEWSBRIEFS (01/07/96)

NEWSBRIEFS

Coal miners rescued from pit blaze

KYIV - Hundreds of coal miners were rescued on December 23, 1995, from a massive pit fire in a Donetske mine. "My understanding is that most or all of the miners have been brought out. The fire is still going but the situation is under control, for now," the duty officer at the Zasiadko coal mine said by telephone. No casualties were reported. Interfax-Ukraine said the fire broke out at the pit in the early afternoon, apparently because of a short circuit or fire on a conveyor belt. At the time the fire started, 697 miners were underground. Most of Ukraine's aging coal pits, centered in the Donbas region, are in bad need of repairs and notoriously dangerous. (Reuters)

Dnipropetrovske subway system opens

DNIPROPETROVSKE - This central Ukrainian industrial powerhouse has become the first city on the territory of the former Soviet Union to open a new subway system. Commenting on the opening on December 29, 1995, President Leonid Kuchma said this proved Ukraine's ability to move forward as a viable state. (Respublika)

Ukrainian jurists to hold conclave

KYIV - The World Congress of Ukrainian Jurists in cooperation with the Academy of Legal Studies of Ukraine plans to hold an international legal forum on January 11-13 in Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivske Oblast. The theme of the forum, "The New Constitution of Ukraine: - A Path to the Affirmation of Ukrainian Statehood," coincides with the gathering's objective, namely, a careful juridical analysis of the latest draft of the Constitution, conducted by domestic and international experts. Other organizations involved in the conclave's organization are: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Consortium Verkhovenstvo Prava, the German Fund for International Legal Cooperation and the Juris firm. (WCUJ Press Office)

Ukraine to participate in IFOR operations

KYIV - The Foreign Ministry announced that a Ukrainian contingent will participate in Implementation Force (IFOR) peacekeeping operations in Bosnia- Hercegovina, Ukrainian Television reported on December 30, 1995. Since Ukraine is not a member of NATO, it was unclear whether the unit would be subordinated to NATO commanders or would have its own command. Ukraine will also offer use of military-transport aircraft to countries participating in the operation. Ukraine has taken part in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Croatia over the past three and a half years, but when NATO announced that operations would have to be funded by each participant, Ukraine considered pulling its troops out. The Foreign Ministry acknowledged that it will have to provide funding for the Ukrainian contingent and said it is seeking financial aid from other participants. In a related development, NATO aircraft inspection teams have recently visited Melitopil to determine the flight readiness of the IL-76 transport aircraft to be used in future Bosnia airlift and air ferry operations. (OMRI Daily Digest/Respublika)

Final Duma election results released

MOSCOW - The Central Electoral Commission released corrected final tallies for the Duma election, Russian and Western media reported on December 29, 1995. A total of 69.2 million of the 107.5 million eligible voters took part in the election. A total of 1.3 million ballots were declared invalid, although the 5 percent threshold was determined using the total number of ballots cast, not only valid ballots. Four parties, with a combined 50.49 percent of all ballots cast, cleared the 5 percent threshold. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) won 22.30 percent of the party-list vote and 157 Duma seats in all. Our Home is Russia won 10.13 percent of the vote and a total of 55 seats. The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia won 11.18 percent of the vote, but only one single-member district, and will have 51 seats. Yabloko won 6.89 percent and a total of 45 seats. Twenty-four parties that did not clear the 5 percent hurdle nevertheless won one or more single-member districts. (OMRI Daily Digest)

Lukashenka still most popular Belarus pol

MIENSK - Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka remains the most popular politician in the country, according to a poll conducted by the sociological research service Novak, NTV reported on December 29, 1995. The poll indicated that 38 percent of the electorate would vote for Mr. Lukashenka if he were to run for president today. Former Prime Minister Vyacheslau Kebich gained only 3 percent support; former Parliament Chairman Stanislau Shushkevich, 7 percent; and leader of the nationalist opposition Zyanon Paznyak, 6.8 percent. All three had competed with Mr. Lukashenka for the presidency in 1994. In other news, Belarusian Television quoted leader of the Civic Party caucus Stanislau Bahdankevich on December 28 as saying the caucus is ready to support the president and government if they draw up and implement a reform program. (OMRI Daily Digest)

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