NEWSBRIEFS (01/04/98)

NEWSBRIEFS

Ukraine's population continues to decline

KYIV - As a result of rising death rates and falling birth rates, the population of Ukraine declined by approximately 400,000 people in 1997, the State Statistics Committee announced on December 26, 1997. The country's population now stands at 50.48 million, down from 50.85 million a year ago. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma responds to Council of Europe

KYIV - In a letter to the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine said he and his government have done all they could to end the death penalty in Ukraine as they had promised, but that the country's Verkhovna Rada had refused to act, ITAR-TASS reported on December 24, 1997. The Parliamentary Assembly has said it will suspend Ukraine's participation in that body unless it abolishes the death penalty, something the Verkhovna Rada has refused to do. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Long ballot may stall elections

KYIV - Central Election Commission Chairman Mykhailo Riabets told Ukrainian Television on December 24, 1997, that Kyiv might have to delay parliamentary elections scheduled for March because the country lacks the physical capacity to print what would be three-meter-long ballots. The ballots are so lengthy because the Verkhovna Rada has required a large amount of personal data to be listed under each name. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Antonov tests new aircraft

KYIV - The Antonov Design Bureau's new aircraft, the AN-70, is currently being tested, the Antonov press service reported on December 18, 1997. The AN-70 is to replace the AN-12, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Experts expect it to go on being used until 2005-2010. At present, 70 AN-12s are in use in Ukraine and 700 around the world. (Eastern Economist)

Top business schools hold MBA fair

KYIV - Three European MBA schools, the London Business School and the French INSEAD and Spanish IESE held an MBA Fair on November 15, 1997, at Ukraine House. About 200 Ukrainians turned up to find out about enrollment and possible financing. The relatively high tuition fees can be paid through special loan programs financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and ABN-AMRO Bank. Under the student loan program, the bank pays a student's tuition fees. The annual percentage rate ranges from 8 to 13 percent and the re-payment period is 13.5 years. The banks stipulate that recipients of such loans must return to Eastern or Central Europe and work there for at least three years after graduation. According to LBS Marketing and Enquiries Manager Mary Ferreira, it is much easier to get financing for the program than to actually enroll in the MBA program. All three schools are highly rated in Europe and have a very competitive selection procedure. (Eastern Economist)

Winner Ford opens tech center in Rivne

RIVNE - Winner Ford-Ukraine opened a new technical servicing station in Rivne on November 18, 1997. This is the sixth such station to be opened by Winner Ford in Ukraine. It will cover the region of western Ukraine. Seventy skilled workers trained at the Kyiv center will work in three shifts at the new premises. The center will offer modern equipment and a wide selection of spare parts. Winner Ford's owner and president, John Hynansky, noted that the Rivne center meets the highest international standards for servicing Ford cars. Similar stations will soon open in Kharkiv, Lviv and Symferopol. (Eastern Economist)

Ukraine has negative trade balance

KYIV - The total volume of foreign trade in the first 10 months of 1997 totaled $25 billion (U.S.). Figures released by the Ministry of Statistics confirmed that imports totaled $13.6 billion. Ukraine now has a negative trade balance of $2.2 billion. (Eastern Economist)

Popular TV program suspended

KYIV - TV Studio 1+1 has suspended broadcasting of its popular discussion program "Pisliamova" and cut the air time of its news program TSN by half for the duration of the election campaign. The changes will be in place until April 5, announced Chief Producer Oleksander Rodnianskyi on December 16, 1997. He added that the political pressure on these programs had "reached such forms that affects it the future of the programs and the lives of journalists were under threat." Mr. Rodnianskyi said representatives of at least 11 political forces held "quite harsh talks" with studio management. He confirmed that 1+1 will introduce new projects from the beginning of 1998 to compensate for suspension of the two programs. (Eastern Economist)

Novartis eyes Ukrainian market

ODESA - Novartis, a world leader in measures designed to protect plants, held a presentation in Odesa on December 16, 1997. Novartis has operated in Ukraine since 1996 when two chemical firms, Ciba and Sandoz, merged. The company develops fertilizers and pesticides. It is a leader also in medicine and the food industry. (Eastern Economist)