NEWSBRIEFS (04/26/98)

NEWSBRIEFS

Kyiv says G-7 fails to keep pledge

KYIV - The Ukrainian government has accused the international community of failing to keep an agreement on the shutdown of the Chornobyl nuclear plant, ITAR-TASS reported. "Our expectations of receiving financial aid from the international community have not been met," the agency quoted Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Anton Buteiko as saying. Under the 1995 deal, the G-7 pledged $3.1 billion to assist Ukraine in closing the plant by the year 2000. Ukrainian authorities maintain that to date they have received only $250 million. (RFE/RL Newsline)

"Open Zone": collection about Chornobyl

KYIV - A collection of accounts by journalists who wrote about the nuclear accident at Chornobyl was released here under the title "Open Zone." The volume was prepared by Ihor Zasieda, a member of the Ukrainian Journalists' Union who covered the Chornobyl story, who emphasized that journalists traveled to the accident site to do their jobs, not for the sake of money. Many of them died, he noted. The book contains biographies and reminiscences about 12 deceased journalists. Published in an edition of 600, the book is to be sold for 2 hrv with proceeds earmarked for a fund to support journalists. (Respublika)

Ukraine seeks to prosecute Russian attaché

KYIV - Ukraine has asked Russia to strip a legal attaché at the Russian Embassy in Kyiv of his diplomatic immunity. While driving a car, the attaché hit and killed a Ukrainian citizen crossing the street. A Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman said the diplomat was drunk at the time of the accident, but declined to undergo an alcohol check and medical tests. "Considering the seriousness of the accident, we want appropriate measures to be taken," Reuters quoted the spokesman as saying. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma wants 'unengaged' chairman

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma said on April 15 he wants to see an "unengaged politician" as the new Parliament chairman ITAR-TASS reported. In such a case, "the Parliament will do its job instead of engaging in political intrigues," Mr. Kuchma asserted. He declined to give any names, but his spokesman said the president is opposed to the old leadership of the Verkhovna Rada, thus hinting that the president is against Oleksander Moroz's re-election. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Vitrenko deprived of parliamentary seat

KYIV - Nataliya Vitrenko, leader of the Progressive Socialists, has been deprived of her parliamentary mandate by a court in Konotop, Sumy Oblast, where she ran for the Verkhovna Rada in the March 29 elections, Ukrainian Television-2 reported on April 20. According to the court, Ms. Vitrenko gave information about the private life of her rivals and insulted state officials during the election campaign. The court also nullified the votes cast for the Progressive Socialists' party list in Konotop, thus pushing the party's support below the 4 percent threshold for parliamentary representation. Ms. Vitrenko has called the court ruling "revenge on a political leader and an opposition party," Ukrainian Television-2 reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

CEC registers 413 national deputies

KYIV - As of April 17, the CEC had registered 413 deputies elected in the Verkhovna Rada elections in March. This figure comprises 218 elected on party lists and 195 in single-mandate constituencies. CEC Chairman Mykhailo Riabets noted that all elected deputies have been registered, except for those in districts where complaints about election irregularities are being investigated. Elections will be re-run in several districts, and checks are to be carried out in several others. Ukrainian courts are currently examining appeals to invalidate election results in 25 districts. (Eastern Economist)

Ukraine, Russia hold naval maneuvers

KYIV - The Russian and Ukrainian naval fleets held large-scale joint maneuvers in the Black Sea on April 14-21. The two countries deployed a total of 37 vessels in what a Russian naval spokesman described as "the biggest Russian-Ukrainian maneuvers since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991," Agence France Presse reported. The eight-day exercises simulated pursuit of enemy submarines and included missile launches and parachute landings on the Crimean peninsula. The exercises took place in Striletskyi Bay near Sevastopol. (RFE/RL Newsline, Eastern Economist)

Kuchma to give state of the nation address

KYIV - Presidential advisor Anatolii Halchynskyi announced on April 10 that President Leonid Kuchma will give a state of the nation address on May 4. A report called "A Strategy for Stabilization and Economic Growth" will also be prepared. (Eastern Economist)