NEWSBRIEFS (05/10/98)

NEWSBRIEFS

130,000 participate in May 1 events

KYIV - May 1 demonstrations were held in most regions of Ukraine. According to police estimates, nearly 130,000 persons nationwide took part in such public displays - nearly a third more than in 1997. The largest meetings were in the Zaporizhia, Luhansk, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, as well as in Crimea. Trade unions were largely responsible for organizing the May Day events; in various cities they were joined by political parties, women's groups, and youth organizations. Demonstrators called for wages to be paid out to workers, social protection for workers, and better educational, cultural and medical services. (Respublika)

Coal miners begin strike on May 4

KYIV - According to the Independent Trade Union Federation, 29 mines from several holding companies began strike action May 4. The next day the strike expanded to 39 sites. He said back wages owed to miners, not including debts for April, now total 2.036 billion hrv., adding that in the last week of April the Cabinet allocated 45 million hrv to miners, although the monthly salary fund is 210 million hrv. Miners are demanding a ban on coal imports and better work conditions, as well as payment of back wages and reinstatement of wages and pensions to the level of 1990, when coal mining was the second-best-paid industry in Ukraine. Coal mining since has dropped to 17th place. (Eastern Economist, RFE/RL Newsline)

Russia criticizes U.S. vote on NATO

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Valerii Nesterushkin on May 5 said the U.S. Senate's April 30 vote in favor of NATO membership for Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic is "unlikely to contribute to stabilization on the European continent," Russian news agencies reported. Mr. Nesterushkin repeated that Russia considers the policy of NATO enlargement to be "incorrect." But he expressed hope that regular meetings at the ministerial and ambassadorial levels between Russian and NATO officials will alleviate some of the "concerns" that will arise during the expansion of the Western military alliance. Meanwhile, Anatolii Kvashnin, the head of the Russian General Staff, flew to Brussels on May 5 to attend a session of the Russia-NATO Permanent Joint Council. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kostenko hands in resignation

KYIV - Ukrainian Environment and Nuclear Safety Minister Yurii Kostenko told Eastern Economist on April 29 that he has submitted his resignation to President Leonid Kuchma. "I do not know if it will be signed or not, but I do not think I will work any longer than May 12. The longer I continue, the harder it is for me to find a common language with Finance Minister Ihor Mitiukov and the Economy Ministry," he said. Mr. Kostenko occupied the post for the last six years and has been hailed for managing to attract international attention to problems caused by the Chornobyl disaster. (Eastern Economist)

P&G likely to receive import certificate

KYIV - Procter & Gamble is likely to receive a certificate to import detergents into Ukraine that will be valid for 1998, said State Standardization Committee Chairpersons Tetiana Kyseliova on April 30. Ms. Kyseliova confirmed that the Vinnytsia Standardization, Metrology and Certification Center, which was appointed to conduct certification of products at eight P&G plants in Turkey, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Russia and France, will complete its work with maximum company support. P&G Ukraine will call off its suit against the Chamber of Independent Experts. According to Ms. Kyseliova, two plants in Istanbul and Warsaw that manufacture detergents, shampoos and bleach have already been inspected. The U.S. Embassy expects Procter & Gamble will remain and operate normally on the Ukrainian market. U.S. Ambassador Steven Pifer said the American company has serious plans for the Ukrainian market, noting its plans to invest $200 million (U.S.) over the next five years. (Eastern Economist)

Communist leader meets with Kuchma

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma met Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko on April 13 to discuss the results of parliamentary elections and the socio-economic situation in the country. Mr. Symonenko said his party is ready to support the activities of the executive branch in intensifying the fight against organized crime, especially when it comes to approving relevant legislation and reforming the tax system. President Kuchma noted that it is important for representatives of different political forces to consolidate for the legislative resolution of socio-economic problems and the continued progress of reform. (Eastern Economist)

Symonenko meets with U.S. ambassador

KYIV - Petro Symonenko, leader of the Communist Party of Ukraine, met with U.S. Ambassador Steven Pifer on April 13 at the latter's request. Mr. Symonenko claimed that the Communist Party is "the only political force with the membership potential to take responsibility for the future of the country." He went on to complain that an "information blockade" was being artificially created around the Communist Party, with the aim of preventing the public from being informed about its goals. Commenting on cooperation with international financial organizations, Mr. Symonenko said the Communist Party is not opposed to attracting foreign credits, so long as they were used in the interests of the people, for creation of new jobs and development of prospective technologies, and not simply for "making certain individuals wealthy." Mr. Symonenko added that the "terms and speed" of economic reform suggested by the IMF do not "take into account the specific features of the country." (Eastern Economist)

Kuchma meets with Jemilev

SYMFEROPOL - During a one-day trip to Crimea on April 16, President Leonid Kuchma met with Mustafa Jemilev, head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis (Assembly), ITAR-TASS reported. Mr. Jemilev told journalists after the meeting that the president of Ukraine had promised to present a bill on by-elections to the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in order to ensure that Crimean Tatars are represented in that body. Mr. Jemilev and his deputy, Rafat Chubarov, were elected to the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada on March 29, but no Tatar candidate was elected to the Crimean legislature. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Udovenko discusses refugees, visas

KYIV - Before he resigned his Cabinet post, Foreign Affairs Minister Udovenko noted on April 9 that the stay of migrants from the East and other refugees and the upkeep of deported peoples in Crimea is giving Ukraine an additional financial headache. Meeting the visiting U.S. deputy secretary of state on population, refugees and migration issues, Julia Taft, he noted that Ukraine is relying on the support of CIS countries in settling peoples deported from Crimea. Mr. Udovenko noted there are up to 1 million repatriated and deported people in Ukraine who have appealed to the Cabinet requesting refugee status. Minister Udovenko handed Taft a draft memorandum that is expected to be approved at the conference of donor countries on the provision of assistance to deported peoples in Ukraine set to take place in May in The Hague. Minister Udovenko raised the issue of refusal of U.S. visas for Ukrainian citizens. (Eastern Economist)

Shpek signs documents in Canada

KYIV - During a visit to Canada, National Agency for Development and European Integration Roman Shpek signed a protocol on financial cooperation with the Canadian Export Development Corporation. The document outlines the conditions for Canada to provide export credits to Ukraine. A protocol of understanding was also signed with the Canadian International Development Agency. According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry's information department, among the issues touched on during negotiations were the deepening of Ukrainian-Canadian cooperation in the investment sector and Canadian support in resolving outstanding questions between Ukraine and the G-7, in particular those concerning Chornobyl. Special attention was paid to increasing the activity of the Ukrainian-Canadian inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation and of the Ukrainian-Canadian Economic Initiative in preparation for the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Ukraine in the fall of 1998. During the visit Mr. Shpek met members of the Canadian-Ukrainian Business Group and the board of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The Ukrainian delegation also visited the Commercial Alcohol industrial ethanol plant and enterprises belonging to Trans Canada Pipelines. (Eastern Economist)

Parties differ on legislative priorities

KYIV - The parties represented in the new Verkhovna Rada do not have a unified position on discussion and review of urgent draft bills. The Communists suggest that the law on introducing criminal liability for delays in payment of salaries and pensions should have priority. Rukh's position is that the new Rada must approve progressive tax laws and bills aimed at supporting investment. Socialist and Agrarian bloc leader Ivan Chyzh said on April 16 that the new Parliament must approve the basis of domestic and foreign policies first of all, as demanded by the Constitution. According to tradition, the first session of the newly elected Verkhovna Rada will be opened by the oldest national deputy; thus, on May 12 Yaroslava Stetsko, 78, head of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists, will do the honors. The working group responsible for making preparations for the first plenary session is to submit procedures to elect the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and a tentative agenda. Almost 70 bills await consideration. (Eastern Economist)