NEWSBRIEFS (05/17/98)

NEWSBRIEFS

Pustovoitenko gives up Parliament seat

KYIV - Prime Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko, elected as a national deputy on the National Democratic Party ticket, announced on May 11 that he is giving up his parliamentary seat and remaining in the government, ITAR-TASS reported. Ukraine's law forbids officials from holding posts simultaneously in the government and the Verkhovna Rada. Environment and Nuclear Safety Minister Yurii Kostenko, elected on the Rukh ticket, has resigned his post to take up his parliamentary seat. The new Parliament convened for the first time on May 12. To date, the Central Election Commission has registered 430 deputies and ordered elections to be repeated in nine single-mandate constituencies. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Moroz: Symonenko may be chairman

KYIV - Oleksander Moroz, head of the Socialist Party and former chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, said Communist Party First Secretary Petro Symonenko has the "best chances to head the republic's new Parliament," ITAR-TASS reported. Mr. Moroz also said the Socialists and the Agrarians will demand that the government present a report in June on implementing the law on minimum wages and pensions. He warned that if the law's targets are not met, there will be a good reason to demand the Cabinet's resignation. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Japanese company to invest $2 B

KYIV - Japan's Mitsui company is to invest some $2 billion in the Ukrainian economy, ITAR-TASS reported. The company's financial director told President Leonid Kuchma on May 12 that the company is primarily interested in the joint construction of electric power stations and mineral fertilizer plants. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Azerbaijan, Ukraine discuss oil exports

BAKU - Visiting the capital of Azerbaijan to congratulate President Heidar Aliev on his 75th birthday, Ukraine's Prime Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko met with both Mr. Aliev and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Artur Rasi-Zade, to discuss the transport of Azerbaijani oil by tanker from the Black Sea port of Supsa to Odesa. Some oil would be refined in Odesa for domestic use and the rest exported via the Odesa-Brody pipeline. In Washington, Ukraine's Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak discussed the Ukrainian option for exporting Azerbaijani oil with U.S. trade and energy officials. The Turkish government may commission a private company to build the proposed Baku-Ceyhan oil export pipeline if the Azerbaijani International Operating Co. that is exploring three offshore Azerbaijani oil fields declines to make a firm commitment on that project, the Turkish Daily News reported on May 9. Royal Dutch Shell has expressed interest to the Turkish government in building that pipeline. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine still claims ex-USSR property

WASHINGTON - Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasiuk told journalists on May 7 that Ukraine's claim to part of the former Ukrainian SSR's property abroad "has not been taken off the agenda" in negotiations with Russia, Interfax reported. The Verkhovna Rada has postponed ratifying the 1994 agreement on sharing the former USSR's assets and liabilities between Ukraine and Russia. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Peace Corps swears in new volunteers

KYIV - The U.S. Peace Corps on April 23 introduced a group of new volunteers who will work in Ukraine for two years as economic advisers and consultants. This is the 11th group of U.S. volunteers. After the swearing-in ceremony they joined 220 colleagues currently working on educational and environmental projects in Ukraine. (Eastern Economist)

EC gives $25 M for Chornobyl projects

KYIV - The European Commission has allocated $25 million (U.S.) in funding for international scientific-research projects for the next three and a half years aimed at liquidating the effects of the Chornobyl disaster. The money will be spent on 20 new projects that will focus on specific prioritized problems, like environmental protection and clean-up of areas polluted by radiation. (Eastern Economist)

AN-70 to make maiden Europe flight

KYIV - Ukraine plans to showcase its new AN-70 military cargo plane in Europe for the first time at the Berlin air show on May 17-24. The plane has unique take-off and landing specifications and can carry up to 47 tons of cargo and personnel. (Eastern Economist)

Zlenko to hold two ambassadorial posts

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma signed a decree on April 15 appointing Ukraine's Ambassador to France Anatolii Zlenko as ambassador to Portugal. Mr. Zlenko will hold both posts simultaneously. (Eastern Economist)