NEWSBRIEFS

Will Rada approve referendum results?

KYIV - Vice-Chairman Viktor Medvedchuk told journalists in Kyiv on April 3 that the Verkhovna Rada may not endorse constitutional amendments approved in the April 16 referendum, Interfax reported. Mr. Medvedchuk said the parliamentary majority currently has 276 deputies, while constitutional amendments should be approved by no less than 300 votes. "Today it is impossible to say unambiguously what will happen if the Parliament fails to implement the results of the April 16 nationwide referendum," Mr. Medvedchuk added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Moroz: referendum initiators failed

KYIV - Socialist Party leader Oleksander Moroz told Interfax on March 29 that the ruling of the Constitutional Court to strike two questions from the April 16 referendum signifies the "bankruptcy of the nationwide referendum contrivance." Mr. Moroz added that "the main goal pursued by the [referendum] initiators was to obtain the possibility to amend the Constitution by means of a referendum and to revise it." According to Mr. Moroz, those initiators "did not achieve anything" since it is the Parliament that will make amendments to the Constitution if they are approved in the referendum. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Officials: collective farms are no more

KYIV - "The Soviet-era system of collective farms has ceased to exist in Ukraine," the Associated Press quoted Vice Minister of Agriculture Roman Shmidt as saying in Kyiv on March 28. Mr. Shmidt said 10,551 collective farms have been reshaped into 11,100 new agricultural enterprises, mostly joint-stock companies and cooperatives. The reform was in accordance with President Leonid Kuchma's decree last December. That decree, however, stopped short of allowing the free sale and purchase of land. Mr. Shmidt argued that after disbanding collective farms, some time will be needed to eradicate the Soviet-era mentality among Ukrainian farmers. "I am not sure if this Soviet collective farm system has ceased to exist in [the farmers'] minds," he noted. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Deutsche Welle airs Ukrainian program

KYIV - Deutsche Welle Director-General Dieter Weirich has inaugurated a 15-minute daily program in Ukrainian, Interfax reported on March 27. The program consists of three information blocks: international news, Ukrainian news and a press review (focusing on German-Ukrainian relations). Deutsche Welle is planning to expand this daily program with a 15-minute German-language course for Ukrainians. According to Interfax, 10 Ukrainian radio stations have already expressed their readiness to rebroadcast the Deutsche Welle Ukrainian-language program, which goes on the air at 7:30 a.m. (Kyiv time) on short-wave radio. The program is also available in RealAudio format at: http://www.dwelle.de/ukrainian. (RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report)

Kuzmuk meets in U.S. with Cohen

KYIV. "The results of the visit to the United States was greater than were expected," stated Defense Minister Oleksander Kuzmuk after his official visit to the US March 29-31. During the visit Minister Kuzmuk held talks with his American counterpart William Cohen on a number of issues, including rebuilding of Ukraine's armed forces, transition to a professional army, and status of the Yavoriv military training grounds. Learning from the U.S. experience, Ukraine is introducing the rank of sergeant into the military structure added Minister Kuzmuk. Secretary Cohen expressed an interest in purchasing some Ukrainian armored vehicles. (Eastern Economist)

Kyiv dismisses criticism of Chechen center

KYIV - Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Ihor Hrushko on April 4 said the ministry is surprised by Russia's "inadequate reaction" to the opening of an information center by the Free Caucasus committee in Lviv, Interfax reported. Mr. Hrushko added that the opening of the center was initiated by the Ukrainian National Assembly (UNA), which is a legally registered association. "Ukraine, as a legal democratic state, considers it impossible to implement any sanctions against citizens who are using their right to freely express their stance without violating national laws," Mr. Hrushko noted, adding that the center does not reflect the government's official viewpoint. ITAR-TASS on April 3 quoted an official from Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministry as saying that the inauguration of Lviv's Chechen center is an "openly unfriendly step with regard to Russia." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Opposition marks 'Unification Day'

MIENSK - Some 500 people marked the anniversary of the April 2, 1997, pact on the creation of a Belarusian-Russian union state with a memorial service for those who fought for Belarus' independence in the past, Belapan reported. The service took place at the monument in Miensk to Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala. The police did not intervene even though the meeting was not authorized. The anniversary is an official holiday in Belarus called "Unification Day of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lukashenka says crackdown was mistake

MIENSK - Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said the March 25 police action in Miensk, which led to the arrest of several hundred people, including some 40 journalists, was a "misunderstanding and mistake." Mr. Lukashenka pledged to journalists to "sort out" the circumstances surrounding the incident and "draw conclusions," Belarusian Television reported on March 31. On March 25 Mr. Lukashenka was on an official trip to the United Arab Emirates. Internal Affairs Minister Yury Sivakou told Belarusian Television after the March 25 arrests that Mr. Lukashenka had instructed him "to ensure order and security during his absence," adding that the ministry "complied with this instruction." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Amnesty decreed for untaxed capital

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree whereby untaxed capital of individuals is to be legalized by submitting a revenues declaration to the State Tax Inspectorate without indicating the source of those revenues, the Eastern Economist Daily reported on April 3. The decree intends to boost investments in the Ukrainian economy, improve tax revenues and stop the outflow of capital from the country. Mr. Kuchma also ordered the Cabinet of Ministers to draft a law that would ban officials from seeking information about the declared capital's origin and include a promise that the "earnings legalized under this law would not be confiscated in the future," the Associated Press reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Odesa holds the festival of humor

ODESA - The main event of the traditional Humoryna took place April 1. Humoryna 2000 began at 10 a.m., when the Mother of Odesa memorial was unveiled near the Literary Museum. Observers noted that, unfortunately, the organizers of Humoryna 2000 overlooked Ukrainian comedians and spent a lot of money to hire Russian stars. (Eastern Economist)

EBRD plans more cooperation with Kyiv

KYIV - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development "is planning to continue its operations in Ukraine in both state and private sectors," said First Vice-President Charles Frank on March 23. Marking his visit to Ukraine, Mr. Frank said he had very interesting and useful meetings with Ukrainian officials, including Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko, First Vice Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, National Bank of Ukraine Chairman Volodymyr Stelmach, and Vice Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. According to Mr. Frank, the issues of the energy sector, small and medium-size business and privatization were discussed at the meetings. "The EBRD is ready to provide its financial support on pre-privatization if the reforms continue on track," Mr. Frank stated. In 1999, the EBRD issued 250 million euros for financing various projects, this is the largest amount of money since the EBRD began operations in Ukraine. To the end of 1999, the EBRD and Ukraine have signed 34 contracts for a total amount of 806 million euros. Twenty-one of these projects involve the private sector. (Eastern Economist)

Miensk, Kyiv simplify citizenship switch

MIENSK - Miensk and Kyiv on March 30 exchanged the ratification instruments of a 1999 agreement on a simplified procedure for changing the citizenship of Belarusians permanently residing in Ukraine and of Ukrainians in Belarus. "This procedure will take no more than a month and will be free of charge," Belarusian Television quoted Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus Anatol Dron as saying. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine to require visas from Slovaks

KYIV - Ukraine has informed Slovakia that Kyiv will introduce "an appropriate travel regime" for Slovaks in response to Bratislava's decision to introduce visas for Ukrainians beginning June 28, Interfax reported on March 30. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Patriarch criticizes Ukrainian officials

MOSCOW - Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and All Russia criticized the Ukrainian government on March 29 for its support for creating an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Aleksei said "statesmen in Ukraine are still making appeals to establish an independent Church" and that such appeals are deepening the rift in the Orthodox community, Interfax reported. He added that he reminded Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma that the Moscow Patriarchate had "granted complete autonomy to its Kyiv Exarchate" in January of this year. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Could Japanese sect sabotage Chornobyl?

MOSCOW - Citing reports by the Tokyo police, Izvestia reported on March 30 that the Aum Shinri Kyo sect is in possession of classified information on "some Russian nuclear systems" and "technical data" that in theory could be used to cause another major accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine. A Tokyo-based computer company founded by the sect has apparently managed to acquire classified data on nuclear facilities worldwide, including information on the system for emergency situations at Chornobyl that had been requested "on behalf of" the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, ostensibly to offer assistance to the Ukrainian authorities. The Aum Shinri Kyo sect was outlawed in Russia following the 1995 sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Georgia, Ukraine reaffirm partnership ...

TBILISI - Leonid Kuchma met with his Georgian counterpart, Eduard Shevardnadze, in Tbilisi on March 15, Caucasus Press reported. The two presidents signed a joint statement on extending bilateral cooperation within the framework of a relationship that Mr. Kuchma described as "deeper than just a special partnership." Mr. Shevardnadze told journalists after his talks with the Ukrainian president that the two countries' interests "completely coincide," according to Interfax. Those interests include the possible transport of Caspian oil to international markets via Ukraine and the TRACECA transport project. Ukraine is also likely to be formally included in the Friends of the U.N. Secretary-General Group, which is seeking to mediate a solution of the Abkhaz conflict. (RFE/RL Newsline)

... discuss GUUAM group of states

TBILISI - At their joint press conference on March 15, President Eduard Shevardnadze said that he and President Leonid Kuchma want regional cooperation within GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) to serve the interests of all its members, Caucasus Press reported. The Georgian president noted that the doors of that group are open to new members. But he stressed that the alignment is primarily economic and that military cooperation between its members plays only a minor role. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Sailors on China Breeze convicted

KYIV - Houston County Court has convicted the three Ukrainian sailors from the vessel China Breeze. The sailors were convicted of drug smuggling and each will serve 25 years in prison. It is still to be decided whether the sailors will be allowed to serve the term in Ukraine. (Eastern Economist)

Length of military service to decrease

KYIV - Ukrainian Center for Economic and Policy Studies proposed to decrease the term of obligatory military service from 18 months to one year. This will decrease the number of conscripts and improve their social and educational conditions after their service. The decrease in military service corresponds to the world trends, stated the experts. The service term in Poland, Slovakia and Moldova is 12 months. The experts stated that such a decrease is possible as early as 2001. The Verkhovna Rada on April 4 approved changes to the law "On alternative non-military service" by which citizens are allowed to serve in state social organizations. The Red Cross is not on this list. (Eastern Economist)

Drop box speeds U.S. visa process

KYIV - The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has expanded the categories of the persons who may apply for a visa without an interview. The drop-box procedure enables applicants to leave their documents at the consular section and collect their visa on the following day. The drop-box can be used by the following: individuals with an earlier visa in their current passport, people with a valid IAP-66 for four-year college or university study programs and dependents listed on the IAP-66, and applicants over age 60. The price for a U.S. visa varies from $30 to $75 (U.S.). (Eastern Economist)

Fifth polar expedition under way

KYIV - Eight participants of the fifth Ukrainian polar expedition, headed by Yaroslav Kutsenko, are on their way to their destination in Antarctica. They were seen off on February 2 by the first vice-chairman of the State Science Committee, Borys Hryniov, participants of previous expeditions and their relatives. The remainder of the expedition, headed by Volodymyr Vaschenko, joined the main group of 45 scientists in Sevastopol. They departed on February 8 for Antarctica to replace the group that has worked at the Akademik Vernadskyi station since April 1999. The trek to Antarctica was expected to take 45 days. In 1999 the State Innovation Fund issued 5.2 million hrv to finance the fifth Ukrainian Antarctic expedition. (Eastern Economist)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 9, 2000, No. 15, Vol. LXVIII

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