NEWSBRIEFS (01/06/02)

NEWSBRIEFS

Census shows 6 percent decline

KYIV - Preliminary results from Ukraine's census released on December 27, 2001, revealed a decline of 3 million people since the 1989 population count to 48.86 million inhabitants, the Associated Press reported. The census put the population of Kyiv at 2.58 million, according to the government daily Uriadovyi Kurier. Detailed statistics are expected in April, the paper added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Trial date set in Lazarenko case

WASHINGTON - The trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko has been set for November 2002, according to the Federal District Court in San Francisco. On December 6, 2001, District Judge Martin J. Jenkins denied a motion by Mr. Lazarenko's defense to dismiss the indictment or strike down portions of the superseding indictment, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported on December 15. (RFE/RL Crime, Corruption and Terrorism Watch)

500 families send $40 B abroad?

KYIV - The head of the Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Natalia Vitrenko, claimed at a recent public meeting in the Crimea that since independence, $40 billion has been sent abroad into private bank accounts belonging to 500 families. Ms. Vitrenko claimed that the statistics were compiled by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). In the report on her statement on the Ukrainska Pravda website on December 17, 2001, Ms. Vitrenko is quoted as saying that the money was sent abroad not only by "Lazarenko, Surkis, [and] Volkov, there are others as well, the SBU claims that a total of 500 Ukrainian families sent this amount abroad." (RFE/RL Crime, Corruption and Terrorism Watch)

Kyiv initials gas transit terms

MOSCOW - A Ukrainian delegation led by Fuel and Energy Minister Vitalii Haiduk initialed an agreement with Russia on December 26, 2001, on terms for Russian natural gas deliveries through Ukraine in 2002, the Infobank News Service reported. The preliminary agreement sets a 31.7 percent tariff hike for the second half of 2002, while Russia will increase the price of gas supplies to Ukraine by 34 percent, the agency quoted Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh as saying. Mr. Kinakh added that the intergovernmental agreement envisages the introduction of an export duty on gas amounting to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is less than the $140 duty initially sought by Russia, according to Infobank. Russia will pay for 10 percent of its transit gas in cash, the agency said. Supplies aimed at filling product-distribution agreements and destined for Germany, Slovakia and other countries under the Yamburg Agreement are exempt from export duties, Infobank reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Joint military sales strategy adopted

MOSCOW - Representatives of state-owned defense trader Ukrspetseksport signed a deal on December 21, 2001, with their Russian counterparts from Rosoboroneksport on cooperation to boost arms sales from both countries, Infobank reported on December 24, 2001. The companies will focus particularly on marketing in the sale of similar equipment, arms sales to third countries and joint production. Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Yevhen Marchuk called the cooperation agreement important for his country, according to ITAR-TASS, adding that Ukrspetseksport will be reorganized under a plan to form a single defense trading company controlled by the state once a law on military and technical cooperation is adopted. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lukashenka pushes for closer union

MOSCOW - Speaking to reporters after closed-door talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 26, 2001, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said, "The time has come to dot all the i's and decide whether we consistently implement the earlier agreements ... or make serious changes and clearly say it," the Associated Press reported. Mr. Putin, who rejected Mr. Lukashenka's proposal to discuss the approval of the so-called Constitutional Act that would put the creation of a single state to a nationwide referendum in both countries, said, "Success of the Russian-Belarusian integration is in its stability and consistency. ... It is important not to lose the tempo and not to try to jump over objective steps." Mr. Lukashenka acknowledged that the Russian president was correct to point to the remaining obstacles to the states' integration, but said: "For Belarus, the strategic course for the union with Russia remains unchanged. It would be political death for me if it were otherwise." The leaders met prior to a meeting on December 27 of the Russian-Belarus Union's Supreme State Council and Council of Ministers. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Common currency is discussed

MOSCOW - Following the meeting of the Russia-Belarus Union Council of Ministers, Union State Secretary Pavel Borodin said the two states may introduce a common currency as early as 2003, ITAR-TASS reported on December 27, 2001. Previously signed agreements envisioned this step no earlier than 2005 and linked the measure to Belarus ending price controls, but Mr. Borodin said he is certain all necessary agreements will be made prior to 2003. Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said following the December 26 meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus that the leaders discussed, among other topics, drawing up a plan for making the Russian ruble the common currency of the union starting in 2005. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Crimea slates legislative election

SYMFEROPOL - Crimea's Supreme Council decided on December 19 to hold an election for the peninsula's autonomous legislature on March 31, 2002, the same day as elections to the Ukrainian Parliament, Interfax reported. The Supreme Council also approved 15 people nominated by Crimean Parliament Chairman Leonid Hrach for the Election Commission of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The approval of the commission, like many other issues debated in the Crimean legislature, took place amid intense controversies and conflicts among lawmakers, the UNIAN news service reported. Crimea's 100 legislators will be elected under a majority system stipulated by an election law dating back to 1998. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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