NEWSBRIEFS (01/12/03)

NEWSBRIEFS

Russian language bill is registered

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill amending the Constitution of Ukraine to make Russian an official language. The bill was submitted by Leonid Hrach, a Communist, and signed by 164 deputies representing Com-munists, Socialists, Social Democrats, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and also the parliamentary groups Labor Ukraine, Regions of Ukraine and People's Choice. (Interfax-Ukraine)

Hrach founds new Russian association

KYIV - National Deputy Leonid Hrach has founded the public association called Bohdan Khmelnytsky's Successors to protect the rights of ethnic Russians residing in Ukraine, in particular to give Russian a second official language status. "A considerable part of the Ukrainian people, represented by ethnic Russians, whose number is, according to different sources, 10 million to 12 million people, have their problems, in the center of which is the language issue," Mr. Hrach said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. In addition, the association will take measures to expedite Ukraine's integration into the Eurasian Economic Community or, at least, to form a union of three states, such as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Mr. Hrach characterized the current multi-vector foreign policy of Ukraine as a "geopolitical squint." He added that the new association will defend canonical Orthodoxy, showing respect for other religions and without engaging in inter-religious conflicts. Mr. Hrach also told Interfax-Ukraine of his intention to run for president in 2004, but clarified that founding the association is not connected to his political ambitions. "I have founded this movement not to achieve my political ambitions," he said, adding that the association will never be turned into a political party. Mr. Hrach explained that there are many organizations and parties in Ukraine that defend the rights of Russian people, but all of them operate on the regional level. He said he is convinced that his movement will reach the national level. (Interfax-Ukraine)

Russians indignant over census results

DONETSK - The "specified data" of Ukraine's nationwide census conducted on December 5-14, 2001, have evoked the indignation of the Russian organizations of Ukraine. "It looks suspicious that some 3 million Russians happened to be non-existent, judging by the results of the census," Konstantin Shurov, head of the Russian Community of Ukraine, said in an interview with ITAR-TASS. "It is noteworthy that the overall population of Ukraine was reduced by the same number of people. Now it amounts to 48.24 million." Census takers often put down the information not on special forms, but in notebooks. Now it is evident that the "Russian problem" continues to be resolved by means of forcible Ukrainization, of the dissolving of Russians and Russian-speaking people into "Ukrainian society," which is now being created via bureaucratic methods, he continued. Mr. Shurov said he is positive that the consequences of this anti-Russian process will soon become obvious. "The violation of the rights of a nation is a suicide for any state. The preservation of the Russian language and culture in Ukraine would be a guarantee of national accord, cultural unity and economic prosperity," he stressed. (ITAR-TASS)

Rada questions Kuchma's greeting cards

KYIV - The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee for Freedom of Speech and Information, Mykola Tomenko, on January 5 requested that the Accounting Chamber help clarify the legality of New Year's greetings distributed on behalf of President Leonid Kuchma, the Ukrainska Pravda website reported, quoting Deutsche Welle's Ukrainian Service. Mr. Tomenko wants to uncover the source of funding for the printing and distribution of the cards, which he claims were delivered to roughly 17 million citizens. Such spending contradicts presidential appeals for increased social-security spending. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma cites transparent government

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma said in his New Year's message on December 31, 2002, that for the first time in its independent history, Ukraine has finally gotten a "transparent power system that is comprehensible to everybody," the Ukrainska Pravda website reported. Mr. Kuchma was referring to the parliamentary majority and coalition government of Viktor Yanukovych formed in November-December 2002. The Ukrainian president also suggested a shift in responsibility for state affairs under this new power system. "[Now] the president will interfere [in state affairs] in the event of political necessity, but the primary responsibility will rest upon the [parliamentary] majority and its government," Mr. Kuchma said. He added that he has great expectations for the coming year: "All political conditions have been created to improve the economic situation of every Ukrainian; to put it simply, [to enhance] the prosperity of each of you." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Microsoft Ukrainianizes operating system

KYIV - Microsoft has released a free computer application allowing conversion of the Russian-language version of the Windows XP operating system into a full-fledged Ukrainian-language version, UNIAN reported on January 4, quoting the BBC Ukrainian Service. (RFE/RL Newsline)

NBU to be tough on money launderers

KYIV - Newly appointed National Bank of Ukraine Chairman Serhii Tyhypko has threatened to use tough measures against Ukrainian banks involved in money laundering, UNIAN reported on January 3. Mr. Tyhypko pledged to issue official warnings to banks suspected of money laundering and to withdraw their licenses if they fail to heed such warnings. He did not name any banks suspected of facilitating money laundering. (RFE/RL Newsline)

President signs 2003 budget

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma signed into law the 2003 deficit budget adopted on December 26, 2002, by the Parliament, UNIAN reported on January 5. In a letter published on his official website (http://www.president.gov.ua), however, Mr. Kuchma appealed to lawmakers to amend the 2003 budget in order to increase the level of social-security protection for poorly provided-for Ukrainians. The president also signed a minimum-wage bill to increase the minimum monthly wage by 28 percent - from 185 hrv ($34) to 237 hrv - on January 1. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russia ends Peace Corps agreement

MOSCOW - The Kremlin's decision in late December to end a 1991 agreement with the United States on the work of Peace Corps volunteers in Russia seems to be the latest manifestation of "spy mania" among high-ranking officials in the Federal Security Service (FSB). The announcement came just days after presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District General Viktor Kazantsev declared that representatives of the Red Cross assisting displaced persons from Chechnya are also engaging in espionage. Throughout 2002, the Kremlin waged a campaign aimed at chasing out the Peace Corps that combined numerous public statements complaining about the professional capabilities of volunteers with both general and specific allegations of spying. During a meeting with journalists on December 15, 2002, FSB Director Nikolai Patrushev foreshadowed the abrogation of the Peace Corps agreement by saying that two volunteers were accused of espionage in 2002 and that 30 volunteers were denied visa extensions in August for the same reason. When the visa decision was announced, officials had declined to specify the reason for the measure. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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