NEWSBRIEFS (09/07/03)

NEWSBRIEFS

Opposition mulls reform plan

KYIV - The leaders of Our Ukraine (Viktor Yushchenko), the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (Yulia Tymoshenko), the Socialist Party (Oleksander Moroz) and the Communist Party (Petro Symonenko) met in Kyiv on September 1 to discuss cooperation regarding the recent political-reform plan proposed by President Leonid Kuchma, Interfax reported. Ms. Tymoshenko told journalists the four want to pursue two tasks simultaneously: implement a constitutional reform, and "remove the clans from power." She said the constitutional changes proposed by Messrs. Moroz and Symonenko have been "accepted in general" by the four, adding that there is a possibility of compromise on a "number of controversial issues." In particular, Ms. Tymoshenko said there is no agreement among them on whether the constitutional changes should be introduced in 2004 or 2006, or on whether the president should be elected by direct ballot or by the Parliament. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Verkhovna Rada reconvenes

KYIV - Ukrainian lawmakers gathered in Kyiv on September 2 for a new session following their summer recess, Interfax reported. They are expected to consider nearly 900 bills during the session, including one on amending the Constitution of Ukraine in order to reform the country's political system. This week lawmakers will work in parliamentary committees, while their plenary sitting is scheduled to begin on September 9. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko against Kuchma reforms

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the Our Ukraine bloc, told regional journalists in Ternopil on August 28 that "only a change of the authorities, not constitutional reform, can create harmony in Ukraine," UNIAN reported. "We will not allow any encroachment on the people's right to elect authorities by direct ballot," Mr. Yushchenko said, referring to the political reform plan proposed by President Leonid Kuchma last week. In particular, Mr. Kuchma's plan calls for the election of the president by the Parliament. "The authorities realize very well that, given their record, they are unable to win presidential elections," Interfax quoted Mr. Yushchenko as saying. "Therefore, they need to modify the constitution and the current political system to prolong their powers or [even] abolish elections altogether," he added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

UWC ready to defend Transdniester

KYIV - The Ukrainian World Congress recently held in Kyiv declared its readiness to protect Transdniester's right to independence, Infotag reported on August 28, citing Vladimir Bodnar, chairman of the Union of Transdniestrian Ukrainians. Mr. Bodnar said the forum has expressed concern over the situation in Transdniester and readiness to render all possible assistance to the Ukrainian community and other ethnic groups living in the region in order to "protect them from the Romanian nationalists in Moldova." Mr. Bodnar said participants in the forum pledged to lobby their countries' governments to defend Transdniester's right to self-determination and independence. Mr. Bodnar, a former deputy chairman of the Transdniester Supreme Soviet, is currently co-chairman of the JCC and chairman of the organization of ethnic Ukrainians in Transdniester. There are more than 180,000 Ukrainians living in the separatist region. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine presents modernized Kalashnikov

KYIV - The National Space Agency of Ukraine presented a new model of submachine gun, the AK-74 Vepr, at UNIAN's headquarters in Kyiv on August 28, the UNIAN and Interfax news agencies reported. The AK-74 Vepr is a modernized version of the Russian AK-74 Kalashnikov submachine gun, but is 200 grams lighter and reportedly is twice as accurate as the Russian model. According to designers, the Defense Ministry is planning to buy tens of thousands of the guns, primarily to arm Ukrainian border troops and peacekeepers. They also expect to find buyers for the AK-74 Vepr in Uzbekistan, Africa and Latin America. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv notifies Berlin over illegal flight

KYIV - The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry sent a message to Germany's Embassy in Kyiv saying the three German citizens detained in Dnipropetrovsk in mid-August after their flight over Ukraine entered Ukrainian airspace without permission and threatened the safety of other flights, Interfax reported. The message calls on Germany to take measures that will prevent such incidents in the future. The Ukrainian Security Service's regional branch in Dnipropetrovsk has opened a criminal case against the three Germans, who are charged with violating rules that govern international flight. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Minister comments on economic space

KYIV - Ukrainian Minister of Economy and European Integration Valerii Khoroshkovskyi said on August 19 that the draft accord on the creation of a common economic space comprising Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakstan, which was approved in Astana, Kazakstan, on August 15, does not contradict Ukraine's plans to integrate with the European Union, Interfax reported. "If we view the common economic space as a free-trade zone, it will not harm our rapprochement with the European community," Mr. Khoroshkovskyi said. He noted that the draft is of a "contradictory character," adding that it is impossible to say right now what the final document will be like. Meanwhile, European Commission spokesman Michael Mann told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on August 18 that Kyiv's plan to sign an accord on a common economic space with Russia, Belarus and Kazakstan casts doubt on the sincerity of Ukraine's desire to integrate further into the European Union. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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