NEWSBRIEFS (02/08/04)

NEWSBRIEFS

Clause on presidential election removed

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada voted on February 3 to extract a clause prescribing the election of an "interim" president by direct election in 2004 and the subsequent parliamentary selection of a head of state from a contentious bill on political reform, UNIAN and Interfax reported. Those clauses - contained in the bill that was preliminarily approved on December 23, 2003 - were bitterly opposed by the opposition Our Ukraine, the Socialist Party and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. The Socialist Party supported the amendment, while Our Ukraine and the Tymoshenko Bloc did not take part in the vote. The amendment to exclude the presidential clauses received 304 votes in the February 3 vote in the 450-seat legislature, and could further the chances for passage of major constitutional reforms. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada session degenerates into turmoil

KYIV - Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn opened a short "extraordinary" parliamentary session on February 3 that degenerated into turmoil after lawmakers from Our Ukraine and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc protested the vote on an amendment to the constitutional-reform bill, UNIAN and Interfax reported. In a replay of several such occasions last year, lawmakers from the pro-government Social Democratic Party-United (SDPU) circled the parliamentary rostrum in order to prevent deputies from Our Ukraine and the Tymoshenko Bloc from disrupting the debate. Opposition lawmakers responded by destroying all the microphones in the session hall and flinging draft bills and other papers in the direction of the parliamentary presidium. One opposition deputy reportedly poured a bottle of "sweet water" on Mr. Lytvyn's head. Mr. Lytvyn managed to announce that a regular parliamentary session would open later the same day. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Our Ukraine urges debate on amendments

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party said in a public statement on February 4 that it welcomes the Verkhovna Rada's decision to exclude a clause envisaging presidential elections in the Verkhovna Rada from the constitutional reform bill that was backed by 304 votes the previous day, UNIAN reported. The statement also claimed that the bill, which was preliminarily approved with that and other presidential clauses on December 24, 2003, was adopted through an illegitimate vote. "We will never agree ... when the Verkhovna Rada votes without debating the bill, without familiarizing deputies with proposed changes, without taking into account the positions of political forces, just in a show of hands and not even attempting to count them," the statement read. Our Ukraine has proposed returning to debate all three constitutional-reform drafts submitted to the Verkhovna Rada last year and conducting a new vote on all of them. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Tymoshenko bloc to mount court challenge

KYIV - National Deputy Yulia Tymoshenko said in the Verkhovna Rada on February 4 that her parliamentary caucus will challenge the constitutional-reform bill endorsed by deputies on February 3 before the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and a court of general jurisprudence, Interfax reported. "[Our caucus] will consistently act to prevent this reform from becoming a reality, not because we are against democratization but because we are against giving power forever to the [oligarchic] clans," Ms. Tymoshenko said. She added that if the constitutional-reform bill is adopted in a final reading by the Verkhovna Rada, the president elected in 2004 "will have no powers." She claims that after passing the constitutional reforms, the oligarchic clans will continue to wield de facto power in Ukraine through control of the Verkhovna Rada and that chamber's election of a prime minister, who would inherit many powers currently vested in the president. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma vows not to run again

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma on February 1 bluntly rejected the idea of running for a third presidential term, the Ukrainska Pravda website (http://www2.pravda.com.ua) reported, publishing a transcription of Mr. Kuchma's interview with the 1+1 television channel. "Indeed, the Constitutional Court's resolution allows me to run in this year's election," President Kuchma said. "However, the last word is naturally for me to say. But I have already repeatedly presented my position." Mr. Kuchma also denied speculations that he may name a presidential successor. "Ukraine is not Russia," Mr. Kuchma said. "We have never had tsars. We have had hetmans [Ukrainian Kozak military leaders]. But they, as everybody knows, were elected. Therefore, boys, go ahead and fight!" (RFE/RL Newsline)

Presidential aide blasts PACE resolution

KYIV - Oleksander Zadorozhnyi, permanent representative of the Ukrainian president in the Verkhovna Rada, said on January 30 that last week's resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) warning Kyiv against pushing the current political reform by unconstitutional means is an "ultimatum," UNIAN reported. Mr. Zadorozhnyi said the resolution is "absolutely absurd" and does not reflect the situation in Ukraine in either a factual or legal sense. He added that the resolution was drafted "by two crazy ladies who do not understand Ukrainian developments at all," in an apparent reference to PACE monitors Hanne Severinsen and Renate Wohlwend. According to Mr. Zadorozhnyi, PACE intends to impose opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko as a new president on Ukraine. (RFE/RL Newsline)

PACE warns Kyiv on political reform

STRASBOURG, Germany - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted 46-13 on January 29 to adopt a resolution threatening to suspend Ukraine's membership in the Council of Europe if Ukrainian authorities continue to push through the current political reform by unconstitutional means or fail to guarantee a free and fair presidential ballot in October, Ukrainian and international news agencies reported. The resolution says the process of introducing constitutional amendments initiated in Ukraine last year contradicts both the Constitution of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada's rules of procedure. The resolution calls on all forces in the Verkhovna Rada to reconsider all three draft laws on constitutional amendments in an open debate and with full respect for parliamentary rules, take into account recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding the constitutional amendments and hold a scheduled presidential election in 2004 for the term prescribed in the current Constitution. The resolution expresses hopes that President Leonid Kuchma will step down at the end of his second term in 2004. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv defends 'constitutional process'

KYIV - Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko told a PACE session in Strasbourg, Germany, on January 29 that "Ukraine is not experiencing a political crisis but faces heated and emotional debates" on how to change the political system in the country, Interfax reported. According to Mr. Gryshchenko, all the changes envisaged in the political reforms making their way through the Verkhovna Rada are proceeding in line with the Constitution. "We are open for further dialogue," Mr. Gryshchenko declared. "Nevertheless, the situation requires that resolutions be considered and adopted. A normal constitutional process is in progress in Ukraine." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma decrees 'Year of Poland'

KYIV - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree furthering organization of the Year of Poland in Ukraine in 2004, Interfax reported on January 27, quoting the presidential press service. Vice Prime Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk was tasked with working out a plan of measures within the project's framework aimed at deepening the Ukrainian-Polish strategic partnership and strengthening bilateral economic and humanitarian ties, according to the decree. President Kuchma and his Polish counterpart, Aleksander Kwasniewski, are expected to open the Year of Poland in Ukraine on April 1, during the Polish president's planned three-day visit to Ukraine. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Deep cuts planned in Ukraine's army

KYIV - Heorhii Kriuchkov, the head of the parliamentary National Security and Defense Committee, announced on January 27 that the Ukrainian army will be reduced by 80,000 personnel in 2004, from its current level of 355,000, UNIAN reported. Mr. Kriuchkov added that by the end of 2005, the Ukrainian army will number 200,000. Defense Minister Yevhen Marchuk said on January 28 that personnel reductions in the military will begin after the Verkhovna Rada passes a relevant bill that has already been submitted to the legislature. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma vows 'real anti-corruption policy'

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma promised on January 29 to pursue a "tough, real anti-corruption policy" in 2004, UNIAN reported. "Some are likely to expect that in the election year, under the cover of disorder and chaos, they will invigorate their shady businesses," Mr. Kuchma said. "Let them abandon this expectation. There will be no chaos! On the contrary, I will rigorously demand the implementation of a tough, real - I repeat: real - anti-corruption policy, no matter who stands in my way." (RFE/RL Newsline)

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