Independent think-tanks complete 100-day review of Ukraine's government (05/29/05)

Independent think-tanks complete 100-day review of Ukraine's government

KYIV - A comprehensive review of the new Ukrainian government's first 100 days in office was presented on May 19 by a consortium of independent think-tanks, bringing together non-governmental organizations, embassies, donors, media organizations and government representatives, including Mykola Tomenko, vice prime minister of Ukraine, and Boris Sobolev, deputy state secretary of Ukraine.

The event, which was supported by the Eurasia Foundation and the International Renaissance Foundation, marks one of the first times the government of Ukraine has been receptive to such broad commentary from the non-governmental sector.

"I promise that all government officials will review this document," Vice Prime Minister Tomenko said.

Heading the research and coordinating with other analytical centers was the Institute for Economic Research and Political Consulting. Ihor Burakovskyy, director of the institute said, "This was the first experience of cooperation between analytical centers. We hope the next request for an evaluation will come from the government itself, maybe on the first anniversary of government activity."

Among the seven participating analytical centers were the Center for Political and Legal Reforms and the Razumkov Center, both recipients of previous grants from the Eurasia Foundation.

Topics covered in the 100-day review included reform aspects of internal and justice-related policy, social and economic policy, as well as security and defense issues.

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Privately managed with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development and other sponsors, the Eurasia Foundation has made over 7,400 grants totaling more than $150 million in 12 countries of the former Soviet Union since 1993.

For more information on grant-making activities in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, and a complete list of the foundation's independent board members, readers may visit www.eurasia.kiev.ua.

The International Renaissance Foundation is Ukraine's largest charity organization. Its main objective is to provide financial and operational assistance to the development of an open and democratic society in Ukraine by supporting key civic initiatives in this area. Over the period from 1990 to 2004, IRF supported numerous Ukrainian NGOs, community groups, academic and cultural institutions, publishing houses, etc. to the tune of over $82 million. In 2005, IRF will make grants for a total of $7 million. For more information, log on to http://www.irf.kiev.ua.

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