NEWSBRIEFS (08/21/05)

NEWSBRIEFS

Kyiv against SES customs union

KYIV - Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk said in an interview with Kommersant-Ukrayina on August 16 that Ukraine supports the idea of creating a free-trade zone within the Single Economic Space (SES) but is not going to participate in a customs union that is also envisioned by an accord on the SES signed by Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus in 2003. Mr. Tarasyuk explained that Kyiv is ready to participate in the SES to the extent that it would not contradict Ukraine's two foreign-policy priorities: joining the World Trade Organization this year and the European Union in the future. Mr. Tarasyuk also said that Ukraine will never sign an accord on a customs union within the SES. "A customs union and a free-trade zone, as they say in Odesa, are two big differences," he added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Presidents propose democracy summit

TBILISI - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko arrived in Tbilisi on August 12 for an unofficial three-day visit, Georgian media reported. Visiting the resort region of Borzhomi the same day, Mr. Yushchenko and his Georgian host and counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili signed a declaration advocating the creation of a "commonwealth of democracies of the Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian regions" with the aim of putting an end to human rights violations and unresolved conflicts across the region and ushering in "a new era of democracy, security, stability and peace throughout Europe, from the Atlantic to the Caspian." The two presidents told journalists they hope the new body can be formally inaugurated at a conference in Ukraine later this fall to which the United States, Russia and European Union member-states would be invited as guests. Some Russian newspapers, including Nezavisimaya Gazeta on August 15, construed the two presidents' proposal as an attempt to undermine the Commonwealth of Independent States. But Mr. Yushchenko stressed on August 12 that both Ukraine and Georgia seek to establish "a dialogue and honest relations" with Russia, however difficult that might prove to be, Caucasus Press reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russia against "forcible democratization"

MOSCOW - Deputy Foreign Minister Grigorii Karasin wrote in Rossiiskaya Gazeta on August 16 that "Russia cannot agree to the forcible democratization of post-Soviet space" and considers "color revolutions" as falling within that category of democratization. He added that Russia believes "forcible democratization" will lead to destabilization and the growth of extremism in the region. He also said Russia has vital interests in the Commonwealth of Independence States and will persistently defend them. At the same time, Russia understands that other countries have their own interests in the CIS region and can protect these interests "in a fair competition of ideas and concepts, not power," Mr. Karasin concluded. The Russian official was presumably responding to the initiative unveiled by the Georgian and Ukrainian presidents, to create a "commonwealth of democracies of the Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian regions." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Bolton meets with Kuchinsky

UNITED NATIONS - John Bolton, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, met with Ukraine's envoy to the U.N., Valeriy Kuchinsky, on August 15. The meeting, which took place at Ukraine's Mission to the United Nations, was one of the first official visits by Mr. Bolton in his new position. The two ambassadors discussed the situation in Ukraine in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution as well as prospects for cooperation between Ukraine and the United States at the United Nations. Among the main topics of discussion was the upcoming summit at the U.N. that will be attended by 170 heads of state and government, among them President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine. Mr. Kuchinsky, as one of the coordinators of the preparatory process, noted the unprecedented nature of this worldwide summit and offered his views about work on the summit's concluding document. Both envoys noted that the new era of strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine will be reflected also in cooperation within the framework of the United Nations. (Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations)

Ukraine's WTO bid discussed

KYIV - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez has urged Ukraine to settle issues that still hamper Ukraine's accession to the WTO. The spokesman of the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Vasyl Filipchuk, said on August 14 that Mr. Gutierrez met Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Tarasyuk. Mr. Gutierrez praised the progress Ukraine has made in terms of meeting WTO requirements, particularly in improving the protection of intellectual property in Ukraine. Mr. Tarasyuk emphasized that it is especially important to finalize the bilateral protocol on access of goods and services as part of Ukraine's WTO bid. Mr. Tarasyuk also noted the importance of granting Ukraine market economy status. Messrs. Tarasyuk and Gutierrez agreed to continue the dialogue between the U.S. and Ukraine on these issues. (UNIAN, Action Ukraine Report)

Kyiv protests film as provocation

KYIV - Ukrainian Deputy State Secretary Markian Lubkivskyi told journalists in Kyiv on August 12 that the production of a Russian film about a hypothetical love affair between Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is a "provocation," RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and the dpa news service reported. According to Russian media, Russian member of Parliament Aleksei Mitrofanov, a member for the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, is financing the project and wrote most of the script for the film "Yulia." It is reportedly not clear whether the film, once completed, will be erotic or pornographic in nature. "I think that this shooting, or the film, in no way pertains to our relations with the Russian Federation," Mr. Lubkivskyi said. "The idea to shoot such a film is a clear provocation." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Tymoshenko third most influential woman

KYIV - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko described as good news her recognition by the U.S.-based Forbes magazine as one of the most influential women. Speaking at a press conference in Symferopol, she said: "This is a good news, but it is not going to influence my work. We still have to do a lot." Ms. Tymoshenko took third place in Forbes' ranking of the most influential women in the world. (Ukrainian News Agency, Action Ukraine Report)

Investigators raid Akhmetov's firm

DONETSK - More than 30 officers of the special-task force Berkut and an armored personnel carrier were involved in a search of the Donetsk-based firm Lyuks belonging to Ukrainian oligarch Rynat Akhmetov on August 16, Ukrainian media reported. A regional prosecutor in Donetsk told journalists that the search was connected with the criminal investigation of a case involving tax evasion and abuse of office. Mr. Akhmetov, who is believed to be Ukraine's wealthiest man, is a political and business partner of former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. In July Mr. Akhmetov failed to appear for questioning as a witness in a case related to a shooting in Donetsk in 1988. Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko suggested that Mr. Akhmetov may be arrested if he continues to evade investigators. Mr. Akhmetov is reportedly vacationing abroad. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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