NEWSBRIEFS

Yulia offers to make peace

KYIV - Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was dismissed by President Viktor Yushchenko on September 8, said at a news conference in Kyiv on September 21 that she is ready to work once again with Mr. Yushchenko and form a new Cabinet if he makes peace with her, Channel 5 reported. "In this difficult time, when the political crisis is deepening, I want to declare that I am ready to give him a helping hand," Ms. Tymoshenko said. "I want to propose to [Mr. Yushchenko] simply to return [to the time we had] a year ago and unite our efforts once again." On September 14 Ms. Tymoshenko had told Reuters that Mr. Yushchenko could "recognize his mistake" and rejoin forces for the parliamentary elections in 2006. "Despite the fact that the president has accused me of various acts against the national interest, I believe he can always take the road back," Ms. Tymoshenko said. "We do have different visions on moral aspects of wielding power. And this is a fundamental difference. I proposed to the president not to wage war with political forces occupying a single ideological niche, but rather to support them all." Commenting on a new Cabinet to be formed by Yurii Yekhanurov, Ms. Tymoshenko said it will be "very temporary." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko meets with Yanukovych

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko on September 19 met with former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, his main rival from the 2004 presidential election, the presidential press service reported. Mr. Yanukovych's Party of the Regions joined last week's Declaration of Unity and Cooperation for the Future, which was signed by Mr. Yushchenko, Acting Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn and leaders of several parliamentary groups. During the meeting Mr. Yushchenko said it is time to forget "the emotions accompanying the presidential election and to make efforts toward leaving negative trends of the presidential race in the past." According to Mr. Yushchenko's press service, the meeting took place at Mr. Yanukovych's request, while Mr. Yanukovych's website said it was held at Mr. Yushchenko's request. "In our opinion, a coalition government could be formed following an immediate introduction of the political reform for a transitional period until the parliamentary elections," Mr. Yanukovych was quoted on his website as saying after the meeting. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Acting PM comments on new Cabinet

KYIV - Acting Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov told the Verkhovna Rada before it first voted on his candidacy on September 20 that a new Cabinet would focus on assiduous everyday work rather than on "sensations" or "everyday news conferences," Ukrainian media reported. Mr. Yekhanurov said the main task of a new Cabinet is to stabilize the economy. He pledged to give more attention to regional policies. Mr. Yekhanurov also said that in the event he is approved as prime minister, two-thirds of the posts in the Cabinet will be given to new people. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada hears Gongadze case report

KYIV - Parliamentarian Hryhorii Omelchenko, head of the ad hoc parliamentary commission investigating the kidnapping of Internet journalist Heorhii Gongadze in 2000, reported to the Verkhovna Rada on September 20 that former President Leonid Kuchma jointly with former Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Kravchenko organized the abduction of Gongadze, Ukrainian media reported. Mr. Omelchenko added that, according to the commission's findings, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn and former Security Service of Ukraine chief Leonid Derkach instigated the kidnapping. Mr. Omelchenko criticized Procurator General Sviatoslav Piskun's role in the Gongadze investigation and proposed a vote of no confidence in him which, if passed, would result in Mr. Piskun's dismissal. "I think that as long as Procurator General Sviatoslav Piskun remains in his post, the organizers of this crime ... and other participants in it will not be made accountable in court," Mr. Omelchenko said. The Verkhovna Rada did not heed Mr. Omelchenko's request and decided to terminate the activity of his commission. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada forms investigative commissions

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on September 20 set up an ad hoc commission to investigate the recent allegations that President Viktor Yushchenko's election campaign in 2004 was financed by exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovskii, Interfax-Ukraine reported. The commission is headed by Communist Party lawmaker Yurii Solomatin. The Parliament also created a temporary commission to investigate the corruption allegations against presidential aides that were voiced earlier this month by the former chief of the presidential staff Oleksander Zinchenko. This commission is headed by independent lawmaker Volodymyr Zaplatynskyi. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Prosecutor refutes Zinchenko's charges

KYIV - Procurator General Sviatoslav Piskun told journalists in Kyiv on September 20 that top presidential adviser Oleksander Tretiakov, former National Security and Defense Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko and Our Ukraine parliamentary caucus head Mykola Martynenko are not involved in the criminal offenses they were accused of earlier this month by former chief of presidential staff Oleksander Zinchenko, Ukrainian news agencies reported. Mr. Zinchenko, who resigned on September 2, told journalists on September 5 that Messrs. Tretiakov, Poroshenko and Martynenko were involved in corruption. Mr. Piskun added that his office has launched five investigations into cases of exerting pressure on courts and meddling with economic activities by staffers of the National Security and Defense Council. Mr. Piskun also said former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is not subject to any form of legal prosecution in Ukraine at present. (RFE/RL Newsline)

AN-124 to deliver hurricane aid

KYIV - A Ukrainian Antonov-124 Ruslan aircraft, with humanitarian cargo on board to aid the southern regions of the United States that have been devastated by hurricane Katrina, departed this week from Ramstein Air Base (Germany). Under a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ukraine allocated 3.7 million hrv to aid the U.S. in overcoming the disaster's consequences. The Ukrainian plane is expected to deliver the humanitarian aid, which is being accompanied by officials of Ukraine's ministries of foreign affairs and emergencies, to Little Rock, Ark. (Ukrinform)

Kravchuk: Berezovskii financed campaign

KYIV - Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk, a lawmaker of the Social Democratic Party - United, charged on September 14 that exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovskii financed the presidential election campaign of Viktor Yushchenko, Ukrainian and international media reported. If found to be true, Ukrainian lawmakers would have the right to impeach President Yushchenko, Mr. Kravchuk said. Mr. Kravchuk told journalists in Kyiv that, in a telephone conversation with him, Mr. Berezovskii confirmed the authenticity of recently published copies of bank transfers worth $15 million from Berezovskii-owned businesses to firms financing the Yushchenko campaign. According to Mr. Kravchuk, Mr. Berezovskii told him that Mr. Yushchenko's emissaries visited Berezovskii in London to arrange issues connected with the campaign funding. Meanwhile, the Ukrayinska Pravda website quoted Mr. Berezovskii as saying on September 14 that he did not tell Mr. Kravchuk that the transfers were made specifically for Mr. Yushchenko's presidential campaign. The same day, acting Emergency Minister Zhvania denied that Mr. Berezovskii financed Mr. Yushchenko's campaign, adding that the Russian oligarch "gave money to [Yulia] Tymoshenko, and there is no need to push Zhvania into this clique." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Berezovskii confirms financing

PRAGUE - Exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovskii told Reuters on September 16 that he had spoken repeatedly to Viktor Yushchenko by telephone, met his top aides and agreed to help him become Ukraine's president. "I was really surprised that the people who are around Yushchenko, who are close to him, lie so much," Mr. Berezovskii said. "They are really lying, saying they didn't know me, they didn't visit me, they didn't do anything with me and so on." The prior week former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk charged that Mr. Berezovskii financed the Yushchenko campaign. According to Mr. Kravchuk, Mr. Yushchenko's emissaries - Davyd Zhvania, Roman Bezsmertnyi and Oleksander Tretiakov - visited Mr. Berezovskii in London to discuss issues connected with campaign funding. "Neither Viktor Yushchenko nor Oleh Rybachuk knows or has ever known Berezovskii," Mr. Yushchenko's chief of staff, Oleh Rybachuk, responded on Ukraine's Channel 5. Mr. Berezovskii told Reuters that documents which emerged last week were genuine evidence of payments he had made, but he declined to comment on who had received payments or what the money was for. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko meets with Rice

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko, while on a working visit to the United States, met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in New York, the presidential press service told Ukrinform. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk attended the meeting, which focused on bilateral relations. The president stressed that Ukraine's aspiration to join European and Euro-Atlantic entities remains unchanged. The parties discussed the situation in Ukraine. Mr. Yushchenko commented on his decisions to dismiss the government and the National Security and Defense Council secretary, noting that the move was aimed at continuing reforms. He added that the economic situation in Ukraine is stable and pledged that a new government will work hard to prevent the economy's stagnation. Dr. Rice stated that the United States is watching the situation in Ukraine and supports the Ukrainian authorities' actions, which are directed at combating corruption. The secretary of state said that the U.S. hails Ukraine's moves toward the development of democracy. According to Mr. Yushchenko, Ukraine hopes to sign a bipartite protocol with the United States on mutual access to markets of goods and services and on U.S. support for Ukraine's recognition as a market economy. The Ukrainian president also pointed out that Ukraine has lifted visa requirements for U.S. citizens and said that he expects a reciprocal step by the U.S. to liberalize the visa regime for Ukrainian citizens. (Ukrinform)

Rybachuk travels to Moscow

MOSCOW - Speaking to journalists after his meeting in Moscow on September 13 with presidential chief of staff Dmitrii Medvedev, Ukraine's acting State Secretary Oleh Rybachuk said the purpose of his trip was to establish personal contacts and facilitate cooperation with his Russian counterpart, RTR reported. Mr. Rybachuk, who previously served as vice prime minister for European integration, said that there is no contradiction in strengthening contacts with Moscow as Ukraine pursues European integration. Mr. Rybachuk said in an interview with Ekho Moskvy on September 13 that his talks with Mr. Medvedev "exceeded his greatest expectations" and that they frankly discussed topics "that diplomats usually avoid." (RFE/RL Newsline)

President signs unity pact

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko, acting Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn and leaders of various parliamentary groups on September 13 signed a Declaration of Unity and Cooperation for the Future, Ukrainian and international media reported. The signatories agreed to pool their efforts "to secure the interests of the Ukrainian people, improve their welfare, consolidate society and boost Ukraine's authority in the world." Reuters quoted the president as saying at the ceremony: "This is the right step to show the nation that in this difficult time, before a parliamentary election, the political elite has united and showed its attitude to democracy, property, and business issues." The parliamentary groups that joined the declaration reportedly comprise 237 deputies out of 425. There are currently 25 vacancies in the 450-seat Ukrainian legislature. The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, the Social Democratic Party United, the Communist Party, the United Ukraine group and the Reform and Order Party did not sign the declaration. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Zvarych wants to stay in office

KYIV - Acting Justice Minister Roman Zvarych told a press conference on September 15 that he wishes to stay in his position within the new government, with a view toward completing the Justice Ministry's reform. At the same time he denied rumors that he asked the president to leave him in the position. He stated his readiness to comprehensively help his successor, if another candidate is appointed. (Ukrinform)

Turchynov on Yushchenko's poisoning

KYIV - As ex-chief of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksander Turchynov stated on September 15 that the fact of Viktor Yushchenko's poisoning has not been established so far, which has delayed investigation of the criminal case. He explained that an examination that includes blood, skin and tissue tests, is needed to establish that the poisoning did indeed occur. But the tests have not been done, and without them it is impossible to make any suppositions, Mr. Turchynov said. He stressed that under Ukrainian law the examination must be made by Ukrainian experts. A week before his resignation he said he spoke to President Yushchenko, telling him that if there is further delay in this case, "we'll be accused of forgery." He added that the president agreed to have the tests administered. (Ukrinform)

Turchynov: energy security in danger

KYIV - Oleksander Turchynov, whose resignation as chief of the Security Service of Ukraine was recently accepted by President Viktor Yushchenko, told journalists in Kyiv on September 15 that Ukraine's energy security is endangered, Ukrainian media reported. According to Mr. Turchynov, high-ranking officials in the Yushchenko administration continue "to patronize" the shady "transnational" system of gas supplies to Ukraine that was created in the era of former President Leonid Kuchma. Mr. Turchynov explained that Turkmen gas is supplied to Ukraine by an unnecessary intermediary - previously EuralTransGas, now RosUkrEnergo - which is paid for its services with gas priced at $50 per 1,000 cubic meters and subsequently resells it to Europe for $200 per 1,000 cubic meters. Mr. Turchynov charged that Yushchenko aide Oleksander Tretiakov pressured him to abandon an investigation into this gas scheme. "The authorities have changed but the [gas-supply] system has remained," Mr. Turchynov said. "In this year alone Ukraine will have a gas deficit of nearly 7.5 million cubic meters. It is very serious, since Ukraine will have to buy this amount of gas for $160-$180 [per 1,000 cubic meters]." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada chair founds election bloc

KYIV - The Executive Committee of the People's Party, headed by Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn, has decided to set up a People's Bloc of Volodymyr Lytvyn, Ukrainian media reported on September 15. According to the People's Party press service, the main reason behind the bloc's creation was "a large number of appeals to the People's Party from political parties and public organizations regarding the coordination of positions and formation of a bloc" for the 2006 parliamentary elections. In March, during the founding congress of the pro-presidential Our Ukraine People's Union (OUPU), President Viktor Yushchenko called for an election coalition of the OUPU with Mr. Lytvyn's party and then-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's eponymous bloc. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Crimean prime minister resigns

SYMFEROPOL - Anatolii Matviyenko, prime minister of the Crimean Autonomous Republic, tendered his resignation to President Viktor Yushchenko on September 20, saying that the main reason behind his move was the refusal of his Sobor Party to support the candidacy of Yurii Yekhanurov for the post of Ukrainian prime minister earlier the same day, Ukrainian media reported. The Crimean Parliament on September 21 voted overwhelmingly to accept Mr. Matviyenko's resignation. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russian politicians watch Ukraine

MOSCOW - Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov (Unified Russia) said on September 15 that he could not exclude the possibility of "mass street disturbances" breaking out in Ukraine as a result of the recent political crisis in the country, strana.ru reported. He said the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko is also possible and added that it is important to preserve political stability in Ukraine. Gleb Pavlovskii, the head of the Fund for Effective Politics, compared the present situation in Ukraine with the "artificial interruption of a pregnancy" and said that by dismissing Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, President Yushchenko has prevented the formation of a "second center of power," Moskovskie Novosti No. 37 reported. Sergei Markov, the director of Political Research Institute, said on September 15 that Ms. Tymoshenko did not develop the economy but her own popularity rating, which at one point exceeded Mr. Yushchenko's rating and is the reason she was sacked, NTN.ua reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Azerbaijan detains Ukrainian official

BAKU - Azerbaijani security forces detained an official adviser to the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry on September 15 at the Baku airport, Turan reported. Azerbaijani officials refused to explain the circumstances of the arrest of Sergey Yevtushenko, a ministry adviser, and Estonian citizen Andrei Popov by security officers from the Azerbaijani Border Service and National Security Ministry. Opposition Musavat Party Deputy Chairman Sulhaddin Akbar announced that the two visitors arrived in Baku at his party's invitation to participate in an international conference on democracy. Two other Ukrainians were also arrested but released after undergoing interrogation by security officers. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ivanov warns of change in policies

MOSCOW - Sergei Ivanov arrived in Berlin on September 13 for an informal meeting with NATO defense ministers, RIA-Novosti reported. The meeting was to focus on efforts to combat international terrorism and emerging threats to global security. Mr. Ivanov was also to hold separate, bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the United States, Great Britain, Germany and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Speaking at a press conference at the Russian Embassy in Germany, Mr. Ivanov warned that Russia will revise its foreign policies on Ukraine and Georgia if those states join NATO, adding that such revisions "will not touch only on the military aspects" of those relations. Mr. Ivanov also said that disagreements remain between Russia and NATO, including on their interpretation of democracy in the post-Soviet space, RIA-Novosti reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Analyst predicts Tymoshenko victory

KYIV - National Strategy Institute founder Stanislav Belkovskii has predicted that ousted Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will lead a united opposition to victory in Ukraine's parliamentary elections next March, apn.ru reported on September 13. Mr. Belkovskii, who in April accurately predicted Ms. Tymoshenko's resignation in September, said that in the event of a Tymoshenko victory she will not include supporters of President Viktor Yushchenko in a new government. On September 9 National Strategy Institute Vice-President Viktor Militarev said Ms. Tymoshenko is "much less evil for Russia than Yushchenko," apn.ru reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

NATO may consider new members in 2008

BRUSSELS - During his visit top Brussels, U.S. State Department representative Kurt Volker said on September 9 that the issue of Croatia, Albania, Macedonia and, probably, Ukraine joining NATO may be considered during a NATO Summit in 2008. According to Mr. Volker, the United States has proposed to convene two NATO summits, in 2006 to discuss NATO's internal transformation, and in 2008 to discuss NATO's further enlargement. According to John Colston, an aide to the NATO secretary general, NATO will consider the U.S. proposals. He noted that the subject of enlargement will not dominate the September 13-14 informal meeting in Berlin of NATO's defense ministers. (Ukrinform)

Rada passes gender equality bill

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on September 9 approved a bill aimed at legislatively ensuring the equality of men and women and creating conditions for their realization in all spheres of social life. The bill envisages elimination of all forms of gender discrimination and provides for state guarantees in forming equal relations between women and men as main condition of civil society stable development. The bill envisages equal opportunities for women and men in such spheres as public service and service in local authority bodies, education and professional training, labor and remuneration. The bill outlines males' and females' equality in entrepreneurship and their social protection. In particular the law notes that women's social protection during pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding, as well as obligatory military service for men, must not be considered as discrimination. (Ukrinform)

Anti-terrorism center to be set up

SEVASTOPOL -An anti-terrorism information center will be set up in Sevastopol, Crimea, the Defense Ministry press service said on September 9. A delegation of NATO's "South" allied naval forces arrived in Sevastopol on Friday on a two-day visit, led by Capt. 1st Class Sjerd Bot, chief of the Long-Term Planning Division, with a view of discussing the center's establishment. The NATO delegation was to hold a series of briefings at the Ukrainian Navy headquarters in Sevastopol for senior Ukrainian naval officers, some of which were to deal with Ukraine's involvement in the Active Effort operation. The NATO delegation were also expected to discuss a plan of further visits to Ukraine by naval experts in logistics, communication and operation planning. (Ukrinform)

Ukrainians to train Iraqi border guards

KYIV - The Defense Ministry press service said on September 9 that Ukrainian peacekeepers in Iraq will be in charge of training personnel for the Wasit Brigade of border guards. A day earlier a conference was convened in Baghdad to discuss problems of border-crossing checkpoints, which was attended by the Iraqi deputy minister of the interior and commanding officers of national military contingents of the Multinational Forces in Iraq. The Ukrainian contingent's segment of the Iraqi-Iranian border is regarded as relatively calm, but requires constant vigilance to prevent the entry of contraband goods, weapons and drugs. When the training process is completed, the Iraqi trainees will be certified by the Multinational Forces' Commission to discharge their duties unassisted by the Ukrainian instructors. (Ukrinform)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 25, 2005, No. 39, Vol. LXXIII

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