NEWSBRIEFS (12/18/05)

NEWSBRIEFS

Ukrainian troops coming home

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko on December 11 said that all of Ukraine's troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2005, Interfax reported the next day. "I promised to withdraw the Ukrainian peacekeepers from Iraq. To date, 800 of our soldiers have already returned to Ukraine. The rest, a further 800 or so, will be welcomed home between December 20 and 30. They will celebrate New Year's Eve with their families," Mr. Yushchenko said in a radio address on December 10 . "The 1,600 Ukrainian peacekeepers have trained 2,700 Iraqi troops - a complete brigade of three battalions," he added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

President does not regret PM's sacking

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko said that while he understands that many Ukrainians were disappointed with his split with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, he does not regret firing her, ITAR-TASS reported on December 12. According to ITAR-TASS, Mr. Yushchenko told reporters that he should have dismissed Ms. Tymoshenko "much earlier, in June, when the first economic crisis arose in the country." Prime Minister Tymoshenko was sacked in September. "I am an economist and I know how to manage the economy of the country," President Yushchenko said. "But I hoped that the Cabinet of Ministers would work and communicate as a team. Regrettably, conflicts and personal ambitions began to make a hindrance even in the period of the unpleasant crisis. Economic adventurism had gained an upper hand. So there is nothing to regret," Mr. Yushchenko said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Reforms and Order, Pora form bloc

KYIV - Opening the second stage of the Reforms and Order Party's ninth congress in Kyiv on December 10, its chairman, Viktor Pynzenyk, announced the formation of a bloc with the Pora party. According to Mr. Pynzenyk, the new bloc's objective is reforming Ukraine's leadership with a view toward preventing it from treating citizens as society's nuts and bolts. The congress adopted a resolution under which the nascent potential bloc's activities will not extend to local Rada elections. (Ukrinform)

Progressive Socialists, Rus' form bloc

KYIV - On Saturday, December 10, the Progressive Socialist Party and the Rusko-Ukrainskyi Soyuz, aka Rus' held an interparty congress in Kyiv to form the Natalia Vitrenko bloc Narodna Opozytsia (People's Opposition). According to the congress chairman, Viktor Marchenko, the bloc's top five candidates are Natalia Vitrenko, Volodymyr Marchenko, Petro Baulin, Liudmyla Bezuhla, Leonid Anisimov. Rus' chairman Ivan Symonenko is the list's No. 6 candidate. Chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens Valerii Kaurov is among the top 10 candidates. According to the bloc's leader, Ms. Vitrenko, it will press for forming a union with Russia and Belarus and for barring Ukraine from joining NATO, the European Union and the World Trade Organization. (Ukrinform)

SDPU unveils top candidates

KYIV - On Monday, December 12, the Social Democratic Party - United convened its 20th congress, at which the party's top five candidates were named. The list is topped by Leonid Kravchuk, who is followed by SDPU Chairman Viktor Medvedchuk, First Vice-Chairman Nestor Shufrych, Vice-Chairpersons Hryhorii Surkis and Mykhailo Papiyev. These candidates are followed by Ivan Rizak, Oleh Blokhin, Yurii Zahorodnyi, Oleksander Granovskyi, Volodymyr Shepetin, Ihor Shurma, Yukhym Fiks, Volodymyr Voiush, Tamara Proshkuratova, Vadym Misiura and Valerii Borzov. The delegates adopted a resolution on the party's participation in the 2006 parliamentary elections in a bloc with the Women for the Future, the all-Ukrainian association Tsentr (Center) and the Republican Party of Ukraine. According to Mr. Shufrych, the SDPU's quota has been set at 5 percent of the roll, the Women for the Future and the Republican Party having 20 percent each, and Tsentr a 10 percent quota. According to Mr. Kravchuk, the SDPU expects to earn 7 percent to 10 percent of the electorate's votes. (Ukrinform)

Tests reveal levels of dioxin

KYIV - The results of the tests performed in foreign laboratories on blood samples provided by President Viktor Yushchenko have shown that the quantity of dioxin in his body is 1,000 times above the acceptable limit. The press service of the Procurator General's Office announced on December 8. Mr. Yushchenko provided blood samples on November 9 for testing in connection with the criminal case launched into the attempt on his life. The case alleges that Mr. Yushchenko was poisoned in September 2004 with the aim of murdering him. The blood samples were sent to laboratories in Belgium, Great Britain and Germany. (Ukrinform)

President will not head party list

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko told journalists on December 6 that his name will not be on the list of candidates of the pro-presidential Our Ukraine People's Union (OUPU) for the March 2006 parliamentary elections, Interfax-Ukraine reported. The previous week an OUPU convention approved a list of its parliamentary candidates with the name of Mr. Yushchenko, as OUPU honorary chairman, at the top. "I want other democratic forces that will come to the Ukrainian Parliament in a coalition with Our Ukraine to feel the president's support as well. I don't want the president's name to split our political partners," Mr. Yushchenko said. The OUPU is planning to form an election coalition called the Our Ukraine Yushchenko Bloc with five other parties. The OUPU wants its coalition partners to provide 35 percent of the candidates to be included on a joint election list. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lytvyn against lifting deputies' immunity

KIROVOHRAD - While on a working trip to the Kirovohrad region on December 9, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn told journalists that stripping Verkhovna Rada and local Rada deputies of immunity would be inexpedient under the current conditions. Mr. Lytvyn opined that this could be done after Ukraine has become a fully democratic, civilized state. He maintained that, for the time being, deputies must enjoy immunity to tell the truth without fears of likely persecution. Ukrinform reported that on December 8 the chairman of the Ukrainian People's Party, Yurii Kostenko, unveiled his intention to initiate an all-Ukrainian referendum on doing away with deputies' immunity. The party, he said, will form, within a month, initiative groups for organizing sign-ins in support of the referendum. The referendum's date, Mr. Kostenko noted, will be set by the Central Election Commission. (Ukrinform)

Filaret urges laity, clergy to unite

KYIV - Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), has called upon all clergy and laity of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) to unite with the UOC-KP without the consent of the hierarchs of the UAOC. "Our Church is ready to accept parishes and clergy to the Kyiv Patriarchate in order to create a single national Orthodox Church in Ukraine," said Patriarch Filaret, speaking at a press conference on November 17. He reported that, because of the position of the bishops of the UAOC, agreements about unification reached between the Churches in September-October 2005 were broken. Patriarch Filaret emphasized that the bishops of the UAOC are trying to blame the UOC-KP for the halt in the unification process. He noted that most bishops of the UAOC began to impose demands which meant only one thing: a necessary prerequisite for unification should be the resignation of the head of the UOC-KP, which, he said, absolutely coincides with the position of the Moscow Patriarchate. Patriarch Filaret said he is convinced that "external powers" stand behind all this. "Our neighboring country [Russia] and the Russian [Orthodox] Church are against the unification of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and the creation of a single national Church. The Moscow Patriarchate gains advantages from discord, not only in the political sphere but also in Church life. These powers are doing their best not to allow this unification," noted the patriarch. The patriarch said that, nevertheless, Ukrainian Orthodoxy will unite into a single national Church sooner or later. When he was asked when this will happen, Patriarch Filaret said: "Only God knows that. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UAOC leader responds to Filaret

KYIV - "Ukraine will have a single national Church, but without the interference of political forces," said Metropolitan Mefodii (Kudriakov), head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), on November 18. Speaking at a press conference, he presented the position of the UAOC concerning unsuccessful negotiations on unification into a single Church with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate. "The unification did not become a reality for one reason: it was not built by Patriarch Filaret [Denysenko, head of the UOC-KP] in the spirit of love," said Metropolitan Mefodii. The head of the UAOC noted: "Initially, my suggestion was to preserve the structures of both Churches, to revive eucharistic communion, and, for two or three years, or for as long as needed, to look for ways to full union and understanding, so that the clergy of both Churches would get used to it and felt no pressure." According to Metropolitan Mefodii, "All we were asking for was that, during the joint sobor [assembly], there should be not just Filaret but also other candidates running for the position of patriarch. We even suggested drawing lots, but the head of the UOC-KP rejected even this." The head of the UAOC said that it is impossible to continue negotiations with the UOC-KP under the conditions presented by Patriarch Filaret. Metropolitan Mefodii said: "The statement of the bishops of the UOC-KP requesting the faithful and clergy of the UAOC to transfer freely to Patriarch Filaret was the last straw. I spoke to my priests and said they could go to Patriarch Filaret if they wish. Nobody will persecute them." Metropolitan Mefodii added that he is convinced that the creation of a single national Orthodox Church in Ukraine is impossible without the participation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate, the biggest Orthodox Church in Ukraine. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UOC-MP to avoid politics

KYIV - "The Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) is not going to support any political party during Ukraine's 2006 parliamentary elections, but it will bless everybody who is willing to work for the good of Ukraine," said Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), head of the UOC-MP, at a press conference held on November 14. The metropolitan told journalists about the problems of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, claiming that the Orthodox are not yet ready for union. He also reported on Catholic proselytism in Ukraine and what he described as the "seizure" of church buildings of the UOC-MP. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UGCC calls for prayer before elections

KYIV - The press service of the head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) on November 14 released a call to the faithful of the UGCC and all people of good will to pray. Major Archbishop and Cardinal Lubomyr Husar called upon Ukrainians not to give up hope before the parliamentary elections to be held in March 2006 and to pray again "for the Ukrainian state, for the supremacy of law, equal for everybody; for the good service of the elected and appointed officials of Ukraine and all citizens and not to their personal or group interests; and for the improvement of the moral level of the nation." The head of the UGCC recalled the joint prayers of Ukrainians during the Orange Revolution of November-December 2004. "The crucial change that happened in our country due to the providence of God demands more prayers because perhaps God wants our prayer to be so deeply grounded that we could never return to the state of spiritual servitude under which we had suffered for decades," said Cardinal Husar. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Bird flu spreading across Crimea

KYIV - The Ukrainian Health Ministry said in a statement on December 9 that it has detected new cases of suspected bird-flu cases in Crimea, Interfax-Ukraine reported. According to the statement, bird-flu cases were confirmed in nine villages and unexplained mass deaths of poultry were registered in eight more locations. Preliminary tests from a Russian laboratory on December 8 established that the bird-flu outbreak in Crimea was caused by the H5N1 strain of the virus, which is also dangerous to humans and killed nearly 70 people in Asia earlier this year. (RFE/RL Newsline)

WHO to help battle avian flu

KYIV - Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in Ukraine on December 12 to evaluate a recent outbreak of avian flu in the Crimea region, RIA-Novosti reported. The WHO experts plan to review and evaluate measures taken by Ukrainian authorities to battle the virus and to prevent it from spreading to other areas. The Ukrainian Health Ministry said on December 9 that it had detected bird flu cases in the region. Poultry imports from the region have been banned, and vaccinations of the population are under way, RIA-Novosti reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Naftohaz chief is reappointed

KYIV - The Ukrainian government on December 12 reappointed Oleksii Ivchenko as head of the state gas company Naftohaz Ukrainy, Interfax-Ukraine reported the same day. On December 9 Ivchenko was fired from the post of first vice minister for fuel and energy, which he had combined with the job of Naftohaz head. Some Russian media speculated at the time that the move indicated a possible softening of Ukraine's position in tense gas talks with Moscow since Mr. Ivchenko was a key player in those talks, mosnews.com reported on December 12. But Ukrainian officials said it was part of ongoing changes under way at the ministry, under which the first vice minister's post will no longer be filled by the head of Naftohaz. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Presidents discuss gas prices

MOSCOW - After a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on December 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is pleased with Kyiv's readiness to liberalize prices on Russian natural gas supplies and transit fees, RIA-Novosti and Interfax reported the same day, citing the Kremlin press service. The press service said experts will continue discussing the technicalities of issue. The details of the conversation between Presidents Yushchenko and Putin are unclear. Gazprom has been supplying natural gas to Ukraine under a barter agreement for $50 per 1,000 cubic meters. Gazprom is seeking to raise the price to $160 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is roughly the market price in Europe. Ukraine said it would agree to the price hike if Gazprom agreed to pay transit fees of $3.50 per 1,000 cubic meters per 100 kilometers to transport gas across Ukrainian territory. Ukraine has said that it would agree to gradual price increases on some gas items. In a press release on the previous day, Gazprom sharply criticized Ukraine. "Another round of talks between Gazprom and the Ukrainian delegation brought no result, despite the Ukrainian leadership's assertions [of its readiness] to resolve shortly the issues of gas supplies and transit on the basis of market principles," the company said in a news release cited by RIA-Novosti. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russian gas transit rights guaranteed

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko said on December 13 that Ukraine has given Russia "unconditional" guarantees that natural gas can be transported across its territory to Western Europe, Interfax-Ukraine reported. "Ukraine has given government guarantees of transit and these guarantees are unconditional," he said. President Yushchenko added that he is confident that Kyiv and Moscow will find a mutually beneficial solution to the gas price issue. "Ukraine is ready to pay for natural gas on purely market principles, but after a gradual transitional period," Mr. Yushchenko said. Gazprom has been supplying natural gas to Ukraine under a barter agreement for $50 per 1,000 cubic meters. Gazprom is seeking to raise the price to $160 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is roughly the market price in Europe. The Ukrainian president spoke as a Ukrainian delegation led by Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov left for Russia for talks. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lviv leader's death is probed

LVIV - Regional prosecutors in Lviv have opened a criminal case in connection with the murder of Stepan Senchuk, Lviv Oblast Administration chairman in 1999-2001, Interfax Ukraine reported on November 29. Mr. Senchuk was found shot dead on November 29, lying beside his car in a village near Lviv. Mr. Senchuk joined the pro-presidential Our Ukraine People's Union earlier this year. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Chornobyl a nuclear waste dump?

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko said on December 8 that he does not rule out using the site of the former Chornobyl nuclear plant as a dumping ground for spent nuclear fuel from abroad, Interfax and ITAR-TASS reported. "We should study the political side of this matter. The economic expediency is evident," Mr. Yushchenko told reporters after visiting the Chornobyl site. The president stressed that the so-called "exclusion zone" around Chornobyl will be unfit for "traditional use" for centuries. Mr. Yushchenko also said the construction of a new shelter over the Chornobyl reactor destroyed by a blast in 1986 will be completed in 2010. He added that donor countries promised to supply $1.1 billion for the shelter but have so far donated $790 million. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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