NEWSBRIEFS

May Day rally held in Kyiv

KYIV - Addressing a May 1 rally in downtown Kyiv, Communist Party Chairman Petro Symonenko called upon his supporters to form a new left-wing political force capable of countering oligarchs in the newly elected Verkhovna Rada. Commenting on the March 26 elections' outcome, Mr. Symonenko said that the people of Ukraine had once against lost the battle to big capital. He maintained that the big political forces in the Parliament do not intend to keep their pre-election commitments, rather they mean to increase their influence on the Ukrainian economy and recoup the money they spent on canvassing. He expressed his opinion that the new Ukrainian Parliament is a set of oligarchs and bandits who are keen on property redistribution. Speaking about the reasons for the Ukrainian people's defeat in the elections, Mr. Symonenko pointed to the people's lack of unity, as well as the lack of unity with the brotherly peoples of Belarus and Russia. (Ukrinform)

Kyiv: NATO bid is 'irreversible'

SOFIA - Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk told a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Bulgarian capital on April 28 that Ukraine's course toward NATO membership is "irreversible," Reuters reported. "Those political parties that made anti-NATO slogans the core of their electoral programs have failed to get to the Ukrainian Parliament," Mr. Tarasyuk said. "We also hope that this year the strengthening of NATO-Ukrainian relations will follow its logical continuation in the framework of the main preparations program - membership action plan - and further results in the invitation to accession talks," he added. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in Sofia the previous day that Ukraine and Georgia can expect encouragement during the alliance's November summit in Riga regarding their hopes to join NATO, but no "actual invitations." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv seeks RosUkrEnergo documents

KYIV - The Secretariat of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko wants to obtain the official documents an April 26 Izvestia article cited in listing two Ukrainian businessmen as the stakeholders of RosUkrEnergo, a company that controls Ukraine's gas imports, Interfax-Ukraine reported on April 26. Izvestia on April 26 cited an audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers in reporting that Kyiv basketball club owner Dmytro Firtash and Ivan Fursin, owner of a Ukrainian bank, own 90 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of a company called Centragas Holding AG. Centragas in turn owns a 50 percent stake in RosUkrEnergo, which is the monopolist of gas supplies to Ukraine according to a deal concluded between Kyiv and Moscow in January. The other half of RosUkrEnergo is owned by Gazprom. The Austrian bank Raiffeisen Zentralbank on April 26 announced that it is holding the stake on Mr. Firtash's and Mr. Fursin's behalf. President Yushchenko has repeatedly defended the January gas deal, which increased the gas price for Ukraine from $50 to $95 per 1,000 cubic meters and introduced the secretive Swiss-based intermediary RosUkrEnergo as the monopolist supplier. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lytvyn comments at Rada's last session

KYIV - Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn noted on April 26, in closing the last session of the Parliament of the fourth convocation, that the deputies' corps "lived with everything that the people lived with" these past four years. He compared the activities of the Parliament members with constantly "balancing on the edge of a knife," noting activities aimed at destroying the Parliament both from the outside and the inside. Nevertheless, Mr. Lytvyn said he believes it is to the Parliament's credit that between 2002 and 2005 the GDP grew by 30 percent, budgetary outlays increased 250 percent and minimum salaries and pensions grew by 250 and 400 percent, respectively. According to Mr. Lytvyn, the Verkhovna Rada of the fourth convocation passed the biggest number of bills, 1,250, of which 1,138 took effect. He added that the Parliament made a mistake in rejecting a proposal for a recount of the March 26 vote. (Lyvtyn's People's Bloc got only 2.44 percent of the vote and failed to cross the 3 percent election barrier.) Thus, he said he believes that the next Verkhovna Rada's validity is questionable. (Ukrinform)

Commemorative coin honors Lviv

KYIV - On April 26 the National Bank of Ukraine put into circulation the "750 Years of Lviv" commemorative coin, which has a face value of 5 hrv. The coin is dedicated to one of the leading scientific, cultural, educational and industrial cities of western Ukraine. Lviv is mentioned for the first time in historical records dating to 1256. It was founded by King Danylo Halytskyi and named after his son Lev. The commemorative coin is made of white copper, weighs 16.54 grams and was minted in 60,000 copies. The coin is adorned with the image of a lion's head, the small national emblem of Ukraine on the left and the date of issue, 2006, on the right. The reverse side of the coin depicts the panorama of Lviv of the early 17th century with the inscription "Lviv/750." (Ukrinform)

Sevastopol adopts regional language

SEVASTOPOL - Deputies of the Sevastopol City Rada on April 26 passed a resolution that makes Russian a regional language and promised to preserve it and develop so that it would not contradict development of the Ukrainian national language. From now on, Sevastopol citizens can use the Russian language on par with Ukrainian. The Sevastopol City Rada also stated its intentions to perform an analysis of the Russian language's functioning conditions and problems related to its teaching. Thus, on the basis of the results, a local program of development of the Russian and Ukrainian languages is supposed to be elaborated. The Sevastopol deputies intend to pay special attention to the language situation on TV, which is marked by domination of the Russian language over Ukrainian. On April 25 the Luhansk Oblast Rada gave Russian the status of second state language. On March 6, the Kharkiv City Rada resolved to make Russian a regional language. (Ukrinform)

President questions "regional language"

RIGA - While on a visit to Latvia, President Viktor Yushchenko told journalists in Riga on April 28 that he has asked the Justice Ministry and the Procurator General's Office to look into the legality of recent local government decisions granting Russian the status of a regional language, Interfax-Ukraine reported. Last month such decisions were made in the Luhansk Oblast and the city of Sevastopol. Both regions have a predominantly Russian-speaking population. "I think that I will receive opinions from these [central-government] bodies very soon and we will act in strict accordance with national and international laws," Mr. Yushchenko said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Zvarych: no coalition with Regions

KYIV - According to Roman Zvarych, chief of the Our Ukraine bloc's juridical department, Our Ukraine will never become engaged in coalition talks with the Party of the Regions. When that party was in power in Ukraine it did everything to destroy democracy, which is why, though our programs may contain similar points, our fundamental differences are so wide that these rule out any talks, Mr. Zvarych underscored. In the meantime, as Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych told the party's Political Council session on April 27, he views a Regions-Our Ukraine coalition as one that would be most efficient and would solve many problems in the country. (Ukrinform)

Yushchenko expects coalition in June

RIGA - Meeting with students and teaching staff of the Latvian University in Riga on April 27, President Viktor Yushchenko expressed his opinion that in June a parliamentary coalition will be created and a new government will be formed. The president explained that, in keeping with Ukrainian legislation, the newly elected Verkhovna Rada's maiden session should be held within 30 days after the election returns were officially made public. After that the parliamentary majority must be formed within the next 30 days. The nation's new government will have to be formed within the following 30 days. (Ukrinform)

Yushchenko on state visit to Latvia

RIGA - Within the framework of President Viktor Yushchenko's state visit to Latvia, Ukrainian-Latvian talks largely dealt with promoting bilateral relations and bipartite cooperation in the energy sector. The talks also dealt with implementing regional projects and Ukrainian-Latvian cooperation in the context of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration President Yushchenko expressed his appreciation of Latvia's open support of Ukraine's Eurointegration aspirations. The president said the two states agreed to shortly resume proceedings of the mixed Intergovernmental Commission for Trade-Economic Cooperation. The commission's most immediate task will be to draft a joint action program for the coming two years, which will incorporate concrete projects, including those in the energy sector. Intergovernmental agreements were signed on cooperation in the information sphere and in preventing emergencies and eliminating their consequences. (Ukrinform)

"Orange Love" at Cannes festival

KYIV - According to the Kommersant-Ukraina, the film "Orange Love" about the Orange Revolution in Ukraine has been entered in the program of the Cannes Film Festival. The film's producer, Volodymyr Khorunzhyi, told the newspaper he cannot forecast whether the film has chances for success, but the team did its best to make a quality film. "Orange Love" is the brainchild of Ukrainian and Hollywood producers. The film's events unfold against the backdrop of developments in Ukraine in late 2004, particularly in Kyiv and its main square, Independence Square, known as the maidan. The film's main character, Roman, who is an American of Ukrainian extraction, happens to arrive in Kyiv at the peak of the Orange Revolution, hoping to find his uncle. Captivated by the Orange Revolution, he starts filming the events with his videocamera. While attending a rally, he meets a young Kyivan girl, Katya. The film, which cost $6 million, is said to have been the biggest Ukrainian capital investment in Ukraine's cinematography. Kiev-Donbas Co. Vice-Presidents Aleksandr and Vyacheslav Konstantynovskyi were the film's major sponsors. (Ukrinform)

Solzhenitsyn praises Putin

MOSCOW - Prominent Russian writer and former Soviet-era dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said in a rare media interview on April 27 that Western countries are unfairly trying to encircle Russia and praised President Putin for restoring a strong Russian state, mosnews.com reported. "Though it is clear that present-day Russia poses no threat to it, NATO is methodically and persistently building up its military machine in Eastern Europe and [by] surrounding Russia from the south," Mr. Solzhenitsyn added. He stressed that "this involves open material and ideological support for 'colored revolutions' and the paradoxical forcing of North Atlantic interests on Central Asia. ... All this leaves no doubt that they are preparing to completely encircle Russia and deprive it of its sovereignty." He hailed Mr. Putin, noting that "foreign policy ... is being conducted sensibly and in an increasingly forward-looking manner." Mr. Solzhenitsyn said that, "owing to the heavy burden left by [Putin's] predecessors, ... the overall state of people's lives remains difficult and chaotic." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Chornobyl anniversary marked in Miensk

MIENSK - An estimated crowd of 7,000 to 10,000 mainly young people took part in the Chornobyl Way rally organized by the Belarusian opposition in Miensk on April 26, Belarusian and international news agencies reported. The rally was permitted by the authorities who, however, warned demonstrators to stay away from October Square, which was the site of protests last month against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's re-election. "If we stay together, we can defeat a dictatorship that denied the Belarusian people a choice and kept them from electing the president legally," Mr. Milinkevich told the crowd from the steps of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences building. "We will destroy this regime through acts of peaceful disobedience. We will not wait for the next election in five years. We can overcome the dictatorship in the next two years, perhaps sooner." Mr. Milinkevich called on people to join the newly created civic movement For Freedom. Belarusian Television reported in its main newscast in the evening that the rally was attended by "several hundred regulars for whom going to meetings is a favorite hobby." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Belarus opposition gets jail terms...

MIENSK - United opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich and Syarhey Kalyakin, manager of Mr. Milinkevich's presidential election campaign, were sentenced on April 27 to 15 and 14 days in jail, respectively, RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Belapan reported. A judge found the politicians guilty of taking part in the previous day's unauthorized rally that took place in front of the Academy of Sciences building in Miensk on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. "It was not an unsanctioned rally. We took part in an absolutely authorized event. ... They are scared. They want to scare us but they themselves are trembling," Mr. Milinkevich told RFE/RL's Belarus Service after the verdict. Another judge on April 27 sentenced Belarusian Popular Front leader Vintsuk Vyachorka and Labor Party leader Alyaksandr Bukhvostau to 15 days each, finding them guilty of violating regulations governing "mass events" during the April 26 Chornobyl Way rally in the Belarusian capital. Mr. Vyachorka was arrested immediately after the rally, while Messrs. Milinkevich, Kalyakin and Bukhvostau were detained on April 27. (RFE/RL Newsline)

...as the West protests

MIENSK - European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner on April 27 expressed her concern about the arrest and jailing of four opposition leaders in Miensk earlier the same day, Belapan reported. "I call for the immediate release of all those arrested and detained because of their opinions. I once again call upon the Belarusian authorities to respect their commitments in the OSCE and U.N. frameworks, and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression and of the media, and the freedom of assembly and political association," Ms. Ferrero-Waldner said. U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said on April 27: "These actions are outrageous and reprehensible, and, unfortunately, they are only the latest in an ongoing series of acts against the citizens of [Belarus] who are only attempting to exercise their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. We condemn these actions and we call on the authorities to immediately release those detained and drop the charges against them." (RFE/RL Newsline)

NATO: Ukraine to be encouraged

SOFIA - NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer suggested in Sofia on April 27 that Ukraine and Georgia can expect encouragement at the alliance's November summit in Riga on its hope to join NATO, Reuters reported. "I think it is also clear that there will be a signal in Riga, but the actual invitations to join cannot be expected already at the Riga summit," he told a news conference. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice evaded a question at the same news conference about when Ukraine could expect a membership plan. "The Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people will have to decide whether or not this is something that they wish to pursue. And they will also have to work very hard, I think, to meet the criteria," she said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in Riga on April 27 that he believes it is likely for Ukraine to secure a Membership Action Plan at the Riga summit. He noted that an anti-NATO campaign stirred up by some political forces during the recent parliamentary election campaign in Ukraine was an attempt to score political capital. "The anti-NATO policy that was promoted during the election campaign does not reflect the belief in our society," Interfax-Ukraine quoted him as saying. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko declares his income

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko's income in 2005 amounted to about $57,000 (U.S.), according to the income declaration he filed on April 14. Mr. Yushchenko declared an income of 288,020.20 hrv, including wages of 273,060.28 hrv. The combined income of members of Mr. Yushchenko's family was 384,975 hrv. Mr. Yushchenko also declared land plots with a total area of 79,319 square meters, a residential building with an area of 618 square meters, and an apartment with an area of 371.9 square meters. Mr. Yushchenko and members of his family did not declare any private automobiles. According to Mr. Yushchenko's press secretary, Iryna Heraschenko, the president was awarded two prizes but the accompanying monetary payments were not included in Mr. Yushchenko's declaration for 2005 because they were received in 2006 and will be included his declaration for 2006. Mr. Yushchenko's family plans to use this money for philanthropic purposes. (Ukrinform)

Ministers file income declarations

KYIV - Ukrainian government ministers have disclosed their income declarations for 2005, as stipulated by the law on fighting corruption. Economy Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk, Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk, Justice Minister Serhii Holovatyi, Family, Youth and Sports Minister Yurii Pavlenko and Emergency Situations Minister Viktor Baloha all disclosed their income declarations for 2005. Mr. Baloha declared an income of 105,146 hrv for 2005. According to his declaration, he has no bank accounts and owns a VAZ-2109 automobile. His family had an income of 915,989 hrv in 2005. His family also owns a land plot with an area of 2,747 square meters, two apartments and two automobiles. Mr. Pavlenko declared an income of 288,482 hrv for 2005. Mr. Pynzenyk declared an income of 238,687 hrv, a RAV-4 automobile, and 315,327 hrv in bank accounts. Mr. Holovatyi declared an income of 292,997 hrv for 2005. He also declared an apartment and 1,195,527 hrv in bank accounts. Mr. Yatseniuk declared over 3 million hrv for 2005. (Ukrinform)

Cinematographers launch joint project

KYIV - Ukrainian director Oles Sanin on March 16 presented a new international movie project in Kyiv. Code named "The Kobzars," the project will be jointly implemented by Ukrainian cinematographers and the U.S.-based Hollywood Trident Foundation. Financial support for its implementation will be rendered by the Ukrainian government, the Industrial Union of Donbas (ISD) and the international charitable fund Ukraine 3000, which is chaired by First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Vice Prime Minister Viacheslav Kyrylenko commented on the project as sure to give a fresh and potent impetus to Ukraine's cinematography and mark a major contribution to Ukrainian movies' arrival on the international scene. Importantly, Mr. Kyrylenko noted, one of the future film's major topics will be the devastating Famine-Genocide in Ukraine in 1932-1933. According to Mr. Sanin, the film's shooting will involve state-of-the-art digital equipment and technologies. The film will be released in both English- and Ukrainian-language versions. Ukrainian, American and British actors will be engaged, with American actor Jack Palance, who is of Ukrainian extraction, expected to star. The film's shooting will begin in New York in May. The film should be available to movie-theaters in early 2008. (Ukrinform)

Gymnast sets up HIV-AIDS foundation

KYIV - Liliya Podkopayeva, Olympic all-around champion in gymnastics and United Nations goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, has established an international charitable foundation, called Health of Generations, that is aimed at aiding HIV/AIDS-affected children. Ukrainian Minister for Family, Youth and Sports Yurii Pavlenko and UNICEF's representative to Ukraine, Jeremy Hartley, attended the presentation of the foundation, it was reported on April 10. Together with the foundation a project was launched with the aim of attracting society's attention to the problem of the health of the future generations and the HIV/AIDS problem. According to Mr. Pavlenko, the foundation project is very necessary and topical nowadays, even more so as the year 2006 was proclaimed as the Year of Protection of the Rights of Children. According to the Health Ministry's official data, 103,572 HIV-affected citizens were registered in Ukraine in February 2006, 13,753 of whom are children. (Ukrinform)

Polish president visits Ukraine

KYIV - Ukraine and Poland signed a joint declaration of development of cooperation in the energy sphere on February 28. The document was inked by Presidents Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine and Lech Kaczynski of Poland, who was on a two-day official visit to Ukraine. President Yushchenko assessed the visit by his Polish counterpart as a new stage in the development of Ukrainian-Polish relations. The two countries discussed their relations in the context of European integration; economic and humanitarian issues, as well as energy security. Also discussed, as President Yushchenko put it, was "continuation of a tradition of historical reconciliation between the two peoples." President Kaczynski noted that Poland will always render political assistance to Ukraine in its European and Euro-Atlantic drive, and that Poland will remain Ukraine's advocate in Ukraine and "guide" on the way to the European Union and NATO. (Ukrinform)

Istanbul chosen over Kyiv

KYIV - Jeremy Isaacs, chairman of the international expert jury, told a press conference at the European Commission on April 11 that Kyiv has been defeated by Istanbul in the competition for being named Europe's Cultural Capital 2010. Both cities participated in the contest as capitals outside the European Union. (Ukrinform)

Camry presented in Crimea

KYIV - The new Toyota Camry has debuted in Ukraine. Senior Toyota managers cam to Crimea to attend the new car's presentation at Yalta's Livadia Palace on April 11. The automaker intends to sell over 1,000 Toyota Camry cars in Ukraine in 2006 through the Toyota-Ukraine dealer network. The car's price is 29,800, euros. (Ukrinform)

Skrypka to organize "Rock-Sich"

KYIV - Popular Ukrainian rock-star Oleh Skrypka said on April 11 that he intends to organize a new festival, dubbed Rock-Sich, in Kyiv. The festival involves special preparations of a citadel on Trukhaniv Island, the venue of a rock festival slated for May 6-7. The citadel will include three stages for different musical genres: ethnic rock, hard rock and hip-hop/metal. The frontman of the rock-band VV also said he intends to hold the festival annually to promote development of rock music in Ukraine. The festival is noted for the participation of Ukrainian bands only. (Ukrinform)

Church, state mark Ukrainian unity

KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko was joined by numerous state officials and religious leaders in a ceremony dedicated to the start of construction of a monument to the unity of Ukraine. The event occurred on April 8 near the Mariinskyi Palace, the official residence of the president of Ukraine. Religious leaders present included Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate; Metropolitan Mefodii (Kudriakov), head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church; Archbishop Mytrofan (Yurchuk), who is responsible for managing affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP); and Tamim Achmed Mohammed Mutakh, head of the Spiritual Direction of the Muslims of Ukraine. Outgoing Kyiv Mayor Oleksander Omelchenko noted that the ceremony commemorated events starting with January 22, 1919, when western Ukrainian lands, which had been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on January 22, 1919, announced their "everlasting" union with central and eastern Ukraine. The monument will honor those who fought for Ukrainian unity and independence until it was declared on August 24, 1991. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UCU to offer social pedagogy program

LVIV - Social pedagogy, a new academic discipline, was presented at the Day of Open Doors at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv on April 8. Starting in September, approximately 30 students of the university's Humanities Faculty will be enrolled in the program. The program will prepare students for social work, for teaching Christian ethics in public schools and for related professions. No similar program is offered anywhere in Ukraine. Dr. Maria Shved, head of the Social Pedagogy Department, said, "In Ukraine, when people hear about social pedagogy, they shrug their shoulders. But there is nothing strange about it. In Ukraine it is a relatively new educational branch, unlike in Poland, where society's demand for social pedagogues is constantly increasing and, therefore, this profession is becoming more and more popular. During Soviet times all people were 'happy' and 'equal.' The existing problems of separate layers of the population, like drug addiction, alcoholism, orphaned children and homelessness, were concealed. Today it is hard to talk about the prospect of Ukraine in Europe without a developed network of social centers and services." (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Ukraine's population still shrinking

KYIV - According to the State Statistics Committee, as of March 1, Ukraine was populated by 46.85 million people, of whom 31.84 million were urban residents and 15.015 million lived in the countryside. During the first two months of this year 69,270 babies were born, and 142,838 persons died, including 770 babies under the age of 1. In 2005 426,085 babies were born and 781,964 died. In January-February of this year 39,785 marriages and 26,649 divorces were registered. In 2005 there were 332,100 marriages and 183,500 divorces. During the first two months of this year 6,967 persons arrived in Ukraine and 3,871 persons left. In 2005 39,580 persons came to Ukraine, and 34,997 left the country. According to the latest census of December 5, 2001, Ukraine's population was 48,457,100. The Institute for Social Studies under the National Academy of Sciences predicts that by 2050 Ukraine's population may shrink to 35 million. (Ukrinform)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 7, 2006, No. 19, Vol. LXXIV

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