NEWSBRIEFS (08/20/06)

NEWSBRIEFS

PM comments on Russian language

SYMFEROPOL - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych told journalists in Crimea on August 11 that he sees no possibility for the time being of giving the Russian language official status in Ukraine, UNIAN reported. Mr. Yanukovych explained that in order to change the status of the Russian language, at least 300 lawmakers would have to support a change in the Constitution of Ukraine or the issue would have to be subject to a referendum. "Both the first and the second option are unrealistic at the present moment," Mr. Yanukovych added. According to him, Ukraine should instead adopt a law regulating the use of the Russian language and enforce the implementation of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. (RFE/RL Newsline)

PM cites possible delay in WTO talks

SYMFEROPOL - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych also told journalists in Crimea on August 11 that his government is committed to joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) but may delay talks to ensure that WTO membership conditions meet producers' needs, Reuters reported. President Viktor Yushchenko wants Ukraine to join the WTO by the end of this year, but Mr. Yanukovych believes that more time to study all conditions may be required. "If we manage to [join the WTO] in 2006, then it will be 2006. But our task is to resolve this issue in a clear way and within national interests. If we need to extend the term to do it, then we will extend it," Mr. Yanukovych noted. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv to respect gas deal with Russia

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych declared during a news conference in Kyiv on August 10 that his government will abide by the gas deal concluded in January with Russia by the preceding Cabinet of Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, Ukrainian and international news agencies reported. Kyiv agreed to an increase in the price of gas imports from $50 to $95 per 1,000 cubic meters after the Russian gas giant Gazprom briefly cut supplies to Ukraine and Europe. Critics of the gas deal, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, have repeatedly called for its review. "I have never said that we are going to change or review anything," Mr. Yanukovych said on August 10. "We are working to secure adequate gas supplies and optimal gas prices for our country. In the very near future I will visit Moscow and then I will be able to give a more concrete answer on gas issues." Mr. Yanukovych said at the same news conference that he will visit Russia on August 15-16. (RFE/RL Newsline)

New PM begins visit to Russia

KYIV - Viktor Yanukovych, who was confirmed in office by the Ukrainian Parliament on August 4, went to the Black Sea resort of Sochi on August 15 to participate in a two-day informal summit of the Eurasian Economic Community hosted by vacationing Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian media reported. Ukraine has observer status in the Eurasian Economic Community, which consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It is widely expected that Mr. Yanukovych, while in Sochi, will discuss the price of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine in 2007 with Mr. Putin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. Mr. Yanukovych told journalists in Kyiv on August 14 that this year he does not expect any changes in the current gas-supply scheme, under which Ukraine pays $95 per 1,000 cubic meters of a Russian-Turkmen gas mix supplied by the Swiss-based intermediary RosUkrEnergo. The Ukrainian prime minister also assured journalists that Ukraine's gas transport system, which Moscow has been seeking to manage jointly with Ukraine through an international consortium, will remain in Kyiv's ownership. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russian, Ukrainian PMs meet

SOCHI, Russia - On the sidelines of the three-day informal summit of the Eurasian Economic Community, to which Ukraine is an observer, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and his new Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yanukovych, met in Sochi on August 16 to take stock of bilateral relations for the first time following the recent change of government in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported. Mr. Yanukovych said that "we have to eliminate disproportion in the relations between Russia and Ukraine," adding that both countries should "maintain and intensify intergovernmental contacts aimed at establishing a common economic space." For his part, Mr. Fradkov expressed satisfaction regarding Mr. Yanukovych's intention to make relations with Russia a foreign-policy priority. "Our governments have many objectives to accomplish: to increase trade turnover, coordinate efforts to join the [World Trade Organization] WTO, establish market relations in the energy sector, and develop cooperation in aerospace industry," Mr. Fradkov said. The Eurasian Economic Community consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Armenia and Ukraine as observers. The summit's agenda is expected to center on energy and water issues, the formation of a customs union, issues related to the WTO, and strengthening the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Uzbekistan's relations with it, the daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported on August 16. (RFE/RL Newsline)

and reach agreement on gas prices

SOCHI, Russia - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said in Sochi on August 16 that Ukrainian and Russian delegations have agreed on "price parameters" for Ukraine's gas purchases from Russia through the end of 2007, Interfax reported. He added that the price, which will be announced at an unspecified later date, "will be market-based, but the price mechanism will be transparent and reflect the level of economic relations between Ukraine and Russia." Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of coordinating plans for the formation of a customs union for members of the Eurasian Economic Community with plans to join the WTO, Interfax reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Crimean Tatars scuffle with market traders

BAKHCHYSARAI, Ukraine - Some 300 Tatars got involved in a brawl with a similar number of vendors at an outdoor market in Bakhchysarai in Crimea on August 12, Ukrainian media reported. Both sides reportedly used stones, batons and smoke candles in the fight, which led to several dozen injuries. A special police unit fired several shots in the air to break up the scuffle. Crimean Tatars demand that the market be closed since it is located at the site of a former Muslim burial ground. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Blast at coal mine kills six

KRASNODON, Ukraine - An explosion at the Sukhodilska-Skhidna coal mine in Krasnodon, Luhansk Oblast, on August 13 killed six miners and injured seven, Ukrainian media reported. Local authorities have opened an investigation into the accident. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yanukovych backs down on federalism

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych suggested at a news conference in Kyiv on August 10 that his Party of the Regions, which in 2004 called for federalization of Ukraine, may abandon this stance in favor of expanding the prerogatives of local self-governments, Ukrainian media reported. "The question of a federal system for our country arose on an emotional basis at the time of the elections in 2004," Mr. Yanukovych said. "It was an answer to that part of the population that felt itself at some level to be either cheated or placed in discriminatory circumstances. That was a natural reaction. We, as politicians, were reacting to the wishes of our electorate. We did not put this question categorically. We invited society into a discussion. Today, at this point, the issue of reforming local rule is one that requires reform. ... We should be taking steps to decentralize power and come to such a level where we will all feel that that local power will be strong enough to carry out governmental powers," he said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

speaks for promotion of Ukrainian

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych told a news conference in Kyiv on August 10 that "the language problem has been created artificially by politicians," thus echoing the opinion often voiced by President Viktor Yushchenko, Ukrainian media reported. Mr. Yanukovych noted that "forcible Ukrainianization" produces "opposite results," but he simultaneously stressed the need for implementing a program of support for the Ukrainian language in Russian-speaking regions. "Today, the Ukrainian language needs to grow and those Russian-speaking regions need a program of Ukrainian-language development," Mr. Yanukovych said. "And, of course, we should not discriminate against the Russian language," he added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine posts 11.4 % growth in July

KYIV - Ukraine's industrial output grew by 11.4 percent year-on-year in July and 4.8 percent year-on-year in January-July 2006, Interfax-Ukraine reported on August 9, citing the State Statistics Committee. In 2005, Ukraine's industrial growth slowed down to 3.1 percent, compared to 12.5 percent in 2004. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Putin congratulates Ukraine's leaders

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin telephoned his Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yushchenko, on August 7 to congratulate him for ending the political stalemate in Ukraine by naming Viktor Yanukovych, leader of the pro-Moscow Party of the Regions, to head Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, Interfax reported. Mr. Putin subsequently phoned Mr. Yanukovych to congratulate him on his election. Both Messrs. Putin and Yanukovych said that they want to start "detailed discussions on Russian-Ukrainian issues" soon. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv ready for dialogue with Miensk

KYIV - Ukrainian First Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mykola Azarov declared to Belarusian Ambassador to Ukraine Valyantsin Vyalichka on August 15 that Kyiv is ready for "constructive political dialogue" with Miensk, Belapan and UNIAN reported. Mr. Azarov stressed that a key priority for Ukraine is to increase economic cooperation with Belarus and boost bilateral trade, which he said is expected to total more than $2 million this year. Mr. Azarov also emphasized the need to sign a bilateral agreement to ease border crossing formalities for employees of the closed Chornobyl nuclear plant residing in the town of Slavutych. Employees have to travel through Belarus to get to work as the road linking Slavutych with Chornobyl, as well as the rail route between them, run through Belarus's Homiel Oblast. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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