Our Ukraine now in opposition (10/08/06)

Our Ukraine now in opposition

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - The Our Ukraine bloc announced on October 4 it will not join the coalition government led by the Party of the Regions, despite signing the Universal of National Unity with the coalition's three factions.

"The faction will be in systematic opposition in Parliament against the current government," said Roman Bezsmertnyi, the Political Council chair of the Our Ukraine bloc.

"Through our actions, we will try above everything to carry out the policies defined and stated in the universal," he added.

The chief reasons the coalition discussions failed, he said, is that the coalition government is violating the universal's principles and that the Party of the Regions is behaving aggressively toward Our Ukraine politicians.

Specifically, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko accused the Party of th Regions of delaying Ukraine's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) beyond this year, neglecting to begin discussions on creating free trade zones with the European Union and failing to proceed with integration efforts into European defense structures.

The Party of the Regions also is failing to support the development of the Ukrainian language and is pursuing federalist policies, the president said.

At the October 5 press conference, the Ukrainian president even appeared surprised that the Party of the Regions would violate certain tenets of the National Unity Declaration.

"I turn to my colleagues who signed this document: Why aren't these points being executed?" he asked rhetorically.

During the last several weeks, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych took steps to delay Ukraine's progress towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as hinted of future attempts to make the Russian language an official language in Ukraine.

The prime minister also stated that Ukraine would not join the WTO this year, as Mr. Yushchenko had been hoping.

Though the Our Ukraine bloc said it would oppose the coalition government, virtually no political observer believes the faction will unite with the Parliament's opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, particularly since it would have to submit to her authority.

Ever since firing Ms. Tymoshenko from the prime ministership on September 8, 2005, President Viktor Yushchenko has avoided working or uniting with Ms. Tymoshenko in any type of alliance, particularly after the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc outperformed his political force in the March 2006 elections.

If the political situation remains as it is, the Ukrainian Parliament will consist of two separate forces, both characterizing themselves as the opposition and both strongly advocating Ukraine's integration into European structures.

In an October 5 press conference, Mr. Bezsmertnyi suggested the possibility of the Our Ukraine and Tymoshenko blocs uniting into an opposition confederation called "European Ukraine," that would exist either within the Verkhovna Rada or outside it.

However, he stressed that Our Ukraine is a "self-sufficient political force and, therefore, we will analyze the situation and form our own course, proposals and initiatives," both inside and outside the Parliament.

"Most likely, there will be two branches in the opposition," said Vadym Karasiov, a Kyiv political insider with ties to oligarch Viktor Pinchuk. "One more radical, assertive - the Tymoshenko Bloc; the other more thoughtful and pragmatic - the Our Ukraine bloc."

Our Ukraine's opposition also means that the faction's representatives in the Cabinet of Ministers should resign their posts as soon as possible, Mr. Bezsmertnyi said on October 5, or defect to another faction.

This would include Minister of Justice Roman Zvarych, Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Yurii Pavlenko, Minister of Health Yurii Poliachenko and Minister of Culture Ihor Likhovyi.

So far, no one has indicated he would resign.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Borys Tarasyuk and Minister of Defense Anatolii Hrytsenko are presidential appointees and, as such, do not fall under the Our Ukraine quota in the Cabinet.

The fact that these Our Ukraine politicians are already serving as Cabinet ministers reveals that the bloc is flagrantly violating Ukraine's Constitution, which allows only those politicians officially belonging to the coalition government to serve in the Cabinet, said Oles Doniy, a Kyiv political expert.

Our Ukraine's announcement arrived the same day The Washington Post published an opinion piece written by Prime Minister Yanukovych that assured the West he is committed to integrating Ukraine into Europe.

However, Mr. Yanukovych once again revealed his reluctance toward NATO membership, indicating a referendum will be held in the country only after an invitation is extended.

However, NATO officials are hesitant to extend an invitation unless there is enough popular support for membership, as well as a government that is active in taking the necessary measures.

"There should be no doubting our nation's European direction," Mr. Yanukovych wrote.

The evening news in Ukraine on October 5 broadcast a clip of President Yushchenko call for Our Ukraine to return to "constructive dialogue" with representatives of the coalition led by the Party of the Regions. He added that if coalition talks fail yet again he would work with both the government and the opposition.

The president made these statements during the same press conference at which he criticized the Party of the Regions for failing to live up to the Universal of National Unity.

The National Unity Declaration can be viewed at: http://www.razom.org.ua/.

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