NEWSBRIEFS (06/06/99)

NEWSBRIEFS

Donetsk death toll increases

DONETSK - Seven more coal miners who were injured on May 24 in the underground methane explosion at the Zasiadko mine in Donetsk have died, bringing the death toll to 48. Ten miners were still in serious condition after being injured in the explosion that instantly killed 39, a spokesman of the local labor safety department said. The explosion was Ukraine's worst mine disaster in more than a year. (Eastern Economist)

First congress of Russians convenes

KYIV - The first congress of Russian residents of Ukraine elected a representative body, the Russian Council of Ukraine (RCU), and approved its policy paper, the Manifesto, on May 23. The Manifesto stresses that the RCU's major task is to consolidate the forces of public, cultural and human-rights organizations to ensure a wider involvement of the 12 million Russians living in Ukraine in all spheres of political life. (Eastern Economist)

Obschina supports autonomy for oblasts

LUHANSK - A meeting of voters took place in Luhansk on May 23 to discuss whether it is reasonable to demand national, cultural and economic autonomy for eastern and southern Ukraine. "The independence received by Ukraine has had a negative effect on the development of east- and south-Ukrainian regions," said Volodymyr Luzganov, deputy chair of the Russkaia Obschina (Russian Community) regional organization. The meeting discussed 20 principles of cultural and economic autonomy. It elected an organizing committee to hold a referendum on the idea of a cultural and economic autonomy. (Eastern Economist)

Ukraine faces rush on sugar

KYIV - Vice Minister of the Economy Viktor Kalnyk on May 31 said increased demand for sugar and other foodstuffs has forced the government to impose retail price regulations. According to Mr. Kalnyk, demand for sugar increased following rumors of sugar shortages and low expectations for this year's crop following April's ground frosts. He said the government recommends that local administration bodies introduce "temporary" price regulations on sugar, bread, cooking oil and flour. He added that the government will also sell a part of its sugar reserves. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine's vice prime minister in Moldova

CHISINAU - Moldova's president, Petru Lucinschi, on May 31 told visiting Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Serhii Tyhypko that economic cooperation must be intensified on both the bilateral and the regional levels by providing for the establishment of free trade zones with Romania and Poland, Infotag reported. President Lucinschi said Moldova will back Ukraine's bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council, and he praised Kyiv for its contribution toward helping resolve the Transdniester conflict. RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported on the same day that Ukraine has again cut electricity supplies to Moldova, whose debt has risen to $16 million. (RFE/RL Newsline)

IMF OKs new funds for Ukraine

KYIV - The International Monetary Fund on May 27 approved the release of a $180 million tranche of its $2.2 billion loan to Ukraine, Reuters reported. It also endorsed Ukraine's request for an extra $366 million in financial support. "In view of the country's heavy debt service obligations, Ukraine's economic recovery will require the continued involvement of private creditors. A collaborative solution to Ukraine's debt service must be found in line with Ukraine's capacity to pay," the fund said in a statement. The news agency added that the fund wants Ukraine to use IMF money to repay debts to private creditors. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Romanian president visits Ukraine

CHERNIVTSI - Romania's president, Emil Constantinescu, on May 28 visited Chernivtsi, capital of the Bukovyna region, which is home to approximately 460,000 ethnic Romanians. Thousands of people waving Romanian flags came out to greet Mr. Constantinescu, the first Romanian head of state to visit the area in 60 years. "Relations between Romania and Ukraine, as well as those between our ethnic groups can be an example for the world," Reuters quoted President Constantinescu as saying. Mr. Constantinescu and President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine inaugurated a Romanian Consulate in Chernivtsi. A day earlier, Presidents Kuchma and Constantinescu had met in Kyiv to discuss cooperation on border demarcation. "We have made good progress in resolving the question of border demarcation," the Associated Press quoted Mr. Kuchma as saying. The agency added, however, that no "major breakthrough" had been achieved on the issue. Ukraine and Romania disagree on how to demarcate a part of the continental shelf in the Black Sea where large oil and gas deposits are believed to be located. Interfax reported that both presidents also discussed plans for transporting Caspian oil to Western Europe. Ukraine proposes a route extending from Supsa, in Georgia, via Odesa and Ukraine to Poland, while Romania prefers a route from Odesa to the Romanian port of Constanta. "The two routes will not compete because they will service different areas," President Kuchma commented. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Bulgarian center opens in Odesa

ODESA - A Bulgarian Cultural Center was inaugurated in Odesa on May 24 by First Lady Liudmyla Kuchma. The center, which is housed in a former movie theater, will contribute to the preservation and promotion of the cultural values, traditions and customs of the 168 ethnic Bulgarians who live in the Odesa region, said Serhii Hrynevetskyi of the Odesa Oblast Administration. Mr. Hrynevetskyi added that the Odesa Oblast has a Bulgarian library, a Bulgarian school, as well as a department of Bulgarian studies at Odesa State University. (Eastern Economist)

Ukraine denies shipping oil to Yugoslavia

KYIV - Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry on May 26 denied U.S. allegations that Ukraine is delivering oil to Yugoslavia in violation of the oil embargo. "Ukraine does not provide oil deliveries to Yugoslavia, does not offer its vessels for such deliveries, and does not possess any information concerning oil transit through Ukrainian ports to Yugoslavia by a third party," the DPA news agency quoted the ministry's statement as saying. Several days earlier, wire services had reported that a Pentagon spokesman, Kenneth Bacon, said the U.S. is putting pressure on Ukraine to stop allowing Russian oil shipments to Yugoslavia via Ukrainian ports on the Danube. He was quoted as saying: "We believe that some of it [oil and petroleum products] is coming from Russia and being shipped through Ukrainian ports. We're very concerned about this. We're in the process of talking to Ukrainian officials about it in an effort to get them to stop." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Albright: Ukraine very cooperative

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on May 25 said that Ukraine has been "very cooperative" in NATO efforts to maintain a strict oil embargo against Yugoslavia. She added, however, that the U.S. will "soon" talk with Kyiv about allegations that Ukrainian barges have been shipping oil to Belgrade via the River Danube. The New York Times on May 25 had quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying that oil is loaded onto Ukrainian barges in Ukrainian ports and then shipped across the Black Sea to the Danube. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma signs decree on local taxes

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree on local taxes, that will take effect on January 1, 2000, UNIAN reported on May 26. The decree establishes mandatory taxes on advertising and foreign tourism, as well a hotel tax for those staying in hotels and camping areas. The decree also legalizes the collection of fees for operating trade outlets and service facilities. Under the decree, towns may impose parking fees, charge for holding auctions, sales and lotteries, and collect payment for crossing the territory of Crimea and border regions. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine gets funding for Y2K compliance

KYIV - The Science and Technology Center (STCU) on May 27 approved initial funding for the coordination of Year 2000 compliance in Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The first stage of the project, which is financed by the Canada, the European Union and the U.S. Department of State, provides for compiling an inventory of computerized information systems at nuclear power plants and a detailed assessment of their compliance. Stage 2 will involve testing, selection and purchase of Y2K scanning tools, with stages 3 and 4 focusing on training and scheduling remediation of non-compliance. STCU Deputy Director Prof. Frantisek Janouch said that more than $1 million (U.S.) in funding has been secured for all four stages and that additional funds may be provided on an expedited basis to nuclear power plants that submit projects to the STCU board. He said that the results of the remediation proposals will be made available to all potential donors. Nuclear power plants generate approximately 45 percent of Ukraine's electric energy. Ukrainian watchdog groups say Ukrainian plants are behind schedule for Y2K fixes. (Eastern Economist)

Kyiv Day festivities draw crowds

KYIV - Kyiv Day celebrations took place over the weekend of May 29-30 with the public enjoying fireworks, free concerts and a theater festival. Artists displayed their wares along the old Andriivskiy Uzviz. About 1,500 people took part in the annual Chestnut Tree Charity Run on May 29, collecting 30,000 hrv in entry fees. The money will go the Okhmadit Children's Hospital in Kyiv. In addition, all public transport was free on Sunday. The last day of celebration coincided with the holy day of the Holy Trinity, 50 days after Easter, and the mayoral election. (Eastern Economist)

Edict on protection of morals signed

KYIV - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed an edict on "developing spirituality, protecting morals and establishing a healthy way of life," Ukrainian Television reported on April 28. The document sets up a nationwide body, headed by Vice Prime Minister Valerii Smolii, to coordinate the edict's implementation. Among other things, the Cabinet of Ministers and local authorities are ordered to take urgent measures to prevent the "propaganda of violence" in the media and the dissemination of pornography. "The edict is by no means intended to return to the former times [in Ukraine] of censorship or bans of a political or ideological character," Mr. Smolii commented. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Youth unemployment on the rise

KYIV - The rate of unemployment is on the rise, especially among young people, said Education Minister Valentyn Zaichuk speaking in the Verkhovna Rada on May 11. Annually 1.6 million young people come through the education system, but many cannot find work, he said. In 1998 alone .76 million people up to age 28 were registered as unemployed. Mr. Zaichuk spoke on measures to improve the situation, such as job quotas for employers to help young people secure their first jobs. In 1999 148,000 jobs have been reserved for specific categories, including 78,500 positions reserved specifically for the young. (Eastern Economist)

Kuchma lists priorities for next decade

KYIV - Addressing a joint congress of the Confederation of Employers and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, President Leonid Kuchma said the "consolidation of the government system" and national security is Ukraine's top priority in the next stage of its development, Interfax reported. The second priority is the continuation of systemic reforms and market-oriented transformations, while the third is to achieve economic growth of 5 to 6 percent of GDP in the next five years and 8 percent by 2010. He also cited the "drastic" restructuring of the Ukrainian economy as a priority. The congress unanimously voted to support Mr. Kuchma in the October presidential elections. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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