NEWSBRIEFS (10/10/99)

NEWSBRIEFS

Candidates comment on attack

KYIV - Following the attempt on Progressive Socialist leader Natalia Vitrenko's life, other presidential candidates have commented on the incident and its possible consequences. Socialist Party head Oleksander Moroz rejected allegations that he had anything to do with the attack, saying the incident was linked to "plans of the present regime to introduce a state of emergency and thwart the elections at any cost." Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Kravchenko confirmed that the police are searching for Serhii Ivanchenko, head of Mr. Moroz's regional election staff in Kryvyi Rih, who is suspected of masterminding the attack. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksander Tkachenko said the attack was intended to "intimidate people" in order to dissuade them from attending campaign meetings. According to Mr. Tkachenko, the attack is "advantageous" only for President Leonid Kuchma. Yurii Kostenko of the splinter Rukh said the attack will boost Ms. Vitrenko's popularity and reduce Mr. Moroz's election chances. President Leonid Kuchma said the attack on Ms. Vitrenko was a "well-planned provocation" ordered by someone who wants to "exacerbate the social and political situation and derail the presidential elections." He stressed that the presidential ballot will be held on October 31, as planned. Meanwhile, doctors at the hospital where Ms. Vitrenko is receiving treatment said on October 3 that her life is not threatened. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma orders improved protection

KYIV - One day after the attack on Natalia Vitrenko, President Leonid Kuchma instructed the police to improve protection for all 14 candidates in the October 31 presidential elections. "President Kuchma is angered by what has happened. In this difficult situation, the president considers ensuring order and calm in the country during the election campaign a priority," Mr. Kuchma's spokesman Oleksander Martynenko told Reuters. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Canadian funds for policy development

KYIV - Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine Derek Fraser presided over the October 1 launch of a four-year $6.1 million (Canadian) project to support the Ukrainian government's capacity to develop policy options. The Public Policy Capacity Building project, implemented by the Canadian Bureau for International Education and the Ukrainian Academy of Public Administration, will support market principles and facilitate the development of trade and investments links with Canada. (Eastern Economist)

Tyhypko attends series of D.C. meetings

WASHINGTON - American investors are assuming a wait-and-see attitude toward Ukraine, said Vice-Prime Minister of the Economy Serhii Tyhypko during the meeting of Ukrainian-American Committee for Economic Cooperation. Mr. Tyhypko added that the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine do not influence bilateral cooperation between strategic partners. The prospects of supporting Ukraine's interests in international financial organizations were also discussed. The committee is to inform the Kuchma-Gore Commission on the state of Ukraine's economic reforms during the commission's December meeting. The delegation headed by Vice Prime Minister Tyhypko also particiated in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings on September 24-30. The delegation also included National Bank of Ukraine Chairman Viktor Yuschenko, Economy Minister Vasyl Rohovyi, presidential aide Valerii Lytvytskyi and others. The delegation also had meetings at the U.S. State Department, as well as with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Developoment. (Eastern Economist)

Ukraine, Georgia pledge cooperation

KYIV - During Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's visit to Kyiv on October 2, Ukraine and Georgia signed a declaration on increasing mutual support in all spheres of cooperation and several inter-governmental agreements, Interfax reported. Both President Shevardnadze and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma emphasized the importance of developing cooperation within GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova), adding that GUUAM is primarily an economic alliance, not a political-military bloc. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Miners stop coal deliveries in protest

KYIV - More than half of Ukraine's 209 coal mines ceased coal deliveries on October 1, launching a seven-day protest to demand the payment of wage arrears and increased state support for the industry, Interfax reported. Leonid Davydov, a trade union leader, told Reuters that the miners want state subsidies raised to 4.8 billion hrv ($1.06 billion) from the 1.8 million hrv envisaged in the 2000 budget draft. Other demands include the payment of some 2 billion hrv in wage arrears, a ban on the privatization of coal mines, a pension hike and jobs for laid-off miners. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Belarus to compensate for expulsion

MIENSK - The Belarusian government has earmarked $119,500 in compensation to the U.S. Embassy in Miensk for the expulsion of Ambassador Daniel Speckhard from his residence at Drazdy in June 1998, Belapan reported. Earlier, the U.S. had said it invested some $800,000 in the reconstruction of the ambassador's residence there. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukrainians believe vote will be falsified

KYIV - In a poll conducted September 1-12 among 1,200 residents of Ukraine by the Kyiv-based Institute of Politics, only 5 percent of respondents said they believe the results of the October 31 presidential elections will not be falsified. Of those polled, 43.9 percent said the ballot will be falsified to a large degree and 26.7 percent said it will be falsified somewhat. The remainder were unable to answer the question. According to the same poll, 60.6 percent of respondents have not yet decided for whom they will vote in the elections. (RFE/RL Newsline)

CEC approves format for ballot

KYIV - The Central Election Commission has approved the format of ballots for the presidential elections. They will be printed at the Ukraina printing house and the National Bank of Ukraine Mint. Voting slips will measure 200 mm by 335 mm and will be printed on one side in three colors with watermarks. Each polling station will receive 3 percent spare ballots. The names of all 15 presidential candidates will be included on the ballot. (Eastern Economist)

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