NEWSBRIEFS (09/30/01)

NEWSBRIEFS

Council of Europe urges new probe

KYIV - The Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe considers it advisable to recommend that Ukraine initiate a new investigation into the Gongadze case with the participation of international experts, Novyi Kanal television reported on September 25, quoting the Monitoring Committee's rapporteur on Ukraine, Hanne Severinsen. Former presidential bodyguard Mykola Melnychenko has reportedly agreed to testify before an investigation commission with the participation of international experts. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma cites weakness in banking

KYIV - The Ukrainian president on September 25 said the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is responsible for the fact that Ukraine's banking system is "the world's weakest," UNIAN reported. Specifically, he blamed the NBU for past troubles of the Ukraina bank that is now in liquidation. President Leonid Kuchma recalled that when Ukraina was declared bankrupt, having lost 123 million hrv ($23 million) in 1998, the NBU issued it a 150 million hrv loan. Mr. Kuchma also made some general remarks on the way business is done in Ukraine: "Ukrainian legislation is such that whoever steals the most is right. If one has money, he will be free; if one has no money, he will sit in prison." According to the president, 70 percent of Ukrainian enterprises generate losses and "unfortunately, their number is only set to grow." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada acts on inheritance legislation

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on September 20 adopted a section of Ukraine's new Civil Code, bringing Ukrainian legislation relating to the right to inheritance into line with European standards, ICTV Television reported. The code establishes a new procedure for appointing heirs. "Earlier the state was the heir if a person did not have relatives, brothers, or sisters. Now, according to the future Civil Code, property may be in every case inherited, even by distant relatives," ICTV quoted lawmaker Vasyl Onopenko as saying. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Nuclear-waste storage site discovered

ZHYTOMYR - An unattended nuclear-waste storage facility has been found near Zhytomyr, central Ukraine, UNIAN reported on September 24, quoting the local newspaper, Misto. In an article headlined "Nuclear Bomb Near Zhytomyr," the newspaper reported that unknown people found a concrete well with wooden boxes cast in concrete. The boxes contained steel blocks marked as radioactive substance. Each steel block emits from 0.017 to 1.2 milliroentgens per hour, while the maximum permissible emission level is 0.03 milliroentgens per hour. The newspaper said a Soviet army unit that stored nuclear warheads was previously deployed at the site. The newspaper added that the Security Service of Ukraine has instructed the local authorities to urgently isolate the radiation sources. (RFE/RL Newsline)

IMF, World Bank OK lending to Kyiv

KYIV - The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) board of directors on 20 September 20 decided to resume lending to Ukraine and issue a credit tranche of $377 million, Interfax reported. The IMF said in a statement that it is impressed by Ukraine's economic results and monetary policies this year. The fund advised Kyiv not to increase the 2002 budget deficit beyond 1.7 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and urged the Ukrainian government to speed up structural reforms and privatization, as well as to liberalize the country's agrarian sector. That same day the World Bank decided to lend Kyiv $250 million to support the government's economic program. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kinakh hails resumption of loans

KYIV - Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh on September 21 welcomed the resumption of loans by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, saying the move enables Kyiv to begin official talks with member countries of the Paris Club on the restructuring of Ukrainian debts for 12 years with a three-year grace period, UNIAN reported. Mr. Kinakh also said that the renewal of cooperation with the two financial organizations makes it possible for Ukraine to begin discussions with Turkmenistan about the restructuring of Ukraine's debt for Turkmen gas. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada to review vote on death penalty

KYIV - The Ukrainian Parliament on September 19 decided to review during the current session the process and outcome of the vote on the abolition of the death penalty in Ukraine, Ukrainian Television reported. Verkhovna Rada First Vice-Chairman Viktor Medvedchuk said there is documented evidence indicating that vote was falsified. On February 22, 2000, the Parliament voted in favor of abolishing the death penalty in order to conform with Ukraine's obligations to the Council of Europe. Some deputies began to question the legality of the vote in July 2000. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Government submits 2002 budget

KYIV - Finance Minister Ihor Mitiukov on September 19 presented to the Parliament a draft budget for 2002 approved by the government earlier this month. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv confirms tank shipment

KYIV - Interfax reported from Kyiv on September 21 that Foreign Minister Anatolii Zlenko told reporters that Ukraine has delivered 31 T-72 tanks to Macedonia. He said: "We, as a party to a treaty with Macedonia, have made certain commitments and, as a predictable and reliable partner, must meet them and are meeting them." He stressed that shipping tanks to the cash-strapped Balkan country does "not run against anybody's interests." Mr. Zlenko added that his government had "held the necessary consultations with NATO and the American side about these shipments." U.S. officials have previously urged Ukraine not to sell weapons to Skopje, which is attempting to fight its domestic insurgency primarily by shelling villages with tanks and artillery. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Fighters force down Sudanese plane

KYIV - Ukrainian warplanes on September 21 forced a Sudanese AN-26 plane to land in Crimea after it was refused a permit to fly over Ukraine, Interfax reported. The plane was discovered by air defense forces when it was approaching Ukrainian waters in the Black Sea. According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the AN-26 with nine people aboard was heading for a Kyiv aircraft enterprise for repairs. The plane came from Turkey, where it had refueled, and had an expired permit to fly over Ukraine. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Our Ukraine bloc emerges in Rada

KYIV - The parliamentary caucuses of the Ukrainian National Rukh, National Rukh of Ukraine, Reforms and Order Party, and Reforms-Congress on September 19 announced the creation of the Our Ukraine group in the Verkhovna Rada to represent the Our Ukraine election coalition headed by former Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko, UNIAN reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Crimean legislature approves ministers

SYMFEROPOL - Crimea's Parliament has approved 16 out of 28 members of the autonomous republic's Council of Ministers headed by Valerii Horbatov, UNIAN reported on September 19. Seven of the 16 ministers are members of the Communist Party of Ukraine; two represent the Union Party; one represents the United Social Democratic Party; and the others are independents. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Pipeline serves Russia's interests

NOVOROSSIISK - Vice Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko said in Novorossiisk on September 25 at the opening of a new stretch of the Sukhodolnaya-Rodionovskaya oil pipeline, which will allow Russia to export oil without sending it across Ukrainian territory, that the pipeline serves Russia's geopolitical interests, ITAR-TASS reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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