NEWSBRIEFS (06/20/04)

NEWSBRIEFS

Rada rejects bill on 'hidden' revenues

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on June 16 rejected a motion to include on the agenda a bill on "hidden" budget revenues in 2004 that was prepared by Our Ukraine, UNIAN reported. Apart from Our Ukraine, the motion was supported by other opposition caucuses but fell 15 votes short of the 226 votes required for approval. Our Ukraine believes that the revenue part of the 2004 budget was underestimated and that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's Cabinet is concealing 10 billion hrv ($1.9 billion) in budget revenues and 5 billion hrv of pension-fund revenues. On the basis of these assumptions, Our Ukraine has demanded that the government substantially raise wages and pensions. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko names campaign manager

KYIV - Our Ukraine leader Viktor Yushchenko has chosen the vice-chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksander Zinchenko, as manager of his 2004 presidential campaign, Ukrainian media reported on June 14. According to Mr. Yushchenko, Mr. Zinchenko's main task will be to coordinate the bloc's campaign staffs. Mr. Zinchenko was elected to the Verkhovna Rada in 2002 from the list of the Social Democratic Party-United led by presidential administration chief Viktor Medvedchuk.. Mr. Zinchenko was expelled from the SDPU last September, reportedly for failing to back a constitutional-reform bill prepared by Mr. Medvedchuk in cooperation with the Communist and Socialist parties. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv: NATO body is interfering

KYIV - Vasyl Baziv, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, told journalists on June 11 that the press communiqué released by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on June 1 after its recent session in Bratislava represents interference in Ukraine's domestic affairs, Interfax reported. The communiqué, which says that NATO parliamentarians urge the Ukrainian authorities to ensure "free, fair and transparent" presidential elections this fall, also includes a phrase saying that President Leonid Kuchma is due to step down after his second term expires in October. Noting that Mr. Kuchma "has the right to run according to a Constitutional Court ruling" but "has decided not to do so," Mr. Baziv said that it will be up to the president and the Ukrainian people to decide when the president must leave. "Today, they instruct Kuchma; tomorrow, they will instruct another president," he said. "To command who must and who mustn't take part in elections has nothing in common with a call for transparent and fair elections. This is a case of interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Two blocs to sign cooperation pact

KYIV - Our Ukraine leader Viktor Yushchenko said at a meeting with voters in Poltava Oblast on June 13 that his bloc will sign a cooperation agreement with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc within a week, the Ukrainska Pravda website reported. According to Mr. Yushchenko, the two opposition blocs have reached "full understanding" regarding the accord, which will pertain to their cooperation during the presidential-election campaign and joint reformist measures after the presidential election. Ms. Tymoshenko said on June 11 that the coalition accord will also include a section referring to who will run the future government following an anticipated election victory. "We will clearly define what personnel responsibility is being sought by each of the teams forming the coalition," Interfax quoted her as saying. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Prosecutor seeks to proceed against Yulia

KYIV - Procurator General Hennadii Vasyliev has requested that the Verkhovna Rada strip Yulia Tymoshenko, head of the eponymous opposition bloc, of her parliamentary immunity, thus enabling prosecutors to proceed with a criminal case against her, Interfax reported on June 10. Last month the Procurator General's Office instituted criminal proceedings against Ms. Tymoshenko on charges of organizing bribery of a judge. Mr. Vasyliev's request will now be viewed by the parliamentary Regulations Committee, which will decide whether to submit it for consideration of the entire house or return to the sender. Ms. Tymoshenko commented the same day that the Procurator General's Office has fabricated the case against her in order to prevent a presidential-campaign coalition between her bloc and Our Ukraine. (RFE/RL Newsline)

EU official: Ukraine not on the agenda

KYIV - Guenther Verheugen told journalists in Prague on June 10 that Ukraine's accession to the European Union is not on Brussels' current agenda, an RFE/RL correspondent reported. "That doesn't mean that it cannot be on the agenda of Ukraine," Mr. Verheugen added." What we can offer Ukraine is the 'neighborhood policy' and we are offering Ukraine a very ambitious action plan. That would mean of course that Ukraine will come closer and closer [to the EU].... But we cannot make promises which we are not able to keep at a very short notice." (RFE/RL Newsline)

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