ELECTION WATCH (07/18/04)

ELECTION WATCH

Viktor Yanukovych's program published

KYIV - The Ukrainska Pravda website on July 12 published Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's presidential election program. Mr. Yanukovych pledged to improve comprehensively the economic situation for Ukrainians, including a 2-2.5-fold increase in average monthly salaries and to raise the minimum wage to the subsistence-minimum level. Mr. Yanukovych also promised to implement constitutional, judicial, administrative, and military reforms intended to "develop democracy [and] local self-government, protect civic rights and freedoms, and improve the national security of the state." In the foreign-policy sphere, Mr. Yanukovych promised to deepen Ukraine's "European integration advance [and] cooperation with the Russian Federation and other states that are our traditional partners." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Petro Symonenko's platform released

KYIV - Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko's presidential-election program was published on the Ukrainska Pravda website on July 12. Mr. Symonenko asserted that the ruling regime has led Ukraine to "a national catastrophe that has no analogy in the world." He proposed "strengthening the role of the state" in achieving an "economic recovery," including the introduction of state control over prices of "essential goods," natural gas, fuel, electricity and utilities, as well as the establishment of state monopolies in foreign trade and in the alcohol, tobacco and medicine markets. Mr. Symonenko also proposed introducing a moratorium on the sale of state-run enterprises of "strategic importance" and reviewing previous privatizations. He pledged to create 1 million new jobs, increase the average monthly salary 2.5-fold, the minimum wage threefold, and the average pension 4.3-fold. Mr. Symonenko said he wants Ukraine to give up its intention to join NATO, pull its troops out of Iraq, and deepen integration with CIS countries, specifically within the Single Economic Space framework. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko seeks fair campaign

KYIV - Our Ukraine leader and presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko has signed a so-called Declaration for a Fair Election and urged other presidential candidates who share its principles to follow suit, Interfax reported on July 7. The declaration obliges signatories to provide true statements about their past during the campaign; promote comprehensive and honest media coverage of the campaign; reject unfair campaign methods; rule out pressure on journalists, observers and voters; and renounce engaging state bodies in campaigning. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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