NEWSBRIEFS (02/27/05)

NEWSBRIEFS

Yushchenko marks 51st birthday

KYIV - The family of President Viktor Yushchenko has asked Ukrainians not to give him expensive gifts for his 51st birthday on February 23, Ukrainian media reported, quoting his press secretary Iryna Herashchenko. "During the time of Yushchenko's presidency there will be no loud receptions, magnificent celebrations of birthdays, no car cavalcades, luxurious bouquets and super-expensive gifts," Ms. Herashchenko told journalists. Ukrainian media on February 23 quoted the congratulatory birthday message Russian President Vladimir Putin sent to President Yushchenko. "I highly appreciate the results of [our] recent meeting in Moscow [on January 24] and the constructive character of relations that have been established between ourselves," Mr. Putin wrote. "I expect that the continuation of our direct dialogue will serve the development of equal and mutually advantageous Russian-Ukrainian cooperation in all spheres." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Course toward NATO is confirmed

BRUSSELS - President Viktor Yushchenko said at a session of the Ukraine-NATO Commission in Brussels on February 22 that the recent political changes in Ukraine open opportunities for taking Ukraine's relations with NATO to a "qualitatively new level," Interfax reported. Mr. Yushchenko stressed that the main task of the new Ukrainian government is to bring the country's political, socioeconomic and defense systems to Euro-Atlantic standards. "We want every [Ukrainian] citizen to feel and see the advantages of these standards," the president said. "This is precisely the way we want Ukrainian society to reach a full understanding of Ukraine's European future, which is inseparably linked to the deepening of [the country's] relations with the alliance." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Bush supports Kyiv's course

BRUSSELS - U.S. President George W. Bush met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Brussels on February 22, on the sidelines of a Ukraine-NATO Commission session. "We want to see Ukraine integrated into both the European Union and the North Atlantic alliance," Reuters quoted Mr. Yushchenko as saying at a news conference after the meeting. But the Ukrainian president also exercised caution. "Let me say clearly that Russia is our strategic partner," Mr. Yushchenko added. "Ukraine's policy on NATO is in no way directed against any other country, including Russia." Mr. Bush referred to Ukraine's recent political makeover in his address to a NATO summit in Brussels earlier the same day. "As a free government takes hold in that country [Ukraine] and as the government of President Yushchenko pursues vital reforms, Ukraine should be welcomed by the Euro-Atlantic family," the U.S. president said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine a model for Moldova?

BRUSSELS - Speaking at the special NATO-Ukraine summit in Brussels, Romanian President Traian Basescu said on February 22 that he hopes Moldova follows the examples of the democratic developments in Georgia and Ukraine, according to a statement from the president's office. Mr. Basescu also said that faster internal reforms in Ukraine will result in more intense cooperation between that country and Western institutions, especially NATO. "The future of Ukraine is in the framework of the democratic community of European nations," the Romanian president said. "Europe will be neither complete nor free until Ukraine, Moldova and the South Caucasus are anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russian foreign minister in Kyiv

KYIV - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Kyiv on February 21, calling for the development of a strategic partnership between the two countries, Ukrainian media reported. "We face the need to develop a strategic partnership under agreements reached between our presidents," Mr. Lavrov said in Kyiv, in an apparent reference to a 2003 accord on the Single Economic Space uniting Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakstan. But the reaction of Kyiv, which is set to pursue more vigorous integration with Europe, was reportedly wary and lukewarm. "If we are talking about a free-trade zone [within the Single Economic Space], in principle this would not cause any problems in terms of our integration with the European Union or our membership in the World Trade Organization," Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk said. "If we are talking about a deeper level of integration [with Russia], there could be problems." President Viktor Yushchenko confirmed to Mr. Lavrov that Russia is Ukraine's "eternal strategic partner" but also added, "It is important that relations with the East do not block our path to Europe." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lavrov on neighbors' sovereignty

MOSCOW - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told RTR on February 21 that neighboring Georgia and Ukraine are "absolutely sovereign, absolutely equal states in the new geopolitical architecture," which are "free to choose to participate in any [international] organization" they wish. "The main thing is that this process should be transparent, should strengthen existing good relations, and should not be aimed against any other country," Mr. Lavrov added. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is not the only major force within the CIS and that political competition among the powers in that region is possible. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine and EU sign Action Plan

BRUSSELS - Ukraine and the European Union signed a three-year Action Plan in Brussels on February 21, Ukrainian and international media reported. The plan envisions EU support for Kyiv's bid to obtain market economy status in the coming months, to join the World Trade Organization, and to sign a free-trade agreement with the EU. The EU recently attached a 10-point addendum to the plan, calling for more cooperation in foreign and security policy as well as trade and visa regimes. "I'll tell you that one message that I'm getting to Brussels - now you have a very responsible Ukrainian government, you have very responsible partners, and if we put our signatures on something, there is no way we're not going to deliver it," said Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for European Integration Oleh Rybachuk, who represented Ukraine at the signing ceremony. Both sides reportedly sidestepped mentioning any prospects for Ukraine's EU membership. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Bush warns Moscow on backsliding

BRUSSELS - Speaking to European Union and NATO leaders on the first leg of his major foreign tour this week, U.S. President George W. Bush said on February 21 that the Russian government must "renew its commitment to democracy and the rule of law," the Associated Press and other media reported. "We must always remind Russia that our alliance stands for a free press, a vital opposition, the sharing of power and the rule of law," Mr. Bush said. The United States should place democratic reform "at the heart" of its dialogue with Russia. At the same time, President Bush indicated that he opposes the isolation of Russia, saying, "America supports WTO [World Trade Organization] membership for Russia, because meeting WTO standards will strengthen the gains of freedom and prosperity in that country," according to Bloomberg. "Russia's future lies within the family of Europe and the trans-Atlantic community.'' (RFE/RL Newsline)

Duma deputy responds to senators

MOSCOW - The chairman of the Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, Konstantin Kosachev (Unified Russia), said on February 21 that he is "absolutely convinced" that neither the Bush administration nor the U.S. Senate will back a recently introduced Senate bill to suspend Russian membership of the Group of Eight (G-8) until Moscow "ends its assault on democracy and political freedom," Interfax reported. "This initiative is based on the false idea that Russia's membership of the [G-8] is a reward or advance for good behavior," Mr. Kosachev said. Vyacheslav Nikonov, president of the Politika foundation, had suggested that Moscow does not view any U.S. effort to suspend Russia from the G-8 as realistic, TV-Tsentr reported on February 14. Mr. Nikonov said such a suspension would require greater consensus among G-7 members on the issue. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced the bill in the Senate on February 18. The Associated Press quoted the bill as saying, "We must openly confront anti-democratic backsliding in Russia for the sake of all those who look to the United States as a beacon of freedom." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Husar addresses Buchach faithful

LVIV - Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC), on February 11 released an address to the faithful of Buchach in western Ukraine's Ternopil region on the situation regarding a bishop for their eparchy. A group of about 35 priests and laypeople from the Buchach Eparchy had forced their way into the Metropolitan Synod that was being held in Cardinal Husar's residence, demanding that Bishop Irynei Bilyk be recognized as bishop of Buchach. Cardinal Husar's message to the faithful of Buchach noted, in part: "... In recent months or even years, on various occasions, especially during the Metropolitan Synods, representatives of the communities of the Chortkiv and Buchach Eparchy came in larger or smaller numbers to ask for or demand some solution to the situation existing in their eparchy. I personally, and all bishops present, since the synod of October 2003 have been very sad that your eparchy has had serious difficulties nearly from the very beginning of its existence. [These difficulties] arose from a lack of understanding between persons and, perhaps, as a result of a lack of good will for mutual understanding and solving the conflict. Since the time we realized that conflict was approaching, we have sought for mutually acceptable ways to solve it. However, the situation was aggravated so much that we had to pass the case to the Roman Apostolic See for consideration. The holy father has already made certain initial decisions as to the future development of the Buchach eparchy. We hope that the final decisions will be proclaimed, which will bring this lasting and painful conflict to an end. Now its solution is outside our competence. ... I sincerely assure you that we are not indifferent to the fate of your eparchy, but its revival is in your hands. ..." (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

3,000 privatizations may be contested

KYIV - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on February 16 that the government, jointly with the Procurator-General's Office (PGO), will challenge in court the privatization of nearly 3,000 businesses, Interfax reported. According to Ms. Tymoshenko, the PGO opened criminal investigations into each of these 3,000 privatizations in the past, but they were subsequently closed following telephone calls from the "top state leadership." She added, "There will be a detailed plan of action concerning every enterprise [on this list of 3,000] in order to stop illegal actions with regard to state property via court, in an absolutely legitimate way." It was not clear how the prime minister's announcement is related to President Viktor Yushchenko's statement the previous day that a list of potential privatization reviews will be "limited" to between 30 and 40 enterprises. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Nemstov questions scale of revisions

MOSCOW - Boris Nemtsov, the former leader of the Russian Union of Rightists Forces and the free-lance advisor to President Viktor Yushchenko, said both Ukrainian and Russian businesses would lose from large-scale revision of privatization in Ukraine. "The issue of revision of the privatization result in mass volume, when it involves about 3,000 enterprises, calls into question the results of a whole stage of reforms in Ukraine and can cause an outflow of capital from the country. In addition, such revisions will make investors think twice before investing money," he said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy Radio on February 16. He was commenting on the recent statement by Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that about 3,000 enterprises might undergo re-privatization through court verdicts. Mr. Nemtsov cited the words of President Viktor Yushchenko who had stated that privatization of about 30 enterprises might be canceled and that there would be no further revision of privatization. (Interfax)

Yushchenko seeks veterans' reconciliation

LVIV - President Viktor Yushchenko said talks on reconciliation of war veterans of the Soviet Army and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) that participated in World War II are being held in Ukraine. Mr. Yushchenko said he hopes that reconciliation between the two sides will be achieved before May 9. "It would be nice, if we have not only success, but also the final position on the question," the president said in Lviv on February 16. He noted that authorities had begun talks with veterans of the Soviet Army, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and UPA on "the question of historic reconciliation." He added, "I will do anything possible so that this national dialogue will take place." Mr. Yushchenko explained that reconciliation between these two sides is necessary for contemporary Ukraine. (Interfax-Ukraine)

Lutsenko seeks info on Gongadze case

KYIV - Internal Affairs Minster Yurii Lutsenko stated that he guarantees freedom and immunity from prosecution to all policemen involved in the kidnapping of Heorhii Gongadze if they cooperate with the investigation and were not involved in the journalist's murder. He made this statement in Kyiv on February 17. Mr. Lutsenko said he has information "on the involvement of Kyiv city and Kyiv regional policemen" in the case. "We must complete the case, otherwise people will never believe us. This is not the only case, but this is the most famous case in the world," he said. "We have information and real prospects to uncover key figures in the case," he said adding that the newly appointed head of the Kyiv regional police, V. Yalovenko, "knows the case very well." He said policemen can trust Mr. Yalovenko and should supply information on the Gongadze case to him or directly to the internal affairs minister. (Interfax-Ukraine)

New exam of Gongadze body ordered

KYIV - A new forensic examination of the body of Heorhii Gongadze has been ordered, Interfax-Ukraine learned at the press service of the Procurator General's Office (PGO) on February 16. "The forensic examination bureau of the Health Ministry will hold a new study with the use of DNA analysis," the press service reported. The PGO also said that this examination will be conducted together with experts from Munich, and a parallel study will be done in Zurich. (Interfax-Ukraine)

Channel 5 gives recordings to prosecutor

KYIV - Channel 5 TV on February 15 submitted to the Procurator General's Office (PGO) the tape recordings of telephone conversations of officers from the Russian Federal Security Service who allegedly mentioned that the plan to poison Viktor Yushchenko was proposed by the Kremlin's political technologist Gleb Pavlovsky, the channel reported. The recordings of the alleged telephone conversation between two security men were shown on December 23, 2004, on the program "Closed Zone" broadcast on the Channel 5. (Interfax-Ukraine)

Pavlovsky denies reports on poisoning

MOSCOW - Effective Policy Foundation President Gleb Pavlovsky has denied reports that he was involved in the poisoning of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. "This was a primitive, false report, which I reject completely," he told Interfax on February 16. A day earlier Ukraine's Channel 5 television said that tape recordings had been submitted to the Procurator General's Office of a telephone conversation between Russian special service officers, which said that Mr. Pavlovsky had proposed poisoning Mr. Yushchenko. "This is a fairly minor lie for a TV channel working in the field of propaganda and counter-propaganda," he said. Mr. Pavlovsky said that unconfirmed reports indicate that "certain circles in Ukraine regard the allegations in the Channel 5 story as a response to the pending criminal case in Russia against [Prime Minister] Yulia Tymoshenko." (Interfax)

Agrarians now People's Party

KYIV - The seventh special congress of the People's Agrarian Party on February 11 unanimously passed a decision to rename the party the People's Party. The congress also endorsed its "Manifesto of National Unity." The political council and the political executive committee of the party are authorized to draft the national doctrine of farm sector development to be considered during the next congress of the party. The congress also passed a decision on new wording in the party's statutes and program. (Interfax-Ukraine)

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