NEWSBRIEFS (05/22/05)

NEWSBRIEFS

Supplemental aid is approved

WASHINGTON - The Fiscal Year 2005 Emergency Supplemental bill, which includes $60 million in additional funding for Ukraine for this year, received final approval in the House last week and the Senate on May 10. It became Public Law 109-13 on May 11. The additional funds for Ukraine will go toward new or existing programs in the such areas as fighting corruption, establishing the rule of law, economic reforms, civil society outreach, media, exchanges, coal mine safety, humanitarian assistance, short-term strategic assistance to the new government, parliamentary elections assistance; HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis, and nuclear safety. (Helsinki Commission)

More money pledged for sarcophagus

LONDON - Donor countries to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund, which is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), pledged at their meeting in London on May 12 to add some $200 million to the already promised $600 million for building an encasement over the Chornobyl nuclear reactor that exploded in April 1986, international and Ukrainian news agencies reported. "The largest contribution, of more than $185 million, was announced by the G-8/EU, with Russia for the first time contributing to the fund. The government of Ukraine pledged the equivalent of $22 million. Other members of the fund also increased their contributions," the EBRD press service said after the meeting. Managers of the Chornobyl Shelter Fund expect five or six more countries will soon come up with contributions to reach the $1 billion needed for completion of the encasement, which is due to replace the crumbling concrete and steel "sarcophagus" that was erected around the burning reactor shortly after the explosion. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rada cancels import duty on fuel

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on May 17 passed government-proposed amendments to several laws to cancel import duty on high-octane gasoline and diesel fuel, Ukrainian news agencies reported. The amendments were backed by 310 lawmakers out of 410 at the session. The government had proposed canceling the import duties in order to cope with a current fuel-supply crisis. Last week Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko blamed Russian oil companies for provoking the shortage of fuel in Ukraine. She announced on May 18 that the Security Service of Ukraine has begun looking for the "organizers" of the fuel crisis. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko among 100 top leaders

NEW YORK - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko was listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential leaders in the magazine's April 18 issue. "When Viktor Yushchenko, his face bearing the tragic scars of a poisoning rode the 'Orange Revolution' to victory in Ukraine, it transformed a nation - and reverberated around the globe," noted Time. Mr. Yushchenko was listed under the category "Heroes and Icons"; other categories were "Leaders and Revolutionaries," "Builders and Titans," "Scientists and Thinkers" and "Artists and Entertainers." (Time)

Tymoshenko makes cover of Elle

KYIV - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was featured on the cover of the May issue of the Russian-language Elle magazine, which is published in Ukraine. Elle Ukraine's cover carried a photo of the prime minister posing in a designer dress; the issue featured an exclusive interview with Ms. Tymoshenko, who said, among other things, that she is making full use of her looks in the male-dominated world of politics. She also told the magazine that her look is all natural as she has no time for beauty treatments. Ms. Tymoshenko appeared in four photos, wearing the designs of Louis Vuitton, Yves St. Laurent and Valentino, Red. (BBC)

Rada seeks release of oblast leaders

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on May 17 backed an appeal to Procurator General Sviatoslav Piskun to release from detention former Donetsk Oblast Chairman Borys Kolesnykov and Zakarpattia Oblast Chairman Ivan Rizak, Ukrainian news agencies reported. Authors of the appeal, which was supported by 277 votes, said it was justified by the need to avoid "destabilization in society" and to secure smooth operation of the Parliament. Mr. Kolesnykov was arrested in early April on charges of extortion, while Mr. Rizak was detained on May 13 on charges of abuse of power and of driving a former rector of Uzhhorod University (Zakarpattia Oblast) to commit suicide. The opposition believes the arrests of Messrs. Kolesnykov and Rizak are the current authorities' revenge on allies of former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych during the 2004 presidential campaign. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kinakh cites privatization shortlist

KYIV - First Vice Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh, who heads a group charged with looking into objectionable past privatization deals, told journalists in Kyiv on May 12 that the government wants to review the privatizations of 29 companies, Interfax reported. Mr. Kinakh said the list is the group's final recommendation that will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers and subsequently made public. "Until the courts have made a ruling [on each of the cases], please don't draw any conclusions or make any forecasts," Mr. Kinakh added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Tymoshenko fogs reprivatization issue

KYIV - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on May 16 denied that the government has prepared a list of 29 companies that were privatized under objectionable circumstances in the past and will soon be subject to a review, the Ukrayinska Pravda website reported. Vice Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh and President Viktor Yushchenko said on May 12 and 13, respectively, that those privatization deals would be reviewed. Ms. Tymoshenko told journalists that the government will instead propose a law on the revaluation of privatized properties. "The [draft law] includes no list [of companies], only criteria [for revaluation]," Ms. Tymoshenko said. "We will not allow anybody to manipulate the selecting or revaluation of companies that belong to the opposition or to those who are now in power. As the prime minister I'll tell you that I'm against any [reprivatization] lists because they are fraught with partiality." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Presumed reprivatizations published

MOSCOW - Kommersant-Daily on May 18 published a list of 29 Ukrainian companies that, according to the daily, was compiled by Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh for the government to review in view of suspected questionable privatizations. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko denied that such a list was made, while Mr. Kinakh and President Viktor Yushchenko confirmed its existence. The list published by Kommersant-Daily includes the Kryvorizhstal steel mill (controlled by Ukrainian oligarchs Rynat Akhmetov and Viktor Pinchuk) and the Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant (reportedly controlled by Mr. Pinchuk), as well as four companies controlled by Russian corporations. (RFE/RL Newsline)

PM blames Russia for fuel crisis

KYIV - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told journalists in Kyiv on May 15 that the government is taking measures to settle a fuel crisis that she said was provoked in Ukraine by Russian oil companies, Interfax reported. "Some countries were not exactly pleased with the outcome of the Ukrainian [presidential] election. Prices [for fuel] from Russia have been raised by 30 percent over the past month," Ms. Tymoshenko said. The previous day, the prime minister charged that Russian oil companies deliberately cut oil supplies to Ukraine to create the crisis. "Russia is forcing us to search for non-conventional ways, because they've completely suspended oil pumping for five days, though we have all the necessary agreements [for pumping to continue]," she added. Meanwhile, ITAR-TASS on May 14 quoted press services of the Russian oil companies Tatneft, LUKoil and TNK-BT as saying that Kyiv's accusations of recent disruptions in their oil supplies to Ukraine are unfounded. (RFE/RL Newsline)

...as some blame market regulation

KYIV - First Vice Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh on May 14 blamed the current problems in the Ukrainian fuel market on new methods of market regulation and urged the government and businessmen to discuss ways of settling the crisis, Interfax reported. "Unfortunately, current methods cannot improve the situation. The results are very alarming, we face fuel shortages and a decreasing quality of fuel," Mr. Kinakh said. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn on May 15 commented on the economic situation in Ukraine in general, and the fuel crisis in particular, saying the government cannot "resolve the situation by way of pressure or some administrative decisions." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko seeks talks with oil companies

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko on May 16 called for negotiations with Russian oil companies to end a deepening fuel crisis in Ukraine, Ukrainian news agencies reported. Mr. Yushchenko said the crisis can be averted if the Ukrainian side adopts a "more clear position" on fuel price controls. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has denied that the government's price controls were responsible for the current shortage of gasoline in the country, and she accused Russian oil companies of trying to undermine the new Ukrainian government (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 May 2005). Ms. Tymoshenko is proposing to urgently adopt a law on temporarily canceling customs duties on oil imports to defuse the fuel crisis. LUKoil and TNK-BP reportedly introduced rationing at their Ukrainian gasoline stations on May 16, establishing a limit of 10 liters of gasoline per vehicle. (RFE/RL Newsline)

President to change local administrations

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko told a conference on local self-government and administration in Kyiv on May 14 that he is going to replace all heads of the raion administrations, as well as make serious changes in the personnel of other state bodies at the local level, Interfax reported. "Every single leader of the raion administrations will be replaced. I won't leave any figure - be it in Kyiv, Crimea or any other part of Ukraine. The structures that have discredited themselves require special attention in the new personnel policy - it concerns the tax administration, where serious changes will take place, it [also] concerns the police." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Most Ukrainians approve of president

KYIV - According to a recent poll conducted by the Kyiv International Sociology Institute, 50.8 percent of respondents said the performance of President Viktor Yushchenko during his first 100 days was "generally positive," Zerkalo Nedeli reported on May 14. Of those polled, 30.5 percent said their attitude toward Mr. Yushchenko is "partly positive and partly negative," while 16.2 percent said they disapprove of his performance. More than 2,000 people throughout Ukraine were surveyed for the poll, which was taken after May 3, President Yushchenko's 100th day in office. (RFE/RL Newsline)

FSB head sees overthrow in the works

MOSCOW - Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Nikolai Patrushev told the State Duma on May 12 that his service has information that unspecified foreign intelligence services are more actively trying non-traditional methods for achieving their goals and working through international non-governmental organizations to overthrow governments in CIS countries, RIA-Novosti and NTV reported. He said that there is evidence that these services are working with "orange functionaries" in Ukraine "to instruct Belarusian oppositionists." Mr. Patrushev added that the issue was discussed during a meeting of CIS intelligence-service directors last month. Among the organizations that the FSB has under special surveillance and that are being investigated, according to Mr. Patrushev, are the U.S. Peace Corps; the U.K.'s Merlin, a British charity that provides health care to people in crisis; Saudi Arabia's Red Crescent Society, the Muslim equivalent of the Red Cross; and Kuwait's Social Reform Society, a Muslim charity. Mr. Patrushev also said that the U.S.-based International Republican Institute held a meeting at its Bratislava branch in April at which the organization allegedly earmarked $5 million to finance opposition movements in Belarus, NTV reported, quoting Mr. Patrushev. "Certain political forces in the West have adopted a double standard with respect to Russia in the worst tradition of the Cold War and are trying to weaken Russia's influence in the post-Soviet space," Mr. Patrushev said, according to RIA-Novosti. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Plebiscites promised on EU, NATO

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko on May 12 took part in a two-hour television call-in program broadcast by four nationwide channels: ICTV, New Channel, STB and Channel 5. Mr. Yushchenko said during the program that any bid by Ukraine to join the European Union or NATO will be put to a referendum. "Friends, I guarantee to you that the formulation of a national policy on the European Union and NATO will be decided exclusively by referendum," the Ukrainian leader said. According to Mr. Yushchenko, Ukraine needs to deepen its relations simultaneously with both Russia and the EU. "Up until now, the guiding principle of Ukrainian policy has been one or the other," he said. "We have proposed another principle - both one and the other. We need strategic relations with both Russia and the European Union." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine, Moldova OK border checkpoints

KYIV - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told journalists in Kyiv on May 12 that during a meeting earlier the same day with her Moldovan counterpart, Vasile Tarlev, both sides agreed on establishing joint checkpoints in order to counteract smuggling across the Ukrainian-Moldovan border, Interfax reported. "As regards commodities shipped from the Transdniester region, we also have discussed this problem and found several options for resolving it," Ms. Tymoshenko added. Mr. Tarlev reportedly urged the Ukrainian side to step up the ratification of a Ukrainian-Moldovan agreement on free trade. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lutsenko says he's cleaned up ministry

KYIV - Yurii Lutsenko said in Kyiv on May 11 that he has successfully fulfilled the president's instructions on decriminalizing and depoliticizing the Internal Affairs Ministry, Ukrainian news agencies reported. "I can guarantee that the Internal Affairs Ministry has no other politician commanding us but the president, and there is no other party but the law," Minister Lutsenko said at a conference summing up the first 100 days of its work. Mr. Lutsenko said the ministry has replaced virtually all chiefs of its regional directorates, initiated 253 criminal cases against policemen (37 percent of them against senior officers), and 83 policemen have already been convicted. "During the first 100 days of our work, 19,000 economic crimes have been solved, including 1,700 in the privatization sector and 1,900 in the fuel and energy sector. Criminal prosecution has been launched against 171 government officials," he added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Four punished for vote falsification

ZAPORIZHIA - A district court in Zaporizhia Oblast has sentenced four people to two years of corrective labor each, finding them guilty of illegal voting during the presidential election in 2004, Interfax reported on May 11. "They repeatedly cast forged absentee ballots. On average, each of them voted from two to five times. Of course, they did that for a reward, albeit a small one," a prosecutor from Zaporizhia Oblast said. The verdict means that the four convicts will continue working in their current jobs but will have to pay 20 percent of their monthly wages to the state budget for the next two years. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ruslana named UNICEF ambassador

KYIV - Renowned Ukrainian singer and the winner of the Eurovision 2004 contest Ruslana Lyzhychko on May 11 became the first performer from Ukraine to be appointed a UNICEF national ambassador. According to the U.N. Coordinator for Ukraine Jeremy Hartley, Ruslana, as a goodwill envoy, is an example children in the world would like to follow because she is popular among teenagers. In Mr. Hartley's opinion, the singer's intention to use her professional experience in helping high-risk groups of juveniles is very laudable. (Ukrinform)

Labor Ukraine Party slams government

KYIV - The opposition Labor Ukraine Party has slammed the government for what it claims to be Kyiv's policy aimed at the "destruction of domestic producers," Interfax reported on May 10, quoting the party's statement signed by Labor Ukraine leader Valerii Konovaliuk. "The abolition of preferences, reduction of customs tariffs, tax increases, the lowering of the dollar exchange rate and many other changes have proven to have a negative effect on the Ukrainian economy," the statement read. "The president has promised to create 5 million jobs and to significantly increase the living standards of the population, but we see the opposite: enterprises are being destroyed, unemployment is increasing, and inflation is eating up people's scanty incomes." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Bishop responds to proselytism charges

LVIV - Bishop Stepan Meniok, exarch of Donetsk and Kharkiv for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC), on April 9 sent a letter to the Religious Information Service of Ukraine addressing recent accusations by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) that the UGCC is engaged in "proselytism" in southern Ukraine. Bishop Meniok calls the ROC hierarchs not to "look for reasons for misunderstandings between us and blackmail the representatives of the Holy See, "but rather to "give thought to the spiritual rebirth" of both the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples. Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, sent a letter to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, condemning the activities of the UGCC in southern Ukraine. Mospat.ru posted that news on March 23. Bishop Meniok wrote, in part: "The constant accusations of proselytism as something that brings great harm to the Russian Orthodox Church, and the exploitation of the word, makes one question the purity of intentions of the Church hierarchy. What is proselytism? Proselytism is the forced conversion or recruitment of the faithful of other denominations to a different teaching through fraud and deception. Does this take place in our Church? We answer: No! We have come here to provide spiritual ministry to our faithful, whom the Stalin regime dispersed not only all over Ukraine, but to the far reaches of Russia as well, including Siberia." (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Crimean PM takes advisors' post

SYMFEROPOL - The Parliament of the Crimean Autonomous Republic accepted the resignation on April 20 of republican Prime Minister Serhii Kunitsyn, Interfax reported. Mr. Kunitsyn was appointed as an adviser to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko the same day. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Crimean legislature approves new PM

SYMFEROPOL - The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on April 20 approved Anatolii Matvienko as the republic's new prime minister, following the resignation of Serhii Kunitsyn, Ukrainian media reported. Mr. Matvienko, who was supported by 61 deputies from the 100-seat autonomous legislature, is a Verkhovna Rada deputy from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, whose leader heads the Ukrainian Cabinet. "I'm a member of [President Viktor Yushchenko's] team and I'll do everything possible to make Yushchenko's presidency successful," Mr. Matvienko pledged in the Crimean legislature following his approval. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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