Yushchenko agrees to Yanukovych as prime minister (08/06/06)

Yushchenko agrees to Yanukovych as prime minister

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - In what he described as a historic moment to unite a deeply divided nation, President Viktor Yushchenko on August 3 accepted the parliamentary majority coalition's nomination of his Orange Revolution enemy Viktor Yanukovych to become Ukraine's next prime minister.

Mr. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine parliamentary faction is expected to unite with the Party of the Regions and the Socialist Party of Ukraine to form a new coalition in Parliament called the National Unity Coalition.

"We have a unique chance regarding what we discussed on the maidan and what we hope for every day - how to bring both banks of the Dnipro to understanding," Mr. Yushchenko said.

The Ukrainian president frequently cited the need for stability, compromise and unity in explaining his decision, which he announced at 2 a.m. Kyiv time, after spending many hours in roundtable talks with Mr. Yanukovych and Verkhovna Rada Chair Oleksander Moroz.

"My decision is absolutely necessary for the nation's development," Mr. Yushchenko said. "I have made a step toward Parliament and I am convinced that it will use it in a proper way to bring prosperity to the country."

While Mr. Yushchenko portrayed the coalition as a political breakthrough, many participants of the Orange Revolution viewed it as yet another devastating betrayal, following Mr. Moroz's decision to unite the Socialists with the Party of the Regions.

"Finally, the truth has come out that he betrayed the maidan," said Praskovia Koroliuk, a.k.a. Baba Paraska, the passionate 66-year-old grandmother who was among the Orange Revolution's heroes.

"And just as Moroz has sold Ukraine out for money, and I won't say it myself, but all the people are shouting and crying that Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko did the same thing. And it's worse and more painful because we defended him," she added.

The National Unity Coalition will base its principles on the Declaration of National Unity, an eight-page document hashed out among Messrs. Yushchenko, Moroz and Yanukovych.

Leaders of the five parliamentary factions, as well as Mr. Yushchenko, Mr. Moroz and Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, took part in a nationally televised signing ceremony of the declaration the afternoon of August 3, in which Mr. Yushchenko offered each leader a chance to voice his opinion of the document.

It's uncertain whether the Communist Party of Ukraine will be part of the National Unity Coalition.

Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko expressed opposition to numerous declaration points, including the status of Ukrainian as the country's official language, land sale reforms, introduction of a real estate tax and creation of a single Orthodox Church for Ukraine.

It also remains unclear if the declaration will become the official founding document for the National Unity Coalition.

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was the only faction leader who didn't sign the declaration, referring to it as "an act of political capitulation on behalf of the Orange camp."

In her comments, she immediately declared herself the leader of the opposition force in Parliament.

She then launched into a speech indirectly accusing Mr. Yushchenko of betraying the Orange Revolution. "I want to congratulate the Party of the Regions that it signed this document on its terms. That's a big victory for those who worked on this document."

She then said political betrayal is an infectious disease, a comment that visibly irritated Mr. Yushchenko, prompting him to interrupt Ms. Tymoshenko.

"This isn't the Parliament," he said. "Yulia Volodymyrivna, this isn't a bazaar, this isn't a bazaar."

Ms. Tymoshenko kept speaking, ensuring viewers that her political force wouldn't engage in betrayal, the maidan won't be forgotten by history and that it was the right thing to do.

"I can firmly assure you that there is a political force in Ukraine that will take on the responsibility for realizing the principles expounded during all our wonderful events during the presidential campaign," she said. "I want you to have the opportunity to rely on us."

When she concluded speaking, President Yushchenko began harshly scolding her for what he called her "demagoguery," prompting an argument between the two Orange Revolution leaders on live national television.

He attacked her for her lack of participation in drafting the declaration. "It's empty politics to beat your chest and speak about love and patriotism for Ukraine and to do nothing towards that," Mr. Yushchenko snapped.

"Each of our steps will be evidence that we greatly value principles and ideas and actions," she retorted.

"That's your right," he said. "That's a right."

"And I think society will continue to observe that because our position has remain unchanged," said Ms. Tymoshenko.

"Absolutely, absolutely, but I request that every political force carries itself CON-STRUC-TIVE-LY if that force respects the nation," Mr. Yushchenko said.

Though it doesn't resolve any conflicts in Ukrainian society, the declaration addresses each of the most critical issues in Ukrainian politics.

Regarding the crucial language issue, the declaration calls for Ukrainian to be the state language for official communication in all spheres of social life on Ukraine's territory, and the foundation of Ukrainian identity.

However, it also guarantees the right of free use of the Russian language "in all vital needs" based on the European Charter for Regional Languages or Minority Languages.

Our Ukraine compromised on Ukrainian being the single official language by noting that Russian could be used in "vital needs," while the Party of the Regions compromised on defending and developing use of the Russian language.

The declaration also calls for a national referendum on Ukraine's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), another compromise by Our Ukraine, which had listed NATO membership as a definite priority.

European Union (EU) integration is an irreversible and unchangeable foreign policy course to be continued with the potential for eventual membership, according to the declaration, which doesn't refer to EU membership as an outright goal.

Ukraine will participate in the Russia-oriented Single Economic Space (SES), with the creation of limitless free trade zones as a top priority, the declaration states.

No mention is made of recognition of and compensation for Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) veterans.

The document also calls for a "respectful approach to the unification attempts by believers of all Orthodox Churches without the interference of government or political forces in the process."

During the signing ceremony, Mr. Yanukovych thanked Mr. Yushchenko on behalf of the Party of the Regions for his initiative to unify the nation.

"Divergences along east and west lines didn't accumulate in recent years, but for decades and centuries," Mr. Yanukovych said. "To not think about this or not look for ways to conquer these divergences," would mean not resolving these issues, because "they will never resolve themselves on their own."

He even began to romanticize the Orange Revolution, stating that Ukrainians came onto the maidan for justice, a better life and freedom. "These are all things we hoped for in our lives," Mr. Yanukovych said. "We want to build a just, independent and democratic Ukraine."

In her criticisms of the declaration, Ms. Tymoshenko listed the compromises Mr. Yushchenko made with the Party of the Regions by comparing the first declaration he drafted to the one that was signed on August 3.

She first accused him of capitulating on the Ukrainian language, that the declaration lacked the phrase, "single official Ukrainian language," stating, "I simply want to turn the president's attention to the fact that this is not just the loss of a phrase, but a fundamental loss of a position."

Unlike the president's first draft, she added, the declaration has a clause calling for Ukraine's integration into the Russia-centered Single Economic Space (SES), first into the free trade zone and then on other levels.

"I congratulate the Party of the Regions and all those who supported the SES for removing all boundaries in planning this document," Ms. Tymoshenko said.

Mr. Yushchenko originally called for Ukraine's entry into NATO, but the declaration calls for a national referendum on the matter, another concession by the Ukrainian president.

"Ninety percent of the declaration consists of banal things that have been migrated from agenda to agenda for many years, but were never carried out by politicians," Ms. Tymoshenko said. "These were empty declarations. But 10 percent of it are substantial things which were declared by the president of Ukraine as things that can't be compromised on."

While Ms. Tymoshenko accused Mr. Yushchenko of capitulating to the Party of the Regions, the president prided himself on his ability to compromise.

"I believe that we have drawn much closer from where we were before the roundtable discussions on a significant number of issues," he said. "Through this document, we will think more of the nation's wholeness and unity, and I am convinced that we will be thankful to God for such a position."

Speaking of the National Unity Declaration's accomplishments, Mr. Yushchenko said it eliminates any discussion of federalism for Ukraine and permanently secures official government status for the Ukrainian language.

The declaration also enables Ukraine to take advantage of its unique geopolitical position and work on developing links with both the EU and the SES, rather than choosing one over the other. "God has made it that we border a market to the east where 22 percent of our exports go, and we need to fight for every percent," Mr. Yushchenko said.

He said the new coalition provides "a historic chance to have five years of stable work by the Parliament."

After the signing ceremony, Our Ukraine People's Union leader Roman Bezsmertnyi said the document represents the Orange Revolution's ideals.

Ms. Tymoshenko offered reporters a different interpretation of the day's events, again alluding to Mr. Yushchenko's betrayal of the Orange Revolution.

"Unfortunately, the last days have shown that political betrayal is a contagious disease which spreads very quickly from one politician to the next," she said. "It's unknown exactly how it spreads, but it affects men exclusively. Women don't suffer from this disease."

Mr. Yanukovych and the Party of the Regions haven't changed since the Orange Revolution, she said.

Making Mr. Yanukovych prime minister enables the Donetsk business clan led by Rynat Akhmetov to control the Ukrainian government, said Ivan Lozowy, president of the Kyiv-based Institute of Statehood and Democracy, which is exclusively financed by Ukrainian business donations.

Mr. Yanukovych becoming prime minister reverses the Orange Revolution's political gains, he said.

"Fear of Yanukovych and the Donetsk clan drove the Orange Revolution," Mr. Lozowy said. "That was the driving force that really brought everyone together. Yushchenko has canceled out the Orange Revolution to a large extent, and it's sad that he doesn't show any sign of understanding this."

The Party of the Regions remains Ukraine's most dangerous political force, Mr. Lozowy said, as it is intent on establishing the type of control over Ukraine that it achieved in the Donbas region. "Mr. Yushchenko has done a very dangerous thing."

Whether or not the National Unity Coalition is a success, President Yushchenko's decision had devastating consequences for his career, and potentially the careers of those around him.

With his popularity virtually decimated, experts said Mr. Yushchenko's move has destroyed any political future for the Our Ukraine bloc, a union of six West-leaning political parties.

While the president's party, the Our Ukraine People's Union (OUPU), will join the National Unity Coalition, it's unclear whether the five other parties of the Our Ukraine bloc will follow suit.

But OUPU's future is bleak as well, with one of its leaders, National Deputy Mykola Katerynchuk, already announcing his resignation. Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Viacheslav Kyrylenko also said he wouldn't join the National Unity Coalition.

Political observers also agree that Mr. Yushchenko's chances of becoming re-elected president are all but impossible.

"Yushchenko has committed political suicide by appointing Yanukovych," Mr. Lozowy said. "The bullet is on the way."

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