NEWSBRIEFS

Presidential decree on Helsinki monitors

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree "On Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Creation of the Ukrainian Group to Promote Implementation of the Helsinki Accords." According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers is to organize solemn events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group's formation. Moreover, the government is tasked with elaborating issues related to increasing state stipends for Ukrainian citizens who were persecuted for their human rights defense activity . The president directed the Kyiv State Administration with inaugurating commemorative plaques on sites connected to the life and activity of members of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. (Ukrinform)

Rada rejects proposal to honor Grigorenko

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on October 31 declined to approve celebrations in 2007 of the 100th anniversary of the date of birth of Gen. Petro Grigorenko, member of the Ukrainian Group to Promote Implementation of the Helsinki Accords and the Moscow Helsinki Group. One hundred ninety-three deputies voted for the measure, but 226 votes were needed for it to pass. In accordance with the proposal, among various anniversary events were to be special anniversary gatherings organized by government entities. Gen. Grigorenko was born October 16, 1907; he died in 1987. The former Red Army general was stripped of his military honors, arrested for his human rights activities and sent to a psychiatric institution. In 1977 he emigrated to the United States and was stripped of his Soviet citizenship. (Ukrayinski Novyny)

Russian fleet's presence may be extended

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych told journalists in Kyiv on October 30 that the current Ukrainian-Russian agreement on the deployment of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea until 2017 could be prolonged beyond that year, Interfax-Ukraine reported. Mr. Yanukovych denied allegations that the issue of the Black Sea Fleet was somehow linked to reaching last week's deal on gas deliveries to Ukraine in 2007. (RFE/RL Newsline)

WTO bills expected in Rada by December

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych told journalists in Kyiv on October 30 that the government is planning to submit to Parliament by mid-December a dozen bills required for Ukraine's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported. Mr. Yanukovych earlier predicted that his Cabinet would send the required bills to the Verkhovna Rada by mid-November. Meanwhile, Our Ukraine lawmaker Ksenia Liapkina said the same day that this year the Verkhovna Rada is unlikely to endorse all of the bills Ukraine needs to pass toward WTO membership. Ms. Liapkina noted that Ukraine's accession to the WTO will be delayed by the government and the ruling coalition, which in her opinion do not want to move quickly on the issue. "This is political will dictated from outside Ukraine," she added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Police foil attack on local marketplace

DNIPROPETROVSK - Special police forces in Dnipropetrovsk on October 30 arrested some 90 people out of the 150 who, armed with firecrackers and pneumatic weapons, unsuccessfully attempted to seize the city's central marketplace called Ozerka earlier the same day, UNIAN reported. In 2004 control over Ozerka was taken over by a private firm in a tender that many potential local buyers decried as dishonest. In September 2006 the tender was cancelled by a court decision. The identity of the attackers has not yet been established. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko attends EU summit

HELSINKI - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said at the European Union summit in Helsinki on October 27 that Ukraine aims at enhancing its current level of cooperation with the EU to a "level of political association and economic integration," Reuters reported. Mr. Yushchenko was speaking at a news conference following talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who represented the EU presidency. However, Mr. Barroso responded that a free-trade accord between the EU and Ukraine is the primary goal and ruled out talks of EU membership. "Ukraine still has reforms to do, let's be honest about it, and today in the European Union we are not ready, our member-states are not ready, to assume new membership obligations," Mr. Barroso said. The two sides initialed a deal to make it easier for Ukrainian journalists, students and businessmen to obtain EU visas, and another on readmission of illegal migrants. President Yushchenko reportedly assured the EU that the supplies of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine will be uninterrupted this coming winter. (RFE/RL Newsline)

More details of 2007 gas deal

KYIV - The Swiss-based RosUkr-Energo, which holds a monopoly on gas supplies to Ukraine, will deliver up to 62 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine in 2007 under a contract made public last week, Interfax-Ukraine reported on October 27, quoting Ihor Voronin, head of UkrGazEnergo, a joint venture created by RosUkrEnergo and Ukraine's Naftohaz. "The key provisions in the addendum to the contract envision the supply of up to 62 billion cubic meters of gas in 2007 at a price of $130 [per 1,000 cubic meters] with a minimum guaranteed amount of 55 billion cubic meters. These supplies will not be accompanied by any other additional conditions," Mr. Voronin said. According to Mr. Voronin, the addendum stipulates that the price of $130 with regard to the minimum contracted amount of 55 billion cubic meters will remain unchanged irrespective of "what happens in the Central Asian gas market," whence Ukraine is to receive imported gas in 2007. "We managed to avoid the mistakes that were made, for example, in 2006, when Turkmengaz unilaterally stopped fulfilling its contract and Naftohaz Ukrayiny was left without 40 billion cubic meters of gas that was stipulated in the contract," Mr. Voronin added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Belarusians remember Stalin's victims

MIENSK - Several hundred people marched on October 30 from central Miensk to the Kurapaty, site of Stalin-era mass executions on the city's outskirts to commemorate Dzyady (Ancestors' Remembrance Day), Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Although the march was officially authorized, police briefly detained several participants. Some demonstrators carried banners reading: "No To Union With Russia!" and "Union With Russia Means Hunger and Killings!" (RFE/RL Newsline)

Putin offers to help 'fraternal' Ukraine

MOSCOW - In his multimedia televised question-and-answer session on October 25, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is prepared to help Ukraine if it faces "outside interference." In response to a question as to whether Russia could help Ukraine resolve increasing ethnic tensions concerning Crimean Tatars on Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, Mr. Putin replied: "If the Ukrainian leadership considers it necessary and asks us for help, we will be ready, without immersing ourselves into these [ethnic] problems, without drawing Russia in trying to resolve such problems, to provide assistance to our closest neighbor. [We will help what we call] without exaggeration the brotherly republic of Ukraine, in order to protect it from outside interference, should anybody be tempted [to interfere]." He added that "when I said that, if it were necessary, and if there were a request from the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian leadership, Russia could guarantee at least one thing - guarantee Ukraine against interference [by other countries] in its internal affairs. Should anybody be tempted to interfere, I assure you, the presence of the Russian fleet would prove rather useful." He did not indicate who might be tempted to interfere in such a way that the Russian naval forces could prevent it. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko denies concessions to Russia

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko denied on October 26 that Ukraine had made any political concessions to reach a deal with Russia on gas prices, Interfax reported. Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych announced on October 24 that Ukraine in 2007 will buy Russian gas at $130 per 1,000 cubic meters. The deal caused speculation that concessions had been given to Russia, including the extension of the Russian Black Sea Fleet presence in Crimea. "At the presidential level no political questions were discussed," Mr. Yushchenko said, "and I am sure that the government [did not discuss such questions] either." The president also said that the possible extension of the fleet's presence might be considered by the Yushchenko-Putin Commission, adding that a visit to Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin will be prepared "probably for this year." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Simultaneous WTO accession?

KYIV - Oleksander Chalyi, deputy head of the Presidential Secretariat, said on October 25 that the question of Ukraine's simultaneous accession to the WTO with Russia is illogical, Interfax reported. "The position of the Ukrainian president is clear on that [question]," Mr. Chalyi said. During a meeting between Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on October 24, the latter reportedly brought up some possible negative consequences of Ukraine joining the WTO ahead of Russia. According to Mr. Chalyi, President Yushchenko assured Mr. Fradkov that Ukraine's "accession will not pose any danger to the Russian Federation." The same day, Ukrainian Finance Minister Mykola Azarov said that the Russian side meant the terms of the accession rather than its date. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kyiv to inform Moscow on WTO accession

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said on October 26 that Ukraine is ready to inform Russia about its progress on WTO accession, Interfax reported the same day. "The fact that Ukraine and Russia are connected with close trade ties is good ground for informing our trade partner about our intentions while passing decisions on European integration or WTO entry," Mr. Yanukovych said, adding that similar actions should be made in the sphere of foreign policy. However, Mr. Yanukovych stipulated that the government "has acted and will always act on the basis of Ukraine's national interests." Ukraine's expected accession to the WTO has been postponed many times - Prime Minister Yanukovych announced that WTO General Council should consider Ukraine's membership in February 2007. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Jews praise Odesa for pilgrimage help

ODESA - In a letter to Eduard Hurvits, mayor of Odesa, representatives of the Israeli tourist agency Derekh Tsadikim, which organizes religious tours in Ukraine, thanked Svitlana Kobylianska, general director of the Odesa International Airport, for being professional and for successful services rendered for recent Hasidic pilgrims. "The efficiency level of the employees of the Odesa airport is much higher than that of their colleagues at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv and other Ukrainian airports," wrote I. Habai, executive director of Derekh Tsadikim, in the letter. "We witnessed for the first time that the registration of documents for such a large number of people (3,500 people arrived over a 36-hour period) lasted less than 40 minutes (e.g., in Boryspil it takes at least two or three hours). All flights were arranged on time without causing any problems to the passengers. In our opinion, all this opens very bright prospects for the development of tourism, including of the religious type, in Odesa." (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UOC in Canada comments on story

WINNIPEG, Alberta - Father Bohdan Hladio, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC), has sent the Religious Information Service of Ukraine commentary on a July 31 news story from Interfax. The commentary, which was received on September 30, noted: "Regarding the article 'Ukrainian Orthodox in Canada No Longer to Give Communion to Non-Orthodox' posted on the RISU website, several corrections need to be made. The title itself would indicate that the practice of the UOCC until now has been to distribute holy communion to non-Orthodox. This is false. The UOCC, in common with all Orthodox Churches, restricts the reception of the holy mysteries to those who have been officially and sacramentally received into the Orthodox Church. The dateline given for the article is Ottawa. Our main Church office is in Winnipeg. We have no press-office in Ottawa. How is it that 'official' UOCC Church announcements are coming out of Ottawa? While it is true that in certain isolated cases communion has been distributed to non-Orthodox, the cited encyclical was made necessary by the fact that certain heterodox Christians, often Catholics of the Eastern rite, whether out of ignorance or for some other reason feel entitled to receive communion in parishes of the UOCC. The reference to the decline in membership is both disingenuous and misleading. We have two concrete means of measuring Church membership in the UOCC - governmental statistical data and Church membership rolls. According to governmental census data there were 119,000 self-professed Ukrainian Orthodox Christians in Canada in 1961 and 32,700 in 2001. According to Church membership rolls there were approximately 18,000 members in 1961 and 11,500 in 2005. As is obvious, the data given in the posted article consisted of comparing apples and oranges." (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Putin dogged in Germany by murder case

MUNICH - Russian President Vladimir Putin faced questions from Bavarian and other German officials regarding the Politkovskaya murder case during his visit to Munich on October 11, as he had the day before in Dresden, German media reported. Bavarian Economy Minister Erwin Huber said that the killing "casts a shadow over Russian society as far as democracy, freedom of expression and the use of violence is concerned, and President Putin owes Bavaria and the world answers." Elsewhere, the head of Germany's parliamentary Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance Committee, Herta Daeubler-Gmelin of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), said Mr. Putin must provide answers about the killing in the next two months or face "the consequences." She is a former justice minister who was sacked by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) in 2002 for her remarks at a closed SPD meeting comparing U.S. President George W. Bush to Hitler. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Activists slam Putin's comments ...

MOSCOW - Igor Yakovenko, general secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists, told RFE/RL's Russian Service in Moscow on October 12 that the recent killing of critical journalist Anna Politkovskaya "has divided Russia in two." On October 11, Lev Ponomaryov, who heads the activist group For Human Rights, told RFE/RL that Ms. Politkovskaya "opposed the authorities and she did cause damage to the present authorities. But in no way did she damage Russia. I am certain of that." He was responding to recent statements by President Vladimir Putin that were critical of Politkovskaya and suggested that her killing unfairly harmed Russia's image. Mr. Ponomaryov added that "it is not by chance that we speak of an authoritarian rule [in Russia], especially now that Putin is beginning to have messianic overtones. He thinks that he and Russia are one, and that it is his vocation to save Russia. Unfortunately, he does not hear or accept any criticism. "The New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists called Mr. Putin's comments "a backhanded attack" that "belies his commitment to justice." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Legislator warns against 'cozy dinners'

BRUSSELS - Finnish European Affairs Minister Paula Lehtomaki, whose country holds the European Union's rotating presidency, told the European Parliament in Brussels on October 12 that Anna Politkovskaya's murder was "a major setback for freedom of expression in Russia," Reuters reported. She added that "this is a terrible crime, which we call on the Russian authorities thoroughly to investigate. We want the perpetrators to be brought to justice, and this is a particularly important test of the rule of law in Russia." She added that the EU will raise the case with President Vladimir Putin at the October 20 summit in Lahti. But Daniel Cohn-Bendit, floor leader of the Greens in the legislature, told Ms. Lehtomaki that the EU treads lightly with President Putin because of its dependence on Russian energy supplies. "You talk about bringing the perpetrators to justice, but one of the perpetrators is going to be having dinner with you," he noted. Mr. Cohn-Bendit added that "as we saw on television with [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and Putin [in recent days], we need Putin so much that no one is going to be able to ask him the difficult questions. I think we should negotiate with Putin but we don't have to have cozy dinners with him." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Advisor quits over Putin's remarks

MOSCOW - Oleg Orlov, who heads the human rights group Memorial, said on October 17 that he has resigned his post as adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a member of the Presidential Council on Promoting Civil Society and Human Rights, news agencies reported. Mr. Orlov said he disagrees with Mr. Putin's recent comments on the slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Many observers at home and abroad described Mr. Putin's comments as cold and demeaning. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 5, 2006, No. 45, Vol. LXXIV

| Home Page |