With the kind permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, InfoUkes Inc. has been given rights to electronically re-print these articles on our web site. Visit the RFE/RL Ukrainian Service page for more information. Also visit the RFE/RL home page for news stories on other Eastern European and FSU countries.

Return to Main RFE News Page
InfoUkes Home Page

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS OPPOSITION-SPONSORED BILL ON 'HIDDEN' REVENUES. The Verkhovna Rada on 16 June rejected a motion to include on the agenda a bill on "hidden" budget revenues in 2004 that was prepared by Our Ukraine, UNIAN reported. Apart from Our Ukraine, the motion was supported by other opposition caucuses but fell 15 votes short of the 226 votes required for approval. Our Ukraine believes that the revenue part of the 2004 budget was underestimated and that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's cabinet is concealing 10 billion hryvnyas ($1.9 billion) in budget revenues and 5 billion hryvnyas of pension-fund revenues. On the basis of these assumptions, Our Ukraine demands that the government substantially raise wages and pensions (see "RFE/RL Belarus and Ukraine Report," 6 April 2004). JM

UKRAINIAN TRANSPORT MINISTER TO HEAD NEW PARTY. The Ukrainian Justice Ministry on 15 June registered the Revival Party (Partiya Vidrodzhennya), Interfax reported. The new party is led by Transport Minister Heorhiy Kirpa. Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych told journalists that the Revival Party is the 97th party registered in Ukraine. Kirpa said the registration of his party was supported by nearly 28,000 signatures from all of Ukraine. JM