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 PREMIER ANNOUNCES READINESS FOR 'CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE' WITH HIS RIVAL. Ukrainian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych announced on 1 November that he is prepared for constructive dialogue with his main rival, Viktor Yushchenko, UNIAN reported. Yanukovych told journalists that he is "sincerely surprised" by some attacks on him by Yushchenko's team, but he recognizes this as "a tool of political fighting" that will never be accepted by society. "Thus I am ready for constructive dialogue [with Yushchenko] and I will consider this question," Yanukovych said. AM

WILL UKRAINIANS SEE TV DEBATES BETWEEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES? The International Renaissance Foundation has called on Yanukovych and Yushchenko to hold live television debates before the 21 November runoff, Interfax reported on 1 November. The foundation announced in a statement its intent to support the holding of such debates. According to the foundation, other international donors are also ready to help in organizing and holding meetings between Yanukovych and Yushchenko. AM

MOLDOVAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALLEGES PLAGIARISM. Chisinau Mayor and Our Moldova bloc co-Chairman Serafim Urechean on 1 November said that the ruling Party of Moldovan Communists (PCM) and President Vladimir Voronin are plagiarizing ideas first publicized by the bloc he heads, Flux and Infotag reported. Urechean said that the bloc "proposed long ago" changing the five-sided negotiation format to include the United States, the EU, and Romania. "The Communists first rejected our idea and now insist on revising the format of the negotiations," Urechean said (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 November 2004). Urechean, who is widely regarded as a likely challenger to Voronin when parliament elects a new head of state next year, also said that he recently visited Moscow, Bucharest, and Kyiv because relations with all of Moldova's neighbors are important. According to Flux, Urechean met in Kyiv on 28 October with Russian President Vladimir Putin and separatist leader Igor Smirnov. The agency claimed they agreed to launch an immediate campaign to impeach Voronin and to ensure the victory of Our Moldova in the 2005 election. The Flux news agency is owned by a rival opposition leader, Popular Party Christian Democratic Chairman Iurie Rosca. MS