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.
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR =20
An International Newsletter, The Latest, Up-To-Date
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis and Commentary
Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, =
Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the =
World =20
have the sense at least to maintain relatively modest VOA [& = RFE/RL]
operations in and around the Russian Federation [including = Ukraine].
(Articles One to Three)
=20
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR - Number 818 Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor, SigmaBleyzer WASHINGTON, D.C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2007
2. U.S. BROADCASTING BUDGET PROPOSES REDUCTIONS=20
FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND=20
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (RFE/RL)
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 05, 2007
LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong
To: The Washington Post, letters@washpost.com
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007=20
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
4. WORLD BANK SAYS UKRAINE MUST CREATE A FAVORABLE
BUSINESS CLIMATE, CARRY OUT REFORMS IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR AND ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION CAN
ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
INTERVIEW: With Shigeo Katsu, Vice-President, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank By Vitalii Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5 Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, February 13, 2007
5. CAPITAL OUTFLOW POSES ONE OF BIGGEST THREATS TO
UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES YUSCHENKO SAYS Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
6. UKRAINE: BIG BUSINESS DOESN'T NEED FREE ECONOMIC=20 ZONES & PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT TERRITORIES: AKHMETOV=20
Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, 2007
7. UKRAINIAN AGRARIAN CONFEDERATION WELCOMES INCREASE
IN EXPORT QUOTAS FOR GRAIN STORED IN PORT ELEVATORS Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) website, in Ukrainian Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 7, in English Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
8. UKRAINE TO RESUME GRAIN EXPORT BY END OF FEBRUARY Korrespondent online (in Russian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb 16, 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 8, in English Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007
9. RUSSIAN GRAIN ASSOCIATION VIEWS INTRODUCTION=20
OF GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE NEGATIVELY=20
Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007
10. POLISH MEAT EXPORTERS TO UKRAINE TO QUICKLY=20 REGAIN MARKET SHARE, BUT CUSTOM DUTY STILL BARRIER Interfax Central Europe, Warsaw, Poland, Fri, February 16, 2007
11. ROMANIA: DIALOGUE WITH UKRAINE OVER DISPUTED
SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA New Europe, Athens, Greece, Wed, February 14, 2007
12. UKRAINE: TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA FLEET
EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS BUT.......
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Volodymyr Obolonsky The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
13. UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S TEMPLE
Air pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface =
polluted
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Vatilii Kniazhansky
The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
14. U.S. ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS TO EXPLAIN PLANS=20
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN EUROPE
SAYS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
15. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT'S AIDE SAYS U.S. MISSILE DEFENCE
BASES WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO=20
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN EUROPE=20
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
16. UKRAINIAN INFLUENTIAL MP THREATENS TO SUE FOR LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" IS PUBLISHED IN EUROPE UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007
17. UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TYMOSHENKO AIMS TO
FORM RULING COALITION WITH PRESIDENT'S PARTY=20 TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine,in Ukrainian 1900 gmt 17 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, February 17, 2007
18. TYMOSHENKO AGAINST MEDIATOR'S PARTICIPATION IN=20 SUPPLYING GAS TO UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO ROSUKRENERGO Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
19. UKRAINE: KRUTY-2 ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Our post-genocidal society
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Oleksandr Kramarenko The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
20. DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE OF
1932-1933 (HOLODOMOR) NOW AVAILABLE IN DVD FORMAT Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 20 Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007=20
21. WHAT THE VERHOVNA RADA ACTUALLY PASSED
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian people. Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in English) Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
22. UKRAINE: "ON THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES, INTERESTS
AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY OF REGIONS DOMINATES CRIMEA ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor Khomenko Holos Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007
23. UKRAINE'S FOREIGN POLICY AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE 21ST CENTURY
ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. Ihor Ostash
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition
Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007
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1. SILENCE OF AMERICA
Cutting the VOA's presence in Mr. Putin's neighborhood
Mr. Bush's budget also proposes reductions in Ukrainian-language VOA programming to serve a country struggling to Westernize in the shadow of Mr. Putin's increasingly lawless regime.
Mr. Bush should be eager to encourage democratic forces in Ukraine, as well as in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, not further limit their sources of information about the United States.
FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND=20
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (RFE/RL)
Reductions to the following:
[1] Ukrainian broadcasts by both VOA and Radio Free=20
Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL);
[2] Tibetan broadcasts by VOA and RFA;
[3] VOA Portuguese to Africa; and
[4] broadcasts in Romanian, South Slavic and Kazakh by RFE/RL.
Through its broadcast services, the BBG provides the United States and =
its
leaders direct and immediate access to a worldwide audience of 140 =
million
people. Current governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin F.
Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman,
Steven J. Simmons, and Mark McKinnon. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice serves as an ex officio member. -30-
Cutting the VOA's Presence in Mr. Putin's Neighborhood
LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong
To: The Washington Post, letters@washpost.com
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007=20
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
As a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who served in Ukraine, I can personally attest to how penny-wise but pound-foolish is the White House proposal to slash funding for Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts in that country and other former Soviet bloc nations.
For Ukraine, where VOA broadcasts are playing an important role in =
helping
democracy to slowly take root, cutting the agency's budget might save a
few dollars in the short term, but the longer-term adverse political =
cost
would be vastly greater.
Sincerely, Ken Bossong
U.S. Peace Corps volunteer - Ukraine (2000-2003), Takoma Park, MD=20
BUSINESS CLIMATE, CARRY OUT REFORMS IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR AND ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION CAN
ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
INTERVIEW: With Shigeo Katsu, Vice-President, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank By Vitalii Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5 Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, February 13, 2007
My meeting with Shigeo Katsu, the vice-president for the Europe and =
Central
Asia Region of the World Bank, took place on Feb. 6 when the World Bank
Mission opened a new office in Kyiv.
[The Day] Does the grand opening of the new office of the World Bank's Mission signify a new stage in its relations with Ukraine?
Sh.K.: Thanks for putting your question so nicely. It is a very timely
question because the opening of the new office coincides with my =
colleagues
launching consultations here in Kyiv with your government and civil =
society
in regard to a new strategy for Ukraine's partnership with the World =
Bank
Group for the next three to four years.
in Kyiv today. What decisions were passed?
Sh.K.: It was an internal meeting of the World Bank's Europe and Central
Asia regional team. We discussed matters relating to business planning. =
It
was interesting and informative because Ukraine is a medium-level profit
country that is actively evolving and quickly moving forward.
We discussed ways to improve cooperation between the World Bank Group
and Ukraine. Our conclusions are largely rooted in the assumption that =
the
new partnership strategy will be carried out in a new environment here.
[The Day] Before discussing the new strategy of relations between the World Bank and Ukraine, I would like to hear your views on the previous stage. Was everything in order or was something preventing projects from being implemented?
SUPPORTING FOUR KEY SPHERES
Sh.K.: Our partnership strategy with Ukraine, which is still in effect, =
was
mostly aimed at supporting four key spheres:
As for the instruments of cooperation, my impression is that everyone in Kyiv knows that there is an instrument known as the development strategy loan.
In the sphere of human resources - matters relating to education and =
health
care - the implementation process has turned out a bit slower. We have =
very
successful experience in the sphere of state administration, =
particularly in
modernizing the State Treasury of Ukraine.
Sh.K.: As you know, a number of important political events have taken =
place
in Ukraine. I mean the elections and instability, in the sense that we =
had
to wait for the government to be formed, and so on.
[The Day] How does the new partnership strategy differ from the previous project whose term is ending? What other new opportunities for collaboration with the World Bank will open up for Ukraine?
Sh.K.: As I said before, we are at quite an early stage of preparing a =
new
partnership strategy with Ukraine. Our consultations are just starting, =
so
it may be too early to discuss this aspect, although I do, of course, =
have
my own views.
I think that it will be more important for your readers to know about =
our
joint perspective on what has changed in Ukraine.
ECONOMIC GROWTH DESPITE POLITICAL INSTABILITY
The World Bank Group is well aware of the fact that Ukraine has shown
quick economic growth despite political instability. Your economy has
been developing very well, and we can see that the private sector has =
been
restructured.
We believe that the Ukrainian economy is quite strong. We assume that =
its
growth in the next four or five years will be significant, even if not =
at
such a quick pace as before, because for some time it will largely =
depend=20
on the long-term trend in the international situation.
How long will the world market maintain such low interest rates? Will =
there
be as much spare cash as now? In principle, Ukraine has good prospects.
If you want to know whether Ukraine will be able to maintain this growth rate without continuing reforms, we think this will be very difficult to accomplish. In this sense Ukraine is no exception to the rule. Many countries in a similar situation are facing these kinds of problems.
UKRAINE MUST, IN OUR OPINION....
In order to maintain this growth rate, increase its competitiveness in =
the
world, draw closer to the more advanced countries, and increase its per
capita income, Ukraine must, in our opinion,
In order to enhance the effectiveness of the public sector, Ukraine must =
on
the one hand set about creating the so-called fiscal space, without =
which it
is impossible to double government investments in the sector of
infrastructure.
Ukraine's location between the European Union and Russia makes it a bridge of sorts, a sphere of transportation logistics, a transportation corridor for an open economy from the standpoint of both infrastructure, software, and assistance to trade.
We will discuss all this with the Ukrainian leadership. Mr. Birmingham =
will
coordinate the process of creating a new partnership strategy with =
Ukraine.
[The Day] Enhancing Ukraine's competitiveness on the world market takes high-tech projects and scientifically intensive products.
During your previous meetings with Ukrainian officials, did you get the sense that they want to move in this direction? Perhaps Mr. Birmingham will have more to say on this subject?
Birmingham: I think that Mr. Katsu has given you a rather exhaustive =
answer.
Of course, we will continue discussions with the Ukrainian government =
about
how this set of problems can evolve, but I think that he has =
sufficiently
covered this particular aspect.
We must carefully study these questions and work on them, so that the government can feel that these projects are primarily Ukrainian ones. Objectively speaking, there were certain procedural limitations.
[The Day] Don't you think it's time Ukraine curbed its appetite for = loans?
All told, this is twice the sums being invested. Let me say again that
Ukraine must create a fiscal space and enhance the effectiveness of =
budget
spending. Of course, a more reasonable approach to loans also makes
sense.
[The Day] Do you have any complaints about the Ukrainian banking sector through which World Bank funds are provided to Ukraine?
Sh.K.: I don't think there are any problems in terms of security and reliability of World Bank funds passing through the Ukrainian banking system. However, with your permission I will make a general comment on the risks as we see them in the banking system.
In other words, on the one hand we see serious progress at the National
Bank of Ukraine (in terms of banking supervision), but progress
notwithstanding, this work is still underway, it still has to be =
completed,
its potential has to be upgraded.
[The Day] You have a meetings scheduled with Mr. Azarov. Will you ask him when Ukraine is going to lift the grain export restrictions?
[The Day] Don't you think that Ukraine depends too much on foreign =
market
demand? If so, what should it do to reduce this dependence and increase
domestic market demand?
Sh.K.: The thing is that Ukraine is becoming increasingly open in terms =
of
the economy; it is successfully going through the process of integrating
into the world economy.
Ukraine has been showing very good dynamics of progress since 2000, so without this dynamic growth, including on foreign markets, Ukraine would not be evolving so quickly.
MUST SHARE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
Why stop using these capacities? However, the key, the main challenge =
for
Ukraine's decision makers is the need to somehow share the fruits of =
this
quick economic growth with the broadest strata of the population.
Of course, it is only natural for Ukraine to protect its positions and national interests, but the system of international trade also offers an opportunity for protecting one's national interests.
You have just given more answers to the previous question than to this one. (Laughter) -30-
Send in names and e-mail addresses for the AUR distribution list.
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5. CAPITAL OUTFLOW POSES ONE OF BIGGEST THREATS TO
UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES YUSCHENKO SAYS
Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko says capital outflow poses=20 one of the biggest threats to the country's national security.
"The scale of the capital outflow in the past 4 or 5 years from Ukraine=20 indicates that the phenomena is one of the basic threats to the national =
security of Ukraine," Yuschenko said at a meeting of the National =
Security=20
and Defense Council in Kyiv on Friday.
circulation [in Ukraine]," he said, according to the press service of =
the=20
president.
Given Ukraine's $6.7 billion trade deficit, the tendency is particularly =
The Friday meeting of the National Security and Defense Council will =
also=20
address the issue of international military maneuvers in Ukraine in =
2007. -30-
Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, 2007
KYIV - Ukrainian billionaire and Regions Party MP Rinat Akhmetov says=20 Ukraine's big businesses doesn't need any special economic zones and=20 priority development territories.
"I am convinced that big business doesn't need preferences. [Ukrainian] =
big=20
business has grown up, and is capable of competing as an equal player.
Big business is giving up preferences," Akhmetov said at a meeting of =
the=20
Ukrainian parliament committee for economic policies in Donetsk on =
Thursday.=20
"We need an economically free country rather than the free economic =
zones,"=20
Akhmetov said. -30-
IN EXPORT QUOTAS FOR GRAIN STORED IN PORT ELEVATORS
Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) website, in Ukrainian Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 7, in English Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
KYIV - The Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) has welcomed the=20
decision by the cabinet of ministers to impose higher export quotas for=20
grain stored in port elevators, saying it will help relieve the =
elevators of=20
grain.
Simultaneously, UAC leaders are convinced that such liberalization must =
be=20
accompanied by a number of other steps aimed at raising competitiveness=20
of Ukraine's feed sector. Judging by the statistics on the sales of=20
cattle-breeding products, sales of live weight meat in 2006 fell by =
20-25=20
percent.
For the record, the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine has increased grain=20 export quotas for the 2006/2007 marketing year.
The resolution comes into force on publication. In addition, the MAP =
press=20
service notes that the ministry is currently drawing up a resolution=20
canceling export quotas for wheat, maize and barley. -30-
NOTE: Send in a letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear from you.
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8. UKRAINE TO RESUME GRAIN EXPORT BY END OF FEBRUARY
Korrespondent online (in Russian)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 8, in English
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007
KYIV - By late February, the first stage of the deliveries of grain from =
port elevators to foreign clients will start, President of the Ukrainian =
According to the UGA president, Ukraine can annually export 10.5 - 11 mn =
Ukrainian President Yushchenko has plans to discuss grain export and =
grain=20
pricing with Premier Yanukovych, Yushchenko said on Feb. 13 during his=20
meeting with Dave Rogers, Cargill Europe executive director and member =
of=20
the Consultative council for foreign investments in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian grain market is now regulated in the on-hands mode. For=20
instance, on Feb. 7 the cabinet raised barley export quotas by 600,000 =
tons,=20
maize quotas by 30,000 tons and milling wheat by 228,000 tons.
The current situation, with tens of thousands of tons of grain rottening =
in=20
Odesa port elevators, is nothing but the attempt of the government to=20
preempt grain shortages in Ukraine in spring, Hladij added.
In 2003 the Yanukovych government allowed oversized grain export which=20
led to a deficit of grain on domestic markets. As the result, the =
government=20
was forced to buy grain abroad. -30-
OF GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE NEGATIVELY=20
Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007
KYIV - The Russian Grain Association negatively views the introduction=20
of grain export quotas in Ukraine. The association's President Arkady=20
Zlochevsky announced this at a press conference. "Grain [traders] are =
not=20
welcoming Ukraine's restriction on export of grain, although it favors =
us,"=20
he said.
According to him, Ukraine's grain export quota favored Ukraine's =
competitors=20
on the world grain market. According to him, Russia is competing with=20
Ukraine on the markets of barley while Kazakhstan is competing with it =
on=20
the market of wheat.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Ukrainian Grain Association is=20
forecasting resumption of grain exports in late February 2007. The =
Cabinet=20
of Ministers has extended the grain export quota by 864,000 tons to=20
1,970,000 tons for the 2006/2007 marketing year (June 2006-June 2007).
barley, 500,000 tons of corn, 3,000 tons of wheat, and 3,000 tons of = rye.
WARSAW - Polish exporters to Ukraine are expected to quickly regain=20
market share now that Ukraine has ended a ban on Polish meat, but high=20
custom duties will efficiently limit the potential of further =
development, the=20
Polish association of meat producer Polskie Mieso Chief Executive =
Officer=20
Witold Choinski told Interfax Friday.
"Recapturing the [Ukrainian] market will happen quickly -the first=20
transports will be sent next week," Choinski said. "The potential of =
that=20
market is huge, although the high customs duty is a real obstacle. We =
will=20
address this issue through the Economy Ministry."
Ukraine has authorized 23 Polish companies to restart their exports as =
of=20
February 15, following a year long meat ban that Kiev said was necessary =
to=20
protect the country from suspect Polish shipments. The move mirrored a=20
step undertaken by Russia on November 9, 2005.
Joint sales to the Russian and Ukrainian market accounted for less than=20 15% of total exports in 2004. -30-
11. ROMANIA: DIALOGUE WITH UKRAINE OVER=20
DISPUTED SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA
Romania urged Ukraine on February 9 not to artificially create a =
settlement=20
on the disputed Serpents Island in the Black Sea, according to a press=20
release from the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Ukraine at the Black Sea, a case that has been judged since 2004 by the=20 International Court based in The Hague," read the release.
Romania's stand, related to the Ukrainian authorities; intention to=20
artificially create a settlement on Serpents Island, has been made =
public=20
and communicated to the Ukrainian side, every time when Ukraine made=20
known any other attempts aimed at artificially changing the status of =
this=20
rock, according to the release.
The Romanian side reiterated its position and hopes that the Ukrainian =
side=20
will show restraint, given the context and conditions of the procedures =
with=20
the International Court in The Hague.
Ukraine's Supreme Rada (Parliament) decided in a plenary meeting on=20
February 8 to name the settlement on the island Belyi (White Village), =
with=20
the name to be put on the map and listed in the Registry of the =
Ukrainian=20
localities, according to a report of Ukrainian ProUa news agency.
Against this background, the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry says=20 Romania's Embassy in Kiev monitors all aspects related to this issue and =
the debates in the Ukrainian Parliament on February 8.
The Ukrainian side submitted its written statement on May 16, 2006. This =
January, Romanian and Ukrainian Presidents Traian Basescu and Viktor=20
Yushchenko said their countries will observe the decision of the=20
International Court in The Hague, irrespective of who wins in the issue =
of=20
delimiting the continental shelf of the Serpents Island and the =
exclusive=20
economic areas, it was reported. -30-=20
12. UKRAINE: TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA=20
FLEET EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS BUT.......
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Volodymyr Obolonsky The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
that after 2017 Russia is ready to negotiate about the prolongation of =
fleet's=20
presence in the Crimea, it is an easy guess what conclusions have been =
made=20
by Ukrainian jingoes: Yanukovich does not rule out this tantalizing=20
possibility.
Consider the question: Does the presence of the Russian Navy in =
Sevastopol=20
impair the national interests of Ukraine? The answer seems to be that =
the=20
whole infrastructure of the region is connected with the Russia's naval=20
base.
Nonetheless, blather about the crafty Kremlin has been in the air ever =
since=20
Ukraine achieved independence, and the Orange team does not give a hoot=20
about Sevastopol residents who may well be left to their fate.
Some politicians often moan that Russia underpays for a lease of the =
Crimean=20
land. Observers, including The Ukrainian Times, can think of no reason =
why=20
Ukrainian government officials should not begin talks about the issue =
and=20
set new terms of stationing of the Russia's naval base.
The world now knows that Russia is ruled by pragmatists. It is to be =
wished=20
that the same will happen in Ukraine. Among other things, the government =
has=20
the authority to handle the Crimean land so that each Ukrainian can =
profit=20
by it, and thereby the Yanukovich team may protect the national =
interests.
It is perfectly natural that the nation lives under conditions of a=20
free-market economy and a foreign institution or company pays handsome=20
money into the national budget, not pockets of, say, Olexiy Ivchenko, =
leader=20
of a jingoist Ukrainian party and former chairman of the state gas =
company=20
Neftegaz Ukrainy, who bought a new model of Mercedes Benz for one=20
million hryvnias, misusing funds of the state-owned enterprise.
next-door neighbor, namely Russia, are detrimental to the national =
interests=20
of Ukraine. -30-
Send in a letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear from you. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
13. UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S TEMPLE
Air pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface =
polluted
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Vatilii Kniazhansky The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
We did harness it. At a recent session of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection it was announced that air pollution rose in 21 regions of =
Ukraine
in 2006 and that 70 percent of our water surface is polluted.
ALL AREAS OF NATURE MANAGEMENT SHOW DETERIORATION
According to environmentalists, all sectors of nature management in =
Ukraine
show deterioration. Last year stationary sources alone accounted for =
about
4.5 million tons of air pollutants.
This is also the result of a catastrophic accumulation of household and
industrial wastes. There are about 35 billion tons in Ukraine, occupying =
an
area of 130,000 hectares.
But this is not a question of personalities but the fact that both the ecology and the economy are upset in Ukraine. The economy behaves like a robber and poisoner and does not deem it necessary to make up for the damage done to nature.
But as First Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Mykola Azarov announced
recently, Ukraine reached the 1990 level of industrial output in 2006 =
and is
going to achieve that year's GDP by mid-2008. Now it is clear where gas
pollution, liquid, solid and other wastes, poisonous to nature and man, =
are
coming from.
Nor is it clear what will happen to the long-term strategic program of socioeconomic development now being mapped out by the cabinet for the first time in the history of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the central government continues to field queries from the
provinces. Even Kyiv's problems with dumpsites that are about to =
discharge
their contents into nearby rivers pale in comparison.
PLANT REPRESENTS DANGER TO HEALTH AND LIFE
For example, the potassium plant owned by the Oriana Company of Kalush -
a city already full of chemical businesses - represents a danger to =
human
health and life.
The problem is that this country has not yet found a critical mass of
intelligent individuals (true nature keepers) who would focus on =
creating a
reliable environmental protection system. -30-
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN EUROPE
SAYS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
KYIV - The United States promises that a delegation comprising U.S.=20
anti-missile defense specialists will arrive in Ukraine to explain =
Ukrainian=20
people the plans concerning the construction of anti-missile bases in=20
Europe. Ukrainian News learned this from the press service of the =
Ukrainian=20
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the press service, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William =
Taylor=20
announced this at a meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister =
Andrii=20
Veselovskyi.
Untied States and Ukraine, Taylor said, according to the press service, =
a=20
special technical group of specialists on the anti-missile defense will=20
arrive in Ukraine soon.
The U.S. Embassy intends to meet regularly on the issue with Ukrainian=20
media to give information concerning the construction of the =
anti-missile=20
defense bases in Europe.
Veselovskyi said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Ukrainian=20 embassies in Russia, the Czech Republic, and Poland to obtain more=20 information on the anti-missile defense bases.
"Ukraine will be grounded on the belief that the administration of the=20
United States will continue informing Europeans on the plans, while=20
understanding that there is [negative] reactions to the deployment of =
the=20
elements of the anti-missile defense in Europe from some countries,=20
including Russia, and will openly and predictably implement the plans in =
Taylor and Veselovskyi also discuss the third meeting of the =
Ukraine-U.S.=20
interdepartmental coordination group, which is to take place in =
Washington=20
on February 23.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign=20 Affairs said it was viewing the possible construction of elements of the =
U.S. anti-missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic as element of =
the=20
war on terror. The United States said the anti-missile bases in Poland =
and=20
the Czech Republic were needed to protect Europe. -30-
BASES WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO=20
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN EUROPE=20
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
KIEV - The deployment of elements of the US missile defence system in=20
Poland and the Czech Republic will not manage to protect Europe from a=20
missile attack, the Ukrainian president's aide, Volodymyr Horbulin, told =
a=20
news conference today.
Horbulin said that Ukraine should develop a clear position regarding the =
[Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Veselovskyy said at a meeting =
with=20
the US ambassador that Ukrainian embassies in Russia, Poland and the =
Czech=20
Republic were instructed to receive additional information, UNIAN news=20
agency reports on 16 February. The creation of global defence systems =
should=20
not in any way provoke a new wave of the arms race, Veselovskyy said.]
LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" IS PUBLISHED IN EUROPE
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007
DONETSK - Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (MP) Rinat Akhmetov=20
has said that "a very big group" of foreign lawyers is ready to react to =
the=20
publication of the book entitled "Donetsk Mafia" in Europe.
working on this are Ukrainian or foreign, Akhmetov answered shortly:=20 "Foreign." The book "Donetsk Mafia" was presented in parliament in March =
The co-author of the book and head of the Antykoruptsiya =
[Anticorruption]=20
fund, Borys Penchuk, said that the book was based on documents from =
various=20
sources and it tells what and how was done in Donbass [coal mining area =
in=20
Donetsk and Luhansk regions] in the early years of Ukraine's =
independence.=20
[Passage omitted: Penchuk's accusations]
The prosecutor's office of the Kiev Shevchenkivskyy district filed a=20
criminal case in late November 2006 based on the facts mentioned in the =
book=20
"Donetsk Mafia" -30-
FORM RULING COALITION WITH PRESIDENT'S PARTY=20
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine,in Ukrainian 1900 gmt 17 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, February 17, 2007
KIEV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yuliya Tymoshenko has said that her=20
bloc and the propresidential Our Ukraine bloc are trying to improve =
relations=20
with a view to forming a ruling coalition after a possible early=20
parliamentary election. Tymoshenko was speaking live on 5 Kanal =
television,=20
commenting on the topical events of the week.
"An early election will bring to parliament much less members of the =
Party=20
of Regions. Most likely, the Socialists and the Communists will not make =
it=20
to parliament. And I know for sure that our bloc will be there, =
represented=20
by a sufficiently large number and, most likely, the Our Ukraine bloc =
will=20
also make it.
If Our Ukraine made conclusions that they cannot build Ukraine with=20 Yanukovych - and I believe that Our Ukraine made these conclusions because they supported a grand coalition but now reviewed their = position.
I am sure that we are ready for Our Ukraine to join our team and will =
not=20
allow in the new parliament the mistakes which were made during the =
ruining=20
of the Orange team, during the nomination of [Our Ukraine MP] Petro=20
Poroshenko to the post of [parliament] speaker and the ruining of a=20
democratic coalition.
Speaking about the recent agreement on joint opposition work with Our=20 Ukraine, Tymoshenko expressed the hope that together they will manage to =
I think 200 opposition deputies in parliament will not allow Yanukovych =
to=20
implement the programme he has in mind. I mean getting rich and =
practically=20
ruining this country's independence," she said. -30-
You are welcome to send us names for the AUR distribution list.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
18. TYMOSHENKO AGAINST MEDIATOR'S PARTICIPATION IN=20
SUPPLYING GAS TO UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO ROSUKRENERGO
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
KYIV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko argues against the=20
participation of mediators, including Itera gas-supplying company, in =
making=20
gas supplies to Ukraine. Tymoshenko told this to journalists in =
Cherkasy.
"As far as gas supplies to Ukraine are concerned, there should be no=20 mediators between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine and Turkmenistan, Ukraine=20 and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. We need neither RosUkrEnergo nor Itera,"=20 she said.
Tymoshenko noted that it was necessary to conclude direct agreements=20 on gas supplies to Ukraine with the governments' participation.
Earlier, Vice Premier Andrii Kliuev admitted a possibility of Itera's =
return=20
to Ukraine as a natural gas supplier. As Ukrainian News earlier =
reported,=20
on February 12, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and chairman of=20
Itera's board of directors Ihor Makarov discussed energy projects in=20
Ukraine.
Itera-Ukraine, a subsidiary of Itera Group, was the operator for supply =
of=20
Turkmen gas to Ukraine and member countries of the Commonwealth of=20
Independent States in 1996-2002.
Since 1998, Itera has been extracting gas in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets=20
Autonomous District. In 2005, Itera wanted to supply nearly 4 billion =
cubic=20
meters of natural gas to Ukraine.
Ukrainian companies of Itera Group (Itera Energy and Itera Ukraine) sell =
natural gas extracted on the territory of Ukraine to companies that do =
not=20
belong to NJSC Naftohaz Ukrainy.
After Itera, Turkmen gas supplies to Ukraine were performed by Eural=20 Trans Gas, among co-founders of which was Dmytro Firtash, the owner=20 of 45% in RosUkrEnergo, the present exclusive gas supplier in Ukraine.
Our post-genocidal society
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Oleksandr Kramarenko The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
Unlike the Holocaust and the Armenian Massacre, the 1932-1933 manmade famine embraced the overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian ethnos that was not yet Russified by imperial urbanization.
This was the basic aim of the Kremlin's engineers of the Holodomor, who =
were
banking on those very peasants who had survived and, as a result of =
their
protracted torture by famine, completely lost their Christian morality =
and
national identity.
HAD A VISCERAL FEAR OF STARVING TO DEATH
For the rest of their lives those people had a visceral fear of starving =
to
death. They also remembered well that the Bolshevik commissars had
exposed them to those infernal ordeals simply because of their probity, =
high
morality, and Ukrainian soul.
The society they have built in independent Ukraine is causing subdued =
mirth
in the rest of the civilized world, which does no credit to it because =
if it
were a highly moral world, it would be weeping bitter tears, looking at =
our
genocide-disfigured society.
89TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF KRUTY
Ukraine recently marked the 89th anniversary of the battle of Kruty. =
Like
before, everything boiled down to extolling only the heroic feat of 300
young people.
The historical facts attest to something quite different, to put it =
mildly.
There was no battle of Kruty: there was a massacre of Ukrainian youths =
by
Russian sailors under the command of the Bolshevik Mikhail Muravev.
This fact by no means belittles the young Ukrainians' exploit, but it is =
an
eyesore to our jingoists in power, who are very reluctant to tell our
demoralized society the names of those who are really to blame for the
Kruty tragedy because some of them are being turned into national =
heroes.
These are the Ukrainian National Republic's socialist leaders Mykhailo
Hrushevsky and Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who disbanded the Ukrainian
Army in the naive belief that the Russian Bolsheviks would not be =
hostile
to the young "fraternal" republic.
Today, the political descendants of Hrushevsky have in fact ruined the Ukrainian Armed Forces without obtaining any guarantees of our independence from either NATO or the US.
SO KRUTY-2 IS NOW JUST A MATTER OF TIME
So Kruty-2 is now just a matter of time, although it looks like Russia =
will
do it this time without direct aggression.
Historical facts indicate that when she became the Turkish sultan's =
first
lady, she pursued a tough policy exclusively in the interests of the
Ottoman Empire, which did not include Ukraine.
These examples make it absolutely clear why our public opinion almost unanimously opposes lustration, why the vast majority does not recognize the right of OUN and UPA combatants to veterans' benefits, and sees no sense in Ukraine's accession to NATO.
The worst thing is that since the death of James Mace there is no one to properly diagnose our society, let alone cure it. -30-
Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 20 Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007=20
TORONTO - The Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre (UCRDC) is pleased to inform you that the internationally acclaimed, award winning documentary "Harvest of Despair" is now available in DVD format in English for $25.00. [Information about the documentary from the UCRDC website is found below.]
Please contact the UCRDC for further details:
Nadia Skop, Executive Administrator
Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre
620 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2H4
Telephone: 416-966-1819; Fax: 416-966-1820;
E-mail: info@ucrdc.org
HARVEST OF DESPAIR It is called the forgotten holocaust - a time when Stalin was dumping=20 millions of tons of wheat on Western markets, while in Ukraine, men,=20 women, and children were dying of starvation at the rate of 25,000 a=20 day, 17 human beings a minute.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this tragedy the Ukrainian Famine =
The documentary probes the tragic consequences of Ukraine's struggle for =
In 1932-33, roughly one-quarter of the entire population of Ukraine =
perished=20
through brutal starvation. Harvest of Despair, through its stark, =
haunting=20
images, provides the eloquent testimony of a lost generation that has =
been=20
silenced too long.
Please contact us if you no longer wish to receive the AUR =20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
21. WHAT THE VERHOVNA RADA ACTUALLY PASSED
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian people.
Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in English) Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
Honoring the memory of millions of fellow countrymen who became victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its consequences;
Honoring all citizens that survived this horrible tragedy in the history =
of
the Ukrainian people;
Being aware of the moral responsibility to former and future generations =
of
Ukrainians and recognizing the necessity of restoring historical =
justice, of
solidifying in society an intolerance towards any form of violence;
Noting that the tragedy of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine officially was denied by the USSR government over the course of many decades;
Condemning the criminal acts of the USSR totalitarian regime aimed at =
the
Holodomor's organization, which resulted in millions of people, the =
social
foundations of the Ukrainian people, its age-old traditions, spiritual
culture and ethnic identity being destroyed;
Highly valuing the solidarity and support of the international community =
in
condemning the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine that is reflected in
parliamentary acts of Australia, the Republic of Argentina, Georgia, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Italy, Canada, the Republic of
Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the United States of America, the
Republic of Hungary, and also in the combined statement circulated as an
official document of the 58th session of the General Assembly of the UN =
on
the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Holodomor-Great Famine of
1932-1933 in Ukraine, signed by the Republic of Argentina, the Republic =
of
Azerbaijan, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of =
Belarus,
the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the =
Republic
of Guatemala, Georgia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Islamic Republic =
of
Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Canada, the State of Qatar, the =
Republic
of Kyrgyzia, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Macedonia, Mongolia, =
the
Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of
Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab
Republic of Syria, the United States of America, the Republic of Sudan, =
the
Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Jamaica, and also
supported by Australia, the State of Israel, the Republic of Serbia and
Montenegro and the 25 member-states of the European Union;
Taking into consideration the Recommendations of parliamentary hearings
concerning honoring the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor
approved by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of March 6,
2003 No. 607-IV and the Appeal to the Ukrainian people of the =
participants
of a special session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of May 14, 2003,
which was approved by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
of May 15, 2003 No. 789-IV, in which the Holodomor is recognized as an
act of genocide of the Ukrainian people and as the result of deliberate
actions of a totalitarian, repressive, Stalinist regime aimed at the =
mass
destruction of a portion of the Ukrainian and other peoples of the =
former
USSR;
Recognizing the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine in accordance with the
Convention of December 9, 1948 on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide as an intentional act of mass extermination of =
peoples,
enacts this Law.
Article 1. The 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the =
Ukrainian
people.
Article 2. Public denial of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is =
recognized
as an insult to the memory of millions of victims of the Holodomor and a
humiliation of the dignity of the Ukrainian people and is illegal.
Take part in the formation and realization of state policies in the =
areas of
renewing and preserving the national memory of the Ukrainian people;
Facilitate the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, =
her
historical consciousness and culture, the dissemination of information
about the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine among Ukrainian citizens and
the global community, to ensure study of the tragedy of the Holodomor in
educational institutions of Ukraine;
Take measures to memorialize the memory of victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine, including building memorials and mounting of memorial signs to the victims of the Holodomor;
Ensure by the established order access to archived and other materials =
on
issues that concern the Holodomor to research and civil establishments
and organizations, scholars, individual citizens that research issues of =
the
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its effects.
Article 4. The State provides the conditions for conducting research and executing activities related to the memorializing of the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine on the basis of relevant general state programs, the funding of which is allocated yearly in the State budget of Ukraine.
Article 5. Final provisions
1. This law is in effect from the day of its publication.
2. The Cabinet of Ministers is:
1) To determine the status and functions of the Ukrainian Institute of
National Memory and, as a specially authorized central organ of the
executive branch in the area of the rebirth and preservation of the
national memory of the Ukrainian people, is to ensure its sustenance
with funds from the State budget.
2) Within a three-month period from the enactment of this Law:
To submit for the Verkhovna Rada's review proposals for bringing of
the legislation of Ukraine into conformity with this Law;
To bring its own normative-legislative regulations into accordance with
this Law;
To ensure the review and nullification by bodies of executive authority
of any legislation passed by them that contradicts this Law;
3) To resolve by the appointed order, along with the Kyiv City State Administration, the matter concerning the construction of a Memorial to the victims of the Holodomors in Ukraine before the 75th anniversaries of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine. -30-
AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY OF REGIONS DOMINATES CRIMEA
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor Khomenko Holos Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The following is the text of the article by Viktor Khomenko entitled "On =
the=20
crossroads of cultures, interests and influences" published in the =
Ukrainian=20
daily Holos Ukrayiny on 14 February. Subheadings are as published:
The autonomous peninsula at present is not hostile to Ukraine, to the =
state=20
and statehood, as some people are trying to prove. The mistake of Kiev =
and=20
Moscow politicians lies precisely in the fact that they view Crimea from =
They do exist, skilfully nurtured by some political forces, not only=20
Ukrainian ones. But on the whole extremely serious changes have taken =
place=20
in the mass awareness of Crimeans.
POLITICAL PURGE
Recent events in Crimea are evidence that control of the political =
situation=20
and structures of power here has been fully taken over by the [ruling] =
Party=20
of Regions.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is expected in Crimea on 22 =
February,=20
when he is due to present his new representative in place of Henadiy =
Moskal.
There is no real opposition to the Regionals in Crimea. Even the=20
[propresidential] Our Ukraine bloc, represented in the Crimean =
parliament by=20
the Rukh-Kurultay faction, cooperates with them, while the YTB =
[opposition=20
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc] is too weak and therefore is not displaying =
serious=20
activity.
So the Regionals, in spite of their own almost 20 per cent drop in =
rating,=20
as sociologists show, are still not exhausting their credit of trust =
and,=20
seizing the moment, are raising all branches of power under themselves =
on=20
the peninsula. Only Our Ukraine people remain stable, without a =
reduction in=20
their 15,000-strong ranks.
Virtually all the numerous political parties of Ukraine - 125 altogether =
-=20
are now registered on the peninsula. About 15 have succeeded in =
obtaining=20
genuine political residence permits in Crimea. The ones that have =
electoral=20
support can conventionally be divided into three groups.
First of all, there are parties of a pro-Russian orientation that are =
making=20
use of the electoral moods of the Russian-speaking section of the =
Crimean=20
population, and first and foremost ethnic Russians. Since the peninsula =
is=20
the only part of Ukraine where the number of ethnic Russians comprises =
the=20
majority.
If we remember its very difficult history, back in the times of the =
Russian=20
Empire and the USSR and the transfer of Crimea, almost unpopulated after =
the=20
deportation [of the Tatars], into the composition of the Ukrainian SSR =
in=20
1954 from the composition of the Russian Federation, then the root of =
the=20
problem will become perfectly understandable.
realities of contemporary Ukrainian politics: Crimea is an inalienable =
part=20
of Ukraine as an autonomy.
This is the PDP [People's Democratic Party], which did not get into the=20
Ukrainian Supreme Council, although Serhiy Kunitsyn [former Crimean =
Prime=20
Minister] created an eponymous bloc based on the DPU [Democratic Party =
of=20
Ukraine] and the PDP.
The Communist Party and the Crimean regional organization of the CPU=20
[Communist Party of Ukraine] under the leadership of Leonid Hrach form =
the=20
left-wing spectrum of the party palette, which is slowly but surely =
losing=20
voters. It is represented by eight deputies in the Supreme Council of=20
Crimea.
Of the right-wing parties [Former Foreign Minister] Borys Tarasyuk's=20 People's Movement of Ukraine [PMU - Rukh] is operating most successfully =
Nonetheless, one can speak about stable support for this wing of the=20
Ukrainian polity not so much according to party as to personality =
features.=20
That is everything that is growing on the Crimean field.
Statistics show that 47 Ukrainian political parties obtained support at =
the=20
last elections, including parties that were part of associations and =
blocs.=20
The rest could not even be taken seriously. This confirms the fact that=20
Crimea continues to retain the position of a specific region of Ukraine =
with=20
special electoral moods.
PARADOXICAL FACE The paradoxical nature of the Crimean situation lies in the unregulated=20 status of the territory in Ukrainian legislation and the constitution.
Although the existence of the Crimean autonomy is enshrined in the=20
Constitution of Ukraine and recognized by the world community, in =
practice=20
the central leadership and the polity are still irritated by the =
existence=20
of the autonomy in a unitary state. They have a fairly distrustful =
attitude=20
to it, considering it to be a source of separatism, and this allergy is=20
long-standing.
Quite a few important matters in relations between Kiev and the =
peninsula=20
have not been regulated to this day. This irks many Crimeans and is a =
source=20
of permanent dissatisfaction with Kiev.
In many cases this leads to the excesses that exist in Crimea, in =
particular=20
in the area of land. Because instead of law, what is operating is big =
money,=20
a shadow market and certain clans, among which the most active are the=20
Donetsk, Kiev and Dnipropetrovsk clans.
OF THE 21ST CENTURY
ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. Ihor Ostash
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition
Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007
I am honoured to be invited to address such a distinguished audience
gathered here at one of the leading Canadian Universities. I would like =
to
thank the Chair of the Ukrainian Studies Professor Dominique Arel for
organizing this event.
In order to describe the nature of Ukraine's foreign policy at the =
beginning
of the 21st century we should go back to the events of the winter of =
2004,
which are now known all over the world as the Orange Revolution.
The Ukrainian people, by defending -- by peaceful means -- their =
freedoms
and standing up against massive fraud of the first two tours of the
Presidential elections of 2004, proved to be Europeans not only by
geographic location, but also by their values and the determination to
protect them. They have shown that as Europeans they deserve their place
in the united Europe.
It is well-known that the concept of European and Euro-Atlantic =
integration
has been a keystone of the Ukrainian foreign policy doctrine for many =
years.
However, an honest evaluation of the real progress on Ukraine's move =
towards
the EU and NATO membership by the end of Leonid Kuchma's tenure shows
that any mentioning of Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO caused
among Western politicians nothing but irritation and a "fatigue =
syndrome".
Before the Orange Revolution, Ukraine's image abroad was tainted by a
discredited and corrupt political leadership incapable of forgoing =
foreign
policy ambiguity and ensuring a consistency in the implementation of
strategic tasks.
The undemocratic nature of the Kuchma regime lead to the de-facto international isolation of Ukraine and kept at bay any real prospect of joining Western institutions.
Cardinal changes that took place in our country over the past two years =
that
secured Ukraine's development on the democratic path have also shaped =
the
course of Ukraine's foreign policy.
It is based on the mainstream civilizational choice of the Ukrainian =
people
to live in a democratic, law-abiding and fair society homogenous with =
other
European countries.
Ukrainians believe that building a respected, prosperous and democratic Ukraine is inseparable from Ukraine's joining the family of the united Europe.
However, instead of endlessly repeating the mantra of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which in the past decade found little response from our European and NATO counterparts, Ukraine is proving its political choice by actions.
Ukraine is becoming a regional leader, a proponent of democratic values
and freedoms, a country that is able to clearly define its foreign =
policy
priorities and back them up with a trustworthy agenda and actions.
In sum, the period after the Orange Revolution is the time when Ukraine =
is
elaborating its own sustainable, consistent and independent foreign =
policy.
As you may know, with the Parliamentary elections of March 26, 2006=20
(which have been recognized as democratic by all observers) the =
provisions=20
of political reform entered into force which modified the distribution =
of
powers in Ukraine.
While the President and the Prime Minister represent political forces =
that
are at opposite ends of the spectrum, it is important to underline that =
the
direction of Ukraine's foreign policy remains unchanged.
According to the Constitution of Ukraine (Art. 106), the President of
Ukraine directs the foreign policy of Ukraine, represents Ukraine on the
international arena, appoints and discharges Ambassadors, submits to the
Parliament petition for appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs =
of
Ukraine.
As we see, the main power is vested in the President of Ukraine, who =
charts
the course and exercises the direction of Ukraine's foreign policy, in
accordance with the laws passed by the Parliament, and the Cabinet of
Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deal with the practical
implementation of foreign policy.
On August 3, 2006 after a week-long roundtable discussion chaired by President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko the leaders of four political forces -- the Party of Regions, Our Ukraine, the Socialists, and the Communists signed the Declaration on National Unity.
This document addressed a number of the most critical issues in =
Ukrainian
politics, especially regarding foreign affairs.
First of all, the Declaration confirmed that the course of the Ukrainian
foreign policy aimed at integration to the European Union and =
strengthening
its international authority is irreversible and immutable. In this =
light,
the parties agreed to adhere to the "Ukraine -- EU" Action Plan and to =
begin
immediate negotiations regarding the creation of a free trade area =
between
Ukraine and the European Union.
The document proposed a sensible political compromise on Ukraine-NATO
relations: continuing "mutually beneficial cooperation" for now, in
accordance with the "Law on National Security of Ukraine", and deferring =
the
issue of membership until some later date, subject to a national =
referendum.
The Declaration on National Unity has established a tradition of =
national
and public dialogue for resolving problems that Ukraine has inherited =
from
the past or acquired today.
Thus, the President initiated to conduct the second national round =
table,
which is scheduled for February 22-25, 2007, and will involve such =
political
leaders as the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the =
Prime-minister of
Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (the
Parliament) of Ukraine Olexander Moroz, as well as public leaders, =
artists,
and journalists etc. Its participants have to formulate a 2007 action =
plan
based on the Declaration on National Unity.
Meanwhile, I would like to stress that Ukraine's foreign policy =
priorities
are established by law and are contained in such documents as the Act of =
the
Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament) on the main directions of Ukraine's =
foreign
policy passed in 1993, the Law of Ukraine on the main principles of the
national security adopted in 2003, as well as Ukraine's Defence Doctrine
adopted in 2004.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prime-Minister V. Yanukovych invited WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to come to Ukraine for the signing of the agreement on Ukraine's accession to the WTO this year.
Ukraine pursues the goal of promoting European values in its region, in particular through active participation in the resolution of frozen conflicts.
Ukraine conducts active multilateral policy in the framework of global =
and
regional organizations, such as the United Nations and the Organization =
for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). We consider our participation =
in
these organizations an important factor of deepening and broadening =
regional
as well as global stability and security in Europe.
One of the main foreign policy priorities is the economic expansion of
Ukrainian goods and services both on the conventional and the new =
markets
in the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Africa.
And, of course, one of the most important aspects of Ukraine's foreign
policy is protecting Ukrainian citizens abroad and safeguarding the =
rights
of the Ukrainian Diaspora , which will remain a constant priority of the
foreign policy of Ukraine and the sphere of particular attention of
Ukrainian diplomatic and consular missions abroad.
We are working successfully with many countries on legalizing the status =
of
Ukrainian migrant workers, signing agreements on temporary employment,
promoting the opening of Ukrainian schools, television stations and
newspapers abroad.
President V. Yuschenko has issued a Decree adopting the National concept =
of
cooperation with overseas Ukrainians. There is a special Department at =
the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for the relations with overseas
Ukrainians.
These priorities, including European and Euro-Atlantic integration, are =
the
backbone of Ukraine's foreign policy. This is the position of the =
President,
the Government and the Parliament of Ukraine. This is our strategic =
course
that has no alternative.
2. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
As I mentioned, one of the key goals of Ukraine's foreign policy is =
becoming
a full-fledged member of the European Union. This is a key priority,
realization of which includes the whole complex of efforts both inside =
the
country and beyond its borders. They are aimed at moving Ukraine closer =
to
the EU and creating preconditions necessary for future accession to the =
EU.
I believe that this is indeed a two-way street, where both Ukraine and =
the
EU will benefit from Ukraine's membership. Ukrainians belong in the =
united
Europe due to their history, culture, as well as system of values and
beliefs in democracy and the rule of law, as was proven by the events of =
the
Orange revolution. Our country is a contributor to global and regional =
peace
and security.
Ukraine is essential for the energy security of Europe, given thousands =
of
kilometres of oil and gas pipelines that deliver energy to all =
Europeans.
Furthermore, a democratic and stable Ukraine integrated into the =
European
and Euro-Atlantic structures is the best guarantee of good-neighbourly
relations between Ukraine, the European Union and the Russian =
Federation.
And, as those European nations hosting many Ukrainian labour migrants =
have
learned, the Ukrainian people are honest and hard-working. Everybody =
knows
the boxers Vitaly and Volodymyr Klychko, soccer player Andriy =
Schevchenko,
pop-singer Ruslana or chess world champion Ruslan Ponomariov.
I am confident that my compatriots will make a solid contribution to the
development of a united Europe. As former Foreign Minister Borys =
Tarasyuk
aptly put it, "Ukraine is coming back to Europe not with a bag of =
problems,
but with a basket of proposals".
And Europeans see Ukraine as part of Europe. According to latest polls
conducted in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Great Britain and Poland =
only
34% respondents stated that they are not ready to see Ukraine in the EU, =
but
the overwhelming majority expressed support of our membership (Poland =
and
Spain -- 65%, Italy -- 59%, France -- 56%, Great Britain -- 47%, Germany =
--
44%).
Ukraine's relations with the EU have become truly dynamic. Yesterday the
delegation of the EU Troyka headed by Foreign Minister F.Steimeyer of
Germany -- country that presides in the EU in the first half of 2007 -- =
met
in Kyiv with President Yuschenko, Prime-Minister Yanukovych and Acting
Foreign Minister V.Ohryzko.
Ukraine and the EU began negotiations about the new, enhanced agreement. =
The
present Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation expires in the =
beginning of
2008, and we are ready to make the next step on the road to EU =
membership.
We stand for concluding an agreement with the EU on the principles of
political association and economic integration.
Ukraine in partnership with the EU is an active contributor to peace and
security on the European continent. Our country has been taking part in =
the
Police Mission of the EU in Boznia and Herzegovina, is cooperating with =
the
EU in the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict and with the EU =
mission
on the Ukraine-Moldova border.
In 2006, our country has joined 511 of the 554 EU resolutions on =
regional
and international issues, which shows the high level of political
association of Ukraine with the EU and the commonality of our principles =
and
values. Last year there were 135 expert visits between EU and Ukraine, =
which
is one third higher than the year before.
The European Union is the biggest trading partner of Ukraine. Its share =
in
Ukraine's trading balance for the period of 10 months of 2006 has been
31,2%, which is 21,3% higher than for the same period of 2005. About 75%
of direct foreign investments into Ukraine's economy come from the EU.
Accordingly, our goal is to establish a free-trade zone with the EU. =
Formal
negotiations on this issue are to begin after Ukraine's accession to the
WTO.
At the Ukraine-EU summit in October, 2006 we have completed negotiations
on easing the visa regime and readmission, and initialed respective =
drafts
of agreements. We expect to sign them in 2007.
3. EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION
Another key priority of Ukraine's foreign policy is the Euro-Atlantic
integration , aimed at gradual full-fledged membership in NATO.
Due to certain circumstances this issue has been highly politicized in Ukraine. At the same time, the strategic course of Ukraine towards NATO membership is written in the Ukrainian laws, and it is supported by the leadership of our country. Any differences of vision are related to the tactical aspects of Euro-Atlantic integration.
In terms of public support, the majority of the Ukrainians consider that =
the
society doesn't have enough information about NATO to make a deliberate
decision whether Ukraine should or shouldn't become a member.
Specifically, according to the results of the poll conducted recently by =
the
company "FOM-Ukraine" (translated as "Fund of Public Opinion") 62.2% of
Ukrainians say that they lack information about NATO. In general, 45.4% =
of
Ukrainians don't support the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, 38.6% support
the accession and 16.1% are undecided.
At the same time, the poll showed that if the referendum took place in =
the
near future, 59.9% would vote against Ukraine joining NATO, 16.9% would
support this idea and 8.4% are undecided. But 28.8% of respondents noted
that they could change their attitude towards NATO if they received more
information about this organization, 46.9% wouldn't change their opinion =
and
24.3% didn't give an answer.
On January 26, 2007 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
Prime-Minister V. Yanukovych emphasized that the current budget is the =
first
one since Ukraine's independence that provides funds for educating the
public about NATO.
In his view, such policy "will develop positive perception" of NATO by =
the
Ukrainian society and "facilitate the process of Euro-Atlantic =
integration
of Ukraine".
Meanwhile, Ukraine is developing practical cooperation with the Alliance =
in
the framework of the Intensified Dialogue, and in the hope of receiving =
an
invitation to the Membership Action Plan in the near future.
As an example of such cooperation, the implementation of the =
NATO-Ukraine
Action Plan for 2006 involved over 50 ministries and governmental
organizations of Ukraine. There has been created a special National =
System
of Coordination of Ukraine's Cooperation with NATO.
Speaking of practical examples of such cooperation, I can mention, for
instance, the utilization of old ammunition. Ukrainians are thankful to =
the
Canadian Government for participating in this project.
NATO is also providing assistance in the development of science and
computerization of Ukrainian universities, civil training of =
decommissioned
officers. In December of 2006 the President of Ukraine issued a decree
authorizing the participation of Ukrainian Navy in the anti-terrorist
operation "Active Endeavour" in the Mediterranean Sea.
And the latest example, which shows not only the effectiveness of
Ukraine-NATO relations but also the strength of the partnership between
Ukraine and Canada, is the decision of President Victor Yuschenko to =
send 10
Ukrainian peacekeepers to Afghanistan, who will be there contributing to =
the
fight against terrorism shoulder to shoulder with their Canadian =
colleagues.
We consider NATO as a stabilizing factor in the world, and Ukraine is an
integral part of the European security system. Ukraine's place is in =
Europe,
and it will continue moving on the path towards integration into =
European
and Euro-Atlantic structures.
4. MULTILATERAL AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES Touching briefly on Ukraine's multilateral and regional initiatives, I should mention Ukraine's participation in the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict.
In 2006, the settlement process followed the plan elaborated by =
President
V. Yuschenko, that provided measures for conducting negotiations,
demilitarizing the region and promoting democratic transformations. =
Ukraine
is actively working in partnership with the OSCE on the peaceful =
resolution
of this conflict.
In the context of regional and multilateral initiatives we should also
mention the union of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova (GUAM),
which in May of 2006 was transformed into an international Organization =
for
Democracy and Economic Development -- GUAM with the headquarters in
Kyiv.
Another success story is the establishment by nine East European =
countries
have established in Kyiv in December 2005 the union called Community of
Democratic Choice, whose aim is to promote democracy and human rights
in the Baltic-Black-Caspian sea region.
As a token of recognition of Ukraine's reputation in the field of human rights, I am proud to say that in 2006 Ukraine was elected to the newly created UN Human Rights Council.
[Recognition Of Holodomor As Act Of Genocide Against Ukrainian People]
Speaking of our work in the framework of the UN, one of our significant
tasks is the universal recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-33 in =
Ukraine as
an act of genocide against Ukrainian people.
Recently the Ukrainian Parliament passed the law recognizing as genocide this one of the greatest atrocities in the history of mankind, that took lives of between 7 and 10 million people, almost a quarter of Ukraine's population.
Recognition of Holodomor as genocide is important not only for Ukraine, =
but
for preventing such horrors from ever happening in the future in any =
part of
the world.
We are thankful to the Senate of Canada for adopting on June 19, 2003 a
motion introduced by Senator Raynell Andreychuk calling on the =
Government
of Canada to recognize the famine -- Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine as
genocide.
Ukraine is planning to submit to the UN General Assembly a draft of the
respective resolution, and hope that on the 75th Anniversary of this =
tragedy
it will be adopted by the international community.
Our biggest neighbor and one of our biggest partners is Russia. As Prime
Minister Yanukovych emphasized, in developing our relations "Ukraine, =
like
our Russian partners, proceed, first and foremost, from our own national
interests".
However, Ukraine's pragmatism in pursuing its national interests in
relations with Russia must not be mistaken for a desire to complicate =
these
relations. In fact, it is just the opposite.
The Presidents of the two countries direct the Governments, politicians =
and
societies of Ukraine and Russia at reaching constructive solutions of =
all
issues that we inherited from the past.
Maintaining and developing good-neighbourly relations with the Russian
Federation is one of the main priorities of Ukraine's foreign policy. As
Russian President Putin said, cooperation between Ukraine and Russia "is
developing in the highly dynamically and effectively, and is an example =
of
reliability in the long-term perspective".
On December 22, 2006 Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a working visit to Ukraine. During this visit there was the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission presided by the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia.
In the words of President Yuschenko, this is a "qualitatively new =
mechanism
of relations between Ukraine and Russia", that provides for biannual
meetings between the leaders of the two countries. The next meeting is
planned for May or beginning of June of 2007.
Ukraine and Russia are working constructively on resolving such =
complicated
bilateral matters as delimitation and demarcation of borders, the issue =
of
the Kerch Straight, regulating the issues around the temporary =
dislocation
of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the territory of Ukraine, formation of =
the
free trade area.
Until the next Intergovernmental Commission meeting the parties agreed =
to
elaborate the text of the declaration on strategic partnership between
Ukraine and Russia which will set out strategic positions of the two
countries on the key issues.
A principal factor in Ukraine-Russia relations is energy cooperation.
Ukraine's delegation to this year's World Economic Forum in Davos =
offered
suggestions to join the efforts of Russia and the European Union aimed =
at
increasing the supplies of energy carriers to Europe, among other =
things, by
modernizing Ukrainian oil and gas pipelines.
Commenting in Davos on the issue of Ukraine's dependency upon Russia in
terms of energy supplies, Prime Minister Yanukovych stated that Kyiv =
looks
at this matter from the vantage point of partnership relations with =
Russia.
The Head of Government added that Ukraine is studying the possibilities =
of
diversifying its energy supplies, namely, lowering the supplies from =
Russia,
extending the output in Ukraine and importing energy carriers from other
areas, primarily from the countries of the Caspian region.
Speaking of Ukraine's strategic partners I must mention the United =
States,
which has been a consistent supporter of democratic transformations in
Ukraine since the dawn of our independence.
The year 2006 was marked by such events as ending the application of the
Jackson-Vanik amendment, removing trade sanctions on Ukrainian goods,
recognizing Ukraine as a market economy country, renewing the benefits =
under
the Generalized System of Preferences, signing of bilateral market =
access
protocol within the framework of the WTO, considerably increasing U.S.
financial assistance for democratic and economic reforms in Ukraine and =
for
the Chornobyl Shelter project.
The U.S. is one of the biggest investors in Ukraine's economy (over 1.3 billion dollars) and one of the biggest donors of financial assistance (almost 3 billion dollars). Our countries are closely cooperating in the fight against terrorism, resolution of frozen conflicts, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating organized crime and illegal migration.
At the end of my speech I would like to say a few words about Ukraine's relations with Canada.
6. UKRAINE-CANADA RELATIONS
Canada occupies a special place in the heart of every Ukrainian. Our
countries share close historical and family ties, as well as common =
values
and beliefs, such as freedom, democracy, rule of law.
Four waves of Ukrainian immigration have created one of the biggest
communities in Canada, which, according to Statistics Canada, amounts to
almost 1.2 million people. For over two centuries the Ukrainian language =
is
spoken in the Canadian prairies, in Alberta oil rigs, in federal and
provincial legislatures and ministries, in hockey stadiums and =
university
classrooms.
An outstanding son of the Ukrainian land, the Right Honourable Ramon Hnatyshyn from 1990 to 1995 was the Governor-General of Canada.
15 years ago Canada was the first Western country that on December 2, =
1991
recognized Ukraine's independence, on the day following the historical
December 1, 1991 Referendum where 90.3% Ukrainians voted for
independence of their land. The political courage and vision of the =
Canadian
leadership that voiced its support of Ukraine's independence will always =
be
remembered.
As a token of appreciation, on December 04, 2006 President Victor =
Yuschenko
awarded the Order of Kniaz (King) Yaroslav the Wise to the Right =
Honourable
Brian Mulroney "for his defining personal role in Canada's recognition =
of
the independence of Ukraine, and considerable contribution in the
development of Ukrainian-Canadian relations".
A few days ago, on January 27, 2007 we celebrated the 15th Anniversary =
of
establishing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Canada.
On March 31, 1994 Ukraine and Canada signed the Joint Declaration on =
Special
Partnership, which was adapted to the new realities of the 21st century =
in
the Joint Declaration on Continuing Development of the Special =
Partnership
between Ukraine and Canada which was signed in Kyiv on December 5, 2001.
We appreciate Canada's consistent support of Ukraine in such crucial =
areas
as helping us cope with the consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear =
disaster,
providing financial assistance in excess of 66 million Canadian dollars =
as
well as playing a leading role in the G-8 addressing this issue.
Canada has always backed our accession to NATO, as well as has been a
proponent of Ukraine's accession to the WTO. Our countries signed the
bilateral market access protocol in 2002, and we appreciate the work of
Canadian Sergio Marchi as the Chair of the WTO Working Group on =
Ukraine's
accession.
We truly appreciate Canada's technical assistance to Ukraine and the =
work of
the Canadian International Development Agency, as well as our =
cooperation
under the Military Training Assistance Program.
Recently, Canada's outspoken position and the largest observer mission =
have
been critical during the days of the Orange Revolution. Canadian =
Ambassador
to Ukraine His Excellency Andrew Robinson organized his colleagues from =
the
Western missions on monitoring the Presidential elections in 2004.
Among the leaders of the observer mission were the present Chair of the
Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (which, by the way, =
includes
over 150 Members of Parliament) Peter Goldring, M.P., and Vice Chair =
Borys
Wrzesnewskyj.
There are many examples of partnership ties between Ukraine and Canada.
They include peacekeeping, non-proliferation of weapons of mass =
destruction,
particularly within the framework of the Global Partnership, destruction =
and
prohibition of land mines under the Ottawa convention, protection of =
human
rights and advocating the ideals of freedom and democracy.
I am confident that Ukraine and Canada will remain true partners on the
international arena, and close and friendly relations between our =
countries
will only strengthen with time, and I see this as my primary task in my
capacity as Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada.
7. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would like to stress that Ukraine is open for dialogue =
and
cooperation on mutually beneficial terms with all countries. Our country
will continue to be an active, responsible and promising partner.
This is the task given to the Ukrainian Foreign Service by President =
Victor
Yuschenko who, according to his Constitutional powers, directs the =
foreign
policy of Ukraine.
The President has confirmed the irrevocability and consistency of =
Ukraine's
foreign policy course, and it is the duty of the Government, the Foreign
Ministry and Diplomatic Missions of Ukraine abroad, one of which I have
the honour to lead, to implement the course charted by the President and
established in Ukrainian laws.
Thank you for your attention.
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Politics, in Ukraine and Around the=20
World </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#800000> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080 size=3D5><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D3> =20
</FONT><STRONG>SILENCE OF AMERICA </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#000080> Now=
, with=20
Russian President Vladimir Putin bullying his=20
neighbors,<BR> manip=
ulating=20
the Russian media and throwing increasingly=20
audacious<BR> =
anti-American=20
tantrums, one would think U.S. policymakers would </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#000080> hav=
e </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080>the sense at least to maintain relatively modest VOA =
[&=20
RFE/RL]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
operations </FONT><FONT color=3D#000080>in and </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080>around the Russian Federation [including=20
Ukraine].<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
(Articles One to Three)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> &n=
bsp; <ST=
RONG> </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR =
- Number=20
818</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and =
Editor,=20
SigmaBleyzer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4>WASHINGTON, D.C., =
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19,=20
2007</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3DArial></FONT><BR> <STRONG=
> =20
<FONT size=3D5> -</FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>------- =
<FONT=20
color=3D#000080>INDEX OF ARTICLES =
</FONT>--------</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000> </FONT><FONT color=3D#000080> Clicking on the =
title of=20
any article takes you directly to the=20
article.  =
; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> Return to the Index by =
clicking=20
on Return to Index at the end of each article</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>1<A=20
name=3Di1>.</A> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
<A=20
href=3D"#a1">SILENCE OF=20
AMERICA</A><BR> =20
Cutting the VOA's presence in Mr. =
Putin's=20
neighborhood<BR>EDITORIAL: The Washington Post<BR>Washington, D.C., =
Friday,=20
February 16, 2007; Page A22<BR><BR>2<A name=3Di2>.<FONT=20
color=3D#000080> </FONT></A><FONT=20
color=3D#000080><A href=3D"#a2">U.S. BROADCASTING BUDGET PROPOSES =
REDUCTIONS</A>=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
<A href=3D"#a2">FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND</A> =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> =20
<A href=3D"#a2">RADIO =
FREE =20
EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (RFE/RL)</A><BR></FONT>Broadcasting Board of=20
Governors<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 05, 2007<BR><BR>3<A=20
name=3Di3>. &n=
bsp;<A=20
href=3D"#a3">LETTER-TO-THE EDITOR: "SILENCE OF AMERICA"</A> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3DArial> =
=20
<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> Cutting the VOA's Presence =
in Mr.=20
Putin's Neighborhood</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong</DIV>
<DIV>To: The Washington Post, <A=20
href=3D"mailto:letters@washpost.com">letters@washpost.com</A><A =
name=3Di3><BR>Sent:=20
Friday, February 16, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3</DIV>
<DIV>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV><FONT =
face=3DArial></FONT>
<DIV><BR>4<A name=3Di4>. <A href=3D"#a4">WORLD BANK SAYS UKRAINE =
MUST CREATE A=20
FAVORABLE</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a4">BUSINESS CLIMATE, =
CARRY OUT=20
REFORMS IN THE=20
PUBLIC<BR></A> =
<A=20
href=3D"#a4">SECTOR AND ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION=20
CAN<BR></A> &n=
bsp; =20
<A href=3D"#a4">ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH<BR></A>INTERVIEW: =
With Shigeo=20
Katsu, Vice-President,<BR>Europe and Central Asia Region, World =
Bank<BR>By=20
Vitalii Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, =
February 13, 2007<BR><BR>5<A name=3Di5>. <A =
href=3D"#a5">CAPITAL OUTFLOW=20
POSES ONE OF BIGGEST THREATS TO</A><BR> <A=20
href=3D"#a5">UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES YUSCHENKO =
SAYS<BR></A>Interfax=20
Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>6<A=20
name=3Di6>. <A href=3D"#a6">UKRAINE: BIG BUSINESS DOESN'T =
NEED FREE=20
ECONOMIC</A> </DIV>
<DIV> <A href=3D"#a6">ZONES & PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT TERRITORIES: =
AKHMETOV</A> <BR></DIV>
<DIV>Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, =
2007<BR><BR>7. <A=20
href=3D"#a">UKRAINIAN AGRARIAN CONFEDERATION WELCOMES=20
INCREASE</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a7">IN EXPORT =
QUOTAS FOR=20
GRAIN STORED IN PORT ELEVATORS<BR></A>Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation =
(UAC)=20
website, in Ukrainian<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, =
2007<BR>Action=20
Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 7, in English<BR>Kyiv, =
Ukraine,=20
Monday, February 19, 2007<BR><BR>8<A name=3Di8>. <A href=3D"#a8">UKRAINE =
TO RESUME=20
GRAIN EXPORT BY END OF FEBRUARY<BR></A>Korrespondent online (in =
Russian), Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Friday, Feb 16, 2007<BR>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, =
Article=20
8, in English<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, =
2007<BR><BR>9<A=20
name=3Di9>. </A><A href=3D"#a9">RUSSIAN =
GRAIN=20
ASSOCIATION VIEWS INTRODUCTION</A> </DIV>
<DIV> &n=
bsp;=20
<A href=3D"#a9">OF GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE=20
NEGATIVELY</A> <BR>Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News =
Agency<BR>Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007<BR><BR>10<A =
name=3Di10>. <A=20
href=3D"#a10">POLISH MEAT EXPORTERS TO UKRAINE TO QUICKLY </A></DIV>
<DIV> <A href=3D"#a10">REGAIN MARKET SHARE, BUT CUSTOM DUTY STILL=20
BARRIER<BR></A>Interfax Central Europe, Warsaw, Poland, Fri, February =
16,=20
2007<BR><BR>11<A name=3Di11>. <A href=3D"#a11">ROMANIA: =
DIALOGUE WITH=20
UKRAINE OVER=20
DISPUTED</A><BR> &nb=
sp; =20
<A href=3D"#a11">SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA<BR></A>New =
Europe, Athens,=20
Greece, Wed, February 14, 2007<BR><BR>12<A=20
name=3Di12>. <A =
href=3D"#a12">UKRAINE:=20
TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA=20
FLEET</A><BR> =
&=
nbsp; <A=20
href=3D"#a12">EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS BUT.......</A><BR>ANALYSIS & =
COMMENTARY: By=20
Volodymyr Obolonsky<BR>The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, =
February 19,=20
2007<BR><BR>13<A=20
name=3Di13>. &=
nbsp; <A=20
href=3D"#a13">UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S =
TEMPLE</A><BR> Air=20
pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface =
polluted<BR>ANALYSIS=20
& COMMENTARY: By Vatilii Kniazhansky<BR>The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, =
Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007<BR><BR>14<A name=3Di14>. <A =
href=3D"#a14">U.S.=20
ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS TO EXPLAIN PLANS</A> </DIV>
<DIV> <A href=3D"#a14">FOR =
CONSTRUCTION=20
OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN =
EUROPE</A><BR> =20
<A href=3D"#a14">SAYS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM=20
TAYLOR<BR></A>Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, =
2007<BR><BR>15<A name=3Di15>. <A href=3D"#a15">UKRAINIAN =
PRESIDENT'S AIDE SAYS=20
U.S. MISSILE=20
DEFENCE</A><BR> <A =
href=3D"#a15">BASES WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV> &n=
bsp; =20
<A href=3D"#a15">SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN =
EUROPE</A> </DIV>
<DIV>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07<BR>BBC =
Monitoring=20
Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007 <BR><BR>16<A=20
name=3Di16>. <A href=3D"#a16">UKRAINIAN INFLUENTIAL MP =
THREATENS TO=20
SUE FOR</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a16">LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" IS =
PUBLISHED=20
IN EUROPE<BR></A>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Feb 07<BR>BBC=20
Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>17<A =
name=3Di17>. <A=20
href=3D"#a17">UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TYMOSHENKO AIMS=20
TO</A><BR> <A =
href=3D"#a17">FORM RULING=20
COALITION WITH PRESIDENT'S PARTY</A> <BR>TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, =
Ukraine,in=20
Ukrainian 1900 gmt 17 Feb 07<BR>BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, =
February=20
17, 2007<BR><BR>18<A name=3Di18>. <A href=3D"#a18">TYMOSHENKO =
AGAINST=20
MEDIATOR'S PARTICIPATION IN</A> <BR><A href=3D"#a18">SUPPLYING GAS TO=20
UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO ROSUKRENERGO<BR></A>Ukrainian News Agency, =
Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007 <BR><BR>19<A=20
name=3Di19>. <=
A=20
href=3D"#a19">UKRAINE: KRUTY-2 ONLY A MATTER OF=20
TIME</A><BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Our post-genocidal society<BR>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By =
Oleksandr=20
Kramarenko<BR>The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13,=20
2007<BR><BR>20<A name=3Di20>. <A href=3D"#a20">DOCUMENTARY ABOUT =
THE UKRAINIAN=20
GENOCIDE OF</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a20">1932-1933 (HOLODOMOR) =
NOW=20
AVAILABLE IN DVD FORMAT<BR></A>Ukrainian Canadian Research & =
Documentation=20
Centre<BR>Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007<BR>Action Ukraine =
Report (AUR)=20
#818, Article 20<BR>Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>21<A name=3Di21>. <A =
href=3D"#a21">WHAT THE=20
VERHOVNA RADA ACTUALLY PASSED</A><BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#000080>1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the =
Ukrainian=20
people.<BR></FONT>Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, =
Nov 28,=20
2006<BR>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in =
English)<BR>Washington,=20
D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>22<A name=3Di22>. <A href=3D"#a22">UKRAINE: "ON THE CROSSROADS OF =
CULTURES,=20
INTERESTS<BR></A> <A href=3D"#a22">AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY =
OF REGIONS=20
DOMINATES CRIMEA<BR></A>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor =
Khomenko<BR>Holos=20
Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3<BR>BBC =
Monitoring=20
Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>23<A=20
name=3Di23>. <=
/A><A=20
href=3D"#a23">UKRAINE'S FOREIGN POLICY AT THE=20
BEGINNING</A><BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;=20
<A href=3D"#a23">OF THE 21ST CENTURY</A><BR>ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. =
Ihor=20
Ostash<BR>Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada<BR>University of Ottawa, =
Ottawa,=20
Ontario, Canada<BR>Wednesday, February 7, 2007</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition</DIV>
<DIV>Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007<BR><A=20
name=3Di30>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>1<A=20
name=3Da1>. </A> &nbs=
p; =20
<FONT color=3D#000080=20
size=3D5><STRONG>SILENCE OF=20
AMERICA<BR></STRONG></FONT> &nbs=
p; =20
<FONT color=3D#000080> Cutting the VOA's =
presence in Mr.=20
Putin's neighborhood<BR><BR></FONT>EDITORIAL: The Washington =
Post<BR>Washington,=20
D.C., Friday, February 16, 2007; Page A22<BR><BR>FOR DECADES, the Voice =
of=20
America and its sister broadcasting<BR>organizations offered a =
remarkably=20
balanced alternative to state-controlled<BR>media all over the world, =
buoying=20
dissident movements and undermining<BR>anti-American dictatorships for a =
relatively small investment.<BR><BR>Soviet citizens even learned how to=20
reconfigure their radios to break<BR>through the jamming signals their=20
government used to interrupt VOA and<BR>British Broadcasting Corp.=20
programming.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Now, with Russian President =
Vladimir=20
Putin bullying his neighbors,<BR>manipulating the Russian media and =
throwing=20
increasingly audacious<BR>anti-American tantrums, one would think U.S.=20
policymakers would have </FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>the sense at least to maintain relatively =
modest VOA=20
operations in and </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>around the Russian =
Federation.<BR></FONT><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>Yet President Bush's recently released 2008 budget =
proposal does=20
just the<BR>opposite, cutting VOA programming for a range of post-Soviet =
states=20
to<BR>finance programming expansion in other areas of the=20
world</FONT>.<BR><BR>The White House's proposed reprioritization of VOA=20
broadcasting moves<BR>money out of operations aimed at the large and =
largely=20
Muslim country of<BR>Uzbekistan. Broadcasting into neighboring =
Kazakhstan is=20
also being cut.<BR><BR>The citizens of both countries live under =
illiberal=20
regimes, and<BR>Uzbekistan's brutal dictatorship is of the sort that =
incubates=20
religious<BR>fundamentalism and anti-Americanism.<BR><BR>Voice of =
America's=20
half-hour of radio and half-hour of television<BR>programming in Uzbek, =
says a=20
VOA staff member, provide about the only<BR>direct contact Uzbeks have =
with the=20
United States and the only unvarnished<BR>news in the region. Meanwhile, =
the=20
highly controlled Russian media beam<BR>their often misleading =
programming in=20
with ease.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Mr. Bush's budget also proposes =
reductions=20
in Ukrainian-language VOA<BR>programming to serve a country struggling =
to=20
Westernize in the shadow<BR>of Mr. Putin's increasingly lawless=20
regime.<BR></FONT><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Mr. Bush should be eager to =
encourage=20
democratic forces in Ukraine, as<BR>well as in Kazakhstan and =
Uzbekistan, not=20
further limit their sources of<BR>information about the United=20
States.<BR></FONT><BR>The price of such programs is so low that federal=20
financial constraints<BR>are hardly an excuse to kill them; a relatively =
tiny=20
increase in the VOA's<BR>budget would make a world of=20
difference. &n=
bsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/15/A=
R2007021501583.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article=
/2007/02/15/AR2007021501583.html</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i1">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>2<A=20
name=3Da2>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080> U.S. BROADCASTING =
BUDGET PROPOSES=20
REDUCTIONS </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> =20
FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY=20
(RFE/RL)<BR><BR></FONT>Broadcasting Board of Governors<BR>Washington, =
D.C.,=20
Monday, February 05, 2007<BR><BR>WASHINGTON - The proposed fiscal year =
2008=20
budget for U.S.<BR>international broadcasting calls for an overall =
increase of=20
3.8% from<BR>the anticipated fiscal year 2007 level that strengthens=20
targeted<BR>programming to provide essential access to news and =
information=20
to<BR>critical audiences.<BR><BR>The budget proposal is also aimed at =
increasing=20
overall audience reach<BR>around the world by utilizing the latest =
technology=20
and strengthening<BR>transmission capability.<BR><BR>Of the Broadcasting =
Board=20
of Governors' (BBG) $668.2 million request,<BR>$142.4 million is =
allocated for=20
programming to the Near East, South, Central<BR>Asia and Eurasia, $116 =
million=20
for Arabic language programming, $67.2<BR>million for East Asia, $45 =
million for=20
Latin America and $13.6 million for<BR>Africa.<BR><BR>The proposal =
includes=20
enhancements the agency believes are pivotal to<BR>promoting freedom and =
democracy and enhancing understanding in key<BR>regions. They=20
include:<BR><BR>[1] Establishing a 10-hour coordinated stream of Voice =
of=20
America (VOA)<BR>and Radio Free Asia (RFA) daily programming to North=20
Korea.<BR>[2] Launching a daily three-hour live Alhurra television =
program=20
produced<BR>and broadcast from the Middle East.<BR>[3] Continuing VOA's =
Somali=20
Service's 30 minute daily radio broadcast<BR>scheduled to launch =
February 12,=20
2007, to the millions of Somali speakers </DIV>
<DIV>in Somalia, Djibouti and the greater Horn of Africa.<BR>[4] =
Improving Radio=20
and TV Mart=ED's reach into Cuba through additional<BR>transmission =
capability and=20
enhancing the production of the programming.<BR>VOA programming to Cuba =
would be=20
increased to 7 days a week.<BR><BR>The budget also fully funds =
initiatives begun=20
in FY 2006 to critical Muslim<BR>audiences. These include the expansion =
of VOA=20
television to Iran to a 12<BR>hour stream, VOA Pashto radio programming =
to the=20
Afghanistan/Pakistan </DIV>
<DIV>border region, television programs to Afghanistan and Pakistan and =
Alhurra=20
</DIV>
<DIV>Europe, the 24/7 service to Arabic speakers in Europe.<BR><BR>To =
fund these=20
initiatives and mandatory cost increases, the request proposes<BR>the =
following=20
savings: elimination of VOA and RFA broadcasts in Cantonese<BR>as well =
as VOA=20
Uzbek.<BR><BR><FONT size=3D4><STRONG><FONT color=3D#800000>Reductions to =
the=20
following:</FONT><BR></STRONG></FONT><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG>[1]=20
Ukrainian broadcasts by both VOA and Radio Free </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG> Europe/=20
Radio Liberty (RFE/RL);<BR></STRONG></FONT>[2] Tibetan broadcasts by VOA =
and=20
RFA;<BR>[3] VOA Portuguese to Africa; and<BR>[4] broadcasts in Romanian, =
South=20
Slavic and Kazakh by RFE/RL.<BR><BR>Other savings will come from =
reductions in=20
support services.<BR><BR>The FY 2008 request also includes several =
enhancements=20
and reductions<BR>requested in FY 2007. These include funds to increase=20
Alhurra's live news<BR>capacity to 24 hours a day; expansion of VOA =
Spanish=20
language programming<BR>to Venezuela; additional transmission =
capabilities for=20
RFE/RL Russian and<BR>RFA Korean broadcasts and increased funding for =
employee=20
training and<BR>award programs.<BR><BR>Proposed reductions for FY 2007 =
included=20
in the FY 2008 request include<BR>eliminating VOA broadcasts in =
Croatian, Greek,=20
Georgian and Thai as well<BR>as RFE/RL broadcasts in =
Macedonian.<BR><BR>The=20
request includes eliminating VOA radio broadcasts but =
continuing<BR>television=20
programming in the following languages: Serbian, Albanian,<BR>Bosnian,=20
Macedonian, Hindi and Russian.<BR><BR>The proposal also calls for =
discontinuing=20
14 hours a day of VOA NewsNow<BR>English broadcasts while maintaining =
VOA's=20
English to Africa and Special<BR>English services and continuing to =
strengthen=20
VOA English on the Internet.<BR><BR>The Broadcasting Board of Governors =
is an=20
independent federal agency which<BR>supervises all U.S. =
government-supported,=20
non-military international<BR>broadcasting, including The Voice of =
America=20
(VOA); Radio Free Europe/Radio<BR>Liberty (RFE/RL); the Middle East =
Broadcasting=20
Networks (Alhurra TV and<BR>Radio Sawa); Radio Free Asia (RFA); and the =
Office=20
of Cuba Broadcasting<BR>(Radio and TV Mart=ED).<BR><BR>Through its =
broadcast=20
services, the BBG provides the United States and its<BR>leaders direct =
and=20
immediate access to a worldwide audience of 140 million<BR>people. =
Current=20
governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin F.<BR>Blaya, =
Blanquita W.=20
Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman,<BR>Steven J. Simmons, =
and Mark=20
McKinnon. Secretary of State Condoleezza<BR>Rice serves as an ex officio =
member. =
=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=3D142&mode=3Dgener=
al">http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=3D142&mode=3Dgeneral</=
A><BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i2">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>3<A=20
name=3Da3>.</A> <STRONG><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4> =
LETTER-TO-THE EDITOR:=20
"SILENCE OF AMERICA"</FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3DArial> =
=20
<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#000080>Cutting the VOA's =
Presence in=20
Mr. Putin's Neighborhood</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV>LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong</DIV>
<DIV>To: The Washington Post, <A=20
href=3D"mailto:letters@washpost.com">letters@washpost.com</A><BR>Sent: =
Friday,=20
February 16, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3</DIV>
<DIV>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV><BR>February 16, 2007<BR>Letters-to-the-Editor: Washington =
Post<BR>1150=20
15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20071<BR><BR>RE: Editorial - =
"Silence=20
of America: Cutting the VOA's Presence in Mr.<BR>Putin's Neighborhood" =
The=20
Washington Post (Feb 16, 2007)<BR><BR>Dear Sir/Madam:<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>As a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who served in =
Ukraine, I=20
can<BR>personally attest to how penny-wise but pound-foolish is the =
White=20
House<BR>proposal to slash funding for Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts =
in=20
that<BR>country and other former Soviet bloc nations.<BR><BR>VOA and =
affiliated=20
U.S.-sponsored programs are not only regularly listened<BR>to by very =
large=20
audiences but also provide one of the most cost-effective<BR>and =
positive=20
image-building strategies for the United States and=20
American<BR>ideals.<BR><BR>For Ukraine, where VOA broadcasts are playing =
an=20
important role in helping<BR>democracy to slowly take root, cutting the =
agency's=20
budget might save a<BR>few dollars in the short term, but the =
longer-term=20
adverse political</FONT> cost<BR>would be vastly =
greater.<BR><BR>Sincerely, Ken=20
Bossong<BR>U.S. Peace Corps volunteer - Ukraine (2000-2003), Takoma =
Park, MD=20
<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i3">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>4<A=20
name=3Da4>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>WORLD BANK SAYS UKRAINE MUST =
CREATE A=20
FAVORABLE<BR> BUSINESS CLIMATE, CARRY OUT =
REFORMS IN THE=20
PUBLIC<BR> SECTOR =
AND=20
ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION=20
CAN<BR> =
=20
ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH</FONT><BR><BR>INTERVIEW: With Shigeo =
Katsu,=20
Vice-President,<BR>Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank<BR>By =
Vitalii=20
Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, =
February 13,=20
2007<BR><BR>My meeting with Shigeo Katsu, the vice-president for the =
Europe and=20
Central<BR>Asia Region of the World Bank, took place on Feb. 6 when the =
World=20
Bank<BR>Mission opened a new office in Kyiv.<BR><BR>Katsu pursued his =
graduate=20
studies at the University of Tokyo and obtained </DIV>
<DIV>a diploma in International Economics and International Relations =
from=20
the<BR>Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.<BR><BR>He speaks fluent Japanese, =
English,=20
French, and German and has a working<BR>knowledge of Chinese and =
Russian. He has=20
worked at the World Bank for 27<BR>years and is a noted expert on =
international=20
economic relations.<BR><BR>The first topic of my conversation with =
Shigeo Katsu=20
was photography,<BR>because on his desk was a calendar of prize-winning=20
photographs from The<BR>Day's 8th international competition, published =
by the=20
World Bank in<BR>collaboration with our newspaper.<BR><BR>"We do these =
kinds of=20
things in Washington, in our Europe region, and in<BR>Central Asia," he =
said and=20
offered to exchange photos. Needless to say,<BR>The Day gratefully=20
agreed.<BR><BR>[The Day] Does the grand opening of the new office of the =
World=20
Bank's<BR>Mission signify a new stage in its relations with=20
Ukraine?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: Thanks for putting your question so nicely. It is =
a very=20
timely<BR>question because the opening of the new office coincides with =
my=20
colleagues<BR>launching consultations here in Kyiv with your government =
and=20
civil society<BR>in regard to a new strategy for Ukraine's partnership =
with the=20
World Bank<BR>Group for the next three to four years.<BR><BR>Of course, =
this new=20
partnership strategy will be planned in an environment<BR>that will be=20
considerably different from the previous one.<BR><BR>[The Day] As I =
understand,=20
you had an important international conference </DIV>
<DIV>in Kyiv today. What decisions were passed?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: It was an =
internal=20
meeting of the World Bank's Europe and Central<BR>Asia regional team. We =
discussed matters relating to business planning. It<BR>was interesting =
and=20
informative because Ukraine is a medium-level profit<BR>country that is =
actively=20
evolving and quickly moving forward.<BR><BR>We discussed ways to improve =
cooperation between the World Bank Group<BR>and Ukraine. Our conclusions =
are=20
largely rooted in the assumption that the<BR>new partnership strategy =
will be=20
carried out in a new environment here.<BR><BR>[The Day] Before =
discussing the=20
new strategy of relations between the<BR>World Bank and Ukraine, I would =
like to=20
hear your views on the previous<BR>stage. Was everything in order or was =
something preventing projects from<BR>being implemented?</DIV>
<DIV><BR> &nbs=
p; <FONT=20
color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG> =
SUPPORTING FOUR KEY=20
SPHERES<BR></STRONG></FONT>Sh.K.: Our partnership strategy with Ukraine, =
which=20
is still in effect, was<BR>mostly aimed at supporting four key=20
spheres:<BR><BR> [1] economic growth and=20
competitiveness;<BR> [2] matters relating to =
state=20
administration and its transparency;<BR> [3] =
social=20
protection and social security of the population;=20
and<BR> [4] stable progress in the sphere of=20
environmental protection.<BR></FONT><BR>Speaking of the results, greater =
progress has been made in the first two<BR>spheres; in the other two, =
work is=20
still underway.<BR><BR>As for the instruments of cooperation, my =
impression is=20
that everyone in<BR>Kyiv knows that there is an instrument known as the=20
development strategy<BR>loan.<BR><BR>It has been introduced and carried =
out=20
rather effectively. In terms of<BR>investment loans, better work has =
been done=20
in the sphere of infrastructure.<BR><BR>In the sphere of human resources =
-=20
matters relating to education and health<BR>care - the implementation =
process=20
has turned out a bit slower. We have very<BR>successful experience in =
the sphere=20
of state administration, particularly in<BR>modernizing the State =
Treasury of=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR>[The Day] There were no obstacles and everything was =
proceeding=20
normally?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: As you know, a number of important political =
events have=20
taken place<BR>in Ukraine. I mean the elections and instability, in the =
sense=20
that we had<BR>to wait for the government to be formed, and so =
on.<BR><BR>But=20
work continued on the practical level, also, as I mentioned earlier, =
in<BR>the=20
course of implementing a number of joint investment projects, =
for<BR>example, in=20
the sphere of health care, education, and agricultural<BR>development. =
Of=20
course, this process proved to be slower.<BR><BR>[The Day] How does the =
new=20
partnership strategy differ from the previous<BR>project whose term is =
ending?=20
What other new opportunities for<BR>collaboration with the World Bank =
will open=20
up for Ukraine?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: As I said before, we are at quite an early =
stage=20
of preparing a new<BR>partnership strategy with Ukraine. Our =
consultations are=20
just starting, so<BR>it may be too early to discuss this aspect, =
although I do,=20
of course, have<BR>my own views.<BR><BR>I think that it will be more =
important=20
for your readers to know about our<BR>joint perspective on what has =
changed in=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>ECONOMIC GROWTH =
DESPITE=20
POLITICAL INSTABILITY<BR></STRONG></FONT>The World Bank Group is well =
aware of=20
the fact that Ukraine has shown<BR>quick economic growth despite =
political=20
instability. Your economy has<BR>been developing very well, and we can =
see that=20
the private sector has been<BR>restructured.<BR><BR>We believe that the=20
Ukrainian economy is quite strong. We assume that its<BR>growth in the =
next four=20
or five years will be significant, even if not at<BR>such a quick pace =
as=20
before, because for some time it will largely depend </DIV>
<DIV>on the long-term trend in the international situation.<BR><BR>How =
long will=20
the world market maintain such low interest rates? Will there<BR>be as =
much=20
spare cash as now? In principle, Ukraine has good =
prospects.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>If you want to know whether Ukraine will be able to =
maintain this=20
growth<BR>rate without continuing reforms, we think this will be very =
difficult=20
to<BR>accomplish. In this sense Ukraine is no exception to the rule.=20
Many<BR>countries in a similar situation are facing these kinds of=20
problems.</FONT><BR><BR> &=
nbsp; =20
<FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG>UKRAINE MUST, IN OUR =
OPINION....<BR></STRONG></FONT>In order to maintain this growth rate, =
increase=20
its competitiveness in the<BR>world, draw closer to the more advanced =
countries,=20
and increase its per<BR>capita income, Ukraine must, in our=20
opinion,<BR><BR> [1] create a favorable business =
climate,<BR> [2] carry out reforms in the public =
sector,=20
and<BR> [3] ensure that the population can enjoy =
the=20
fruits of economic growth.<BR></FONT><BR>All this is impossible without =
further=20
reform. As for competitiveness, it<BR>certainly requires progress in =
innovative=20
policies, particularly in the<BR>investment sphere, so that the problem =
of=20
developing new technologies is<BR>resolved.<BR><BR>A favorable =
environment=20
should be created by upgrading corporate<BR>management. Of course, these =
aspects=20
are very important.<BR><BR>In order to enhance the effectiveness of the =
public=20
sector, Ukraine must on<BR>the one hand set about creating the so-called =
fiscal=20
space, without which it<BR>is impossible to double government =
investments in the=20
sector of<BR>infrastructure.<BR><BR>This sector suffered the worst from =
the=20
recessive transition period of the<BR>1990s, when there were no =
investments made=20
in infrastructure.<BR><BR>Ukraine's location between the European Union =
and=20
Russia makes it a<BR>bridge of sorts, a sphere of transportation =
logistics, a=20
transportation<BR>corridor for an open economy from the standpoint of =
both=20
infrastructure,<BR>software, and assistance to trade.<BR><BR>Enhancing=20
competitiveness, of course, requires larger investments in =
the<BR>private=20
sector, although government investments must continue. Actually<BR>this =
is why=20
that fiscal space has to be built.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG> =20
TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENT OF MUNICIPAL=20
SERVICES<BR> AND QUALITY =
OF=20
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION<BR></STRONG></FONT>There are two other spheres that =
we=20
talked about today. They are becoming<BR>increasing priorities. The =
first one is=20
a tangible improvement of municipal<BR>services in the regions, and, of =
course,=20
the quality of local<BR>administration, which is of great=20
importance.<BR><BR>Another serious sphere that I am constantly hearing =
about is=20
energy<BR>efficiency, in other words, energy saving that will also be a =
very=20
important<BR>aspect for the next couple of years, especially in view of =
rising=20
gas<BR>prices.<BR><BR>We will discuss all this with the Ukrainian =
leadership.=20
Mr. Birmingham will<BR>coordinate the process of creating a new =
partnership=20
strategy with Ukraine.<BR><BR>[The Day] So the World Bank will be =
channeling=20
investments into precisely<BR>these spheres?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: We will =
consult with=20
the government in regard to all these issues<BR>because we want to know =
their=20
opinion and to determine where, in your<BR>government's opinion, we =
should be=20
active, in which particular sphere.<BR><BR>To do so we have a number of =
existing=20
instruments: on the one hand,<BR>loans for concrete projects, but we can =
also do=20
analytical reports, help<BR>with institutional progress, and provide=20
technological assistance.<BR><BR>Here we are not necessarily talking big =
loans.=20
I would also like to point<BR>out the role being played by our =
colleagues, our=20
partners from the<BR>International Finance Corporation; unlike us, they =
handle=20
the private<BR>sector.<BR><BR>[The Day] Enhancing Ukraine's =
competitiveness on=20
the world market takes<BR>high-tech projects and scientifically =
intensive=20
products.<BR><BR>During your previous meetings with Ukrainian officials, =
did you=20
get the<BR>sense that they want to move in this direction? Perhaps Mr.=20
Birmingham<BR>will have more to say on this subject?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: Paul =
can=20
certainly give better answers to questions relating to<BR>discussions =
with your=20
government. As for the crux of your question, I can<BR>say that many =
countries=20
are seeking investments in the high-tech sphere.<BR><BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000>But=20
in our opinion, this is work in the private sector, whereas the role=20
of<BR>government consists of improving the business environment so as=20
to<BR>attract investments to this sphere.<BR></FONT><BR>In other words, =
the=20
point in question is a high-tech policy and creation of<BR>science and=20
technology parks. This is much better than direct =
government<BR>investments in=20
these sectors of the economy. It is necessary to create a<BR>business=20
environment that can be attractive and helpful.<BR><BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000>Here=20
we are interested in measures aimed at developing an =
investment<BR>strategy to=20
enhance human potential, education, and the real connection<BR>between =
these=20
factors and economic activities. This may have a number of<BR>aspects, =
including=20
the use of both start-up and venture capital.</FONT><BR><BR>A great deal =
of such=20
experience has been accumulated elsewhere in the world,<BR>particularly =
in the=20
United States. Now I think Paul can add to my answer.<BR><BR>Birmingham: =
I think=20
that Mr. Katsu has given you a rather exhaustive answer.<BR>Of course, =
we will=20
continue discussions with the Ukrainian government about<BR>how this set =
of=20
problems can evolve, but I think that he has sufficiently<BR>covered =
this=20
particular aspect.<BR><BR>[The Day] Can you absolutely trust our =
government to=20
secure effective<BR>cooperation, effective utilization, and of course, =
effective=20
repayment of<BR>the funds provided by the World Bank? What does your =
past=20
experience<BR>say?<BR><BR>Sh.K. (in Russian): Of course, we have =
confidence.=20
Your government has<BR>demonstrated its abilities. We have received very =
good=20
results from the<BR>introduction of projects in the sphere of =
infrastructure,=20
although at the<BR>beginning we probably had to make some corrections. =
But it=20
was a<BR>mutually educational process.<BR><BR>As for the other sectors I =
have=20
mentioned and in which we faced some<BR>challenges, human resources =
sectors, we=20
must first ask ourselves: 'Was our<BR>communication with the government =
really=20
effective? Did we succeed in<BR>making our partners understand our =
objectives=20
and tasks?<BR><BR>Did the design of our projects reflect the =
restrictions being=20
imposed on the<BR>government? Did this design correctly reflect what our =
partners in<BR>government wanted to do?'<BR><BR>We must carefully study =
these=20
questions and work on them, so that the<BR>government can feel that =
these=20
projects are primarily Ukrainian ones.<BR>Objectively speaking, there =
were=20
certain procedural limitations.<BR><BR>It is also possible that some =
aspects of=20
the processing of the World Bank's<BR>project will prove to be of long =
duration,=20
so perhaps there is room for<BR>simplifying these procedures.<BR><BR>Of =
course,=20
we are also expecting some steps to be made by your<BR>government, =
particularly=20
in terms of government purchases, taxation,<BR>and so on.<BR><BR>[The =
Day] Don't=20
you think it's time Ukraine curbed its appetite for loans?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: =
Speaking of the public debt, it is a mere 16 percent of your =
GDP,<BR>which is=20
really a very low figure. It's not a lot at all.<BR><BR>If viewed in the =
context=20
of the future, we have already said, for example,<BR>that there must be =
huge=20
investments in the infrastructure, in other words,<BR>some 40 billion =
dollars=20
for the next ten years, or four billion a year. The<BR>same applies to =
other=20
spheres.<BR><BR>All told, this is twice the sums being invested. Let me =
say=20
again that<BR>Ukraine must create a fiscal space and enhance the =
effectiveness=20
of budget<BR>spending. Of course, a more reasonable approach to loans =
also=20
makes<BR>sense.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Here lowering tax rates can =
be of=20
great help while expanding the assessment<BR>basis and improving =
taxation=20
discipline. This will bring more revenues, ease<BR>the tax burden on =
business,=20
and create a better business environment.<BR></FONT><BR>[The Day] Do you =
have=20
any complaints about the Ukrainian banking sector<BR>through which World =
Bank=20
funds are provided to Ukraine?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: I don't think there are any =
problems in terms of security and<BR>reliability of World Bank funds =
passing=20
through the Ukrainian banking<BR>system. However, with your permission I =
will=20
make a general comment on<BR>the risks as we see them in the banking=20
system.<BR><BR>We are all witness to a very quick increase in credits =
both for=20
satisfying<BR>the investment needs of businesses and household consumer=20
needs.<BR><BR>We have seen a similar situation in other countries where =
a=20
precipitous rise<BR>in crediting creates a certain increased level of =
risks for=20
the banking<BR>system in general. The thing is that this happens in a =
situation=20
when the<BR>financial sector environment is not firmly =
established.<BR><BR>In=20
other words, on the one hand we see serious progress at the =
National<BR>Bank of=20
Ukraine (in terms of banking supervision), but =
progress<BR>notwithstanding, this=20
work is still underway, it still has to be completed,<BR>its potential =
has to be=20
upgraded.<BR><BR>As for the judicial system and the possibility of =
quickly=20
resolving<BR>commercial matters, defending creditors in court, the =
situation=20
remains<BR>mainly unsatisfactory.<BR><BR>Credits are also quickly =
increasing=20
against the backdrop of bank and<BR>corporate management that is far =
from=20
perfect, so this can and must be<BR>improved. In other words, all this =
quick=20
development is taking place while<BR>the banking system is rather=20
fragile.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>[The Day] You have a meetings =
scheduled with=20
Mr. Azarov. Will you ask<BR>him when Ukraine is going to lift the grain =
export=20
restrictions?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: Do you want me to ask this question? If so, =
I can=20
broach the subject,<BR>but I can't answer it at the =
moment.<BR></FONT><BR>[The=20
Day] Don't you think that Ukraine depends too much on foreign =
market<BR>demand?=20
If so, what should it do to reduce this dependence and =
increase<BR>domestic=20
market demand?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: The thing is that Ukraine is becoming =
increasingly=20
open in terms of<BR>the economy; it is successfully going through the =
process of=20
integrating<BR>into the world economy.<BR><BR>Ukraine has been showing =
very good=20
dynamics of progress since 2000, so<BR>without this dynamic growth, =
including on=20
foreign markets, Ukraine would<BR>not be evolving so=20
quickly.<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG>MUST SHARE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC=20
GROWTH<BR></STRONG></FONT>Why stop using these capacities? However, the =
key, the=20
main challenge for<BR>Ukraine's decision makers is the need to somehow =
share the=20
fruits of this<BR>quick economic growth with the broadest strata of the=20
population.<BR><BR>The dividends from this growth for the whole =
population must=20
be higher<BR>profits and lower prices. This is something an open economy =
will=20
provide<BR>in the best way than if the country tried to protect itself =
behind=20
closed<BR>doors.<BR></FONT><BR>Of course, it is only natural for Ukraine =
to=20
protect its positions and<BR>national interests, but the system of =
international=20
trade also offers an<BR>opportunity for protecting one's national=20
interests.<BR><BR>You have just given more answers to the previous =
question than=20
to this<BR>one.=20
(Laughter) &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
;=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A =
href=3D"http://www.day.kiev.ua/177117/">http://www.day.kiev.ua/177117/</A=
>.=20
Subheadings inserted </DIV>
<DIV>editorially by the Action Ukraine Report=20
(AUR).<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i4">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV> <FONT color=3D#800000> <FONT size=3D4>Send in =
names and=20
e-mail addresses for the AUR distribution=20
list.<BR></FONT></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>5<A=20
name=3Da5>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>CAPITAL OUTFLOW POSES ONE OF =
BIGGEST=20
THREATS TO<BR> UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES =
YUSCHENKO=20
SAYS</FONT><BR><BR>Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, =
February 16,=20
2007<BR><BR>KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko says capital =
outflow=20
poses </DIV>
<DIV>one of the biggest threats to the country's national =
security.<BR><BR>"The=20
scale of the capital outflow in the past 4 or 5 years from Ukraine =
<BR>indicates=20
that the phenomena is one of the basic threats to the national =
<BR>security of=20
Ukraine," Yuschenko said at a meeting of the National Security <BR>and =
Defense=20
Council in Kyiv on Friday.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Although there =
are no=20
official statistical data, it is said a colossal $12.9 <BR>billion left =
the=20
economy between 2004 and 2006, with $13.2 billion in </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>direct foreign investment flowing into the =
country,=20
Yuschenko said.<BR></FONT><BR>"We are proud of having this unique =
investment=20
inflow, especially over the <BR>past two years, but we must realize that =
the=20
same sum was taken out of . <BR>circulation [in Ukraine]," he said, =
according to=20
the press service of the <BR>president.<BR><BR>Given Ukraine's $6.7 =
billion=20
trade deficit, the tendency is particularly <BR>dangerous, Yuschenko =
said. "We=20
may soon be facing very serious </DIV>
<DIV>challenges, disrupting price and monetary stability," he =
said.<BR><BR>The=20
president said law enforcement agencies had been ineffective in =
<BR>preventing=20
capital outflow. He added that the government introduced no <BR>reforms=20
encouraging domestic investment.<BR><BR>"At this table, we must ask =
those in=20
charge of improving the investment <BR>climate why we have not yet =
created a=20
comfortable business environment </DIV>
<DIV>and why the black economy is flourishing," he said, slamming the =
State=20
</DIV>
<DIV>Committee for Financial Monitoring for failing to prevent murky =
financial=20
<BR>transactions.<BR><BR>The Friday meeting of the National Security and =
Defense=20
Council will also <BR>address the issue of international military =
maneuvers in=20
Ukraine in 2007.=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i5">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D <BR>6<A=
=20
name=3Da6>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINE: BIG BUSINESS =
DOESN'T NEED FREE=20
ECONOMIC </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000><FONT color=3D#000080>ZONES & PRIORITY =
DEVELOPMENT=20
TERRITORIES: AKHMET</FONT>OV </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, =
2007<BR><BR>KYIV -=20
Ukrainian billionaire and Regions Party MP Rinat Akhmetov says =
<BR>Ukraine's big=20
businesses doesn't need any special economic zones and <BR>priority =
development=20
territories.<BR><BR>"I am convinced that big business doesn't need =
preferences.=20
[Ukrainian] big <BR>business has grown up, and is capable of competing =
as an=20
equal player.<BR><BR>Big business is giving up preferences," Akhmetov =
said at a=20
meeting of the <BR>Ukrainian parliament committee for economic policies =
in=20
Donetsk on Thursday. </DIV>
<DIV>"We need an economically free country rather than the free economic =
zones,"=20
<BR>Akhmetov=20
said. &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i6">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>7<A=20
name=3Da7>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN AGRARIAN =
CONFEDERATION WELCOMES=20
INCREASE<BR> IN EXPORT QUOTAS FOR GRAIN STORED IN PORT=20
ELEVATORS</FONT><BR><BR>Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) website, =
in=20
Ukrainian<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007<BR>Action =
Ukraine Report=20
(AUR) #818, Article 7, in English<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, =
February=20
19, 2007<BR><BR>KYIV - The Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) has =
welcomed=20
the </DIV>
<DIV>decision by the cabinet of ministers to impose higher export quotas =
for=20
</DIV>
<DIV>grain stored in port elevators, saying it will help relieve the =
elevators=20
of </DIV>
<DIV>grain.<BR><BR>The cabinet decision tallies with the UGC position on =
the=20
issue which has <BR>been repeatedly publicized in recent =
time.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>In addition, the UGC views as absolutely logical further =
liberalization of <BR>the quote-setting policy, including canceling =
quotas for=20
the export of feed <BR>grain.<BR><BR></FONT>Simultaneously, UAC leaders =
are=20
convinced that such liberalization must be <BR>accompanied by a number =
of other=20
steps aimed at raising competitiveness </DIV>
<DIV>of Ukraine's feed sector. Judging by the statistics on the sales of =
underestimation of meat <BR>customs value as well as to study the =
prospects of=20
meat import via free <BR>economic zones.<BR><BR>In this respect, UAC =
experts=20
have stressed the importance of drawing up <BR>steps in advance to raise =
the=20
purchases of 2007 grain by the Agrarian Fund <BR>and the State Reserve, =
creating=20
conditions for the purchase by these state <BR>organizations of adequate =
grain=20
supplies in July-August and eventually <BR>eliminating the issue of =
export=20
quotas imposition.<BR><BR>For the record, the cabinet of ministers of =
Ukraine=20
has increased grain <BR>export quotas for the 2006/2007 marketing=20
year.<BR><BR>According to the Ministry for Agrarian Policy press =
service, an=20
appropriate <BR>cabinet resolution #185 of Feb. 13, 2007 "On making =
changes in=20
the cabinet <BR>of ministers resolution of Dec. 8, 2006 #1701" has been =
signed=20
by Premier <BR>Yanukovych.<BR><BR>Accordingly, the grain export quota =
valid till=20
the end of 2006/2007 will be <BR>increased to 864,000 tons, including =
606,000=20
tons for barley, 30,000 tons <BR>for maize, and 228,000 tons for=20
wheat.<BR><BR>The resolution comes into force on publication. In =
addition, the=20
MAP press <BR>service notes that the ministry is currently drawing up a=20
resolution <BR>canceling export quotas for wheat, maize and=20
barley. =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR> LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.agroconf.org/uk/node/562">http://www.agroconf.org/uk/n=
ode/562</A><BR>----------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>FOOTNOTE: This article translated from Ukrainian to English for =
the</DIV>
<DIV>exclusive use of the Action Ukraine Report (AUR) by Volodymyr</DIV>
<DIV>Hrytsutenko, Lviv, Ukraine. </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i7">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#000080> </FONT><FONT color=3D#800000> <FONT=20
size=3D4>NOTE: Send in a letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear =
from=20
you</FONT><STRONG><FONT=20
size=3D4>.<BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>8<A=20
name=3Da8>.</A> <FONT color=3D#800000><STRONG>UKRAINE TO RESUME =
GRAIN EXPORT BY=20
END OF FEBRUARY<BR></STRONG></FONT><BR>Korrespondent online (in=20
Russian)<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR>Action Ukraine =
Report=20
(AUR) #818, Article 8, in English<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, =
February 19, 2007<BR><BR>KYIV - By late February, the first stage of the =
deliveries of grain from <BR>port elevators to foreign clients will =
start,=20
President of the Ukrainian <BR>Grain Association, UGA, Volodymyr =
Klymenko=20
said.<BR><BR>According to the official, no deliveries took place in =
January as=20
grain <BR>traders did not risk chartering vessels before they had =
licenses on=20
their <BR>hands.<BR><BR>Klymenko noted that in this way grain exporters =
are=20
trying to avoid losses <BR>for idle time of vessels in ports. The first=20
deliveries will be started in <BR>accordance with licenses to be issued =
in line=20
with the cabinet resolution. </DIV>
<DIV><BR>It takes a month to get a license, Klymenko noted. With the =
time needed=20
to <BR>charter a vessel it adds up to 30 to 45 days.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>UGA president told that the losses of exporters due to =
idle time=20
of vessels <BR>in ports amount to $100 mn. In addition, he observed, =
10,000 tons=20
of grain <BR>cannot be saved as it cannot be used even as=20
fertilizer.<BR><BR>According to the UGA president, Ukraine can annually =
export=20
10.5 - 11 mn <BR>tons of grain, including 4 mn tons of wheat, 5.5 mn =
tons of=20
barley and 2 mn <BR>tons of maize.<BR></FONT><BR>Ukrainian President =
Yushchenko=20
has plans to discuss grain export and grain <BR>pricing with Premier =
Yanukovych,=20
Yushchenko said on Feb. 13 during his <BR>meeting with Dave Rogers, =
Cargill=20
Europe executive director and member of <BR>the Consultative council for =
foreign=20
investments in Ukraine.<BR><BR>According to Yushchenko, the government =
must look=20
for an alternative way, </DIV>
<DIV>or wider options, to map out its grain pricing policy. Given this, =
grain=20
<BR>producers and traders will be able to operate at world prices, =
substantially=20
<BR>higher now than domestic grain prices.<BR><BR>The Ukrainian grain =
market is=20
now regulated in the on-hands mode. For <BR>instance, on Feb. 7 the =
cabinet=20
raised barley export quotas by 600,000 tons, <BR>maize quotas by 30,000 =
tons and=20
milling wheat by 228,000 tons.<BR><BR>The situation on grain markets is =
now=20
stable, claims the government. As full <BR>amounts of grain have been =
purchased=20
for the State Reserve and Agrarian <BR>Fund, more possibilities for =
grain export=20
have opened up.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Meanwhile, experts say that =
setting=20
export quotas was an attempt by the <BR>government to play safe in the =
wake of=20
the 2003 grain crisis, head of VR <BR>committee on agrarian policy and =
land=20
relations, member of parliament </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>(BYuT) Mykhailo Hladij says.<BR><BR>In his =
opinion,=20
quotas for grain export should not be set, as trade must be =
<BR>regulated by=20
market, not administrative, levers. Even if quotas are imposed, =
<BR>their sizes=20
must be known to traders one year in advance of their export=20
<BR>operations.<BR><BR>The current situation, with tens of thousands of =
tons of=20
grain rottening in <BR>Odesa port elevators, is nothing but the attempt =
of the=20
government to <BR>preempt grain shortages in Ukraine in spring, Hladij=20
added.<BR></FONT><BR>The lawmaker also warned that the government will =
be faced=20
with law suits <BR>filed by commercial companies that had run into =
considerable=20
losses due to <BR>the export ban and rottening grain.<BR><BR>In 2003 the =
Yanukovych government allowed oversized grain export which </DIV>
<DIV>led to a deficit of grain on domestic markets. As the result, the=20
government </DIV>
<DIV>was forced to buy grain=20
abroad. =
&=
nbsp; =20
=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://ua.korrespondent.net/main/66661/">http://ua.korrespondent.=
net/main/66661/</A><BR>--------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------------------<BR>FOOTNOTE:=20
This article translated from Russian to English for the</DIV>
<DIV>exclusive use of the Action Ukraine Report (AUR) by Volodymyr</DIV>
<DIV>Hrytsutenko, Lviv, Ukraine. </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i8">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>9<A=20
name=3Da9>.</A> <FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>RUSSIAN =
GRAIN ASSOCIATION=20
VIEWS INTRODUCTION </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; OF=20
GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE NEGATIVELY</STRONG></FONT> <BR><BR>Viktoria =
Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, =
February 15,=20
2007<BR><BR>KYIV - <FONT color=3D#800000>The Russian Grain Association =
negatively=20
views the introduction </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>of grain export quotas in Ukraine. The =
association's=20
President Arkady <BR>Zlochevsky announced this at a press conference. =
"Grain=20
[traders] are not <BR>welcoming Ukraine's restriction on export of =
grain,=20
although it favors us," <BR>he said.<BR></FONT><BR>According to him, =
Ukraine's=20
grain export quota favored Ukraine's competitors <BR>on the world grain =
market.=20
According to him, Russia is competing with <BR>Ukraine on the markets of =
barley=20
while Kazakhstan is competing with it on <BR>the market of =
wheat.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>"We fear similar precedents for the Russian market. We =
oppose any=20
type </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>of restrictions... the government should =
encourage,=20
stimulate exports," he <BR>stressed.<BR></FONT><BR>As Ukrainian News =
earlier=20
reported, the Ukrainian Grain Association is <BR>forecasting resumption =
of grain=20
exports in late February 2007. The Cabinet <BR>of Ministers has extended =
the=20
grain export quota by 864,000 tons to <BR>1,970,000 tons for the =
2006/2007=20
marketing year (June 2006-June 2007).<BR><BR>In December 2006, the =
Cabinet of=20
Ministers set a grain export quota of 1.106 <BR>million tons for the =
2006/2007=20
marketing year, including 600,000 tons of <BR>barley, 500,000 tons of =
corn,=20
3,000 tons of wheat, and 3,000 tons of=20
rye.<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i9">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>10<A=20
name=3Da10>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>POLISH MEAT EXPORTERS =
TO UKRAINE=20
TO QUICKLY </FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> REGAIN MARKET SHARE, BUT CUSTOM =
DUTY STILL=20
BARRIER<BR></FONT><BR>Interfax Central Europe, Warsaw, Poland, Fri, =
February 16,=20
2007<BR><BR>WARSAW - Polish exporters to Ukraine are expected to quickly =
regain=20
</DIV>
<DIV>market share now that Ukraine has ended a ban on Polish meat, but =
high=20
</DIV>
<DIV>custom duties will efficiently limit the potential of further =
development,=20
the <BR>Polish association of meat producer Polskie Mieso Chief =
Executive=20
Officer <BR>Witold Choinski told Interfax Friday.<BR><BR>"Recapturing =
the=20
[Ukrainian] market will happen quickly -the first <BR>transports will be =
sent=20
next week," Choinski said. "The potential of that <BR>market is huge, =
although=20
the high customs duty is a real obstacle. We will <BR>address this issue =
through=20
the Economy Ministry."<BR><BR>Ukraine has authorized 23 Polish companies =
to=20
restart their exports as of <BR>February 15, following a year long meat =
ban that=20
Kiev said was necessary to <BR>protect the country from suspect Polish=20
shipments. The move mirrored a </DIV>
<DIV>step undertaken by Russia on November 9, 2005.<BR><BR>Polish =
companies=20
export their meat products chiefly to the EU countries. <BR>Joint sales =
to the=20
Russian and Ukrainian market accounted for less than </DIV>
<DIV>15% of total exports in=20
2004. &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
-30-</DIV></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i10">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV>11<A name=3Da11>.</A> <STRONG><FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D4> =20
ROMANIA: DIALOGUE WITH UKRAINE OVER </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG> =20
DISPUTED SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK =
SEA<BR></STRONG></FONT><BR>New=20
Europe, Athens, Greece, Wed, February 14, 2007<BR><BR>Romania urged =
Ukraine on=20
February 9 not to artificially create a settlement <BR>on the disputed =
Serpents=20
Island in the Black Sea, according to a press <BR>release from the =
Romanian=20
Foreign Affairs Ministry.<BR><BR>The release said that the attempts to=20
artificially prove the appearance of <BR>the capacity to support a =
settlement or=20
an economic life of its own by the <BR>Serpents Island, cannot have, =
according=20
to the international law, legal <BR>effects.<BR><BR>"These attempts =
cannot=20
influence in any way the process of delimitation of <BR>the continental =
shelf=20
and of the exclusive economic areas of Romania and <BR>Ukraine at the =
Black Sea,=20
a case that has been judged since 2004 by the <BR>International Court =
based in=20
The Hague," read the release.<BR><BR>Romania's stand, related to the =
Ukrainian=20
authorities; intention to <BR>artificially create a settlement on =
Serpents=20
Island, has been made public <BR>and communicated to the Ukrainian side, =
every=20
time when Ukraine made </DIV>
<DIV>known any other attempts aimed at artificially changing the status =
of this=20
</DIV>
<DIV>rock, according to the release.<BR><BR>The Romanian side reiterated =
its=20
position and hopes that the Ukrainian side <BR>will show restraint, =
given the=20
context and conditions of the procedures with <BR>the International =
Court in The=20
Hague.<BR><BR>Ukraine's Supreme Rada (Parliament) decided in a plenary =
meeting=20
on </DIV>
<DIV>February 8 to name the settlement on the island Belyi (White =
Village), with=20
</DIV>
<DIV>the name to be put on the map and listed in the Registry of the =
Ukrainian=20
</DIV>
<DIV>localities, according to a report of Ukrainian ProUa news=20
agency.<BR><BR>The decision regarding the setting up of a settlement in =
Serpents=20
Island was <BR>taken on July 5, 2006, and by the Regional Council in =
Odessa.=20
Officially, <BR>Belyi locality is part of the Chilia district and will =
be=20
coordinated by the <BR>County Council of Vilkkovo.<BR><BR>The Serpents =
Island,=20
covering 17 hectares and having no vegetation and <BR>water, but which =
seems to=20
have important resources of crude oil, is <BR>currently inhabited by 155 =
people=20
at the most, of which 50 militaries.<BR><BR>Against this background, the =
Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry says <BR>Romania's Embassy in Kiev =
monitors=20
all aspects related to this issue and </DIV>
<DIV>the debates in the Ukrainian Parliament on February =
8.<BR><BR>Romania=20
notified in September 2004 the International Court of Justice to =
<BR>delimitate=20
the sea areas between the two countries.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>On August 15, 2005, the Romanian side submitted to the =
International=20
Court <BR>of Justice a written statement with its stand and =
argumentation=20
regarding <BR>the delimitation solution that it considers fair and in =
line with=20
the <BR>international law.<BR><BR>The Ukrainian side submitted its =
written=20
statement on May 16, 2006. This <BR>January, Romanian and Ukrainian =
Presidents=20
Traian Basescu and Viktor <BR>Yushchenko said their countries will =
observe the=20
decision of the <BR>International Court in The Hague, irrespective of =
who wins=20
in the issue of <BR>delimiting the continental shelf of the Serpents =
Island and=20
the exclusive <BR>economic areas, it was=20
reported. &nbs=
p; =20
-30- </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i11">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>If you are receiving more =
than one copy=20
of the AUR please contact us. </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>12<A=20
name=3Da12>.</A> <STRONG><FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D4> =20
UKRAINE: TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; =20
FLEET EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS=20
BUT.......<BR><BR></STRONG></FONT>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By =
Volodymyr=20
Obolonsky<BR>The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19,=20
2007<BR><BR>Asked about the possibility of prolonging the presence of =
Russia's=20
Black </DIV>
<DIV>Sea Fleet in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol after 2017, prime =
minister=20
<BR>Viktor Yanukovich replied that the government would always protect =
the=20
<BR>national interests.<BR><BR>Taking account of the statement made by =
Russian=20
President Vladimir Putin <BR>that after 2017 Russia is ready to =
negotiate about=20
the prolongation of fleet's <BR>presence in the Crimea, it is an easy =
guess what=20
conclusions have been made <BR>by Ukrainian jingoes: Yanukovich does not =
rule=20
out this tantalizing <BR>possibility.<BR><BR>Therefore, the hackneyed =
subject of=20
a betrayal of the national interests, <BR>loss of state sovereignty and=20
satisfaction of Russia's imperial ambitions <BR>came up.<BR><BR>The =
problem has=20
been hacked to death so that few people try to understand <BR>why today =
Orange=20
political forces raise hue and cry against the above <BR>prolongation, =
whereas=20
the treaty with Russia on the Black Sea fleet expires <BR>in 10=20
years.<BR><BR>Consider the question: Does the presence of the Russian =
Navy in=20
Sevastopol <BR>impair the national interests of Ukraine? The answer =
seems to be=20
that the <BR>whole infrastructure of the region is connected with the =
Russia's=20
naval <BR>base.<BR><BR>Demands for the early withdrawal of Russia's =
Black Sea=20
fleet could be <BR>justified if the politicians proposed financing of =
the=20
project of <BR>Sevastopol's development right after the withdrawal of =
the=20
Russian Navy.<BR><BR>Nonetheless, blather about the crafty Kremlin has =
been in=20
the air ever since <BR>Ukraine achieved independence, and the Orange =
team does=20
not give a hoot <BR>about Sevastopol residents who may well be left to =
their=20
fate.<BR><BR>Some politicians often moan that Russia underpays for a =
lease of=20
the Crimean <BR>land. Observers, including The Ukrainian Times, can =
think of no=20
reason why <BR>Ukrainian government officials should not begin talks =
about the=20
issue and <BR>set new terms of stationing of the Russia's naval =
base.<BR><BR>The=20
world now knows that Russia is ruled by pragmatists. It is to be wished =
<BR>that=20
the same will happen in Ukraine. Among other things, the government has =
<BR>the=20
authority to handle the Crimean land so that each Ukrainian can profit =
<BR>by=20
it, and thereby the Yanukovich team may protect the national=20
interests.<BR><BR>It is perfectly natural that the nation lives under =
conditions=20
of a <BR>free-market economy and a foreign institution or company pays =
handsome=20
</DIV>
<DIV>money into the national budget, not pockets of, say, Olexiy =
Ivchenko,=20
leader </DIV>
<DIV>of a jingoist Ukrainian party and former chairman of the state gas =
company=20
<BR>Neftegaz Ukrainy, who bought a new model of Mercedes Benz for one =
</DIV>
<DIV>million hryvnias, misusing funds of the state-owned =
enterprise.<BR><BR>Why=20
should a large investor be ousted, the more so as conflicts with the=20
<BR>next-door neighbor, namely Russia, are detrimental to the national =
interests=20
<BR>of=20
Ukraine.  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i12">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR> =20
<FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> Send in =
a=20
letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear from=20
you.<BR></STRONG></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>13<A=20
name=3Da13>.</A> <FO=
NT=20
color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG> UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S =
TEMPLE<BR></STRONG></FONT> <FONT color=3D#000080> =
Air=20
pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface=20
polluted<BR></FONT><BR>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Vatilii =
Kniazhansky<BR>The=20
Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007<BR><BR>It is =
dangerous=20
to pull the tail of such a generally docile animal as a<BR>domestic cat. =
But=20
playing cat and mouse with mighty nature and even<BR>scattering all =
kinds of=20
poisonous wastes on its supposedly hallowed<BR>territory is considered =
quite a=20
normal thing.<BR><BR>How did we get this way?<BR><BR>Perhaps we are =
influenced=20
by the words of the classical theorist, who said<BR>that nature is a =
workshop in=20
which man is the chief (a poor one by all<BR>accounts) or the words of a =
no less=20
famous practical scientist, who<BR>maintained that we should not wait =
for nature=20
to show mercy - our task is </DIV>
<DIV>to harness it.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>We did harness it. At a =
recent=20
session of the Ministry of Environmental<BR>Protection it was announced =
that air=20
pollution rose in 21 regions of Ukraine<BR>in 2006 and that 70 percent =
of our=20
water surface is polluted.<BR></FONT></DIV><FONT color=3D#800000></FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>ALL AREAS OF NATURE MANAGEMENT SHOW=20
DETERIORATION</FONT><BR>According to environmentalists, all sectors of =
nature=20
management in Ukraine<BR>show deterioration. Last year stationary =
sources alone=20
accounted for about<BR>4.5 million tons of air =
pollutants.<BR><BR>Uncontrolled=20
toxic emissions have led not only to the contamination of<BR>surface =
springs but=20
also to the loss of large underground water reserves<BR>that can no =
longer be=20
used as sources of potable water.<BR><BR>This is also the result of a=20
catastrophic accumulation of household and<BR>industrial wastes. There =
are about=20
35 billion tons in Ukraine, occupying an<BR>area of 130,000=20
hectares.<BR><BR>What is going on? Why did the ministry suddenly sound =
the=20
alarm? </DIV>
<DIV>When the current presidential chief of staff, Baloha, was the =
environment=20
<BR>minister, he didn't say a word.<BR><BR>But this is not a question of =
personalities but the fact that both the<BR>ecology and the economy are =
upset in=20
Ukraine. The economy behaves like<BR>a robber and poisoner and does not =
deem it=20
necessary to make up for the<BR>damage done to nature.<BR><BR>One factor =
is the=20
economic slump and closed or partially functioning<BR>businesses. Over =
the past=20
few years nature has managed to take a breather<BR>after the Soviet =
Five-Year=20
Plans and the pursuit of capitalism. We never<BR>caught up with the =
latter but=20
almost brought the environment down.<BR><BR>But as First Vice-Premier =
and=20
Finance Minister Mykola Azarov announced<BR>recently, Ukraine reached =
the 1990=20
level of industrial output in 2006 and is<BR>going to achieve that =
year's GDP by=20
mid-2008. Now it is clear where gas<BR>pollution, liquid, solid and =
other=20
wastes, poisonous to nature and man, are<BR>coming from.<BR><BR>The =
Ministry of=20
Environmental Protection believes that the way out of this<BR>situation =
is a new=20
ecological strategy and concept of public administration,<BR>which would =
take=20
into account modern environmental requirements for<BR>human activities =
and all=20
industrial facilities, and become part of the main<BR>state economic=20
programs.<BR><BR>The idea is good, no doubt about it. The only question =
is how=20
to put it<BR>into practice.<BR><BR>Obviously, the importance of these =
strategies=20
and concepts should be<BR>reflected in the fundamental documents that =
guide the=20
national economy,<BR>like a yearly or longer-term program of =
socioeconomic=20
development and<BR>a budget based on the former.<BR><BR>Alas, while the =
budget=20
has been adopted, the 2007 program is still in the<BR>hands of the =
Parliamentary=20
Committee for the Economy. By all accounts,<BR>political brawls are more =
important than this "trifle."<BR><BR>Nor is it clear what will happen to =
the=20
long-term strategic program of<BR>socioeconomic development now being =
mapped out=20
by the cabinet for<BR>the first time in the history of =
Ukraine.<BR><BR>Will it=20
have chapters calling not just for papering over the cracks on =
the<BR>tender=20
body of nature but for undertaking serious efforts to protect it =
from<BR>the=20
encroachments of an unqualified and foolish master, who only =
thinks<BR>about=20
today?<BR><BR>Meanwhile, the central government continues to field =
queries from=20
the<BR>provinces. Even Kyiv's problems with dumpsites that are about to=20
discharge<BR>their contents into nearby rivers pale in=20
comparison.<BR> <FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG> =
PLANT=20
REPRESENTS DANGER TO HEALTH AND LIFE<BR></STRONG></FONT>For example, the =
potassium plant owned by the Oriana Company of Kalush -<BR>a city =
already full=20
of chemical businesses - represents a danger to human<BR>health and=20
life.<BR><BR>It is doing irreparable harm to the environment, causing =
ground=20
depression<BR>and salinity, as well as the formation of craters. There =
have=20
already been<BR>12 cave-ins, and the ground surface has been sagging at =
a rate=20
of 100 mm a<BR>year for the past three years.<BR></FONT><BR>In addition, =
the=20
tailings dam is on the verge of ruin, while brines have<BR>reached a =
dangerous=20
mark of tens of millions of cubic meters. The<BR>government must find =
the funds=20
to patch this gaping hole.<BR><BR>The problem is that this country has =
not yet=20
found a critical mass of<BR>intelligent individuals (true nature =
keepers) who=20
would focus on creating a<BR>reliable environmental protection=20
system. =
=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.day.kiev.ua/177127/">http://www.day.kiev.ua/177127/</A=
><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i13">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>14<A=20
name=3Da14>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>U.S. ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE =
SPECIALISTS TO=20
EXPLAIN PLANS </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> =
FOR=20
CONSTRUCTION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN=20
EUROPE<BR> SAYS U.S. =
AMBASSADOR TO=20
UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR</FONT><BR><BR>Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, =
Ukraine,=20
Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>KYIV - The United States promises that =
a=20
delegation comprising U.S. <BR>anti-missile defense specialists will =
arrive in=20
Ukraine to explain Ukrainian <BR>people the plans concerning the =
construction of=20
anti-missile bases in <BR>Europe. Ukrainian News learned this from the =
press=20
service of the Ukrainian <BR>Ministry of Foreign =
Affairs.<BR><BR>According to=20
the press service, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor =
<BR>announced this=20
at a meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii=20
<BR>Veselovskyi.<BR><BR>Taking into account the strategic character of =
the=20
relations between the <BR>Untied States and Ukraine, Taylor said, =
according to=20
the press service, a <BR>special technical group of specialists on the=20
anti-missile defense will <BR>arrive in Ukraine soon.<BR><BR>The U.S. =
Embassy=20
intends to meet regularly on the issue with Ukrainian </DIV>
<DIV>media to give information concerning the construction of the =
anti-missile=20
</DIV>
<DIV>defense bases in Europe.<BR><BR>Veselovskyi said the Ministry of =
Foreign=20
Affairs directed the Ukrainian <BR>embassies in Russia, the Czech =
Republic, and=20
Poland to obtain more <BR>information on the anti-missile defense=20
bases.<BR><BR>"Ukraine will be grounded on the belief that the =
administration of=20
the <BR>United States will continue informing Europeans on the plans, =
while=20
<BR>understanding that there is [negative] reactions to the deployment =
of the=20
<BR>elements of the anti-missile defense in Europe from some countries,=20
<BR>including Russia, and will openly and predictably implement the =
plans in=20
</DIV>
<DIV>the case of their realization," the statement reads.<BR><BR>Taylor =
and=20
Veselovskyi also discuss the third meeting of the Ukraine-U.S.=20
<BR>interdepartmental coordination group, which is to take place in =
Washington=20
<BR>on February 23.<BR><BR>As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the =
Ukrainian=20
Ministry of Foreign <BR>Affairs said it was viewing the possible =
construction of=20
elements of the <BR>U.S. anti-missile defense in Poland and the Czech =
Republic=20
as element of the <BR>war on terror. The United States said the =
anti-missile=20
bases in Poland and <BR>the Czech Republic were needed to protect=20
Europe. =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i14">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>15<A=20
name=3Da15>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT'S AIDE =
SAYS U.S.=20
MISSILE =
DEFENCE<BR> BASES=20
WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#000080> &nb=
sp; =20
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN EUROPE </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07<BR>BBC =
Monitoring Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007 <BR><BR>KIEV - <FONT=20
color=3D#800000>The deployment of elements of the US missile defence =
system in=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>Poland and the Czech Republic will not manage =
to=20
protect Europe from a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>missile attack, the Ukrainian president's =
aide,=20
Volodymyr Horbulin, told a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>news conference today.<BR></FONT><BR>"I think =
that this=20
decision will not allow the USA to ensure the security of <BR>its =
European=20
allies in terms of defence from a missile attack, for instance <BR>by =
Iran,=20
Syria or other countries," Horbulin said. He added that he rules <BR>out =
the=20
possibility of protection against an attack by North Korea.<BR><BR>The=20
deployment of missile defence elements brings more political tension, =
</DIV>
<DIV>he said. "This will cause and has caused a political storm," he =
said. In=20
<BR>particular, this could be seen in Russian President Vladimir Putin's =
speech=20
<BR>in Germany, he added.<BR><BR>Horbulin said that Ukraine should =
develop a=20
clear position regarding the <BR>threats to its own security from the =
deployment=20
of the missile defence <BR>bases.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>"Frankly =
speaking,=20
I don't see this as a big threat, but this could lead to <BR>serious =
political=20
issues in Eastern Europe, and this should be considered," <BR>Horbulin=20
said.</FONT> [Passage omitted: background on US missile defence=20
bases]<BR><BR>[Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Veselovskyy said =
at a=20
meeting with <BR>the US ambassador that Ukrainian embassies in Russia, =
Poland=20
and the Czech <BR>Republic were instructed to receive additional =
information,=20
UNIAN news <BR>agency reports on 16 February. The creation of global =
defence=20
systems should <BR>not in any way provoke a new wave of the arms race,=20
Veselovskyy=20
said.]<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i15">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>16<A=20
name=3Da16>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN =
INFLUENTIAL MP=20
THREATENS TO SUE FOR<BR> LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" =
IS=20
PUBLISHED IN EUROPE<BR><BR></FONT>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian =
16 Feb=20
07<BR>BBC Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>DONETSK - =
Member=20
of the Ukrainian Parliament (MP) Rinat Akhmetov </DIV>
<DIV>has said that "a very big group" of foreign lawyers is ready to =
react to=20
the <BR>publication of the book entitled "Donetsk Mafia" in=20
Europe.<BR><BR>Akhmetov was speaking to journalists in Donetsk yesterday =
after a=20
sitting of <BR>the parliamentary Committee for Economic Policy there. "I =
want=20
the book <BR>'Donetsk Mafia' to be published in Europe.<BR><BR>You know, =
show me=20
a country where this book is now. I would like this book <BR>[to be =
published]=20
maybe in England or other countries, where he (the book's <BR>author - =
UNIAN)=20
can be made responsible for disseminating it. Legally!<BR><BR>Today I =
don't have=20
a legal opportunity to sue him in court and have him <BR>brought to =
criminal=20
responsibility," Akhmetov said. Asked if the lawyers <BR>working on this =
are=20
Ukrainian or foreign, Akhmetov answered shortly: <BR>"Foreign." The book =
"Donetsk Mafia" was presented in parliament in March =
<BR>2006.<BR><BR>The=20
co-author of the book and head of the Antykoruptsiya [Anticorruption] =
<BR>fund,=20
Borys Penchuk, said that the book was based on documents from various=20
<BR>sources and it tells what and how was done in Donbass [coal mining =
area in=20
<BR>Donetsk and Luhansk regions] in the early years of Ukraine's =
independence.=20
<BR>[Passage omitted: Penchuk's accusations]<BR><BR>The prosecutor's =
office of=20
the Kiev Shevchenkivskyy district filed a <BR>criminal case in late =
November=20
2006 based on the facts mentioned in the book <BR>"Donetsk=20
Mafia" &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i16">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>17<A=20
name=3Da17>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER =
TYMOSHENKO=20
AIMS TO<BR> FORM RULING =
COALITION WITH=20
PRESIDENT'S PARTY <BR><BR></FONT>TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine,in =
Ukrainian=20
1900 gmt 17 Feb 07<BR>BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, February 17, =
2007<BR><BR>KIEV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yuliya Tymoshenko has =
said that=20
her </DIV>
<DIV>bloc and the propresidential Our Ukraine bloc are trying to improve =
relations <BR>with a view to forming a ruling coalition after a possible =
early=20
<BR>parliamentary election. Tymoshenko was speaking live on 5 Kanal =
television,=20
<BR>commenting on the topical events of the week.<BR><BR>"An early =
election will=20
bring to parliament much less members of the Party <BR>of Regions. Most =
likely,=20
the Socialists and the Communists will not make it <BR>to parliament. =
And I know=20
for sure that our bloc will be there, represented <BR>by a sufficiently =
large=20
number and, most likely, the Our Ukraine bloc will <BR>also make =
it.<BR><BR>If=20
Our Ukraine made conclusions that they cannot build Ukraine with =
<BR>Yanukovych=20
- and I believe that Our Ukraine made these conclusions</DIV>
<DIV>because they supported a grand coalition but now reviewed their=20
position.<BR><BR>I am sure that we are ready for Our Ukraine to join our =
team=20
and will not <BR>allow in the new parliament the mistakes which were =
made during=20
the ruining <BR>of the Orange team, during the nomination of [Our =
Ukraine MP]=20
Petro <BR>Poroshenko to the post of [parliament] speaker and the ruining =
of a=20
<BR>democratic coalition.<BR><BR>I think it is simply impossible to step =
on a=20
rake for the third time. I <BR>think that there is a good chance to =
leave=20
[current Prime Minister Viktor] <BR>Yanukovych in the marginal niche =
after an=20
early election," Tymoshenko said.<BR><BR>Speaking about the recent =
agreement on=20
joint opposition work with Our <BR>Ukraine, Tymoshenko expressed the =
hope that=20
together they will manage to <BR>fight Yanukovych much more effectively. =
"I=20
think the parliamentary <BR>opposition of 200 votes will be much =
stronger that=20
120 votes which we have <BR>now.<BR><BR>I think 200 opposition deputies =
in=20
parliament will not allow Yanukovych to <BR>implement the programme he =
has in=20
mind. I mean getting rich and practically <BR>ruining this country's=20
independence," she=20
said. &n=
bsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i17">return to index</A>] Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000> <FONT size=3D4>You are welcome =
to send=20
us names for the AUR distribution=20
list.</FONT><BR></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>18<A=20
name=3Da18>.</A> <FONT color=3D#800000>TYMOSHENKO AGAINST =
MEDIATOR'S=20
PARTICIPATION IN <BR>SUPPLYING GAS TO UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO=20
ROSUKRENERGO</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, =
2007=20
<BR><BR>KYIV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko argues =
against the=20
<BR>participation of mediators, including Itera gas-supplying company, =
in making=20
<BR>gas supplies to Ukraine. Tymoshenko told this to journalists in=20
Cherkasy.<BR><BR>"As far as gas supplies to Ukraine are concerned, there =
should=20
be no <BR>mediators between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine and =
Turkmenistan,=20
Ukraine </DIV>
<DIV>and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. We need neither RosUkrEnergo nor =
Itera,"=20
</DIV>
<DIV>she said.<BR><BR>Tymoshenko noted that it was necessary to conclude =
direct=20
agreements </DIV>
<DIV>on gas supplies to Ukraine with the governments'=20
participation.<BR><BR>Earlier, Vice Premier Andrii Kliuev admitted a =
possibility=20
of Itera's return <BR>to Ukraine as a natural gas supplier. As Ukrainian =
News=20
earlier reported, </DIV>
<DIV>on February 12, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and chairman of =
</DIV>
<DIV>Itera's board of directors Ihor Makarov discussed energy projects =
in </DIV>
<DIV>Ukraine.<BR><BR>Itera-Ukraine, a subsidiary of Itera Group, was the =
operator for supply of <BR>Turkmen gas to Ukraine and member countries =
of the=20
Commonwealth of <BR>Independent States in 1996-2002.<BR><BR>Since 1998, =
Itera=20
has been extracting gas in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets <BR>Autonomous =
District. In=20
2005, Itera wanted to supply nearly 4 billion cubic <BR>meters of =
natural gas to=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR>Ukrainian companies of Itera Group (Itera Energy and =
Itera=20
Ukraine) sell <BR>natural gas extracted on the territory of Ukraine to =
companies=20
that do not <BR>belong to NJSC Naftohaz Ukrainy.<BR><BR>After Itera, =
Turkmen gas=20
supplies to Ukraine were performed by Eural </DIV>
<DIV>Trans Gas, among co-founders of which was Dmytro Firtash, the owner =
</DIV>
<DIV>of 45% in RosUkrEnergo, the present exclusive gas supplier in=20
Ukraine.<BR>-------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i18">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>19<A=20
name=3Da19>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D4><STRONG>UKRAINE:=20
KRUTY-2 ONLY A MATTER OF=20
TIME<BR></STRONG></FONT> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; <FONT=20
color=3D#000080> Our post-genocidal =
society<BR></FONT><BR>ANALYSIS=20
& COMMENTARY: By Oleksandr Kramarenko<BR>The Day Weekly Digest, =
Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007<BR><BR>LUHANSK - Our post-genocidal =
society is=20
by definition a community of<BR>morally deformed people from all walks =
of life -=20
from ordinary citizens to<BR>government officials.<BR><BR>The vast =
majority of=20
the former cannot imagine a life without bribes, while<BR>the latter =
consider=20
their high offices exclusively as a method of personal<BR>enrichment. =
The root=20
cause of these moral and ethical perversions lies in<BR>the specific=20
consequences of our national tragedy, the Holodomor.<BR><BR>Unlike the =
Holocaust=20
and the Armenian Massacre, the 1932-1933 manmade<BR>famine embraced the=20
overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian ethnos that<BR>was not yet =
Russified by=20
imperial urbanization.<BR><BR>The main distinction of the Holodomor from =
all=20
other historical genocides is<BR>that about one-half of its victims, who =
had=20
experienced all the horrors and<BR>sufferings of the famine,=20
survived.<BR><BR>This was the basic aim of the Kremlin's engineers of =
the=20
Holodomor, who were<BR>banking on those very peasants who had survived =
and, as a=20
result of their<BR>protracted torture by famine, completely lost their =
Christian=20
morality and<BR>national =
identity.<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> HAD A VISCERAL FEAR OF STARVING TO=20
DEATH<BR></STRONG></FONT>For the rest of their lives those people had a =
visceral=20
fear of starving to<BR>death. They also remembered well that the =
Bolshevik=20
commissars had<BR>exposed them to those infernal ordeals simply because =
of their=20
probity, high<BR>morality, and Ukrainian soul.<BR><BR>The commissars =
only=20
strengthened their grip on power after the Holodomor.<BR>This is why =
peasants=20
brought up their children in such a way that they would<BR>never again =
irk the=20
government with their nationalism, inner freedom,=20
and<BR>honesty.<BR><BR>Naturally, when the children of the people who =
were=20
maimed by the famine<BR>were raising their own progeny, they had no=20
alternatives.<BR><BR>Those children and grandchildren flooded into the =
cities=20
during Soviet<BR>industrialization and eventually became our =
contemporaries:=20
academics,<BR>journalists, artists, judges, politicians, =
parliamentarians,=20
officials,<BR>political scientists, and even presidents.<BR><BR>The =
society they=20
have built in independent Ukraine is causing subdued mirth<BR>in the =
rest of the=20
civilized world, which does no credit to it because if it<BR>were a =
highly moral=20
world, it would be weeping bitter tears, looking at =
our<BR>genocide-disfigured=20
society.<BR> <FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> =
89TH=20
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF KRUTY<BR></STRONG></FONT>Ukraine recently =
marked=20
the 89th anniversary of the battle of Kruty. Like<BR>before, everything =
boiled=20
down to extolling only the heroic feat of 300<BR>young =
people.<BR><BR>Some of=20
our hurrah-patriots went so far as to compare those youths with<BR>the =
Three=20
Hundred Spartans. Is this ignorance or eyewash?<BR><BR>The historical =
facts=20
attest to something quite different, to put it mildly.<BR>There was no =
battle of=20
Kruty: there was a massacre of Ukrainian youths by<BR>Russian sailors =
under the=20
command of the Bolshevik Mikhail Muravev.<BR><BR>Most of those hapless =
boys died=20
not during the combat action but afterwards,<BR>when the Bolsheviks =
first=20
tortured them in a way humiliating to their manly<BR>pride and then shot =
them.<BR><BR>This fact by no means belittles the young Ukrainians' =
exploit, but=20
it is an<BR>eyesore to our jingoists in power, who are very reluctant to =
tell=20
our<BR>demoralized society the names of those who are really to blame =
for=20
the<BR>Kruty tragedy because some of them are being turned into national =
heroes.<BR><BR>These are the Ukrainian National Republic's socialist =
leaders=20
Mykhailo<BR>Hrushevsky and Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who disbanded the=20
Ukrainian<BR>Army in the naive belief that the Russian Bolsheviks would =
not be=20
hostile<BR>to the young "fraternal" republic.<BR><BR>There was also =
Pavlo=20
Skoropadsky, who agreed to fight Bolshevism only<BR>under the leadership =
of=20
foreign armies. It is no accident that the <BR>historical truth is being =
hushed=20
up.<BR><BR>Today, the political descendants of Hrushevsky have in fact =
ruined=20
the<BR>Ukrainian Armed Forces without obtaining any guarantees of=20
our<BR>independence from either NATO or the =
US.<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> SO KRUTY-2 IS NOW JUST A MATTER =
OF=20
TIME<BR></STRONG></FONT>So Kruty-2 is now just a matter of time, =
although it=20
looks like Russia will<BR>do it this time without direct =
aggression.<BR><BR>As=20
for our national heroes and heroines, the situation is truly=20
disgraceful.<BR>Only a gravely ill nation can take pride in such a =
person as=20
Roksolana,<BR>ascribing to her the virtues that she never =
had.<BR><BR>Historical=20
facts indicate that when she became the Turkish sultan's first<BR>lady, =
she=20
pursued a tough policy exclusively in the interests of the<BR>Ottoman =
Empire,=20
which did not include Ukraine.<BR><BR>With this in view, it is hard to =
imagine=20
that a similar Roksolana could be<BR>considered a heroine in, say, =
Poland or=20
Russia. But this is possible in a<BR>society morally crippled by the=20
Holodomor.<BR><BR>These examples make it absolutely clear why our public =
opinion=20
almost<BR>unanimously opposes lustration, why the vast majority does not =
recognize<BR>the right of OUN and UPA combatants to veterans' benefits, =
and sees=20
no<BR>sense in Ukraine's accession to NATO.<BR><BR>The worst thing is =
that since=20
the death of James Mace there is no one to<BR>properly diagnose our =
society, let=20
alone cure =
it. =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A =
href=3D"http://www.day.kiev.ua/177128/">http://www.day.kiev.ua/177128/</A=
>=20
<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i19">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>20<A=20
name=3Da20>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE =
UKRAINIAN=20
GENOCIDE OF<BR> 1932-1933 (HOLODOMOR) NOW AVAILABLE IN DVD=20
FORMAT<BR></FONT><BR>Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation=20
Centre<BR>Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007<BR>Action Ukraine =
Report (AUR)=20
#818, Article 20<BR>Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007 =
<BR><BR>TORONTO -=20
The Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation<BR>Centre (UCRDC) is =
pleased=20
to inform you that the internationally<BR>acclaimed, award winning =
documentary=20
"Harvest of Despair" is now<BR>available in DVD format in English for =
$25.00.=20
[Information about the<BR>documentary from the UCRDC website is found=20
below.]<BR><BR>Please contact the UCRDC for further details:</DIV>
<DIV>Nadia Skop, Executive Administrator<BR>Ukrainian Canadian Research =
and=20
Documentation Centre<BR>620 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S=20
2H4<BR>Telephone: 416-966-1819; Fax: 416-966-1820;<BR>E-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:info@ucrdc.org">info@ucrdc.org</A><BR>--------------------=
---------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>=
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp;<FONT=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D5><STRONG> HARVEST OF =
DESPAIR<BR></STRONG></FONT>It is=20
called the forgotten holocaust - a time when Stalin was dumping =
<BR>millions of=20
tons of wheat on Western markets, while in Ukraine, men, </DIV>
<DIV>women, and children were dying of starvation at the rate of 25,000 =
a </DIV>
<DIV>day, 17 human beings a minute.<BR><BR>Seven to ten million people =
perished=20
in a famine caused not by war or <BR>natural disasters, but by ruthless=20
decree.<BR><BR>To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this tragedy the =
Ukrainian=20
Famine <BR>Research Committee (former name of UCRDC) gathered materials, =
sought=20
</DIV>
<DIV>out eye-witnesses and documented this horrific event. Harvest of =
Despair=20
</DIV>
<DIV>is the product of this effort.<BR><BR>The documentary probes the =
tragic=20
consequences of Ukraine's struggle for <BR>greater cultural and =
political=20
autonomy in the 1920s and 1930s.<BR><BR>Through rare archival footage, =
the=20
results of Stalin's lethal <BR>countermeasures unfold in harrowing =
detail.=20
Harvest of Despair examines </DIV>
<DIV>why this man-made famine remains so little known.<BR><BR>Blinded by =
radical=20
leftwing ideals, world statesmen, such as Edouard <BR>Herriot, Pulitzer=20
Prize-winning journalists and writers such as George <BR>Bernard Shaw, =
all=20
contributed to the regime's campaign of concealment.<BR><BR>Even the =
democratic=20
governments of the depression-hit West preferred to <BR>remain silent =
over=20
Soviet Russia's atrocities in order to continue import <BR>and export=20
trade.<BR><BR>In 1932-33, roughly one-quarter of the entire population =
of=20
Ukraine perished <BR>through brutal starvation. Harvest of Despair, =
through its=20
stark, haunting <BR>images, provides the eloquent testimony of a lost =
generation=20
that has been <BR>silenced too long.<BR><BR>The film Harvest of Despair =
won the=20
awards and honours at the following =
<BR>festivals:<BR> =20
1. Houston International Film Festival - April 1985 - Houston,=20
Texas<BR> 2. Strasburg International Film =
Festival -=20
April 1985<BR> 3. Festival Des Filmes Du Monde - =
August=20
1985 - Montreal, Quebec<BR> 4. New York Film =
Festival -=20
September 1985 - New York City<BR> 5. Columbus=20
International Film Festival - November 1985 -=20
Columbus, <BR> =
Ohio<BR> =20
6. Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival - October=20
1985<BR> 7. International Film and T.V. Festival =
of New=20
York - November=20
1985<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A href=3D"http://www.ucrdc.org/">http://www.ucrdc.org/</A> <BR></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i20">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000> <FONT size=3D4>Please contact us if you no =
longer=20
wish to receive =
the AUR </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>21<A=20
name=3Da21>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG>WHAT THE =
VERHOVNA RADA=20
ACTUALLY PASSED<BR></STRONG></FONT> <FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian=20
people.<BR><BR></FONT>Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, =
Tuesday, Nov=20
28, 2006<BR>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in=20
English)<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 <BR><BR>Honoring =
the=20
memory of millions of fellow countrymen who became<BR>victims of the =
1932-1933=20
Holodomor in Ukraine and its consequences;<BR><BR>Honoring all citizens =
that=20
survived this horrible tragedy in the history of<BR>the Ukrainian=20
people;<BR><BR>Being aware of the moral responsibility to former and =
future=20
generations of<BR>Ukrainians and recognizing the necessity of restoring=20
historical justice, of<BR>solidifying in society an intolerance towards =
any form=20
of violence;<BR><BR>Noting that the tragedy of the 1932-1933 Holodomor =
in=20
Ukraine officially<BR>was denied by the USSR government over the course =
of many=20
decades;<BR><BR>Condemning the criminal acts of the USSR totalitarian =
regime=20
aimed at the<BR>Holodomor's organization, which resulted in =
millions of=20
people, the social<BR>foundations of the Ukrainian people, its age-old=20
traditions, spiritual<BR>culture and ethnic identity being=20
destroyed;<BR><BR>Empathizing with other peoples of the former USSR who=20
sustained losses<BR>as a result of the Holodomor;<BR><BR>Highly valuing =
the=20
solidarity and support of the international community in<BR>condemning =
the=20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine that is reflected in<BR>parliamentary =
acts of=20
Australia, the Republic of Argentina, Georgia, the<BR>Republic of =
Estonia, the=20
Republic of Italy, Canada, the Republic of<BR>Lithuania, the Republic of =
Poland,=20
the United States of America, the<BR>Republic of Hungary, and also in =
the=20
combined statement circulated as an<BR>official document of the 58th =
session of=20
the General Assembly of the UN on<BR>the occasion of the 70th =
anniversary of the=20
Holodomor-Great Famine of<BR>1932-1933 in Ukraine, signed by the =
Republic of=20
Argentina, the Republic of<BR>Azerbaijan, the People's Republic of =
Bangladesh,=20
the Republic of Belarus,<BR>the Republic of Benin, the Republic of =
Bosnia and=20
Herzegovina, the Republic<BR>of Guatemala, Georgia, the Arab Republic of =
Egypt,=20
the Islamic Republic of<BR>Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Canada, the =
State=20
of Qatar, the Republic<BR>of Kyrgyzia, the State of Kuwait, the Republic =
of=20
Macedonia, Mongolia, the<BR>Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Nepal, the =
United=20
Arab Emirates, the<BR>Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of =
Korea, the=20
Republic of<BR>Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi =
Arabia, the=20
Arab<BR>Republic of Syria, the United States of America, the Republic of =
Sudan,=20
the<BR>Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Democratic Republic=20
of<BR>Timor-Leste, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Jamaica, and=20
also<BR>supported by Australia, the State of Israel, the Republic of =
Serbia=20
and<BR>Montenegro and the 25 member-states of the European =
Union;<BR><BR>Taking=20
into consideration the Recommendations of parliamentary =
hearings<BR>concerning=20
honoring the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 =
Holodomor<BR>approved by the=20
Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of March 6,<BR>2003 No. =
607-IV and=20
the Appeal to the Ukrainian people of the participants<BR>of a special =
session=20
of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of May 14, 2003,<BR>which was approved =
by the=20
Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine<BR>of May 15, 2003 No. =
789-IV, in=20
which the Holodomor is recognized as an<BR>act of genocide of the =
Ukrainian=20
people and as the result of deliberate<BR>actions of a totalitarian, =
repressive,=20
Stalinist regime aimed at the mass<BR>destruction of a portion of the =
Ukrainian=20
and other peoples of the former<BR>USSR;<BR><BR>Recognizing the =
1932-1933=20
Holodomor in Ukraine in accordance with the<BR>Convention of December 9, =
1948 on=20
the Prevention and Punishment of the<BR>Crime of Genocide as an =
intentional act=20
of mass extermination of peoples,<BR>enacts this Law.<BR><BR>Article 1. =
The=20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the=20
Ukrainian<BR>people.<BR><BR>Article 2. Public denial of the 1932-1933 =
Holodomor=20
in Ukraine is recognized<BR>as an insult to the memory of millions of =
victims of=20
the Holodomor and a<BR>humiliation of the dignity of the Ukrainian =
people and is=20
illegal.<BR><BR>Article 3. State bodies of power and local bodies of=20
self-governance<BR>according to their authority are obligated =
to:<BR><BR>Take=20
part in the formation and realization of state policies in the areas=20
of<BR>renewing and preserving the national memory of the Ukrainian=20
people;<BR><BR>Facilitate the consolidation and development of the =
Ukrainian=20
nation, her<BR>historical consciousness and culture, the dissemination =
of=20
information<BR>about the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine among Ukrainian =
citizens=20
and<BR>the global community, to ensure study of the tragedy of the =
Holodomor=20
in<BR>educational institutions of Ukraine;<BR><BR>Take measures to =
memorialize=20
the memory of victims of the 1932-1933<BR>Holodomor in Ukraine, =
including=20
building memorials and mounting of<BR>memorial signs to the victims of =
the=20
Holodomor;<BR><BR>Ensure by the established order access to archived and =
other=20
materials on<BR>issues that concern the Holodomor to research and civil=20
establishments<BR>and organizations, scholars, individual citizens that =
research=20
issues of the<BR>1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its =
effects.<BR><BR>Article=20
4. The State provides the conditions for conducting research =
and<BR>executing=20
activities related to the memorializing of the memory of the<BR>victims =
of the=20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine on the basis of relevant<BR>general state =
programs, the funding of which is allocated yearly in the<BR>State =
budget of=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR>Article 5. Final provisions<BR>1. This law is in effect =
from the=20
day of its publication.</DIV>
<DIV>2. The Cabinet of Ministers is:<BR>1) To determine the status and =
functions=20
of the Ukrainian Institute of<BR>National Memory and, as a specially =
authorized=20
central organ of the<BR>executive branch in the area of the rebirth and=20
preservation of the<BR>national memory of the Ukrainian people, is =
to=20
ensure its sustenance<BR>with funds from the State budget.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>2) Within a three-month period from the enactment of this =
Law:<BR>To=20
submit for the Verkhovna Rada's review proposals for bringing of<BR>the=20
legislation of Ukraine into conformity with this Law;<BR>To bring its =
own=20
normative-legislative regulations into accordance with<BR>this =
Law;<BR>To ensure=20
the review and nullification by bodies of executive authority<BR>of any=20
legislation passed by them that contradicts this Law;</DIV>
<DIV><BR>3) To resolve by the appointed order, along with the Kyiv City=20
State<BR>Administration, the matter concerning the construction of a =
Memorial=20
to<BR>the victims of the Holodomors in Ukraine before the 75th=20
anniversaries<BR>of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in=20
Ukraine.  =
; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://maidan.org.ua/static/news/2006/1164726292.html">http://mai=
dan.org.ua/static/news/2006/1164726292.html</A><BR>----------------------=
---------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>=
NOTE: =20
This material from Maidan.org.ua was translated from </DIV>
<DIV>Ukrainian to English by Heather Fernuik exclusively for the Action =
</DIV>
<DIV>Ukraine Report (AUR), Kyiv, Ukraine and Washington,=20
D.C.<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i21">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>22<A=20
name=3Da22>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINE: "ON THE CROSSROADS =
OF CULTURES,=20
INTERESTS<BR> AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY OF REGIONS =
DOMINATES=20
CRIMEA<BR></FONT><BR>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor =
Khomenko<BR>Holos=20
Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3<BR>BBC =
Monitoring=20
Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007<BR><BR>The Party of Regions =
dominates=20
the political scene in Crimea, a daily paper <BR>has said. The ruling =
party has=20
managed to have the Crimean police chief <BR>resign, and the Crimean =
chief=20
prosecutor was under pressure to resign too. <BR>Both of them fought =
strongly=20
against the mafia clans operating on the shadow <BR>land =
market.<BR><BR>The=20
Party of Regions plans to strengthen its grip on all areas of life in=20
<BR>Crimea. There is no credible opposition to the party in Crimea, the =
paper=20
<BR>concludes.<BR><BR>The following is the text of the article by Viktor =
Khomenko entitled "On the <BR>crossroads of cultures, interests and =
influences"=20
published in the Ukrainian <BR>daily Holos Ukrayiny on 14 February. =
Subheadings=20
are as published:<BR><BR>The autonomous peninsula at present is not =
hostile to=20
Ukraine, to the state <BR>and statehood, as some people are trying to =
prove. The=20
mistake of Kiev and <BR>Moscow politicians lies precisely in the fact =
that they=20
view Crimea from <BR>positions of separatist inclinations.<BR><BR>They =
do exist,=20
skilfully nurtured by some political forces, not only <BR>Ukrainian =
ones. But on=20
the whole extremely serious changes have taken place <BR>in the mass =
awareness=20
of Crimeans.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
POLITICAL PURGE<BR></STRONG></FONT>Recent events in Crimea are evidence =
that=20
control of the political situation <BR>and structures of power here has =
been=20
fully taken over by the [ruling] Party <BR>of Regions.<BR><BR>Three =
insistent=20
proposals to tender his resignation and a series of carping <BR>checks =
at the=20
request of Crimean leaders of the Regionals [Party of Regions] <BR>have =
forced=20
the Crimean police chief, Volodymyr Khomenko, to give up his=20
<BR>post.<BR><BR>But not at his own request, but owing to the fact that =
I could=20
not and did <BR>not want to work in such conditions, the police general =
with a=20
service <BR>record of more than 30 years said.<BR><BR>Although under his =
leadership the Crimean police, significantly in advance <BR>of other =
regions=20
(21.3 compared with 13 per cent), led the country in terms <BR>of crime=20
reduction and recently dealt a crushing blow to serious shadow =
<BR>dealers on=20
the alcohol market.<BR><BR>A police colonel, Anatoliy Mohylyov, was =
immediately=20
appointed to the job. <BR>For the past 10 years he had headed the =
Artemivsk and=20
Makiyivka town police <BR>directorates in Donetsk Region [heartland of =
Party of=20
Regions support].<BR><BR>In the words of the disgraced Khomenko, who is =
today=20
already a pensioner, <BR>the main reason for pressing law-enforcement =
personnel=20
out of Crimea is that <BR>without them it will be easier on the =
peninsula to=20
address questions of land <BR>and property. A new police chief has also =
started=20
serving in Sevastopol.<BR><BR>It looks as if the same fate awaits the =
Crimean=20
prosecutor, Volodymyr <BR>Shemchuk, famed for his fruitful struggle =
against=20
high-profile abuses and <BR>swindling in the area of illegal =
privatization of=20
land and facilities of the <BR>resort and recreation complex and his =
principled=20
reaction to all legally <BR>dubious decisions of local authorities, to =
which=20
Crimean officials are <BR>traditionally generous.<BR><BR>It has already =
been=20
proposed to him three times to change the geography of <BR>his new =
appointment.=20
The activity of the prosecutor's office is being <BR>checked once again =
by a big=20
commission from the Prosecutor-General's Office, <BR>which observers =
believe=20
should also be seen in the context of Party of <BR>Regions control over =
the=20
political situation in the peninsula.<BR><BR>I think that some political =
forces=20
still want to have their own' prosecutor, <BR>Shemchuk warned. And =
political=20
experts are convinced that the mafia that <BR>controls the shadow land =
market=20
very much wants to get rid of the Crimean =
<BR>prosecutor.<BR><BR>Tendencies that=20
are being increasingly clearly seen in new appointments, <BR>political=20
scientists note, are painfully familiar: people loyal to the =
<BR>country's=20
ruling circles have to come to replace high-ranking <BR>law-enforcement=20
officers. [Shemchuk's replacement by Volodymyr Haltsov was <BR>reported =
on 16=20
February]<BR><BR>Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is expected in =
Crimea on=20
22 February, <BR>when he is due to present his new representative in =
place of=20
Henadiy Moskal.<BR><BR>He [Moskal] was the only counterweight able to =
control=20
and to a certain <BR>extent even resist the omnipotence of the =
Regionals. The=20
president's <BR>representation in the autonomy retains its control =
functions=20
without its <BR>leader, but for now cannot seriously oppose any =
contentious acts=20
of the <BR>ruling party.<BR><BR>So in Crimea the Party of Regions is now =
in full=20
control of political and <BR>economic life on the peninsula, =
endeavouring to=20
strengthen their positions <BR>even more.<BR><BR>At the last big meeting =
of the=20
Regionals - deputies of all levels and <BR>representatives of all =
branches of=20
power - their leader, Vasyl Kyselyov, <BR>said that in regions where the =
party=20
had two thirds of deputy seats on <BR>councils, a vote of no confidence =
should=20
be passed in heads of district <BR>state administration and town heads, =
aiming=20
to get either re-elections or <BR>their =
replacement.<BR><BR>Recommendations=20
adopted by the meeting define a number of tactical steps for <BR>Crimean =
Regionals: in particular on the placement of personnel in all bodies =
<BR>of the=20
executive and local government.<BR><BR>The motivation and arguments are =
old: the=20
Regionals won the elections, <BR>formed the government and the =
authorities, and=20
they want full control; in <BR>order to be able be fully responsible to =
the=20
voters, they want to have all <BR>the levers of influence over the=20
situation.<BR><BR>Apart from that, Kyselyov said, the Regionals are =
raising the=20
question of <BR>ensuring that there are representatives of their party =
in every=20
ministry.<BR><BR>They have initiated changes to election legislation - =
to raise=20
the barrier <BR>for parties to get into councils of all levels from 9 to =
12 per=20
cent, and <BR>later will energetically place in power exclusively their =
own=20
people.<BR><BR>At the same time, assurances are being voiced: The time =
of=20
authoritarianism <BR>is moving into the past now, giving way to people's =
power=20
and a new <BR>constitutional order. We are supporters of dictatorship, =
but=20
dictatorship of <BR>the law.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; =20
LAYING OUT A GAME OF PATIENCE<BR></STRONG></FONT>The Party of Regions on =
the=20
peninsula consists of 41,000 people. Together <BR>with the Russian Bloc =
party it=20
forms a faction in the Supreme Council <BR>[parliament] of Crimea that =
amounts=20
to 44 deputies out of 100.<BR><BR>There is no real opposition to the =
Regionals=20
in Crimea. Even the <BR>[propresidential] Our Ukraine bloc, represented =
in the=20
Crimean parliament by <BR>the Rukh-Kurultay faction, cooperates with =
them, while=20
the YTB [opposition <BR>Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc] is too weak and =
therefore is not=20
displaying serious <BR>activity.<BR><BR>Even the 18,000-strong Serhiy =
Kunitsyn=20
Bloc, which shared second place in <BR>the elections to the Crimean =
parliament,=20
is not really opposing the <BR>Regionals.<BR><BR>All the other political =
forces,=20
in particular, the communists, socialists <BR>and social democrats =
support the=20
Party of Regions and, playing second <BR>fiddle, are frightened that =
even the=20
powers that they still have will be <BR>wrested from them.<BR><BR>A =
noticeable=20
trend is the steady reduction in the ranks of political <BR>parties: =
often even=20
by half. After the elections, all parties without <BR>exception that =
failed in=20
the battle for the electorate suffered tangible <BR>losses.<BR><BR>The =
People's=20
Party of the former head of parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn, <BR>dropped by =
half,=20
and now consists of 15,000 people. The same reduction <BR>befell the =
socialists=20
of [speaker] Oleksandr Moroz, of whom 13,000 remain </DIV>
<DIV>on the peninsula.<BR><BR>The social democrats, with until recently =
28,000=20
people in its ranks, is <BR>steadily melting away. The majority of =
defectors=20
find themselves in <BR>organizations of the ruling party, where the =
migrants are=20
offered official <BR>posts.<BR><BR>So the Regionals, in spite of their =
own=20
almost 20 per cent drop in rating, <BR>as sociologists show, are still =
not=20
exhausting their credit of trust and, <BR>seizing the moment, are =
raising all=20
branches of power under themselves on <BR>the peninsula. Only Our =
Ukraine people=20
remain stable, without a reduction in <BR>their 15,000-strong=20
ranks.<BR><BR>There is a discernible growth in the influence of the =
radical wing=20
of the <BR>Majlis [Crimean Tatar unofficial parliament], which soon may =
be=20
exerting a <BR>real influence on the political situation on the=20
peninsula.<BR><BR>Obviously everything will depend on how the spring =
elections=20
to the Majlis <BR>turn out, and it is planned to hold a Kurultay =
[consultative=20
meeting] in <BR>autumn.<BR><BR>The position of the Crimean Tatars will =
depend on=20
how strong the radical <BR>wing in the Majlis becomes. Another important =
factor=20
is the radical <BR>pro-Russian forces.<BR><BR>The more moderate of them =
are=20
represented in power and, collaborating with <BR>the Kremlin, which is =
not now=20
interested in any destabilization on the <BR>peninsula, are sitting=20
quietly.<BR><BR>Another section of the pro-Russian groups, oriented to =
more=20
radical forces <BR>in Russia, is less influential, since they do not =
have state=20
support from <BR>there and are not represented in the local=20
authorities.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; =20
TENDENCIES OF THE PARTY PALETTE<BR></STRONG></FONT>Increasing interest =
of=20
political parties in Crimea is a visible phenomenon <BR>of recent years. =
The=20
present bursts of such interest were noticed before the <BR>presidential =
and=20
parliamentary elections, since they were conducted on a <BR>purely party =
basis.<BR><BR>Virtually all the numerous political parties of Ukraine - =
125=20
altogether - <BR>are now registered on the peninsula. About 15 have =
succeeded in=20
obtaining <BR>genuine political residence permits in Crimea. The ones =
that have=20
electoral <BR>support can conventionally be divided into three=20
groups.<BR><BR>First of all, there are parties of a pro-Russian =
orientation that=20
are making <BR>use of the electoral moods of the Russian-speaking =
section of the=20
Crimean <BR>population, and first and foremost ethnic Russians. Since =
the=20
peninsula is <BR>the only part of Ukraine where the number of ethnic =
Russians=20
comprises the <BR>majority.<BR><BR>If we remember its very difficult =
history,=20
back in the times of the Russian <BR>Empire and the USSR and the =
transfer of=20
Crimea, almost unpopulated after the <BR>deportation [of the Tatars], =
into the=20
composition of the Ukrainian SSR in <BR>1954 from the composition of the =
Russian=20
Federation, then the root of the <BR>problem will become perfectly=20
understandable.<BR><BR>It should be borne in mind here that purely =
pro-Russian=20
parties of a radical <BR>type, which at the beginning of the 90s raised =
the=20
question of transferring <BR>Crimea into the composition of Russia, no =
longer=20
enjoy the support of the <BR>majority of Crimeans, since people already=20
understand perfectly well the <BR>realities of contemporary Ukrainian =
politics:=20
Crimea is an inalienable part <BR>of Ukraine as an autonomy.<BR><BR>The =
fact=20
that such parties, while recognizing the fact, are skilfully =
<BR>transforming=20
their political world view, campaigning for the maintenance and=20
<BR>strengthening of the status of the Russian language and culture on =
the=20
<BR>peninsula is another matter.<BR><BR>More pragmatic parties receive=20
considerable support in the autonomy. It is <BR>no accident that the =
parties=20
Russian Bloc and Russian Party, which existed <BR>previously, joined a =
bloc with=20
the Party of Regions and formed the election <BR>bloc For [Prime =
Minister=20
Viktor] Yanukovych, which gained a majority at the <BR>last=20
elections.<BR><BR>But at the same time, parties that also preach the =
idea of=20
Crimean <BR>regionalism and local patriotism, but occupy more balanced =
positions=20
at this <BR>level also enjoy a fair amount of trust.<BR><BR>This is the =
PDP=20
[People's Democratic Party], which did not get into the <BR>Ukrainian =
Supreme=20
Council, although Serhiy Kunitsyn [former Crimean Prime <BR>Minister] =
created an=20
eponymous bloc based on the DPU [Democratic Party of <BR>Ukraine] and =
the=20
PDP.<BR><BR>The Communist Party and the Crimean regional organization of =
the CPU=20
<BR>[Communist Party of Ukraine] under the leadership of Leonid Hrach =
form the=20
<BR>left-wing spectrum of the party palette, which is slowly but surely =
losing=20
<BR>voters. It is represented by eight deputies in the Supreme Council =
of=20
<BR>Crimea.<BR><BR>Of the right-wing parties [Former Foreign Minister] =
Borys=20
Tarasyuk's <BR>People's Movement of Ukraine [PMU - Rukh] is operating =
most=20
successfully <BR>with the Crimean electorate.<BR><BR>But only because =
the=20
Crimean Tatars do not have their own political party, <BR>and are =
implementing=20
their electoral intentions within the framework of the <BR>party. That =
is why=20
the PMU also gained 7 per cent support at the last <BR>elections and has =
eight=20
deputies in the Crimean Supreme Council. But <BR>basically, they are =
Crimean=20
Tatars.<BR><BR>They are actively using the Crimean Tatar nationalist =
idea of the=20
<BR>self-defence of their people. In a certain sense the YTB has =
electoral=20
<BR>sympathies.<BR><BR>Nonetheless, one can speak about stable support =
for this=20
wing of the <BR>Ukrainian polity not so much according to party as to=20
personality features. <BR>That is everything that is growing on the =
Crimean=20
field.<BR><BR>Statistics show that 47 Ukrainian political parties =
obtained=20
support at the <BR>last elections, including parties that were part of=20
associations and blocs. <BR>The rest could not even be taken seriously. =
This=20
confirms the fact that <BR>Crimea continues to retain the position of a =
specific=20
region of Ukraine with <BR>special electoral moods.<BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
PARADOXICAL FACE<BR></STRONG></FONT>The paradoxical nature of the =
Crimean=20
situation lies in the unregulated <BR>status of the territory in =
Ukrainian=20
legislation and the constitution.<BR><BR>Although the existence of the =
Crimean=20
autonomy is enshrined in the <BR>Constitution of Ukraine and recognized =
by the=20
world community, in practice <BR>the central leadership and the polity =
are still=20
irritated by the existence <BR>of the autonomy in a unitary state. They =
have a=20
fairly distrustful attitude <BR>to it, considering it to be a source of=20
separatism, and this allergy is <BR>long-standing.<BR><BR>Quite a few =
important=20
matters in relations between Kiev and the peninsula <BR>have not been =
regulated=20
to this day. This irks many Crimeans and is a source <BR>of permanent=20
dissatisfaction with Kiev.<BR><BR>For example, it is only recently that =
laws=20
were passed on the status of <BR>deputies in the autonomy and the =
Supreme=20
Council of the Autonomous Republic <BR>of Crimea, while there is still =
no law on=20
the Council of Ministers of the <BR>autonomy.<BR><BR>There is also a =
lack of=20
legislative acts that would delineate more clearly <BR>the question of =
the=20
property of the autonomy and of the centre. The autonomy <BR>does not =
have the=20
right to legislative initiative, and therefore it still <BR>exists in a=20
declarative way.<BR><BR>In many cases this leads to the excesses that =
exist in=20
Crimea, in particular <BR>in the area of land. Because instead of law, =
what is=20
operating is big money, <BR>a shadow market and certain clans, among =
which the=20
most active are the <BR>Donetsk, Kiev and Dnipropetrovsk =
clans.<BR><BR>The=20
majority of the tasty morsels have already been bought up. Constant=20
<BR>wide-scale chaotic building has been going on for years, because of =
which=20
<BR>Crimea has already lost many attractive places that could have =
become major=20
<BR>investment projects.<BR><BR>In connection with this, foreign =
investors are=20
unwilling to come, not <BR>trusting the situation on the =
peninsula.<BR><BR>This=20
is also the reason for the intensification of activity of the Crimean =
<BR>Tatars=20
who, having returned to their homeland in droves from their places of=20
<BR>deportation, have remained outside the transparent distribution of =
land and=20
<BR>are trying to tackle the problem not always by means of the =
law. =20
-30-<BR></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i22">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>23<A=20
name=3Da23>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG>UKRAINE'S =
FOREIGN POLICY=20
AT THE=20
BEGINNING<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
OF THE 21ST CENTURY<BR><BR></STRONG></FONT>ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. =
Ihor=20
Ostash<BR>Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada<BR>University of Ottawa, =
Ottawa,=20
Ontario, Canada<BR>Wednesday, February 7, 2007</DIV>
<DIV>Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition</DIV>
<DIV>Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007<BR><BR>Ladies and =
gentlemen,<BR><BR>I am honoured to be invited to address such a =
distinguished=20
audience<BR>gathered here at one of the leading Canadian Universities. I =
would=20
like to<BR>thank the Chair of the Ukrainian Studies Professor Dominique =
Arel=20
for<BR>organizing this event.<BR><BR>In order to describe the nature of=20
Ukraine's foreign policy at the beginning<BR>of the 21st century we =
should go=20
back to the events of the winter of 2004,<BR>which are now known all =
over the=20
world as the Orange Revolution.<BR><BR>The Ukrainian people, by =
defending -- by=20
peaceful means -- their freedoms<BR>and standing up against massive =
fraud of the=20
first two tours of the<BR>Presidential elections of 2004, proved to be =
Europeans=20
not only by<BR>geographic location, but also by their values and the=20
determination to<BR>protect them. They have shown that as Europeans they =
deserve=20
their place<BR>in the united Europe.<BR><BR>It is well-known that the =
concept of=20
European and Euro-Atlantic integration<BR>has been a keystone of the =
Ukrainian=20
foreign policy doctrine for many years.<BR><BR>However, an honest =
evaluation of=20
the real progress on Ukraine's move towards<BR>the EU and NATO =
membership by the=20
end of Leonid Kuchma's tenure shows<BR>that any mentioning of Ukraine's=20
integration into the EU and NATO caused<BR>among Western politicians =
nothing but=20
irritation and a "fatigue syndrome".<BR><BR>Before the Orange =
Revolution,=20
Ukraine's image abroad was tainted by a<BR>discredited and corrupt =
political=20
leadership incapable of forgoing foreign<BR>policy ambiguity and =
ensuring a=20
consistency in the implementation of<BR>strategic tasks.<BR><BR>The =
undemocratic=20
nature of the Kuchma regime lead to the de-facto<BR>international =
isolation of=20
Ukraine and kept at bay any real prospect of<BR>joining Western=20
institutions.<BR><BR>Cardinal changes that took place in our country =
over the=20
past two years that<BR>secured Ukraine's development on the democratic =
path have=20
also shaped the<BR>course of Ukraine's foreign policy.<BR><BR>It is =
based on the=20
mainstream civilizational choice of the Ukrainian people<BR>to live in a =
democratic, law-abiding and fair society homogenous with =
other<BR>European=20
countries.<BR><BR>Ukrainians believe that building a respected, =
prosperous and=20
democratic<BR>Ukraine is inseparable from Ukraine's joining the family =
of the=20
united<BR>Europe.<BR><BR>However, instead of endlessly repeating the =
mantra of=20
Ukraine's European<BR>and Euro-Atlantic integration, which in the past =
decade=20
found little<BR>response from our European and NATO counterparts, =
Ukraine is=20
proving<BR>its political choice by actions.<BR><BR>Ukraine is becoming a =
regional leader, a proponent of democratic values<BR>and freedoms, a =
country=20
that is able to clearly define its foreign policy<BR>priorities and back =
them up=20
with a trustworthy agenda and actions.<BR><BR>In sum, the period after =
the=20
Orange Revolution is the time when Ukraine is<BR>elaborating its own=20
sustainable, consistent and independent foreign policy.<BR><BR>As you =
may know,=20
with the Parliamentary elections of March 26, 2006 </DIV>
<DIV>(which have been recognized as democratic by all observers) the =
provisions=20
</DIV>
<DIV>of political reform entered into force which modified the =
distribution=20
of<BR>powers in Ukraine.<BR><BR>The Government is headed by =
Prime-Minister=20
Victor Yanukovych, the<BR>leader of the Party of Regions and the former=20
competitor of President<BR>Victor Yuschenko at the Presidential =
elections of=20
2004.<BR><BR>While the President and the Prime Minister represent =
political=20
forces that<BR>are at opposite ends of the spectrum, it is important to=20
underline that the<BR>direction of Ukraine's foreign policy remains=20
unchanged.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>1. =
CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS=20
AND LAWS </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>DEFINING UKRAINE'S FOREIGN=20
PRIORITIES</STRONG></FONT><BR>To prove that, let's begin with a brief =
overview=20
of the distribution of<BR>constitutional powers in Ukraine with respect =
to=20
determining and carrying<BR>out the foreign policy, as well as the key =
laws that=20
outline its main<BR>priorities.<BR><BR>According to the Constitution of =
Ukraine=20
(Art. 106), the President of<BR>Ukraine directs the foreign policy of =
Ukraine,=20
represents Ukraine on the<BR>international arena, appoints and =
discharges=20
Ambassadors, submits to the<BR>Parliament petition for appointment of =
the=20
Minister of Foreign Affairs of<BR>Ukraine.<BR><BR>The President has the =
right to=20
veto Parliament's bills and to enjoin the<BR>execution of the Cabinet of =
President of Ukraine, who charts<BR>the course and exercises the =
direction of=20
Ukraine's foreign policy, in<BR>accordance with the laws passed by the=20
Parliament, and the Cabinet of<BR>Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign =
Affairs=20
deal with the practical<BR>implementation of foreign policy.<BR><BR>On =
August 3,=20
2006 after a week-long roundtable discussion chaired by<BR>President of =
Ukraine=20
Viktor Yushchenko the leaders of four political<BR>forces -- the Party =
of=20
Regions, Our Ukraine, the Socialists, and the<BR>Communists signed the=20
Declaration on National Unity.<BR><BR>This document addressed a number =
of the=20
most critical issues in Ukrainian<BR>politics, especially regarding =
foreign=20
affairs.<BR><BR>First of all, the Declaration confirmed that the course =
of the=20
Ukrainian<BR>foreign policy aimed at integration to the European Union =
and=20
strengthening<BR>its international authority is irreversible and =
immutable. In=20
this light,<BR>the parties agreed to adhere to the "Ukraine -- EU" =
Action Plan=20
and to begin<BR>immediate negotiations regarding the creation of a free =
trade=20
area between<BR>Ukraine and the European Union.<BR><BR>The document =
proposed a=20
sensible political compromise on Ukraine-NATO<BR>relations: continuing =
"mutually=20
beneficial cooperation" for now, in<BR>accordance with the "Law on =
National=20
Security of Ukraine", and deferring the<BR>issue of membership until =
some later=20
date, subject to a national referendum.<BR><BR>The Declaration on =
National Unity=20
has established a tradition of national<BR>and public dialogue for =
resolving=20
problems that Ukraine has inherited from<BR>the past or acquired=20
today.<BR><BR>Thus, the President initiated to conduct the second =
national round=20
table,<BR>which is scheduled for February 22-25, 2007, and will involve =
such=20
political<BR>leaders as the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the=20
Prime-minister of<BR>Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and the Chairman of the =
Verkhovna=20
Rada (the<BR>Parliament) of Ukraine Olexander Moroz, as well as public =
leaders,=20
artists,<BR>and journalists etc. Its participants have to formulate a =
2007=20
action plan<BR>based on the Declaration on National =
Unity.<BR><BR>Meanwhile, I=20
would like to stress that Ukraine's foreign policy priorities<BR>are =
established=20
by law and are contained in such documents as the Act of =
the<BR>Verkhovna Rada=20
(the Parliament) on the main directions of Ukraine's foreign<BR>policy =
passed in=20
1993, the Law of Ukraine on the main principles of the<BR>national =
security=20
adopted in 2003, as well as Ukraine's Defence Doctrine<BR>adopted in=20
2004.<BR><BR>As to our strategic priorities established by these laws, =
they=20
include<BR>European and Euro-Atlantic integration with the goal of =
attaining=20
a<BR>full-fledged membership in NATO and the EU, accession to the =
World<BR>Trade=20
Organization, which we expect to achieve in 2007.<BR><BR>At the World =
Economic=20
Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prime-Minister V.<BR>Yanukovych invited WTO =
Director-General Pascal Lamy to come to Ukraine<BR>for the signing of =
the=20
agreement on Ukraine's accession to the WTO this<BR>year.<BR><BR>Our =
main=20
priorities also include the development of friendly and =
mutually<BR>beneficial=20
relations with all countries, first and foremost our =
neighboring<BR>states, such=20
as Russia and Poland, as well as strategic partners of our<BR>country, =
such as=20
Canada and the United States.<BR><BR>Ukraine pursues the goal of =
promoting=20
European values in its region, in<BR>particular through active =
participation in=20
the resolution of frozen<BR>conflicts.<BR><BR>Ukraine conducts active=20
multilateral policy in the framework of global and<BR>regional =
organizations,=20
such as the United Nations and the Organization for<BR>Security and =
Cooperation=20
in Europe (OSCE). We consider our participation in<BR>these =
organizations an=20
important factor of deepening and broadening regional<BR>as well as =
global=20
stability and security in Europe.<BR><BR>One of the main foreign policy=20
priorities is the economic expansion of<BR>Ukrainian goods and services =
both on=20
the conventional and the new markets<BR>in the Middle East, Latin =
America, Asia=20
and Africa.<BR><BR>And, of course, one of the most important aspects of=20
Ukraine's foreign<BR>policy is protecting Ukrainian citizens abroad and=20
safeguarding the rights<BR>of the Ukrainian Diaspora , which will remain =
a=20
constant priority of the<BR>foreign policy of Ukraine and the sphere of=20
particular attention of<BR>Ukrainian diplomatic and consular missions=20
abroad.<BR><BR>We are working successfully with many countries on =
legalizing the=20
status of<BR>Ukrainian migrant workers, signing agreements on temporary=20
employment,<BR>promoting the opening of Ukrainian schools, television =
stations=20
and<BR>newspapers abroad.<BR><BR>President V. Yuschenko has issued a =
Decree=20
adopting the National concept of<BR>cooperation with overseas =
Ukrainians. There=20
is a special Department at the<BR>Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine =
for the=20
relations with overseas<BR>Ukrainians.<BR><BR>These priorities, =
including=20
European and Euro-Atlantic integration, are the<BR>backbone of Ukraine's =
foreign=20
policy. This is the position of the President,<BR>the Government and the =
Parliament of Ukraine. This is our strategic course<BR>that has no=20
alternative.<BR><BR>I will go in some more detail over a few of these=20
priorities.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>2. EUROPEAN=20
INTEGRATION</STRONG></FONT><BR>As I mentioned, one of the key goals of =
Ukraine's=20
foreign policy is becoming<BR>a full-fledged member of the European =
Union. This=20
is a key priority,<BR>realization of which includes the whole complex of =
efforts=20
both inside the<BR>country and beyond its borders. They are aimed at =
moving=20
Ukraine closer to<BR>the EU and creating preconditions necessary for =
future=20
accession to the EU.<BR><BR>I believe that this is indeed a two-way =
street,=20
where both Ukraine and the<BR>EU will benefit from Ukraine's membership. =
Ukrainians belong in the united<BR>Europe due to their history, culture, =
as well=20
as system of values and<BR>beliefs in democracy and the rule of law, as =
was=20
proven by the events of the<BR>Orange revolution. Our country is a =
contributor=20
to global and regional peace<BR>and security.<BR><BR>Ukraine is =
essential for=20
the energy security of Europe, given thousands of<BR>kilometres of oil =
and gas=20
pipelines that deliver energy to all Europeans.<BR><BR>Furthermore, a =
democratic=20
and stable Ukraine integrated into the European<BR>and Euro-Atlantic =
structures=20
is the best guarantee of good-neighbourly<BR>relations between Ukraine, =
the=20
European Union and the Russian Federation.<BR><BR>And, as those European =
nations=20
hosting many Ukrainian labour migrants have<BR>learned, the Ukrainian =
people are=20
honest and hard-working. Everybody knows<BR>the boxers Vitaly and =
Volodymyr=20
Klychko, soccer player Andriy Schevchenko,<BR>pop-singer Ruslana or =
chess world=20
champion Ruslan Ponomariov.<BR><BR>I am confident that my compatriots =
will make=20
a solid contribution to the<BR>development of a united Europe. As former =
Foreign=20
Minister Borys Tarasyuk<BR>aptly put it, "Ukraine is coming back to =
Europe not=20
with a bag of problems,<BR>but with a basket of proposals".<BR><BR>And =
Europeans=20
see Ukraine as part of Europe. According to latest polls<BR>conducted in =
Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Great Britain and Poland only<BR>34% =
respondents=20
stated that they are not ready to see Ukraine in the EU, but<BR>the =
overwhelming=20
majority expressed support of our membership (Poland and<BR>Spain -- =
65%, Italy=20
-- 59%, France -- 56%, Great Britain -- 47%, Germany=20
--<BR>44%).<BR><BR>Ukraine's relations with the EU have become truly =
dynamic.=20
Yesterday the<BR>delegation of the EU Troyka headed by Foreign Minister=20
F.Steimeyer of<BR>Germany -- country that presides in the EU in the =
first half=20
of 2007 -- met<BR>in Kyiv with President Yuschenko, Prime-Minister =
Yanukovych=20
and Acting<BR>Foreign Minister V.Ohryzko.<BR><BR>Ukraine and the EU =
began=20
negotiations about the new, enhanced agreement. The<BR>present Agreement =
on=20
Partnership and Cooperation expires in the beginning of<BR>2008, and we =
are=20
ready to make the next step on the road to EU membership.<BR>We stand =
for=20
concluding an agreement with the EU on the principles of<BR>political=20
association and economic integration.<BR><BR>Ukraine in partnership with =
the EU=20
is an active contributor to peace and<BR>security on the European =
continent. Our=20
country has been taking part in the<BR>Police Mission of the EU in =
Boznia and=20
Herzegovina, is cooperating with the<BR>EU in the settlement of the=20
Transdniestria conflict and with the EU mission<BR>on the =
Ukraine-Moldova=20
border.<BR><BR>In 2006, our country has joined 511 of the 554 EU =
resolutions on=20
regional<BR>and international issues, which shows the high level of=20
political<BR>association of Ukraine with the EU and the commonality of =
our=20
principles and<BR>values. Last year there were 135 expert visits between =
EU and=20
Ukraine, which<BR>is one third higher than the year before.<BR><BR>The =
European=20
Union is the biggest trading partner of Ukraine. Its share =
in<BR>Ukraine's=20
trading balance for the period of 10 months of 2006 has been<BR>31,2%, =
which is=20
21,3% higher than for the same period of 2005. About 75%<BR>of direct =
foreign=20
investments into Ukraine's economy come from the EU.<BR><BR>Accordingly, =
our=20
goal is to establish a free-trade zone with the EU. =
Formal<BR>negotiations on=20
this issue are to begin after Ukraine's accession to =
the<BR>WTO.<BR><BR>At the=20
Ukraine-EU summit in October, 2006 we have completed negotiations<BR>on =
easing=20
the visa regime and readmission, and initialed respective drafts<BR>of=20
agreements. We expect to sign them in 2007.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG>3. EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION</STRONG></FONT><BR>Another =
key=20
priority of Ukraine's foreign policy is the Euro-Atlantic<BR>integration =
, aimed=20
at gradual full-fledged membership in NATO.<BR><BR>Due to certain =
circumstances=20
this issue has been highly politicized in<BR>Ukraine. At the same time, =
the=20
strategic course of Ukraine towards NATO<BR>membership is written in the =
Ukrainian laws, and it is supported by the<BR>leadership of our country. =
Any=20
differences of vision are related to the<BR>tactical aspects of =
Euro-Atlantic=20
integration.<BR><BR>In terms of public support, the majority of the =
Ukrainians=20
consider that the<BR>society doesn't have enough information about NATO =
to make=20
a deliberate<BR>decision whether Ukraine should or shouldn't become a=20
member.<BR><BR>Specifically, according to the results of the poll =
conducted=20
recently by the<BR>company "FOM-Ukraine" (translated as "Fund of Public=20
Opinion") 62.2% of<BR>Ukrainians say that they lack information about =
NATO. In=20
general, 45.4% of<BR>Ukrainians don't support the idea of Ukraine =
joining NATO,=20
38.6% support<BR>the accession and 16.1% are undecided.<BR><BR>At the =
same time,=20
the poll showed that if the referendum took place in the<BR>near future, =
59.9%=20
would vote against Ukraine joining NATO, 16.9% would<BR>support this =
idea and=20
8.4% are undecided. But 28.8% of respondents noted<BR>that they could =
change=20
their attitude towards NATO if they received more<BR>information about =
this=20
organization, 46.9% wouldn't change their opinion and<BR>24.3% didn't =
give an=20
answer.<BR><BR>On January 26, 2007 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, =
Switzerland,<BR>Prime-Minister V. Yanukovych emphasized that the current =
budget=20
is the first<BR>one since Ukraine's independence that provides funds for =
educating the<BR>public about NATO.<BR><BR>In his view, such policy =
"will=20
develop positive perception" of NATO by the<BR>Ukrainian society and =
"facilitate=20
the process of Euro-Atlantic integration<BR>of =
Ukraine".<BR><BR>Meanwhile,=20
Ukraine is developing practical cooperation with the Alliance in<BR>the=20
framework of the Intensified Dialogue, and in the hope of receiving=20
an<BR>invitation to the Membership Action Plan in the near =
future.<BR><BR>As an=20
example of such cooperation, the implementation of the =
NATO-Ukraine<BR>Action=20
Plan for 2006 involved over 50 ministries and =
governmental<BR>organizations of=20
Ukraine. There has been created a special National System<BR>of =
Coordination of=20
Ukraine's Cooperation with NATO.<BR><BR>Speaking of practical examples =
of such=20
cooperation, I can mention, for<BR>instance, the utilization of old =
ammunition.=20
Ukrainians are thankful to the<BR>Canadian Government for participating =
in this=20
project.<BR><BR>NATO is also providing assistance in the development of =
science=20
and<BR>computerization of Ukrainian universities, civil training of=20
decommissioned<BR>officers. In December of 2006 the President of Ukraine =
issued=20
a decree<BR>authorizing the participation of Ukrainian Navy in the=20
anti-terrorist<BR>operation "Active Endeavour" in the Mediterranean=20
Sea.<BR><BR>And the latest example, which shows not only the =
effectiveness=20
of<BR>Ukraine-NATO relations but also the strength of the partnership=20
between<BR>Ukraine and Canada, is the decision of President Victor =
Yuschenko to=20
send 10<BR>Ukrainian peacekeepers to Afghanistan, who will be there =
contributing=20
to the<BR>fight against terrorism shoulder to shoulder with their =
Canadian=20
colleagues.<BR><BR>We consider NATO as a stabilizing factor in the =
world, and=20
Ukraine is an<BR>integral part of the European security system. =
Ukraine's place=20
is in Europe,<BR>and it will continue moving on the path towards =
integration=20
into European<BR>and Euro-Atlantic structures.<BR><BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG>4. MULTILATERAL AND REGIONAL=20
INITIATIVES</STRONG></FONT><BR>Touching briefly on Ukraine's =
multilateral and=20
regional initiatives, I<BR>should mention Ukraine's participation in the =
settlement of the<BR>Transdniestria conflict.<BR><BR>In 2006, the =
settlement=20
process followed the plan elaborated by President<BR>V. Yuschenko, that =
provided=20
measures for conducting negotiations,<BR>demilitarizing the region and =
promoting=20
democratic transformations. Ukraine<BR>is actively working in =
partnership with=20
the OSCE on the peaceful resolution<BR>of this conflict.<BR><BR>In the =
context=20
of regional and multilateral initiatives we should also<BR>mention the =
union of=20
Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova (GUAM),<BR>which in May of 2006 =
was=20
transformed into an international Organization for<BR>Democracy and =
Economic=20
Development -- GUAM with the headquarters in<BR>Kyiv.<BR><BR>Another =
success=20
story is the establishment by nine East European countries<BR>have =
established=20
in Kyiv in December 2005 the union called Community of<BR>Democratic =
Choice,=20
whose aim is to promote democracy and human rights<BR>in the=20
Baltic-Black-Caspian sea region.<BR><BR>As a token of recognition of =
Ukraine's=20
reputation in the field of human<BR>rights, I am proud to say that in =
2006=20
Ukraine was elected to the newly<BR>created UN Human Rights=20
Council.<BR><BR>[Recognition Of Holodomor As Act Of Genocide Against =
Ukrainian=20
People]<BR>Speaking of our work in the framework of the UN, one of our=20
significant<BR>tasks is the universal recognition of the Holodomor of =
1932-33 in=20
Ukraine as<BR>an act of genocide against Ukrainian =
people.<BR><BR>Recently the=20
Ukrainian Parliament passed the law recognizing as genocide<BR>this one =
of the=20
greatest atrocities in the history of mankind, that took<BR>lives of =
between 7=20
and 10 million people, almost a quarter of=20
Ukraine's<BR>population.<BR><BR>Recognition of Holodomor as genocide is=20
important not only for Ukraine, but<BR>for preventing such horrors from =
ever=20
happening in the future in any part of<BR>the world.<BR><BR>We are =
thankful to=20
the Senate of Canada for adopting on June 19, 2003 a<BR>motion =
introduced by=20
Senator Raynell Andreychuk calling on the Government<BR>of Canada to =
recognize=20
the famine -- Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine =
as<BR>genocide.<BR><BR>Ukraine is=20
planning to submit to the UN General Assembly a draft of =
the<BR>respective=20
resolution, and hope that on the 75th Anniversary of this tragedy<BR>it =
will be=20
adopted by the international community.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG>5. RELATIONS WITH STRATEGIC =
PARTNERS<BR></STRONG></FONT>As I said=20
earlier, our course towards European and Euro-Atlantic =
integration<BR>goes in=20
parallel with developing friendly and mutually beneficial =
relations<BR>with our=20
partners and neighbours.<BR><BR>Our biggest neighbor and one of our =
biggest=20
partners is Russia. As Prime<BR>Minister Yanukovych emphasized, in =
developing=20
our relations "Ukraine, like<BR>our Russian partners, proceed, first and =
foremost, from our own national<BR>interests".<BR><BR>However, Ukraine's =
Governments, politicians and<BR>societies of Ukraine and Russia at =
reaching=20
constructive solutions of all<BR>issues that we inherited from the=20
past.<BR><BR>Maintaining and developing good-neighbourly relations with =
the=20
Russian<BR>Federation is one of the main priorities of Ukraine's foreign =
policy.=20
As<BR>Russian President Putin said, cooperation between Ukraine and =
Russia=20
"is<BR>developing in the highly dynamically and effectively, and is an =
example=20
of<BR>reliability in the long-term perspective".<BR><BR>On December 22, =
2006=20
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a working<BR>visit to Ukraine. =
During this=20
visit there was the first meeting of the<BR>Intergovernmental Commission =
presided by the Presidents of Ukraine and<BR>Russia.<BR><BR>In the words =
of=20
President Yuschenko, this is a "qualitatively new mechanism<BR>of =
relations=20
between Ukraine and Russia", that provides for biannual<BR>meetings =
between the=20
leaders of the two countries. The next meeting is<BR>planned for May or=20
beginning of June of 2007.<BR><BR>Ukraine and Russia are working =
constructively=20
on resolving such complicated<BR>bilateral matters as delimitation and=20
demarcation of borders, the issue of<BR>the Kerch Straight, regulating =
the=20
issues around the temporary dislocation<BR>of the Russian Black Sea =
Fleet in the=20
territory of Ukraine, formation of the<BR>free trade area.<BR><BR>Until =
the next=20
Intergovernmental Commission meeting the parties agreed to<BR>elaborate =
the text=20
of the declaration on strategic partnership between<BR>Ukraine and =
Russia which=20
will set out strategic positions of the two<BR>countries on the key=20
issues.<BR><BR>A principal factor in Ukraine-Russia relations is energy=20
cooperation.<BR>Ukraine's delegation to this year's World Economic Forum =
in=20
Davos offered<BR>suggestions to join the efforts of Russia and the =
European=20
Union aimed at<BR>increasing the supplies of energy carriers to Europe, =
among=20
other things, by<BR>modernizing Ukrainian oil and gas =
pipelines.<BR><BR>Our goal=20
is to build reliable relations with our partners to ensure the<BR>level =
of=20
energy security that will guarantee effective functioning of =
the<BR>economies of=20
all states.<BR><BR>Commenting in Davos on the issue of Ukraine's =
dependency upon=20
Russia in<BR>terms of energy supplies, Prime Minister Yanukovych stated =
that=20
Kyiv looks<BR>at this matter from the vantage point of partnership =
relations=20
with Russia.<BR><BR>The Head of Government added that Ukraine is =
studying the=20
possibilities of<BR>diversifying its energy supplies, namely, lowering =
the=20
supplies from Russia,<BR>extending the output in Ukraine and importing =
energy=20
carriers from other<BR>areas, primarily from the countries of the =
Caspian=20
region.<BR><BR>Speaking of Ukraine's strategic partners I must mention =
the=20
United States,<BR>which has been a consistent supporter of democratic=20
transformations in<BR>Ukraine since the dawn of our =
independence.<BR><BR>The=20
year 2006 was marked by such events as ending the application of=20
the<BR>Jackson-Vanik amendment, removing trade sanctions on Ukrainian=20
goods,<BR>recognizing Ukraine as a market economy country, renewing the =
benefits=20
under<BR>the Generalized System of Preferences, signing of bilateral =
market=20
access<BR>protocol within the framework of the WTO, considerably =
increasing=20
U.S.<BR>financial assistance for democratic and economic reforms in =
Ukraine and=20
for<BR>the Chornobyl Shelter project.<BR><BR>The U.S. is one of the =
biggest=20
investors in Ukraine's economy (over 1.3<BR>billion dollars) and one of =
the=20
biggest donors of financial assistance<BR>(almost 3 billion dollars). =
Our=20
countries are closely cooperating in the<BR>fight against terrorism, =
resolution=20
of frozen conflicts, preventing<BR>proliferation of weapons of mass =
destruction,=20
combating organized crime<BR>and illegal migration.<BR><BR>At the end of =
my=20
speech I would like to say a few words about Ukraine's<BR>relations with =
Canada.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>6. UKRAINE-CANADA=20
RELATIONS<BR></STRONG></FONT>Canada occupies a special place in the =
heart of=20
every Ukrainian. Our<BR>countries share close historical and family =
ties, as=20
well as common values<BR>and beliefs, such as freedom, democracy, rule =
of=20
law.<BR><BR>Four waves of Ukrainian immigration have created one of the=20
biggest<BR>communities in Canada, which, according to Statistics Canada, =
amounts=20
to<BR>almost 1.2 million people. For over two centuries the Ukrainian =
language=20
is<BR>spoken in the Canadian prairies, in Alberta oil rigs, in federal=20
and<BR>provincial legislatures and ministries, in hockey stadiums and=20
university<BR>classrooms.<BR><BR>An outstanding son of the Ukrainian =
land, the=20
Right Honourable Ramon<BR>Hnatyshyn from 1990 to 1995 was the =
Governor-General=20
of Canada.<BR><BR>15 years ago Canada was the first Western country that =
on=20
December 2, 1991<BR>recognized Ukraine's independence, on the day =
following the=20
historical<BR>December 1, 1991 Referendum where 90.3% Ukrainians voted=20
for<BR>independence of their land. The political courage and vision of =
the=20
Canadian<BR>leadership that voiced its support of Ukraine's independence =
will=20
always be<BR>remembered.<BR><BR>As a token of appreciation, on December =
04, 2006=20
President Victor Yuschenko<BR>awarded the Order of Kniaz (King) Yaroslav =
the=20
Wise to the Right Honourable<BR>Brian Mulroney "for his defining =
personal role=20
in Canada's recognition of<BR>the independence of Ukraine, and =
considerable=20
contribution in the<BR>development of Ukrainian-Canadian =
relations".<BR><BR>A=20
few days ago, on January 27, 2007 we celebrated the 15th Anniversary=20
of<BR>establishing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and =
Canada.<BR><BR>On=20
March 31, 1994 Ukraine and Canada signed the Joint Declaration on=20
Special<BR>Partnership, which was adapted to the new realities of the =
21st=20
century in<BR>the Joint Declaration on Continuing Development of the =
Special=20
Partnership<BR>between Ukraine and Canada which was signed in Kyiv on =
December=20
5, 2001.<BR><BR>Most importantly, these are not just declarations, they =
are the=20
reflection<BR>of the true nature of special partnership relations that =
our two=20
nations are<BR>privileged to enjoy.<BR><BR>We appreciate Canada's =
consistent=20
support of Ukraine in such crucial areas<BR>as helping us cope with the=20
consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster,<BR>providing financial=20
assistance in excess of 66 million Canadian dollars as<BR>well as =
playing a=20
leading role in the G-8 addressing this issue.<BR><BR>Canada has always =
backed=20
our accession to NATO, as well as has been a<BR>proponent of Ukraine's =
accession=20
to the WTO. Our countries signed the<BR>bilateral market access protocol =
in=20
2002, and we appreciate the work of<BR>Canadian Sergio Marchi as the =
Chair of=20
the WTO Working Group on Ukraine's<BR>accession.<BR><BR>We truly =
appreciate=20
Canada's technical assistance to Ukraine and the work of<BR>the Canadian =
International Development Agency, as well as our cooperation<BR>under =
the=20
Military Training Assistance Program.<BR><BR>Recently, Canada's =
outspoken=20
position and the largest observer mission have<BR>been critical during =
the days=20
of the Orange Revolution. Canadian Ambassador<BR>to Ukraine His =
Excellency=20
Andrew Robinson organized his colleagues from the<BR>Western missions on =
monitoring the Presidential elections in 2004.<BR><BR>Canada sent the =
largest=20
observer mission, including 500 members and 500<BR>volunteers, headed by =
former=20
Prime-Minister the Right Honourable John<BR>Turner.<BR><BR>Among the =
leaders of=20
the observer mission were the present Chair of the<BR>Canada-Ukraine=20
Parliamentary Friendship Group (which, by the way, includes<BR>over 150 =
Members=20
of Parliament) Peter Goldring, M.P., and Vice Chair=20
Borys<BR>Wrzesnewskyj.<BR><BR>There are many examples of partnership =
ties=20
between Ukraine and Canada.<BR>They include peacekeeping, =
non-proliferation of=20
weapons of mass destruction,<BR>particularly within the framework of the =
Global=20
Partnership, destruction and<BR>prohibition of land mines under the =
Ottawa=20
convention, protection of human<BR>rights and advocating the ideals of =
freedom=20
and democracy.<BR><BR>I am confident that Ukraine and Canada will remain =
true=20
partners on the<BR>international arena, and close and friendly relations =
between=20
our countries<BR>will only strengthen with time, and I see this as my =
primary=20
task in my<BR>capacity as Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada.</DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>7. =
CONCLUSION<BR></STRONG></FONT>In=20
conclusion, I would like to stress that Ukraine is open for dialogue=20
and<BR>cooperation on mutually beneficial terms with all countries. Our=20
country<BR>will continue to be an active, responsible and promising=20
partner.<BR><BR>This is the task given to the Ukrainian Foreign Service =
by=20
President Victor<BR>Yuschenko who, according to his Constitutional =
powers,=20
directs the foreign<BR>policy of Ukraine.<BR><BR>The President has =
confirmed the=20
irrevocability and consistency of Ukraine's<BR>foreign policy course, =
and it is=20
the duty of the Government, the Foreign<BR>Ministry and Diplomatic =
Missions of=20
Ukraine abroad, one of which I have<BR>the honour to lead, to implement =
the=20
course charted by the President and<BR>established in Ukrainian=20
laws.<BR><BR>Thank you for your=20
attention.<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------<BR>NOTE:=20
This address published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business<BR>Edition, =
Vol. 8,=20
No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007,<BR>Editor-in-Chief: Myroslava =
Oleksiuk, <A=20
href=3D"mailto:myroslava@rogers.com">myroslava@rogers.com</A><BR>--------=
Monitoring=20
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<FONT size=3D4> <FONT =
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color=3D#000080 size=3D4> PUBLISHER AND EDITOR - =
AUR<BR></FONT></STRONG>Mr. E.=20
Morgan Williams, Director, Government Affairs<BR>Washington Office,=20
SigmaBleyzer, The Bleyzer Foundation</DIV>
<DIV>Emerging Markets Private Equity Investment Group</DIV>
<DIV>President (Acting) and Chairman, Executive Committee of the</DIV>
<DIV>Board of Directors, Ukraine-U.S. Business Council <BR>P.O. Box =
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href=3D"mailto:mwilliams@SigmaBleyzer.com">mwilliams@SigmaBleyzer.com</A>=
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR =20
An International Newsletter, The Latest, Up-To-Date
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis and Commentary
Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, =
Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the =
World =20
have the sense at least to maintain relatively modest VOA [& = RFE/RL]
operations in and around the Russian Federation [including = Ukraine].
(Articles One to Three)
=20
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR - Number 818 Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor, SigmaBleyzer WASHINGTON, D.C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2007
2. U.S. BROADCASTING BUDGET PROPOSES REDUCTIONS=20
FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND=20
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (RFE/RL)
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 05, 2007
LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong
To: The Washington Post, letters@washpost.com
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007=20
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
4. WORLD BANK SAYS UKRAINE MUST CREATE A FAVORABLE
BUSINESS CLIMATE, CARRY OUT REFORMS IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR AND ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION CAN
ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
INTERVIEW: With Shigeo Katsu, Vice-President, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank By Vitalii Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5 Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, February 13, 2007
5. CAPITAL OUTFLOW POSES ONE OF BIGGEST THREATS TO
UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES YUSCHENKO SAYS Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
6. UKRAINE: BIG BUSINESS DOESN'T NEED FREE ECONOMIC=20 ZONES & PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT TERRITORIES: AKHMETOV=20
Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, 2007
7. UKRAINIAN AGRARIAN CONFEDERATION WELCOMES INCREASE
IN EXPORT QUOTAS FOR GRAIN STORED IN PORT ELEVATORS Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) website, in Ukrainian Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 7, in English Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
8. UKRAINE TO RESUME GRAIN EXPORT BY END OF FEBRUARY Korrespondent online (in Russian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb 16, 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 8, in English Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007
9. RUSSIAN GRAIN ASSOCIATION VIEWS INTRODUCTION=20
OF GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE NEGATIVELY=20
Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007
10. POLISH MEAT EXPORTERS TO UKRAINE TO QUICKLY=20 REGAIN MARKET SHARE, BUT CUSTOM DUTY STILL BARRIER Interfax Central Europe, Warsaw, Poland, Fri, February 16, 2007
11. ROMANIA: DIALOGUE WITH UKRAINE OVER DISPUTED
SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA New Europe, Athens, Greece, Wed, February 14, 2007
12. UKRAINE: TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA FLEET
EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS BUT.......
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Volodymyr Obolonsky The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
13. UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S TEMPLE
Air pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface =
polluted
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Vatilii Kniazhansky
The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
14. U.S. ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS TO EXPLAIN PLANS=20
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN EUROPE
SAYS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
15. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT'S AIDE SAYS U.S. MISSILE DEFENCE
BASES WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO=20
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN EUROPE=20
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
16. UKRAINIAN INFLUENTIAL MP THREATENS TO SUE FOR LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" IS PUBLISHED IN EUROPE UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007
17. UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TYMOSHENKO AIMS TO
FORM RULING COALITION WITH PRESIDENT'S PARTY=20 TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine,in Ukrainian 1900 gmt 17 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, February 17, 2007
18. TYMOSHENKO AGAINST MEDIATOR'S PARTICIPATION IN=20 SUPPLYING GAS TO UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO ROSUKRENERGO Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
19. UKRAINE: KRUTY-2 ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Our post-genocidal society
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Oleksandr Kramarenko The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
20. DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE OF
1932-1933 (HOLODOMOR) NOW AVAILABLE IN DVD FORMAT Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 20 Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007=20
21. WHAT THE VERHOVNA RADA ACTUALLY PASSED
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian people. Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in English) Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
22. UKRAINE: "ON THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES, INTERESTS
AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY OF REGIONS DOMINATES CRIMEA ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor Khomenko Holos Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007
23. UKRAINE'S FOREIGN POLICY AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE 21ST CENTURY
ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. Ihor Ostash
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition
Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
1. SILENCE OF AMERICA
Cutting the VOA's presence in Mr. Putin's neighborhood
Mr. Bush's budget also proposes reductions in Ukrainian-language VOA programming to serve a country struggling to Westernize in the shadow of Mr. Putin's increasingly lawless regime.
Mr. Bush should be eager to encourage democratic forces in Ukraine, as well as in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, not further limit their sources of information about the United States.
FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND=20
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (RFE/RL)
Reductions to the following:
[1] Ukrainian broadcasts by both VOA and Radio Free=20
Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL);
[2] Tibetan broadcasts by VOA and RFA;
[3] VOA Portuguese to Africa; and
[4] broadcasts in Romanian, South Slavic and Kazakh by RFE/RL.
Through its broadcast services, the BBG provides the United States and =
its
leaders direct and immediate access to a worldwide audience of 140 =
million
people. Current governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin F.
Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman,
Steven J. Simmons, and Mark McKinnon. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice serves as an ex officio member. -30-
Cutting the VOA's Presence in Mr. Putin's Neighborhood
LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong
To: The Washington Post, letters@washpost.com
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007=20
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
As a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who served in Ukraine, I can personally attest to how penny-wise but pound-foolish is the White House proposal to slash funding for Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts in that country and other former Soviet bloc nations.
For Ukraine, where VOA broadcasts are playing an important role in =
helping
democracy to slowly take root, cutting the agency's budget might save a
few dollars in the short term, but the longer-term adverse political =
cost
would be vastly greater.
Sincerely, Ken Bossong
U.S. Peace Corps volunteer - Ukraine (2000-2003), Takoma Park, MD=20
BUSINESS CLIMATE, CARRY OUT REFORMS IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR AND ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION CAN
ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
INTERVIEW: With Shigeo Katsu, Vice-President, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank By Vitalii Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5 Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, February 13, 2007
My meeting with Shigeo Katsu, the vice-president for the Europe and =
Central
Asia Region of the World Bank, took place on Feb. 6 when the World Bank
Mission opened a new office in Kyiv.
[The Day] Does the grand opening of the new office of the World Bank's Mission signify a new stage in its relations with Ukraine?
Sh.K.: Thanks for putting your question so nicely. It is a very timely
question because the opening of the new office coincides with my =
colleagues
launching consultations here in Kyiv with your government and civil =
society
in regard to a new strategy for Ukraine's partnership with the World =
Bank
Group for the next three to four years.
in Kyiv today. What decisions were passed?
Sh.K.: It was an internal meeting of the World Bank's Europe and Central
Asia regional team. We discussed matters relating to business planning. =
It
was interesting and informative because Ukraine is a medium-level profit
country that is actively evolving and quickly moving forward.
We discussed ways to improve cooperation between the World Bank Group
and Ukraine. Our conclusions are largely rooted in the assumption that =
the
new partnership strategy will be carried out in a new environment here.
[The Day] Before discussing the new strategy of relations between the World Bank and Ukraine, I would like to hear your views on the previous stage. Was everything in order or was something preventing projects from being implemented?
SUPPORTING FOUR KEY SPHERES
Sh.K.: Our partnership strategy with Ukraine, which is still in effect, =
was
mostly aimed at supporting four key spheres:
As for the instruments of cooperation, my impression is that everyone in Kyiv knows that there is an instrument known as the development strategy loan.
In the sphere of human resources - matters relating to education and =
health
care - the implementation process has turned out a bit slower. We have =
very
successful experience in the sphere of state administration, =
particularly in
modernizing the State Treasury of Ukraine.
Sh.K.: As you know, a number of important political events have taken =
place
in Ukraine. I mean the elections and instability, in the sense that we =
had
to wait for the government to be formed, and so on.
[The Day] How does the new partnership strategy differ from the previous project whose term is ending? What other new opportunities for collaboration with the World Bank will open up for Ukraine?
Sh.K.: As I said before, we are at quite an early stage of preparing a =
new
partnership strategy with Ukraine. Our consultations are just starting, =
so
it may be too early to discuss this aspect, although I do, of course, =
have
my own views.
I think that it will be more important for your readers to know about =
our
joint perspective on what has changed in Ukraine.
ECONOMIC GROWTH DESPITE POLITICAL INSTABILITY
The World Bank Group is well aware of the fact that Ukraine has shown
quick economic growth despite political instability. Your economy has
been developing very well, and we can see that the private sector has =
been
restructured.
We believe that the Ukrainian economy is quite strong. We assume that =
its
growth in the next four or five years will be significant, even if not =
at
such a quick pace as before, because for some time it will largely =
depend=20
on the long-term trend in the international situation.
How long will the world market maintain such low interest rates? Will =
there
be as much spare cash as now? In principle, Ukraine has good prospects.
If you want to know whether Ukraine will be able to maintain this growth rate without continuing reforms, we think this will be very difficult to accomplish. In this sense Ukraine is no exception to the rule. Many countries in a similar situation are facing these kinds of problems.
UKRAINE MUST, IN OUR OPINION....
In order to maintain this growth rate, increase its competitiveness in =
the
world, draw closer to the more advanced countries, and increase its per
capita income, Ukraine must, in our opinion,
In order to enhance the effectiveness of the public sector, Ukraine must =
on
the one hand set about creating the so-called fiscal space, without =
which it
is impossible to double government investments in the sector of
infrastructure.
Ukraine's location between the European Union and Russia makes it a bridge of sorts, a sphere of transportation logistics, a transportation corridor for an open economy from the standpoint of both infrastructure, software, and assistance to trade.
We will discuss all this with the Ukrainian leadership. Mr. Birmingham =
will
coordinate the process of creating a new partnership strategy with =
Ukraine.
[The Day] Enhancing Ukraine's competitiveness on the world market takes high-tech projects and scientifically intensive products.
During your previous meetings with Ukrainian officials, did you get the sense that they want to move in this direction? Perhaps Mr. Birmingham will have more to say on this subject?
Birmingham: I think that Mr. Katsu has given you a rather exhaustive =
answer.
Of course, we will continue discussions with the Ukrainian government =
about
how this set of problems can evolve, but I think that he has =
sufficiently
covered this particular aspect.
We must carefully study these questions and work on them, so that the government can feel that these projects are primarily Ukrainian ones. Objectively speaking, there were certain procedural limitations.
[The Day] Don't you think it's time Ukraine curbed its appetite for = loans?
All told, this is twice the sums being invested. Let me say again that
Ukraine must create a fiscal space and enhance the effectiveness of =
budget
spending. Of course, a more reasonable approach to loans also makes
sense.
[The Day] Do you have any complaints about the Ukrainian banking sector through which World Bank funds are provided to Ukraine?
Sh.K.: I don't think there are any problems in terms of security and reliability of World Bank funds passing through the Ukrainian banking system. However, with your permission I will make a general comment on the risks as we see them in the banking system.
In other words, on the one hand we see serious progress at the National
Bank of Ukraine (in terms of banking supervision), but progress
notwithstanding, this work is still underway, it still has to be =
completed,
its potential has to be upgraded.
[The Day] You have a meetings scheduled with Mr. Azarov. Will you ask him when Ukraine is going to lift the grain export restrictions?
[The Day] Don't you think that Ukraine depends too much on foreign =
market
demand? If so, what should it do to reduce this dependence and increase
domestic market demand?
Sh.K.: The thing is that Ukraine is becoming increasingly open in terms =
of
the economy; it is successfully going through the process of integrating
into the world economy.
Ukraine has been showing very good dynamics of progress since 2000, so without this dynamic growth, including on foreign markets, Ukraine would not be evolving so quickly.
MUST SHARE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
Why stop using these capacities? However, the key, the main challenge =
for
Ukraine's decision makers is the need to somehow share the fruits of =
this
quick economic growth with the broadest strata of the population.
Of course, it is only natural for Ukraine to protect its positions and national interests, but the system of international trade also offers an opportunity for protecting one's national interests.
You have just given more answers to the previous question than to this one. (Laughter) -30-
Send in names and e-mail addresses for the AUR distribution list.
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5. CAPITAL OUTFLOW POSES ONE OF BIGGEST THREATS TO
UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES YUSCHENKO SAYS
Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko says capital outflow poses=20 one of the biggest threats to the country's national security.
"The scale of the capital outflow in the past 4 or 5 years from Ukraine=20 indicates that the phenomena is one of the basic threats to the national =
security of Ukraine," Yuschenko said at a meeting of the National =
Security=20
and Defense Council in Kyiv on Friday.
circulation [in Ukraine]," he said, according to the press service of =
the=20
president.
Given Ukraine's $6.7 billion trade deficit, the tendency is particularly =
The Friday meeting of the National Security and Defense Council will =
also=20
address the issue of international military maneuvers in Ukraine in =
2007. -30-
Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, 2007
KYIV - Ukrainian billionaire and Regions Party MP Rinat Akhmetov says=20 Ukraine's big businesses doesn't need any special economic zones and=20 priority development territories.
"I am convinced that big business doesn't need preferences. [Ukrainian] =
big=20
business has grown up, and is capable of competing as an equal player.
Big business is giving up preferences," Akhmetov said at a meeting of =
the=20
Ukrainian parliament committee for economic policies in Donetsk on =
Thursday.=20
"We need an economically free country rather than the free economic =
zones,"=20
Akhmetov said. -30-
IN EXPORT QUOTAS FOR GRAIN STORED IN PORT ELEVATORS
Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) website, in Ukrainian Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 7, in English Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
KYIV - The Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) has welcomed the=20
decision by the cabinet of ministers to impose higher export quotas for=20
grain stored in port elevators, saying it will help relieve the =
elevators of=20
grain.
Simultaneously, UAC leaders are convinced that such liberalization must =
be=20
accompanied by a number of other steps aimed at raising competitiveness=20
of Ukraine's feed sector. Judging by the statistics on the sales of=20
cattle-breeding products, sales of live weight meat in 2006 fell by =
20-25=20
percent.
For the record, the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine has increased grain=20 export quotas for the 2006/2007 marketing year.
The resolution comes into force on publication. In addition, the MAP =
press=20
service notes that the ministry is currently drawing up a resolution=20
canceling export quotas for wheat, maize and barley. -30-
NOTE: Send in a letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear from you.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
8. UKRAINE TO RESUME GRAIN EXPORT BY END OF FEBRUARY
Korrespondent online (in Russian)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 8, in English
Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007
KYIV - By late February, the first stage of the deliveries of grain from =
port elevators to foreign clients will start, President of the Ukrainian =
According to the UGA president, Ukraine can annually export 10.5 - 11 mn =
Ukrainian President Yushchenko has plans to discuss grain export and =
grain=20
pricing with Premier Yanukovych, Yushchenko said on Feb. 13 during his=20
meeting with Dave Rogers, Cargill Europe executive director and member =
of=20
the Consultative council for foreign investments in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian grain market is now regulated in the on-hands mode. For=20
instance, on Feb. 7 the cabinet raised barley export quotas by 600,000 =
tons,=20
maize quotas by 30,000 tons and milling wheat by 228,000 tons.
The current situation, with tens of thousands of tons of grain rottening =
in=20
Odesa port elevators, is nothing but the attempt of the government to=20
preempt grain shortages in Ukraine in spring, Hladij added.
In 2003 the Yanukovych government allowed oversized grain export which=20
led to a deficit of grain on domestic markets. As the result, the =
government=20
was forced to buy grain abroad. -30-
OF GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE NEGATIVELY=20
Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007
KYIV - The Russian Grain Association negatively views the introduction=20
of grain export quotas in Ukraine. The association's President Arkady=20
Zlochevsky announced this at a press conference. "Grain [traders] are =
not=20
welcoming Ukraine's restriction on export of grain, although it favors =
us,"=20
he said.
According to him, Ukraine's grain export quota favored Ukraine's =
competitors=20
on the world grain market. According to him, Russia is competing with=20
Ukraine on the markets of barley while Kazakhstan is competing with it =
on=20
the market of wheat.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Ukrainian Grain Association is=20
forecasting resumption of grain exports in late February 2007. The =
Cabinet=20
of Ministers has extended the grain export quota by 864,000 tons to=20
1,970,000 tons for the 2006/2007 marketing year (June 2006-June 2007).
barley, 500,000 tons of corn, 3,000 tons of wheat, and 3,000 tons of = rye.
WARSAW - Polish exporters to Ukraine are expected to quickly regain=20
market share now that Ukraine has ended a ban on Polish meat, but high=20
custom duties will efficiently limit the potential of further =
development, the=20
Polish association of meat producer Polskie Mieso Chief Executive =
Officer=20
Witold Choinski told Interfax Friday.
"Recapturing the [Ukrainian] market will happen quickly -the first=20
transports will be sent next week," Choinski said. "The potential of =
that=20
market is huge, although the high customs duty is a real obstacle. We =
will=20
address this issue through the Economy Ministry."
Ukraine has authorized 23 Polish companies to restart their exports as =
of=20
February 15, following a year long meat ban that Kiev said was necessary =
to=20
protect the country from suspect Polish shipments. The move mirrored a=20
step undertaken by Russia on November 9, 2005.
Joint sales to the Russian and Ukrainian market accounted for less than=20 15% of total exports in 2004. -30-
11. ROMANIA: DIALOGUE WITH UKRAINE OVER=20
DISPUTED SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA
Romania urged Ukraine on February 9 not to artificially create a =
settlement=20
on the disputed Serpents Island in the Black Sea, according to a press=20
release from the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Ukraine at the Black Sea, a case that has been judged since 2004 by the=20 International Court based in The Hague," read the release.
Romania's stand, related to the Ukrainian authorities; intention to=20
artificially create a settlement on Serpents Island, has been made =
public=20
and communicated to the Ukrainian side, every time when Ukraine made=20
known any other attempts aimed at artificially changing the status of =
this=20
rock, according to the release.
The Romanian side reiterated its position and hopes that the Ukrainian =
side=20
will show restraint, given the context and conditions of the procedures =
with=20
the International Court in The Hague.
Ukraine's Supreme Rada (Parliament) decided in a plenary meeting on=20
February 8 to name the settlement on the island Belyi (White Village), =
with=20
the name to be put on the map and listed in the Registry of the =
Ukrainian=20
localities, according to a report of Ukrainian ProUa news agency.
Against this background, the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry says=20 Romania's Embassy in Kiev monitors all aspects related to this issue and =
the debates in the Ukrainian Parliament on February 8.
The Ukrainian side submitted its written statement on May 16, 2006. This =
January, Romanian and Ukrainian Presidents Traian Basescu and Viktor=20
Yushchenko said their countries will observe the decision of the=20
International Court in The Hague, irrespective of who wins in the issue =
of=20
delimiting the continental shelf of the Serpents Island and the =
exclusive=20
economic areas, it was reported. -30-=20
12. UKRAINE: TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA=20
FLEET EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS BUT.......
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Volodymyr Obolonsky The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19, 2007
that after 2017 Russia is ready to negotiate about the prolongation of =
fleet's=20
presence in the Crimea, it is an easy guess what conclusions have been =
made=20
by Ukrainian jingoes: Yanukovich does not rule out this tantalizing=20
possibility.
Consider the question: Does the presence of the Russian Navy in =
Sevastopol=20
impair the national interests of Ukraine? The answer seems to be that =
the=20
whole infrastructure of the region is connected with the Russia's naval=20
base.
Nonetheless, blather about the crafty Kremlin has been in the air ever =
since=20
Ukraine achieved independence, and the Orange team does not give a hoot=20
about Sevastopol residents who may well be left to their fate.
Some politicians often moan that Russia underpays for a lease of the =
Crimean=20
land. Observers, including The Ukrainian Times, can think of no reason =
why=20
Ukrainian government officials should not begin talks about the issue =
and=20
set new terms of stationing of the Russia's naval base.
The world now knows that Russia is ruled by pragmatists. It is to be =
wished=20
that the same will happen in Ukraine. Among other things, the government =
has=20
the authority to handle the Crimean land so that each Ukrainian can =
profit=20
by it, and thereby the Yanukovich team may protect the national =
interests.
It is perfectly natural that the nation lives under conditions of a=20
free-market economy and a foreign institution or company pays handsome=20
money into the national budget, not pockets of, say, Olexiy Ivchenko, =
leader=20
of a jingoist Ukrainian party and former chairman of the state gas =
company=20
Neftegaz Ukrainy, who bought a new model of Mercedes Benz for one=20
million hryvnias, misusing funds of the state-owned enterprise.
next-door neighbor, namely Russia, are detrimental to the national =
interests=20
of Ukraine. -30-
Send in a letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear from you. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
13. UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S TEMPLE
Air pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface =
polluted
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Vatilii Kniazhansky The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
We did harness it. At a recent session of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection it was announced that air pollution rose in 21 regions of =
Ukraine
in 2006 and that 70 percent of our water surface is polluted.
ALL AREAS OF NATURE MANAGEMENT SHOW DETERIORATION
According to environmentalists, all sectors of nature management in =
Ukraine
show deterioration. Last year stationary sources alone accounted for =
about
4.5 million tons of air pollutants.
This is also the result of a catastrophic accumulation of household and
industrial wastes. There are about 35 billion tons in Ukraine, occupying =
an
area of 130,000 hectares.
But this is not a question of personalities but the fact that both the ecology and the economy are upset in Ukraine. The economy behaves like a robber and poisoner and does not deem it necessary to make up for the damage done to nature.
But as First Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Mykola Azarov announced
recently, Ukraine reached the 1990 level of industrial output in 2006 =
and is
going to achieve that year's GDP by mid-2008. Now it is clear where gas
pollution, liquid, solid and other wastes, poisonous to nature and man, =
are
coming from.
Nor is it clear what will happen to the long-term strategic program of socioeconomic development now being mapped out by the cabinet for the first time in the history of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the central government continues to field queries from the
provinces. Even Kyiv's problems with dumpsites that are about to =
discharge
their contents into nearby rivers pale in comparison.
PLANT REPRESENTS DANGER TO HEALTH AND LIFE
For example, the potassium plant owned by the Oriana Company of Kalush -
a city already full of chemical businesses - represents a danger to =
human
health and life.
The problem is that this country has not yet found a critical mass of
intelligent individuals (true nature keepers) who would focus on =
creating a
reliable environmental protection system. -30-
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN EUROPE
SAYS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007
KYIV - The United States promises that a delegation comprising U.S.=20
anti-missile defense specialists will arrive in Ukraine to explain =
Ukrainian=20
people the plans concerning the construction of anti-missile bases in=20
Europe. Ukrainian News learned this from the press service of the =
Ukrainian=20
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the press service, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William =
Taylor=20
announced this at a meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister =
Andrii=20
Veselovskyi.
Untied States and Ukraine, Taylor said, according to the press service, =
a=20
special technical group of specialists on the anti-missile defense will=20
arrive in Ukraine soon.
The U.S. Embassy intends to meet regularly on the issue with Ukrainian=20
media to give information concerning the construction of the =
anti-missile=20
defense bases in Europe.
Veselovskyi said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Ukrainian=20 embassies in Russia, the Czech Republic, and Poland to obtain more=20 information on the anti-missile defense bases.
"Ukraine will be grounded on the belief that the administration of the=20
United States will continue informing Europeans on the plans, while=20
understanding that there is [negative] reactions to the deployment of =
the=20
elements of the anti-missile defense in Europe from some countries,=20
including Russia, and will openly and predictably implement the plans in =
Taylor and Veselovskyi also discuss the third meeting of the =
Ukraine-U.S.=20
interdepartmental coordination group, which is to take place in =
Washington=20
on February 23.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign=20 Affairs said it was viewing the possible construction of elements of the =
U.S. anti-missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic as element of =
the=20
war on terror. The United States said the anti-missile bases in Poland =
and=20
the Czech Republic were needed to protect Europe. -30-
BASES WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO=20
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN EUROPE=20
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
KIEV - The deployment of elements of the US missile defence system in=20
Poland and the Czech Republic will not manage to protect Europe from a=20
missile attack, the Ukrainian president's aide, Volodymyr Horbulin, told =
a=20
news conference today.
Horbulin said that Ukraine should develop a clear position regarding the =
[Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Veselovskyy said at a meeting =
with=20
the US ambassador that Ukrainian embassies in Russia, Poland and the =
Czech=20
Republic were instructed to receive additional information, UNIAN news=20
agency reports on 16 February. The creation of global defence systems =
should=20
not in any way provoke a new wave of the arms race, Veselovskyy said.]
LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" IS PUBLISHED IN EUROPE
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007
DONETSK - Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (MP) Rinat Akhmetov=20
has said that "a very big group" of foreign lawyers is ready to react to =
the=20
publication of the book entitled "Donetsk Mafia" in Europe.
working on this are Ukrainian or foreign, Akhmetov answered shortly:=20 "Foreign." The book "Donetsk Mafia" was presented in parliament in March =
The co-author of the book and head of the Antykoruptsiya =
[Anticorruption]=20
fund, Borys Penchuk, said that the book was based on documents from =
various=20
sources and it tells what and how was done in Donbass [coal mining area =
in=20
Donetsk and Luhansk regions] in the early years of Ukraine's =
independence.=20
[Passage omitted: Penchuk's accusations]
The prosecutor's office of the Kiev Shevchenkivskyy district filed a=20
criminal case in late November 2006 based on the facts mentioned in the =
book=20
"Donetsk Mafia" -30-
FORM RULING COALITION WITH PRESIDENT'S PARTY=20
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine,in Ukrainian 1900 gmt 17 Feb 07 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, February 17, 2007
KIEV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yuliya Tymoshenko has said that her=20
bloc and the propresidential Our Ukraine bloc are trying to improve =
relations=20
with a view to forming a ruling coalition after a possible early=20
parliamentary election. Tymoshenko was speaking live on 5 Kanal =
television,=20
commenting on the topical events of the week.
"An early election will bring to parliament much less members of the =
Party=20
of Regions. Most likely, the Socialists and the Communists will not make =
it=20
to parliament. And I know for sure that our bloc will be there, =
represented=20
by a sufficiently large number and, most likely, the Our Ukraine bloc =
will=20
also make it.
If Our Ukraine made conclusions that they cannot build Ukraine with=20 Yanukovych - and I believe that Our Ukraine made these conclusions because they supported a grand coalition but now reviewed their = position.
I am sure that we are ready for Our Ukraine to join our team and will =
not=20
allow in the new parliament the mistakes which were made during the =
ruining=20
of the Orange team, during the nomination of [Our Ukraine MP] Petro=20
Poroshenko to the post of [parliament] speaker and the ruining of a=20
democratic coalition.
Speaking about the recent agreement on joint opposition work with Our=20 Ukraine, Tymoshenko expressed the hope that together they will manage to =
I think 200 opposition deputies in parliament will not allow Yanukovych =
to=20
implement the programme he has in mind. I mean getting rich and =
practically=20
ruining this country's independence," she said. -30-
You are welcome to send us names for the AUR distribution list.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
18. TYMOSHENKO AGAINST MEDIATOR'S PARTICIPATION IN=20
SUPPLYING GAS TO UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO ROSUKRENERGO
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007=20
KYIV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko argues against the=20
participation of mediators, including Itera gas-supplying company, in =
making=20
gas supplies to Ukraine. Tymoshenko told this to journalists in =
Cherkasy.
"As far as gas supplies to Ukraine are concerned, there should be no=20 mediators between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine and Turkmenistan, Ukraine=20 and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. We need neither RosUkrEnergo nor Itera,"=20 she said.
Tymoshenko noted that it was necessary to conclude direct agreements=20 on gas supplies to Ukraine with the governments' participation.
Earlier, Vice Premier Andrii Kliuev admitted a possibility of Itera's =
return=20
to Ukraine as a natural gas supplier. As Ukrainian News earlier =
reported,=20
on February 12, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and chairman of=20
Itera's board of directors Ihor Makarov discussed energy projects in=20
Ukraine.
Itera-Ukraine, a subsidiary of Itera Group, was the operator for supply =
of=20
Turkmen gas to Ukraine and member countries of the Commonwealth of=20
Independent States in 1996-2002.
Since 1998, Itera has been extracting gas in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets=20
Autonomous District. In 2005, Itera wanted to supply nearly 4 billion =
cubic=20
meters of natural gas to Ukraine.
Ukrainian companies of Itera Group (Itera Energy and Itera Ukraine) sell =
natural gas extracted on the territory of Ukraine to companies that do =
not=20
belong to NJSC Naftohaz Ukrainy.
After Itera, Turkmen gas supplies to Ukraine were performed by Eural=20 Trans Gas, among co-founders of which was Dmytro Firtash, the owner=20 of 45% in RosUkrEnergo, the present exclusive gas supplier in Ukraine.
Our post-genocidal society
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Oleksandr Kramarenko The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007
Unlike the Holocaust and the Armenian Massacre, the 1932-1933 manmade famine embraced the overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian ethnos that was not yet Russified by imperial urbanization.
This was the basic aim of the Kremlin's engineers of the Holodomor, who =
were
banking on those very peasants who had survived and, as a result of =
their
protracted torture by famine, completely lost their Christian morality =
and
national identity.
HAD A VISCERAL FEAR OF STARVING TO DEATH
For the rest of their lives those people had a visceral fear of starving =
to
death. They also remembered well that the Bolshevik commissars had
exposed them to those infernal ordeals simply because of their probity, =
high
morality, and Ukrainian soul.
The society they have built in independent Ukraine is causing subdued =
mirth
in the rest of the civilized world, which does no credit to it because =
if it
were a highly moral world, it would be weeping bitter tears, looking at =
our
genocide-disfigured society.
89TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF KRUTY
Ukraine recently marked the 89th anniversary of the battle of Kruty. =
Like
before, everything boiled down to extolling only the heroic feat of 300
young people.
The historical facts attest to something quite different, to put it =
mildly.
There was no battle of Kruty: there was a massacre of Ukrainian youths =
by
Russian sailors under the command of the Bolshevik Mikhail Muravev.
This fact by no means belittles the young Ukrainians' exploit, but it is =
an
eyesore to our jingoists in power, who are very reluctant to tell our
demoralized society the names of those who are really to blame for the
Kruty tragedy because some of them are being turned into national =
heroes.
These are the Ukrainian National Republic's socialist leaders Mykhailo
Hrushevsky and Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who disbanded the Ukrainian
Army in the naive belief that the Russian Bolsheviks would not be =
hostile
to the young "fraternal" republic.
Today, the political descendants of Hrushevsky have in fact ruined the Ukrainian Armed Forces without obtaining any guarantees of our independence from either NATO or the US.
SO KRUTY-2 IS NOW JUST A MATTER OF TIME
So Kruty-2 is now just a matter of time, although it looks like Russia =
will
do it this time without direct aggression.
Historical facts indicate that when she became the Turkish sultan's =
first
lady, she pursued a tough policy exclusively in the interests of the
Ottoman Empire, which did not include Ukraine.
These examples make it absolutely clear why our public opinion almost unanimously opposes lustration, why the vast majority does not recognize the right of OUN and UPA combatants to veterans' benefits, and sees no sense in Ukraine's accession to NATO.
The worst thing is that since the death of James Mace there is no one to properly diagnose our society, let alone cure it. -30-
Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 20 Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007=20
TORONTO - The Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre (UCRDC) is pleased to inform you that the internationally acclaimed, award winning documentary "Harvest of Despair" is now available in DVD format in English for $25.00. [Information about the documentary from the UCRDC website is found below.]
Please contact the UCRDC for further details:
Nadia Skop, Executive Administrator
Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre
620 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2H4
Telephone: 416-966-1819; Fax: 416-966-1820;
E-mail: info@ucrdc.org
HARVEST OF DESPAIR It is called the forgotten holocaust - a time when Stalin was dumping=20 millions of tons of wheat on Western markets, while in Ukraine, men,=20 women, and children were dying of starvation at the rate of 25,000 a=20 day, 17 human beings a minute.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this tragedy the Ukrainian Famine =
The documentary probes the tragic consequences of Ukraine's struggle for =
In 1932-33, roughly one-quarter of the entire population of Ukraine =
perished=20
through brutal starvation. Harvest of Despair, through its stark, =
haunting=20
images, provides the eloquent testimony of a lost generation that has =
been=20
silenced too long.
Please contact us if you no longer wish to receive the AUR =20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
21. WHAT THE VERHOVNA RADA ACTUALLY PASSED
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian people.
Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in English) Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007=20
Honoring the memory of millions of fellow countrymen who became victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its consequences;
Honoring all citizens that survived this horrible tragedy in the history =
of
the Ukrainian people;
Being aware of the moral responsibility to former and future generations =
of
Ukrainians and recognizing the necessity of restoring historical =
justice, of
solidifying in society an intolerance towards any form of violence;
Noting that the tragedy of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine officially was denied by the USSR government over the course of many decades;
Condemning the criminal acts of the USSR totalitarian regime aimed at =
the
Holodomor's organization, which resulted in millions of people, the =
social
foundations of the Ukrainian people, its age-old traditions, spiritual
culture and ethnic identity being destroyed;
Highly valuing the solidarity and support of the international community =
in
condemning the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine that is reflected in
parliamentary acts of Australia, the Republic of Argentina, Georgia, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Italy, Canada, the Republic of
Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the United States of America, the
Republic of Hungary, and also in the combined statement circulated as an
official document of the 58th session of the General Assembly of the UN =
on
the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Holodomor-Great Famine of
1932-1933 in Ukraine, signed by the Republic of Argentina, the Republic =
of
Azerbaijan, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of =
Belarus,
the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the =
Republic
of Guatemala, Georgia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Islamic Republic =
of
Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Canada, the State of Qatar, the =
Republic
of Kyrgyzia, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Macedonia, Mongolia, =
the
Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of
Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab
Republic of Syria, the United States of America, the Republic of Sudan, =
the
Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Jamaica, and also
supported by Australia, the State of Israel, the Republic of Serbia and
Montenegro and the 25 member-states of the European Union;
Taking into consideration the Recommendations of parliamentary hearings
concerning honoring the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor
approved by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of March 6,
2003 No. 607-IV and the Appeal to the Ukrainian people of the =
participants
of a special session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of May 14, 2003,
which was approved by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
of May 15, 2003 No. 789-IV, in which the Holodomor is recognized as an
act of genocide of the Ukrainian people and as the result of deliberate
actions of a totalitarian, repressive, Stalinist regime aimed at the =
mass
destruction of a portion of the Ukrainian and other peoples of the =
former
USSR;
Recognizing the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine in accordance with the
Convention of December 9, 1948 on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide as an intentional act of mass extermination of =
peoples,
enacts this Law.
Article 1. The 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the =
Ukrainian
people.
Article 2. Public denial of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is =
recognized
as an insult to the memory of millions of victims of the Holodomor and a
humiliation of the dignity of the Ukrainian people and is illegal.
Take part in the formation and realization of state policies in the =
areas of
renewing and preserving the national memory of the Ukrainian people;
Facilitate the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, =
her
historical consciousness and culture, the dissemination of information
about the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine among Ukrainian citizens and
the global community, to ensure study of the tragedy of the Holodomor in
educational institutions of Ukraine;
Take measures to memorialize the memory of victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine, including building memorials and mounting of memorial signs to the victims of the Holodomor;
Ensure by the established order access to archived and other materials =
on
issues that concern the Holodomor to research and civil establishments
and organizations, scholars, individual citizens that research issues of =
the
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its effects.
Article 4. The State provides the conditions for conducting research and executing activities related to the memorializing of the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine on the basis of relevant general state programs, the funding of which is allocated yearly in the State budget of Ukraine.
Article 5. Final provisions
1. This law is in effect from the day of its publication.
2. The Cabinet of Ministers is:
1) To determine the status and functions of the Ukrainian Institute of
National Memory and, as a specially authorized central organ of the
executive branch in the area of the rebirth and preservation of the
national memory of the Ukrainian people, is to ensure its sustenance
with funds from the State budget.
2) Within a three-month period from the enactment of this Law:
To submit for the Verkhovna Rada's review proposals for bringing of
the legislation of Ukraine into conformity with this Law;
To bring its own normative-legislative regulations into accordance with
this Law;
To ensure the review and nullification by bodies of executive authority
of any legislation passed by them that contradicts this Law;
3) To resolve by the appointed order, along with the Kyiv City State Administration, the matter concerning the construction of a Memorial to the victims of the Holodomors in Ukraine before the 75th anniversaries of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine. -30-
AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY OF REGIONS DOMINATES CRIMEA
ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor Khomenko Holos Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3 BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The following is the text of the article by Viktor Khomenko entitled "On =
the=20
crossroads of cultures, interests and influences" published in the =
Ukrainian=20
daily Holos Ukrayiny on 14 February. Subheadings are as published:
The autonomous peninsula at present is not hostile to Ukraine, to the =
state=20
and statehood, as some people are trying to prove. The mistake of Kiev =
and=20
Moscow politicians lies precisely in the fact that they view Crimea from =
They do exist, skilfully nurtured by some political forces, not only=20
Ukrainian ones. But on the whole extremely serious changes have taken =
place=20
in the mass awareness of Crimeans.
POLITICAL PURGE
Recent events in Crimea are evidence that control of the political =
situation=20
and structures of power here has been fully taken over by the [ruling] =
Party=20
of Regions.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is expected in Crimea on 22 =
February,=20
when he is due to present his new representative in place of Henadiy =
Moskal.
There is no real opposition to the Regionals in Crimea. Even the=20
[propresidential] Our Ukraine bloc, represented in the Crimean =
parliament by=20
the Rukh-Kurultay faction, cooperates with them, while the YTB =
[opposition=20
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc] is too weak and therefore is not displaying =
serious=20
activity.
So the Regionals, in spite of their own almost 20 per cent drop in =
rating,=20
as sociologists show, are still not exhausting their credit of trust =
and,=20
seizing the moment, are raising all branches of power under themselves =
on=20
the peninsula. Only Our Ukraine people remain stable, without a =
reduction in=20
their 15,000-strong ranks.
Virtually all the numerous political parties of Ukraine - 125 altogether =
-=20
are now registered on the peninsula. About 15 have succeeded in =
obtaining=20
genuine political residence permits in Crimea. The ones that have =
electoral=20
support can conventionally be divided into three groups.
First of all, there are parties of a pro-Russian orientation that are =
making=20
use of the electoral moods of the Russian-speaking section of the =
Crimean=20
population, and first and foremost ethnic Russians. Since the peninsula =
is=20
the only part of Ukraine where the number of ethnic Russians comprises =
the=20
majority.
If we remember its very difficult history, back in the times of the =
Russian=20
Empire and the USSR and the transfer of Crimea, almost unpopulated after =
the=20
deportation [of the Tatars], into the composition of the Ukrainian SSR =
in=20
1954 from the composition of the Russian Federation, then the root of =
the=20
problem will become perfectly understandable.
realities of contemporary Ukrainian politics: Crimea is an inalienable =
part=20
of Ukraine as an autonomy.
This is the PDP [People's Democratic Party], which did not get into the=20
Ukrainian Supreme Council, although Serhiy Kunitsyn [former Crimean =
Prime=20
Minister] created an eponymous bloc based on the DPU [Democratic Party =
of=20
Ukraine] and the PDP.
The Communist Party and the Crimean regional organization of the CPU=20
[Communist Party of Ukraine] under the leadership of Leonid Hrach form =
the=20
left-wing spectrum of the party palette, which is slowly but surely =
losing=20
voters. It is represented by eight deputies in the Supreme Council of=20
Crimea.
Of the right-wing parties [Former Foreign Minister] Borys Tarasyuk's=20 People's Movement of Ukraine [PMU - Rukh] is operating most successfully =
Nonetheless, one can speak about stable support for this wing of the=20
Ukrainian polity not so much according to party as to personality =
features.=20
That is everything that is growing on the Crimean field.
Statistics show that 47 Ukrainian political parties obtained support at =
the=20
last elections, including parties that were part of associations and =
blocs.=20
The rest could not even be taken seriously. This confirms the fact that=20
Crimea continues to retain the position of a specific region of Ukraine =
with=20
special electoral moods.
PARADOXICAL FACE The paradoxical nature of the Crimean situation lies in the unregulated=20 status of the territory in Ukrainian legislation and the constitution.
Although the existence of the Crimean autonomy is enshrined in the=20
Constitution of Ukraine and recognized by the world community, in =
practice=20
the central leadership and the polity are still irritated by the =
existence=20
of the autonomy in a unitary state. They have a fairly distrustful =
attitude=20
to it, considering it to be a source of separatism, and this allergy is=20
long-standing.
Quite a few important matters in relations between Kiev and the =
peninsula=20
have not been regulated to this day. This irks many Crimeans and is a =
source=20
of permanent dissatisfaction with Kiev.
In many cases this leads to the excesses that exist in Crimea, in =
particular=20
in the area of land. Because instead of law, what is operating is big =
money,=20
a shadow market and certain clans, among which the most active are the=20
Donetsk, Kiev and Dnipropetrovsk clans.
OF THE 21ST CENTURY
ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. Ihor Ostash
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition
Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007
I am honoured to be invited to address such a distinguished audience
gathered here at one of the leading Canadian Universities. I would like =
to
thank the Chair of the Ukrainian Studies Professor Dominique Arel for
organizing this event.
In order to describe the nature of Ukraine's foreign policy at the =
beginning
of the 21st century we should go back to the events of the winter of =
2004,
which are now known all over the world as the Orange Revolution.
The Ukrainian people, by defending -- by peaceful means -- their =
freedoms
and standing up against massive fraud of the first two tours of the
Presidential elections of 2004, proved to be Europeans not only by
geographic location, but also by their values and the determination to
protect them. They have shown that as Europeans they deserve their place
in the united Europe.
It is well-known that the concept of European and Euro-Atlantic =
integration
has been a keystone of the Ukrainian foreign policy doctrine for many =
years.
However, an honest evaluation of the real progress on Ukraine's move =
towards
the EU and NATO membership by the end of Leonid Kuchma's tenure shows
that any mentioning of Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO caused
among Western politicians nothing but irritation and a "fatigue =
syndrome".
Before the Orange Revolution, Ukraine's image abroad was tainted by a
discredited and corrupt political leadership incapable of forgoing =
foreign
policy ambiguity and ensuring a consistency in the implementation of
strategic tasks.
The undemocratic nature of the Kuchma regime lead to the de-facto international isolation of Ukraine and kept at bay any real prospect of joining Western institutions.
Cardinal changes that took place in our country over the past two years =
that
secured Ukraine's development on the democratic path have also shaped =
the
course of Ukraine's foreign policy.
It is based on the mainstream civilizational choice of the Ukrainian =
people
to live in a democratic, law-abiding and fair society homogenous with =
other
European countries.
Ukrainians believe that building a respected, prosperous and democratic Ukraine is inseparable from Ukraine's joining the family of the united Europe.
However, instead of endlessly repeating the mantra of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which in the past decade found little response from our European and NATO counterparts, Ukraine is proving its political choice by actions.
Ukraine is becoming a regional leader, a proponent of democratic values
and freedoms, a country that is able to clearly define its foreign =
policy
priorities and back them up with a trustworthy agenda and actions.
In sum, the period after the Orange Revolution is the time when Ukraine =
is
elaborating its own sustainable, consistent and independent foreign =
policy.
As you may know, with the Parliamentary elections of March 26, 2006=20
(which have been recognized as democratic by all observers) the =
provisions=20
of political reform entered into force which modified the distribution =
of
powers in Ukraine.
While the President and the Prime Minister represent political forces =
that
are at opposite ends of the spectrum, it is important to underline that =
the
direction of Ukraine's foreign policy remains unchanged.
According to the Constitution of Ukraine (Art. 106), the President of
Ukraine directs the foreign policy of Ukraine, represents Ukraine on the
international arena, appoints and discharges Ambassadors, submits to the
Parliament petition for appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs =
of
Ukraine.
As we see, the main power is vested in the President of Ukraine, who =
charts
the course and exercises the direction of Ukraine's foreign policy, in
accordance with the laws passed by the Parliament, and the Cabinet of
Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deal with the practical
implementation of foreign policy.
On August 3, 2006 after a week-long roundtable discussion chaired by President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko the leaders of four political forces -- the Party of Regions, Our Ukraine, the Socialists, and the Communists signed the Declaration on National Unity.
This document addressed a number of the most critical issues in =
Ukrainian
politics, especially regarding foreign affairs.
First of all, the Declaration confirmed that the course of the Ukrainian
foreign policy aimed at integration to the European Union and =
strengthening
its international authority is irreversible and immutable. In this =
light,
the parties agreed to adhere to the "Ukraine -- EU" Action Plan and to =
begin
immediate negotiations regarding the creation of a free trade area =
between
Ukraine and the European Union.
The document proposed a sensible political compromise on Ukraine-NATO
relations: continuing "mutually beneficial cooperation" for now, in
accordance with the "Law on National Security of Ukraine", and deferring =
the
issue of membership until some later date, subject to a national =
referendum.
The Declaration on National Unity has established a tradition of =
national
and public dialogue for resolving problems that Ukraine has inherited =
from
the past or acquired today.
Thus, the President initiated to conduct the second national round =
table,
which is scheduled for February 22-25, 2007, and will involve such =
political
leaders as the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the =
Prime-minister of
Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (the
Parliament) of Ukraine Olexander Moroz, as well as public leaders, =
artists,
and journalists etc. Its participants have to formulate a 2007 action =
plan
based on the Declaration on National Unity.
Meanwhile, I would like to stress that Ukraine's foreign policy =
priorities
are established by law and are contained in such documents as the Act of =
the
Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament) on the main directions of Ukraine's =
foreign
policy passed in 1993, the Law of Ukraine on the main principles of the
national security adopted in 2003, as well as Ukraine's Defence Doctrine
adopted in 2004.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prime-Minister V. Yanukovych invited WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to come to Ukraine for the signing of the agreement on Ukraine's accession to the WTO this year.
Ukraine pursues the goal of promoting European values in its region, in particular through active participation in the resolution of frozen conflicts.
Ukraine conducts active multilateral policy in the framework of global =
and
regional organizations, such as the United Nations and the Organization =
for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). We consider our participation =
in
these organizations an important factor of deepening and broadening =
regional
as well as global stability and security in Europe.
One of the main foreign policy priorities is the economic expansion of
Ukrainian goods and services both on the conventional and the new =
markets
in the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Africa.
And, of course, one of the most important aspects of Ukraine's foreign
policy is protecting Ukrainian citizens abroad and safeguarding the =
rights
of the Ukrainian Diaspora , which will remain a constant priority of the
foreign policy of Ukraine and the sphere of particular attention of
Ukrainian diplomatic and consular missions abroad.
We are working successfully with many countries on legalizing the status =
of
Ukrainian migrant workers, signing agreements on temporary employment,
promoting the opening of Ukrainian schools, television stations and
newspapers abroad.
President V. Yuschenko has issued a Decree adopting the National concept =
of
cooperation with overseas Ukrainians. There is a special Department at =
the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for the relations with overseas
Ukrainians.
These priorities, including European and Euro-Atlantic integration, are =
the
backbone of Ukraine's foreign policy. This is the position of the =
President,
the Government and the Parliament of Ukraine. This is our strategic =
course
that has no alternative.
2. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
As I mentioned, one of the key goals of Ukraine's foreign policy is =
becoming
a full-fledged member of the European Union. This is a key priority,
realization of which includes the whole complex of efforts both inside =
the
country and beyond its borders. They are aimed at moving Ukraine closer =
to
the EU and creating preconditions necessary for future accession to the =
EU.
I believe that this is indeed a two-way street, where both Ukraine and =
the
EU will benefit from Ukraine's membership. Ukrainians belong in the =
united
Europe due to their history, culture, as well as system of values and
beliefs in democracy and the rule of law, as was proven by the events of =
the
Orange revolution. Our country is a contributor to global and regional =
peace
and security.
Ukraine is essential for the energy security of Europe, given thousands =
of
kilometres of oil and gas pipelines that deliver energy to all =
Europeans.
Furthermore, a democratic and stable Ukraine integrated into the =
European
and Euro-Atlantic structures is the best guarantee of good-neighbourly
relations between Ukraine, the European Union and the Russian =
Federation.
And, as those European nations hosting many Ukrainian labour migrants =
have
learned, the Ukrainian people are honest and hard-working. Everybody =
knows
the boxers Vitaly and Volodymyr Klychko, soccer player Andriy =
Schevchenko,
pop-singer Ruslana or chess world champion Ruslan Ponomariov.
I am confident that my compatriots will make a solid contribution to the
development of a united Europe. As former Foreign Minister Borys =
Tarasyuk
aptly put it, "Ukraine is coming back to Europe not with a bag of =
problems,
but with a basket of proposals".
And Europeans see Ukraine as part of Europe. According to latest polls
conducted in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Great Britain and Poland =
only
34% respondents stated that they are not ready to see Ukraine in the EU, =
but
the overwhelming majority expressed support of our membership (Poland =
and
Spain -- 65%, Italy -- 59%, France -- 56%, Great Britain -- 47%, Germany =
--
44%).
Ukraine's relations with the EU have become truly dynamic. Yesterday the
delegation of the EU Troyka headed by Foreign Minister F.Steimeyer of
Germany -- country that presides in the EU in the first half of 2007 -- =
met
in Kyiv with President Yuschenko, Prime-Minister Yanukovych and Acting
Foreign Minister V.Ohryzko.
Ukraine and the EU began negotiations about the new, enhanced agreement. =
The
present Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation expires in the =
beginning of
2008, and we are ready to make the next step on the road to EU =
membership.
We stand for concluding an agreement with the EU on the principles of
political association and economic integration.
Ukraine in partnership with the EU is an active contributor to peace and
security on the European continent. Our country has been taking part in =
the
Police Mission of the EU in Boznia and Herzegovina, is cooperating with =
the
EU in the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict and with the EU =
mission
on the Ukraine-Moldova border.
In 2006, our country has joined 511 of the 554 EU resolutions on =
regional
and international issues, which shows the high level of political
association of Ukraine with the EU and the commonality of our principles =
and
values. Last year there were 135 expert visits between EU and Ukraine, =
which
is one third higher than the year before.
The European Union is the biggest trading partner of Ukraine. Its share =
in
Ukraine's trading balance for the period of 10 months of 2006 has been
31,2%, which is 21,3% higher than for the same period of 2005. About 75%
of direct foreign investments into Ukraine's economy come from the EU.
Accordingly, our goal is to establish a free-trade zone with the EU. =
Formal
negotiations on this issue are to begin after Ukraine's accession to the
WTO.
At the Ukraine-EU summit in October, 2006 we have completed negotiations
on easing the visa regime and readmission, and initialed respective =
drafts
of agreements. We expect to sign them in 2007.
3. EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION
Another key priority of Ukraine's foreign policy is the Euro-Atlantic
integration , aimed at gradual full-fledged membership in NATO.
Due to certain circumstances this issue has been highly politicized in Ukraine. At the same time, the strategic course of Ukraine towards NATO membership is written in the Ukrainian laws, and it is supported by the leadership of our country. Any differences of vision are related to the tactical aspects of Euro-Atlantic integration.
In terms of public support, the majority of the Ukrainians consider that =
the
society doesn't have enough information about NATO to make a deliberate
decision whether Ukraine should or shouldn't become a member.
Specifically, according to the results of the poll conducted recently by =
the
company "FOM-Ukraine" (translated as "Fund of Public Opinion") 62.2% of
Ukrainians say that they lack information about NATO. In general, 45.4% =
of
Ukrainians don't support the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, 38.6% support
the accession and 16.1% are undecided.
At the same time, the poll showed that if the referendum took place in =
the
near future, 59.9% would vote against Ukraine joining NATO, 16.9% would
support this idea and 8.4% are undecided. But 28.8% of respondents noted
that they could change their attitude towards NATO if they received more
information about this organization, 46.9% wouldn't change their opinion =
and
24.3% didn't give an answer.
On January 26, 2007 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
Prime-Minister V. Yanukovych emphasized that the current budget is the =
first
one since Ukraine's independence that provides funds for educating the
public about NATO.
In his view, such policy "will develop positive perception" of NATO by =
the
Ukrainian society and "facilitate the process of Euro-Atlantic =
integration
of Ukraine".
Meanwhile, Ukraine is developing practical cooperation with the Alliance =
in
the framework of the Intensified Dialogue, and in the hope of receiving =
an
invitation to the Membership Action Plan in the near future.
As an example of such cooperation, the implementation of the =
NATO-Ukraine
Action Plan for 2006 involved over 50 ministries and governmental
organizations of Ukraine. There has been created a special National =
System
of Coordination of Ukraine's Cooperation with NATO.
Speaking of practical examples of such cooperation, I can mention, for
instance, the utilization of old ammunition. Ukrainians are thankful to =
the
Canadian Government for participating in this project.
NATO is also providing assistance in the development of science and
computerization of Ukrainian universities, civil training of =
decommissioned
officers. In December of 2006 the President of Ukraine issued a decree
authorizing the participation of Ukrainian Navy in the anti-terrorist
operation "Active Endeavour" in the Mediterranean Sea.
And the latest example, which shows not only the effectiveness of
Ukraine-NATO relations but also the strength of the partnership between
Ukraine and Canada, is the decision of President Victor Yuschenko to =
send 10
Ukrainian peacekeepers to Afghanistan, who will be there contributing to =
the
fight against terrorism shoulder to shoulder with their Canadian =
colleagues.
We consider NATO as a stabilizing factor in the world, and Ukraine is an
integral part of the European security system. Ukraine's place is in =
Europe,
and it will continue moving on the path towards integration into =
European
and Euro-Atlantic structures.
4. MULTILATERAL AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES Touching briefly on Ukraine's multilateral and regional initiatives, I should mention Ukraine's participation in the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict.
In 2006, the settlement process followed the plan elaborated by =
President
V. Yuschenko, that provided measures for conducting negotiations,
demilitarizing the region and promoting democratic transformations. =
Ukraine
is actively working in partnership with the OSCE on the peaceful =
resolution
of this conflict.
In the context of regional and multilateral initiatives we should also
mention the union of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova (GUAM),
which in May of 2006 was transformed into an international Organization =
for
Democracy and Economic Development -- GUAM with the headquarters in
Kyiv.
Another success story is the establishment by nine East European =
countries
have established in Kyiv in December 2005 the union called Community of
Democratic Choice, whose aim is to promote democracy and human rights
in the Baltic-Black-Caspian sea region.
As a token of recognition of Ukraine's reputation in the field of human rights, I am proud to say that in 2006 Ukraine was elected to the newly created UN Human Rights Council.
[Recognition Of Holodomor As Act Of Genocide Against Ukrainian People]
Speaking of our work in the framework of the UN, one of our significant
tasks is the universal recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-33 in =
Ukraine as
an act of genocide against Ukrainian people.
Recently the Ukrainian Parliament passed the law recognizing as genocide this one of the greatest atrocities in the history of mankind, that took lives of between 7 and 10 million people, almost a quarter of Ukraine's population.
Recognition of Holodomor as genocide is important not only for Ukraine, =
but
for preventing such horrors from ever happening in the future in any =
part of
the world.
We are thankful to the Senate of Canada for adopting on June 19, 2003 a
motion introduced by Senator Raynell Andreychuk calling on the =
Government
of Canada to recognize the famine -- Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine as
genocide.
Ukraine is planning to submit to the UN General Assembly a draft of the
respective resolution, and hope that on the 75th Anniversary of this =
tragedy
it will be adopted by the international community.
Our biggest neighbor and one of our biggest partners is Russia. As Prime
Minister Yanukovych emphasized, in developing our relations "Ukraine, =
like
our Russian partners, proceed, first and foremost, from our own national
interests".
However, Ukraine's pragmatism in pursuing its national interests in
relations with Russia must not be mistaken for a desire to complicate =
these
relations. In fact, it is just the opposite.
The Presidents of the two countries direct the Governments, politicians =
and
societies of Ukraine and Russia at reaching constructive solutions of =
all
issues that we inherited from the past.
Maintaining and developing good-neighbourly relations with the Russian
Federation is one of the main priorities of Ukraine's foreign policy. As
Russian President Putin said, cooperation between Ukraine and Russia "is
developing in the highly dynamically and effectively, and is an example =
of
reliability in the long-term perspective".
On December 22, 2006 Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a working visit to Ukraine. During this visit there was the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission presided by the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia.
In the words of President Yuschenko, this is a "qualitatively new =
mechanism
of relations between Ukraine and Russia", that provides for biannual
meetings between the leaders of the two countries. The next meeting is
planned for May or beginning of June of 2007.
Ukraine and Russia are working constructively on resolving such =
complicated
bilateral matters as delimitation and demarcation of borders, the issue =
of
the Kerch Straight, regulating the issues around the temporary =
dislocation
of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the territory of Ukraine, formation of =
the
free trade area.
Until the next Intergovernmental Commission meeting the parties agreed =
to
elaborate the text of the declaration on strategic partnership between
Ukraine and Russia which will set out strategic positions of the two
countries on the key issues.
A principal factor in Ukraine-Russia relations is energy cooperation.
Ukraine's delegation to this year's World Economic Forum in Davos =
offered
suggestions to join the efforts of Russia and the European Union aimed =
at
increasing the supplies of energy carriers to Europe, among other =
things, by
modernizing Ukrainian oil and gas pipelines.
Commenting in Davos on the issue of Ukraine's dependency upon Russia in
terms of energy supplies, Prime Minister Yanukovych stated that Kyiv =
looks
at this matter from the vantage point of partnership relations with =
Russia.
The Head of Government added that Ukraine is studying the possibilities =
of
diversifying its energy supplies, namely, lowering the supplies from =
Russia,
extending the output in Ukraine and importing energy carriers from other
areas, primarily from the countries of the Caspian region.
Speaking of Ukraine's strategic partners I must mention the United =
States,
which has been a consistent supporter of democratic transformations in
Ukraine since the dawn of our independence.
The year 2006 was marked by such events as ending the application of the
Jackson-Vanik amendment, removing trade sanctions on Ukrainian goods,
recognizing Ukraine as a market economy country, renewing the benefits =
under
the Generalized System of Preferences, signing of bilateral market =
access
protocol within the framework of the WTO, considerably increasing U.S.
financial assistance for democratic and economic reforms in Ukraine and =
for
the Chornobyl Shelter project.
The U.S. is one of the biggest investors in Ukraine's economy (over 1.3 billion dollars) and one of the biggest donors of financial assistance (almost 3 billion dollars). Our countries are closely cooperating in the fight against terrorism, resolution of frozen conflicts, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating organized crime and illegal migration.
At the end of my speech I would like to say a few words about Ukraine's relations with Canada.
6. UKRAINE-CANADA RELATIONS
Canada occupies a special place in the heart of every Ukrainian. Our
countries share close historical and family ties, as well as common =
values
and beliefs, such as freedom, democracy, rule of law.
Four waves of Ukrainian immigration have created one of the biggest
communities in Canada, which, according to Statistics Canada, amounts to
almost 1.2 million people. For over two centuries the Ukrainian language =
is
spoken in the Canadian prairies, in Alberta oil rigs, in federal and
provincial legislatures and ministries, in hockey stadiums and =
university
classrooms.
An outstanding son of the Ukrainian land, the Right Honourable Ramon Hnatyshyn from 1990 to 1995 was the Governor-General of Canada.
15 years ago Canada was the first Western country that on December 2, =
1991
recognized Ukraine's independence, on the day following the historical
December 1, 1991 Referendum where 90.3% Ukrainians voted for
independence of their land. The political courage and vision of the =
Canadian
leadership that voiced its support of Ukraine's independence will always =
be
remembered.
As a token of appreciation, on December 04, 2006 President Victor =
Yuschenko
awarded the Order of Kniaz (King) Yaroslav the Wise to the Right =
Honourable
Brian Mulroney "for his defining personal role in Canada's recognition =
of
the independence of Ukraine, and considerable contribution in the
development of Ukrainian-Canadian relations".
A few days ago, on January 27, 2007 we celebrated the 15th Anniversary =
of
establishing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Canada.
On March 31, 1994 Ukraine and Canada signed the Joint Declaration on =
Special
Partnership, which was adapted to the new realities of the 21st century =
in
the Joint Declaration on Continuing Development of the Special =
Partnership
between Ukraine and Canada which was signed in Kyiv on December 5, 2001.
We appreciate Canada's consistent support of Ukraine in such crucial =
areas
as helping us cope with the consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear =
disaster,
providing financial assistance in excess of 66 million Canadian dollars =
as
well as playing a leading role in the G-8 addressing this issue.
Canada has always backed our accession to NATO, as well as has been a
proponent of Ukraine's accession to the WTO. Our countries signed the
bilateral market access protocol in 2002, and we appreciate the work of
Canadian Sergio Marchi as the Chair of the WTO Working Group on =
Ukraine's
accession.
We truly appreciate Canada's technical assistance to Ukraine and the =
work of
the Canadian International Development Agency, as well as our =
cooperation
under the Military Training Assistance Program.
Recently, Canada's outspoken position and the largest observer mission =
have
been critical during the days of the Orange Revolution. Canadian =
Ambassador
to Ukraine His Excellency Andrew Robinson organized his colleagues from =
the
Western missions on monitoring the Presidential elections in 2004.
Among the leaders of the observer mission were the present Chair of the
Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (which, by the way, =
includes
over 150 Members of Parliament) Peter Goldring, M.P., and Vice Chair =
Borys
Wrzesnewskyj.
There are many examples of partnership ties between Ukraine and Canada.
They include peacekeeping, non-proliferation of weapons of mass =
destruction,
particularly within the framework of the Global Partnership, destruction =
and
prohibition of land mines under the Ottawa convention, protection of =
human
rights and advocating the ideals of freedom and democracy.
I am confident that Ukraine and Canada will remain true partners on the
international arena, and close and friendly relations between our =
countries
will only strengthen with time, and I see this as my primary task in my
capacity as Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada.
7. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would like to stress that Ukraine is open for dialogue =
and
cooperation on mutually beneficial terms with all countries. Our country
will continue to be an active, responsible and promising partner.
This is the task given to the Ukrainian Foreign Service by President =
Victor
Yuschenko who, according to his Constitutional powers, directs the =
foreign
policy of Ukraine.
The President has confirmed the irrevocability and consistency of =
Ukraine's
foreign policy course, and it is the duty of the Government, the Foreign
Ministry and Diplomatic Missions of Ukraine abroad, one of which I have
the honour to lead, to implement the course charted by the President and
established in Ukrainian laws.
Thank you for your attention.
If you are receiving more than one copy of the AUR please contact us. =
Please contact us if you no longer wish to receive the AUR. =20
You are welcome to send us names for the AUR distribution list. If you are missing some issues of the AUR please let us know. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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PUBLISHER AND EDITOR - AUR Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Director, Government Affairs Washington Office, SigmaBleyzer, The Bleyzer Foundation Emerging Markets Private Equity Investment Group President (Acting) and Chairman, Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, Ukraine-U.S. Business Council=20 P.O. Box 2607, Washington, D.C. 20013, Tel: 202 437 4707 mwilliams@SigmaBleyzer.com; www.SigmaBleyzer.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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return to index [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) Monitoring Service]
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<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D5><FONT size=3D6><STRONG>ACTION =
UKRAINE REPORT -=20
AUR</STRONG></FONT></FONT><FONT color=3D#000080><STRONG><FONT=20
size=3D6> </FONT></S=
TRONG> </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080 size=3D5> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D4> &nbs=
p; An=20
International Newsletter, The Latest,=20
Up-To-Date</FONT><BR></FONT> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;=20
<FONT color=3D#000080>In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis and=20
Commentary</FONT><BR><BR> =
&=
nbsp;<FONT=20
color=3D#800000> Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business,=20
Religion,<BR> Sports, =
Government, and=20
Politics, in Ukraine and Around the=20
World </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#800000> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080 size=3D5><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D3> =20
</FONT><STRONG>SILENCE OF AMERICA </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#000080> Now=
, with=20
Russian President Vladimir Putin bullying his=20
neighbors,<BR> manip=
ulating=20
the Russian media and throwing increasingly=20
audacious<BR> =
anti-American=20
tantrums, one would think U.S. policymakers would </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#000080> hav=
e </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080>the sense at least to maintain relatively modest VOA =
[&=20
RFE/RL]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
operations </FONT><FONT color=3D#000080>in and </FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080>around the Russian Federation [including=20
Ukraine].<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
(Articles One to Three)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> &n=
bsp; <ST=
RONG> </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>ACTION UKRAINE REPORT - AUR =
- Number=20
818</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and =
Editor,=20
SigmaBleyzer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4>WASHINGTON, D.C., =
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19,=20
2007</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3DArial></FONT><BR> <STRONG=
> =20
<FONT size=3D5> -</FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>------- =
<FONT=20
color=3D#000080>INDEX OF ARTICLES =
</FONT>--------</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000> </FONT><FONT color=3D#000080> Clicking on the =
title of=20
any article takes you directly to the=20
article.  =
; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> Return to the Index by =
clicking=20
on Return to Index at the end of each article</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>1<A=20
name=3Di1>.</A> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
<A=20
href=3D"#a1">SILENCE OF=20
AMERICA</A><BR> =20
Cutting the VOA's presence in Mr. =
Putin's=20
neighborhood<BR>EDITORIAL: The Washington Post<BR>Washington, D.C., =
Friday,=20
February 16, 2007; Page A22<BR><BR>2<A name=3Di2>.<FONT=20
color=3D#000080> </FONT></A><FONT=20
color=3D#000080><A href=3D"#a2">U.S. BROADCASTING BUDGET PROPOSES =
REDUCTIONS</A>=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
<A href=3D"#a2">FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND</A> =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> =20
<A href=3D"#a2">RADIO =
FREE =20
EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (RFE/RL)</A><BR></FONT>Broadcasting Board of=20
Governors<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 05, 2007<BR><BR>3<A=20
name=3Di3>. &n=
bsp;<A=20
href=3D"#a3">LETTER-TO-THE EDITOR: "SILENCE OF AMERICA"</A> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3DArial> =
=20
<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> Cutting the VOA's Presence =
in Mr.=20
Putin's Neighborhood</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong</DIV>
<DIV>To: The Washington Post, <A=20
href=3D"mailto:letters@washpost.com">letters@washpost.com</A><A =
name=3Di3><BR>Sent:=20
Friday, February 16, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3</DIV>
<DIV>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV><FONT =
face=3DArial></FONT>
<DIV><BR>4<A name=3Di4>. <A href=3D"#a4">WORLD BANK SAYS UKRAINE =
MUST CREATE A=20
FAVORABLE</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a4">BUSINESS CLIMATE, =
CARRY OUT=20
REFORMS IN THE=20
PUBLIC<BR></A> =
<A=20
href=3D"#a4">SECTOR AND ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION=20
CAN<BR></A> &n=
bsp; =20
<A href=3D"#a4">ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH<BR></A>INTERVIEW: =
With Shigeo=20
Katsu, Vice-President,<BR>Europe and Central Asia Region, World =
Bank<BR>By=20
Vitalii Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, =
February 13, 2007<BR><BR>5<A name=3Di5>. <A =
href=3D"#a5">CAPITAL OUTFLOW=20
POSES ONE OF BIGGEST THREATS TO</A><BR> <A=20
href=3D"#a5">UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES YUSCHENKO =
SAYS<BR></A>Interfax=20
Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>6<A=20
name=3Di6>. <A href=3D"#a6">UKRAINE: BIG BUSINESS DOESN'T =
NEED FREE=20
ECONOMIC</A> </DIV>
<DIV> <A href=3D"#a6">ZONES & PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT TERRITORIES: =
AKHMETOV</A> <BR></DIV>
<DIV>Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, =
2007<BR><BR>7. <A=20
href=3D"#a">UKRAINIAN AGRARIAN CONFEDERATION WELCOMES=20
INCREASE</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a7">IN EXPORT =
QUOTAS FOR=20
GRAIN STORED IN PORT ELEVATORS<BR></A>Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation =
(UAC)=20
website, in Ukrainian<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, =
2007<BR>Action=20
Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 7, in English<BR>Kyiv, =
Ukraine,=20
Monday, February 19, 2007<BR><BR>8<A name=3Di8>. <A href=3D"#a8">UKRAINE =
TO RESUME=20
GRAIN EXPORT BY END OF FEBRUARY<BR></A>Korrespondent online (in =
Russian), Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Friday, Feb 16, 2007<BR>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, =
Article=20
8, in English<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, =
2007<BR><BR>9<A=20
name=3Di9>. </A><A href=3D"#a9">RUSSIAN =
GRAIN=20
ASSOCIATION VIEWS INTRODUCTION</A> </DIV>
<DIV> &n=
bsp;=20
<A href=3D"#a9">OF GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE=20
NEGATIVELY</A> <BR>Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News =
Agency<BR>Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007<BR><BR>10<A =
name=3Di10>. <A=20
href=3D"#a10">POLISH MEAT EXPORTERS TO UKRAINE TO QUICKLY </A></DIV>
<DIV> <A href=3D"#a10">REGAIN MARKET SHARE, BUT CUSTOM DUTY STILL=20
BARRIER<BR></A>Interfax Central Europe, Warsaw, Poland, Fri, February =
16,=20
2007<BR><BR>11<A name=3Di11>. <A href=3D"#a11">ROMANIA: =
DIALOGUE WITH=20
UKRAINE OVER=20
DISPUTED</A><BR> &nb=
sp; =20
<A href=3D"#a11">SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA<BR></A>New =
Europe, Athens,=20
Greece, Wed, February 14, 2007<BR><BR>12<A=20
name=3Di12>. <A =
href=3D"#a12">UKRAINE:=20
TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA=20
FLEET</A><BR> =
&=
nbsp; <A=20
href=3D"#a12">EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS BUT.......</A><BR>ANALYSIS & =
COMMENTARY: By=20
Volodymyr Obolonsky<BR>The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, =
February 19,=20
2007<BR><BR>13<A=20
name=3Di13>. &=
nbsp; <A=20
href=3D"#a13">UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S =
TEMPLE</A><BR> Air=20
pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface =
polluted<BR>ANALYSIS=20
& COMMENTARY: By Vatilii Kniazhansky<BR>The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, =
Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007<BR><BR>14<A name=3Di14>. <A =
href=3D"#a14">U.S.=20
ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS TO EXPLAIN PLANS</A> </DIV>
<DIV> <A href=3D"#a14">FOR =
CONSTRUCTION=20
OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN =
EUROPE</A><BR> =20
<A href=3D"#a14">SAYS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM=20
TAYLOR<BR></A>Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, =
2007<BR><BR>15<A name=3Di15>. <A href=3D"#a15">UKRAINIAN =
PRESIDENT'S AIDE SAYS=20
U.S. MISSILE=20
DEFENCE</A><BR> <A =
href=3D"#a15">BASES WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV> &n=
bsp; =20
<A href=3D"#a15">SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN =
EUROPE</A> </DIV>
<DIV>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07<BR>BBC =
Monitoring=20
Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007 <BR><BR>16<A=20
name=3Di16>. <A href=3D"#a16">UKRAINIAN INFLUENTIAL MP =
THREATENS TO=20
SUE FOR</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a16">LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" IS =
PUBLISHED=20
IN EUROPE<BR></A>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Feb 07<BR>BBC=20
Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>17<A =
name=3Di17>. <A=20
href=3D"#a17">UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TYMOSHENKO AIMS=20
TO</A><BR> <A =
href=3D"#a17">FORM RULING=20
COALITION WITH PRESIDENT'S PARTY</A> <BR>TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, =
Ukraine,in=20
Ukrainian 1900 gmt 17 Feb 07<BR>BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, =
February=20
17, 2007<BR><BR>18<A name=3Di18>. <A href=3D"#a18">TYMOSHENKO =
AGAINST=20
MEDIATOR'S PARTICIPATION IN</A> <BR><A href=3D"#a18">SUPPLYING GAS TO=20
UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO ROSUKRENERGO<BR></A>Ukrainian News Agency, =
Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007 <BR><BR>19<A=20
name=3Di19>. <=
A=20
href=3D"#a19">UKRAINE: KRUTY-2 ONLY A MATTER OF=20
TIME</A><BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Our post-genocidal society<BR>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By =
Oleksandr=20
Kramarenko<BR>The Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13,=20
2007<BR><BR>20<A name=3Di20>. <A href=3D"#a20">DOCUMENTARY ABOUT =
THE UKRAINIAN=20
GENOCIDE OF</A><BR> <A href=3D"#a20">1932-1933 (HOLODOMOR) =
NOW=20
AVAILABLE IN DVD FORMAT<BR></A>Ukrainian Canadian Research & =
Documentation=20
Centre<BR>Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007<BR>Action Ukraine =
Report (AUR)=20
#818, Article 20<BR>Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>21<A name=3Di21>. <A =
href=3D"#a21">WHAT THE=20
VERHOVNA RADA ACTUALLY PASSED</A><BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#000080>1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the =
Ukrainian=20
people.<BR></FONT>Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, =
Nov 28,=20
2006<BR>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in =
English)<BR>Washington,=20
D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>22<A name=3Di22>. <A href=3D"#a22">UKRAINE: "ON THE CROSSROADS OF =
CULTURES,=20
INTERESTS<BR></A> <A href=3D"#a22">AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY =
OF REGIONS=20
DOMINATES CRIMEA<BR></A>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor =
Khomenko<BR>Holos=20
Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3<BR>BBC =
Monitoring=20
Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>23<A=20
name=3Di23>. <=
/A><A=20
href=3D"#a23">UKRAINE'S FOREIGN POLICY AT THE=20
BEGINNING</A><BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;=20
<A href=3D"#a23">OF THE 21ST CENTURY</A><BR>ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. =
Ihor=20
Ostash<BR>Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada<BR>University of Ottawa, =
Ottawa,=20
Ontario, Canada<BR>Wednesday, February 7, 2007</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition</DIV>
<DIV>Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007<BR><A=20
name=3Di30>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>1<A=20
name=3Da1>. </A> &nbs=
p; =20
<FONT color=3D#000080=20
size=3D5><STRONG>SILENCE OF=20
AMERICA<BR></STRONG></FONT> &nbs=
p; =20
<FONT color=3D#000080> Cutting the VOA's =
presence in Mr.=20
Putin's neighborhood<BR><BR></FONT>EDITORIAL: The Washington =
Post<BR>Washington,=20
D.C., Friday, February 16, 2007; Page A22<BR><BR>FOR DECADES, the Voice =
of=20
America and its sister broadcasting<BR>organizations offered a =
remarkably=20
balanced alternative to state-controlled<BR>media all over the world, =
buoying=20
dissident movements and undermining<BR>anti-American dictatorships for a =
relatively small investment.<BR><BR>Soviet citizens even learned how to=20
reconfigure their radios to break<BR>through the jamming signals their=20
government used to interrupt VOA and<BR>British Broadcasting Corp.=20
programming.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Now, with Russian President =
Vladimir=20
Putin bullying his neighbors,<BR>manipulating the Russian media and =
throwing=20
increasingly audacious<BR>anti-American tantrums, one would think U.S.=20
policymakers would have </FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>the sense at least to maintain relatively =
modest VOA=20
operations in and </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>around the Russian =
Federation.<BR></FONT><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>Yet President Bush's recently released 2008 budget =
proposal does=20
just the<BR>opposite, cutting VOA programming for a range of post-Soviet =
states=20
to<BR>finance programming expansion in other areas of the=20
world</FONT>.<BR><BR>The White House's proposed reprioritization of VOA=20
broadcasting moves<BR>money out of operations aimed at the large and =
largely=20
Muslim country of<BR>Uzbekistan. Broadcasting into neighboring =
Kazakhstan is=20
also being cut.<BR><BR>The citizens of both countries live under =
illiberal=20
regimes, and<BR>Uzbekistan's brutal dictatorship is of the sort that =
incubates=20
religious<BR>fundamentalism and anti-Americanism.<BR><BR>Voice of =
America's=20
half-hour of radio and half-hour of television<BR>programming in Uzbek, =
says a=20
VOA staff member, provide about the only<BR>direct contact Uzbeks have =
with the=20
United States and the only unvarnished<BR>news in the region. Meanwhile, =
the=20
highly controlled Russian media beam<BR>their often misleading =
programming in=20
with ease.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Mr. Bush's budget also proposes =
reductions=20
in Ukrainian-language VOA<BR>programming to serve a country struggling =
to=20
Westernize in the shadow<BR>of Mr. Putin's increasingly lawless=20
regime.<BR></FONT><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Mr. Bush should be eager to =
encourage=20
democratic forces in Ukraine, as<BR>well as in Kazakhstan and =
Uzbekistan, not=20
further limit their sources of<BR>information about the United=20
States.<BR></FONT><BR>The price of such programs is so low that federal=20
financial constraints<BR>are hardly an excuse to kill them; a relatively =
tiny=20
increase in the VOA's<BR>budget would make a world of=20
difference. &n=
bsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/15/A=
R2007021501583.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article=
/2007/02/15/AR2007021501583.html</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i1">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>2<A=20
name=3Da2>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080> U.S. BROADCASTING =
BUDGET PROPOSES=20
REDUCTIONS </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> =20
FOR UKRAINIAN BROADCASTS BY BOTH VOA AND </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY=20
(RFE/RL)<BR><BR></FONT>Broadcasting Board of Governors<BR>Washington, =
D.C.,=20
Monday, February 05, 2007<BR><BR>WASHINGTON - The proposed fiscal year =
2008=20
budget for U.S.<BR>international broadcasting calls for an overall =
increase of=20
3.8% from<BR>the anticipated fiscal year 2007 level that strengthens=20
targeted<BR>programming to provide essential access to news and =
information=20
to<BR>critical audiences.<BR><BR>The budget proposal is also aimed at =
increasing=20
overall audience reach<BR>around the world by utilizing the latest =
technology=20
and strengthening<BR>transmission capability.<BR><BR>Of the Broadcasting =
Board=20
of Governors' (BBG) $668.2 million request,<BR>$142.4 million is =
allocated for=20
programming to the Near East, South, Central<BR>Asia and Eurasia, $116 =
million=20
for Arabic language programming, $67.2<BR>million for East Asia, $45 =
million for=20
Latin America and $13.6 million for<BR>Africa.<BR><BR>The proposal =
includes=20
enhancements the agency believes are pivotal to<BR>promoting freedom and =
democracy and enhancing understanding in key<BR>regions. They=20
include:<BR><BR>[1] Establishing a 10-hour coordinated stream of Voice =
of=20
America (VOA)<BR>and Radio Free Asia (RFA) daily programming to North=20
Korea.<BR>[2] Launching a daily three-hour live Alhurra television =
program=20
produced<BR>and broadcast from the Middle East.<BR>[3] Continuing VOA's =
Somali=20
Service's 30 minute daily radio broadcast<BR>scheduled to launch =
February 12,=20
2007, to the millions of Somali speakers </DIV>
<DIV>in Somalia, Djibouti and the greater Horn of Africa.<BR>[4] =
Improving Radio=20
and TV Mart=ED's reach into Cuba through additional<BR>transmission =
capability and=20
enhancing the production of the programming.<BR>VOA programming to Cuba =
would be=20
increased to 7 days a week.<BR><BR>The budget also fully funds =
initiatives begun=20
in FY 2006 to critical Muslim<BR>audiences. These include the expansion =
of VOA=20
television to Iran to a 12<BR>hour stream, VOA Pashto radio programming =
to the=20
Afghanistan/Pakistan </DIV>
<DIV>border region, television programs to Afghanistan and Pakistan and =
Alhurra=20
</DIV>
<DIV>Europe, the 24/7 service to Arabic speakers in Europe.<BR><BR>To =
fund these=20
initiatives and mandatory cost increases, the request proposes<BR>the =
following=20
savings: elimination of VOA and RFA broadcasts in Cantonese<BR>as well =
as VOA=20
Uzbek.<BR><BR><FONT size=3D4><STRONG><FONT color=3D#800000>Reductions to =
the=20
following:</FONT><BR></STRONG></FONT><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG>[1]=20
Ukrainian broadcasts by both VOA and Radio Free </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG> Europe/=20
Radio Liberty (RFE/RL);<BR></STRONG></FONT>[2] Tibetan broadcasts by VOA =
and=20
RFA;<BR>[3] VOA Portuguese to Africa; and<BR>[4] broadcasts in Romanian, =
South=20
Slavic and Kazakh by RFE/RL.<BR><BR>Other savings will come from =
reductions in=20
support services.<BR><BR>The FY 2008 request also includes several =
enhancements=20
and reductions<BR>requested in FY 2007. These include funds to increase=20
Alhurra's live news<BR>capacity to 24 hours a day; expansion of VOA =
Spanish=20
language programming<BR>to Venezuela; additional transmission =
capabilities for=20
RFE/RL Russian and<BR>RFA Korean broadcasts and increased funding for =
employee=20
training and<BR>award programs.<BR><BR>Proposed reductions for FY 2007 =
included=20
in the FY 2008 request include<BR>eliminating VOA broadcasts in =
Croatian, Greek,=20
Georgian and Thai as well<BR>as RFE/RL broadcasts in =
Macedonian.<BR><BR>The=20
request includes eliminating VOA radio broadcasts but =
continuing<BR>television=20
programming in the following languages: Serbian, Albanian,<BR>Bosnian,=20
Macedonian, Hindi and Russian.<BR><BR>The proposal also calls for =
discontinuing=20
14 hours a day of VOA NewsNow<BR>English broadcasts while maintaining =
VOA's=20
English to Africa and Special<BR>English services and continuing to =
strengthen=20
VOA English on the Internet.<BR><BR>The Broadcasting Board of Governors =
is an=20
independent federal agency which<BR>supervises all U.S. =
government-supported,=20
non-military international<BR>broadcasting, including The Voice of =
America=20
(VOA); Radio Free Europe/Radio<BR>Liberty (RFE/RL); the Middle East =
Broadcasting=20
Networks (Alhurra TV and<BR>Radio Sawa); Radio Free Asia (RFA); and the =
Office=20
of Cuba Broadcasting<BR>(Radio and TV Mart=ED).<BR><BR>Through its =
broadcast=20
services, the BBG provides the United States and its<BR>leaders direct =
and=20
immediate access to a worldwide audience of 140 million<BR>people. =
Current=20
governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin F.<BR>Blaya, =
Blanquita W.=20
Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman,<BR>Steven J. Simmons, =
and Mark=20
McKinnon. Secretary of State Condoleezza<BR>Rice serves as an ex officio =
member. =
=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=3D142&mode=3Dgener=
al">http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=3D142&mode=3Dgeneral</=
A><BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i2">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>3<A=20
name=3Da3>.</A> <STRONG><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4> =
LETTER-TO-THE EDITOR:=20
"SILENCE OF AMERICA"</FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
face=3DArial> =
=20
<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#000080>Cutting the VOA's =
Presence in=20
Mr. Putin's Neighborhood</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV>LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR: From Ken Bossong</DIV>
<DIV>To: The Washington Post, <A=20
href=3D"mailto:letters@washpost.com">letters@washpost.com</A><BR>Sent: =
Friday,=20
February 16, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 3</DIV>
<DIV>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 </DIV>
<DIV><BR>February 16, 2007<BR>Letters-to-the-Editor: Washington =
Post<BR>1150=20
15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20071<BR><BR>RE: Editorial - =
"Silence=20
of America: Cutting the VOA's Presence in Mr.<BR>Putin's Neighborhood" =
The=20
Washington Post (Feb 16, 2007)<BR><BR>Dear Sir/Madam:<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>As a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who served in =
Ukraine, I=20
can<BR>personally attest to how penny-wise but pound-foolish is the =
White=20
House<BR>proposal to slash funding for Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts =
in=20
that<BR>country and other former Soviet bloc nations.<BR><BR>VOA and =
affiliated=20
U.S.-sponsored programs are not only regularly listened<BR>to by very =
large=20
audiences but also provide one of the most cost-effective<BR>and =
positive=20
image-building strategies for the United States and=20
American<BR>ideals.<BR><BR>For Ukraine, where VOA broadcasts are playing =
an=20
important role in helping<BR>democracy to slowly take root, cutting the =
agency's=20
budget might save a<BR>few dollars in the short term, but the =
longer-term=20
adverse political</FONT> cost<BR>would be vastly =
greater.<BR><BR>Sincerely, Ken=20
Bossong<BR>U.S. Peace Corps volunteer - Ukraine (2000-2003), Takoma =
Park, MD=20
<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i3">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>4<A=20
name=3Da4>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>WORLD BANK SAYS UKRAINE MUST =
CREATE A=20
FAVORABLE<BR> BUSINESS CLIMATE, CARRY OUT =
REFORMS IN THE=20
PUBLIC<BR> SECTOR =
AND=20
ENSURE THAT THE POPULATION=20
CAN<BR> =
=20
ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH</FONT><BR><BR>INTERVIEW: With Shigeo =
Katsu,=20
Vice-President,<BR>Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank<BR>By =
Vitalii=20
Kniazhansky, The Day Weekly Digest #5<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, =
February 13,=20
2007<BR><BR>My meeting with Shigeo Katsu, the vice-president for the =
Europe and=20
Central<BR>Asia Region of the World Bank, took place on Feb. 6 when the =
World=20
Bank<BR>Mission opened a new office in Kyiv.<BR><BR>Katsu pursued his =
graduate=20
studies at the University of Tokyo and obtained </DIV>
<DIV>a diploma in International Economics and International Relations =
from=20
the<BR>Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.<BR><BR>He speaks fluent Japanese, =
English,=20
French, and German and has a working<BR>knowledge of Chinese and =
Russian. He has=20
worked at the World Bank for 27<BR>years and is a noted expert on =
international=20
economic relations.<BR><BR>The first topic of my conversation with =
Shigeo Katsu=20
was photography,<BR>because on his desk was a calendar of prize-winning=20
photographs from The<BR>Day's 8th international competition, published =
by the=20
World Bank in<BR>collaboration with our newspaper.<BR><BR>"We do these =
kinds of=20
things in Washington, in our Europe region, and in<BR>Central Asia," he =
said and=20
offered to exchange photos. Needless to say,<BR>The Day gratefully=20
agreed.<BR><BR>[The Day] Does the grand opening of the new office of the =
World=20
Bank's<BR>Mission signify a new stage in its relations with=20
Ukraine?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: Thanks for putting your question so nicely. It is =
a very=20
timely<BR>question because the opening of the new office coincides with =
my=20
colleagues<BR>launching consultations here in Kyiv with your government =
and=20
civil society<BR>in regard to a new strategy for Ukraine's partnership =
with the=20
World Bank<BR>Group for the next three to four years.<BR><BR>Of course, =
this new=20
partnership strategy will be planned in an environment<BR>that will be=20
considerably different from the previous one.<BR><BR>[The Day] As I =
understand,=20
you had an important international conference </DIV>
<DIV>in Kyiv today. What decisions were passed?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: It was an =
internal=20
meeting of the World Bank's Europe and Central<BR>Asia regional team. We =
discussed matters relating to business planning. It<BR>was interesting =
and=20
informative because Ukraine is a medium-level profit<BR>country that is =
actively=20
evolving and quickly moving forward.<BR><BR>We discussed ways to improve =
cooperation between the World Bank Group<BR>and Ukraine. Our conclusions =
are=20
largely rooted in the assumption that the<BR>new partnership strategy =
will be=20
carried out in a new environment here.<BR><BR>[The Day] Before =
discussing the=20
new strategy of relations between the<BR>World Bank and Ukraine, I would =
like to=20
hear your views on the previous<BR>stage. Was everything in order or was =
something preventing projects from<BR>being implemented?</DIV>
<DIV><BR> &nbs=
p; <FONT=20
color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG> =
SUPPORTING FOUR KEY=20
SPHERES<BR></STRONG></FONT>Sh.K.: Our partnership strategy with Ukraine, =
which=20
is still in effect, was<BR>mostly aimed at supporting four key=20
spheres:<BR><BR> [1] economic growth and=20
competitiveness;<BR> [2] matters relating to =
state=20
administration and its transparency;<BR> [3] =
social=20
protection and social security of the population;=20
and<BR> [4] stable progress in the sphere of=20
environmental protection.<BR></FONT><BR>Speaking of the results, greater =
progress has been made in the first two<BR>spheres; in the other two, =
work is=20
still underway.<BR><BR>As for the instruments of cooperation, my =
impression is=20
that everyone in<BR>Kyiv knows that there is an instrument known as the=20
development strategy<BR>loan.<BR><BR>It has been introduced and carried =
out=20
rather effectively. In terms of<BR>investment loans, better work has =
been done=20
in the sphere of infrastructure.<BR><BR>In the sphere of human resources =
-=20
matters relating to education and health<BR>care - the implementation =
process=20
has turned out a bit slower. We have very<BR>successful experience in =
the sphere=20
of state administration, particularly in<BR>modernizing the State =
Treasury of=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR>[The Day] There were no obstacles and everything was =
proceeding=20
normally?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: As you know, a number of important political =
events have=20
taken place<BR>in Ukraine. I mean the elections and instability, in the =
sense=20
that we had<BR>to wait for the government to be formed, and so =
on.<BR><BR>But=20
work continued on the practical level, also, as I mentioned earlier, =
in<BR>the=20
course of implementing a number of joint investment projects, =
for<BR>example, in=20
the sphere of health care, education, and agricultural<BR>development. =
Of=20
course, this process proved to be slower.<BR><BR>[The Day] How does the =
new=20
partnership strategy differ from the previous<BR>project whose term is =
ending?=20
What other new opportunities for<BR>collaboration with the World Bank =
will open=20
up for Ukraine?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: As I said before, we are at quite an early =
stage=20
of preparing a new<BR>partnership strategy with Ukraine. Our =
consultations are=20
just starting, so<BR>it may be too early to discuss this aspect, =
although I do,=20
of course, have<BR>my own views.<BR><BR>I think that it will be more =
important=20
for your readers to know about our<BR>joint perspective on what has =
changed in=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>ECONOMIC GROWTH =
DESPITE=20
POLITICAL INSTABILITY<BR></STRONG></FONT>The World Bank Group is well =
aware of=20
the fact that Ukraine has shown<BR>quick economic growth despite =
political=20
instability. Your economy has<BR>been developing very well, and we can =
see that=20
the private sector has been<BR>restructured.<BR><BR>We believe that the=20
Ukrainian economy is quite strong. We assume that its<BR>growth in the =
next four=20
or five years will be significant, even if not at<BR>such a quick pace =
as=20
before, because for some time it will largely depend </DIV>
<DIV>on the long-term trend in the international situation.<BR><BR>How =
long will=20
the world market maintain such low interest rates? Will there<BR>be as =
much=20
spare cash as now? In principle, Ukraine has good =
prospects.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>If you want to know whether Ukraine will be able to =
maintain this=20
growth<BR>rate without continuing reforms, we think this will be very =
difficult=20
to<BR>accomplish. In this sense Ukraine is no exception to the rule.=20
Many<BR>countries in a similar situation are facing these kinds of=20
problems.</FONT><BR><BR> &=
nbsp; =20
<FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG>UKRAINE MUST, IN OUR =
OPINION....<BR></STRONG></FONT>In order to maintain this growth rate, =
increase=20
its competitiveness in the<BR>world, draw closer to the more advanced =
countries,=20
and increase its per<BR>capita income, Ukraine must, in our=20
opinion,<BR><BR> [1] create a favorable business =
climate,<BR> [2] carry out reforms in the public =
sector,=20
and<BR> [3] ensure that the population can enjoy =
the=20
fruits of economic growth.<BR></FONT><BR>All this is impossible without =
further=20
reform. As for competitiveness, it<BR>certainly requires progress in =
innovative=20
policies, particularly in the<BR>investment sphere, so that the problem =
of=20
developing new technologies is<BR>resolved.<BR><BR>A favorable =
environment=20
should be created by upgrading corporate<BR>management. Of course, these =
aspects=20
are very important.<BR><BR>In order to enhance the effectiveness of the =
public=20
sector, Ukraine must on<BR>the one hand set about creating the so-called =
fiscal=20
space, without which it<BR>is impossible to double government =
investments in the=20
sector of<BR>infrastructure.<BR><BR>This sector suffered the worst from =
the=20
recessive transition period of the<BR>1990s, when there were no =
investments made=20
in infrastructure.<BR><BR>Ukraine's location between the European Union =
and=20
Russia makes it a<BR>bridge of sorts, a sphere of transportation =
logistics, a=20
transportation<BR>corridor for an open economy from the standpoint of =
both=20
infrastructure,<BR>software, and assistance to trade.<BR><BR>Enhancing=20
competitiveness, of course, requires larger investments in =
the<BR>private=20
sector, although government investments must continue. Actually<BR>this =
is why=20
that fiscal space has to be built.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG> =20
TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENT OF MUNICIPAL=20
SERVICES<BR> AND QUALITY =
OF=20
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION<BR></STRONG></FONT>There are two other spheres that =
we=20
talked about today. They are becoming<BR>increasing priorities. The =
first one is=20
a tangible improvement of municipal<BR>services in the regions, and, of =
course,=20
the quality of local<BR>administration, which is of great=20
importance.<BR><BR>Another serious sphere that I am constantly hearing =
about is=20
energy<BR>efficiency, in other words, energy saving that will also be a =
very=20
important<BR>aspect for the next couple of years, especially in view of =
rising=20
gas<BR>prices.<BR><BR>We will discuss all this with the Ukrainian =
leadership.=20
Mr. Birmingham will<BR>coordinate the process of creating a new =
partnership=20
strategy with Ukraine.<BR><BR>[The Day] So the World Bank will be =
channeling=20
investments into precisely<BR>these spheres?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: We will =
consult with=20
the government in regard to all these issues<BR>because we want to know =
their=20
opinion and to determine where, in your<BR>government's opinion, we =
should be=20
active, in which particular sphere.<BR><BR>To do so we have a number of =
existing=20
instruments: on the one hand,<BR>loans for concrete projects, but we can =
also do=20
analytical reports, help<BR>with institutional progress, and provide=20
technological assistance.<BR><BR>Here we are not necessarily talking big =
loans.=20
I would also like to point<BR>out the role being played by our =
colleagues, our=20
partners from the<BR>International Finance Corporation; unlike us, they =
handle=20
the private<BR>sector.<BR><BR>[The Day] Enhancing Ukraine's =
competitiveness on=20
the world market takes<BR>high-tech projects and scientifically =
intensive=20
products.<BR><BR>During your previous meetings with Ukrainian officials, =
did you=20
get the<BR>sense that they want to move in this direction? Perhaps Mr.=20
Birmingham<BR>will have more to say on this subject?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: Paul =
can=20
certainly give better answers to questions relating to<BR>discussions =
with your=20
government. As for the crux of your question, I can<BR>say that many =
countries=20
are seeking investments in the high-tech sphere.<BR><BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000>But=20
in our opinion, this is work in the private sector, whereas the role=20
of<BR>government consists of improving the business environment so as=20
to<BR>attract investments to this sphere.<BR></FONT><BR>In other words, =
the=20
point in question is a high-tech policy and creation of<BR>science and=20
technology parks. This is much better than direct =
government<BR>investments in=20
these sectors of the economy. It is necessary to create a<BR>business=20
environment that can be attractive and helpful.<BR><BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000>Here=20
we are interested in measures aimed at developing an =
investment<BR>strategy to=20
enhance human potential, education, and the real connection<BR>between =
these=20
factors and economic activities. This may have a number of<BR>aspects, =
including=20
the use of both start-up and venture capital.</FONT><BR><BR>A great deal =
of such=20
experience has been accumulated elsewhere in the world,<BR>particularly =
in the=20
United States. Now I think Paul can add to my answer.<BR><BR>Birmingham: =
I think=20
that Mr. Katsu has given you a rather exhaustive answer.<BR>Of course, =
we will=20
continue discussions with the Ukrainian government about<BR>how this set =
of=20
problems can evolve, but I think that he has sufficiently<BR>covered =
this=20
particular aspect.<BR><BR>[The Day] Can you absolutely trust our =
government to=20
secure effective<BR>cooperation, effective utilization, and of course, =
effective=20
repayment of<BR>the funds provided by the World Bank? What does your =
past=20
experience<BR>say?<BR><BR>Sh.K. (in Russian): Of course, we have =
confidence.=20
Your government has<BR>demonstrated its abilities. We have received very =
good=20
results from the<BR>introduction of projects in the sphere of =
infrastructure,=20
although at the<BR>beginning we probably had to make some corrections. =
But it=20
was a<BR>mutually educational process.<BR><BR>As for the other sectors I =
have=20
mentioned and in which we faced some<BR>challenges, human resources =
sectors, we=20
must first ask ourselves: 'Was our<BR>communication with the government =
really=20
effective? Did we succeed in<BR>making our partners understand our =
objectives=20
and tasks?<BR><BR>Did the design of our projects reflect the =
restrictions being=20
imposed on the<BR>government? Did this design correctly reflect what our =
partners in<BR>government wanted to do?'<BR><BR>We must carefully study =
these=20
questions and work on them, so that the<BR>government can feel that =
these=20
projects are primarily Ukrainian ones.<BR>Objectively speaking, there =
were=20
certain procedural limitations.<BR><BR>It is also possible that some =
aspects of=20
the processing of the World Bank's<BR>project will prove to be of long =
duration,=20
so perhaps there is room for<BR>simplifying these procedures.<BR><BR>Of =
course,=20
we are also expecting some steps to be made by your<BR>government, =
particularly=20
in terms of government purchases, taxation,<BR>and so on.<BR><BR>[The =
Day] Don't=20
you think it's time Ukraine curbed its appetite for loans?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: =
Speaking of the public debt, it is a mere 16 percent of your =
GDP,<BR>which is=20
really a very low figure. It's not a lot at all.<BR><BR>If viewed in the =
context=20
of the future, we have already said, for example,<BR>that there must be =
huge=20
investments in the infrastructure, in other words,<BR>some 40 billion =
dollars=20
for the next ten years, or four billion a year. The<BR>same applies to =
other=20
spheres.<BR><BR>All told, this is twice the sums being invested. Let me =
say=20
again that<BR>Ukraine must create a fiscal space and enhance the =
effectiveness=20
of budget<BR>spending. Of course, a more reasonable approach to loans =
also=20
makes<BR>sense.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Here lowering tax rates can =
be of=20
great help while expanding the assessment<BR>basis and improving =
taxation=20
discipline. This will bring more revenues, ease<BR>the tax burden on =
business,=20
and create a better business environment.<BR></FONT><BR>[The Day] Do you =
have=20
any complaints about the Ukrainian banking sector<BR>through which World =
Bank=20
funds are provided to Ukraine?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: I don't think there are any =
problems in terms of security and<BR>reliability of World Bank funds =
passing=20
through the Ukrainian banking<BR>system. However, with your permission I =
will=20
make a general comment on<BR>the risks as we see them in the banking=20
system.<BR><BR>We are all witness to a very quick increase in credits =
both for=20
satisfying<BR>the investment needs of businesses and household consumer=20
needs.<BR><BR>We have seen a similar situation in other countries where =
a=20
precipitous rise<BR>in crediting creates a certain increased level of =
risks for=20
the banking<BR>system in general. The thing is that this happens in a =
situation=20
when the<BR>financial sector environment is not firmly =
established.<BR><BR>In=20
other words, on the one hand we see serious progress at the =
National<BR>Bank of=20
Ukraine (in terms of banking supervision), but =
progress<BR>notwithstanding, this=20
work is still underway, it still has to be completed,<BR>its potential =
has to be=20
upgraded.<BR><BR>As for the judicial system and the possibility of =
quickly=20
resolving<BR>commercial matters, defending creditors in court, the =
situation=20
remains<BR>mainly unsatisfactory.<BR><BR>Credits are also quickly =
increasing=20
against the backdrop of bank and<BR>corporate management that is far =
from=20
perfect, so this can and must be<BR>improved. In other words, all this =
quick=20
development is taking place while<BR>the banking system is rather=20
fragile.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>[The Day] You have a meetings =
scheduled with=20
Mr. Azarov. Will you ask<BR>him when Ukraine is going to lift the grain =
export=20
restrictions?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: Do you want me to ask this question? If so, =
I can=20
broach the subject,<BR>but I can't answer it at the =
moment.<BR></FONT><BR>[The=20
Day] Don't you think that Ukraine depends too much on foreign =
market<BR>demand?=20
If so, what should it do to reduce this dependence and =
increase<BR>domestic=20
market demand?<BR><BR>Sh.K.: The thing is that Ukraine is becoming =
increasingly=20
open in terms of<BR>the economy; it is successfully going through the =
process of=20
integrating<BR>into the world economy.<BR><BR>Ukraine has been showing =
very good=20
dynamics of progress since 2000, so<BR>without this dynamic growth, =
including on=20
foreign markets, Ukraine would<BR>not be evolving so=20
quickly.<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG>MUST SHARE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC=20
GROWTH<BR></STRONG></FONT>Why stop using these capacities? However, the =
key, the=20
main challenge for<BR>Ukraine's decision makers is the need to somehow =
share the=20
fruits of this<BR>quick economic growth with the broadest strata of the=20
population.<BR><BR>The dividends from this growth for the whole =
population must=20
be higher<BR>profits and lower prices. This is something an open economy =
will=20
provide<BR>in the best way than if the country tried to protect itself =
behind=20
closed<BR>doors.<BR></FONT><BR>Of course, it is only natural for Ukraine =
to=20
protect its positions and<BR>national interests, but the system of =
international=20
trade also offers an<BR>opportunity for protecting one's national=20
interests.<BR><BR>You have just given more answers to the previous =
question than=20
to this<BR>one.=20
(Laughter) &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
;=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A =
href=3D"http://www.day.kiev.ua/177117/">http://www.day.kiev.ua/177117/</A=
>.=20
Subheadings inserted </DIV>
<DIV>editorially by the Action Ukraine Report=20
(AUR).<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i4">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV> <FONT color=3D#800000> <FONT size=3D4>Send in =
names and=20
e-mail addresses for the AUR distribution=20
list.<BR></FONT></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>5<A=20
name=3Da5>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>CAPITAL OUTFLOW POSES ONE OF =
BIGGEST=20
THREATS TO<BR> UKRAINE'S NATIONAL SECURITY, PRES =
YUSCHENKO=20
SAYS</FONT><BR><BR>Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, =
February 16,=20
2007<BR><BR>KYIV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko says capital =
outflow=20
poses </DIV>
<DIV>one of the biggest threats to the country's national =
security.<BR><BR>"The=20
scale of the capital outflow in the past 4 or 5 years from Ukraine =
<BR>indicates=20
that the phenomena is one of the basic threats to the national =
<BR>security of=20
Ukraine," Yuschenko said at a meeting of the National Security <BR>and =
Defense=20
Council in Kyiv on Friday.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Although there =
are no=20
official statistical data, it is said a colossal $12.9 <BR>billion left =
the=20
economy between 2004 and 2006, with $13.2 billion in </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>direct foreign investment flowing into the =
country,=20
Yuschenko said.<BR></FONT><BR>"We are proud of having this unique =
investment=20
inflow, especially over the <BR>past two years, but we must realize that =
the=20
same sum was taken out of . <BR>circulation [in Ukraine]," he said, =
according to=20
the press service of the <BR>president.<BR><BR>Given Ukraine's $6.7 =
billion=20
trade deficit, the tendency is particularly <BR>dangerous, Yuschenko =
said. "We=20
may soon be facing very serious </DIV>
<DIV>challenges, disrupting price and monetary stability," he =
said.<BR><BR>The=20
president said law enforcement agencies had been ineffective in =
<BR>preventing=20
capital outflow. He added that the government introduced no <BR>reforms=20
encouraging domestic investment.<BR><BR>"At this table, we must ask =
those in=20
charge of improving the investment <BR>climate why we have not yet =
created a=20
comfortable business environment </DIV>
<DIV>and why the black economy is flourishing," he said, slamming the =
State=20
</DIV>
<DIV>Committee for Financial Monitoring for failing to prevent murky =
financial=20
<BR>transactions.<BR><BR>The Friday meeting of the National Security and =
Defense=20
Council will also <BR>address the issue of international military =
maneuvers in=20
Ukraine in 2007.=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i5">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D <BR>6<A=
=20
name=3Da6>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINE: BIG BUSINESS =
DOESN'T NEED FREE=20
ECONOMIC </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000><FONT color=3D#000080>ZONES & PRIORITY =
DEVELOPMENT=20
TERRITORIES: AKHMET</FONT>OV </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Interfax Ukraine Focus, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, February 15, =
2007<BR><BR>KYIV -=20
Ukrainian billionaire and Regions Party MP Rinat Akhmetov says =
<BR>Ukraine's big=20
businesses doesn't need any special economic zones and <BR>priority =
development=20
territories.<BR><BR>"I am convinced that big business doesn't need =
preferences.=20
[Ukrainian] big <BR>business has grown up, and is capable of competing =
as an=20
equal player.<BR><BR>Big business is giving up preferences," Akhmetov =
said at a=20
meeting of the <BR>Ukrainian parliament committee for economic policies =
in=20
Donetsk on Thursday. </DIV>
<DIV>"We need an economically free country rather than the free economic =
zones,"=20
<BR>Akhmetov=20
said. &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i6">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>7<A=20
name=3Da7>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN AGRARIAN =
CONFEDERATION WELCOMES=20
INCREASE<BR> IN EXPORT QUOTAS FOR GRAIN STORED IN PORT=20
ELEVATORS</FONT><BR><BR>Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) website, =
in=20
Ukrainian<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 15, 2007<BR>Action =
Ukraine Report=20
(AUR) #818, Article 7, in English<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, =
February=20
19, 2007<BR><BR>KYIV - The Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) has =
welcomed=20
the </DIV>
<DIV>decision by the cabinet of ministers to impose higher export quotas =
for=20
</DIV>
<DIV>grain stored in port elevators, saying it will help relieve the =
elevators=20
of </DIV>
<DIV>grain.<BR><BR>The cabinet decision tallies with the UGC position on =
the=20
issue which has <BR>been repeatedly publicized in recent =
time.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>In addition, the UGC views as absolutely logical further =
liberalization of <BR>the quote-setting policy, including canceling =
quotas for=20
the export of feed <BR>grain.<BR><BR></FONT>Simultaneously, UAC leaders =
are=20
convinced that such liberalization must be <BR>accompanied by a number =
of other=20
steps aimed at raising competitiveness </DIV>
<DIV>of Ukraine's feed sector. Judging by the statistics on the sales of =
underestimation of meat <BR>customs value as well as to study the =
prospects of=20
meat import via free <BR>economic zones.<BR><BR>In this respect, UAC =
experts=20
have stressed the importance of drawing up <BR>steps in advance to raise =
the=20
purchases of 2007 grain by the Agrarian Fund <BR>and the State Reserve, =
creating=20
conditions for the purchase by these state <BR>organizations of adequate =
grain=20
supplies in July-August and eventually <BR>eliminating the issue of =
export=20
quotas imposition.<BR><BR>For the record, the cabinet of ministers of =
Ukraine=20
has increased grain <BR>export quotas for the 2006/2007 marketing=20
year.<BR><BR>According to the Ministry for Agrarian Policy press =
service, an=20
appropriate <BR>cabinet resolution #185 of Feb. 13, 2007 "On making =
changes in=20
the cabinet <BR>of ministers resolution of Dec. 8, 2006 #1701" has been =
signed=20
by Premier <BR>Yanukovych.<BR><BR>Accordingly, the grain export quota =
valid till=20
the end of 2006/2007 will be <BR>increased to 864,000 tons, including =
606,000=20
tons for barley, 30,000 tons <BR>for maize, and 228,000 tons for=20
wheat.<BR><BR>The resolution comes into force on publication. In =
addition, the=20
MAP press <BR>service notes that the ministry is currently drawing up a=20
resolution <BR>canceling export quotas for wheat, maize and=20
barley. =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR> LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.agroconf.org/uk/node/562">http://www.agroconf.org/uk/n=
ode/562</A><BR>----------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>FOOTNOTE: This article translated from Ukrainian to English for =
the</DIV>
<DIV>exclusive use of the Action Ukraine Report (AUR) by Volodymyr</DIV>
<DIV>Hrytsutenko, Lviv, Ukraine. </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i7">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#000080> </FONT><FONT color=3D#800000> <FONT=20
size=3D4>NOTE: Send in a letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear =
from=20
you</FONT><STRONG><FONT=20
size=3D4>.<BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>8<A=20
name=3Da8>.</A> <FONT color=3D#800000><STRONG>UKRAINE TO RESUME =
GRAIN EXPORT BY=20
END OF FEBRUARY<BR></STRONG></FONT><BR>Korrespondent online (in=20
Russian)<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR>Action Ukraine =
Report=20
(AUR) #818, Article 8, in English<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, =
February 19, 2007<BR><BR>KYIV - By late February, the first stage of the =
deliveries of grain from <BR>port elevators to foreign clients will =
start,=20
President of the Ukrainian <BR>Grain Association, UGA, Volodymyr =
Klymenko=20
said.<BR><BR>According to the official, no deliveries took place in =
January as=20
grain <BR>traders did not risk chartering vessels before they had =
licenses on=20
their <BR>hands.<BR><BR>Klymenko noted that in this way grain exporters =
are=20
trying to avoid losses <BR>for idle time of vessels in ports. The first=20
deliveries will be started in <BR>accordance with licenses to be issued =
in line=20
with the cabinet resolution. </DIV>
<DIV><BR>It takes a month to get a license, Klymenko noted. With the =
time needed=20
to <BR>charter a vessel it adds up to 30 to 45 days.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>UGA president told that the losses of exporters due to =
idle time=20
of vessels <BR>in ports amount to $100 mn. In addition, he observed, =
10,000 tons=20
of grain <BR>cannot be saved as it cannot be used even as=20
fertilizer.<BR><BR>According to the UGA president, Ukraine can annually =
export=20
10.5 - 11 mn <BR>tons of grain, including 4 mn tons of wheat, 5.5 mn =
tons of=20
barley and 2 mn <BR>tons of maize.<BR></FONT><BR>Ukrainian President =
Yushchenko=20
has plans to discuss grain export and grain <BR>pricing with Premier =
Yanukovych,=20
Yushchenko said on Feb. 13 during his <BR>meeting with Dave Rogers, =
Cargill=20
Europe executive director and member of <BR>the Consultative council for =
foreign=20
investments in Ukraine.<BR><BR>According to Yushchenko, the government =
must look=20
for an alternative way, </DIV>
<DIV>or wider options, to map out its grain pricing policy. Given this, =
grain=20
<BR>producers and traders will be able to operate at world prices, =
substantially=20
<BR>higher now than domestic grain prices.<BR><BR>The Ukrainian grain =
market is=20
now regulated in the on-hands mode. For <BR>instance, on Feb. 7 the =
cabinet=20
raised barley export quotas by 600,000 tons, <BR>maize quotas by 30,000 =
tons and=20
milling wheat by 228,000 tons.<BR><BR>The situation on grain markets is =
now=20
stable, claims the government. As full <BR>amounts of grain have been =
purchased=20
for the State Reserve and Agrarian <BR>Fund, more possibilities for =
grain export=20
have opened up.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>Meanwhile, experts say that =
setting=20
export quotas was an attempt by the <BR>government to play safe in the =
wake of=20
the 2003 grain crisis, head of VR <BR>committee on agrarian policy and =
land=20
relations, member of parliament </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>(BYuT) Mykhailo Hladij says.<BR><BR>In his =
opinion,=20
quotas for grain export should not be set, as trade must be =
<BR>regulated by=20
market, not administrative, levers. Even if quotas are imposed, =
<BR>their sizes=20
must be known to traders one year in advance of their export=20
<BR>operations.<BR><BR>The current situation, with tens of thousands of =
tons of=20
grain rottening in <BR>Odesa port elevators, is nothing but the attempt =
of the=20
government to <BR>preempt grain shortages in Ukraine in spring, Hladij=20
added.<BR></FONT><BR>The lawmaker also warned that the government will =
be faced=20
with law suits <BR>filed by commercial companies that had run into =
considerable=20
losses due to <BR>the export ban and rottening grain.<BR><BR>In 2003 the =
Yanukovych government allowed oversized grain export which </DIV>
<DIV>led to a deficit of grain on domestic markets. As the result, the=20
government </DIV>
<DIV>was forced to buy grain=20
abroad. =
&=
nbsp; =20
=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://ua.korrespondent.net/main/66661/">http://ua.korrespondent.=
net/main/66661/</A><BR>--------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------------------<BR>FOOTNOTE:=20
This article translated from Russian to English for the</DIV>
<DIV>exclusive use of the Action Ukraine Report (AUR) by Volodymyr</DIV>
<DIV>Hrytsutenko, Lviv, Ukraine. </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i8">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>9<A=20
name=3Da9>.</A> <FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>RUSSIAN =
GRAIN ASSOCIATION=20
VIEWS INTRODUCTION </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; OF=20
GRAIN QUOTAS IN UKRAINE NEGATIVELY</STRONG></FONT> <BR><BR>Viktoria =
Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency<BR>Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, =
February 15,=20
2007<BR><BR>KYIV - <FONT color=3D#800000>The Russian Grain Association =
negatively=20
views the introduction </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>of grain export quotas in Ukraine. The =
association's=20
President Arkady <BR>Zlochevsky announced this at a press conference. =
"Grain=20
[traders] are not <BR>welcoming Ukraine's restriction on export of =
grain,=20
although it favors us," <BR>he said.<BR></FONT><BR>According to him, =
Ukraine's=20
grain export quota favored Ukraine's competitors <BR>on the world grain =
market.=20
According to him, Russia is competing with <BR>Ukraine on the markets of =
barley=20
while Kazakhstan is competing with it on <BR>the market of =
wheat.<BR><BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000>"We fear similar precedents for the Russian market. We =
oppose any=20
type </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>of restrictions... the government should =
encourage,=20
stimulate exports," he <BR>stressed.<BR></FONT><BR>As Ukrainian News =
earlier=20
reported, the Ukrainian Grain Association is <BR>forecasting resumption =
of grain=20
exports in late February 2007. The Cabinet <BR>of Ministers has extended =
the=20
grain export quota by 864,000 tons to <BR>1,970,000 tons for the =
2006/2007=20
marketing year (June 2006-June 2007).<BR><BR>In December 2006, the =
Cabinet of=20
Ministers set a grain export quota of 1.106 <BR>million tons for the =
2006/2007=20
marketing year, including 600,000 tons of <BR>barley, 500,000 tons of =
corn,=20
3,000 tons of wheat, and 3,000 tons of=20
rye.<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i9">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>10<A=20
name=3Da10>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>POLISH MEAT EXPORTERS =
TO UKRAINE=20
TO QUICKLY </FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> REGAIN MARKET SHARE, BUT CUSTOM =
DUTY STILL=20
BARRIER<BR></FONT><BR>Interfax Central Europe, Warsaw, Poland, Fri, =
February 16,=20
2007<BR><BR>WARSAW - Polish exporters to Ukraine are expected to quickly =
regain=20
</DIV>
<DIV>market share now that Ukraine has ended a ban on Polish meat, but =
high=20
</DIV>
<DIV>custom duties will efficiently limit the potential of further =
development,=20
the <BR>Polish association of meat producer Polskie Mieso Chief =
Executive=20
Officer <BR>Witold Choinski told Interfax Friday.<BR><BR>"Recapturing =
the=20
[Ukrainian] market will happen quickly -the first <BR>transports will be =
sent=20
next week," Choinski said. "The potential of that <BR>market is huge, =
although=20
the high customs duty is a real obstacle. We will <BR>address this issue =
through=20
the Economy Ministry."<BR><BR>Ukraine has authorized 23 Polish companies =
to=20
restart their exports as of <BR>February 15, following a year long meat =
ban that=20
Kiev said was necessary to <BR>protect the country from suspect Polish=20
shipments. The move mirrored a </DIV>
<DIV>step undertaken by Russia on November 9, 2005.<BR><BR>Polish =
companies=20
export their meat products chiefly to the EU countries. <BR>Joint sales =
to the=20
Russian and Ukrainian market accounted for less than </DIV>
<DIV>15% of total exports in=20
2004. &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
-30-</DIV></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i10">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV>11<A name=3Da11>.</A> <STRONG><FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D4> =20
ROMANIA: DIALOGUE WITH UKRAINE OVER </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG> =20
DISPUTED SERPENTS ISLAND IN THE BLACK =
SEA<BR></STRONG></FONT><BR>New=20
Europe, Athens, Greece, Wed, February 14, 2007<BR><BR>Romania urged =
Ukraine on=20
February 9 not to artificially create a settlement <BR>on the disputed =
Serpents=20
Island in the Black Sea, according to a press <BR>release from the =
Romanian=20
Foreign Affairs Ministry.<BR><BR>The release said that the attempts to=20
artificially prove the appearance of <BR>the capacity to support a =
settlement or=20
an economic life of its own by the <BR>Serpents Island, cannot have, =
according=20
to the international law, legal <BR>effects.<BR><BR>"These attempts =
cannot=20
influence in any way the process of delimitation of <BR>the continental =
shelf=20
and of the exclusive economic areas of Romania and <BR>Ukraine at the =
Black Sea,=20
a case that has been judged since 2004 by the <BR>International Court =
based in=20
The Hague," read the release.<BR><BR>Romania's stand, related to the =
Ukrainian=20
authorities; intention to <BR>artificially create a settlement on =
Serpents=20
Island, has been made public <BR>and communicated to the Ukrainian side, =
every=20
time when Ukraine made </DIV>
<DIV>known any other attempts aimed at artificially changing the status =
of this=20
</DIV>
<DIV>rock, according to the release.<BR><BR>The Romanian side reiterated =
its=20
position and hopes that the Ukrainian side <BR>will show restraint, =
given the=20
context and conditions of the procedures with <BR>the International =
Court in The=20
Hague.<BR><BR>Ukraine's Supreme Rada (Parliament) decided in a plenary =
meeting=20
on </DIV>
<DIV>February 8 to name the settlement on the island Belyi (White =
Village), with=20
</DIV>
<DIV>the name to be put on the map and listed in the Registry of the =
Ukrainian=20
</DIV>
<DIV>localities, according to a report of Ukrainian ProUa news=20
agency.<BR><BR>The decision regarding the setting up of a settlement in =
Serpents=20
Island was <BR>taken on July 5, 2006, and by the Regional Council in =
Odessa.=20
Officially, <BR>Belyi locality is part of the Chilia district and will =
be=20
coordinated by the <BR>County Council of Vilkkovo.<BR><BR>The Serpents =
Island,=20
covering 17 hectares and having no vegetation and <BR>water, but which =
seems to=20
have important resources of crude oil, is <BR>currently inhabited by 155 =
people=20
at the most, of which 50 militaries.<BR><BR>Against this background, the =
Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry says <BR>Romania's Embassy in Kiev =
monitors=20
all aspects related to this issue and </DIV>
<DIV>the debates in the Ukrainian Parliament on February =
8.<BR><BR>Romania=20
notified in September 2004 the International Court of Justice to =
<BR>delimitate=20
the sea areas between the two countries.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>On August 15, 2005, the Romanian side submitted to the =
International=20
Court <BR>of Justice a written statement with its stand and =
argumentation=20
regarding <BR>the delimitation solution that it considers fair and in =
line with=20
the <BR>international law.<BR><BR>The Ukrainian side submitted its =
written=20
statement on May 16, 2006. This <BR>January, Romanian and Ukrainian =
Presidents=20
Traian Basescu and Viktor <BR>Yushchenko said their countries will =
observe the=20
decision of the <BR>International Court in The Hague, irrespective of =
who wins=20
in the issue of <BR>delimiting the continental shelf of the Serpents =
Island and=20
the exclusive <BR>economic areas, it was=20
reported. &nbs=
p; =20
-30- </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i11">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>If you are receiving more =
than one copy=20
of the AUR please contact us. </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>12<A=20
name=3Da12>.</A> <STRONG><FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D4> =20
UKRAINE: TREATY ON RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; =20
FLEET EXPIRES IN 10 YEARS=20
BUT.......<BR><BR></STRONG></FONT>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By =
Volodymyr=20
Obolonsky<BR>The Ukrainian Times, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 19,=20
2007<BR><BR>Asked about the possibility of prolonging the presence of =
Russia's=20
Black </DIV>
<DIV>Sea Fleet in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol after 2017, prime =
minister=20
<BR>Viktor Yanukovich replied that the government would always protect =
the=20
<BR>national interests.<BR><BR>Taking account of the statement made by =
Russian=20
President Vladimir Putin <BR>that after 2017 Russia is ready to =
negotiate about=20
the prolongation of fleet's <BR>presence in the Crimea, it is an easy =
guess what=20
conclusions have been made <BR>by Ukrainian jingoes: Yanukovich does not =
rule=20
out this tantalizing <BR>possibility.<BR><BR>Therefore, the hackneyed =
subject of=20
a betrayal of the national interests, <BR>loss of state sovereignty and=20
satisfaction of Russia's imperial ambitions <BR>came up.<BR><BR>The =
problem has=20
been hacked to death so that few people try to understand <BR>why today =
Orange=20
political forces raise hue and cry against the above <BR>prolongation, =
whereas=20
the treaty with Russia on the Black Sea fleet expires <BR>in 10=20
years.<BR><BR>Consider the question: Does the presence of the Russian =
Navy in=20
Sevastopol <BR>impair the national interests of Ukraine? The answer =
seems to be=20
that the <BR>whole infrastructure of the region is connected with the =
Russia's=20
naval <BR>base.<BR><BR>Demands for the early withdrawal of Russia's =
Black Sea=20
fleet could be <BR>justified if the politicians proposed financing of =
the=20
project of <BR>Sevastopol's development right after the withdrawal of =
the=20
Russian Navy.<BR><BR>Nonetheless, blather about the crafty Kremlin has =
been in=20
the air ever since <BR>Ukraine achieved independence, and the Orange =
team does=20
not give a hoot <BR>about Sevastopol residents who may well be left to =
their=20
fate.<BR><BR>Some politicians often moan that Russia underpays for a =
lease of=20
the Crimean <BR>land. Observers, including The Ukrainian Times, can =
think of no=20
reason why <BR>Ukrainian government officials should not begin talks =
about the=20
issue and <BR>set new terms of stationing of the Russia's naval =
base.<BR><BR>The=20
world now knows that Russia is ruled by pragmatists. It is to be wished =
<BR>that=20
the same will happen in Ukraine. Among other things, the government has =
<BR>the=20
authority to handle the Crimean land so that each Ukrainian can profit =
<BR>by=20
it, and thereby the Yanukovich team may protect the national=20
interests.<BR><BR>It is perfectly natural that the nation lives under =
conditions=20
of a <BR>free-market economy and a foreign institution or company pays =
handsome=20
</DIV>
<DIV>money into the national budget, not pockets of, say, Olexiy =
Ivchenko,=20
leader </DIV>
<DIV>of a jingoist Ukrainian party and former chairman of the state gas =
company=20
<BR>Neftegaz Ukrainy, who bought a new model of Mercedes Benz for one =
</DIV>
<DIV>million hryvnias, misusing funds of the state-owned =
enterprise.<BR><BR>Why=20
should a large investor be ousted, the more so as conflicts with the=20
<BR>next-door neighbor, namely Russia, are detrimental to the national =
interests=20
<BR>of=20
Ukraine.  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i12">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR> =20
<FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> Send in =
a=20
letter-to-the-editor today. Let us hear from=20
you.<BR></STRONG></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>13<A=20
name=3Da13>.</A> <FO=
NT=20
color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG> UKRAINE: THIEF IN NATURE'S =
TEMPLE<BR></STRONG></FONT> <FONT color=3D#000080> =
Air=20
pollution rose in 21 regions in 2006, 70% of water surface=20
polluted<BR></FONT><BR>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Vatilii =
Kniazhansky<BR>The=20
Day Weekly Digest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007<BR><BR>It is =
dangerous=20
to pull the tail of such a generally docile animal as a<BR>domestic cat. =
But=20
playing cat and mouse with mighty nature and even<BR>scattering all =
kinds of=20
poisonous wastes on its supposedly hallowed<BR>territory is considered =
quite a=20
normal thing.<BR><BR>How did we get this way?<BR><BR>Perhaps we are =
influenced=20
by the words of the classical theorist, who said<BR>that nature is a =
workshop in=20
which man is the chief (a poor one by all<BR>accounts) or the words of a =
no less=20
famous practical scientist, who<BR>maintained that we should not wait =
for nature=20
to show mercy - our task is </DIV>
<DIV>to harness it.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>We did harness it. At a =
recent=20
session of the Ministry of Environmental<BR>Protection it was announced =
that air=20
pollution rose in 21 regions of Ukraine<BR>in 2006 and that 70 percent =
of our=20
water surface is polluted.<BR></FONT></DIV><FONT color=3D#800000></FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>ALL AREAS OF NATURE MANAGEMENT SHOW=20
DETERIORATION</FONT><BR>According to environmentalists, all sectors of =
nature=20
management in Ukraine<BR>show deterioration. Last year stationary =
sources alone=20
accounted for about<BR>4.5 million tons of air =
pollutants.<BR><BR>Uncontrolled=20
toxic emissions have led not only to the contamination of<BR>surface =
springs but=20
also to the loss of large underground water reserves<BR>that can no =
longer be=20
used as sources of potable water.<BR><BR>This is also the result of a=20
catastrophic accumulation of household and<BR>industrial wastes. There =
are about=20
35 billion tons in Ukraine, occupying an<BR>area of 130,000=20
hectares.<BR><BR>What is going on? Why did the ministry suddenly sound =
the=20
alarm? </DIV>
<DIV>When the current presidential chief of staff, Baloha, was the =
environment=20
<BR>minister, he didn't say a word.<BR><BR>But this is not a question of =
personalities but the fact that both the<BR>ecology and the economy are =
upset in=20
Ukraine. The economy behaves like<BR>a robber and poisoner and does not =
deem it=20
necessary to make up for the<BR>damage done to nature.<BR><BR>One factor =
is the=20
economic slump and closed or partially functioning<BR>businesses. Over =
the past=20
few years nature has managed to take a breather<BR>after the Soviet =
Five-Year=20
Plans and the pursuit of capitalism. We never<BR>caught up with the =
latter but=20
almost brought the environment down.<BR><BR>But as First Vice-Premier =
and=20
Finance Minister Mykola Azarov announced<BR>recently, Ukraine reached =
the 1990=20
level of industrial output in 2006 and is<BR>going to achieve that =
year's GDP by=20
mid-2008. Now it is clear where gas<BR>pollution, liquid, solid and =
other=20
wastes, poisonous to nature and man, are<BR>coming from.<BR><BR>The =
Ministry of=20
Environmental Protection believes that the way out of this<BR>situation =
is a new=20
ecological strategy and concept of public administration,<BR>which would =
take=20
into account modern environmental requirements for<BR>human activities =
and all=20
industrial facilities, and become part of the main<BR>state economic=20
programs.<BR><BR>The idea is good, no doubt about it. The only question =
is how=20
to put it<BR>into practice.<BR><BR>Obviously, the importance of these =
strategies=20
and concepts should be<BR>reflected in the fundamental documents that =
guide the=20
national economy,<BR>like a yearly or longer-term program of =
socioeconomic=20
development and<BR>a budget based on the former.<BR><BR>Alas, while the =
budget=20
has been adopted, the 2007 program is still in the<BR>hands of the =
Parliamentary=20
Committee for the Economy. By all accounts,<BR>political brawls are more =
important than this "trifle."<BR><BR>Nor is it clear what will happen to =
the=20
long-term strategic program of<BR>socioeconomic development now being =
mapped out=20
by the cabinet for<BR>the first time in the history of =
Ukraine.<BR><BR>Will it=20
have chapters calling not just for papering over the cracks on =
the<BR>tender=20
body of nature but for undertaking serious efforts to protect it =
from<BR>the=20
encroachments of an unqualified and foolish master, who only =
thinks<BR>about=20
today?<BR><BR>Meanwhile, the central government continues to field =
queries from=20
the<BR>provinces. Even Kyiv's problems with dumpsites that are about to=20
discharge<BR>their contents into nearby rivers pale in=20
comparison.<BR> <FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D4><STRONG> =
PLANT=20
REPRESENTS DANGER TO HEALTH AND LIFE<BR></STRONG></FONT>For example, the =
potassium plant owned by the Oriana Company of Kalush -<BR>a city =
already full=20
of chemical businesses - represents a danger to human<BR>health and=20
life.<BR><BR>It is doing irreparable harm to the environment, causing =
ground=20
depression<BR>and salinity, as well as the formation of craters. There =
have=20
already been<BR>12 cave-ins, and the ground surface has been sagging at =
a rate=20
of 100 mm a<BR>year for the past three years.<BR></FONT><BR>In addition, =
the=20
tailings dam is on the verge of ruin, while brines have<BR>reached a =
dangerous=20
mark of tens of millions of cubic meters. The<BR>government must find =
the funds=20
to patch this gaping hole.<BR><BR>The problem is that this country has =
not yet=20
found a critical mass of<BR>intelligent individuals (true nature =
keepers) who=20
would focus on creating a<BR>reliable environmental protection=20
system. =
=20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.day.kiev.ua/177127/">http://www.day.kiev.ua/177127/</A=
><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i13">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>14<A=20
name=3Da14>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>U.S. ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE =
SPECIALISTS TO=20
EXPLAIN PLANS </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080> =
FOR=20
CONSTRUCTION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN=20
EUROPE<BR> SAYS U.S. =
AMBASSADOR TO=20
UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR</FONT><BR><BR>Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, =
Ukraine,=20
Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>KYIV - The United States promises that =
a=20
delegation comprising U.S. <BR>anti-missile defense specialists will =
arrive in=20
Ukraine to explain Ukrainian <BR>people the plans concerning the =
construction of=20
anti-missile bases in <BR>Europe. Ukrainian News learned this from the =
press=20
service of the Ukrainian <BR>Ministry of Foreign =
Affairs.<BR><BR>According to=20
the press service, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor =
<BR>announced this=20
at a meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii=20
<BR>Veselovskyi.<BR><BR>Taking into account the strategic character of =
the=20
relations between the <BR>Untied States and Ukraine, Taylor said, =
according to=20
the press service, a <BR>special technical group of specialists on the=20
anti-missile defense will <BR>arrive in Ukraine soon.<BR><BR>The U.S. =
Embassy=20
intends to meet regularly on the issue with Ukrainian </DIV>
<DIV>media to give information concerning the construction of the =
anti-missile=20
</DIV>
<DIV>defense bases in Europe.<BR><BR>Veselovskyi said the Ministry of =
Foreign=20
Affairs directed the Ukrainian <BR>embassies in Russia, the Czech =
Republic, and=20
Poland to obtain more <BR>information on the anti-missile defense=20
bases.<BR><BR>"Ukraine will be grounded on the belief that the =
administration of=20
the <BR>United States will continue informing Europeans on the plans, =
while=20
<BR>understanding that there is [negative] reactions to the deployment =
of the=20
<BR>elements of the anti-missile defense in Europe from some countries,=20
<BR>including Russia, and will openly and predictably implement the =
plans in=20
</DIV>
<DIV>the case of their realization," the statement reads.<BR><BR>Taylor =
and=20
Veselovskyi also discuss the third meeting of the Ukraine-U.S.=20
<BR>interdepartmental coordination group, which is to take place in =
Washington=20
<BR>on February 23.<BR><BR>As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the =
Ukrainian=20
Ministry of Foreign <BR>Affairs said it was viewing the possible =
construction of=20
elements of the <BR>U.S. anti-missile defense in Poland and the Czech =
Republic=20
as element of the <BR>war on terror. The United States said the =
anti-missile=20
bases in Poland and <BR>the Czech Republic were needed to protect=20
Europe. =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i14">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>15<A=20
name=3Da15>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT'S AIDE =
SAYS U.S.=20
MISSILE =
DEFENCE<BR> BASES=20
WILL NOT PROTECT EUROPE, & WILL LEAD TO </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
color=3D#000080> &nb=
sp; =20
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES IN EASTERN EUROPE </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1006 gmt 16 Feb 07<BR>BBC =
Monitoring Service, UK, Friday, February 16, 2007 <BR><BR>KIEV - <FONT=20
color=3D#800000>The deployment of elements of the US missile defence =
system in=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>Poland and the Czech Republic will not manage =
to=20
protect Europe from a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>missile attack, the Ukrainian president's =
aide,=20
Volodymyr Horbulin, told a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000>news conference today.<BR></FONT><BR>"I think =
that this=20
decision will not allow the USA to ensure the security of <BR>its =
European=20
allies in terms of defence from a missile attack, for instance <BR>by =
Iran,=20
Syria or other countries," Horbulin said. He added that he rules <BR>out =
the=20
possibility of protection against an attack by North Korea.<BR><BR>The=20
deployment of missile defence elements brings more political tension, =
</DIV>
<DIV>he said. "This will cause and has caused a political storm," he =
said. In=20
<BR>particular, this could be seen in Russian President Vladimir Putin's =
speech=20
<BR>in Germany, he added.<BR><BR>Horbulin said that Ukraine should =
develop a=20
clear position regarding the <BR>threats to its own security from the =
deployment=20
of the missile defence <BR>bases.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000>"Frankly =
speaking,=20
I don't see this as a big threat, but this could lead to <BR>serious =
political=20
issues in Eastern Europe, and this should be considered," <BR>Horbulin=20
said.</FONT> [Passage omitted: background on US missile defence=20
bases]<BR><BR>[Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Veselovskyy said =
at a=20
meeting with <BR>the US ambassador that Ukrainian embassies in Russia, =
Poland=20
and the Czech <BR>Republic were instructed to receive additional =
information,=20
UNIAN news <BR>agency reports on 16 February. The creation of global =
defence=20
systems should <BR>not in any way provoke a new wave of the arms race,=20
Veselovskyy=20
said.]<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i15">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>16<A=20
name=3Da16>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN =
INFLUENTIAL MP=20
THREATENS TO SUE FOR<BR> LIBEL IS BOOK "DONETSK MAFIA" =
IS=20
PUBLISHED IN EUROPE<BR><BR></FONT>UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian =
16 Feb=20
07<BR>BBC Monitoring Service, Friday, February 16, 2007<BR><BR>DONETSK - =
Member=20
of the Ukrainian Parliament (MP) Rinat Akhmetov </DIV>
<DIV>has said that "a very big group" of foreign lawyers is ready to =
react to=20
the <BR>publication of the book entitled "Donetsk Mafia" in=20
Europe.<BR><BR>Akhmetov was speaking to journalists in Donetsk yesterday =
after a=20
sitting of <BR>the parliamentary Committee for Economic Policy there. "I =
want=20
the book <BR>'Donetsk Mafia' to be published in Europe.<BR><BR>You know, =
show me=20
a country where this book is now. I would like this book <BR>[to be =
published]=20
maybe in England or other countries, where he (the book's <BR>author - =
UNIAN)=20
can be made responsible for disseminating it. Legally!<BR><BR>Today I =
don't have=20
a legal opportunity to sue him in court and have him <BR>brought to =
criminal=20
responsibility," Akhmetov said. Asked if the lawyers <BR>working on this =
are=20
Ukrainian or foreign, Akhmetov answered shortly: <BR>"Foreign." The book =
"Donetsk Mafia" was presented in parliament in March =
<BR>2006.<BR><BR>The=20
co-author of the book and head of the Antykoruptsiya [Anticorruption] =
<BR>fund,=20
Borys Penchuk, said that the book was based on documents from various=20
<BR>sources and it tells what and how was done in Donbass [coal mining =
area in=20
<BR>Donetsk and Luhansk regions] in the early years of Ukraine's =
independence.=20
<BR>[Passage omitted: Penchuk's accusations]<BR><BR>The prosecutor's =
office of=20
the Kiev Shevchenkivskyy district filed a <BR>criminal case in late =
November=20
2006 based on the facts mentioned in the book <BR>"Donetsk=20
Mafia" &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i16">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>17<A=20
name=3Da17>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER =
TYMOSHENKO=20
AIMS TO<BR> FORM RULING =
COALITION WITH=20
PRESIDENT'S PARTY <BR><BR></FONT>TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, Ukraine,in =
Ukrainian=20
1900 gmt 17 Feb 07<BR>BBC Monitoring Service, UK, Saturday, February 17, =
2007<BR><BR>KIEV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yuliya Tymoshenko has =
said that=20
her </DIV>
<DIV>bloc and the propresidential Our Ukraine bloc are trying to improve =
relations <BR>with a view to forming a ruling coalition after a possible =
early=20
<BR>parliamentary election. Tymoshenko was speaking live on 5 Kanal =
television,=20
<BR>commenting on the topical events of the week.<BR><BR>"An early =
election will=20
bring to parliament much less members of the Party <BR>of Regions. Most =
likely,=20
the Socialists and the Communists will not make it <BR>to parliament. =
And I know=20
for sure that our bloc will be there, represented <BR>by a sufficiently =
large=20
number and, most likely, the Our Ukraine bloc will <BR>also make =
it.<BR><BR>If=20
Our Ukraine made conclusions that they cannot build Ukraine with =
<BR>Yanukovych=20
- and I believe that Our Ukraine made these conclusions</DIV>
<DIV>because they supported a grand coalition but now reviewed their=20
position.<BR><BR>I am sure that we are ready for Our Ukraine to join our =
team=20
and will not <BR>allow in the new parliament the mistakes which were =
made during=20
the ruining <BR>of the Orange team, during the nomination of [Our =
Ukraine MP]=20
Petro <BR>Poroshenko to the post of [parliament] speaker and the ruining =
of a=20
<BR>democratic coalition.<BR><BR>I think it is simply impossible to step =
on a=20
rake for the third time. I <BR>think that there is a good chance to =
leave=20
[current Prime Minister Viktor] <BR>Yanukovych in the marginal niche =
after an=20
early election," Tymoshenko said.<BR><BR>Speaking about the recent =
agreement on=20
joint opposition work with Our <BR>Ukraine, Tymoshenko expressed the =
hope that=20
together they will manage to <BR>fight Yanukovych much more effectively. =
"I=20
think the parliamentary <BR>opposition of 200 votes will be much =
stronger that=20
120 votes which we have <BR>now.<BR><BR>I think 200 opposition deputies =
in=20
parliament will not allow Yanukovych to <BR>implement the programme he =
has in=20
mind. I mean getting rich and practically <BR>ruining this country's=20
independence," she=20
said. &n=
bsp; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i17">return to index</A>] Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR><FONT=20
color=3D#800000> <FONT size=3D4>You are welcome =
to send=20
us names for the AUR distribution=20
list.</FONT><BR></FONT>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>18<A=20
name=3Da18>.</A> <FONT color=3D#800000>TYMOSHENKO AGAINST =
MEDIATOR'S=20
PARTICIPATION IN <BR>SUPPLYING GAS TO UKRAINE, NO ITERA, NO=20
ROSUKRENERGO</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 16, =
2007=20
<BR><BR>KYIV - Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko argues =
against the=20
<BR>participation of mediators, including Itera gas-supplying company, =
in making=20
<BR>gas supplies to Ukraine. Tymoshenko told this to journalists in=20
Cherkasy.<BR><BR>"As far as gas supplies to Ukraine are concerned, there =
should=20
be no <BR>mediators between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine and =
Turkmenistan,=20
Ukraine </DIV>
<DIV>and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. We need neither RosUkrEnergo nor =
Itera,"=20
</DIV>
<DIV>she said.<BR><BR>Tymoshenko noted that it was necessary to conclude =
direct=20
agreements </DIV>
<DIV>on gas supplies to Ukraine with the governments'=20
participation.<BR><BR>Earlier, Vice Premier Andrii Kliuev admitted a =
possibility=20
of Itera's return <BR>to Ukraine as a natural gas supplier. As Ukrainian =
News=20
earlier reported, </DIV>
<DIV>on February 12, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and chairman of =
</DIV>
<DIV>Itera's board of directors Ihor Makarov discussed energy projects =
in </DIV>
<DIV>Ukraine.<BR><BR>Itera-Ukraine, a subsidiary of Itera Group, was the =
operator for supply of <BR>Turkmen gas to Ukraine and member countries =
of the=20
Commonwealth of <BR>Independent States in 1996-2002.<BR><BR>Since 1998, =
Itera=20
has been extracting gas in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets <BR>Autonomous =
District. In=20
2005, Itera wanted to supply nearly 4 billion cubic <BR>meters of =
natural gas to=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR>Ukrainian companies of Itera Group (Itera Energy and =
Itera=20
Ukraine) sell <BR>natural gas extracted on the territory of Ukraine to =
companies=20
that do not <BR>belong to NJSC Naftohaz Ukrainy.<BR><BR>After Itera, =
Turkmen gas=20
supplies to Ukraine were performed by Eural </DIV>
<DIV>Trans Gas, among co-founders of which was Dmytro Firtash, the owner =
</DIV>
<DIV>of 45% in RosUkrEnergo, the present exclusive gas supplier in=20
Ukraine.<BR>-------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i18">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>19<A=20
name=3Da19>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D4><STRONG>UKRAINE:=20
KRUTY-2 ONLY A MATTER OF=20
TIME<BR></STRONG></FONT> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; <FONT=20
color=3D#000080> Our post-genocidal =
society<BR></FONT><BR>ANALYSIS=20
& COMMENTARY: By Oleksandr Kramarenko<BR>The Day Weekly Digest, =
Kyiv,=20
Ukraine, Tue, February 13, 2007<BR><BR>LUHANSK - Our post-genocidal =
society is=20
by definition a community of<BR>morally deformed people from all walks =
of life -=20
from ordinary citizens to<BR>government officials.<BR><BR>The vast =
majority of=20
the former cannot imagine a life without bribes, while<BR>the latter =
consider=20
their high offices exclusively as a method of personal<BR>enrichment. =
The root=20
cause of these moral and ethical perversions lies in<BR>the specific=20
consequences of our national tragedy, the Holodomor.<BR><BR>Unlike the =
Holocaust=20
and the Armenian Massacre, the 1932-1933 manmade<BR>famine embraced the=20
overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian ethnos that<BR>was not yet =
Russified by=20
imperial urbanization.<BR><BR>The main distinction of the Holodomor from =
all=20
other historical genocides is<BR>that about one-half of its victims, who =
had=20
experienced all the horrors and<BR>sufferings of the famine,=20
survived.<BR><BR>This was the basic aim of the Kremlin's engineers of =
the=20
Holodomor, who were<BR>banking on those very peasants who had survived =
and, as a=20
result of their<BR>protracted torture by famine, completely lost their =
Christian=20
morality and<BR>national =
identity.<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> HAD A VISCERAL FEAR OF STARVING TO=20
DEATH<BR></STRONG></FONT>For the rest of their lives those people had a =
visceral=20
fear of starving to<BR>death. They also remembered well that the =
Bolshevik=20
commissars had<BR>exposed them to those infernal ordeals simply because =
of their=20
probity, high<BR>morality, and Ukrainian soul.<BR><BR>The commissars =
only=20
strengthened their grip on power after the Holodomor.<BR>This is why =
peasants=20
brought up their children in such a way that they would<BR>never again =
irk the=20
government with their nationalism, inner freedom,=20
and<BR>honesty.<BR><BR>Naturally, when the children of the people who =
were=20
maimed by the famine<BR>were raising their own progeny, they had no=20
alternatives.<BR><BR>Those children and grandchildren flooded into the =
cities=20
during Soviet<BR>industrialization and eventually became our =
contemporaries:=20
academics,<BR>journalists, artists, judges, politicians, =
parliamentarians,=20
officials,<BR>political scientists, and even presidents.<BR><BR>The =
society they=20
have built in independent Ukraine is causing subdued mirth<BR>in the =
rest of the=20
civilized world, which does no credit to it because if it<BR>were a =
highly moral=20
world, it would be weeping bitter tears, looking at =
our<BR>genocide-disfigured=20
society.<BR> <FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> =
89TH=20
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF KRUTY<BR></STRONG></FONT>Ukraine recently =
marked=20
the 89th anniversary of the battle of Kruty. Like<BR>before, everything =
boiled=20
down to extolling only the heroic feat of 300<BR>young =
people.<BR><BR>Some of=20
our hurrah-patriots went so far as to compare those youths with<BR>the =
Three=20
Hundred Spartans. Is this ignorance or eyewash?<BR><BR>The historical =
facts=20
attest to something quite different, to put it mildly.<BR>There was no =
battle of=20
Kruty: there was a massacre of Ukrainian youths by<BR>Russian sailors =
under the=20
command of the Bolshevik Mikhail Muravev.<BR><BR>Most of those hapless =
boys died=20
not during the combat action but afterwards,<BR>when the Bolsheviks =
first=20
tortured them in a way humiliating to their manly<BR>pride and then shot =
them.<BR><BR>This fact by no means belittles the young Ukrainians' =
exploit, but=20
it is an<BR>eyesore to our jingoists in power, who are very reluctant to =
tell=20
our<BR>demoralized society the names of those who are really to blame =
for=20
the<BR>Kruty tragedy because some of them are being turned into national =
heroes.<BR><BR>These are the Ukrainian National Republic's socialist =
leaders=20
Mykhailo<BR>Hrushevsky and Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who disbanded the=20
Ukrainian<BR>Army in the naive belief that the Russian Bolsheviks would =
not be=20
hostile<BR>to the young "fraternal" republic.<BR><BR>There was also =
Pavlo=20
Skoropadsky, who agreed to fight Bolshevism only<BR>under the leadership =
of=20
foreign armies. It is no accident that the <BR>historical truth is being =
hushed=20
up.<BR><BR>Today, the political descendants of Hrushevsky have in fact =
ruined=20
the<BR>Ukrainian Armed Forces without obtaining any guarantees of=20
our<BR>independence from either NATO or the =
US.<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG> SO KRUTY-2 IS NOW JUST A MATTER =
OF=20
TIME<BR></STRONG></FONT>So Kruty-2 is now just a matter of time, =
although it=20
looks like Russia will<BR>do it this time without direct =
aggression.<BR><BR>As=20
for our national heroes and heroines, the situation is truly=20
disgraceful.<BR>Only a gravely ill nation can take pride in such a =
person as=20
Roksolana,<BR>ascribing to her the virtues that she never =
had.<BR><BR>Historical=20
facts indicate that when she became the Turkish sultan's first<BR>lady, =
she=20
pursued a tough policy exclusively in the interests of the<BR>Ottoman =
Empire,=20
which did not include Ukraine.<BR><BR>With this in view, it is hard to =
imagine=20
that a similar Roksolana could be<BR>considered a heroine in, say, =
Poland or=20
Russia. But this is possible in a<BR>society morally crippled by the=20
Holodomor.<BR><BR>These examples make it absolutely clear why our public =
opinion=20
almost<BR>unanimously opposes lustration, why the vast majority does not =
recognize<BR>the right of OUN and UPA combatants to veterans' benefits, =
and sees=20
no<BR>sense in Ukraine's accession to NATO.<BR><BR>The worst thing is =
that since=20
the death of James Mace there is no one to<BR>properly diagnose our =
society, let=20
alone cure =
it. =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A =
href=3D"http://www.day.kiev.ua/177128/">http://www.day.kiev.ua/177128/</A=
>=20
<BR>---------------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i19">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>20<A=20
name=3Da20>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE =
UKRAINIAN=20
GENOCIDE OF<BR> 1932-1933 (HOLODOMOR) NOW AVAILABLE IN DVD=20
FORMAT<BR></FONT><BR>Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation=20
Centre<BR>Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2007<BR>Action Ukraine =
Report (AUR)=20
#818, Article 20<BR>Washington, D.C. Monday, February 19, 2007 =
<BR><BR>TORONTO -=20
The Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation<BR>Centre (UCRDC) is =
pleased=20
to inform you that the internationally<BR>acclaimed, award winning =
documentary=20
"Harvest of Despair" is now<BR>available in DVD format in English for =
$25.00.=20
[Information about the<BR>documentary from the UCRDC website is found=20
below.]<BR><BR>Please contact the UCRDC for further details:</DIV>
<DIV>Nadia Skop, Executive Administrator<BR>Ukrainian Canadian Research =
and=20
Documentation Centre<BR>620 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S=20
2H4<BR>Telephone: 416-966-1819; Fax: 416-966-1820;<BR>E-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:info@ucrdc.org">info@ucrdc.org</A><BR>--------------------=
---------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>=
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp;<FONT=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D5><STRONG> HARVEST OF =
DESPAIR<BR></STRONG></FONT>It is=20
called the forgotten holocaust - a time when Stalin was dumping =
<BR>millions of=20
tons of wheat on Western markets, while in Ukraine, men, </DIV>
<DIV>women, and children were dying of starvation at the rate of 25,000 =
a </DIV>
<DIV>day, 17 human beings a minute.<BR><BR>Seven to ten million people =
perished=20
in a famine caused not by war or <BR>natural disasters, but by ruthless=20
decree.<BR><BR>To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this tragedy the =
Ukrainian=20
Famine <BR>Research Committee (former name of UCRDC) gathered materials, =
sought=20
</DIV>
<DIV>out eye-witnesses and documented this horrific event. Harvest of =
Despair=20
</DIV>
<DIV>is the product of this effort.<BR><BR>The documentary probes the =
tragic=20
consequences of Ukraine's struggle for <BR>greater cultural and =
political=20
autonomy in the 1920s and 1930s.<BR><BR>Through rare archival footage, =
the=20
results of Stalin's lethal <BR>countermeasures unfold in harrowing =
detail.=20
Harvest of Despair examines </DIV>
<DIV>why this man-made famine remains so little known.<BR><BR>Blinded by =
radical=20
leftwing ideals, world statesmen, such as Edouard <BR>Herriot, Pulitzer=20
Prize-winning journalists and writers such as George <BR>Bernard Shaw, =
all=20
contributed to the regime's campaign of concealment.<BR><BR>Even the =
democratic=20
governments of the depression-hit West preferred to <BR>remain silent =
over=20
Soviet Russia's atrocities in order to continue import <BR>and export=20
trade.<BR><BR>In 1932-33, roughly one-quarter of the entire population =
of=20
Ukraine perished <BR>through brutal starvation. Harvest of Despair, =
through its=20
stark, haunting <BR>images, provides the eloquent testimony of a lost =
generation=20
that has been <BR>silenced too long.<BR><BR>The film Harvest of Despair =
won the=20
awards and honours at the following =
<BR>festivals:<BR> =20
1. Houston International Film Festival - April 1985 - Houston,=20
Texas<BR> 2. Strasburg International Film =
Festival -=20
April 1985<BR> 3. Festival Des Filmes Du Monde - =
August=20
1985 - Montreal, Quebec<BR> 4. New York Film =
Festival -=20
September 1985 - New York City<BR> 5. Columbus=20
International Film Festival - November 1985 -=20
Columbus, <BR> =
Ohio<BR> =20
6. Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival - October=20
1985<BR> 7. International Film and T.V. Festival =
of New=20
York - November=20
1985<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A href=3D"http://www.ucrdc.org/">http://www.ucrdc.org/</A> <BR></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i20">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR> <FONT=20
color=3D#800000> <FONT size=3D4>Please contact us if you no =
longer=20
wish to receive =
the AUR </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>21<A=20
name=3Da21>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG>WHAT THE =
VERHOVNA RADA=20
ACTUALLY PASSED<BR></STRONG></FONT> <FONT =
color=3D#000080> =20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the Ukrainian=20
people.<BR><BR></FONT>Maidan.org.ua (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, Ukraine, =
Tuesday, Nov=20
28, 2006<BR>Action Ukraine Report (AUR) #818, Article 21 (in=20
English)<BR>Washington, D.C., Monday, February 19, 2007 <BR><BR>Honoring =
the=20
memory of millions of fellow countrymen who became<BR>victims of the =
1932-1933=20
Holodomor in Ukraine and its consequences;<BR><BR>Honoring all citizens =
that=20
survived this horrible tragedy in the history of<BR>the Ukrainian=20
people;<BR><BR>Being aware of the moral responsibility to former and =
future=20
generations of<BR>Ukrainians and recognizing the necessity of restoring=20
historical justice, of<BR>solidifying in society an intolerance towards =
any form=20
of violence;<BR><BR>Noting that the tragedy of the 1932-1933 Holodomor =
in=20
Ukraine officially<BR>was denied by the USSR government over the course =
of many=20
decades;<BR><BR>Condemning the criminal acts of the USSR totalitarian =
regime=20
aimed at the<BR>Holodomor's organization, which resulted in =
millions of=20
people, the social<BR>foundations of the Ukrainian people, its age-old=20
traditions, spiritual<BR>culture and ethnic identity being=20
destroyed;<BR><BR>Empathizing with other peoples of the former USSR who=20
sustained losses<BR>as a result of the Holodomor;<BR><BR>Highly valuing =
the=20
solidarity and support of the international community in<BR>condemning =
the=20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine that is reflected in<BR>parliamentary =
acts of=20
Australia, the Republic of Argentina, Georgia, the<BR>Republic of =
Estonia, the=20
Republic of Italy, Canada, the Republic of<BR>Lithuania, the Republic of =
Poland,=20
the United States of America, the<BR>Republic of Hungary, and also in =
the=20
combined statement circulated as an<BR>official document of the 58th =
session of=20
the General Assembly of the UN on<BR>the occasion of the 70th =
anniversary of the=20
Holodomor-Great Famine of<BR>1932-1933 in Ukraine, signed by the =
Republic of=20
Argentina, the Republic of<BR>Azerbaijan, the People's Republic of =
Bangladesh,=20
the Republic of Belarus,<BR>the Republic of Benin, the Republic of =
Bosnia and=20
Herzegovina, the Republic<BR>of Guatemala, Georgia, the Arab Republic of =
Egypt,=20
the Islamic Republic of<BR>Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Canada, the =
State=20
of Qatar, the Republic<BR>of Kyrgyzia, the State of Kuwait, the Republic =
of=20
Macedonia, Mongolia, the<BR>Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Nepal, the =
United=20
Arab Emirates, the<BR>Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of =
Korea, the=20
Republic of<BR>Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi =
Arabia, the=20
Arab<BR>Republic of Syria, the United States of America, the Republic of =
Sudan,=20
the<BR>Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Democratic Republic=20
of<BR>Timor-Leste, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Jamaica, and=20
also<BR>supported by Australia, the State of Israel, the Republic of =
Serbia=20
and<BR>Montenegro and the 25 member-states of the European =
Union;<BR><BR>Taking=20
into consideration the Recommendations of parliamentary =
hearings<BR>concerning=20
honoring the memory of the victims of the 1932-1933 =
Holodomor<BR>approved by the=20
Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of March 6,<BR>2003 No. =
607-IV and=20
the Appeal to the Ukrainian people of the participants<BR>of a special =
session=20
of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of May 14, 2003,<BR>which was approved =
by the=20
Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine<BR>of May 15, 2003 No. =
789-IV, in=20
which the Holodomor is recognized as an<BR>act of genocide of the =
Ukrainian=20
people and as the result of deliberate<BR>actions of a totalitarian, =
repressive,=20
Stalinist regime aimed at the mass<BR>destruction of a portion of the =
Ukrainian=20
and other peoples of the former<BR>USSR;<BR><BR>Recognizing the =
1932-1933=20
Holodomor in Ukraine in accordance with the<BR>Convention of December 9, =
1948 on=20
the Prevention and Punishment of the<BR>Crime of Genocide as an =
intentional act=20
of mass extermination of peoples,<BR>enacts this Law.<BR><BR>Article 1. =
The=20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine is genocide of the=20
Ukrainian<BR>people.<BR><BR>Article 2. Public denial of the 1932-1933 =
Holodomor=20
in Ukraine is recognized<BR>as an insult to the memory of millions of =
victims of=20
the Holodomor and a<BR>humiliation of the dignity of the Ukrainian =
people and is=20
illegal.<BR><BR>Article 3. State bodies of power and local bodies of=20
self-governance<BR>according to their authority are obligated =
to:<BR><BR>Take=20
part in the formation and realization of state policies in the areas=20
of<BR>renewing and preserving the national memory of the Ukrainian=20
people;<BR><BR>Facilitate the consolidation and development of the =
Ukrainian=20
nation, her<BR>historical consciousness and culture, the dissemination =
of=20
information<BR>about the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine among Ukrainian =
citizens=20
and<BR>the global community, to ensure study of the tragedy of the =
Holodomor=20
in<BR>educational institutions of Ukraine;<BR><BR>Take measures to =
memorialize=20
the memory of victims of the 1932-1933<BR>Holodomor in Ukraine, =
including=20
building memorials and mounting of<BR>memorial signs to the victims of =
the=20
Holodomor;<BR><BR>Ensure by the established order access to archived and =
other=20
materials on<BR>issues that concern the Holodomor to research and civil=20
establishments<BR>and organizations, scholars, individual citizens that =
research=20
issues of the<BR>1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine and its =
effects.<BR><BR>Article=20
4. The State provides the conditions for conducting research =
and<BR>executing=20
activities related to the memorializing of the memory of the<BR>victims =
of the=20
1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine on the basis of relevant<BR>general state =
programs, the funding of which is allocated yearly in the<BR>State =
budget of=20
Ukraine.<BR><BR>Article 5. Final provisions<BR>1. This law is in effect =
from the=20
day of its publication.</DIV>
<DIV>2. The Cabinet of Ministers is:<BR>1) To determine the status and =
functions=20
of the Ukrainian Institute of<BR>National Memory and, as a specially =
authorized=20
central organ of the<BR>executive branch in the area of the rebirth and=20
preservation of the<BR>national memory of the Ukrainian people, is =
to=20
ensure its sustenance<BR>with funds from the State budget.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>2) Within a three-month period from the enactment of this =
Law:<BR>To=20
submit for the Verkhovna Rada's review proposals for bringing of<BR>the=20
legislation of Ukraine into conformity with this Law;<BR>To bring its =
own=20
normative-legislative regulations into accordance with<BR>this =
Law;<BR>To ensure=20
the review and nullification by bodies of executive authority<BR>of any=20
legislation passed by them that contradicts this Law;</DIV>
<DIV><BR>3) To resolve by the appointed order, along with the Kyiv City=20
State<BR>Administration, the matter concerning the construction of a =
Memorial=20
to<BR>the victims of the Holodomors in Ukraine before the 75th=20
anniversaries<BR>of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in=20
Ukraine.  =
; =20
-30-<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
--------------------------<BR>LINK:=20
<A=20
href=3D"http://maidan.org.ua/static/news/2006/1164726292.html">http://mai=
dan.org.ua/static/news/2006/1164726292.html</A><BR>----------------------=
---------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>=
NOTE: =20
This material from Maidan.org.ua was translated from </DIV>
<DIV>Ukrainian to English by Heather Fernuik exclusively for the Action =
</DIV>
<DIV>Ukraine Report (AUR), Kyiv, Ukraine and Washington,=20
D.C.<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------<BR>[<A=20
href=3D"#i21">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>22<A=20
name=3Da22>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080>UKRAINE: "ON THE CROSSROADS =
OF CULTURES,=20
INTERESTS<BR> AND INFLUENCES" - PARTY OF REGIONS =
DOMINATES=20
CRIMEA<BR></FONT><BR>ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: By Viktor =
Khomenko<BR>Holos=20
Ukrayiny daily, Kiev, Ukraine, in Russian 14 Feb 07, p 3<BR>BBC =
Monitoring=20
Service, UK, Wednesday, February 14, 2007<BR><BR>The Party of Regions =
dominates=20
the political scene in Crimea, a daily paper <BR>has said. The ruling =
party has=20
managed to have the Crimean police chief <BR>resign, and the Crimean =
chief=20
prosecutor was under pressure to resign too. <BR>Both of them fought =
strongly=20
against the mafia clans operating on the shadow <BR>land =
market.<BR><BR>The=20
Party of Regions plans to strengthen its grip on all areas of life in=20
<BR>Crimea. There is no credible opposition to the party in Crimea, the =
paper=20
<BR>concludes.<BR><BR>The following is the text of the article by Viktor =
Khomenko entitled "On the <BR>crossroads of cultures, interests and =
influences"=20
published in the Ukrainian <BR>daily Holos Ukrayiny on 14 February. =
Subheadings=20
are as published:<BR><BR>The autonomous peninsula at present is not =
hostile to=20
Ukraine, to the state <BR>and statehood, as some people are trying to =
prove. The=20
mistake of Kiev and <BR>Moscow politicians lies precisely in the fact =
that they=20
view Crimea from <BR>positions of separatist inclinations.<BR><BR>They =
do exist,=20
skilfully nurtured by some political forces, not only <BR>Ukrainian =
ones. But on=20
the whole extremely serious changes have taken place <BR>in the mass =
awareness=20
of Crimeans.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
POLITICAL PURGE<BR></STRONG></FONT>Recent events in Crimea are evidence =
that=20
control of the political situation <BR>and structures of power here has =
been=20
fully taken over by the [ruling] Party <BR>of Regions.<BR><BR>Three =
insistent=20
proposals to tender his resignation and a series of carping <BR>checks =
at the=20
request of Crimean leaders of the Regionals [Party of Regions] <BR>have =
forced=20
the Crimean police chief, Volodymyr Khomenko, to give up his=20
<BR>post.<BR><BR>But not at his own request, but owing to the fact that =
I could=20
not and did <BR>not want to work in such conditions, the police general =
with a=20
service <BR>record of more than 30 years said.<BR><BR>Although under his =
leadership the Crimean police, significantly in advance <BR>of other =
regions=20
(21.3 compared with 13 per cent), led the country in terms <BR>of crime=20
reduction and recently dealt a crushing blow to serious shadow =
<BR>dealers on=20
the alcohol market.<BR><BR>A police colonel, Anatoliy Mohylyov, was =
immediately=20
appointed to the job. <BR>For the past 10 years he had headed the =
Artemivsk and=20
Makiyivka town police <BR>directorates in Donetsk Region [heartland of =
Party of=20
Regions support].<BR><BR>In the words of the disgraced Khomenko, who is =
today=20
already a pensioner, <BR>the main reason for pressing law-enforcement =
personnel=20
out of Crimea is that <BR>without them it will be easier on the =
peninsula to=20
address questions of land <BR>and property. A new police chief has also =
started=20
serving in Sevastopol.<BR><BR>It looks as if the same fate awaits the =
Crimean=20
prosecutor, Volodymyr <BR>Shemchuk, famed for his fruitful struggle =
against=20
high-profile abuses and <BR>swindling in the area of illegal =
privatization of=20
land and facilities of the <BR>resort and recreation complex and his =
principled=20
reaction to all legally <BR>dubious decisions of local authorities, to =
which=20
Crimean officials are <BR>traditionally generous.<BR><BR>It has already =
been=20
proposed to him three times to change the geography of <BR>his new =
appointment.=20
The activity of the prosecutor's office is being <BR>checked once again =
by a big=20
commission from the Prosecutor-General's Office, <BR>which observers =
believe=20
should also be seen in the context of Party of <BR>Regions control over =
the=20
political situation in the peninsula.<BR><BR>I think that some political =
forces=20
still want to have their own' prosecutor, <BR>Shemchuk warned. And =
political=20
experts are convinced that the mafia that <BR>controls the shadow land =
market=20
very much wants to get rid of the Crimean =
<BR>prosecutor.<BR><BR>Tendencies that=20
are being increasingly clearly seen in new appointments, <BR>political=20
scientists note, are painfully familiar: people loyal to the =
<BR>country's=20
ruling circles have to come to replace high-ranking <BR>law-enforcement=20
officers. [Shemchuk's replacement by Volodymyr Haltsov was <BR>reported =
on 16=20
February]<BR><BR>Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is expected in =
Crimea on=20
22 February, <BR>when he is due to present his new representative in =
place of=20
Henadiy Moskal.<BR><BR>He [Moskal] was the only counterweight able to =
control=20
and to a certain <BR>extent even resist the omnipotence of the =
Regionals. The=20
president's <BR>representation in the autonomy retains its control =
functions=20
without its <BR>leader, but for now cannot seriously oppose any =
contentious acts=20
of the <BR>ruling party.<BR><BR>So in Crimea the Party of Regions is now =
in full=20
control of political and <BR>economic life on the peninsula, =
endeavouring to=20
strengthen their positions <BR>even more.<BR><BR>At the last big meeting =
of the=20
Regionals - deputies of all levels and <BR>representatives of all =
branches of=20
power - their leader, Vasyl Kyselyov, <BR>said that in regions where the =
party=20
had two thirds of deputy seats on <BR>councils, a vote of no confidence =
should=20
be passed in heads of district <BR>state administration and town heads, =
aiming=20
to get either re-elections or <BR>their =
replacement.<BR><BR>Recommendations=20
adopted by the meeting define a number of tactical steps for <BR>Crimean =
Regionals: in particular on the placement of personnel in all bodies =
<BR>of the=20
executive and local government.<BR><BR>The motivation and arguments are =
old: the=20
Regionals won the elections, <BR>formed the government and the =
authorities, and=20
they want full control; in <BR>order to be able be fully responsible to =
the=20
voters, they want to have all <BR>the levers of influence over the=20
situation.<BR><BR>Apart from that, Kyselyov said, the Regionals are =
raising the=20
question of <BR>ensuring that there are representatives of their party =
in every=20
ministry.<BR><BR>They have initiated changes to election legislation - =
to raise=20
the barrier <BR>for parties to get into councils of all levels from 9 to =
12 per=20
cent, and <BR>later will energetically place in power exclusively their =
own=20
people.<BR><BR>At the same time, assurances are being voiced: The time =
of=20
authoritarianism <BR>is moving into the past now, giving way to people's =
power=20
and a new <BR>constitutional order. We are supporters of dictatorship, =
but=20
dictatorship of <BR>the law.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; =20
LAYING OUT A GAME OF PATIENCE<BR></STRONG></FONT>The Party of Regions on =
the=20
peninsula consists of 41,000 people. Together <BR>with the Russian Bloc =
party it=20
forms a faction in the Supreme Council <BR>[parliament] of Crimea that =
amounts=20
to 44 deputies out of 100.<BR><BR>There is no real opposition to the =
Regionals=20
in Crimea. Even the <BR>[propresidential] Our Ukraine bloc, represented =
in the=20
Crimean parliament by <BR>the Rukh-Kurultay faction, cooperates with =
them, while=20
the YTB [opposition <BR>Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc] is too weak and =
therefore is not=20
displaying serious <BR>activity.<BR><BR>Even the 18,000-strong Serhiy =
Kunitsyn=20
Bloc, which shared second place in <BR>the elections to the Crimean =
parliament,=20
is not really opposing the <BR>Regionals.<BR><BR>All the other political =
forces,=20
in particular, the communists, socialists <BR>and social democrats =
support the=20
Party of Regions and, playing second <BR>fiddle, are frightened that =
even the=20
powers that they still have will be <BR>wrested from them.<BR><BR>A =
noticeable=20
trend is the steady reduction in the ranks of political <BR>parties: =
often even=20
by half. After the elections, all parties without <BR>exception that =
failed in=20
the battle for the electorate suffered tangible <BR>losses.<BR><BR>The =
People's=20
Party of the former head of parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn, <BR>dropped by =
half,=20
and now consists of 15,000 people. The same reduction <BR>befell the =
socialists=20
of [speaker] Oleksandr Moroz, of whom 13,000 remain </DIV>
<DIV>on the peninsula.<BR><BR>The social democrats, with until recently =
28,000=20
people in its ranks, is <BR>steadily melting away. The majority of =
defectors=20
find themselves in <BR>organizations of the ruling party, where the =
migrants are=20
offered official <BR>posts.<BR><BR>So the Regionals, in spite of their =
own=20
almost 20 per cent drop in rating, <BR>as sociologists show, are still =
not=20
exhausting their credit of trust and, <BR>seizing the moment, are =
raising all=20
branches of power under themselves on <BR>the peninsula. Only Our =
Ukraine people=20
remain stable, without a reduction in <BR>their 15,000-strong=20
ranks.<BR><BR>There is a discernible growth in the influence of the =
radical wing=20
of the <BR>Majlis [Crimean Tatar unofficial parliament], which soon may =
be=20
exerting a <BR>real influence on the political situation on the=20
peninsula.<BR><BR>Obviously everything will depend on how the spring =
elections=20
to the Majlis <BR>turn out, and it is planned to hold a Kurultay =
[consultative=20
meeting] in <BR>autumn.<BR><BR>The position of the Crimean Tatars will =
depend on=20
how strong the radical <BR>wing in the Majlis becomes. Another important =
factor=20
is the radical <BR>pro-Russian forces.<BR><BR>The more moderate of them =
are=20
represented in power and, collaborating with <BR>the Kremlin, which is =
not now=20
interested in any destabilization on the <BR>peninsula, are sitting=20
quietly.<BR><BR>Another section of the pro-Russian groups, oriented to =
more=20
radical forces <BR>in Russia, is less influential, since they do not =
have state=20
support from <BR>there and are not represented in the local=20
authorities.<BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; =20
TENDENCIES OF THE PARTY PALETTE<BR></STRONG></FONT>Increasing interest =
of=20
political parties in Crimea is a visible phenomenon <BR>of recent years. =
The=20
present bursts of such interest were noticed before the <BR>presidential =
and=20
parliamentary elections, since they were conducted on a <BR>purely party =
basis.<BR><BR>Virtually all the numerous political parties of Ukraine - =
125=20
altogether - <BR>are now registered on the peninsula. About 15 have =
succeeded in=20
obtaining <BR>genuine political residence permits in Crimea. The ones =
that have=20
electoral <BR>support can conventionally be divided into three=20
groups.<BR><BR>First of all, there are parties of a pro-Russian =
orientation that=20
are making <BR>use of the electoral moods of the Russian-speaking =
section of the=20
Crimean <BR>population, and first and foremost ethnic Russians. Since =
the=20
peninsula is <BR>the only part of Ukraine where the number of ethnic =
Russians=20
comprises the <BR>majority.<BR><BR>If we remember its very difficult =
history,=20
back in the times of the Russian <BR>Empire and the USSR and the =
transfer of=20
Crimea, almost unpopulated after the <BR>deportation [of the Tatars], =
into the=20
composition of the Ukrainian SSR in <BR>1954 from the composition of the =
Russian=20
Federation, then the root of the <BR>problem will become perfectly=20
understandable.<BR><BR>It should be borne in mind here that purely =
pro-Russian=20
parties of a radical <BR>type, which at the beginning of the 90s raised =
the=20
question of transferring <BR>Crimea into the composition of Russia, no =
longer=20
enjoy the support of the <BR>majority of Crimeans, since people already=20
understand perfectly well the <BR>realities of contemporary Ukrainian =
politics:=20
Crimea is an inalienable part <BR>of Ukraine as an autonomy.<BR><BR>The =
fact=20
that such parties, while recognizing the fact, are skilfully =
<BR>transforming=20
their political world view, campaigning for the maintenance and=20
<BR>strengthening of the status of the Russian language and culture on =
the=20
<BR>peninsula is another matter.<BR><BR>More pragmatic parties receive=20
considerable support in the autonomy. It is <BR>no accident that the =
parties=20
Russian Bloc and Russian Party, which existed <BR>previously, joined a =
bloc with=20
the Party of Regions and formed the election <BR>bloc For [Prime =
Minister=20
Viktor] Yanukovych, which gained a majority at the <BR>last=20
elections.<BR><BR>But at the same time, parties that also preach the =
idea of=20
Crimean <BR>regionalism and local patriotism, but occupy more balanced =
positions=20
at this <BR>level also enjoy a fair amount of trust.<BR><BR>This is the =
PDP=20
[People's Democratic Party], which did not get into the <BR>Ukrainian =
Supreme=20
Council, although Serhiy Kunitsyn [former Crimean Prime <BR>Minister] =
created an=20
eponymous bloc based on the DPU [Democratic Party of <BR>Ukraine] and =
the=20
PDP.<BR><BR>The Communist Party and the Crimean regional organization of =
the CPU=20
<BR>[Communist Party of Ukraine] under the leadership of Leonid Hrach =
form the=20
<BR>left-wing spectrum of the party palette, which is slowly but surely =
losing=20
<BR>voters. It is represented by eight deputies in the Supreme Council =
of=20
<BR>Crimea.<BR><BR>Of the right-wing parties [Former Foreign Minister] =
Borys=20
Tarasyuk's <BR>People's Movement of Ukraine [PMU - Rukh] is operating =
most=20
successfully <BR>with the Crimean electorate.<BR><BR>But only because =
the=20
Crimean Tatars do not have their own political party, <BR>and are =
implementing=20
their electoral intentions within the framework of the <BR>party. That =
is why=20
the PMU also gained 7 per cent support at the last <BR>elections and has =
eight=20
deputies in the Crimean Supreme Council. But <BR>basically, they are =
Crimean=20
Tatars.<BR><BR>They are actively using the Crimean Tatar nationalist =
idea of the=20
<BR>self-defence of their people. In a certain sense the YTB has =
electoral=20
<BR>sympathies.<BR><BR>Nonetheless, one can speak about stable support =
for this=20
wing of the <BR>Ukrainian polity not so much according to party as to=20
personality features. <BR>That is everything that is growing on the =
Crimean=20
field.<BR><BR>Statistics show that 47 Ukrainian political parties =
obtained=20
support at the <BR>last elections, including parties that were part of=20
associations and blocs. <BR>The rest could not even be taken seriously. =
This=20
confirms the fact that <BR>Crimea continues to retain the position of a =
specific=20
region of Ukraine with <BR>special electoral moods.<BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
PARADOXICAL FACE<BR></STRONG></FONT>The paradoxical nature of the =
Crimean=20
situation lies in the unregulated <BR>status of the territory in =
Ukrainian=20
legislation and the constitution.<BR><BR>Although the existence of the =
Crimean=20
autonomy is enshrined in the <BR>Constitution of Ukraine and recognized =
by the=20
world community, in practice <BR>the central leadership and the polity =
are still=20
irritated by the existence <BR>of the autonomy in a unitary state. They =
have a=20
fairly distrustful attitude <BR>to it, considering it to be a source of=20
separatism, and this allergy is <BR>long-standing.<BR><BR>Quite a few =
important=20
matters in relations between Kiev and the peninsula <BR>have not been =
regulated=20
to this day. This irks many Crimeans and is a source <BR>of permanent=20
dissatisfaction with Kiev.<BR><BR>For example, it is only recently that =
laws=20
were passed on the status of <BR>deputies in the autonomy and the =
Supreme=20
Council of the Autonomous Republic <BR>of Crimea, while there is still =
no law on=20
the Council of Ministers of the <BR>autonomy.<BR><BR>There is also a =
lack of=20
legislative acts that would delineate more clearly <BR>the question of =
the=20
property of the autonomy and of the centre. The autonomy <BR>does not =
have the=20
right to legislative initiative, and therefore it still <BR>exists in a=20
declarative way.<BR><BR>In many cases this leads to the excesses that =
exist in=20
Crimea, in particular <BR>in the area of land. Because instead of law, =
what is=20
operating is big money, <BR>a shadow market and certain clans, among =
which the=20
most active are the <BR>Donetsk, Kiev and Dnipropetrovsk =
clans.<BR><BR>The=20
majority of the tasty morsels have already been bought up. Constant=20
<BR>wide-scale chaotic building has been going on for years, because of =
which=20
<BR>Crimea has already lost many attractive places that could have =
become major=20
<BR>investment projects.<BR><BR>In connection with this, foreign =
investors are=20
unwilling to come, not <BR>trusting the situation on the =
peninsula.<BR><BR>This=20
is also the reason for the intensification of activity of the Crimean =
<BR>Tatars=20
who, having returned to their homeland in droves from their places of=20
<BR>deportation, have remained outside the transparent distribution of =
land and=20
<BR>are trying to tackle the problem not always by means of the =
law. =20
-30-<BR></DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------</DIV>
<DIV>[<A href=3D"#i22">return to index</A>] [Action Ukraine Report (AUR) =
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>23<A=20
name=3Da23>.</A> <FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><STRONG>UKRAINE'S =
FOREIGN POLICY=20
AT THE=20
BEGINNING<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
OF THE 21ST CENTURY<BR><BR></STRONG></FONT>ADDRESS: By H.E. Dr. =
Ihor=20
Ostash<BR>Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada<BR>University of Ottawa, =
Ottawa,=20
Ontario, Canada<BR>Wednesday, February 7, 2007</DIV>
<DIV>Published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business Edition</DIV>
<DIV>Vol. 8, No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007<BR><BR>Ladies and =
gentlemen,<BR><BR>I am honoured to be invited to address such a =
distinguished=20
audience<BR>gathered here at one of the leading Canadian Universities. I =
would=20
like to<BR>thank the Chair of the Ukrainian Studies Professor Dominique =
Arel=20
for<BR>organizing this event.<BR><BR>In order to describe the nature of=20
Ukraine's foreign policy at the beginning<BR>of the 21st century we =
should go=20
back to the events of the winter of 2004,<BR>which are now known all =
over the=20
world as the Orange Revolution.<BR><BR>The Ukrainian people, by =
defending -- by=20
peaceful means -- their freedoms<BR>and standing up against massive =
fraud of the=20
first two tours of the<BR>Presidential elections of 2004, proved to be =
Europeans=20
not only by<BR>geographic location, but also by their values and the=20
determination to<BR>protect them. They have shown that as Europeans they =
deserve=20
their place<BR>in the united Europe.<BR><BR>It is well-known that the =
concept of=20
European and Euro-Atlantic integration<BR>has been a keystone of the =
Ukrainian=20
foreign policy doctrine for many years.<BR><BR>However, an honest =
evaluation of=20
the real progress on Ukraine's move towards<BR>the EU and NATO =
membership by the=20
end of Leonid Kuchma's tenure shows<BR>that any mentioning of Ukraine's=20
integration into the EU and NATO caused<BR>among Western politicians =
nothing but=20
irritation and a "fatigue syndrome".<BR><BR>Before the Orange =
Revolution,=20
Ukraine's image abroad was tainted by a<BR>discredited and corrupt =
political=20
leadership incapable of forgoing foreign<BR>policy ambiguity and =
ensuring a=20
consistency in the implementation of<BR>strategic tasks.<BR><BR>The =
undemocratic=20
nature of the Kuchma regime lead to the de-facto<BR>international =
isolation of=20
Ukraine and kept at bay any real prospect of<BR>joining Western=20
institutions.<BR><BR>Cardinal changes that took place in our country =
over the=20
past two years that<BR>secured Ukraine's development on the democratic =
path have=20
also shaped the<BR>course of Ukraine's foreign policy.<BR><BR>It is =
based on the=20
mainstream civilizational choice of the Ukrainian people<BR>to live in a =
democratic, law-abiding and fair society homogenous with =
other<BR>European=20
countries.<BR><BR>Ukrainians believe that building a respected, =
prosperous and=20
democratic<BR>Ukraine is inseparable from Ukraine's joining the family =
of the=20
united<BR>Europe.<BR><BR>However, instead of endlessly repeating the =
mantra of=20
Ukraine's European<BR>and Euro-Atlantic integration, which in the past =
decade=20
found little<BR>response from our European and NATO counterparts, =
Ukraine is=20
proving<BR>its political choice by actions.<BR><BR>Ukraine is becoming a =
regional leader, a proponent of democratic values<BR>and freedoms, a =
country=20
that is able to clearly define its foreign policy<BR>priorities and back =
them up=20
with a trustworthy agenda and actions.<BR><BR>In sum, the period after =
the=20
Orange Revolution is the time when Ukraine is<BR>elaborating its own=20
sustainable, consistent and independent foreign policy.<BR><BR>As you =
may know,=20
with the Parliamentary elections of March 26, 2006 </DIV>
<DIV>(which have been recognized as democratic by all observers) the =
provisions=20
</DIV>
<DIV>of political reform entered into force which modified the =
distribution=20
of<BR>powers in Ukraine.<BR><BR>The Government is headed by =
Prime-Minister=20
Victor Yanukovych, the<BR>leader of the Party of Regions and the former=20
competitor of President<BR>Victor Yuschenko at the Presidential =
elections of=20
2004.<BR><BR>While the President and the Prime Minister represent =
political=20
forces that<BR>are at opposite ends of the spectrum, it is important to=20
underline that the<BR>direction of Ukraine's foreign policy remains=20
unchanged.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>1. =
CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS=20
AND LAWS </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>DEFINING UKRAINE'S FOREIGN=20
PRIORITIES</STRONG></FONT><BR>To prove that, let's begin with a brief =
overview=20
of the distribution of<BR>constitutional powers in Ukraine with respect =
to=20
determining and carrying<BR>out the foreign policy, as well as the key =
laws that=20
outline its main<BR>priorities.<BR><BR>According to the Constitution of =
Ukraine=20
(Art. 106), the President of<BR>Ukraine directs the foreign policy of =
Ukraine,=20
represents Ukraine on the<BR>international arena, appoints and =
discharges=20
Ambassadors, submits to the<BR>Parliament petition for appointment of =
the=20
Minister of Foreign Affairs of<BR>Ukraine.<BR><BR>The President has the =
right to=20
veto Parliament's bills and to enjoin the<BR>execution of the Cabinet of =
President of Ukraine, who charts<BR>the course and exercises the =
direction of=20
Ukraine's foreign policy, in<BR>accordance with the laws passed by the=20
Parliament, and the Cabinet of<BR>Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign =
Affairs=20
deal with the practical<BR>implementation of foreign policy.<BR><BR>On =
August 3,=20
2006 after a week-long roundtable discussion chaired by<BR>President of =
Ukraine=20
Viktor Yushchenko the leaders of four political<BR>forces -- the Party =
of=20
Regions, Our Ukraine, the Socialists, and the<BR>Communists signed the=20
Declaration on National Unity.<BR><BR>This document addressed a number =
of the=20
most critical issues in Ukrainian<BR>politics, especially regarding =
foreign=20
affairs.<BR><BR>First of all, the Declaration confirmed that the course =
of the=20
Ukrainian<BR>foreign policy aimed at integration to the European Union =
and=20
strengthening<BR>its international authority is irreversible and =
immutable. In=20
this light,<BR>the parties agreed to adhere to the "Ukraine -- EU" =
Action Plan=20
and to begin<BR>immediate negotiations regarding the creation of a free =
trade=20
area between<BR>Ukraine and the European Union.<BR><BR>The document =
proposed a=20
sensible political compromise on Ukraine-NATO<BR>relations: continuing =
"mutually=20
beneficial cooperation" for now, in<BR>accordance with the "Law on =
National=20
Security of Ukraine", and deferring the<BR>issue of membership until =
some later=20
date, subject to a national referendum.<BR><BR>The Declaration on =
National Unity=20
has established a tradition of national<BR>and public dialogue for =
resolving=20
problems that Ukraine has inherited from<BR>the past or acquired=20
today.<BR><BR>Thus, the President initiated to conduct the second =
national round=20
table,<BR>which is scheduled for February 22-25, 2007, and will involve =
such=20
political<BR>leaders as the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the=20
Prime-minister of<BR>Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and the Chairman of the =
Verkhovna=20
Rada (the<BR>Parliament) of Ukraine Olexander Moroz, as well as public =
leaders,=20
artists,<BR>and journalists etc. Its participants have to formulate a =
2007=20
action plan<BR>based on the Declaration on National =
Unity.<BR><BR>Meanwhile, I=20
would like to stress that Ukraine's foreign policy priorities<BR>are =
established=20
by law and are contained in such documents as the Act of =
the<BR>Verkhovna Rada=20
(the Parliament) on the main directions of Ukraine's foreign<BR>policy =
passed in=20
1993, the Law of Ukraine on the main principles of the<BR>national =
security=20
adopted in 2003, as well as Ukraine's Defence Doctrine<BR>adopted in=20
2004.<BR><BR>As to our strategic priorities established by these laws, =
they=20
include<BR>European and Euro-Atlantic integration with the goal of =
attaining=20
a<BR>full-fledged membership in NATO and the EU, accession to the =
World<BR>Trade=20
Organization, which we expect to achieve in 2007.<BR><BR>At the World =
Economic=20
Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prime-Minister V.<BR>Yanukovych invited WTO =
Director-General Pascal Lamy to come to Ukraine<BR>for the signing of =
the=20
agreement on Ukraine's accession to the WTO this<BR>year.<BR><BR>Our =
main=20
priorities also include the development of friendly and =
mutually<BR>beneficial=20
relations with all countries, first and foremost our =
neighboring<BR>states, such=20
as Russia and Poland, as well as strategic partners of our<BR>country, =
such as=20
Canada and the United States.<BR><BR>Ukraine pursues the goal of =
promoting=20
European values in its region, in<BR>particular through active =
participation in=20
the resolution of frozen<BR>conflicts.<BR><BR>Ukraine conducts active=20
multilateral policy in the framework of global and<BR>regional =
organizations,=20
such as the United Nations and the Organization for<BR>Security and =
Cooperation=20
in Europe (OSCE). We consider our participation in<BR>these =
organizations an=20
important factor of deepening and broadening regional<BR>as well as =
global=20
stability and security in Europe.<BR><BR>One of the main foreign policy=20
priorities is the economic expansion of<BR>Ukrainian goods and services =
both on=20
the conventional and the new markets<BR>in the Middle East, Latin =
America, Asia=20
and Africa.<BR><BR>And, of course, one of the most important aspects of=20
Ukraine's foreign<BR>policy is protecting Ukrainian citizens abroad and=20
safeguarding the rights<BR>of the Ukrainian Diaspora , which will remain =
a=20
constant priority of the<BR>foreign policy of Ukraine and the sphere of=20
particular attention of<BR>Ukrainian diplomatic and consular missions=20
abroad.<BR><BR>We are working successfully with many countries on =
legalizing the=20
status of<BR>Ukrainian migrant workers, signing agreements on temporary=20
employment,<BR>promoting the opening of Ukrainian schools, television =
stations=20
and<BR>newspapers abroad.<BR><BR>President V. Yuschenko has issued a =
Decree=20
adopting the National concept of<BR>cooperation with overseas =
Ukrainians. There=20
is a special Department at the<BR>Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine =
for the=20
relations with overseas<BR>Ukrainians.<BR><BR>These priorities, =
including=20
European and Euro-Atlantic integration, are the<BR>backbone of Ukraine's =
foreign=20
policy. This is the position of the President,<BR>the Government and the =
Parliament of Ukraine. This is our strategic course<BR>that has no=20
alternative.<BR><BR>I will go in some more detail over a few of these=20
priorities.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>2. EUROPEAN=20
INTEGRATION</STRONG></FONT><BR>As I mentioned, one of the key goals of =
Ukraine's=20
foreign policy is becoming<BR>a full-fledged member of the European =
Union. This=20
is a key priority,<BR>realization of which includes the whole complex of =
efforts=20
both inside the<BR>country and beyond its borders. They are aimed at =
moving=20
Ukraine closer to<BR>the EU and creating preconditions necessary for =
future=20
accession to the EU.<BR><BR>I believe that this is indeed a two-way =
street,=20
where both Ukraine and the<BR>EU will benefit from Ukraine's membership. =
Ukrainians belong in the united<BR>Europe due to their history, culture, =
as well=20
as system of values and<BR>beliefs in democracy and the rule of law, as =
was=20
proven by the events of the<BR>Orange revolution. Our country is a =
contributor=20
to global and regional peace<BR>and security.<BR><BR>Ukraine is =
essential for=20
the energy security of Europe, given thousands of<BR>kilometres of oil =
and gas=20
pipelines that deliver energy to all Europeans.<BR><BR>Furthermore, a =
democratic=20
and stable Ukraine integrated into the European<BR>and Euro-Atlantic =
structures=20
is the best guarantee of good-neighbourly<BR>relations between Ukraine, =
the=20
European Union and the Russian Federation.<BR><BR>And, as those European =
nations=20
hosting many Ukrainian labour migrants have<BR>learned, the Ukrainian =
people are=20
honest and hard-working. Everybody knows<BR>the boxers Vitaly and =
Volodymyr=20
Klychko, soccer player Andriy Schevchenko,<BR>pop-singer Ruslana or =
chess world=20
champion Ruslan Ponomariov.<BR><BR>I am confident that my compatriots =
will make=20
a solid contribution to the<BR>development of a united Europe. As former =
Foreign=20
Minister Borys Tarasyuk<BR>aptly put it, "Ukraine is coming back to =
Europe not=20
with a bag of problems,<BR>but with a basket of proposals".<BR><BR>And =
Europeans=20
see Ukraine as part of Europe. According to latest polls<BR>conducted in =
Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Great Britain and Poland only<BR>34% =
respondents=20
stated that they are not ready to see Ukraine in the EU, but<BR>the =
overwhelming=20
majority expressed support of our membership (Poland and<BR>Spain -- =
65%, Italy=20
-- 59%, France -- 56%, Great Britain -- 47%, Germany=20
--<BR>44%).<BR><BR>Ukraine's relations with the EU have become truly =
dynamic.=20
Yesterday the<BR>delegation of the EU Troyka headed by Foreign Minister=20
F.Steimeyer of<BR>Germany -- country that presides in the EU in the =
first half=20
of 2007 -- met<BR>in Kyiv with President Yuschenko, Prime-Minister =
Yanukovych=20
and Acting<BR>Foreign Minister V.Ohryzko.<BR><BR>Ukraine and the EU =
began=20
negotiations about the new, enhanced agreement. The<BR>present Agreement =
on=20
Partnership and Cooperation expires in the beginning of<BR>2008, and we =
are=20
ready to make the next step on the road to EU membership.<BR>We stand =
for=20
concluding an agreement with the EU on the principles of<BR>political=20
association and economic integration.<BR><BR>Ukraine in partnership with =
the EU=20
is an active contributor to peace and<BR>security on the European =
continent. Our=20
country has been taking part in the<BR>Police Mission of the EU in =
Boznia and=20
Herzegovina, is cooperating with the<BR>EU in the settlement of the=20
Transdniestria conflict and with the EU mission<BR>on the =
Ukraine-Moldova=20
border.<BR><BR>In 2006, our country has joined 511 of the 554 EU =
resolutions on=20
regional<BR>and international issues, which shows the high level of=20
political<BR>association of Ukraine with the EU and the commonality of =
our=20
principles and<BR>values. Last year there were 135 expert visits between =
EU and=20
Ukraine, which<BR>is one third higher than the year before.<BR><BR>The =
European=20
Union is the biggest trading partner of Ukraine. Its share =
in<BR>Ukraine's=20
trading balance for the period of 10 months of 2006 has been<BR>31,2%, =
which is=20
21,3% higher than for the same period of 2005. About 75%<BR>of direct =
foreign=20
investments into Ukraine's economy come from the EU.<BR><BR>Accordingly, =
our=20
goal is to establish a free-trade zone with the EU. =
Formal<BR>negotiations on=20
this issue are to begin after Ukraine's accession to =
the<BR>WTO.<BR><BR>At the=20
Ukraine-EU summit in October, 2006 we have completed negotiations<BR>on =
easing=20
the visa regime and readmission, and initialed respective drafts<BR>of=20
agreements. We expect to sign them in 2007.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 =
size=3D4><STRONG>3. EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION</STRONG></FONT><BR>Another =
key=20
priority of Ukraine's foreign policy is the Euro-Atlantic<BR>integration =
, aimed=20
at gradual full-fledged membership in NATO.<BR><BR>Due to certain =
circumstances=20
this issue has been highly politicized in<BR>Ukraine. At the same time, =
the=20
strategic course of Ukraine towards NATO<BR>membership is written in the =
Ukrainian laws, and it is supported by the<BR>leadership of our country. =
Any=20
differences of vision are related to the<BR>tactical aspects of =
Euro-Atlantic=20
integration.<BR><BR>In terms of public support, the majority of the =
Ukrainians=20
consider that the<BR>society doesn't have enough information about NATO =
to make=20
a deliberate<BR>decision whether Ukraine should or shouldn't become a=20
member.<BR><BR>Specifically, according to the results of the poll =
conducted=20
recently by the<BR>company "FOM-Ukraine" (translated as "Fund of Public=20
Opinion") 62.2% of<BR>Ukrainians say that they lack information about =
NATO. In=20
general, 45.4% of<BR>Ukrainians don't support the idea of Ukraine =
joining NATO,=20
38.6% support<BR>the accession and 16.1% are undecided.<BR><BR>At the =
same time,=20
the poll showed that if the referendum took place in the<BR>near future, =
59.9%=20
would vote against Ukraine joining NATO, 16.9% would<BR>support this =
idea and=20
8.4% are undecided. But 28.8% of respondents noted<BR>that they could =
change=20
their attitude towards NATO if they received more<BR>information about =
this=20
organization, 46.9% wouldn't change their opinion and<BR>24.3% didn't =
give an=20
answer.<BR><BR>On January 26, 2007 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, =
Switzerland,<BR>Prime-Minister V. Yanukovych emphasized that the current =
budget=20
is the first<BR>one since Ukraine's independence that provides funds for =
educating the<BR>public about NATO.<BR><BR>In his view, such policy =
"will=20
develop positive perception" of NATO by the<BR>Ukrainian society and =
"facilitate=20
the process of Euro-Atlantic integration<BR>of =
Ukraine".<BR><BR>Meanwhile,=20
Ukraine is developing practical cooperation with the Alliance in<BR>the=20
framework of the Intensified Dialogue, and in the hope of receiving=20
an<BR>invitation to the Membership Action Plan in the near =
future.<BR><BR>As an=20
example of such cooperation, the implementation of the =
NATO-Ukraine<BR>Action=20
Plan for 2006 involved over 50 ministries and =
governmental<BR>organizations of=20
Ukraine. There has been created a special National System<BR>of =
Coordination of=20
Ukraine's Cooperation with NATO.<BR><BR>Speaking of practical examples =
of such=20
cooperation, I can mention, for<BR>instance, the utilization of old =
ammunition.=20
Ukrainians are thankful to the<BR>Canadian Government for participating =
in this=20
project.<BR><BR>NATO is also providing assistance in the development of =
science=20
and<BR>computerization of Ukrainian universities, civil training of=20
decommissioned<BR>officers. In December of 2006 the President of Ukraine =
issued=20
a decree<BR>authorizing the participation of Ukrainian Navy in the=20
anti-terrorist<BR>operation "Active Endeavour" in the Mediterranean=20
Sea.<BR><BR>And the latest example, which shows not only the =
effectiveness=20
of<BR>Ukraine-NATO relations but also the strength of the partnership=20
between<BR>Ukraine and Canada, is the decision of President Victor =
Yuschenko to=20
send 10<BR>Ukrainian peacekeepers to Afghanistan, who will be there =
contributing=20
to the<BR>fight against terrorism shoulder to shoulder with their =
Canadian=20
colleagues.<BR><BR>We consider NATO as a stabilizing factor in the =
world, and=20
Ukraine is an<BR>integral part of the European security system. =
Ukraine's place=20
is in Europe,<BR>and it will continue moving on the path towards =
integration=20
into European<BR>and Euro-Atlantic structures.<BR><BR><FONT =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG>4. MULTILATERAL AND REGIONAL=20
INITIATIVES</STRONG></FONT><BR>Touching briefly on Ukraine's =
multilateral and=20
regional initiatives, I<BR>should mention Ukraine's participation in the =
settlement of the<BR>Transdniestria conflict.<BR><BR>In 2006, the =
settlement=20
process followed the plan elaborated by President<BR>V. Yuschenko, that =
provided=20
measures for conducting negotiations,<BR>demilitarizing the region and =
promoting=20
democratic transformations. Ukraine<BR>is actively working in =
partnership with=20
the OSCE on the peaceful resolution<BR>of this conflict.<BR><BR>In the =
context=20
of regional and multilateral initiatives we should also<BR>mention the =
union of=20
Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova (GUAM),<BR>which in May of 2006 =
was=20
transformed into an international Organization for<BR>Democracy and =
Economic=20
Development -- GUAM with the headquarters in<BR>Kyiv.<BR><BR>Another =
success=20
story is the establishment by nine East European countries<BR>have =
established=20
in Kyiv in December 2005 the union called Community of<BR>Democratic =
Choice,=20
whose aim is to promote democracy and human rights<BR>in the=20
Baltic-Black-Caspian sea region.<BR><BR>As a token of recognition of =
Ukraine's=20
reputation in the field of human<BR>rights, I am proud to say that in =
2006=20
Ukraine was elected to the newly<BR>created UN Human Rights=20
Council.<BR><BR>[Recognition Of Holodomor As Act Of Genocide Against =
Ukrainian=20
People]<BR>Speaking of our work in the framework of the UN, one of our=20
significant<BR>tasks is the universal recognition of the Holodomor of =
1932-33 in=20
Ukraine as<BR>an act of genocide against Ukrainian =
people.<BR><BR>Recently the=20
Ukrainian Parliament passed the law recognizing as genocide<BR>this one =
of the=20
greatest atrocities in the history of mankind, that took<BR>lives of =
between 7=20
and 10 million people, almost a quarter of=20
Ukraine's<BR>population.<BR><BR>Recognition of Holodomor as genocide is=20
important not only for Ukraine, but<BR>for preventing such horrors from =
ever=20
happening in the future in any part of<BR>the world.<BR><BR>We are =
thankful to=20
the Senate of Canada for adopting on June 19, 2003 a<BR>motion =
introduced by=20
Senator Raynell Andreychuk calling on the Government<BR>of Canada to =
recognize=20
the famine -- Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine =
as<BR>genocide.<BR><BR>Ukraine is=20
planning to submit to the UN General Assembly a draft of =
the<BR>respective=20
resolution, and hope that on the 75th Anniversary of this tragedy<BR>it =
will be=20
adopted by the international community.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000=20
size=3D4><STRONG>5. RELATIONS WITH STRATEGIC =
PARTNERS<BR></STRONG></FONT>As I said=20
earlier, our course towards European and Euro-Atlantic =
integration<BR>goes in=20
parallel with developing friendly and mutually beneficial =
relations<BR>with our=20
partners and neighbours.<BR><BR>Our biggest neighbor and one of our =
biggest=20
partners is Russia. As Prime<BR>Minister Yanukovych emphasized, in =
developing=20
our relations "Ukraine, like<BR>our Russian partners, proceed, first and =
foremost, from our own national<BR>interests".<BR><BR>However, Ukraine's =
Governments, politicians and<BR>societies of Ukraine and Russia at =
reaching=20
constructive solutions of all<BR>issues that we inherited from the=20
past.<BR><BR>Maintaining and developing good-neighbourly relations with =
the=20
Russian<BR>Federation is one of the main priorities of Ukraine's foreign =
policy.=20
As<BR>Russian President Putin said, cooperation between Ukraine and =
Russia=20
"is<BR>developing in the highly dynamically and effectively, and is an =
example=20
of<BR>reliability in the long-term perspective".<BR><BR>On December 22, =
2006=20
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a working<BR>visit to Ukraine. =
During this=20
visit there was the first meeting of the<BR>Intergovernmental Commission =
presided by the Presidents of Ukraine and<BR>Russia.<BR><BR>In the words =
of=20
President Yuschenko, this is a "qualitatively new mechanism<BR>of =
relations=20
between Ukraine and Russia", that provides for biannual<BR>meetings =
between the=20
leaders of the two countries. The next meeting is<BR>planned for May or=20
beginning of June of 2007.<BR><BR>Ukraine and Russia are working =
constructively=20
on resolving such complicated<BR>bilateral matters as delimitation and=20
demarcation of borders, the issue of<BR>the Kerch Straight, regulating =
the=20
issues around the temporary dislocation<BR>of the Russian Black Sea =
Fleet in the=20
territory of Ukraine, formation of the<BR>free trade area.<BR><BR>Until =
the next=20
Intergovernmental Commission meeting the parties agreed to<BR>elaborate =
the text=20
of the declaration on strategic partnership between<BR>Ukraine and =
Russia which=20
will set out strategic positions of the two<BR>countries on the key=20
issues.<BR><BR>A principal factor in Ukraine-Russia relations is energy=20
cooperation.<BR>Ukraine's delegation to this year's World Economic Forum =
in=20
Davos offered<BR>suggestions to join the efforts of Russia and the =
European=20
Union aimed at<BR>increasing the supplies of energy carriers to Europe, =
among=20
other things, by<BR>modernizing Ukrainian oil and gas =
pipelines.<BR><BR>Our goal=20
is to build reliable relations with our partners to ensure the<BR>level =
of=20
energy security that will guarantee effective functioning of =
the<BR>economies of=20
all states.<BR><BR>Commenting in Davos on the issue of Ukraine's =
dependency upon=20
Russia in<BR>terms of energy supplies, Prime Minister Yanukovych stated =
that=20
Kyiv looks<BR>at this matter from the vantage point of partnership =
relations=20
with Russia.<BR><BR>The Head of Government added that Ukraine is =
studying the=20
possibilities of<BR>diversifying its energy supplies, namely, lowering =
the=20
supplies from Russia,<BR>extending the output in Ukraine and importing =
energy=20
carriers from other<BR>areas, primarily from the countries of the =
Caspian=20
region.<BR><BR>Speaking of Ukraine's strategic partners I must mention =
the=20
United States,<BR>which has been a consistent supporter of democratic=20
transformations in<BR>Ukraine since the dawn of our =
independence.<BR><BR>The=20
year 2006 was marked by such events as ending the application of=20
the<BR>Jackson-Vanik amendment, removing trade sanctions on Ukrainian=20
goods,<BR>recognizing Ukraine as a market economy country, renewing the =
benefits=20
under<BR>the Generalized System of Preferences, signing of bilateral =
market=20
access<BR>protocol within the framework of the WTO, considerably =
increasing=20
U.S.<BR>financial assistance for democratic and economic reforms in =
Ukraine and=20
for<BR>the Chornobyl Shelter project.<BR><BR>The U.S. is one of the =
biggest=20
investors in Ukraine's economy (over 1.3<BR>billion dollars) and one of =
the=20
biggest donors of financial assistance<BR>(almost 3 billion dollars). =
Our=20
countries are closely cooperating in the<BR>fight against terrorism, =
resolution=20
of frozen conflicts, preventing<BR>proliferation of weapons of mass =
destruction,=20
combating organized crime<BR>and illegal migration.<BR><BR>At the end of =
my=20
speech I would like to say a few words about Ukraine's<BR>relations with =
Canada.<BR><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>6. UKRAINE-CANADA=20
RELATIONS<BR></STRONG></FONT>Canada occupies a special place in the =
heart of=20
every Ukrainian. Our<BR>countries share close historical and family =
ties, as=20
well as common values<BR>and beliefs, such as freedom, democracy, rule =
of=20
law.<BR><BR>Four waves of Ukrainian immigration have created one of the=20
biggest<BR>communities in Canada, which, according to Statistics Canada, =
amounts=20
to<BR>almost 1.2 million people. For over two centuries the Ukrainian =
language=20
is<BR>spoken in the Canadian prairies, in Alberta oil rigs, in federal=20
and<BR>provincial legislatures and ministries, in hockey stadiums and=20
university<BR>classrooms.<BR><BR>An outstanding son of the Ukrainian =
land, the=20
Right Honourable Ramon<BR>Hnatyshyn from 1990 to 1995 was the =
Governor-General=20
of Canada.<BR><BR>15 years ago Canada was the first Western country that =
on=20
December 2, 1991<BR>recognized Ukraine's independence, on the day =
following the=20
historical<BR>December 1, 1991 Referendum where 90.3% Ukrainians voted=20
for<BR>independence of their land. The political courage and vision of =
the=20
Canadian<BR>leadership that voiced its support of Ukraine's independence =
will=20
always be<BR>remembered.<BR><BR>As a token of appreciation, on December =
04, 2006=20
President Victor Yuschenko<BR>awarded the Order of Kniaz (King) Yaroslav =
the=20
Wise to the Right Honourable<BR>Brian Mulroney "for his defining =
personal role=20
in Canada's recognition of<BR>the independence of Ukraine, and =
considerable=20
contribution in the<BR>development of Ukrainian-Canadian =
relations".<BR><BR>A=20
few days ago, on January 27, 2007 we celebrated the 15th Anniversary=20
of<BR>establishing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and =
Canada.<BR><BR>On=20
March 31, 1994 Ukraine and Canada signed the Joint Declaration on=20
Special<BR>Partnership, which was adapted to the new realities of the =
21st=20
century in<BR>the Joint Declaration on Continuing Development of the =
Special=20
Partnership<BR>between Ukraine and Canada which was signed in Kyiv on =
December=20
5, 2001.<BR><BR>Most importantly, these are not just declarations, they =
are the=20
reflection<BR>of the true nature of special partnership relations that =
our two=20
nations are<BR>privileged to enjoy.<BR><BR>We appreciate Canada's =
consistent=20
support of Ukraine in such crucial areas<BR>as helping us cope with the=20
consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster,<BR>providing financial=20
assistance in excess of 66 million Canadian dollars as<BR>well as =
playing a=20
leading role in the G-8 addressing this issue.<BR><BR>Canada has always =
backed=20
our accession to NATO, as well as has been a<BR>proponent of Ukraine's =
accession=20
to the WTO. Our countries signed the<BR>bilateral market access protocol =
in=20
2002, and we appreciate the work of<BR>Canadian Sergio Marchi as the =
Chair of=20
the WTO Working Group on Ukraine's<BR>accession.<BR><BR>We truly =
appreciate=20
Canada's technical assistance to Ukraine and the work of<BR>the Canadian =
International Development Agency, as well as our cooperation<BR>under =
the=20
Military Training Assistance Program.<BR><BR>Recently, Canada's =
outspoken=20
position and the largest observer mission have<BR>been critical during =
the days=20
of the Orange Revolution. Canadian Ambassador<BR>to Ukraine His =
Excellency=20
Andrew Robinson organized his colleagues from the<BR>Western missions on =
monitoring the Presidential elections in 2004.<BR><BR>Canada sent the =
largest=20
observer mission, including 500 members and 500<BR>volunteers, headed by =
former=20
Prime-Minister the Right Honourable John<BR>Turner.<BR><BR>Among the =
leaders of=20
the observer mission were the present Chair of the<BR>Canada-Ukraine=20
Parliamentary Friendship Group (which, by the way, includes<BR>over 150 =
Members=20
of Parliament) Peter Goldring, M.P., and Vice Chair=20
Borys<BR>Wrzesnewskyj.<BR><BR>There are many examples of partnership =
ties=20
between Ukraine and Canada.<BR>They include peacekeeping, =
non-proliferation of=20
weapons of mass destruction,<BR>particularly within the framework of the =
Global=20
Partnership, destruction and<BR>prohibition of land mines under the =
Ottawa=20
convention, protection of human<BR>rights and advocating the ideals of =
freedom=20
and democracy.<BR><BR>I am confident that Ukraine and Canada will remain =
true=20
partners on the<BR>international arena, and close and friendly relations =
between=20
our countries<BR>will only strengthen with time, and I see this as my =
primary=20
task in my<BR>capacity as Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada.</DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4><STRONG>7. =
CONCLUSION<BR></STRONG></FONT>In=20
conclusion, I would like to stress that Ukraine is open for dialogue=20
and<BR>cooperation on mutually beneficial terms with all countries. Our=20
country<BR>will continue to be an active, responsible and promising=20
partner.<BR><BR>This is the task given to the Ukrainian Foreign Service =
by=20
President Victor<BR>Yuschenko who, according to his Constitutional =
powers,=20
directs the foreign<BR>policy of Ukraine.<BR><BR>The President has =
confirmed the=20
irrevocability and consistency of Ukraine's<BR>foreign policy course, =
and it is=20
the duty of the Government, the Foreign<BR>Ministry and Diplomatic =
Missions of=20
Ukraine abroad, one of which I have<BR>the honour to lead, to implement =
the=20
course charted by the President and<BR>established in Ukrainian=20
laws.<BR><BR>Thank you for your=20
attention.<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------<BR>NOTE:=20
This address published by e-POSHTA, Politics and Business<BR>Edition, =
Vol. 8,=20
No. 12, Canada, Sunday, February 18, 2007,<BR>Editor-in-Chief: Myroslava =
Oleksiuk, <A=20
href=3D"mailto:myroslava@rogers.com">myroslava@rogers.com</A><BR>--------=
Monitoring=20
Service]<BR>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 size=3D4><FONT=20
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ONT> "Working=20
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<DIV>
<DIV>1. <FONT color=3D#800000 size=3D4>THE BLEYZER =
FOUNDATION</FONT>, Dr.=20
Edilberto Segura, </DIV>
<DIV>Chairman; Victor Gekker, Executive Director, Kyiv, Ukraine; </DIV>
<DIV>Washington, D.C., <A=20
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<FONT size=3D4> <FONT =
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color=3D#000080 size=3D4> PUBLISHER AND EDITOR - =
AUR<BR></FONT></STRONG>Mr. E.=20
Morgan Williams, Director, Government Affairs<BR>Washington Office,=20
SigmaBleyzer, The Bleyzer Foundation</DIV>
<DIV>Emerging Markets Private Equity Investment Group</DIV>
<DIV>President (Acting) and Chairman, Executive Committee of the</DIV>
<DIV>Board of Directors, Ukraine-U.S. Business Council <BR>P.O. Box =
2607,=20
Washington, D.C. 20013, Tel: 202 437 4707<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:mwilliams@SigmaBleyzer.com">mwilliams@SigmaBleyzer.com</A>=
; <A=20
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