"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"
An International Newsletter
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis, and Commentary

"The Art of Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the World"

"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" Year 04, Number 158
The Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC), Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA), Huntingdon Valley, PA
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net (ARTUIS)
Washington, D.C.; Kyiv, Ukraine, THURSDAY, September 9, 2004

-----INDEX OF ARTICLES-----
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"

1. "BREAD MUST BE CHEAP WITH NO BUTS"
This rule must prevail according to Ukraine's Antimonopoly Committee
IntelliNews - Ukraine Today, Kiev, Ukraine, Wed, September 8, 2004

2. "LIFE IS NOT BAD WHEN YOU HAVE BREAD....
WITHOUT ELECTIONS"
Bread prices are lowered administratively
By Andriy Voltornist, IntelliNews - Ukraine This Week
Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, September 6, 2004

3. "NOT ENOUGH ELECTION OBSERVERS"
We repeat our refrain: Europe, this is important. The OSCE should do better.
EDITORIAL, Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sep 9, 2004

4. ELECTION? WHAT ELECTION?
OP-ED by Jed Suden, Publisher, Kyiv Post
Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, September 9, 2004

5. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, US ENVOY TEFFT DISCUSS TIES
UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 8 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 08, 2004

6. "UKRAINE IS LEFT HIGH AND DRY OVER HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING TECHNOLOGY"
Real reason Senator Richard Lugar says U.S. will not fund fracturing
COMMENTARY: Defense-Express web site, Kiev, in Russian 2 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

7. RUSSIAN SPIN DOCTOR ACCUSED OF INTERFERING
IN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Gleb Pavlovskiy interfering in the internal affairs of Ukraine
Article by Ivan Vorotynskyy, "Spin Doctor Provocateur"
Source: Holos Ukrayiny, Kiev, in Ukrainian 7 Sep 04; p 9
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 08, 2004

8. "JOINING THE EU IS NOT A PASSING POLITICAL ISSUE"
STATES UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN BORYS TARASYUK
Press service of Victor Yushchenko's central headquarters
Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, September 7, 2004

9. STOP LYING!" PROTESTS PLANNED ON ANNIVERSARY OF
DISAPPEARANCE OF UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST GONGADZE
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 8 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 08, 2004

10. AFGHAN, FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATING
REPORTED URANIUM SMUGGLING FROM UKRAINE IN 1990'S
Source: Kelid, Kabul, Afghanistan, in Pashto, Wed, 7 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tue, Sep 07, 2004

11. GERMAN COMPANY-MEDIA GIANT BERTELSMANN-
ACQUIRES UKRAINIAN MAIL ORDER BOOK COMPANY
Die Welt, Berlin, Germany; Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

12 UKRAINE WILL INTENSIFY EFFORT TO JOIN NATO
ACCORDING TO DEFENSE MINISTER YEVHEN MARCHUK
By Michael Drudge, Voice of America, London, UK, Wed, Sep 8, 2004

13.ALUSHTA AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT
HELD IN UKRAINE WON BY PARAGUA OF THE PHILIPPINES
Evegeni Kobylkin of Ukraine loses to Mark Paragua
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila, Philippines, Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

14. UKRAINE PRESIDENT WARNS "EXTREMIST" OPPONENTS
Launches scathing attack on his opponents, equates revolt to terrorism
UT1 State Owned TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 7 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158 ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
=======================================================
1. "BREAD MUST BE CHEAP WITH NO BUTS"
This rule must prevail according to Ukraine's Antimonopoly Committee

IntelliNews - Ukraine Today, Kiev, Ukraine, Wed, September 8, 2004

KIEV - According to the Antimonopoly Committee’s press service, the
body is going to examine all facts of refusing to lower bread prices in
regions. It argues that rich grain harvest allows lowering the prices due to
significant flour price drop (by at least 10%). The share of flour in bread
cost is 70-80%.

But despite all this, bread prices stay at the same level. Besides,
administrative barriers for grain shipping out of initial production regions
attracted attention of the committee.

In particular, such orders can be observed in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhie,
Kirovogradsk, Poltava, Sumy and Crimea regions. Antimonopoly
Committee officially notified local authorities that it is inadmissible to
restrict competition on the grain market. The situation when flour price
falls and bread price does not change is abnormal. Bread is a socially
important product, so it should be cheap if it is possible.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IntelliNews Comment: In our view, the situation on the grain market is not
as simple as it might seem. Bakers want to compensate last year’s losses
due to poor harvest and high costs. But the forthcoming presidential
elections are causing a multitude of populist moves. Lowering bread prices
ay attract additional votes for the candidate from current authorities PM
Viktor Yanukovich. (END)
=====================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
The Action Ukraine Coalition, "Working to Secure Ukraine's Future"
=====================================================
2. "LIFE IS NOT BAD WHEN YOU HAVE BREAD..
WITHOUT ELECTIONS"
Although unstable, agro sector is socially important
Bread prices are lowered administratively

By Andriy Voltornist, IntelliNews - Ukraine This Week
Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, September 6, 2004

KIEV - The first thing needed for every worker, besides a place to work
and to live, is food. The agro sector provides everybody with food.
Although this sector is not the most profitable one, it is very important
for the social sphere of live.

However, the sector is not stable, as it depends not only on the manage-
ment but also on the weather, which sometimes can change dramatically.
Administrative regulation becomes needed when the sector suffers losses
due to unexpected bad weather or accidents.

THIS YEAR UKRAINE IS LUCKY, THE COUNTRY IS SET FOR
A RICH HARVEST. In the beginning of the harvest in July even pessimists
agreed that Ukraine will not only satisfy domestic demand (and that is 26mn
tons of grain, including just over 11mn tons of wheat), but also will
re-enter the group of the largest crop exporting countries.

Government even decided to raise the forecast for the total harvest to
37mn tons, while the Ministry of Agricultural Policy raised its to 40mn
tons. Independent experts do not totally agree with authorities’ optimism,
but still note that harvest will be abundant – 34mn tons of grain.
AFTER THE POOR ONE IN 2003
And this is right after last year’s poor harvest, when Ukraine managed to
gather only 20.22mn tons of grain, including 3.8mn tons of wheat. It was
not a surprise, when wheat prices rose 2-fold from UAH 500-520 to UAH
1200 as of Dec 2003. Government had to give a green light to grain imports.
Thus, the main news in Oct 2003 was a decision to set zero import duty on
grain until Jul 1, 2004.

This temporary liberalization for grain import as well as state imports from
Canada made it possible to stabilize supply and demand on the domestic
market. Last year government was able to overcome difficulties. Authorities
showed that they can regulate the sector, but did not create a stabilization
fund and reserves for this kind of incidents. NOW NON-DECREASING
FOOD DEMAND CONTINUES PUSHING UP PRICES. .

According to Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA), for the latest 2-3 months
A WORRYING TENDENCY can be observed on the agro market. The
tendency TO REDUCE BUSINESS IN UKRAINE AND EXPAND
IT IN RUSSIA, WHICH RESULTS IN OUTFLOW OF CAPITAL
FORM THE STATE. Technically, this is not an impossible thing to do.

For example, some companies just unite with Russian traders or even
establish a fully Ukrainian capital entity. There are certain reasons to
leave or reorient business to other segments, for example, oil-bearing
crops. STILL, COMPANIES PREFER NOT TO ADVERTISE
THEIR DECISIONS, AS THEY DO NOT WANT TO QUARREL
WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

SOME PRIVATE COMPANIES REORIENT BUSINESS
DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE INTERFERENCE
In reality, the main reason is administrative interference. Among the most
striking examples the following three should be mentioned.
Including restrictions on moving grain out of regions
[1] First, prohibitions to supply grain outside the initial region, coupled
with declarative price fixation. Recently, authorities of Dnepropetrovk
region forbade a company representing the interests of Swiss Glencore to
ship out 40,000 tons of barley. According to officials, the reasonable price
was UAH 450 per ton, while the company bought grain for UAH 370.

Besides, deputy head of regional administration Nikolai Volosyanko pro-
claimed that one cannot point to international practice. The whole world
buys grain on wheat exchanges, he said. He bluntly challenged Glencore to
start legal proceedings, saying it would only boost the price.
USAGE OF STATE ELEVATORS
[2] Second, state company Khleb Ukraine forbade its elevators to accept
grain for storage from private wheat traders. The company’s head Viktor
Bondarenko, underlined that PRIVATE TRADERS SHOULD FORGET
THE PRACTICE OF "FREE" GRAIN PURCHASES, AND USE STATE
ELEVATORS.
AND DIFFERENCE IN STANDARDS
[3] Third, confusion with standards. Authorities refuse to listen to traders
arguments. We should remind that UGA asked government to revise export
classification standards and raise the figure of protein 1pp to 11% for food
wheat. As it is known, the world standard is 11% and higher. Thus, to sell
wheat with 10% of protein as food wheat is not possible due to absence of
demand. On the other hand, it is not impossible to export such wheat as
fodder grain according to Ukrainian legislation.

Due to political risks, Ukraine loses out on investment capital
Another opinion why Ukrainian companies look towards Russia is the fact
that the presidential elections in that country have already passed. Thus,
political risks there are perceived to be smaller than in Ukraine. It is a
normal practice, when during the vote investment attractiveness of this or
that market drops. In any case, OUTFLOW OF CAPITAL TO RUSSIA
MEANS THE LOSS OF POTENTIAL INVESTORS TO UKRAINIAN
AGRARIANS. Local entities miss out on investments into the sector’s
development and modernization.
BREAD PRICES ARE LOWERED ADMINISTRATIVELY
The presidential elections have a notable impact on the agricultural
industry. Government tries to use the situation to attract voters. Recently,
PM Viktor Yanukovich underlined that Ukrainian citizens should notice this
year’s rich harvest. This is a principal position of the government.

Thus, authorities ordered to decrease bread prices by 10-15%. After
central authorities “talked” with local ones, regional administrations began
to report that they totally agree to do this. But will everyone be better
off this way?

We think not. It cannot be argued that this year’s abundant harvest will
lower baking industry costs. Unfortunately, the bakers use last year’s
flour, which was expensive. Bakers incurred losses in 2003, and it would
do them good to recover this year.

BUT CURRENTLY ENTERPRISES CAN HARDLY INFLUENCE
PRICE MAKING, AS IT IS FULLY REPLACED BY GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS. This policy confuses agro entities (no one knows the real
prices neither for grain nor for bread). The bottom line is this does not
help to develop agriculture and might deepen the stagnation of the sector.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: One leading international agribusinessman who has
lived and worked in Ukraine for several years told us yesterday that for
all practical purposes Ukrainian authorities have shut down the export
of most classes of wheat and some other grains until after the presidential
election, for obvious political reasons. This businessman has wheat he
wants to export now but his ability to do so is blocked. (EDITOR)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
=======================================================
3. "NOT ENOUGH ELECTRON OBSERVERS"
We repeat our refrain: Europe, this is important. The OSCE should do better.

EDITORIAL, Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sep 9, 2004

Another week, another passel of dispiriting news in this strangely - even
ominously - eventless Ukrainian presidential election.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych distinguished himself by making the
following comment at an Aug. 31 press conference: "I do not believe in exit
polls. These are new [political] technologies that will be tested in Ukraine
for the first time. We do not know how to manipulate them."

A skeptic might assume the candidate is trying to delegitimize exit polls to
prepare for the chance that he'll "win" the election, even as independent
exit polls will likely indicate that most voters have chosen opposition
leader Viktor Yushchenko.

If that occurs, it would not be the first time exit-polling has suggested
that the Ukrainian authorities have stolen an election. Exit-polling proved
a nuisance to the authorities when they allegedly tried to steal the mayoral
election in the western town of Mukachevo in April. In that ugly affair,
which was called a "dress rehearsal" for the fall presidential vote, polls
indicated that an Our Ukraine opposition candidate had won twice as many
votes as the candidate of the powerful establishment Social Democratic
Party of Ukraine (united), led by Presidential Administration head Viktor
Medvedchuk. If credible reports are to be believed, the SDPU(u) and its
allies used brownshirt tactics to win: stealing ballot-boxes, physically
brutalizing opposition voters and parliamentary observers, and harassing
the media.

So given that exit polls almost embarrassed the authorities in April, we're
unsurprised that Yanukovych is dismissing them now. And we wouldn't be
shocked if his allies were doing their best to learn "how to manipulate
them" right now.

In related news, this week saw the Office for Security Cooperation in
Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights announce
the details of its "large-scale observation mission" to the presidential
election.

The OSCE will send about 650 observers to oversee a contest that more
impartial commentators than we have called the most important event in
Europe this year.

Six hundred? There will be about 30,000 polling stations spread over the
breadth of Ukraine. That comes out to one observer for roughly every 50
polling stations - in a country that is geographically the largest wholly
within Europe.

We wish the observers luck in covering all these stations, but doubt they'll
be effective. The OSCE is challenging not only the Ukrainian authorities'
considerable wiles, but also the time-space matrix.

We repeat our refrain: Europe, this is important. The OSCE should do better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK: http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/editorial/21547/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: The United States and Canada should do much better
also. The number of election observers coming from these two countries
to Ukraine for the presidential election is not at all adequate either. It
is very surprising and shocking how few are actually coming. (EDITOR)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
A leading news source for thousands around the world
=======================================================
4. ELECTION? WHAT ELECTION?

OP-ED by Jed Suden, Publisher, Kyiv Post
Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, September 9, 2004

There are now just 53 days before the presidential election in Ukraine. In
less than two months, millions of voters will go to the polls for what will
be the most decisive election in the country's independent history.

For the past three years, I have read endless articles about how this will
be the nastiest, most expensive, most challenging, etc., etc. election ever.
Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has been preparing for this election
ever since he was unceremoniously dumped as prime minister back in 2001.
President Leonid Kuchma has had two years to settle on a candidate to
uphold his legacy, meaning that both sides have had over two years to
amass war chests and map out their strategies.

In numerous articles, dozens of experts, Ukrainian and foreign, claim that
this election is going to be the costliest ever, running each candidate tens
of millions of dollars in advertising and media. Rumors about the candidates
buying up the media have run rampant throughout the city (let's not forget
that President Kuchma's son-in-law launched a daily newspaper, Fakty, in
prelude to the last election). Last but not least, dozens of concerned
bureaucrats from Brussels, Washington and other European capitals have
come through town and expressed woes about how brutal the campaign
will be.

Inside our newsroom, we have gathered our journalistic strength and
geared up to report on a brutal campaign, aiming to do our best to
impartially report each trick and verbal joust of the candidates. This is an
election for the heart and soul of Ukraine, but it also would make great
copy.

Now with less than two months left, I want to ask a simple question: When
will the actual campaign begin?

Let's see. In June, I received an invite from the European Business
Association to hear Yushchenko speak. He delivered a sonorous speech
vaguely expressing the hope that Ukraine should join Europe. I vaguely
remember one rally with Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko in Kyiv in June.
I've noticed a bunch of Yanukovych billboards across town, describing him
as trustworthy and dependable. Yushchenko, I believe, has a few yellow
tents on main streets.

If you go up to one of them and ask politely, his supporters will give you
a nice brochure with a picture of Mr. Yushchenko and a bunch of oddly
disjointed campaign promises - "I plan to create 5 million jobs," "I
plan to make the army strong," "I plan to help agriculture," etc.

We at the newspaper sent invites to both candidates, Yushchenko and
Yanukovych, to come in and speak to our editorial staff so we can better
cover their campaign. Sorry, no time, no interest was the response.

Oh, I got a card on Independence Day from Mr. Yushchenko. Other than
that, nothing. Zip.

Maybe the big battles in this campaign are taking place out in the regions
and in the country's agricultural areas. But sitting here in Kyiv, you would
have a tough time even knowing a presidential campaign is going on. Worst
of all, I doubt anyone really has any idea what the candidates stand for.

I look at this in comparison to the United States, which is also gearing up
for its presidential election, which will happen six days after Ukraine's.
Over there, you are bombarded daily with election news. John Kerry giving
speeches attacking President George W. Bush's record on Iraq. President
Bush attacking Kerry's record in Vietnam. Each candidate outlining plans
for new tax policies or health care plans. President Bush posing next
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kerry posing next to Jane Fonda. This has been
going on every day for the past six months.

With less than two months to go, I guess Yanukovych wants us to believe
that he is too busy running the country, as well as the Ukrainian Olympic
team, to really actively run for president.

I guess the Yushchenko headquarters will claim that the media is biased
against him, so that's why we don't hear anything about him. But we are
here trying to be objective, and we still don't hear anything from him.

I believe that this election truly is the most important election in the
history of independent Ukraine - a chance for the voters to set the course
for the future of the country in the post-Kuchma years. I only wish both
the candidates treated it as equally important. (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
A leading news source for thousands around the world
=======================================================
5. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, US ENVOY TEFFT DISCUSS TIES

UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 8 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 08, 2004

KIEV - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma today met US Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State [for European Affairs], John Tefft. Kuchma's press
service reported that the meeting discussed the development of Ukrainian-US
political and economic cooperation. Tefft stressed that "his mission is to
support and strengthen good relations with Ukraine and to deepen them".

Kuchma and Tefft also exchanged opinions about Ukraine's current economic
development. Tefft noted the serious progress Ukraine has made over he past
few years: "We deeply respect what Ukraine has achieved under your
leadership."

Kuchma and Tefft discussed the 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine and
the USA. The head of state stressed that Ukraine is interested in democratic
and fair election. The meeting also discussed international issues, in
particular the situation in Iraq, Ukraine's participation in the
stabilization process in that country and stepping up international efforts
in fighting terror. (END)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: There has been a number of U.S. government officials,
Congress and Senators, and former U.S. political and governmental leaders
go to Ukraine this past year to meet with various top officials of the
Ukrainian government. We have noticed that most of the time all we are
able to find out about what was said at these private meetings is what is
distributed by the press departments of the various top Ukrainian government
officials.

The U.S. State Department, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, press secretaries
of Congressmen and Senator's, etc. normally do not issue any statements
about these private meetings. This practice of course allows the Ukrainian
and international press to only report the story as written and distributed
by the Ukrainian government. This also means that U.S. message relayed
in the meetings does not get adequately covered and told. We strongly
urge that this practice of extreme 'silence' on the part of the U.S.
government, etc. be changed. We encourage the U.S. government
press departments to become much more active and involved. (EDITOR)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
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=======================================================
6. "UKRAINE IS LEFT HIGH AND DRY OVER HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING TECHNOLOGY"
Real reason Senator Richard Lugar says US will not fund fracturing

COMMENTARY: Defense-Express web site, Kiev, in Russian 2 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

KIEV - The real reason why the Americans have refused to fund the expensive
hydraulic fracturing method for disposing of the remaining stocks of Soviet
solid rocket fuel in Ukraine may be that the method is nondestructive, and
they suspect that the Ukrainians may reuse the extracted fuel for military
purposes or pass it on to other countries.
This view has been put forward in an anonymous commentary on the
Defense-Express web site, pegged to Richard Lugar's visit to Kiev at the
end of August and beginning of September. The author went on to say that
the Ukrainians were unlikely to go it alone with hydraulic fracturing,
leaving them with the option of detonation or incineration.
The following is the text of the article, posted on 2 September under the
title "Ukraine is left high and dry over hydraulic fracturing technology";
subheadings have been inserted editorially:
The visit to Kiev by Richard Lugar, chairman of the US Senate's Foreign
Relations Committee, has put paid to Ukraine's hope of obtaining American
funding for the recycling by the hydraulic fracturing method of 5,000 tonnes
of solid rocket fuel from 54 intercontinental ballistic missiles of the
RS-22 type (known to NATO as the SS-24). It is doubtful that, in such
circumstances, Ukrainian companies will be able to master independently
the American technology that is used to "rejuvenate" the rocket fuel in
ballistic missiles.
USA REFUSES TO FUND NONDESTRUCTIVE OPTION
"The USA will not allocate funds for the use of an extremely dangerous
method (hydraulic fracturing - Defense-Express) that is a threat to people
in your country," the American senator stressed. Together with another
senator, [Sam] Nunn, he is the author of the Cooperative Threat Reduction
Programme, also known as the Nunn-Lugar programme. Established by the US
Defence Department and passed by Congress in 1991, it aims to provide help
to the states of the former USSR with decommissioning nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons.
At the news conference in Kiev [on 1 September], Lugar also declared that,
during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko
[on 31 August], he had been surprised by the fixation that the Ukrainian
authorities had on trying to "push through" the hydraulic fracturing method.
According to the senator, American experts had presented serious arguments
to the effect that the hydraulic fracturing method was more dangerous than
the detonation or incineration of the rocket fuel that was successfully
practised in the USA, since the outcome of hydraulic fracturing was a
dangerous substance.
Lugar voiced the hope that the Ukrainians would decide in the end that "they
should agree with our arguments and begin to dispose of the SS-24's very
dangerous rocket fuel by the method we propose".
As Defense-Express reported, at consultations on 15-18 March in Kiev,
American experts were unable to convince their Ukrainian counterparts of
the safety of the proposed methods of open detonation and incineration of
the solid rocket fuel (SRF). American experts state that, over the past six
years, the USA has accumulated a great deal of experience of using these
methods and is convinced of their reliability. In particular, they are
chosen because, if the oxygen level is kept low, the chemical compounds
burn up almost totally, and the danger of harmful emissions is minimal.
Incineration takes place in Utah, where over 2m kilograms [as published]
of solid rocket fuel have been disposed of so far.
On behalf of the National Space Agency, which is in charge of the disposal
of solid rocket fuel in Ukraine, Valeriy Komarov, the first deputy
director-general, has stated that our country will not incinerate or
detonate the SRF for environmental reasons. "The inadmissibility of using
these methods has been confirmed by the calculations of the relevant
[government] departments," he emphasized.
Nevertheless, a number of Ukrainian experts are dubious about the safety of
the hydraulic fracturing method and think that the game is not worth the
candle. Against the annual consumption of 600,000 t of explosive, the 30,000
t that are expected from recycling are not worth all the bother with this
method, one of the experts thinks. He also points out that the explosive
obtained from the propellant extracted is not environmentally friendly.
Apart from that, it may not work in a prospecting shaft. Why do ore-dressing
plants and other consumers need such explosive when there is a lot of the
pollution-free emulsion explosive around?
Prof Serhiy Fomin, head of a department at the Dnipropetrovsk National
University, acknowledged, in an interview with the newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli,
that the American position was perfectly tenable and that the SRF hydraulic
fracturing process had, at present, been inadequately studied from the point
of view of the safety of the Ukrainian public. "Hydraulic fracturing is not
as safe as some imagine. There is a probability that the SRF will detonate
if the method is used. And the longer the charge is kept before hydraulic
fracturing the higher that probability is," Fomin observes.
The Ukrainian experts do not rule out the possibility that the real reason
why Washington is refusing to fund the SRF recycling project through the
hydraulic fracturing technology is the fear that the extracted propellant
may be reused for military purposes or passed on to other countries.
One confirmation of the method's effectiveness is the use of hydraulic
fracturing in the USA to "rejuvenate" the fuel in ballistic missiles that
have been in service for over 10 years.
On the other hand, the Americans have never used the method to manufacture
industrial explosive from the extracted rocket fuel, as the Ukrainians are
trying to do. It should also be borne in mind that American fuel and
Ukrainian fuel are very different. So it is quite possible that the
Americans and some of our experts are right to maintain that the resulting
explosive would be unstable and that use of the method would be dangerous
to the public.
UKRAINIAN HOIST WITH THEIR OWN PETARD
In the scramble for dollars, the Ukrainians may well have chosen the most
expensive option for disposing of the rocket propellant. Before the war with
Iraq, the Americans closed their eyes to the project's rising costs, whereas
now they are counting every cent and are keeping a close watch on how the
taxpayers' money is being spent.
In the final analysis, by trying to appropriate as much money as possible
(to build first a pilot facility to destroy the solid fuel and then a huge
full-scale one), the Pavlohrad chemical plant [PCP] has fallen victim to
this strategy. It is now clear that the USA will not provide the money for
hydraulic fracturing. The money is unlikely to be found in Ukraine either,
despite the state programme for recycling the solid rocket fuel, adopted
last year. Incidentally, that programme is now being modified and has been
with the Cabinet of Ministers since July, awaiting approval.
In the meantime, enough money has been allocated to ensure safety. This
year, 12.5m hryvnyas [about 2.3m dollars] will be allocated from the state
budget via the National Space Agency for the safekeeping of the RS-22 [i.e.
SS-24] solid rocket fuel stored at the PCP, including 4.5m hryvnyas from
the new version of the main financial document [i.e. the budget].
However, the forthcoming [presidential] elections in Ukraine have put a
number of programmes on hold, so it is unrealistic to hope that this one
will be given the go-ahead.
Yet there is a need to speed up the disposal of 163 loaded SS-24 missile
engine casings that Ukraine inherited from the USSR. The fuel's guarantee
period expires in 2007. Time does not wait.
Alternatives must, obviously, be considered too. Incidentally, since the
explosions at the arsenals in Novobohdanivka, the Defence Ministry has
recommended that detonation may be used as one method of disposing of
munitions. Such a fate may well await the 163 loaded SS-24 engine casings
too.
But, to ensure that that does not happen inside Pavlohrad, our experts need
to travel to the American state of Utah and see what actually happens to
rocket fuel following detonation or incineration. Then they must take the
final decision on whether to fracture or to detonate. (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 158: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
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=======================================================
7. RUSSIAN SPIN DOCTOR ACCUSED OF INTERFERING
IN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Gleb Pavlovskiy interfering in the internal affairs of Ukraine

Article by Ivan Vorotynskyy, "Spin Doctor Provocateur"
Source: Holos Ukrayiny, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 7 Sep 04; p 9
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 08, 2004

KIEV - The following is the text of the article by Ivan Vorotynskyy entitled
"Spin doctor provocateur" published in Ukrainian parliamentary newspaper
Holos Ukrayiny on 7 September:

The Russian state TV channel Vesti has twice shown - on Sunday evening
and Monday morning - a report and interview with the well-known Russian
spin doctor Gleb Pavlovskiy, which in essence amounted to destabilization
of the political situation, inciting civil war and interference in the
internal affairs of Ukraine. Holos Ukrayiny quotes the provocateur word for
word with the sole aim of reminding you that everything that Gleb Pavlovskiy
said is classified by international law as a deliberate provocation.

Gleb Pavlovskiy, commenting on the tragedy in North Ossetia and the
presidential election in Ukraine, said, "If there had been a normal
situation (in Ossetia), we would look at Ukraine normally. But there is a
presidential election in Ukraine at the moment. The opposition that has
gathered around [opposition leader Viktor] Yushchenko sets its task as
organizing the election by force, by means of seizing state power after the
election and virtually restructuring the entire political and state area of
Ukraine.

The opposition is openly advocating the Georgian model of development of
political processes in Ukraine. It is saying if we do not get the percentage
that we have set for ourselves, then we will move to an uprising. The
terrorists did not come to Ossetia by chance: they were defrosting an old,
dozing conflict. Russia cannot allow a conflict between western and eastern
Ukraine. That is why Putin is openly backing [presidential candidate,
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor] Yanukovych."

The "Declaration of principles of international law regarding friendly
relations and cooperation between states in accordance with the UN Charter"
of 24 October 1970 stresses that "no state should organize, help, inflame
or finance subversive activity aimed at changing the system of another
state by means of violence or interference in the internal struggle in
another state".

The treaty "On Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between the Russian
Federation and Ukraine" declares a juridical standard for reciprocal
relations between the two countries in Article 5. Ukraine and Russia "build
their relations with each other on the basis of mutual respect, equality
between sovereign states, the rights of peoples to determine their own
fates, the non-use of force or the threat of force and non-interference in
internal affairs". (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158 ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Ukrainian Information Website: http://www.ArtUkraine.com
=======================================================
8. "JOINING THE EU IS NOT A PASSING POLITICAL ISSUE"
STATES UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN BORYS TARASYUK

Press service of Victor Yushchenko's central headquarters
Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Tuesday, September 7, 2004

KYIV - "The most important matter today is not the date of joining but
concentrating efforts on adopting the legislation successfully and
consistently implementing democratic and market changes," stated Borys
Tarasyuk, the head of the parliamentary committee on European integration,
at the "Parliamentary dimension of European integration" roundtable.

He noted that, "European integration and even joining the EU is not a
passing political issue." "Today, successes on the road to European
integration ought to be measured not by the level of persistence with which
Ukraine is declaring its desire to become an "associate member" but by the
real achievements in economy and politics," stressed the people's deputy.

Borys Tarasyuk thinks that European integration is "an ongoing process,
which demands the mobilization of the entire society and complete makeover
of [its] consciousness. If we want to become members of the European
Union in the future, we have to start behaving like potential members. The
result will depend on our ability to put our own house in order."

At the same time, the ex-minister of foreign affairs reminded that the
EU-member states were concerned with the state of democracy in Ukraine
on the eve of the presidential elections, since "the sitting government has
been doing everything possible to keep the status of an undemocratic and
inconsistent country in its declarations, intentions, and actions for
Ukraine. Just consider the latest developments in the military doctrine from
which the president excluded a number of statutes, particularly concerning
Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO, which surprised European
politicians," stated the leader of Narodniy Rukh Ukrainy.

Despite all that, thinks the people's deputy, "Ukraine's European choice is
a natural result of the country's independence." Therefore, provided real
efforts in making Ukrainian economic and political situation approach
European standards, "there is a chance of changing the category of our
country from the "new neighbor" to the category of the prospective candidate
for joining the European Union." (www.razom.org.ua) (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
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9. "STOP LYING!" PROTESTS PLANNED ON ANNIVERSARY OF
DISAPPEARANCE OF UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST GONGADZE

TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 8 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 08, 2004

KIEV - Our Ukraine [presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko's opposition
bloc], the Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc and the Socialist Party are going to stage
a protest called "Stop lying!" in Kiev on the anniversary of Heorhiy
Gongadze's disappearance, 16 September [he disappeared in 2000]. Heorhiy
will be commemorated near the stone cross in Tarashcha [Kiev Region], where
his body was found [in November 2000].

In Kiev, two human chains will extend from Independence Square to the Union
of Journalists in Khreshchatyk [Kiev's central street] and from Independence
Square to the presidential administration in Bankova [Street].

The State Committee for TV and Radio Broadcasting will also be picketed in
protest against what the protest organizers are describing as unfair
coverage of the Gongadze case on nationwide TV channels. (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158 ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
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10. AFGHAN, FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATING
REPORTED URANIUM SMUGGLING FROM UKRAINE IN 1990'S

Source: Kelid, Kabul, Afghanistan, in Pashto, Tue, 7 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

KABUL, Afghanistan - Senior Afghan and foreign intelligence officials are
investigating the smuggling of 12 boxes of uranium from the former Russian
republic of Ukraine to Kabul during the period 1992 to 1996.

Some senior Taleban officials and narcotics smugglers are reported to have
smuggled this depleted uranium into Afghanistan via Tajikistan. US
officials say that if this is depleted uranium, terrorists could easily use
it, and it could easily be carried in briefcases.

Reliable sources say that a person has died of the effects of this material.
If it becomes clear to US officials that the material has reached Al-Qa'idah
members and that it is depleted uranium, they will possibly make a number
of arrests. (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
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11. GERMAN COMPANY-MEDIA GIANT BERTELSMANN-
ACQUIRES UKRAINIAN MAIL ORDER BOOK COMPANY

Die Welt, Berlin, Germany; Wed, Sep 08, 2004

BERLIN - Direct Group Bertelsmann, the book club division of German media
giant Bertelsmann, has acquired Family Leisure Club, the Ukraine's leading
mail order book specialist, for an undisclosed price, according to company
sources. A spokesman for Bertelsmann refused to comment on the issue
yesterday.

The Ukrainian company was founded by private investors in 2000 and broke
even shortly afterwards. Company sources claim that the acquisition has
already been approved by the Ukrainian anti-trust authority. The takeover
means that Direct Group Bertelsmann will enter a growth market with nearly
50 million inhabitants.

Bertelsmann's book club division already operates in Poland, Slovakia and
the Czech Republic and is planning to enter the Hungarian and Russian
markets in the near future. Direct Group Bertelsmann achieved a turnaround
last year and registered turnover of 2.3bn euros. [Original article by
Burkhard Riering. Abstracted from Die Welt] (END)
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
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=======================================================
12. UKRAINE WILL INTENSIFY EFFORT TO JOIN NATO
ACCORDING TO DEFENSE MINISTER YEVHEN MARCHUK

By Michael Drudge, Voice of America, London, UK, Wed, Sep 8, 2004

LONDON - Ukraine says it will take steps to curb corruption and improve
governance as it makes a new push to join NATO, the trans-Atlantic military
alliance. The issue came up during a visit to London by Ukrainian Defense
Minister Yevhen Marchuk.

In an address on Ukrainian defense issues, Mr. Marchuk said his country
seeks broader support among NATO countries for Ukraine to join the alliance.
"Without an intensified dialogue on progressing towards membership, we may
lose some of the political momentum and public support that is so essential
to the goal of NATO-Euro-Atlantic integration that remains a central
objective of Ukrainian foreign policy, said Yevhen Marchuk.

Poland has been Ukraine's key advocate in the NATO councils, but many
other NATO members have expressed concern about Ukraine's lack of
economic reform and its autocratic government.

Speaking at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, Mr.
Marchuk admitted Ukraine must make some major reforms. "We do only
have a fledgling market economy with a limited financial infrastructure and
inevitably, serious corruption and governance problems," he said. "We are
aware of the scale of the issues and we are attempting to tackle them."

The defense minister said Ukraine will cut the size of its armed forces from
350,000 members to 200,000 by the end of next year as it restructures its
defense establishment.

During a question-and-answer session that followed his speech, Mr. Marchuk
played down a report issued by the European Parliament that next month's
presidential election in Ukraine may not meet European standards of
fairness. Mr. Marchuk said there will be 10 times as many international
observers than at previous Ukrainian elections, and he said judgments should
be withheld until after the voting. (END)
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
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========================================================
13. ALUSHTA AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT
HELD IN UKRAINE WON BY PARAGUA OF THE PHILIPPINES
Evegeni Kobylkin of Ukraine loses to Mark Paragua

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila, Philippines, Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

CRIMEA, Ukraine - AFTER the grandmaster result, the crown. Mark
Paragua couldn't ask for more in the Alushta Tournament in Crimea, Ukraine.
Playing pressure-free, Paragua beat fellow International Master Evegeni
Kobylkin of Ukraine in the 15th and final round Tuesday night to rule the
16-man event with 11.5 points, a full point ahead of IMs Yuriy Kuzubov of
Ukraine and Roman Ovetchkin of Russia.
Employing his favorite King's Indian Attack, the 20-year-old Paragua
prevailed after 30 moves and became only the second Filipino, after the late
Rosendo Balinas, to win a tournament in a former republic of the defunct
Soviet Union. Balinas did the trick in 1976 in Odessa, earning the GM title
in the process.
"My plan was to win the game to add a few ratings, so all out talaga ako sa
laro. Anyway, I've got my GM norm," said Paragua, a member of the Philippine
Air Force chess team under the wing of Gen. Jaime Viernes and Col. Roelito
Nolasco, through e-mail yesterday.
Posting 10 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, Paragua, the country's top-rated
player, obtained a performance rating of 2661, increasing his Elo rating
from 2530 to 2554. He won his second GM norm with two rounds left.
The 20-year-old Paragua, the 1998 World Rapid Under-14 champion, intends
to clinch his third and final GM result before competing in the World
Juniors in India and the tough Hoogeveens tournament in the Netherlands this
year.
Paragua's European campaign is being supported by longtime benefactor
Hector Tagaysay of Filway Marketing. Other supporters are College Assurance
Plan, Enervon Bright and Abraham Pascual of Pascual Laboratories.
Kuzubov and Ovetchkin also got their GM results by drawing their last round
assignments against GM Vladimir Malaniuk of Ukraine and IM Nino
Khurtsidze of Georgia, respectively.
Paragua, who resides in Meycauayan, Bulacan, obtained his first GM result
after finishing in a tie for first place with Russian GM Oleg Korneev in the
2001 Mondariz International Swiss Tournament in Mondariz, Spain.
Final standings: 11.5 pts-IM M. Paragua (RP); 10.5-IM Y. Kuzubov (Ukraine),
IM R. Ovetchkin (Russia); 9.0-IM A. Obukhov (Russia); 8.5-IM D. Neelotpal
(India); 7.5-GM V. Malaniuk (Ukraine), IM A. Alexikov (Ukraine); 7.0-IM O.
Annageldyev (Turkmenistan), IM S. Vokarev (Russia); 6.5-FM E. Kobylkin
(Ukraine), GM S. Kalygin (Russia); 6.0-GM R. Hasangatin (Russia) (END)
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.158: ARTICLE NUMBER FOURTEEN
========================================================
14. UKRAINE PRESIDENT WARNS "EXTREMIST" OPPONENTS
Launches scathing attack on his opponents, equates revolt to terrorism

UT1 State Owned TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian, 7 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has launched a scathing attack on his
opponents, equating what he described as their extremist rhetoric to
terrorism. Speaking during a meeting with a special-task force regiment in
Crimea, he promised to stamp out any attempts to threaten public order.

He was apparently reacting to recent statements from the camp of main
opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko that disturbances could break out
if the outcome of the 31 October presidential election is seen as rigged.
He also brushed off complaints by opposition candidates that the government
is hampering their election campaign. Viktor Yanukovych, the prime minister
and Kuchma-backed candidate, is currently trailing Yushchenko by 8
percentage points, amid allegations of biased media coverage of the
campaign and the use of state machinery by Yanukovych.

The following is the text of President Kuchma's speech broadcast in the
evening news bulletin of the Ukrainian state-owned television UT1 on 7
September; subheadings inserted editorially:

[Kuchma] Comrades generals, officers, sergeants and soldiers! Dear friends!
I'd like to congratulate you once again with the award of a battle banner!
Please accept it as a sign of the Ukrainian people's trust in the law-
enforcement agencies, who are entrusted with an honorable and extremely
important task, protecting the law.
Your special-task regiment has a truly special task, to protect the peace of
your fellow-citizens, to fight crime and stop those who put people's lives
in jeopardy and try to destabilize the situation in the country. You are on
the leading edge of guarding our biggest achievement, social stability in
the country, and ensuring both the national security of Ukraine as a country
and the personal security of its every citizen.
Every person in a democratic society has a right to life and peace.
Guaranteeing this right is the state's main task. Elite regiments of law-
enforcement agencies, highly professional and committed to their duty,
are capable of carrying this responsibility and protecting the citizens'
interests.
Nowadays, one old saying is especially topical: by ability, not by numbers.
This should be the motto of special task forces.
GLOBAL TERRORISM
Unfortunately, after the end of the cold war and global confrontation, the
world has not become any more peaceful and secure. Humanity is facing a
new planetary threat, the threat of international terrorism. After the
events of 11 September in New York, we are living in a new world, where
a terrorist poison is spreading around the continents, claiming innocent
lives, and, what is especially horrible, children's lives.
Everyone in Ukraine and the whole civilized world has been shaken by the
taking hostage and shooting of innocent children in the Beslan school in
North Ossetia. This tragedy is unspeakable - not just because it struck our
neighbours, or because we have long been good friend and neighbours of the
Russian people. Terrorism and violence can never have a justification,
whatever the goals of those who take the life of a young person who is only
just beginning to live on this earth. Ukraine shares the pain of the friends
and relatives of the victims. We are grieving together with the Ossetian
people for their unbearable loss. You grief is our grief, and you can count
not only on our compassion. The hand of help we are stretching to you now
is not empty.
Dear compatriots! The whole world, including our country, is learning the
lessons of the tragic events in Russia. This is what we are going to discuss
at the CIS summit in Astana.
OPPONENTS THREATEN PUBLIC ORDER
The main lesson for us is that the tragedy in Russia should unite
Ukrainians. As never before, we must stand united. A united Ukrainian nation
is not just a term in the constitution. This unity should become an everyday
reality. Sad experience shows that the countries with an unstable political
situation and weakened by their own internal squabbling are the most
vulnerable to attacks by various adventurers and soldiers of terrorism's
invisible army.
Ukraine is not one of those countries, fortunately. But do all of its
citizens really care for this healthy public mood? Are we all working
towards strengthening this immunity [to various threats]? Unfortunately,
that is not so. Ideological, religious, political and ethnic differences add
colour to society. But under certain circumstances they can also be a
source of destructive tension, or turn into a dangerous weapon in the hands
of those who are not interested in maintaining public peace.
Ever since gaining independence we have spared no effort to prevent
festering conflicts from ever appearing in the first place. That is why
there are no trouble spots in Ukraine. But neither can we say that the sky
is completely cloudless.
People eager to rock the boat are now surfacing and becoming especially
aggressive now, with the election campaign in full swing. I will not hide
this, I am seriously worried by the persistent and, let us be honest,
dangerous attempts to whip up the natural tension of the presidential
election campaign. I stress, we are speaking about an artificial, deliberate
whipping up of tensions in society. Newly-minted warriors are dragging
explosive Trotskyist phraseology out of dusty historical archives and
brandishing such words as revolution, uprising, coup and so on like burning
torches.
Some believe this is nothing more than mischief by excitable boys and girls
in politics, innocent political hooligans. But I would not simplify the
situation or play down the threat to public order, and I call on everyone to
assess this appropriately and with the necessary sense of civil and state
responsibility.
Explosions at the Troyeshchina market in Kiev, Internet manuals on
bomb-making and similar things - we have no right to treat them as a routine
road traffic accident. Bloody crises always start with isolated incidents.
We must not treat this lightly. It is easy to let the genie from the bottle,
but what next?
EQUATES CALLS FOR REVOLT TO TERRORISM
We have seen that even the great and powerful Russia cannot always cope
with the outrages of extremists. The word uprising is a horrible word. I
would like to ask the people who utter it, whatever are you thinking when
you call for a revolt? It is the same as threatening us with terrorism.
Furthermore, an uprising is not only blood, orphaned children and destroyed
lives - it is civil strife, break-up of the nation, a brother against
brother and son against son. Do you really think that we, having ensured a
peaceful and safe life for our nearly 50 million fellow-citizens through
great efforts over the past 13 years, will let you ruin everything and
trample the fruits of these efforts in blood and filth?
ATTACKS OPPOSITION, SAYS CAMPAIGN IS FAIR
I say firmly once again - there will be no uprisings or revolutions in
Ukraine! There is no goal that could justify sacrificing the peace and quiet
of our home, of every Ukrainian family. However bad some home-grown
revolutionaries want this, they will not be allowed to rise to power on the
wave of anarchy and lawlessness.
The elections will be held on the planned date, and they will be fair and
transparent. Obviously, some figures in the camp of so-called opposition are
not happy with such a prospect. They are trying to justify their own
political failures with the non-existent obstruction by the government.
Leave this, gentlemen! The people will make their choice themselves,
without your advice and provocative slogans.
VOWS TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER
What should the government do when the public and the country is threatened
by revolts? This is what I say: the government knows what to do, and it will
do everything it must to ensure peace and safety of our citizens and the
country as a whole. In this we also rely on you, servicemen of the Interior
Ministry detachments, whose duty it is to maintain stability in the country
and make sure that every citizen feels protected.
Ukraine is a democratic country, and freedom is the supreme essence of it.
But as Voltaire put it, the essence of freedom is to depend only on the law.
The Ukrainian state and public are entirely capable of ensuring the
supremacy of the law. And those who are calling for revolt are practically
putting themselves beyond the pale of law.
It is no secret that various extremist manifestations are becoming ever more
frequent. Is it normal that newspapers and leaflets inciting ethnic strife
and calling for ethnic intolerance are being freely published here? On the
one hand, we have laws which say such actions must be punished. But on
the other, we still have no law on extremism that would put an end to such
things.
In addition, it is now, in the run-up to elections, that various shadow
structures are springing up to accumulate money for the election campaign,
operate various money-laundering schemes and commit economic crime.
Dear friends! We must all make an effort to ensure that our main
achievements over these years - stability and civil, inter-confessional and
inter-ethnic peace and accord - must not under any circumstances be
harmed, so as not to allow the sowing of chaos or an uncontrollable
development of events.

I am deeply convinced that in the most difficult situation the guardians of
the law will meet the expectations of our fellow-citizens. Congratulations
once again! (END)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: It is really a sorry state of affairs in the world today when
many leaders of the world (good, bad and indifferent), led by the U.S.,
tend to label any and all opponents of those in power, regardless of what
the opponents stand for and are fighting for, as extremists and equate
them with terrorists and terrorism.

And thus as extremists and terrorists some present leaders feel free to
crush and destroy their opponents regardless of what it takes. This is not
good for freedom, for liberty or for democracy. We stand with those
members of the Boston Tea Party who dumped the tea into the Boston
Harbor. We are 'free' today because of them and their co-patriots.
We call them patriots, the King of England would have called them
terrorists. (EDITOR)
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