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Action Ukraine Report

"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 177
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 30, 2004

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

1. UKRAINIAN AMERICANS URGED TO SUPPORT H.R. 5102:
"UKRAINE DEMOCRACY AND FAIR ELECTIONS ACT OF 2004"
STATEMENT: by Ihor Gawdiak, President
Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC)
Washington, D.C., Thursday, September 30, 2004

2. EU, U.S. IMPOSE TRAVEL BAN ON BELARUSIAN OFFICIALS OVER
DISAPPEARANCES OF OPPOSITION POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS
RFE/RL NEWSLINE, Vol. 8, No. 185, Part II,
Prague, Czech Republic, Wed, September 29, 2004

3. UKRAINIAN COMMUNIST PARTY PROTESTS AGAINST U.S.
CONGRESSMAN'S BILL TO PROVIDE SANCTIONS AGAINST
THOSE WHO VIOLATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN PRINCIPLES
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian, 29 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

4. U.S. SLAPS SANCTIONS ON 14 FIRMS, PEOPLE FOR WEAPONS
AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY SALES TO IRAN
List includes Zaporizhzhya Regional Foreign Economic Association of Ukraine.
Agence France Presse, Washington, D.C., Wed, Sep 29, 2004

5. ARMS DEALERS ARE CAUGHT SELLING WEAPONS TO
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
Ukrainian reported to supply BTR-3U armoured vehicles to Burma
Stephen Castle in Brussels, The Independent, London, UK, Sep 30, 2004

6. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN POLL
First round: Viktor Yushchenko 37%, Viktor Yanukovych 26%
The Action Ukraine Report, Kyiv, Ukraine; Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

7. "UKRAINE'S EUROPEAN FUTURE"
Letters to the Editor: By Viktor Yanukovych, Kiev, Ukraine
International Herald Tribune, Neuilly Cedex, France, Wed, Sep, 29, 2004

8. COUNCIL OF EUROPE: UKRAINE'S ELECTION COULD FALL
SORT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Anna Melnichuk, AP Worldstream, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, Sept 30, 2004

9. HELSINKI COMMISSION CHAIRMAN CONG. SMITH
DELIVERS REMARKS ON BELARUS, UKRAINE ELECTIONS
Keynote Remarks by Hon. Christopher H. Smith
Conference on the Implications of the East European Elections:
Ukraine and Belarus; The Heritage Foundation,
Washington, D.C., Tue, September 28, 2004

10. "YOU THINK UKRAINE HAS PROBLEMS........"
COMMENTARY by David Marples
Globe and Mail Update, Toronto, Canada, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

11. "REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND UKRAINE"
COMMENTARY: by Dr. Bohdan Vitvitsky
The Ukrainian Weekly, Ukrainian National Association
Parsippany, New Jersey, Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

12. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT COMMEMORATES VICTIMS OF
NAZI SLAUGHTER AT BABYN YAR IN 1941
UT1 TV, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, Wed, 29 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

13. DOCTORS: CAUSE OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO'S ILLNESS STILL UNCLEAR
By George Jahn, AP Worldstream, Vienna, Austria, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

14. CAUSE OF UKRAINE CANDIDATE'S ILLNESS UNCLEAR
Louis Carbonneau, REUTERS, Vienna, Austria, Wed, 29 Sep 2004
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
========================================================
1. UKRAINIAN AMERICANS URGED TO SUPPORT H.R. 5102:
"UKRAINE DEMOCRACY AND FAIR ELECTIONS ACT OF 2004"

STATEMENT: by Ihor Gawdiak, President
Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC)
Washington, D.C., Thursday, September 30, 2004

For a long time now, we, Ukrainian Americans, have been helplessly
watching some senior Ukrainian government officials and those influential
oligarchs in Ukraine who, because of their close ties to the Ukrainian
government, operate outside the rule of law with impunity. Presently these
individuals are doing everything in their power to prevent fair and
democratic presidential elections on October 31. We have also seen the
U.S. government, in spite of our protests, punish all of the people of
Ukraine for the misdeeds of these individuals.

Now for the first time since the rebirth of an independent Ukraine,
Ukrainian Americans have an excellent opportunity to assist the U.S.
Government in enacting an effective policy toward Ukraine which will
punish the guilty individuals in Ukraine for their political and economic
misdeeds affecting Ukraine's path toward full democracy and rule of law,
but will prevent any U.S. sanctions against Ukraine as a whole. How can
we achieve this? By contacting our Congressmen and Congresswomen to
sign on as co-sponsors of a bill introduced in the House of Representative
by California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher on September 15, 2004.

The purpose of this Bill, H.R. 5102, entitled the "Ukraine Democracy and
Fair Elections Act of 2004," is "to encourage the promotion of democracy,
free, fair, and transparent elections, and respect for human rights and the
rule of law in Ukraine." In addition, the bill expresses the support of the
U.S. Congress "for individuals and organizations in Ukraine that promote
the integration of Ukraine into the European community of democracies."

The Rohrabacher bill proposes that any senior government official of
Ukraine and any other individual "determined by the Secretary of State to
be personally involved in the formulation or execution of policies or
activities that are in contradiction of internationally recognized human
rights and free, fair, and transparent election standards," be denied an
entry visa into the United States and have any of his/her assets that may
be in the United States seized.

These sanctions are to be also imposed upon the spouse, minor child, or
agent of any such government official and individual. The oligarchs of
Ukraine feel they can break the law with impunity, and so far they often
have gotten away with it, but H.R. 5102 provides real leverage to prevent
the members of this "elite" from visiting the U.S. to spend their ill-gotten
wealth on American luxuries (which ordinary Ukrainians cannot afford) and
to prevent their children from coming here to study in American
universities.

There is a good chance that through our joint efforts this bill may become
law, if not this year, in the new Congress next year. Or if we generate
enough momentum, something might be done by Executive action. Congress-
man Rohrabacher modeled this bill on the successful Zimbabwe Democracy
and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, signed into law on December 21, 2001.
Also, on September 27, 2004, the U.S. government imposed similar visa
restrictions on Belarus.

Even though the presidential election in Ukraine is only a month away, we
believe that the threat of the passage of such a bill in the U.S. may make
"the usual suspects" in Ukraine think twice about their actions. This
proposal is not just another theoretical approach, but a bill "with teeth."

PLEASE ACT NOW-Call, write or email your Representative today to
support H.R. 5102. Ukraine needs our help! -30-
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
========================================================
2. EU, U.S. IMPOSE TRAVEL BAN ON BELARUSIAN OFFICIALS OVER
DISAPPEARANCES OF OPPOSITION POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS

RFE/RL NEWSLINE, Vol. 8, No. 185, Part II,
Prague, Czech Republic, Wed, September 29, 2004

PRAGUE - The European Union on 27 September banned four Belarusian
officials from its territory over the unexplained disappearances of three
opposition politicians and a journalist in 1999 and 2000, Belarusian and
international news agencies reported. The same day, U.S. State Department
spokesman Adam Ereli said Washington will follow suit.

Brussels said it has received no official response to its call on Minsk to
investigate the disappearances, and therefore instructed EU member
countries to deny entry to officials alleged either to have a role in the
disappearances or who have failed to launch a probe.

The travel ban affects Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumau, Prosecutor-
General Viktar Sheyman, Sports Minister Yury Sivakou, and Dzmitry
Paulichenka, commander of an Interior Troops brigade. The latter three
have been accused by Cypriot lawmaker Christos Pourgourides, a
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rapporteur on high-
profile disappearances in Belarus, of being involved in arranging the
disappearance of Yury Zakharanka (7 May 1999), Viktar Hanchar and
Anatol Krasouski (16 December 1999), and journalist Dzmitry Zavadski
(7 July 2000) (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2003 and 28
January 2004). JM -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
========================================================
3. UKRAINIAN COMMUNIST PARTY PROTESTS AGAINST US
CONGRESSMAN'S BILL TO PROVIDE SANCTIONS AGAINST
THOSE WHO VIOLATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN PRINCIPLES

Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian, 29 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

KIEV - The Communist Party of Ukraine [CPU] has protested against the
consideration by the US House of Representatives of a draft bill providing
for sanctions against the Ukrainian authorities in case of unfair
[presidential] elections. The party views this as interference in Ukraine's
internal affairs.

"We, as the citizens of a sovereign and independent state that is a full
member of the UN and other influential international bodies, express our
decisive protest against another unfriendly act of the USA in relation to
Ukraine and its people," the CPU's press service said in a statement issued
today.

At the same time, the press service said, the Ukrainian Communists would
appreciate "the US government's readiness to facilitate a legal return to
Ukraine of the funds that various embezzlers, corrupt Ukrainian officials
and `businessmen' illegally took out of Ukraine and that are now at US
financial establishments".

"We believe that such a voluntary act by the US government would help the
implementation of democracy in Ukraine and would serve as a real proof that
[the USA] wishes success and prosperity to our country," the statement said.

"Esteemed Americans, please mind that we are not issuing any recommend-
ations as to who you should elect as the next US president," the press
service said.

On 15 September Congressman Dana Rohrabacher submitted to the US
House of Representatives bill No 5105 called "The act on Ukrainian
democracy and fair elections-2004". The document, if passed, may bar
the representatives of the current Ukrainian government from visiting
western countries, as it provides for refusal to issue US visas among other
possible sanctions. -30-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: It has been the standard practice of Communists for many
years to say that countries who promote standard international democratic
principles are interfering in the internal affairs of their respective
country. The statement above about recommendations as to who should
be elected totally misses the point of program of individual sanctions for
certain violations. That argument is not relevant here. (EDITOR)
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
========================================================
4. U.S. SLAPS SANCTIONS ON 14 FIRMS, PEOPLE FOR WEAPONS
AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY SALES TO IRAN
Including Zaporizhzhya Regional Foreign Economic Association of Ukraine.

Agence France Presse, Washington, D.C., Wed, Sep 29, 2004

WASHINGTON - The United States slapped sanctions on seven Chinese
firms, two Indian men, and companies from Belarus, North Korea, Russia,
Spain and Ukraine for selling weapons or cruise and ballistic missile tech-
nology and equipment to Iran.

The penalties were imposed for the transfer of "equipment and technology
controlled under multilateral export control lists or otherwise having the
potential to make a material contribution to the development of weapons
of mass destruction or cruise or ballistic missile systems," the State
Department said.

"There was credible information that these entities had transferred one of
several categories of items to Iran since January of 1999," spokesman
Richard Boucher told reporters, adding that 23 companies and individuals
were now subject to similar sanctions.

The sanctions include a bar on the firms and individuals doing business with
the US government, a ban on US assistance and the automatic denial of
US export licenses to them, he said. Boucher would not elaborate on the
specifics of the alleged sales which are punishable under the Iran
Nonproliferation Act of 2000.

Many of the companies, in particular the Chinese and North Korean firms,
have been under US sanctions for previous transgressions and are unlikely
to be significantly affected by the new penalties. The firms and individuals
identified by the department in a Federal Register notice are:

The Beijing Institute of Aerodynamics of China, the Beijing Institute of
Opto-Electronic Technology (BIOET) of China, Belarus Belvneshpromservice
of Belarus, the Changgwang Sinyong Corporation of North Korea, the China
Great Wall Industry Corporation of China, China North Industries Corporation
(NORINCO) of China,

Dr C Surendar and Dr YSR Prasad of India, Khazra Trading of Russia, the
LIMMT Economic and Trade Company of China, Oriental Scientific Instruments
Corporation (OSIC) of China, South Industries Science and Technology Trading
Company of China, Telstar of Spain, and the Zaporizhzhya Regional Foreign
Economic Association of Ukraine. -30-
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
=========================================================
5. ARMS DEALERS ARE CAUGHT SELLING WEAPONS TO
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
Ukrainian reported to supply BTR-3U armoured vehicles to Burma

Stephen Castle in Brussels, The Independent, London, UK, Thu, Sep 30, 2004

BRUSSELS - EUROPEAN ARMS makers are using loopholes in a code
of conduct to send weapons to countries that abuse human rights, according
to a report published today. The document shows how Europe's armaments
industry has helped supply helicopters to Nepal, armoured vehicle parts to
Burma and China, and rifles and pistols to Malaysia.

The EU is about to lift an arms embargo on Libya, and is considering whether
to end another ban on weapons sales to China. One argument in favour of
ending these embargoes is that, even without them, the EU's code of conduct
on arms sales provides an effective guarantee that weaponry will not fall
into the wrong hands.

That assertion is challenged by today's document from a coalition of 55
European non-government organisations (NGOs), including Amnesty
International, Saferworld and Oxfam. They have called for changes to
the code.

"Tighter language would help prevent member states from making irresponsible
export licensing decisions," the NGOs say in a statement. They claim that,
between 1994 and 2001, the EU exported nearly $10bn (pounds 5.6m) of
arms to developing nations - about one-third of all the arms deliveries to
these countries.

One concern is that arms firms are licensing the production of weapons to
overseas countries which do not fall under the EU's code. Another is that
weapons components are slipping through the net. The report also calls for
more openness from EU member states, which are supposed to publish an
annual report on arms sales. The document shows diesel engines from the
German firm Deutz AG were incorporated into the WZ 551 armoured
personnel carriers in China, despite the fact that tighter arms restrictions
are in force for exports to Beijing following the Tiananmen Square massacre
of 1989.

The same components feature in Ukrainian BTR-3U armoured vehicles, usually
equipped with a 30mm gun, a 7.62mm machine gun, a 30mm automatic grenade
launcher and a anti-tank guided weapon system. In 2003, Ukraine was reported
to have signed a contract to supply Burma with 1,000 BTR- 3U over 10 years.

The French firm Eurocopter co-operated with Indian manufactures to produce
the Lancer light-attack helicopters and Advanced Light Helicopter. The
Lancer, fitted with two rockets as well as machine-gun pods, was
subsequently exported to Nepal, where helicopters have been used against
civilians and insurgents.

And the Austrian gun maker Steyr-Mannlincher has signed an agreement with
the Malaysian government to manufacture weapons, including a new assault
rifle. Malaysia - not subject to the EU code of conduct - said it will
export Steyr's AUGA3 rifle to 40 countries.

Dick Oosting, director of Amnesty International's EU office, said: "The
EU code is a first step, but clearly it is not meeting its objective of
ensuring responsible export controls across Europe. EU states are still
supplying arms to countries that abuse human rights."

Roy Isbister, head of export controls for Saferworld, said the EU should
"err on the side of caution" in its push to lift arms embargoes, given the
problems with the code of conduct.

A British government official said: "The code of conduct, which is under
review, is not perfect but it is an important and valuable tool in
controlling arms exports, and we will look to improve it further." -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
========================================================
6. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN POLL
First round: Viktor Yushchenko 37%, Viktor Yanukovych 26%

The Action Ukraine Report, Kyiv, Ukraine; Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

KYIV - A poll in Ukraine conducted about six weeks before election
day showed that Viktor Yushchenko is still the candidate to beat in the
race for President of Ukraine. He remains the most popular political
figure, and he leads on both a multi-candidate and two-way ballot.
TRIAL BALLOT
When asked for whom they would vote for president, Viktor
Yushchenko was the first choice of 37% of Ukrainians interviewed.
He maintains a double-diget lead over Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovych, whose support is at 26%. The first choice percentage
for the candidates offered to respondents was: Viktor Yushchenko
37%; Viktor Yanukovych 26%; Petro Symonenko 7%; Oleksandr
Moroz 7%; Natalia Vitrenko 1% and Anatoliy Kinach 1%.

12% of potential voters were currently undecided about their vote,
3% said they don't plan to vote in the election.
RUN-OFF BALLOT
In a likely second round scenario, Viktor Yushchenko led Viktor
Yanukovych in a head-to-head contest 46% to 33% with 21% of
the electorate undecided.
CANDIDATE NAME IDENTIFICATION
Viktor Yushchenko remains the only major candidate for president in
Ukraine with a positive name identification. His current standing is
53% favorable and 38% unfavorable. The other leading presidential
candidate, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, now has a 42%
favorable and 47% unfavorable name identification.

This presidential campaign poll was conducted in Ukraine September
4-14, 2004 among 1,200 Ukrainians eligible to vote. The poll was
conducted by a leading Ukrainian survey and polling company GfK.
The interviews were completed using a multi-stage random route
sampling method to conduct in-person, door-to-door interviews. The
sampling procedure was designed to be representative of the entire
country. The interviews were stratified as follows: Kyiv 66, Northern
143, Western 262, Central 148, Southern 181, and Eastern 352. -30-
======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
======================================================
7. "UKRAINE'S EUROPEAN FUTURE"

Letters to the Editor: By Viktor Yanukovych, Kiev, Ukraine
International Herald Tribune, Neuilly Cedex, France, Wed, Sep, 29, 2004

As prime minister of Ukraine, I don't share the radical views of
some that my country must choose between either further Russian
or European integration, but not both (``Whither Ukraine? Plotting
Europe's eastern border,'' by Viktor Yushchenko, Views, Sept. 10).
Instead, a pragmatic approach toward Ukraine's inevitable and
desirable European integration is necessary.
.
The question of EU membership must take into consideration
Ukraine's economic cooperation with Russia. Our neighbor is our
friend, as well as our largest trading partner. I believe eventual EU
membership will result in mutually beneficial cooperation and
prosperity for Ukraine and all of our trading partners.
.
Ukraine will also carefully observe how membership impacts the
economies of the EU's newest members before a final decision can
realistically be reached. I am not questioning Ukraine's European
integra tion or criticizing the EU's economic policies. I just want
to remind all interested parties of potential problems and
obstacles, as well as define realistic approaches to handling them.
.
Economic reforms, democratic institutions and the rule of law are
preparing Ukraine for future ascension to the EU. Free and fair
presidential elections in October will help solidify democratic
values in our country and help develop relationships with Ukraine's
neighbors. On Oct. 31, Ukrainians will have a chance to choose a
pragmatic and effective way of integration allowing Ukraine to play
a worthy role in the world.
.
It is in Ukraine's best interest to further integrate with Europe,
when the time is right, so that her economic growth continues. -30-
======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
======================================================
8. COUNCIL OF EUROPE: UKRAINE'S ELECTION COULD FALL
SORT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

Anna Melnichuk, AP Worldstream, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, Sept 30, 2004

KIEV - Next month's presidential election in Ukraine could fall short of
international standards, according to a delegation from the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe. Citing violations including unequal
access for candidates to the media, the delegation said it hoped "corrective
action will be taken in Ukraine in time for the election" on Oct. 31.

"The delegation has received extensive information indicating that the
upcoming presidential election may be conducted in a manner not meeting
Council of Europe standards," it said in a statement. The Council of Europe
is the continent's leading human rights body.

A five-member team headed by Hanne Severinsen, the assembly's top
democracy monitor for Ukraine, issued the statement after a four-day visit
to the former Soviet republic to evaluate the political situation and
electoral institutions' preparedness to conduct the vote.

Election campaigning has been contentious in Ukraine, with opposition leader
Viktor Yushchenko and his main opponent, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych,
leading the race to replace outgoing President Leonid Kuchma. International
human rights groups and local activists have warned about numerous campaign
violations, including heavy media bias in favor of Yanukovych, who is
running with Kuchma's backing.

The European Union urged Ukrainian leaders Wednesday to "ensure all
necessary conditions for holding free and fair presidential elections,"
according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press. The EU
reiterated the importance of media independence, equal and impartial access
to the media, unbiased coverage of campaigns _ in particular by the state-
owned nationwide TV channels _ and the absence of any interference from
authorities.

Meanwhile, Kuchma compared the race to a "theater of the absurd" and
urged candidates "not to split the country," the Interfax news agency
reported. "When you watch the presidential race, everyone wants to have
their own country. That won't do," he said.

Yanukovych has called for even closer ties with Russia and is likely to do
well in eastern Ukraine, where many Russian speakers live, while the
Westward-leaning Yushchenko is more popular in the western part of the
country.

With a close race shaping up between Yushchenko and Yanukovych, who
may face each other in a run-off, there are fears that dissatisfaction on
the side declared as the loser could lead to unrest. Kuchma, who warned
earlier this year of a dirty campaign, said: "God forbid there should be
a conflict, because we know how conflicts end." -30-
======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
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======================================================
9. HELSINKI COMMISSION CHAIRMAN CONG. SMITH
DELIVERS REMARKS ON BELARUS, UKRAINE ELECTIONS

Keynote Remarks by Hon. Christopher H. Smith
Conference on the Implications of the East European Elections:
Ukraine and Belarus; The Heritage Foundation,
Washington, D.C., Tue, September 28, 2004

Thank you for inviting me to participate in your important and
timely session. Both Ukraine and Belarus face important elections in the
coming month. Both are societies burdened by the Soviet communist legacy
of the past. Both were "Captive Nations" and both, albeit to varying
degrees, are vulnerable to Russia's political and economic influence,
especially as all too many among the Russian political elite have not yet
reconciled themselves to the loss of empire. Both now border on NATO
and the EU. Both face serious challenges to democracy and Euro-Atlantic
integration. There are many other similarities. There are also important
distinctions.

Belarus is ruled by a dictator who controls the levers of power
and increasingly all facets of Belarusian society. Given the level of
control and repression, there are few counterweights to Lukashenka's rule.
The parliament, the National Assembly lacks real powers and Members
have little power to be independent of Lukashenka's strong-arm tactics.
Civil society, including NGOs and independent media, is under a tight lid.
Fundamentally flawed elections have left that country lacking a legitimate
president and legislature.

Ukraine, for all of the backsliding, scandals, and problems with
respect to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, has institutions
that act at least somewhat as a check on the powers-that-be, despite the
ruling regime's attempts to control and, in some instances, stifle genuine
democratic development and civil society. Civil society is tolerated to a
greater extent than in Belarus, and independent media, while under severe
pressure, is more widespread. There are competing centers of power and
many diverse economic, political and social interests in Ukraine.

In the case of Ukraine, despite the progress in many areas since
independence, there have been significant problems with respect to
implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments, including in the
areas of media freedoms, freedom of association and assembly, corruption,
the rule of law and elections.

The largest faction in the Rada is that of democratic opposition
and presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine. The
pro-presidential parliamentary majority has disintegrated, with the
defection earlier this month of the party led by Rada Speaker Lytvyn.
Genuine political competition exists, and, of course, there is competition
among the oligarchs.

In Belarus, there is only one oligarch. Although the Kuchma
regime might be tempted, thus far, they have not been able to act with
the same degree of impunity that Lukashenka exhibits.

International attention is rightly now focused on ensuring free,
fair, open and transparent presidential elections on October 31 with a
second round likely in late November. These elections are critically
important to the future of Ukraine, yet we see on a daily basis an election
campaign that calls into question Ukraine's commitment to OSCE principles.

Without exaggeration, Ukraine is facing a critical presidential
election - a choice not only between Euro-Atlantic integration versus
reintegration into the former Soviet Eurasian space, but a choice between
further development toward a European-style democracy, such as in Poland
or Hungary, versus the increasingly authoritarian system that prevails in
Russia today.

Many analysts and organizations, including the Helsinki
Commission, have chronicled the numerous election campaign violations
taking place in Ukraine. We continue to maintain our strong interest and
concern. Along with Chairman Henry Hyde, I joined him in introducing H.
Con.Res. 415, calling on the Government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic,
transparent, and fair election process for the presidential campaign.

We make clear the expectation that Ukrainian authorities should -
consistent with their own laws and international agreements - ensure an
election process that enables all of the candidates to compete on a level
playing field. We urge the Ukrainian Government to guarantee freedom of
association and assembly, ensure full transparency of the election
process, free access for Ukrainian and international election observers,
and unimpeded access by all candidates to the media on a non-
discriminatory basis.

Unfortunately, the pre-election environment in Ukraine gives
great cause for concern. Ukrainian voters clearly are not receiving
balanced and objective information about all the candidates in the race,
independent media providing Ukrainians with objective information about
the campaign - including channel 5 - is being shut down in the regions, and
journalists who don't follow the infamous secret instructions from the
presidential administration, or temnyky, are harassed and even fired.
Ukraine's state-owned television channels are blatantly anti-Yushchenko.

Given the stakes in these elections, we should not be surprised
that the ruling regime has launched an all-out campaign against the free
media and against the opposition, the most recent of numerous examples
being the highly suspicious poisoning of Victor Yushchenko. To its credit,
the Rada last week overwhelmingly approved a resolution creating a special
commission to investigate this alleged assassination attempt. We will be
eager to see if the investigation will get underway. Four years have passed
since the killing of independent journalist Georgi Gongadze, and the case
remains unresolved. As you know, Gongadze was bravely exposing high-
level corruption in Ukraine.

The Rada has also created an ad-hoc committee to monitor the
upcoming election. Prime Minister Yanukovych, the presidential candidate
of the ruling regime, instead of welcoming this move, called the Rada move
"disloyal". This speaks volumes.

The independence exhibited by the Rada in Ukraine would be
unthinkable in Belarus. There, serious and persistent violations have been
committed in most human dimension areas, including freedom of speech,
association and assembly, media freedoms, religious liberties, elections and
the rule of law. Thanks to Lukashenka's iron rule, Belarus has the worst
human rights record in Europe today, although Russia under the increasingly
authoritarian rule of President Putin appears to be catching up, and,
perhaps, even emulating Mr. Lukashenka.

Regrettably, the Belarusian authorities have disregarded the
four democratic benchmarks established by the OSCE in 2000 - ending
repressions and the climate of fear, permitting a functioning independent
media, ensuring transparency of the elections process, and strengthening the
functions of parliament. Lukashenka has flaunted shamelessly his 1999
Istanbul OSCE Summit declaration commitments for a political dialogue, with
OSCE participation which stressed the necessity of removing "all remaining
obstacles in Belarus to this dialogue by respecting the principles of the
rule of law and the freedom of the media." Lukashenka has pointedly ignored
this commitment and the situation with respect to the rule of law and media
freedoms has only continued its steady deterioration.

At the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Bucharest in 2000,
I offered language to continue to deny the seating of the illegitimate
Lukashenka parliament. We won. I continued to fight this battle until
2003, when the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly abandoned this position and
seated the Members of the National Assembly. Since that time, I've
continued to be an outspoken critic of the dismal human rights record of the
Lukashenka regime.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled in Belarus for October 17,
and they now have an added dimension, with Lukashenka's September 7
announcement of a referendum that would pave the way to extend his rule
beyond 2006, when his ten-year tenure is due to expire, to potentially join
the ranks of "presidents for life," like President Niyazov in Turkmenistan
and others in Central Asia.

The fact that, according to the Belarusian electoral code, a
referendum cannot contain any questions related to presidential elections
will certainly not deter him. Interestingly, opinion polls suggest that
most Belarusians are against extending Lukashenka's rule, and the threshold
for passage of the referendum is high, as at least 50 percent of all
eligible voters - and not merely those casting ballots - have to vote "yes"
for the referendum to pass. We will see how they manipulate that one.

Nevertheless, to say that the deck is stacked in favor of
Lukashenka is an understatement. The Belarusian Government has almost
total control over the electoral process and considerable experience in
conducting elections that, to put it mildly, do not meet international
democratic standards. For example, opposition parties have been allocated
a mere two percent of seats on the district election commissions, and an
appalling 0.2 percent of the 7,000 precinct commissions. One-third of the
candidates proposed by Belarusian opposition parties were reportedly
denied registration.

Ladies and gentlemen, to their credit, Belarus' repressed and
embattled opposition and NGOs have not yet given up. We need to continue
to support these brave men and women and all those struggling for democracy
and human rights in Belarus. I am the sponsor of the Belarus Democracy Act,
which is waiting for consideration by the full House. The BDA is intended
to promote democracy, human rights and rule of law in Belarus, including
assistance for democracy building activities such as support for NGOs,
independent media, international exchanges and international broadcasting.

We want to stand firmly on the side of those who long for
freedom. As President Bush noted at Madison Square Garden earlier this
month [on September 2], "The story of America is the story of expanding
liberty: an ever-widening circle, constantly growing to reach further and
include more. Our nation's founding commitment is still our deepest
commitment: In our world, and here at home, we will extend the frontiers
of freedom."

We are eager to have governments and parliaments in both
countries with whom we can join forces to combat the scourges of our day,
such as human trafficking, HIV/AIDS which has reportedly infected one
percent of Ukraine's population, or corruption and cooperation on movement
towards common security and Euro-Atlantic integration. We know that
hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian and Belarusian women and children have
been trafficked mostly to Europe and the Middle East over the course of the
last decade.

The problem is especially acute in Ukraine - one of the largest
source countries in Europe. Ukraine is also a major transit country. Both
Ukraine and Belarus have been designated in the most recent State Depart-
ment report as Tier II countries (there are three tiers), meaning that these
governments do not yet fully comply with minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.

As the lead author of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
and its reauthorization which became law in 2003, I am pleased that our
government, the OSCE and other international organizations and NGOs
are devoting resources to combat this modern day slavery, but much more
remains to be done.

For both Ukraine and Belarus, the best guarantee for their
survival as independent countries is the full establishment of democracy,
human rights and the rule of law, including, very importantly, democratic
elections. In short, the best guarantee is their implementation of
commitments both nations freely undertook when they joined the OSCE.
Standing in solidarity with the courageous pro-democracy in both countries
and with the people of Belarus and Ukraine, we must continue to encourage
compliance with these commitments. -30-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The United States Helsinki Commission, an independent federal agency, by
law monitors and encourages progress in implementing provisions of the
Helsinki Accords. The Commission, created in 1976, is composed of nine
Senators, nine Representatives and one official each from the Departments
of State, Defense and Commerce. www.csce.gov (Our thanks to Orest
Deychakiwsky at the Helsinki Commission for distributing these remarks.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: We also thank Dr. Ariel Cohen at the Heritage Foundation
for sponsoring the conference on Ukraine and Belarus and for inviting The
Action Ukraine Report to cover the conference in Washington this week.
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
========================================================
10. "YOU THINK UKRAINE HAS PROBLEMS........"

COMMENTARY by David Marples
Globe and Mail Update, Toronto, Canada, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

Last week, Canada's ambassador in Kyiv, Andrew Robinson, criticized
Ukraine's presidential election campaign, arguing that irregularities would
undermine democracy. He was duly admonished by the Ukrainian govern-
ment in Kyiv. Evidently the ambassador's comments were made with the
full approval of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

There are some grounds for Mr. Robinson's concern. The leading candidate
in the elections, Viktor Yushchenko, checked into a Vienna hospital after a
suspected poisoning attempt. In past years, several political opponents of
President Leonid Kuchma have died in suspicious circumstances.

Mr. Kuchma's government has made no secret of its support for the current
Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich. Recently, while campaigning in western
Ukraine, Mr. Yanukovich was struck by an object and fell to the ground. It
turned out to have been nothing more lethal than an egg. Cynics have
maintained that the whole incident was staged to prove that Mr. Yanukovich
is equally vulnerable to death threats.

Such shenanigans aside, however, Canada's concern seems misdirected.
The Ukrainians at least have a contest. One month prior to the election, it
is impossible to forecast a winner. In contrast, Ukraine's neighbours have
no such choices. A brief survey of the states closest, or most analogous to,
Ukraine in demographic makeup and recent history reveals that the choices
are truly limited.

The past week, for example, saw a parliamentary election in Kazakhstan,
ruled like a fiefdom by its only president since independence, Nursultan
Nazarbayev. The campaign resulted in the triumph of two parties: the
President's own Otan Party received 42 per cent of the vote; and the Asar
Party, led by the President's daughter, Dariga Nazarbayeva, received
almost 20 per cent. The government has become a family concern.

Earlier this year, Russia's presidential election was won convincingly in
the first round by the incumbent, President Vladimir Putin, when none of
the likely challengers (most notably Communist Leader Gennady Zyuganov)
decided to join the campaign. Since the tragic events in Beslan, Mr. Putin
has cracked down on foreign residents in Moscow, abandoned the practice
(supposedly enshrined in the Russian constitution) of electing regional
governors, and pondered the idea of a government takeover of the giant oil
company Yukos, whose former CEO, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, remains in
jail and has been accused of links to mafia bosses.

Belarus will hold a parliamentary election on Oct. 17. Almost half the
candidates were removed from the campaign at the registration stage, in
one instance for declaring her pension to be less than 1 cent below the
reality. Two leading rivals for president languish in jail, including a
respected former ambassador to the Baltic states.

Meanwhile the President, Alexander Lukashenko, has announced that the
election will be accompanied by a referendum on whether he may run for a
third term as president. He used the occasion of a public commemoration of
the victims of Beslan to make the announcement, commenting that under his
rule, Belarus has never suffered a terrorist attack.

It would be the third such referendum under Mr. Lukashenko. The first
reduced the power of the parliament to a small rump body and removed the
national flag and symbols; the second amended the constitution to enhance
presidential powers and ensure a first extension of his time in office.
Polls suggest that Mr. Lukashenko will get his way.

Moldova lacks even a unified country, with a breakaway Slavic republic on
the Dniestr River still defiantly resisting rule from Kishinev after a
12-year hiatus. It also occupies the lamentable position of "poorest country
in Europe."

At least in Ukraine, Mr. Kuchma, despite fears to the contrary, did not run
for a third term. Nor has he managed to convince the electorate thus far
that Mr. Yanukovich is a viable successor. Recently the parties supporting
the Prime Minister lost their majority in the Ukrainian parliament.

Moreover, whenever there has been a transgression of electoral rules -
and such problems began with the April mayoral contest in Mukachiv -
international and national publicity has been rapid and damning.

This is not to argue that politics in Ukraine are democratic. Nevertheless,
they are far more diverse, complex, and unpredictable than in other
post-Soviet states. Mr. Yushchenko, for example, ostensibly a pro-Western
and pro-American candidate (he has an American wife) has announced that
one of his first actions upon taking office would be to remove Ukrainian
troops from Iraq. Mr. Yanukovich has vowed to keep them there. Two
other candidates are likely to receive significant votes: Socialist Party
Leader Oleksandr Moroz, and Communist Party Leader Petro Symonenko.
No one knows to which of the leading candidates their support will
eventually be transferred.

Perhaps Canada is expecting too much of Ukraine? True, it does not behave
like the former Communist countries of Eastern Europe, which are now part
of the European Union. The past 13 years have seen some disappointments.
Corruption is endemic. Local city clans tend to run the economy and play a
major role in politics. The government controls most of the media and TV
channels.

But why single out Ukraine? The situation in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus,
and Moldova is markedly worse in terms of voter choice. Our concern
should surely be the general demise of democracy in former Soviet states.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Marples is a professor of Russian history and director of the Stasiuk
Program for the Study of Contemporary Ukraine, Canadian Institute of
Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: There are not "some" grounds for Ambassador Robinson's
concerns, there are thousands of grounds for Mr. Robinson's concerns.
These thousands of gross presidential election violations are carefully
documented in thousands of pages of text prepared by many different
highly-credible private and public organizations.

Canada's concerns about the presidential election in Ukraine were certainly
not misdirected in any way for sure. The important concerns Canada
expressed were right on target, they hit the bull's-eye, they hit the nail
squarely on the head.

Ambassador Robinson and Canada are to be applauded and congratulated
for the courageous action they took. It was high time for Canada to speak
out clearly about the on-going election in Ukraine which is now just over 30
days away. In doing so Canada joined with many other countries who have
already spoken out on the same issues.

Canada is not in anyway expecting too much of Ukraine. Canada is only
expecting Ukraine to live up to the voluntary international agreements they
have signed and agreed to fulfill regarding democratic elections. Ukraine's
reaction to the Canadian statement was outrageous, only designed to
intimidate and scare Canada and other countries from making such
forceful and truthful statements in the future.

There are also gross violations in other countries as is pointed out in the
article above. Canada, the United States and other democratic countries
should certainly be very alarmed about the general demise of democracy
in the former Soviet states as the article states.

If Canada has not spoken out adequately about these violations and has
only singled out Ukraine then it should be strongly encouraged to
broaden its perspective and issue appropriate and timely statements.

There are many positive and effective ways to encourage Canada to
speak out about the situation in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and
Moldova as they did in Ukraine without questioning the outstanding
action taken regarding Ukraine.

There are thousands of us in the United States and around the world
who give a hearty "thank-you" to Ambassador Robinson and the
Canadian government for their action, We encourage them to speak out
more often about the gross violations of democratic principles in Ukraine,
in the other former Soviet states and elsewhere around the world.

P.S. Prime Minister Yanukovych has been on every side of the issue
regarding Ukrainian troops in Iraq during the past few months. He and
the people in his government have not been steady and forceful in their
statements about keeping the troops there. Which side of the issue
they are on each week depends on what they want from the United
States that week in exchange for keeping troops in Iraq. -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
========================================================
11. "REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND UKRAINE"

COMMENTARY: by Dr. Bohdan Vitvitsky
The Ukrainian Weekly, Ukrainian National Association
Parsippany, New Jersey, Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

It is ironic that of all people, Ukrainian Americans should confuse the
former Soviet Union with Russia. It is not that we confuse the places; what
we do is mistakenly presume that American attitudes towards the former
Soviet Union are the same as attitudes towards today's Russia. Nothing
could be further from the truth, especially with regards to the attitudes of
the current Republican administration.

During the Cold War, Republican rhetoric convinced many in the Ukrainian
community that Republicans were tougher and more adversarial towards the
Soviets than were the Democrats. There is no question that during some
periods of the Cold War, Republican rhetoric was indeed more harshly
anti-Soviet. In some cases it was bombast for domestic political
consumption; in other cases, such as President Reagan's calling the
U.S.S.R., the "evil empire," it was an important declaration of our policies
and position. And, the Republicans never had anything analogous to the
left wing of the Democratic Party that genuinely was soft on the East bloc.

But lest one suffer from historical amnesia, it bears remembering that it
was the Democratic President Truman who ordered the Berlin Airlift and
committed the U.S. to fight the Korean War when the North Korean
Communists attacked South Korea, which events marked the beginning
of the Cold War. It was Democratic President Kennedy who forced Nikita
Khrushchev to back down during the Cuban missile crisis, and there were
no more important Cold Warriors than Democrats Sen. "Scoop" Jackson
and later Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski.

But let's assume, for the sake of argument, that Republicans were more
consistently adversarial against the Soviets than the Democrats. Did that
mean that Republicans would be more hospitable to Ukrainian concerns?
Ukrainians naively assumed so-presumably on the notion that if Ukrainians
were strongly anti-Soviet and Republicans were strongly anti-Soviet,
Republicans would be pro-Ukrainian.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. It was after all President Reagan's
administration that sent Walter Polovchak, the teenage Ukrainian who
wanted to stay in the U.S., back to the "evil empire" against his will. It
was the Reagan administration that sent Myroslaw Medvid, the Ukrainian
sailor who twice jumped from a Soviet ship in New Orleans and begged
to stay in the U.S., back to the "evil empire." And, it was the Reagan
administration that strongly opposed the creation of the congressional
Ukrainian Famine Commission.

Then, on the eve of Ukrainian independence, there was the first President
Bush's infamous "Chicken Kyiv" speech in Kyiv. Today it is the Bush
administration and Republican Senator Lugar who oppose passage
of the Famine Resolution.

Ironically, given some Ukrainian Americans' vociferous pro-Republican
sentiments, the only two administrations that have given Ukrainian concerns
some attention were both Democratic. It was after all the Carter
administration, under Dr. Brzezinski's influence, that acknowledged the
existence and plight of Ukrainian Soviet political prisoners by successfully
insisting that Valentyn Moroz be included among the five or so Soviet
political prisoners that were released to the United States. And, it was the
Clinton administration that developed and maintained permanent high level
relations with Ukraine and devoted significant resources in aid to Ukraine.
(The current Bush administration has each year significantly reduced aid to
Ukraine from the levels of aid during the Clinton years.)

How is one to make sense of this? It is here that the Soviet-Russia
confusion comes in. Some Ukrainians seem to have a hard time under-
standing that Republicans tend to be strongly pro-Russian. Recall the
extraordinary warmth with which Reagan treated Gorbachov during
the latter half of their formal relations, and even more so after they
both had retired.

Recall the recent warmth with which President Bush (43) welcomed
President Putin to Bush's Texas ranch. Recall how President Bush gushed
on about how well he was able to see into Putin's soul etc. Why? Mainly
because Republicans subscribe to "realpolitik", the foreign policy view that
the powerful are important and the weak are not. Russia is comparatively
powerful; thus, it's important. Ukraine is perceived as not that powerful;
thus, it and its concerns are not that important.

What is most frustrating about the current Bush administration's "policy"
toward Ukraine is that it is both remarkably shortsighted and cynical. It is
cynical, in part, because it seems interested in Ukraine only to the extent
that Ukraine is willing to send and keep its soldiers in Iraq. The political
scientist Taras Kuzio reports that Kyiv is rife with speculation that during
his recent visit to Kyiv, U.S. defense secretary Rumsfeld struck an informal
"deal" with Ukrainian President Kuchma in which the U.S. will not come
down hard on Ukraine for "irregularities" in the upcoming presidential
elections if Ukraine keeps its troops in Iraq.

More importantly, current U.S. policy is frustratingly blind and
shortsighted. The U.S. seems unaware and/or uninterested that in contrast
to Russia, which seems pathologically mired in authoritarianism based on
deception and force, there are at least some significant, genuine strains of
democratic sentiment in Ukraine. There are at least some major political
leaders and parties in Ukraine that for the most part tell the truth and
seek, against heavy odds, to steer Ukraine toward genuine electoral
accountability and, thus, true democracy.

If we Americans were true to our word about really caring about the
development of democracy in the world, we would be paying much more
attention and devoting many more resources to Ukraine than we have
been over the last three or so years. -30- (www.UkrWeekly.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bohdan Vitvitsky is an attorney, writer and lecturer who holds a Ph.D.
in philosophy.
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 177: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
========================================================
12. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT COMMEMORATES VICTIMS OF
NAZI SLAUGHTER AT BABYN YAR IN 1941

UT1 TV, Kiev, Ukraine, in Ukrainian, Wed, 29 Sep 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

KIEV - Sixty-three years ago this day the Nazis began mass shootings in
Baby Yar in Kiev. Almost at the very beginning, 3,700 Jews were killed
there. Not only Kiev residents, but also refugees from western Ukraine,
Poland and even Germany, who happened to be in Kiev in the beginning of the
[Second World] war, were killed. The number of people of various ethnic
origins murdered in Babyn Yar exceeded 150,000 over two years.

Early today Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma laid flowers at the monument
to the victims of Nazism in Babyn Yar. The solemn ceremony was attended also
by Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk; the first deputy chairman of the
Supreme Council [parliament], Adam Martynyuk; Kiev Mayor Oleksandr
Omelchenko, government officials and people's deputies. They commemorated
the dead by a minute's silence. -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
========================================================
13. DOCTORS: CAUSE OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO'S ILLNESS STILL UNCLEAR

By George Jahn, AP Worldstream, Vienna, Austria, Wed, Sep 29, 2004

VIENNA - Doctors who treated a prominent Ukrainian opposition leader
suggested on Wednesday it was too early to say whether he had been
poisoned, as he claimed, or if he had fallen ill from other causes. Viktor
A. Yushchenko, a Ukrainian presidential candidate, flew to Vienna Sept.
10 after becoming ill with what his office first described as food
poisoning. Later, they said he was suffering from chemical poisoning.

Yushchenko returned home in mid-September and has resumed campaigning
against Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovyc in the race to replace outgoing
President Leonid Kuchma. The opposition politician appears to have problems
speaking since falling ill. On Sept. 21, during a speech to members of
Ukraine's lower house of parliament, Yushchenko appeared haggard, with his
face red, swollen, partially paralyzed and with one eye constantly tearing
up.

He has accused Ukrainian authorities of poisoning him _ something they
deny. Indirectly contradicting reports that staff at the private Austrian
hospital where Yushchenko had stayed had ruled out deliberate poisoning,
Dr. Nikolai Korpan, in charge of the politician's treatment while in Vienna,
said the cause of Yushchenko's illness remained "totally open."

Other staff of the Rudolfinerhaus hospital said stress, food poisoning or
other causes could have possibly led to his illness. The Austria Press
Agency cited them as saying they expected laboratory results to shed more
light on the diagnosis in the coming week.

In Kiev, Yushchenko spokeswoman Irina Gerashchenko told The Associated
Press that, according to the conclusions of 12 doctors that Yushchenko
consulted, "the disease was the result of difficult viral infection and
chemicals not of a food origin. "We have no reasons to doubt in the
diagnosis of clinic with a good reputation" Gerashchenko said, without
specifying if she meant the Austrian hospital or another facility.
(Associated Press Writer Mike Eckel in Kiev contributed to this story.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: The Austrian Rudolfinerhaus hospital in Vienna has
unfortunately been responsible for a series of confusing and contradicting
statements this week. This reason for a hospital like this doing this is not
clear.

Their statements when combined with news articles distributed by news media
sources that are also many times unclear, confusing, and contradicting has
resulted in a virtual nightmare of news stories whose headlines and content
many times were not accurate, and thus were misleading and not completely
truthful. (EDITOR)
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.177: ARTICLE NUMBER FOURTEEN
========================================================
14. CAUSE OF UKRAINE CANDIDATE'S ILLNESS UNCLEAR

Louis Carbonneau, REUTERS, Vienna, Austria, Wed 29 Sep 2004

VIENNA, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The personal doctor of Ukrainian
presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko raised doubts on Wednesday
about allegations by his campaign that he had been deliberately
poisoned in an assassination attempt.

Yushchenko, representing Ukraine's liberal opposition, had accused
the authorities of poisoning him to remove him from the Oct. 31
race, in which he leads opinion polls with ratings of 30 percent,
but the Vienna hospital where he was treated took the unusual step
on Tuesday of denying this.

"The cause or causes of the condition are still fully open and will
require further examination," said Dr Mykola Korpan, who was with
Yushchenko during his treatment at Vienna's Rudolfinerhaus hospital.

Korpan's carefully worded statement differed sharply from one made
recently by Oleksander Zinchenko, head of Yushchenko's campaign,
who said: "There is enough evidence to say that it was an attempt on
the life of presidential candidate Yushchenko."

In the presidential election, Yushchenko is expected to go to a run-
off against Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, who lies about seven
points behind, and the poisoning allegations have caused a national
furore.

Yanukovich is backed by current President Leonid Kuchma, who is
stepping down after 10 years in office marked by corruption scandals
and accusations of stifling the independent press.

HOSPITAL FUELLED FURORE
The Vienna hospital fuelled the row on Tuesday by saying that
allegations of poisoning were baseless: "The information
disseminated about an alleged poisoning is absolutely unfounded in
medical terms."

Yushchenko, a former prime minister, stopped campaigning and flew
to Austria for treatment earlier this month after becoming ill with
what aides said was first thought to be food poisoning, but later
said was chemical poisoning.

He returned to campaigning 10 days ago and still has difficulty
speaking and one side of his face appears paralysed. Kuchma's office
has dismissed allegations of foul play.

The Rudolfinerhaus doctors said that Yushchenko would be returning
in the next few days for further tests to determine the precise
cause of his condition.

The Ukrainian presidential campaign, with 24 hopefuls running, is
dominated by mutual allegations of dirty tricks. Yanukovich was
taken to hospital last week after being hit by an egg his team said
was thrown by his rival's supporters. Kuchma, visiting central Ukraine,
said the contest "reminds me more and more of the theatre of absurd".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: Reuters' original news article from Vienna on
Tuesday night was used as the basis by most other news agencies
for their stories on Wednesday, The original statement by the hospital
plus the Reuters article and headline contributed to the confusion
surrounding this issue. (EDITOR)
======================================================
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