"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 192
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, FRIDAY, October 15, 2004
-----INDEX OF ARTICLES-----
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"
1.RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR OFFERS SINGLE CURRENCY TO UKRAINE
The Russia Journal Daily, Moscow, Russia, Thu, October 14, 2004
2. "UKRAINE TURNS AWAY FROM EUROPE,
STARTED DREAMING OF RUSSIA"
COMMENTARY: by Roman Melnikov
Pravda.ru, Moscow, Russia, Thu, October 14, 2004
3. UKRAINIAN DIASPORA FEARS HUGE VOTE RIGGING IN RUSSIA
Russian executive bodies are working to set up 200-650 additional
polling stations for the Ukrainian presidential elections in 53 regions
of Russia. More polling stations that in all of the rest of the world.
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian, 14 Oct 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thu, Oct 14, 2004
4. AUSTRALIA AND MOLDOVA ALLOW VOTING IN UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OUTSIDE CONSULATES/EMBASSIES
Activeness of Ukrainians in Russia to participate in the elections.
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, October 15, 2004
5. MOSCOW PATRIARCH ALEXY II HOPE FUTURE UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENT WILL BE CONSIDERATE TOWARDS RELIGIOUS LIFE
Sent letter to President Kuchma, Alexy wants church-state partnership
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, October 14, 2004
6. SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER/PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MOROZ
HAS EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH RUSSIA
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, October 14, 2004
7. UKRAINE'S COUNCIL OF ENTREPRENEURS UNDER THE CABINET
OF MINISTERS REACH COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE
ALL-RUSSIAN "BUSINESS RUSSIA" PUBLIC ORGANIZATION
Facilitate development of ties between Ukrainian and Russian entrepreneurs
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, October 11, 2004
8. "RUSSIA'S THREAT IS NO MYTH"
Lithuanian foreign policy expert stresses threat posed by Russia
"Regarding energy sector dependency, I would agree with this claim only
in part. If we were paying Russia for oil and gas at its domestic prices,
which is what Ukraine and Belarus do, then we would really be speaking
about total dependency."
Interview with Gediminas Kirkilas, Chairman
Lithuanian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee
By Violeta Mickeviciute, Lietuvos Rytas, Vilnius, in Lithuanian 11 Oct 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thu, Oct 14, 2004
9. UKRAINE: 200,000 POLICEMEN WILL MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER
AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS OCT 29-NOV 2
Ukrainian News, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 15, 2004
10. "ON THE THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY RELATED TO
UKRAINE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN"
Oleksandr Zinchenko send letter to the members of the National
Security and Defence Council (NSDC) of Ukraine
Press Service of Victor Yushchenko's Central Headquarters
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 15, 2004, www.razom.org.ua
11. SPEAKER LYTVYN DISCUSSES UKRAINE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS WITH AMBASSADORS OF 8 COUNTRIES
AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION AMBASSADOR BOAG
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, October 15, 2004
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
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1. RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR OFFERS SINGLE CURRENCY TO UKRAINE
The Russia Journal Daily:, Moscow, Russia, Thu, October 14, 2004
KIEV - Russia and Ukraine are ready to discuss currency integration and
the introduction of a single currency, Russian Ambassador in Kiev Viktor
Chernomyrdin said in opening remarks to a round table meeting “Russia and
Ukraine: Prospects of Cooperation in the Banking Sector”, the BBC reported.
At the initiative of the Russian Club in Kiev, bankers of the two countries
discussed measures to step up business cooperation in creating the Free
Trade Area and solving the problems of deposit insurance, money transfers
and legal unification.
Gennady Melikyan, Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia, who
attended the forum, said Mr. Chernomyrdin’s initiative was ill-timed. “At
this time, Russia and Ukraine are not ready for that,” he stressed. In his
opinion, a smaller problem should be settled first – the problem of money
transfers between Russia and Ukraine. According to Mr. Melikyan, tens of
thousands of Ukrainians working in Russia, have to send US dollars to their
families.
The Russian Club in Kiev was set up in August 2004. Its first meeting was
attended by Viktor Yanukovich, Ukrainian Prime Minister and presidential
candidate, Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff to President Putin, and his
Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Medvedchuk.
Mr. Chernomyrdin’s idea was not the first large scale integration initiative
during the presidential election campaign in Ukraine. Earlier, Mr.
Yanukovich proposed introducing dual citizenship in Ukraine and give
official status to the Russian language.
Meanwhile, the Russia-Belarus talks about the introduction of a single
currency, which began in 2001, are far from being completed. Earlier this
week, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country would
not change over to the Russian ruble as the Belarusian currency was more
reliable. “Today, there is no need to introduce the Russian ruble in
Belarus. The demand for the Belarusian currency is stronger than the
demand for the dollar, the euro or any other currency,” he told reporters.
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http://www.russiajournal.com/news/cnews-article.shtml?nd=45905
RosBusinessConsulting [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
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2. "UKRAINE TURNS AWAY FROM EUROPE,
STARTED DREAMING OF RUSSIA"
COMMENTARY: by Roman Melnikov
Pravda.ru, Moscow, Russia, Thu, October 14, 2004
Russia has apparently become the central theme of the presidential election
in Ukraine. The Ukrainian prime minister, one of the main candidates for the
position of the president, Viktor Yanukovich, stated yesterday that an
agreement had been achieved with the Russian colleague, Mikhail Fradkov,
to cancel the decision, which said that the citizens of the two states must
use foreign passports to travel between Russia and Ukraine. It was decided
to cancel the decision from January 1st of 2005.
The Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper said that another candidacy running
for the post of the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yuschenko, set out his
disagreement with the introduction of the so-called foreign passport entry
regime that Russia initiated. "If I am elected president, I will cancel the
decision during my first day at the office. I am sure that Russian officials
will support it," said he. However, it is not clear, which decision in
particular Yuschenko intends to withdraw - the one that was made by
the Russian or by the Ukrainian foreign ministry.
As far as foreign policy is concerned, the policy of the European
integration has been Ukraine's key issue for several years. Ukrainian
officials and public figures have been trying to persuade common Ukrainians
of the need to promote Ukraine towards the European Union. This point of
view could be seen in the statements from President Leonid Kuchma, leaders
of public organizations, politicians of the opposition, etc. However, very
few people raised the issue of the Europe's opinion regarding Ukraine's
perspectives in the European Union.
However, Ukrainian politicians' viewpoints started changing during the
presidential campaign. The European issue went into the background as the
voting day (October 31) approached: the nominees started talking about their
sympathies for Russia. Viktor Yuschenko, for example, told reporters about
his dreams of "Russian birch trees." The "Russian factor" reached its climax
on September 27th, when Viktor Yanukovich released a statement about the
need to introduce dual citizenships in Ukraine. It is noteworthy that the
politician has never opposed the issue of the European integration against
the cooperation with Russia.
Russia's stance on the matter can be seen from Vladimir Putin's statement
that he released on Saturday, during the meeting with the Ukrainian
president and the prime minister: "We will treat any choice of the Ukrainian
nation with respect, although we are not indifferent about it, of course."
It seems that there is no reason for Ukrainian politicians to criticize the
Russian administration for its interference in the affairs of a sovereign
state. Yet, it looks like someone is trying to provoke Putin to action.
"Russia has never had and will never have any thought-out strategy in
Ukraine," the Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper wrote.
The precisely-formulated political aim to remove obstacles in the relations
with Russia, the economic policy of the Ukrainian government and the promise
to raise the status of the Russian language in Ukraine have already brought
their results. According to one of the latest opinion polls, conducted by
the International sociological institute in Kiev, Viktor Yanukovich's rating
is five percent higher than his close competitor's. Over 34 percent of
Ukrainians said that they would vote for Yanukovich and 31 percent would
vote for Yuschenko.
A lot of spin doctors believe that Yanukovich's rating will probably rise,
although Yuschenko's electoral source is more or less definite now. The
situation is to become clear in three weeks. -30-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the original in Russian:
http://world.pravda.ru/world/2004/5/73/207/18245_Ukrainavibor.html
(Translated by: Dmitry Sudakov)
http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/92/370/14443_ukraine.html
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
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3. UKRAINIAN DIASPORA FEARS HUGE VOTE RIGGING IN RUSSIA
Russian executive bodies are working to set up 200-650 additional
polling stations for the Ukrainian presidential elections in 53 regions
of Russia. More polling stations that in all of the rest of the world.
Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian, 14 Oct 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thu, Oct 14, 2004
KIEV - The association of Ukrainians living in Russia has asked Ukrainian
Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko and the head of the Central
Electoral Commission, Serhiy Kivalov, to investigate the setting up of too
many additional [Ukrainian] electoral commission in Russia.
The Ukrainian Diaspora is concerned that many polling stations are being set
up ahead of the election [on 31 October] and says that this could lead to
numerous violations of Ukraine's election legislation, and to the rigging of
the election, the press service of the association told Interfax-Ukraine.
The association has information that "Russian executive bodies are working
to set up 200-650 additional polling stations for the Ukrainian presidential
election in 53 regions of Russia, following a request of the Ukrainian
embassy in Russia".
The Ukrainian public earlier raised the issue of creating additional polling
stations in places where Ukrainians really live in compact groups, primarily
in Siberia, in the Far East and in Kaliningrad Region. But they talked about
"several additional polling stations, not dozens or hundreds".
The Ukrainian ambassador to Russia, Mykola Biloblotskyy, said in an
interview published by the Uryadovyy Kuryer government newspaper
today that Ukrainian legislation envisages the creation of additional
polling stations abroad in extraordinary cases at least seven days prior
to the election day, for example in the places where Ukrainians live
in compact groups. At least 20 personal requests of voters officially
registered at a consulate are needed to open a polling station.
Biloblotskyy recalled that four polling stations had already been set up in
Russia: in Moscow, St Petersburg, Tyumen and Rostov-na-Donu. The
embassy will send a personal invitation to every listed voter, asking them
to participate in the election and telling them when and where they can
vote. [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service - Kyiv]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
Your comments about the Report are always welcome
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4. AUSTRALIA AND MOLDOVA ALLOW VOTING IN UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OUTSIDE CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES:
Activeness of Ukrainians in Russia, who want to participate in elections.
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, October 15, 2004
KYIV - Australia and Moldova have authorized voting in this year's
Ukrainian presidential elections to be held outside the Ukrainian consular
and diplomatic missions located on their territories. Markian Lubkivskyi,
the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry's press service,
announced this to journalists.
"Primarily, we have received the consent of Australia to hold Ukrainian
presidential elections outside the borders of the consular and diplomatic
institutions of Ukraine," Lubkivskyi said.
The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry has also received appeals from two
Ukrainian citizens on participation on the elections and submitted proposals
on creating two additional polling stations to the Central Electoral
Commission.
Lubkivskyi said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry has sent its proposal on
creation of four additional polling stations in Moldova to the commission
since Moldova has agreed to allow Ukrainian citizens to vote in the
presidential elections outside Ukrainian consulates and embassies. These
additional polling stations in Moldova will be located in Ukrainian-language
schools.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry also notes the activeness of Ukrainians in
Russia, who want to participate in the elections.
The ministry is working on all the proposals it has received from Ukrainian
citizens based abroad. As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Foreign
Affairs Ministry is expecting an increase in the number of polling stations
installed abroad for voting in this year's Ukrainian presidential elections.
Russia and Vietnam have already authorized the opening of additional
polling stations.
Lubkivskyi recently said that 1,457 Ukrainian citizens would work at
election commissions abroad, including 153 representatives of the
presidential candidates.
Moldova recently authorized the opening of additional polling stations for
the Ukrainian presidential elections in the areas where Ukrainian citizens
are concentrated on the territory of the self-declared Transdniestrian
Moldovan Republic. The Central Electoral Commission has created 113
election commissions abroad for this year's Ukrainian presidential
elections. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service - Kyiv]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
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5. MOSCOW PATRIARCH ALEXY II HOPE FUTURE UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENT WILL BE CONSIDERATE TOWARDS RELIGIOUS LIFE
Sent letter to President Kuchma, Alexy wants church-state partnership
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, October 14, 2004
KIEV - His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia hopes
that the future president of Ukraine will considerate towards religious
life. The press service of the President of Ukraine disclosed this in a
statement, the text of which Ukrainian News has obtained.
According to the information of the press service, Patriarch Alexy II sent
a letter to President Leonid Kuchma on behalf of the Bishops' Council
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"Hope is also expressed in the letter that a wise person, who carefully
and thoughtfully relate to religious life will become the head of state," it
is mentioned in the statement.
On behalf of the Bishops' Council, the Patriarch stated that relations
between the church and state in Ukraine are being built on a sound basis.
"We consider as very important the development of a broad church-state
partnership, foremost of all in the areas of social and charity work,
ethical training of young people, [and] revival of the national culture,"
Alexy II notes.
As Ukrainian News reported previously, campaigning in Ukraine for the
presidential elections started on July 3, and the elections will take place
on October 31. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitorign Service]
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FOOTNOTE: Reports from a variety of sources indicate Patriarch Alexy
II is supporting Ukrainian PM/Presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych.
The Patriarch met with Yanukovych in Moscow last weekend. Alexy II
wants to make sure there is a president in Ukraine who first and foremost
supports the Russian Orthodox Church and the merging of all Orthodox
Churches in Ukraine under the leadership of Patriarch Alexy II. Alexy II,
President Kuchma and PM Yanukovych have repeated called for the
merger of the various Orthodox groups in Ukraine. [EDITOR]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
Additional names for the distribution list are always welcome
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6. SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER/PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MOROZ
HAS EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH RUSSIA
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, October 14, 2004
KIEV - The Socialist Party's leader and presidential candidate Oleksandr
Moroz has expressed opposition to dual citizenship. Moroz was commenting
on presidential candidate/Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's intention to
introduce dual citizenship with Russia while participating in a live radio
program in Mariupol (Donetsk region).
Moroz said he opposed dual citizenship because dual citizenship should
have been introduced with other countries. However, according to him, it
is impossible. "Tartars [living in Ukraine] want [dual citizenship] with
Turkey. Poles with Poland... Everyone is apparently interested, but nation-
hood will be lost and collapse as a result," Moroz said.
According to him, it is more appropriate to allow free movement of people.
"It is better for us to make the border in such a way that a person crossing
it does not know that he is traveling to another country - to Russia or any
other country," Moroz said.
He also said that Yanukovych should not have made such a statement
because introduction of dual citizenship is not in the competence of the
president of Ukraine. "It is not an issue for the president, and Yanukovych
should have known that," Moroz said.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Moroz said on October 9 that
Yanukovych's statement about introducing dual citizenship was a populist
step aimed at improving his rating as a presidential candidate.
Yanukovych said earlier this month that he had included in his presidential
election platform the need to introduce dual citizenship and grant the
Russian language an official status and that it was inappropriate for
Ukraine to join any military-political bloc or organization.
The Central Electoral Commission registered Moroz as a presidential
candidate on July 6. Campaigning in this year's presidential elections,
which will be held on October 31, started on July 3. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
Suggested articles for publication in the Report are always welcome
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7. UKRAINE'S COUNCIL OF ENTREPRENEURS UNDER THE CABINET
OF MINISTERS REACH COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE
ALL-RUSSIAN "BUSINESS RUSSIA" PUBLIC ORGANIZATION
Facilitate development of ties between Ukrainian and Russian entrepreneurs
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, October 11, 2004
KYIV - The Council of Entrepreneurs, which operates under the auspices
of the Cabinet of Ministers, has reached a cooperation agreement with the
all-Russian Business Russia public organization. The Council of
Entrepreneurs' chairman Dmytro Shvets and Business Russia's Chairman
Boris Titov signed the relevant memorandum in Kyiv on Monday.
According to the memorandum, the two sides will facilitate development
of trade, economic, and technical ties between Ukrainian and Russian
entrepreneurs, hold large-scale consultations on development of bilateral
relations and international affairs of mutual interest as well as
consultations on regional affairs with the aim of broadening the political,
economic, cultural, and information presence of the two countries'
governments in the regional associations to which they belong.
First Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Mykola Azarov, who was
present during the signing of the memorandum, called on Ukrainian and
Russian entrepreneurs to more actively lobby their governments for adoption
of political decisions that will facilitate realization of economic projects
that will benefit businesspeople in both countries.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Cabinet of Ministers relived Vadym
Hurzhos of the post of chairman of the Council of Entrepreneurs on January
16 and appointed Dmytro Shvets to replace him. Shvets is the chairman of
the public political association named Nova Epokha.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the new composition of the Council of
Entrepreneurs in April. The Council of Entrepreneurs under the Cabinet of
Ministers has the status of a consultative organ. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 192: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Letters to the editor are always welcome
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8. "RUSSIA'S THREAT IS NO MYTH"
Lithuanian foreign policy expert stresses threat posed by Russia
"Regarding energy sector dependency, I would agree with this claim only in
part. If we were paying Russia for oil and gas at its domestic prices, which
is what Ukraine and Belarus do, then we would really be speaking about total
dependency."
Interview with Gediminas Kirkilas, Chairman
Lithuanian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee
By Violeta Mickeviciute, Lietuvos Rytas, Vilnius, in Lithuanian 11 Oct 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thu, Oct 14, 2004
The chairman of the Lithuanian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee,
Gediminas Kirkilas, has stressed the need for parties to ensure the
continuity of the country's policy towards Russia in order to prevent it
from making inroads into Lithuania's domestic politics. In an interview with
a Lithuanian daily, he voiced fears that some Lithuanian parties might have
a hidden agenda for relations with Russia.
The following is the text of an interview conducted by Violeta Mickeviciute,
entitled "Russia's threat is no myth" and published in the Lithuanian
newspaper Lietuvos Rytas on 11 October; subheadings inserted editorially:
LITHUANIA'S FOREIGN POLICY PACT CENTRES ON RUSSIA
Right before the parliamentary election, all the major political parties
signed an agreement on the top foreign policy priorities and objectives
until 2008. Although the document had been in the making for a number
of months and was open to the public, the leader of the Farmers and New
Democracy Union, Kazimiera Prunskiene, threatened to ignore it the next
day after signing it.
What does this pact mean - the goodwill of parties, an election campaign
gesture or Lithuania's political immaturity? We put this question to the
head of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Gediminas Kirkilas.
[Correspondent] It was not the first time that Lithuanian parties signed a
foreign policy continuity agreement. Why do they need it? Isn't our
political system mature enough and are there any doubts about the continuity
of the country's foreign policy?
[Kirkilas] The previous foreign policy continuity pacts were signed because
of the ongoing debates on EU and NATO membership in the past.
It was important to ensure that the work towards this integration would be
carried out, irrespective of the political platforms of parties that formed
the government after elections.
Today, we have already achieved our main foreign policy objectives, but
we are facing another major problem - Russia. Taking into account our
geopolitical situation and Russia's lingering hopes to exert influence on
the Baltic states, new aspects are emerging in our foreign policy. And these
aspects are covered in our policy continuity pact.
PARTIES MAY HAVE HIDDEN AGENDA?
[Correspondent] But what is the significance of this agreement, given that
some of the signatory parties started criticizing it before the ink had even
dried?
[Kirkilas] That looks strange, indeed. The agreement was being prepared
for a long time, and everybody was free to express their ideas. Even some
students used that opportunity. But if a party says that it needs
corrections in the agreement right after signing it, it is either acting
irresponsibly or it has some other ideas with regard to the state's foreign
policy.
[Correspondent] Isn't this kind of secret games dangerous?
[Kirkilas] Yes, it is a very dangerous thing. If some parties have their own
ideas or aims in relation to other states, then the question arises why they
have not voiced them publicly? Maybe they have different ideas that they
dare not make public? That is very dangerous.
[Correspondent] So who can guarantee that Lithuania's foreign policy will
not change after the election?
[Kirkilas] I wish to believe that things will definitely not change for
worse. We have certain guarantors in place - EU and NATO membership.
I believe that the public and the media will exercise control over
politicians and see how they deliver on their promises, and any attempt to
change our foreign policy objectives will not go unpunished. Our democracy
is our guarantor.
EU TOO LENIENT TOWARDS RUSSIA
[Correspondent] Won't that be Russia's greatest revenge since 1990 [when
Lithuania regained independence; the correspondent probably asks about the
position of some parties towards Russia]?
[Kirkilas] I think that the foreign policy continuity agreement formulates a
very clear position with regard to Russia. Lithuania, like the rest of the
European Union, is interested in Russian reforms, democratic progress and
the situation of human rights there. Just several days ago, the Council of
Europe made a statement expressing concern over the human rights situation
in Russia.
[Correspondent] But what is the value of this criticism, if it contains some
amendments favourable to Moscow, which Russia itself tabled?
[Kirkilas] I agree that the EU has been too lenient towards Russia, paying
no attention to the recent developments in that country.
We often ask our colleagues abroad why various European institutions are
paying so little attention to the restrictions on media in Russia.
Unfortunately, we do not always get answers to those questions?
LITHUANIA MUST BE FLEXIBLE BECAUSE OF KALININGRAD
[Correspondent] So the future does not look bright, does it?
[Kirkilas] Lithuania's policy towards Russia is bound to be always very
complicated. We have Kaliningrad as our neighbour, and that is our great
challenge. For a long time to come, this neighbourhood will keep forcing us
to be much more flexible than other states, which can afford more.
Still, I believe that our pragmatic and friendly policy that we have pursued
to date has justified itself. Of course, we should not either simplify our
policy or underestimate Russia's influence on our parties. Parties have many
interests, while Russia has much more room for manoeuvre than we do. It is
no longer sufficient to be just patriotically or pragmatically minded.
In addition, politicians have to learn to use the knowledge of scientists
and experts. As a matter of fact, Russia is throwing not only money against
Lithuania, but also its huge intellectual potential.
PROFESSIONALS TO TAKE OVER STRATEGIC PLANNING
[Correspondent] But the Strategic Studies Centre was established only more
than 14 years after Lithuanian independence was restored. Wasn't it too
great a luxury for us to wait for so long?
[Kirkilas] I agree that it came too late. But late is better than never.
Until recently, the lack of such [strategic] studies was compensated for by
various experts working at a number of scientific institutions. Now we have
made funds available for this work and the time has come for professionals
to take over from enthusiasts.
[Correspondent] But until now, even party members neither understood the
subtleties of foreign policy nor paid sufficient attention to it.
[Kirkilas] It is really true that parties do not formulate their own foreign
policy. Our society still thinks that foreign policy is unimportant, while
social issues and health care are the issues that matter. So parties are
merely responding to those needs of the population.
[Correspondent] But is society to blame? Maybe it is the parties who should
stop thinking only about their short-term electoral success?
[Kirkilas] The parties, even the largest ones, lack resources, experienced
politicians and experts. It is fine if people with foreign policy expertise
find their way to party leadership. Then the party starts paying more
attention to foreign policy.
In addition, while we were still seeking EU and NATO membership, there
seemed to be no particular need to formulate an exclusive policy with regard
to Russia. We used to think that the most important thing was to strengthen
our diplomatic corps and back up our aspirations to join these
organizations.
LITHUANIA MATURE ENOUGH TO RESIST RUSSIAN PRESSURE
[Correspondent] But while Lithuania's foreign policy was being formulated by
enthusiasts, whereas politicians and diplomats kept adhering to a submissive
policy in relations with Russia, our country turned into a target for
Russia's incessant attacks. In addition, Lithuania is dependant on that
country's energy resources.
[Kirkilas] I do not concur with the idea that we are submissive to Russia.
Let us recall the talks on transit to Kaliningrad Region. Lithuania took
some very tough decisions in this area, and that really came as a surprise
to Russia.
However, whilst pursuing our hard line, we must not engage in the kind of
propaganda that Russia is using against us, its neighbours. This would mean
that we degrade ourselves to Russia's level.
Regarding energy sector dependency, I would agree with this claim only in
part. If we were paying Russia for oil and gas at its domestic prices, which
is what Ukraine and Belarus do, then we would really be speaking about total
dependency.
However, we buy gas and oil from Russia at global prices, just like a
considerable number of other European Union states that buy gas from Russia.
Of course, Lithuania should continue efforts to ensure alternative energy
resources in the Nordic states.
After all, we must and can do a lot in Lithuania to prevent politicians who
rely primarily on the money of powerful Russian energy groups from coming to
power.
[Correspondent] Are there enough levers in Lithuania to prevent the new
government from selling off the remaining strategic enterprises to those
forces whose interests in our country go beyond just making a profit?
[Kirkilas] The State Security Department is doing its job increasingly well.
But I feel that not only media, but also the civil service will not allow
any political force to make Lithuania take a U-turn. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
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9. UKRAINE: 200,000 POLICEMEN WILL MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER
AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS OCT 29-NOV 2
Ukrainian News, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 15, 2004
KYIV - 200,000 policemen will be maintaining law and order at territorial
and district electoral commissions October 29 through November 2.
Reporters learned this from Oleksandr Savchenko, head of the Interior
Ministry's public order department.
In his words, this number of policemen will be required for the maintenance
of public order in the premises of 225 territorial and 33,485 divisional
electoral commissions.
He said the police would stand guard at electoral commissions round the
clock, in three shifts, beginning from the moment of delivering ballot
papers there and until they are taken to the Central Electoral Commission.
Savchenko noted that two police officers must stay at each polling station
all the time. In his words, the Interior Ministry lacks the required number
of officers. Yet, he assured that the problem would be solved.
The Interior Ministry intends to involve in pulling duty at polling stations
not only divisional policemen, but also investigators, representatives of
interior troops and even the Emergencies Ministry, if needed.
Since the beginning of the election campaign, the police have registered 244
violations of its procedure, Savchenko said. 33 criminal cases were opened
on those charges. Over the period of the spread of canvassing materials, the
police have detained 47,200 units of illegally manufactured products.
Savchenko also noted that the Interior Ministry had set up local workgroups
to analyze the situation in provinces and determine specific measures to
prevent a kindling of passions. As Ukrainian News reported, the October 31
presidential election campaign began on July 3. -30- [Action Ukraine]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.191: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
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10. "ON THE THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY RELATED TO
UKRAINE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN"
Oleksandr Zinchenko send letter to the members of the National
Security and Defence Council (NSDC) of Ukraine
Press Service of Victor Yushchenko's Central Headquarters
Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 14, 2004, www.razom.org.ua,
RE: On the threats to national security in the context of the election
campaign: An open letter to the members of the National Security and
Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine:
KYIV - Victor Yushchenko has been appealing to the National Security
and Defense Council to react to some events connected to the election
campaign in one way or another that threaten our national security.
Moreover, representatives of his team and he have already turned to the
offices of the Prosecutor General, the MIA, and the SSU on similar issues.
Neither of those institutions has reacted to our appeals properly.
Such reaction does not surprise us because our own investigations show
that national security is threatened either by the actions of the government
and administrative organs or by those political forces that are privately
controlled by the Presidential Administration, the Cabinet of Ministers,
and the parties of the so-called parliamentary-governmental coalition.
The most dangerous are actions that threaten to create conflicts in the
spheres of ethnic and interdenominational relations, that rouse
international enmities, language and interdenominational intolerance.
It is also the matter of such threats to our national security that endanger
the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity;
(1) the use of military and law-enforcement forces in the interests of
certain political forces;
(2) the amalgamation of organized crime and the government;
(3) the restriction of the freedom of speech and the right of the people
to receive complete and reliable information.
All these threats are also clearly defined by article 7 of Ukrainian
legislation "On the basis of the national security of Ukraine."
In what follows are the facts that prove that it is the government and those
political forces it relies on that are engaging in actions that threaten our
national security.
ROUSING INTERNATIONAL, INTERREGIONAL, AND
INTERDENOMINATIONAL ENMITY
An egg hit sustained by presidential candidate Victor Yanukovych in
Ivano-Frankivsk was used by candidate Yanukovych and his team for
rousing enmities between the Eastern and Western Ukraine, for inflating
the mythical nationalist threat. It was under the mottos of fighting
"nationalist numbskulls" that Yanukovych's team, in particularly the Party
of the regions, held rallies in eastern and southern oblasts.
Over the last few weeks, other events that prove that Victor Yanukovych
and his team are attempting to bring to the center of social attention to
topics that aim to undermine the existing balanced policies in the spheres
of language and faith have also taken place, which may lead to unforeseen
consequences and to sudden escalation relations between language and
religious groups.
Through the trains of "Ukrzaliznytsya," managed directly by the Minister
of Transportation Heorhiy Kyrpa, the heads and the conductors of trains
spread printed materials that call for civil war. Millions of the same
printed materials have been discovered by Yushchenko's team at printing-
houses and in warehouses along with Yanukovych's campaign materials.
On 26 June 2004 a "parade," sanctioned by Kyiv's local authorities, of the
so-called Ukrainian National Assembly under the leadership of Eduard
Kovalenko was held. Participants of the event used symbols, stylized to
resemble that of the Nazis. They called for national intolerance, shouted
out extremist and xenophobic slogans.
Victor Yushchenko and members of his team, aiming to prevent the illegal
actions of "UNA," appealed to the office of Prosecutor General, the MIA,
the SSU, and Kyiv city council. Only the State Committee of National
Migration declared about the intentions of the Justice Ministry to turn to
the Supreme Court to prohibit the actions of "UNA;" nevertheless, there
have been now practical measures taken, as far as we know, to end its
activities.
In July, the same "UNA" headed by E. Kovalenko spread leaflets in
Donetsk calling for cleansing state institutions of the Donetsk region of
national minorities representatives within 72 hours.
Stirring international hostilities is the main subject matter in television
campaign adds by presidential candidate Roman Kozak. He speaks of
discriminating Ukrainian citizens based on ethnic and language factors.
Other of the so-called technical candidates for the presidency, associated
with the Yanukovych-Medvedchuk team, are also provoking enmities
among various regions of Ukraine, divide them into the highest and the
lowest grades, thus provoking state division based on regional
characteristics.
Stirring conflicts among the regions of Ukraine is nothing else but
encroachment upon the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity.
The state committee on the issues of nationalities and migration has pressed
for criminal charges against R. Kozak, claming that his "outrageous
statements of xenophobic nature fall within the jurisprudence of article 161
part 1 of the Criminal Code "On the equality of citizens regardless of their
racial, national, and religious background." The Office of the Prosecutor
General has not responded to the claims made by the State Committee of
National Migration in appropriate manner.
It is worth reminding about the propaganda of Nazi symbols on 31 October
2003 in Donetsk. The placement of the corresponding billboards was taking
place at night under special conditions with direct involvement of
representatives of the MIA.
Calls for international, ethnic, and interdenominational intolerance are
being broadcast, disregarding the law, by UT-1, "Inter," and "1+1"
television channels. For example, all three channels aired identical
information about the 26 June rally of the so-called "UNA," spreading
extremist and xenophobic slogans.
The same television channels, contrary to the Law "On the Presidential
Election in Ukraine," which prohibits the dissemination of any materials
that propagate war and stir ethnic, racial, or religious enmities (article
64), distribute political campaign of the corresponding nature by
presidential candidate R. Kozak and other support candidates from
the government.
Through such information policy the television companies not only
violate the law in general but also the conditions on which they received
broadcasting licenses in particular.
THE USE OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTIONS IN THE
INTERESTS OF A FEW POLITICAL FORCES
The declaration that, "militia is the government's armed force" that will
not stay away from political processes and will support the government's
candidate for the presidency, made by the Minister of Internal Affairs
Mykola Bilokon on 24 May 2004 in Donetsk at the meeting of the
oblast MIA heads, is a direct violation of the Constitution.
The personnel of the MIA is getting illegal instructions to interfere into
the election process on the side of Victor Yanukovych and to oppose
Victor Yushchenko. Militia has been engaged in guarding Victor
Yanukovych's billboards and regularly detains agitators for opposition
candidates.
The fact of surveillance after presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko has
been officially recorded. An automobile driven by an office of the MIA that
spied on Victor Yushchenko during his descending Ai-Petri was detained
on 10 July of this year in the presence of witnesses.
The head of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn declared on 8 October
that members of his family and he were under the surveillance of the MIA.
This fact also means interfering into the election process since Volodymyr
Lytvyn heads the special temporary commission of the Verkhovna Rada
of Ukraine on monitoring the implementation of Ukrainian presidential
election legislation.
This is a continuation of practice of placing politicians under the SSU
surveillance as soon as they leave the pro-government camp.
Suspicions that the SSU and its direct headship at the Presidential
Administration are spying on the president himself ought to be carefully
checked.
Nowadays, the Security Service of Ukraine has become, indeed, privatized
by a single political force. The formal head of the Service is gradually
being removed while the actual management of the SSU is done by a person
that illegally occupies the positions of the deputy head of the SSU with a
deputy's mandate and membership in the SDPU(u) faction.
The facts of interference into the electoral process by the law-enforcement
representatives on the side of a certain political force are being regularly
reported by the Committee of Constituents of Ukraine.
FINALLY, we demand detailed information on the re-deployment of
troops, supposedly connected to the holiday parade on 28 October and
about widespread assignments to Kyiv for members of the MIA from
various oblasts, particularly from Donetsk.
ALGAMATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME AND THE GOVERNMENT
The facts of amalgamation of organized crime and the government were
displayed in October 2003 in Donetsk and in April 2004 in Mukachevo,
where local authorities relied on the services of criminal groups to
counteract the opposition.
On 4 October 2004 bandits kidnapped and beat the activists of "Studentska
Khvylia" in Donetsk and interrogated them as to the activities of this
social and political organization.
On 7 October local criminal gang leaders in Konotop attacked the "Political
Vertep" ("Political Den") theater, destroyed equipment and warned about
the inadmissibility of criticism against the government.
We have received numerous calls from citizens that representatives of
various regional organized crime groups are being sent to Kyiv in order to
block the CEC on 31 October along with masked law-enforcers or to
engage in hooligan actions in the name of Yushchenko's supporters. The
same militia-criminal groups are also planning provocations for rallies in
support of Yushchenko, planned for October 16 and 23.
VIOLATIONS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OTHER CIVIL
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
The limitations of the freedom of speech and of the people's right for
receiving reliable and truthful information have reached unprecedented
heights. Such violations are also interpreted by the law as threats to
national security as well as "attempts to manipulate the public
consciousness, in particular through spreading inauthentic, incomplete,
of biased information."
On 8 October the temporary parliamentary commission on monitoring the
implementation of the legislation on the presidential election in Ukraine
stated that legal violations in this sphere were so gross that it was
impossible to talk about ensuring the principles of democracy, justice,
and equal access to mass media for all candidates for the presidency.
The practice of spreading temniks (special directives) is intensifying. The
main television channels continue receiving mandatory instructions.
The pressure of local authorities on regional mass media is growing.
The "Equal Opportunity" Committee, the "Common Space" Association,
the Association of Ukrainian press, and the Committee of Constituents
of Ukraine report numerous violations of the principle of equality for all
candidates.
The corresponding facts served as the basis for commentaries by the
European Union representatives, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, OSCE, and other respected international organizations.
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Nowadays, the main sources of threat to the national security of Ukraine
are the Presidential Administration, the Cabinet of Ministers, and [other
state] ministries and departments.
We are calling on President Kuchma as the head of the NSDCU to make a
number of staff decisions. For provoking threats to national security or for
supporting those that create such threats, dismiss the headship of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs, of the Security Service of Ukraine, the State
Television and Radio Committee, the president's Chief of Staff, as well as
submit petition to the Verkhovna Rada for dismissing the Prosecutor General,
to recall members of the National Council on Television and Radio broad-
casting delegated by the president, change the headship of the National
television company.
(signed)
People's Deputy, Deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,
The head of Victor Yushchenko's Presidential Election Campaign
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO
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[Edited by the Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service - Kyiv]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.192: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
Additional names for the distribution list are always welcome
========================================================
11 . SPEAKER LYTVYN DISCUSSES UKRAINE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS WITH AMBASSADORS OF 8 COUNTRIES
AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION AMBASSADOR BOAG
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, October 15, 2004
KYIV - Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn has discussed
issues relating to the presidential elections with Canadian Ambassador
Andrew Robinson, German Ambassador Dietmar Stuedemann, Polish
Ambassador Marek Ziolkowski, Dutch Ambassador Monique Frank,
French Ambassador Philippe de Suremain, British Ambassador Robert
Brinkley, Japanese Ambassador Kishichiro Amae, US Ambassador
John Herbst and the Head of the European Commission Delegation to
Ukraine, Ian Boag.
In the words of Lytvyn's press secretary, Ihor Storozhuk, Lytvyn held the
meeting with the ambassadors at their request. Storozhuk informed that
the ambassadors expressed concern over the course of the elections and
the situation in the mass media during the time of the presidential election
campaign. In Storozhuk's words, Lytvyn also expressed concern over
certain elements of the pre-election campaign.
Lytvyn also said that the ad hoc parliamentary commission that was set up
to monitor adherence to the election law in the course of the presidential
election campaign is striving to correct the existing violations in the
electoral process. Storozhuk said that Lytvyn informed the ambassadors
about the decision of the commission to consider as inappropriate the
making of changes to the law "On the Elections of the President of Ukraine"
before the presidential elections.
"In order to ensure the stability of the law, we agreed to sacrifice some
needs for this period [until the presidential elections], but not
fundamental changes," Storozhuk quoted Lytvyn as saying. Lytvyn also
told the ambassadors that any external influence on voters is undemocratic.
Lytvyn noted that the voters should make their choice in the presidential
elections, and not politicians.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the US had earlier voiced concerned
over the pressuring of the mass media during the time of the Ukrainian
presidential election campaign. The European Union called on the Ukrainian
authorities to provide equal access of presidential candidates to the media,
and also to ensure the independence and freedom of the media outlets
themselves.
Verkhovna Rada deputy Stepan Havrysh, who is the authorized representative
of presidential candidate, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, stated that he
considers the assessment of the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Hanne Severinsen
and Renate Wohlwend, relating to the presidential elections as biased.
Campaigning for the presidential elections in Ukraine started on July 3, and
the elections will take place on October 31. -30-
[The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service -Kyiv]
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