"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 237
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, MONDAY, November 29, 2004
-----INDEX OF ARTICLES-----
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"
1. UKRAINE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPLIT, SAYS
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA
Inter TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1130 gmt 29 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, In English, Mon, Nov 29, 2004 (11:30)
2. KUCHMA INITIATING ORGANIZATION OF FRESH
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AS WAY OR RESOLVING CONFLICT
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, November 29, 2004 (19:56)
3. FORMER PRESIDENT KRAVCHUK CONSIDERS KUCHMA
RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICAL SITUATION IN UKRAINE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, November 29, 2004 (17:02)
4. HEAD OF UKRAINE'S SEPARATIST REGION BELIEVES
EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE ACCORDING TO THE LAW
Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 1700 gmt 29 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
5. "ORANGE REVOLUTION IN KYIV"
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS: by Michael Bleyzer
Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, November 27, 2004
Published by The Action Ukraine Report, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
6. GEORGIAN MINISTRY SAYS UKRAINIAN ELECTION FLAWED
RIA news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1736 gmt 28 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Sun, Nov 28, 2004
7. AUSTRALIA QUESTIONS UKRAINE VOTE RESULTS
THE AGE, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Mon, Nov 29, 2004, 6:05PM
8. UKRAINE PRES. ELECTION OBSERVER FROM AUSTRALIA
CORROBORATES STORIES OF RIGGED VOTING
Reporter: Tony Eastley on AM National Radio
Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Sidney, Australia, Monday, 29 November, 2004 08:14:00
9. "PUTIN'S THORN"
Italian paper urges EU intervention to solve Ukraine crisis
COMMENTARY: by former Ambassador Sergio Romano
Corriere della Sera web site, Milan, Italy, in Italian 28 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
10. GROUP OF POLISH LEGISLATORS TO JOIN NEGOTIATIONS
OVER UKRAINE'S ELECTION CRISIS
Monika Scislowska, AP Worldstream, Warsaw, Poland, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
11. UKRAINE'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE WOULD SUPPORT
REVOTE IF ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD ARE PROVEN
AP Worldstream, Kiev, Ukraine, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
12. "AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EUROPE"
Article by Timothy Snyder, published in Der Standard (Vienna)
English translation sent to The Action Ukraine Report
Friday, November 26, 2004, 5:27 AM
Published by THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Monday, November 29, 2004
13. "ORANGE POWER TAKES OVER IN UKRAINE"
Article By Marta Dyczok, Kyiv, Ukraine
Sent to The Action Ukraine Report on Friday, November 26, 2004
Published by THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Monday, November 29, 2004
14. UKRAINE'S EX-DEFENCE MINISTER YEVHEN MARCHUK
WARNS MILITARY AND PRESIDENT KUCHMA
Told Yushchenko legal process will prove he had won the election
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 0200 gmt 26 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Fri, Nov 26, 2004
15. GERMAN OFFICIAL URGES CLEAR EU SIGNAL MAKING IT
CLEAR THAT UKRAINIANS AR A EUROPEAN PEOPLE
Deutschlandfunk radio, Cologne, in German 1200 gmt 29 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, November 29, 2004 (12:00)
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
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1. UKRAINE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPLIT, SAYS
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA
Inter TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1130 gmt 29 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, In English, Mon, Nov 29, 2004 (11:30)
KIEV - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has criticized calls for separatism
in eastern Ukraine. Addressing the governors of eastern regions and Crimea,
in the presence of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Kuchma called for an
end to what he described as attempts to split Ukraine. He also blamed the
western regions, where many local councils have sworn loyalty to the
opposition presidential candidate, for starting the separatist campaign. The
political crisis is highly damaging to Ukraine's economy, Kuchma added.
The following is an excerpt from Kuchma's opening remarks broadcast
by Inter TV on 29 November:
[Kuchma, addressing the meeting] I do not think there is any point in
speaking about the current situation in our country. It is critical. What
concerns me the most is the issue of our financial stability. I would like
us not to hear in this connection that the financial system will collapse
like a house of cards in several days' time. Neither the president nor the
government can take responsibility for this, because the government is
unable to work in the normal mode. All of you know this very well. But I do
not know what is the goal of those who incite these events. I do not know
what their goal is.
I would like to inform everybody that I met [opposition presidential
candidate] Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko yesterday, as well as [MP] Ivan
Stepanovych Plyushch, who is that side's main negotiator, and [parliamentary
speaker] Volodymyr Mykhaylovych Lytvyn. I did not perceive any aggression
from the main person, as it were, Mr Yushchenko.
CALLS FOR SECESSION CRITICIZED
However, I see that other people are now taking charge of the process. I
don't want to mention names or call them what they are. The calls we are
hearing from them have crossed every line. They are outside the limits of
common sense, let alone the Ukrainian law or the constitution. I have the
impression they have nothing left up there [pointing to his head]. It sounds
like someone made a recording, and the same words [can be heard] when
the tape is played back. I've said this before, and I want to repeat - if we
have this situation, let us sit down and talk, there must be a legal way
out, not a revolutionary way to solve all the problems. I don't know who
needs bits of a shattered Ukraine, but certainly not Ukrainians. I would
like to stress this. The whole system is being broken up. You knows what
follows the break-up.
I my address, I said that dreamers start revolutions, fanatics carry them
out, but scoundrels use their results. I do not want to name any names,
everybody knows them now. I do not want to offend Mr Yushchenko or those
who want to pursue a normal dialogue in any way. The most important thing is
that we agreed at the round table [involving Kuchma, Yanukovych, Yushchenko,
and mediators from the EU, OSCE and Russia on 26 November] that we have
to sit down urgently and work. Urgently, we said, to look for a political
and legal way out, because we see that it is impossible to solve this in the
legal framework.
But I would like to repeat that ignoring eastern Ukraine, where the national
output is being produced, which is working today despite all adds [changes
tack]. But they have said their word. I believe that in no case must we
allow Ukraine to break up or split. Although I understand that some want
this to happen.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF POLITICAL CRISIS
My God, for once in a thousand years, Ukraine is back up on its feet. When
someone is saying it should rise up from its knees, it did so a long time
ago. They do not want to notice this. It has started to develop normally,
people have started smiling in the street. So what are we doing?
I do not know if you listened to an interview our ministers gave yesterday,
but it is clear today that our tax administration will not receive at least
a billion [hryvnyas]. One billion. The flow of goods through Ukraine has
decreased by four times. The production of goods on a pre-paid basis - this
system has stopped working.
I don't think either [opposition presidential candidate] Viktor Yushchenko
or Viktor Yanukovych wants to be president of one part of Ukraine. Therefore
I have accepted your suggestion to meet. Indeed, this meeting is necessary.
I want us to talk man to man, without passion, about the situation in your
regions. Nobody should portray this as intimidation, because I sometimes I
watch TV.
WESTERN REGIONS BLAMED
This wasn't started by the east. This was started by the west. I will say
this again - there is no government in the western regions, the local
administrations have been removed. They have stopped paying for coal, for
gas, for power. Who wants to force anyone onto their knees?
At a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council yesterday, I read
out a telegram sent by the National Bank. Everybody knows very well that
such passions in the street cause people to withdraw money [from their bank
accounts] and convert them into dollars. It is obvious where this will lead.
I would like to say this again - all those who started this, they must know
they will be held responsible before the Ukrainian people. I do not mention
other, moral responsibility.
The finance minister [and first deputy prime minister, Mykola Azarov], who
has just left, he said there is not enough money in the coffers to pay
miners or wages. [Passage omitted: Kuchma says he has to leave the meeting
because he needs to talk by phone.] -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
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2. KUCHMA INITIATING ORGANIZATION OF FRESH
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AS WAY OR RESOLVING CONFLICT
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, November 29, 2004 (19:56)
KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma is initiating organization of fresh
presidential elections as a way of resolving the conflict resulting from
the alleged rigging on the November 21 presidential elections.
Kuchma announced this during a meeting with several regional governors,
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Parliament Speaker Volodymyr
Lytvyn, and representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers.
"If we really want to preserve peace and harmony, if we really want to build
a democratic society based on the rule of law that we have spoken a lot
about while doing everything not in the legal way, then let us go the legal
route, let us organize new elections," he said. At the same time, Kuchma
said that said that he did not plan to be a candidate in the elections.
"I want to say this beforehand so that they do not speculate on it the way
they speculated during the election campaign and before it that the
president is only proposing this in order to participate in the new
elections. I am withdrawing my candidacy to ensure that nobody has
any doubts," Kuchma said.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Kuchma is also initiating a recount of
votes or a rerun of the second round of the presidential elections in the
Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Voting in the second round of the Ukrainian
presidential elections took place on November 21. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
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3. FORMER PRESIDENT KRAVCHUK CONSIDERS KUCHMA
RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICAL SITUATION IN UKRAINE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, November 29, 2004 (17:02)
KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada's deputy, first President of Ukraine
Leonid Kravchuk considers President Leonid Kuchma responsible for
political situation in Ukraine. He made this statement while answering
the question of Ukrainian News. "No doubt responsible," Kravchuk said.
Moreover, he criticized pro-power political forces, as well as
representatives of the opposition for attempts to solve political conflict
with unconstitutional methods.
In particular, he criticized statements of MPs from ex-majority factions,
who called to creation of the South-Eastern republic at the congress in
Siverskodonetsk (Luhansk region).
At the same time, Kravchuk criticized the opposition for blocking work
of the bodies of state power, the Cabinet of Ministers and President
Administration. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
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4. HEAD OF UKRAINE'S SEPARATIST REGION BELIEVES
EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE ACCORDING TO THE LAW
Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 1700 gmt 29 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
KIEV - Serhiy Synchuk, Kharkiv Region's prosecutor, has filed a protest
against the regional council's decision to set up a southeastern autonomy.
This decision has been suspended. On the other hand, Yevhen Kushnaryov,
head of the Kharkiv regional administration, told us that there was nothing
illegal in the striving towards autonomy in the country's southern and
eastern regions.
[Kushnaryov] We have confirmed our position with regard to preserving
Ukraine's state integrity. However, there is a statement that if the
opposite side's actions overstep the legal framework and if the
nonlegitimate president undertakes strong-arm measures and actions, the
congress reserves the right, I quote, to take appropriate steps to defend
the interests of the citizens of our regions and Ukraine as a whole.
In addition, an appeal was passed to the citizens of Ukraine, heads of
state and parliaments of the world which contained a call to assist Ukraine
in resolving this protracted crisis by all means available.
If we have the Crimean autonomy, why can't we have a southeastern or any
other autonomy? Provided it corresponds to the constitution? An autonomy is
a self-contained state. By having even one autonomy we already ceased to be
a full-fledged integral state. But I stress once again that I deeply believe
that everything should develop strictly within the law. Everything must be
done to ensure that the constitution and laws remain fully in effect,
nobody's interests are infringed upon and all vital systems are functioning
in Kharkiv Region. We must wait until a legitimate president is elected,
whoever he may be, and I will accept this choice by the Ukrainian people and
will continue to work in accordance with my convictions. [Passage omitted]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
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5. "ORANGE REVOLUTION IN KYIV"
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS: by Michael Bleyzer
Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, November 27, 2004
Published by The Action Ukraine Report, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
As you likely know from the news, we are in the middle of the Orange
Revolution here in Kyiv. I can tell you that this is one of the most
incredible experiences of my entire life to be here during this time. We
have been spending a lot of time on the streets and on the main square -
Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square).
It is difficult to describe what is going on here. No news footage on your
TV screens, no pictures can express the feeling you get being surrounded
by a million people. The most amazing thing, which I believe will have
worldwide sociological implications for a long time to come, is how
incredible this crowd is. When you think of a crowd unhappy about some-
thing, being cheated by politicians, betrayed by the system - you expect a
bunch of angry, agitated people. Well, think again. This is the happiest,
friendliest, most incredibly loving and supportive group of people I have
ever encountered, except there's about a million people in this "group"!
People are smiling, singing, laughing and offering help and support to each
other.
You don't see any police anywhere, not a single policeman in sight - imagine
that. According to the mayor's office in the city of Kyiv - there are no
reports of any crime in this huge metropolitan area. Crime has stopped!
Everyone is a friend, everyone is a neighbor, everyone is a brother. I do
not know how long this can last, but we are in the middle of some kind of
miracle. The people of this country came out on the streets and said - we
have had enough! Enough of criminals running the country, enough of
corruption, enough of racket and lawlessness. We want to be free, we want
to be clean and civilized, we want to be a part of Europe and the World.
This is so good, that I am not even sure that Europe deserves them.
It is cold out there. Most nights the temperature gets well below zero
Centigrade (which is in the teens for those of you that only know
Fahrenheit). But the tent city that was built in the middle of Kyiv and now
has hundreds if not thousands of tents is very warm indeed. There are
mountains of warm clothes everywhere on Khreshchatyk (the main street
of the city), which were donated by Kyivites. Food, hot coffee, hot tea are
abundant and free everywhere. But you do not see any alcohol - this is the
most sober one million Ukrainians you will ever meet. The crowd is
completely self-organizing and improving its collective behavior
continuously. Every new day brings new elements of better organization,
improved conditions, improved communications and general "functionality"
of this amazing crowd. Where are all the sociologists? We are in the middle
of one of the greatest experiments in crowd behavior in human history.
It has become clear to any observer that this crowd is bound to win. There
is absolutely no way to stop this crowd without a massive blood bath, which
is almost impossible to imagine to take place in the center of Europe in
this early 21st century, with all the world's TV cameras now turned on
Ukraine. Over the last 5 days, the opposition has been winning continuous
victories every single day. The score for the first five rounds is clearly
5-0. The crowds are growing and demonstrations are now taking place
all over the country. More and more famous athletes, actors, artists, high
ranking military and police officers are joining the opposition. When three
days ago Ruslana, the most famous Ukrainian singer and 2004 Eurovision
contest winner, and Vladimir Klitchko, the heavyweight champion, joined
Victor Yushchenko on the podium, the crowd went wild.
The following day brought Leh Valensa, senior officers of SBU (former
KGB) and Police, several formerly neutral "oligarchs" and finally a major
breakthrough at the end of the day - the rebirth of free media in Ukraine.
Prior to that, only Channel 5 was broadcasting 24 hours a day directly from
Maidan and giving complete coverage to all the events. And of course, our
Volia Cable was proudly delivering its signal to some 1.5 million viewers in
Kyiv despite all the pressure on them, including several horrible days in
July when some of our key managers had to spend 10 days in jail. One
other channel (Era) was doing the same, but only a few hours a day.
All major channels had previously been completely ignoring the millions
of people on the streets, never reporting it and instead showing cartoons,
classical music concerts and exotic travel destinations. We knew that most
journalists from the major channels had either been fired by then or had
gone on strike because they refused to continue broadcasting lies. As a
result, all news programs on National channels 1 and 2, Inter, 1+1, Noviy,
and others simply ceased any and all operations. For 3 days in a row, most
of Ukraine, which only has access to the major channels, had no TV news.
Imagine that-the very next day after a major election-no news for three
days, no morning news, no evening news, no news at all! All these channels
simply had no creative staff left to produce bogus news. All fired or on
strike. Thursday night it all changed.
The management and owners of all of the major channels gave in to the
demands of their striking journalists and allowed honest news reporting for
the first time in the history of independent Ukraine. Some of the channels
like National Channel 1 and 1+1 began their evening news broadcast on
Thursday with a group shot of all journalists standing together and one of
them reading a statement from the creative staff in which they swore to
report honest news and honest news only!
This was one of the most unbelievable sights I have ever seen. And then
the miracle happened - they showed a direct feed of a million proud
Ukrainians on Maidan in Kyiv to the whole country. If there are defining
moments in the birth of a Nation, that was certainly one! I am so proud
to be able to witness it with my own eyes, in spite of all the tears that
covered them at that moment.
The next day (yesterday) Alexander Kwasniewski, the Polish President,
Valdas Adamkus, the Lithuanian President, Boris Gryzlov, Speaker of the
Russian Parliament, Jan Kubis, the head of the OSCE and Javier Solana,
EU foreign policy chief all arrived in Kyiv. Last night they were joined by
President Kuchma, Speaker of Ukrainian Rada (Parliament) Lytvyn, Prime
Minister and candidate Yanukovich and the leader of the opposition and
candidate Yushchenko for a showdown at the Mariinsky Palace. The
meeting lasted three hours and resulted in a general agreement to begin
negotiations and look for solutions.
Today was another exciting day with the extraordinary session of the
Ukrainian Rada currently ongoing. It started over four hours ago and is
being shown live on a number of TV channels all over the country and
also to people on the streets. We are all glued to the television screens.
The Rada already voted to consider the runoff elections invalid, express
non-confidence in the Central Election Committee and several other major
items. They are still debating, but are making good progress. Things are
looking up! The Orange Revolution continues! -30-
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Michael Bleyzer is the President and CEO of SigmaBleyzer, a Houston,
TX based Private Equity firm, which invests in South Eastern Europe,
including Ukraine. He was born in Ukraine, came to the United States
in 1978 and soon after became an American citizen. He then embarked
on a career in finance and management holding high-level positions with
such firms as Exxon USA, Exxon Chemical and Ernst & Young
Management Consulting Group.
SigmaBleyzer has been actively engaged in doing business in Ukraine
for the past ten years, investing over $100 million in a portfolio of
Ukrainian companies. Four years ago Bleyzer family established the
Bleyzer Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on economic
development of transition economies through improvements in business
environment and increasing flows of Foreign Direct Investments.
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Mr. Bleyzer can be contacted at mbleyzer@sigmableyzer.com.
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
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6. GEORGIAN MINISTRY SAYS UKRAINIAN ELECTION FLAWED
RIA news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1736 gmt 28 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Sun, Nov 28, 2004
TBILISI - The presidential election in Ukraine was held with numerous
serious violations, says an official statement from the Georgian Foreign
Ministry, received by RIA-Novosti on Sunday [28 November].
"Georgia fully shares the stand of the international community, the European
Union and respected international organizations (the OSCE and the Council
of Europe) regarding numerous serious violations in the course of the
presidential election in Ukraine," the statement said.
"Processes in the friendly state of Ukraine are of great importance to
Georgia," the Georgian Foreign Ministry statement emphasized. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
Your comments about the Report are always welcome
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7. AUSTRALIA QUESTIONS UKRAINE VOTE RESULTS
THE AGE, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Mon, Nov 29, 2004, 6:05PM
MELBOURNE - The Australian government called in the Ukrainian
ambassador to make clear its displeasure with the official result of
Ukraine's election. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told parliament
Australia could not accept the result which was full of irregularities.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets of the
capital Kiev after the November 21 election which was marred by
claims of massive voter fraud.
The official Ukrainian electoral commission recorded victory to pro-
Russian prime minister Viktor Yanukovich ahead of opposition leader
Viktor Yushchenko but an appeal is being heard by the supreme court.
The Ukrainian parliament has also declared the vote invalid although the
move is not legally binding.
Mr Downer told parliament he met with Ukrainian ambassador
Oleksandr Mischenko and had expressed the Australian government's
deep concern with the irregularities in the Ukrainian vote. "It's clear
from the reports of international observers that this is an election that
fell well short of international standards," he said.
"There was a suspiciously high voter turnout in several regions, there was
fraudulent use of absentee voting, state employees were pressured to vote
for Mr Yanukovich ... there was abuse of state resources and there was
overt media bias. "In these circumstances Australia cannot accept the
official result, we cannot accept that this is a result that reflects the
will of the Ukrainian people."
Mr Downer said the government was pleased to see the Ukrainian people
express their will through peaceful protests. "We very much hope that the
differences that the exist in the Ukraine can resolved satisfactorily but
more than that they can be resolved according to the good principles of
democracy and free and fair elections," he said. -30-
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LINK: http://www.theage.com.au
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Your comments about the Report are always welcome
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8. UKRAINE PRES. ELECTION OBSERVER FROM AUSTRALIA
CORROBORATES STORIES OF RIGGED VOTING
Reporter: Tony Eastley on AM National Radio
Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Sidney, Australia, Monday, 29 November, 2004 08:14:00
TONY EASTLEY: Australian, Peter Rommaniew was an observer for
the American Ukrainian Congress [at the polls. He says since the election
Ukrainians in the east of the country have received little information about
the vote rigging. Peter Rommaniew told me he'd seen widespread voting
irregularities firsthand.
PETER ROMMANIEW: There'd be a list with peoples names on it more
than once, therefore giving them the opportunity to vote more than once.
I saw students being intimidated, threatened, houses vandalized, I saw
people being taken off lists, whereas they were on a list and then for some
reason a couple of days before the election the lists were changed, so when
they came to vote they weren't eligible to vote.
People in our group were able to buy absentee voting tickets, so in effect
people could buy those and then go to different polling stations and vote
more than once. There were buses driving from polling station to polling
station, so taking people from to one to another so they could vote more
than once.
TONY EASTLEY: So you had no doubt that the election was fraudulent?
PETER ROMMANIEW: Absolutely no doubt in my mind.
TONY EASTLEY: Some of your election monitoring occurred in the east
of the country - that is the support base area for Viktor Yanukovich. What
are the feelings like in the east and do you think they're strong enough to
force secession?
PETER ROMMANIEW: The east of Ukraine is Yanukovich predominantly,
but I think the main reason why there's such a difference is the lack of
media coverage. There's independent media here, but it doesn't reach the
east of Ukraine. People in the east of Ukraine don't have as much media
coverage of what Yushchenko puts out, so they have biased view.
At the moment, if things go the way they are, they might have a referendum.
I think if all the news gets through then I think that people will see that
Yanukovich and his people did cause great fraud and are not to be trusted.
TONY EASTLEY: But what process do you think will see that outcome of
a new government installed? Do you hold out any hope for the court hearings,
for instance, which will decide the election outcome?
PETER ROMMANIEW: Well, hopefully the Supreme Court will verify that
the vote was fraudulent and hopefully that way Yushchenko can take office
and if not then it's going to be very difficult to see what's going to
happen and if another vote is held, it's going to be very difficult to
monitor and to make sure that once again it's not fraudulent.
TONY EASTLEY: Peter Rommaniew, an observer for the American
Ukrainian Congress at this month's presidential poll in Ukraine. -30-
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LINK: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2004/s1253755.htm
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.237: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
Suggested articles for publication in the Report are always welcome
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9. "PUTIN'S THORN"
Italian paper urges EU intervention to solve Ukraine crisis
COMMENTARY: by former Ambassador Sergio Romano
Corriere della Sera web site, Milan, Italy, in Italian 28 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
MILAN - Excerpt from commentary by former Ambassador Sergio Romano
entitled "Putin's Thorn" by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera web site
on 28 November In a conversation with foreign correspondents in Moscow,
which was reported in yesterday's [27 November] edition of La Stampa ,
Sergey Markov, an international affairs adviser to [Russian President]
Vladimir Putin, said that Warsaw had a hand in recent events in Ukraine.
Seemingly, clues to this are legion. Lech Walesa, the elderly leader of the
Solidarnosc [Solidarity] union, suddenly reappeared in a square in the
Ukraine capital alongside the pro-Western candidate, Viktor Yushchenko.
Sitting at the negotiating table in recent hours with the Ukrainian
leadership, Javier Solana, the EU foreign minister, linked up with Polish
President Aleksandr Kwasniewski. Meanwhile, in Washington, the
Brzezinski family (the most influential Polish clan in US politics) was
giving interviews and pressuring the Bush administration to decry the
fake electoral victory of pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych.
It is likely that the "Polish Plot" theory is only crassly exaggerated
propaganda. However, resounding in Markov's ear was the echo of
an ancient phobia of Russia.
Slightly less than 400 years have gone by since the Poles of King Sigismund
and of his son Vladislav roamed freely over the Russian plains wreaking
havoc among the boyars of Muscovite society. [Passage omitted] For the
Russians, Ukraine is ancestral land wherein are deposited the archetypes of
their religion, their art, their monastic architecture, and their liturgical
tradition. What would Russia be without the conversion to Christianity by
Vladimir, Kiev's Prince of Russia?
What would the history of Slavic orthodoxy be without the great subterranean
monastery of the Ukraine capital? What would the great literature of Russia
be without Nikolay Gogol's " Dead Souls " and " Taras Bulba"? However,
for the Poles, Ukraine is the land they conquered, colonized, partially tore
from Greek Christianity, and annexed to the great dominions of Latin
Christianity. This constant wavering on history's part has left on the
terrain the marks of an obvious ambiguity.
Lviv is a central European city, much closer to the baroque of 18th-century
Poland than to the Russian villages of eastern Ukraine. Kiev is an eclectic
city where a cathedral designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli stands a short
distance from the monastic complex of Pecherska Lavra, built in 1051. Even
the language changes as one travels across the country from east to west: it
is a variation of the Russian spoken in the eastern provinces, but markedly
influenced by the Polish spoken in the western provinces. Perhaps the
overriding symbol of Ukraine's ambiguity is represented by one of its major
religious groups, the Uniate, who are Catholics and bow to the Roman
pontifex, but celebrate their rites according to Greek liturgy.
Can such a country be united and sovereign at the same time? Certainly,
there is a long-standing Ukrainian aspiration towards independence. But,
it has been achieved only for brief periods, as in the early postwar years,
when both its neighbours were on their knees. Then, no sooner had one
of them lifted its head, that Ukraine fell, either totally or partially,
beneath its dominion, thus inevitably being perceived by the other as a
potential threat. Today, the European Union's appearance on the scene
could change the rules of game.
Finally, there is an arbiter that is perhaps able to suggest and support a
solution that is different from those that history has so far imposed on
this beleaguered region. However, it cannot limit itself to simply preaching
the catechism of democracy. It will also have to assure Putin that Ukraine
will no longer be a Polish thorn in the side of the Russian state. -30-
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
Letters to the editor are always welcome
=========================================================
10. GROUP OF POLISH LEGISLATORS TO JOIN NEGOTIATIONS
OVER UKRAINE'S ELECTION CRISIS
Monika Scislowska, AP Worldstream, Warsaw, Poland, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
WARSAW - A group of Polish legislators arrived in Ukraine on Monday
to help mediate a solution to the bitter dispute over the country's
presidential election, Polish officials said. Ukrainian parliamentary
speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn had asked the Polish lawmakers to join
negotiations.
Poland's chief legislator, parliamentary speaker Jozef Oleksy, said the
group is to meet Lytvyn as well as Ukraine's outgoing President Leonid
Kuchma and western-leaning opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who
claims he was robbed of the presidency through electoral fraud.
No meeting is planned with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, officially
declared the election's winner, but Oleksy said he was open to talks with
him. The group is "not to interfere or dictate solutions but to offer
assistance," Oleksy told the Polish news agency PAP. It includes members
of Poland's two ruling central-left parties, an opposition party legislator
and Poland's former ambassador to Moscow, Stanislaw Ciosek.
Support for Yushchenko has been overwhelming in Poland, Ukraine's
western neighbor, with demonstrations in his favor seen across the country
over the weekend. Gdansk Mayor Pawel Adamowicz on Monday put a
3-meter (10 feet) orange scarf, the color of Yushchenko's campaign, on
the city's trademark Neptune fountain. "We want to show our support for
a free Ukraine in an original way," said Slawomir Nowak, a member of
the leading Civic Platform party.
On Friday in Kiev, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski took part in
round table talks among the key figures in Ukraine's dispute that brought no
major breakthrough. Earlier in the week, Lech Walesa, founder of the Polish
Solidarity movement, traveled to Ukraine to show his support for Yushchenko.
In response to an eastern Ukrainian province's call for a referendum on
autonomy, Kwasniewski said Monday he expected Ukraine's authorities
would "strongly oppose" the idea. "This is indeed extremely dangerous,"
Kwasniewski said in an interview for the Trybuna newspaper. -30-
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
Letters to the editor are always welcome
=========================================================
11. UKRAINE'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE WOULD SUPPORT
REVOTE IF ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD ARE PROVEN
AP Worldstream, Kiev, Ukraine, Mon, Nov 29, 2004
KIEV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said Monday he would
support a revote if allegations of fraud in Ukraine's presidential election
are proven.
Attending a meeting with President Leonid Kuchma and top officials from
eastern Ukraine regions, Yanukovych said that if a decision was taken to
call a revote and "if there is evidence of falsification, I will agree with
this decision."
Yanukovych said he would call on voters in Donetsk and Luhansk _ two
industrial regions in Ukraine's east where he won strong backing _ to
participate. But he added that he hadn't seen any evidence of fraud, and
suggested that a revote would be against the law. -30-
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
Letters to the editor are always welcome
=========================================================
12. "AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EUROPE"
Article by Timothy Snyder, published in Der Standard (Vienna)
English translation sent to The Action Ukraine Report
Friday, November 26, 2004, 5:27 AM
Published by The Action Ukraine Report
Washington, D.C., Monday, November 29, 2004
More than Yugoslavia in the last decade, more than Turkey in the decade
to come, Ukraine today is the test for Europe. The European Union and
its member states must take a clear stand for a peaceful resolution of
this conflict that endorses the will of the Ukrainian people.
It is alarming for Europe that Moscow apparently believes it can
intervene in Ukrainian politics, and in effect choose the president of
Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin intervened openly in the election
campaign, twice visiting Ukraine to back his candidate. Putin has in
effect told the world that only elections won by his candidate would be
democratic. But democracy is not about the preferences of outside
leaders, it is about a process. This process was abused in Ukraine, in
all likelihood with Russian funding, and certainly with the help of
Russian advisors.
Russia is about to make a big mistake. Such interference in Ukrainian
affairs will require, sooner or later, the use of military force.
Russia cannot control a country of fifty million people, the vast
majority of whom care of about their own independence, without
destroying itself. Russian soldiers in a foreign country shooting
foreign civilians would be a catastrophe for all concerned, especially
Russia.
Rather than supporting his man come what may, President Putin should
join the call for peaceful discussions and negotiations. He still has
time to take a position in line with this international consensus. The
European Union and its member states must insist on precisely this.
Those who care about the future of Russia should be the first to argue
for a Ukrainian solution that respects the will of Ukrainians.
The European Union is a center of democracy in the world. If Europe
wishes to be a power, it must have some influence upon its neighbors,
especially its immediate European neighbors. It must translate its
enormous economic power and cultural appeal into foreign policy. If
not now, when?
To secure democracy in Ukraine is in the interest of the European Union,
because democratic neighbors are peaceful and prosperous neighbors. It
is also a test for a Europe that wishes to play a role in the world.
Yet above all democracy is also a goal which Europe must pursue if it is
to be true to itself. -30-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy Snyder, Associate Professor, Yale University
Visiting Fellow, Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen, Vienna
English translation of "Eine Chance für Europe: Die EU ist in der
Ukraine als Schutzmacht der Demokratie gefordert," Der Standard,
Vienna, 26 November 2004, p. 35.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: This article is published with the permission of the
author. Mr. Snyder can be contacted at timothy.snyder@yale.ed.
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
Letters to the editor are always welcome
=========================================================
13. "ORANGE POWER TAKES OVER IN UKRAINE"
Article By Marta Dyczok, Kyiv, Ukraine
Sent to The Action Ukraine Report on Friday, November 26, 2004
Published by THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Monday, November 29, 2004
Its over. The orange revolution has won in Ukraine. As I started writing
this, a police officer was standing on the podium at Kyiv's Independence
Square and announcing that the police are with the people. He said that if
foreign troops arrive in Kyiv the police will use force to defend the
people. The men in blue had donned orange ribbons onto their uniforms and
joined the crowd. Protesters were shouting, "The police are with the
people." Half an hour earlier General Skybentsky of the SBU (Secret
Services of Ukraine) also stood facing the crowd and announced that they
were going to defend the constitution and the people. He is adviser to SBU
Chief Smeshko. Lt Gen. Mykhailo Kutsin declared that Ukraine's military will
not act against the people. The men in uniform have taken the side of the
protesters.
Earlier in the day the Constitutional Court declared that the Central
Election Commission cannot legally announce election results until all the
complaints have been investigated, thus Yanukhovych cannot be declared
President. Shortly afterwards Yushchenko and his campaign manager went
down to Independence Square and proclaimed the first four decrees of the
National Salvation Committee formed by the orange leader yesterday. The
key message was the need to maintain order and an end to censorship.
This was the first concrete step in talking power.
And censorship has finally ended. Now the entire country can see what is
really happening in the capital and the country. I have been glued to my TV
set for much of the day and have been amazed at what I have been seeing.
Two national TV channels reportedly owned by Victor Medvechuk (head
of Kuchma's presidential administration) started reporting the news
impartially for the first time in years. This began with tonight's 7:30
evening news programme TSN on Channel 1+1. It was the first newscast
in 2 days.
The channel had the most censored news in Ukraine but on election night
(21 September 2004), their news journalists staged a revolt. The entire news
team refused to present a censored version of the news and the election
night show had to be cancelled. The only one left on the air was the news
editor and censor Viacheslav Pikhovshchek.
Tonight's evening's broadcast began with a special announcement. The entire
news team, except for the censor Pikhovshchek, was in front of the camera.
Former general manager, Oleksandr Rodniansky, addressed Ukrainians and
said that although in the past their journalists were forced to censor the
news they were reporting, but this had come to an end. From now on they
were no longer submitting to censorship and would report the full story and
give all sides the opportunity to express their own views. Channel 1+1 has
finally fired Viacheslav Pikhovshchek from his news editor post.
Half an hour later, another Medvechuk owned channel, INTER TV, began
a live talk show where Petro Poroshenko and Nestor Shufrych were the
invited guests. Poroshenko is one of Yushchenko's main allies, head of the
Parliamentary Budget Committee and owner of the alternative Channel 5
station. Shufrych is a key player in Yanukhovych's inner circle. Poroshenko,
began by greeting the viewers of INTER, saying, "Hello! For the first time
in four years I have the pleasure of addressing you in a live show, am able
to tell you my views and engage in an open debate with my political
opponent. This is a wonderful moment for you, for the INTER channel and
freedom of speech in Ukraine."
The lifting of censorship really signals the end of the old regime. Now that
all Ukrainians will be able to see and hear what is really happening in the
capital Kyiv, what Yushchenko is saying directly and without a filter,
Yanukhovych's support is likely to melt away. A clear sign of this was that
Novyi Channel's evening news reported that Yanukhovych was giving a press
conference but they did not have image the event. As I flicked channels, I
realized that none of the TV channels were covering the Yanukhovych press
conference live - all the reports were about what was happening in
Independence Square. That is where the police officer was addressing the
crowds.
Even the state-owned national channel UT1 submitted to the demands of their
news journalist and released them from censorship. They too have been
refusing to report biased news for 2 days and there has been no news on the
country's main channel until tonight, when on the 9:00 PM news the company's
director was shown telling journalists to report the news as they saw it.
Trade Unions leaders met in Kyiv today, elected a new, independent head,
declared their support for Yushchenko and made their building available to
the protesters. It stands on one of the corners of Independence Square where
people have shouting Yushchenko! President! for four days. It quickly became
a welcome warm place to go for people who have been standing in minus 10
degree temperature for days. Local government reps from the entire country
also met in Kyiv and declared their support for Yushchenko. The Minister of
European Integration quit his job - the first defection from the Yanukhovych
government. The Kyiv Procurator's office and 300 diplomats have also thrown
their support behind Yushchenko.
Kuchma, Yanukhovych, Tabachnyk, Kravchuk and others are still calling for
negotiations, but there is an air of desperation in their statements as they
appeal to parents to take their kids off the streets and tell them to stop
protesting. The momentum has clearly shifted to Yushchenko's side it's just
a matter of time until he becomes the country's leader. As a long time
observer of Ukrainian politics, I was hesitating to make a prediction until
today. But now it is clear that the people of Ukraine have stood up for
their right to choose and they are choosing Yushchenko. The instruments of
force have supported them, and the fact the censorship has been lifted is a
clear sign that the authorities are in retreat. The only remaining question
is how to determine the process for transferring power and this is a
formality. The Supreme Court has opened up one route but the rest we'll
have to wait and see. There is little reason to fear violence - the old
guard just won't have the stomach for it.
The mood in Independence Square is celebratory - the music which has been
playing for four days and nights has been turned up and people continue to
be happy. The people who have been standing there in the cold and snow have
not stopped smiling, singing and dancing since they arrived. It almost seems
that they knew all along that they would win. -30-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marta Dyczok is Associate Professor at the Departments of History and
Political Science at the University of Western Ontario, and Fellow at the
Centre of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Toronto,
Canada. She is the author of two books: The Grand Alliance and Ukrainian
Refugees (Macmillan, 2000) and Ukraine: Change Without Movement,
(Harwood Academic Publishers, 2000). For the last number of year she
has been conducting research on mass media in post communist Ukraine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: This article is published with the permission of the
author Marta Dyczok. She can be contacted at mdyczok@uwo.ca.
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER FOURTEEN
Letters to the editor are always welcome
=========================================================
14. UKRAINE'S EX-DEFENCE MINISTER YEVHEN MARCHUK
WARNS MILITARY AND PRESIDENT KUCHMA
Told Yushchenko legal process will prove he had won the election
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 0200 gmt 26 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Fri, Nov 26, 2004
KIEV - Ukraine's former security supremo has made a passionate televised
appeal to all sides in the conflict over the disputed presidential election.
Speaking on opposition 5 Kanal, former Defence Minister Yevhen Marchuk urged
President Leonid Kuchma to admit widespread vote rigging and warned that his
denial was setting the public against him. He told opposition leader Viktor
Yushchenko that the legal process would prove he had won the election.
Marchuk pleaded with the military not to use force against civilians but
also warned protesters against storming government property. He urged the
Russian Black Sea Fleet, deployed in Ukraine, to keep from intervening in
the conflict and warned the Russian ambassador, Viktor Chernomyrdin, against
misinforming President Putin. Marchuk had served in every top security post
under President Kuchma - as head of Security Service and National Security
and Defence Council and as defence minister - until his dismissal shortly
before the presidential election.
The following is an excerpt from Marchuk's address report by Ukrainian
television TV 5 Kanal on 26 November:
[Marchuk] Dear viewers of 5 Kanal, dear participants in the political
events, dear government officials, dear military. [Passage omitted: could
not speak earlier due to illness]
POLICE MUST HELP, NOT FIGHT CIVILIANS
[Addressing servicemen] When fulfilling any orders given to you, you must
remember one thing: you are dealing with human beings, civilians, citizens,
your brothers, sisters or friends. The main thing is: using force - to say
nothing of using arms - against civilians, against your fellow citizens is
an extremely high risk.
You must remember that any political orders are usually issued verbally,
while commanders issue orders either in writing or verbally. Therefore you
must be very clear about formulating and understanding orders.
Using force, in any form, is not only a great risk as I said, but is always
fraught with casualties, even when weapons are not used. Servicemen know
well that you can use force without using arms and cause panic and
casualties among protesters because of chaotic movement of a panicking
crowd of people. This is a science you've studied well.
It is worth reminding you that the law on the fundamental principles of
national security says that before deciding to use force a government must
weigh its force compared to the object it plans to using force against. To
put it simply, you cannot use force against the peaceful population. While
using other means, you must ask yourselves whether this could lead to panic
and casualties.
To special forces. I understand that today you are called upon to perform
various tasks as special units within the Ministry of Interior and the
Security Service. When I worked on the law on the Security Services of
Ukraine, I had to add one article, almost in the last minute: officers,
servicemen and officials at the Security Service of Ukraine must not perform
orders that do not correspond to the constitution and the law. The same is
stipulated in other laws that regulate security agencies. In this connection
I want to remind you that most special units must now, first of all, stay at
their home base and, mainly, not to perform any tasks in plain clothes,
especially in protesters' midst. The only thing you can do is help
protesters in keeping order, preventing provocations and identifying
provocateurs who can cause a lot of trouble.
I also want to address special units of the Interior Ministry and interior
troops. It's hard work now. But you must remember one thing. You are
facing people who disagree with the outcome of the election. They are
defending their constitutional right to protest. It is their constitutional
right, and you must help them.
PROTESTERS MUST NOT STORM
I also want to address protesters themselves. Friends, you need to
understand that there are instances when governments can legitimately use
force: when government bodies come under attack: either the presidential
administration, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Supreme Council, the
Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court. [Passage omitted: these are
guarded by police] Therefore, there should be no storming. Any storming
will invariably cause casualties.
RUSSIA WARNED
I also wish to address the leaders of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and my
colleague, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov. Please give an order to
all your units. It is desirable now, while there is a crisis in Ukraine,
that the main units of the Black Sea Fleet stay at their home base. This
would be the wisest and farsighted decision. You have a complex status.
You are based in a foreign state. Therefore, any careless action could cause
great harm to Ukrainian-Russian relations and the fleet's continued
deployment in Ukraine.
I would also like to address the Russian ambassador in Ukraine, Viktor
Chernomyrdin. [In Russian] Viktor Stepanovich, please try and insist that
your staff report unbiased information to the Russian president about the
true state of affairs in Ukraine regarding the election. The Russian
president must receive maximum objective information about developments in
Ukraine. I am sorry, I have certain reasons to give you this advice. But we
have known each other for a long time, and I think you get my meaning.
MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT KUCHMA: VOTE WAS RIGGED
[In Ukrainian] I would also like to address the president of Ukraine. Leonid
Danylovych, you know very well the true state of affairs and the true
reasons for the current situation. I have told you before, it is sad to see
how you are ending your presidency. But unfortunately this is the way it is.
You are president now, and very much depends on you. And intimidation is
not the way out - for either side. The situation has reached boiling point,
a
level of confrontation with such potential that the risk is growing every
day. Only talks and nothing else can resolve this problem. You as president
must seize the initiative and understand that today you as the guardian of
the constitution and stability you bear the chief responsibility for
stability and a peaceful way to resolve this conflict situation.
Leonid Danylovych, all people know there was widespread vote-rigging. Maybe
you don't know this, but teams of Donbass people toured the country in
carousel voting by absentee ballots. And before that there were squads going
around intimidating electoral commissions and voters. They added a huge
number of people to the circle of [opposition leader Viktor] Yushchenko's
supporters and turned many people away from you. Believe me, it is these
circumstances that scared many people, that this is possible in Ukraine, -
these very circumstances caused the greatest damage to your reputation.
Maybe your headquarters do not tell you this, but I have the moral right -
and you know why - to say this straight to your face. [Passage omitted: more
in this vein]
There is only one solution: talks. But not talks between the victorious and
the defeated, but talks between equals. And to reach the platform of equals,
you must seriously consider what happened during the election. And the fact
that there was widespread vote rigging has been proven. [Passage omitted:
hopes there will be no bloodshed.]
The protest potential is growing fast. But the government is also
concentrating a large potential to counter it. And I know that this
potential is strong. Therefore, you must stop. Just as the arms race which
seemed insurmountable was once stopped, now we must stop the growth of
potential on both sides. The situation is extremely dangerous.
COURTS WILL PROVE OPPOSITION VICTORY
I also wish to address Viktor Yushchenko. Viktor Andriyovych, I am firmly
convinced that legal and constitutional procedures can prove that you won.
=========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 237: ARTICLE NUMBER FIFTEEN
Your financial support for this Report is needed
=========================================================
15. GERMAN OFFICIAL URGES CLEAR EU SIGNAL MAKING IT
CLEAR THAT UKRAINIANS AR A EUROPEAN PEOPLE
Deutschlandfunk radio, Cologne, in German 1200 gmt 29 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, November 29, 2004 (12:00)
COLOGNE, Germany- The chairwoman of the German-Ukrainian group of
parliamentarians, Hoffmann, has stated after a visit to Kiev that people in
the country want democracy. In an interview for Deutschlandfunk, the SPD
[Social Democratic Party of Germany] politician expressed the hope that the
supreme court would not accept the election result.
At the same time, Mrs Hoffmann, who was also an election observer, pleaded
in favour of a clear signal from the EU making it clear that the Ukrainians
are a European people. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
=========================================================
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