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Action Ukraine Report

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

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

"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" - Number 452
E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net
Washington, D.C. and Kyiv, Ukraine, TUESDAY, March 29, 2005

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

1. BALTIC SEA-BLACK SEA "AXIS" ADUMBRATED
Saakashvili meets Yushchenko in Kyiv
By Vladimir Socor, The Eurasia Daily Monitor
Volume 2, Issue 60, The Jamestown Foundation
Washington, D.C., Monday, March 28, 2005

2. ZINCHENKO TRAVELS TO UNITED STATES TO DISCUSS
YUSHCHENKO'S FORTHCOMING VISIT
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

3. RUSSIA'S GAZPROM OFFERS UKRAINE ALL THE GAS IT NEEDS
AT EUROPEAN PRICES
RIA news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1640 gmt 28 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, March 28, 2005

4. UKRAINE SEEN USING ANY PRETEXT TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT
FOR RUSSIAN MILITARY IN CRIMEA
Dmitriy Litovkin report: "The Russian Assault Landing Force
in Crimea Has Sustained a Political Defeat"
By Dmitriy Litovkin, Izvestia
Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 28, 2005

5. UKRAINIAN JUSTICE MINISTER ZVARYCH SAYS GOVERNMENT
MEMBERS LOBBY CORRUPT OIL INTERESTS
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1800 gmt 28 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, March 28, 2005

6. UKRAINE INTERIOR MINISTER LUTSENKO GRILLED ON TV
One Plus One TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1915 gmt 28 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, March 28, 2005

7. UKRAINE: FOREIGN INVESTORS SIGNAL CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM
By Nikola Krastev, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
New York, New York, Monday, March 21, 2005

8. UKRAINE: ECONOMICS MINISTRY WORRIED OVER SMALL
BUSINESSES' POOR PERFORMANCE
Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

9. UKRAINE: KYIV AIMING TO SET UP COUNCIL OF INVESTORS
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

10. COMMITTEE OF UKRAINIAN VOTERS VIEWS ACTIVE ELECTION
LEGISLATION AS UNFIT FOR 2006 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Olena Bylim, Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

11. YANUKOVYCH CRITICIZES PRESIDENT YUSCHENKO FOR
REFUSING TO ATTEND MILITARY PARADE IN MOSCOW MAY 9
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 28, 2005

12. U.S. PHYSICIANS SAY UKRAINIAN MEDICS DID THEIR BEST
TO SAVE 5 YEAR-OLD NASTIA OVCHAR
By Lyudmyla Shershel, Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

11. UKRAINE PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO PLANS TO SPEAK
IN WASHINGTON, CHICAGO AND BOSTON DURING VISIT TO USA
Now Going to New York City on Thursday, April 7th?
Kateryna Yushchenko To Speak at University of Chicago
E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, March 29, 2005

12. PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE TO SPEAK AT GEORGETOWN UNIV.
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., March, 2005

13. PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO WILL SPEAK
TO THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
Chicago, Illinois, March, 2005

14. "UKRAINE: NEW WAVE OF DEMOCRACY"
Speech by Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine, at Harvard
April 5, 2005, Institute of Politics
The Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 23, 2005

15. LEADER OF ORANGE REVOLUTION COMING TO WASHINGTON
Orange Revolution Rally, Shevchenko Monument &
Banquet in Washington, D.C. on Wed, April 6, 2005
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, March 29, 2005

16. SPECIAL SEMINAR ON BUSINESS EDUCATION IN UKRAINE
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Wednesday, March 30, 2005
The Center for Nations in Transition (CNT)
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Friday, March 25, 2005

17. A HOME IN UKRAINE - FORMER TIMES-NEWS JOURNALIST
WITNESSES ORANGE REVOLUTION AS PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER
By Lorraine Cavener, Times-News correspondent
The Times-News, Magicvalley.com
Twin Falls, Idaho, Sunday, March 27, 2005

18. PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO AND HIS SPOUSE MIX WITH
PARTICIPANTS IN AND GUESTS OF FOLKLORE THEATRICALS
Ivan Honchar Museum Center of Folk Culture in Kyiv
Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005
============================================================
1. BALTIC SEA-BLACK SEA "AXIS" ADUMBRATED
Saakashvili meets Yushchenko in Kyiv

By Vladimir Socor, The Eurasia Daily Monitor
Volume 2, Issue 60, The Jamestown Foundation
Washington, D.C., Monday, March 28, 2005

On an official visit to Kyiv on March 25-26, Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili and his Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yushchenko, used the
term "Baltic Sea-Black Sea Axis," referring to countries pursuing shared
interests in this region: the three Baltic states, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova,
Romania, and Georgia.

In a joint declaration on strategic partnership and in their press
conference statements, Yushchenko and Saakashvili announced that their
countries would support each other's aspirations regarding NATO and the
European Union. They underscored Ukraine's and Georgia's interests in
developing transit capacities to supply Caspian oil and gas to Europe.

They called for efforts to resolve the "frozen" conflicts in Abkhazia, South
Ossetia, and Transnistria under international auspices. And they committed
themselves to revitalizing the GUAM group of countries (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Moldova), the presidents of which are scheduled to hold a
GUAM summit on April 22 in Chisinau.

Disclaiming any role as "exporters of revolution," Saakashvili and
Yushchenko noted the specific circumstances that had made possible the
Rose and Orange revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. Saakashvili criticized
Kyrgyzstan's ousted president Askar Akayev for refusing to negotiate with
opposition leaders and rejecting Saakashvili's mediation offer (see EDM,
March 23). He and Yushchenko urged all political groups in Kyrgyzstan to
resolve the political crisis nonviolently through a process of national
conciliation.

Clearly signaling a low regard for the Commonwealth of Independent
States, the two presidents stated that they would only support "rational"
undertakings within its framework, without, however, citing any such
undertaking. Furthermore, they would not join any CIS projects that would
"interfere with the prospects of [their countries'] integration with the
EU."

Yushchenko termed the CIS a mirage, "a steam engine that was manufactured
with so much effort but gives so little steam. We don't have much time to
waste on such fata-morgana projects." Against this backdrop, Yushchenko's
and Saakashvili's denial of intent to withdraw from the CIS seemed
tantamount to suggesting that such a step would not be worth the bother.

During the visit, Saakashvili hinted that he might not attend the
anniversary celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory in the Second World
War on May 9 in Moscow. The decision will largely depend on results in the
ongoing negotiations on withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. The
March 24-25 negotiating round in Moscow only confirmed Russia's intentions
to perpetuate its military presence in Georgia. For his part, Yushchenko
announced that he would only attend a CIS summit in the Russian capital on
May 8, but would return home to mark May 9 with his nation; and, apparently,
with a rather different message.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko announced her decision to pay
her first visit abroad in that capacity to Georgia, rather than to Russia as
had previously been announced. Defense Ministers Anatoly Hrytsenko and
Irakli Okruashvili signed a cooperation plan for 2005 envisaging joint
activities by ground troops on both countries' territories as well as naval
exercises in the Black Sea.

Also on March 25, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis
arrived in Chisinau for meetings with President Vladimir Voronin and other
Moldovan leaders. The visit was clearly designed to firm up Voronin's
commitment to the pro-Western course. Valionis offered Lithuanian expert
assistance to Moldova in terms of harmonizing national legislation with that
of the EU, taking best advantage of the EU's Neighborhood Policy, fulfilling
the recently adopted EU-Moldova Action Plan, and using Lithuania's
experience of implementing political, economic, and administrative reforms
in compliance with EU requirements.

To facilitate the transfer of such expertise, Valionis and his Moldovan
counterpart, Andrei Stratan, agreed that the two governments would develop
systematic inter-ministerial contacts. Voronin and Valionis jointly called
for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova and full-fledged
participation by the United States, the European Union, Romania, and Ukraine
in diplomatic efforts to settle the Transnistria conflict "on the basis of
rule of law and democracy." Voronin has invited Lithuanian President Valdas
Adamkus to Chisinau for the GUAM summit in April and for a bilateral visit
in September.

The informal term Baltic Sea-Black Sea Axis does not pertain to any
particular grouping, but rather to countries belonging to several Western or
Western-oriented institutions and groups that overlap in this region. These
include: NATO and the EU with their new member countries in the region; the
Vilnius group of NATO new-member and aspirant countries; GUAM; and the
New Friends of Georgia group of countries (the three Baltic states, Poland,
Romania, and Bulgaria), founded in Tbilisi last month. This configuration is
an outcome of the recent, second round of Euro-Atlantic enlargement and
a basis for working toward a third enlargement round. -30-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Interfax-Ukraine, UNIAN, Ukrainian Channel Five TV, Rustavi-2 TV, and
Imedi TV, March 25, 26; BNS, Moldpres, March 25)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK: http://www.jamestown.org
============================================================
2. ZINCHENKO TRAVELS TO UNITED STATES TO DISCUSS
YUSHCHENKO'S FORTHCOMING VISIT

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

KYIV - State Secretary Oleksandr Zinchenko has traveled to the United
States for a working visit to discuss President Viktor Yuschenko's
forthcoming visit to the country. The presidential press service disclosed
this to Ukrainian News.

"The visit is taking place within the context of Viktor Yuschenko's visit to
the United States that is planned for April 4-7," the press service said.
According to the press service, Zinchenko's visit will last until March 30.

In Washington, Zinchenko will hold a series of meetings with the United
States leadership and politicians to discuss the present state of and
prospects for Ukrainian-American cooperation as well as pressing
international issues.

The press service said that Zinchenko's visit to the United States is
aimed at further developing political dialogue with the United States
at all levels.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yuschenko's visit to the United
States is planned for the April 4-7 period. According to the United
States Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, the United States
expects Ukrainian-American relations to enter a new stage after
Yuschenko's visit. -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
============================================================
3. RUSSIA'S GAZPROM OFFERS UKRAINE ALL THE GAS IT NEEDS
AT EUROPEAN PRICES

RIA news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1640 gmt 28 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, March 28, 2005

MOSCOW - Gazprom can fully meet Ukraine's requirements in Russian
natural gas at market prices as early as in 2006. A statement to this effect
was made on Monday [28 March] by Gazprom board chairman Aleksey Miller
after his meeting with Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov and
chairman of the board of the Naftohaz Ukrayiny national joint-stock company
Oleksiy Ivchenko.

"We support the Ukrainian side's proposal to move to monetary payments
for the transit of gas through Ukrainian territory and to raise the tariff
rates to the European level," said Miller, whose words are quoted in a press
release from the Gazprom press service. "Gazprom, for its part, can fully
meet Ukraine's requirements in Russian natural gas at European-level
market prices," he said.

"The Naftohaz Ukrayiny national joint-stock company is a strategic partner
for Gazprom, and successful cooperation between the two companies is of
fundamental importance to both Russia and Ukraine," Miller said. Gas transit
through Ukrainian territory totalled 138bn cu.m. in 2004, and the plan for
2005 is 128.1bn. In 2004, Gazprom supplied 29.2bn cubic metres to Ukraine
as payment for gas transit through its territory. In accordance with the
protocol on volumes and terms transit, 2005 supplies are planned at 23bn
cu.m. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
============================================================
4. UKRAINE SEEN USING ANY PRETEXT TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT
FOR RUSSIAN MILITARY IN CRIMEA
Dmitriy Litovkin report: "The Russian Assault Landing Force
in Crimea Has Sustained a Political Defeat"

By Dmitriy Litovkin, Izvestia
Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 28, 2005

The row over the "illegal" landing of 142 Russian naval infantrymen and 28
pieces of combat equipment on the shores of Crimea at the end of last week
(the Ukrainians prevented the naval infantrymen staging a planned exercise,
and the Russians retreated "without a fight") is settled. This was
announced by President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, calling the incident
a "military oversight."

"It is simply that the majors and colonels are accustomed to going where
they want to go," Yushchenko said. "There was no political provocation
here. We have accepted the Russians' apologies and believe that the
political agreement that regulates the presence of the fleet was, in fact,
violated, but, considering the statement that the Russians issued, I regard
this incident as settled."

The essence of the "incident" was as follows. At 0600 hours Moscow time
on 23 March the Nikolay Filchenkov large landing ship began to put ashore
naval infantrymen based in Temryuk (Russia) at the military proving ground
in the area of Mount Opuk on the southeast coast of Crimea (70 km from
Kerch).

When the amphibious landing was practically complete, Ukrainian
border guards, who informed the Russian military of the illegality of its
actions, showed up in the exercise area. According to the border guards,
they had not been notified of the impending exercises.

In addition, as experts note, the naval infantrymen based on Russian
territory are not entitled to make without coordination an assault landing
even at the proving ground in Crimea that Russia leases. Only naval infantry
of the Black Sea Fleet based on Ukrainian territory is so entitled. The
confrontation went on for 24 hours, after which the Russian military
preferred to leave the proving ground.

Izvestiya was told in Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Moscow had
made no "apologies," and it was assumed that by "statement of the
Russians" the Ukrainian president meant the statement of the press office
of the Black Sea Fleet. Its officer in charge, Andrey Krylov, said that the
assault landing from the Nikolay Filchenkov large landing ship in the area
of Feodosiya was carried out strictly in accordance with the plans of
combat training of the Russian Navy coordinated ahead of time with the
Ukrainian Naval Command. In addition, the Ukrainians had planned to send
their own naval infantrymen to take part in the exercises.

It is said that Sergey Ivanov, head of Russia's defense department, was
very irritated by the row over the routine Black Sea Fleet exercise, which
is conducted annually at precisely this time. Ivanov recently visited
Sevastopol, where he announced that the fleet would be remaining in Crimea
until 2017, at a minimum. And now the row--and some Ukrainian politicians
immediately began to talk once again about the need for a revision of the
treaty on the status of Sevastopol and the basing of the Russian fleet
there.

"They will act as impudently as we permit them to act," Oleksandr
Turchynov, head of the Security Service of Ukraine, said on Ukrainian
television live. "The presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian
territory is contrary to our national interests."

Leonid Zhunko, a representative of the municipal administration of
Sevastopol, requested a reconsideration of the financial component of the
presence of Russian ships and ratings on the city's territory. According to
him, the Black Sea Fleet, according to the lease agreement, has 500
moorages, in reality, though, it occupies no more than 200. In addition,
city hall is forced to subsidize the costs of housing and utilities for the
Russian seamen, who reside in the city together with Ukrainian citizens,
also.

According to an Izvestiya source in Russia's Ministry of Defense, both
parties are to blame. The Russians, for having notified of the impending
maneuvers only the Ukrainian Naval Staff (such notice was earlier given
at Ministry of Defense level). The Ukrainians, for having "forgotten" to
notify the border guards. But there are deeper factors also. Kiev is no
longer the benevolent ally of Russia about which Moscow offices
continue to talk.

Ukraine is eager to join NATO and the European Union, and its
military takes part in NATO exercises, on its territory, what is more. This
was the case under Kuchma, it will be even more so under Yushchenko.
The Russian fleet in Sevastopol sticks in the craw of the new Ukrainian
policy.

This is why Kiev will do everything possible in order on any pretext to
complicate the presence of our military in Crimea. And no real or
imaginary inadvertence of the seamen will be let pass here. -30-
============================================================
5. UKRAINIAN JUSTICE MINISTER ZVARYCH SAYS GOVERNMENT
MEMBERS LOBBY CORRUPT OIL INTERESTS

TV 5 Kanal, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1800 gmt 28 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Mon, March 28, 2005

KIEV - Justice Minister Roman Zvarych has said that a number of members
of the government are lobbying the interests of corrupt business structures
operating in the oil-refining business. Speaking in a live studio interview
on 5 Kanal TV on 28 March, Zvarych said: "I am very interested in what is
going on right now in the oil-refining sector, where there are covert
schemes that allow you in effect to obtain VAT refunds twice over, and a
number of refineries are doing this and they have been doing it for years."

However, Zvarych refused to identify the individuals he had in mind, saying
that he had no specific facts that could serve as grounds for prosecution.
Zvarych also said that the government should cancel or amend its order
temporarily banning the re-export of oil over which he threatened to resign
in February. He said that the ministry's legal experts had concluded that
the order was illegal.

"The Cabinet of Ministers blatantly violated the Constitution and exceeded
its authority - the cabinet may interfere in the export activity of a
business only if legislators give it permission to do so," he said. Zvarych
also insisted that he had not expected that his position on the ban would be
linked to his wife's employment as a senior manager in a company engaged
in oil export.

"I have never thought in those categories," he said. "There was a clear
legal conclusion... I don't see any reason not to support the conclusion my
co-workers placed on my desk."

Zvarych denied suggestions that there were political motives behind the
Justice Ministry's refusal to register a political party based on the Pora
pro-democracy youth movement in time for it to take part in the 2006
parliamentary election, in which it could take votes from the pro-
presidential People's Union Our Ukraine.

Instead, he insisted that there were serious problems with the lists of
signatures collected in support of the party's registration. He said that
when the ministry verified 1,053 signatures out of about 14,500 received,
they found that 352 people denied that they had signed.

"We were given lists where there were houses whose addresses do not
exist, where there were villages - for example, signatures were collected
in the village of Ivantsi in Khmelnytskyy Region, but there is no such
village," he said. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
============================================================
6. UKRAINE INTERIOR MINISTER LUTSENKO GRILLED ON TV

One Plus One TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1915 gmt 28 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, March 28, 2005

KIEV - Ukraine's Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko made a live one-hour
appearance on 28 March in the political talk show "I challenge you" on
the private channel One Plus One, answering tough questions from a
panel of leading Ukrainian journalists.

Lutsenko defended his ministry's performance so far, saying that his
anti-corruption drive was already yielding results but asking journalists
to give him more time before judging his achievements.

He said numerous criminal cases had been opened to investigate
corruption in the previous government and in the ministry itself, but did
not give any significant new details. He said purging the Interior Ministry
of corruption was one of his key priorities, adding that many former
senior police officials were under investigation.

Another priority was fighting drug trafficking - but a recent planned drugs
raid on Kiev night clubs failed as the clubs closed for the night after an
apparent tip-off, the minister said.

He also said new police chiefs in the regions had been given until May
to demonstrate tangible improvements, and warned that a new wave of
dismissals would follow if these improvements fail to materialize.

Lutsenko repeatedly pledged his personal commitment to root out
corruption, saying his wife told him upon learning of his appointment,
"I don't want money or country houses - I want you to stay alive and to
stay clean". He also said he clearly realized that his entire political
career depended on his ability to make good on his promises. -30-
============================================================
7. UKRAINE: FOREIGN INVESTORS SIGNAL CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM

By Nikola Krastev, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
New York, New York, Monday, March 21, 2005

Expectations of the new Ukrainian administration led by President Viktor
Yushchenko are high. But participants in a recent global investors'
conference in New York suggested that the government ushered in by the
Orange Revolution must complete ambitious reforms in order to attract
investment. They include reining in regional business groups, reducing
government regulation, and fighting corruption.

NEW YORK - Hundreds of investors gathered at a conference recently in
New York [Sachs Bloomberg Russia/Ukraine conference in New York
March 10] to assess business prospects for Ukraine in the aftermath of
dramatic political changes signaled cautious optimism.

They pointed to steps to reduce market regulations, improve the tax code
and prosecute political and economic crimes. But they also cited obstacles
to foreign investors in Ukraine, the largest being closely intertwined
political and economic interests and the considerable power of regional
business groups.

Among the participants was Natalie Jaresko, who heads the Western NIS
Enterprise Fund, a private equity fund with more than 150 million dollars
invested in Ukraine and Moldova. She told the conference that conditions in
Ukraine appear finally to be changing.

"For the longest time, many of us looked at Ukraine and Deutsche Bank's
and others' road studies that talked about whether Ukraine was a land of
opportunity, whether you can make money there. And the glass was always
half-full, [or] half-empty depending how you looked at it. Today I can say
with great confidence that that glass is beginning to fill up."

"For the longest time, many of us looked at Ukraine and Deutsche Bank's
and others' road studies that talked about whether Ukraine was a land of
opportunity, whether you can make money there," Jaresko said. "And the
glass was always half-full, [or] half-empty depending how you looked at it.
Today I can say with great confidence that that glass is beginning to fill
up."

Jorge Zukoski, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine,
said Ukrainian consumers are accumulating disposable income and are
becoming more sophisticated in their choices. Zukoski said agriculture
is among Ukraine's more promising sectors for potential investment.

"This is one sector of the economy that Ukraine by far has competitive
advantages," Zukoski said. "We are seeing our members and new investors
getting involved in everything from input provision, seeds and chemicals, to
equipment, managed farming, commodities trading, grain elevators, port
infrastructures, as well as food processing." Zukoski also pointed to
opportunities in light manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, and the
construction industry.

Ukraine's economy has grown for each of the past five years. Last year,
growth was more than 12 percent, which compares favorably with other
emerging markets.

Jaresko of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund described the changes that
are under way: "What the post-revolution has done [is that it] has offered
us not only a different mindset of business managers to deal with, but it
has offered us a much better liquidity situation for getting out and
exiting, realizing these investments both, with new strategic investors
coming into the country in the next 12, 18, 24 months, and the
opportunities for potentially doing IPO's (initial public offerings of
stock) on a very high-demand stock-market which didn't exist five [or]
10 years ago."

Despite the optimism, some experts warned that doing away with the old
mindset in Ukraine will be a considerable challenge for the new government.

Kyrylo Kryve is head of research for the Ukrainian MFK Investment Bank,
one of the country's largest. He said current regulations do little to
protectvthe interests of minority shareholders, for instance. "You must be
awarevthat business groups controlling over 75 percent of any company
[in Ukraine] can do virtually anything to this company regardless of the
interest of the minority shareholders," Kryve said.

Kryve said there are significant ownership risks in Ukraine and that
companies can easily be targeted for hostile takeovers and asset
stripping.

Other participants in the conference noted that Special Economic Zones
in Ukraine -- 11 in total -- were originally designed to boost economic
activity in certain regions and attract investments. But, they said, those
areas have de facto became loopholes for money-laundering and tax
evasion.

The new government -- headed by Yuliya Timoschenko -- is said to be
reviewing the legality of hundreds of privatization deals. The news sent out
ripples of concern. But Jaresko, for one, said she believes the government
was only targeting a few high-visibility cases. She said she thinks there is
no intention to reopen the entire privatization process.

Conference participants suggested that the streamlining in administrative
reform of the government is already visible. It is important, they said,
because with the result will be fewer opportunities for regulatory obstacles
and less room for corruption. They say the streamlining also makes pay-
scale reform possible, thus allowing for wages for civil servants that make
them less prone to corruption. -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nikola Krastev has been associated with RFE/RL since 1992 and is
currently a freelance correspondent in New York. He is a graduate of
the University of Sofia (Bulgaria), with a degree in Russian language
and literature and has a master's degree in political science from New
York University. His main topics of interest include technology,
intercultural relations, and urban affairs.
============================================================
8. UKRAINE: ECONOMICS MINISTRY WORRIED OVER SMALL
BUSINESSES' POOR PERFORMANCE

Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

KYIV - According to the Economics Ministry small businesses' contribution
to the national economy is insignificant and their performance is poor.
Last year Ukrainian small businesses' loses exceeded their profits by
1.26 bn. UAH.

Those small businesses which pay taxes through the simplified system
remitted 1.3 bn. UAH to the budget's revenues, and those which pay the
fixed tax replenished the State's coffers with 1.4 bn. UAH in taxes. As the
Economics Ministry insists, to successfully develop the small business
sector substantial amendments must be made to active legislation.

In particular, the system of tax collection must be simplified, a single
social deduction should be introduced for mandatory insurance, the
problem of permissive procedures must be solved, administrative
services must become more orderly and controlling bodies' functions
must be revised. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
============================================================
9. UKRAINE: KYIV AIMING TO SET UP COUNCIL OF INVESTORS

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

KYIV - The Kyiv municipal administration is seeking to set up a Council of
Investors to operate under the auspices of the Kyiv municipal authorities.
The Kyiv municipal council's Deputy Chairman Volodymyr Yalovyi announced
this during a meeting with developers. "We are talking about creation of a
Council of Investors under the Kyiv municipal authorities," Yalovyi said.

The council is expected to ensure better understanding between investors
and the authorities. Yalovyi stressed that the Kyiv municipal administration
does not intend to impose restrictions on investors. "There will be
moratoriums on the operations of businesses, including developers," he
said.

The Kyiv municipal administration and developers have set up a working
group to draft a concept for the Council of Investors. During the meeting,
representatives of developers expressed concern over the frequent
blocking of construction projects by Kyiv residents. The companies
estimated that Kyiv residents are presently blocking construction about
70 facilities.

The Kyiv municipal administration's Deputy Chairman Valerii Borysov said
that the administration did not intend to review its cooperation with the
investors whose projects are being blocked. "We would like to see all
of you as allies," Borysov said.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Kyiv municipal council intends to
introduce public hearings on construction projects in the city. The Kyiv
municipal council believes that introduction of public hearings will prevent
conflicts between developers and Kyiv residents.

Since January, public organizations have been holding protests near the
Kyiv municipal administration as well at construction sites against the
municipal authorities' policies in the area of town planning and land use.
============================================================
10. COMMITTEE OF UKRAINIAN VOTERS VIEWS ACTIVE ELECTION
LEGISLATION AS UNFIT FOR 2006 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Olena Bylim, Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

KYIV - Igor Popov, chairman of the Committee of Ukrainian voters, told
a Monday press conference, Ukraine's election legislation is unfit for
the 2006 parliamentary elections.

In Mr Popov's opinion, it would be proper to disregard, for the time being,
the proportional system for local elections, though on the level of Crimean,
regional and municipal Rada elections the proportional system should be
fully applicable.

Besides, Igor Popov insisted, the parliamentary elections and elections to
other Radas must be held apart. Mr Popov also stated his opinion that the
2006 elections will be brimful of dirty conflicts, black RP technologies and
litigation.

In Igor Popov's opinion, the Justice Ministry's move to register eleven
new political parties on March 25 was anything but transparent. He also
aired his doubts with regard to those political parties' ability to muster
supportive signatures, necessary for registration. This makes the
Committee of Ukrainian voters approach the Justice Ministry to urge
revision of its registration procedures, Igor Popov told the news
conference. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
============================================================
11. YANUKOVYCH CRITICIZES PRESIDENT YUSCHENKO FOR
REFUSING TO ATTEND MILITARY PARADE IN MOSCOW MAY 9

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 28, 2005

KYIV - The Party of the Regions' leader Viktor Yanukovych considers a
mistake President Viktor Yuschenko's decision not to attend a military
parade commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory in Great Patriotic
War in Moscow on May 9 because he wants to attend a parade in Ukraine.
Yanukovych's press service announced this.

Yanukovych said he was very happy when the parliament adopted a decision
to hold a parade of war veterans on Khreschatyk Street on May 9 because
was very concerned over the intention not to organize the parade, thus
violating a tradition that is dear to millions of Ukrainians. Yanukovych
approved of Yuschenko's decision to meet with veterans and seek
their advice on organizing the parade.

The Party of the Regions' leader believes that Yuschenko should also have
consulted with war veterans before making the decision on participation in
the parade in Moscow. He expressed the belief that the veterans would have
advised Yuschenko to travel to Moscow because the commemorative events in
Moscow would be attended by the leaders of many other countries. According
to him, the presence of the Ukrainian leader at the events would have raised
Ukraine's international prestige.

Yanukovych cited as an example Poland, where a general debate was held on
whether Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski should travel to Moscow
on May 9, as a result of which it was decided that traveling to Moscow was
appropriate.

"I think that we also should have had such a discussion, since the presence
of the leader of the country at such events raises the prestige of Ukraine
and its role in the Great Victory. I doubt whether the advisers who inclined
the president toward the decision to remain in Kyiv on May 9 were right,"
Yanukovych said.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Yuschenko told journalists on March 26
that he plans to visit Moscow on May 8, the eve of the sixtieth anniversary
of victory in the Great Patriotic War, in order to show his respect to war
veterans from the countries of the Commonwealth of the Independent States
as well as to his counterparts. Yuschenko plans to participate in Victory
Day celebrations in Kyiv on May 9.

He emphasized that he changed his initial decision to visit Moscow on May 9
because the parade in Ukraine cannot be postponed. He also said that he
would feel uneasy not to be in Ukraine on that day. He expressed the hope
that Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his counterparts from CIS
countries would understand his decision.

In late February, Putin invited President Viktor Yuschenko to take part in
events commemorating sixtieth anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic
War that will be held on May 9 in Moscow. On March 16, Yuschenko directed
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Mykola Tomenko to organize
a ceremonial march of war veterans on May 9, the day of celebration of the
sixtieth anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. -30-
============================================================
12. U.S. PHYSICIANS SAY UKRAINIAN MEDICS DID THEIR BEST
TO SAVE 5 YEAR-OLD NASTIA OVCHAR

Lyudmyla Shershel, Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

KYIV - According to First Deputy Health Minister Sviatoslav Khonenko,
he held a telephone conversation with physicians of the Shrines Clinic
in Boston, where the little Ukrainian girl Nastia Ovchar is undergoing
medical treatment for severe burns, and they told him that the Ukrainian
medics had done their best to save the five-year-old girl's life.

According to Ukrainian Ombudsperson Nina Karpacheva, though the
girl's condition remains serious, her chances for recuperation have
grown from 25 percent to 75 percent. -30-
============================================================
13. UKRAINE PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO PLANS TO SPEAK
IN WASHINGTON, CHICAGO AND BOSTON DURING VISIT TO USA
Now Going to New York City on Thursday, April 7th?
Kateryna Yushchenko To Speak at University of Chicago

E. Morgan Williams, Publisher and Editor
THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Monday, March 28, 2005

WASHINGTON - Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the Orange Revolution
and now President of Ukraine, is planning several speeches during
his first 'official' visit to the United States since becoming president
of Ukraine. The first lady of Ukraine, Kateryna Chumachenko
Yushchenko, will also make a 'public' presentation.

The latest reports indicate President Yushchenko will speak in Wash-
ington, Chicago and Boston and probably go to New York City for
meetings on Thursday. Mrs. Yushchenko will speak in Chicago.
According to the most reliable information now available the President
of Ukraine and Mrs. Yushchenko, will make the following appearances:

(1) Speech by Viktor Yushchenko, Georgetown University,
Washington, D.C., Monday afternoon, April 4, 2005. [see article
number fourteen below for details]

(2) Speech by Viktor Yushchenko, Chicago Council on Foreign
Relations, Chicago, Illinois, Monday evening, April 4, 2005. [See
article number fifteen below for details]

(3) Speech by Kateryna Chumachenko Yushchenko, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Tuesday morning, April 5, 2005. Kateryna
Yushchenko has a business degree from the University of
Chicago] [If any one has the details about this speech please
send them to us]

(4) Speech by Viktor Yushchenko, Harvard University, Boston,
Massachusetts, Tuesday afternoon, April 5, 2005. [See article
number sixteen below for details]

(5) Orange Revolution Rally, Shevchenko Monument in Washington
Washington, D.C., Wednesday noon, April 6, 2005. [see article
number seventeen below for details]

(6) Banquet in Honor Of President Viktor Yushchenko -- Washington,
D.C. Wednesday evening, April 6, 2005. All tickets must be
purchased and funds in by Friday, April 1. [see article number
seventeen below for details.]

There is also the possibility Viktor Yushchenko will address a joint
session of the U.S. Congress while in Washington on Wednesday,
April 6, No official announcement has been made by either the
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives or by the Office of
the President of Ukraine. Several Washington and Kyiv insiders
say they believe the address before Congess will take place. -30-
============================================================
14. PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE TO SPEAK AT GEORGETOWN UNIV.

Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., March, 2005

WASHINGTON - Dr. John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown
University and His Excellency Mykhailo Reznik, Ambassador of Ukraine
to the United States invite you to an address by His Excellency Victor
Yushchenko, President of Ukraine, Monday, the Fourth of April, two
Thousand Five, Four O'clock in the Afternoon, Gaston Hall, Georgetown
University, Washington, D.C.

Register for the Yushchenko lecture at Georgetown University:
https://www4.georgetown.edu/uis/keybridge/keyform/form.cfm?FormID=864
or at.
http://www2.georgetown.edu/events/events/index.cfm?Action=View&CalendarID=287&EventID=34265

Guests are reminded that no bags or backpacks will be permitted
inside Gaston Hall. Check-in will begin at 3:00 p.m. and be held
in the Healy Foyer. Guests must be seated by 3:45 p.m. A valid
G.U. Photo I.D. will be required. -30-
============================================================
15. PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO WILL SPEAK
TO THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
Chicago, Illinois, March, 2005

CHICAGO - The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations is pleased that
Victor Yushchenko will join us to address his election as president of
Ukraine on December 26, 2004, after weeks of turmoil following the
November runoff election.

The world watched in amazement as hundreds of thousands of
Yushchenko's supporters took to the streets of the capital and other
cities in protest in what became known as the Orange Revolution named
after Yushchenko's signature campaign color.

The address by His Excellency Victor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine,
will be held Monday, April 4, 2005, at The Palmer House Hilton, Grand/
State Ballroom, 4th Floor, 17 East Monroe, Chicago. The doors will open
at 6:30 p.m. and the Keynote lecture will be at 7:30 p.m. The cost for
Members is $20, and for Nonmembers $25.

Reservations are MANDATORY. They should be made by mail, fax or
online by noon, Friday, April 1, and are taken on a first-come, first-served
basis. Sorry, no phone reservations. Reservations not cancelled by noon
on Friday, April 1, will be charged. Please check the Council's website:
http://www.ccfr.org/events/eventall2.asp?id=403

For security purposes, plan to arrive early and bring photo identification.
No tickets will be sold at the door.

Victor A. Yushchenko was born on February 23, 1954 in Khoruzhivka, Sumy
Oblast, Ukraine into a family of teachers. In 1975, Mr. Yushchenko graduated
from the Ternopil Finance and Economics Institute and returned in 1976 to
Sumy, where he worked as an economist and department chief at the regional
affiliate of the USSR State Bank.

In 1984, Mr. Yushchenko obtained his graduate degree in finance and credit
from the Ukrainian Institute of Economics and Agricultural Management.
Shortly thereafter, he moved to Kyiv and was appointed deputy director for
agricultural crediting at the Ukrainian Republican Office of the USSR State
Bank, a position he held from 1985-1987.

Moving to the Ukrainian Agro-Industrial Bank, Mr. Yushchenko served first as
department director (1987-1991), and later as deputy chairman of the board
of directors (1991-1993). At that time, he was also first deputy chairman of
the board at Bank Ukrayina. In 1993-1999, Mr. Yushchenko was Governor
of the National Bank of Ukraine.

Victor Yushchenko is married to Kateryna Yushchenko, a native of Chicago,
who as an American of Ukrainian descent previously served as an official for
the U.S. State Department. The president has three daughters and two sons
and two grandchildren. -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60604-4434
Phone: (312) 726-3860, Fax: (312) 821-7555
LINK: http://www.ccfr.org/events/eventall2.asp?id=403
============================================================
16. UKRAINE: NEW WAVE OF DEMOCRACY
Speech by Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine, at Harvard
April 5, 2005, Institute of Politics

The Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 23, 2005

HARVARD - The Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University
is pleased to inform you of the following special forum event:

The John F. Kennedy, Jr Forum
Ukraine: New Wave of Democracy
Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine
April 5, 2005, 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA

President Yushchenko's visit to Harvard University is co-hosted by
the Ukrainian Research Institute, The Kennedy School of Govern-
ment, and the Harvard Business School.

Tickets to the Forum will be determined by lottery. To register for
the lottery, please go to http://www.iop.harvard.edu/. Click on the
Yushchenko Forum announcement to be brought to the ticket
registration page.

Registration for tickets will take place between March 23 and March
30. All registrants will be informed about ticket availability on April
1 and will be provided with instructions for ticket pick up.

For further information on HURI events, please contact HURI at:
Phone: 617/ 495-4053; Fax: 617/ 495-8097
E-mail: huri@fas.harvard.edu; http://www.iop.harvard.edu/
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/lottery.php?lottery=ukrainepres
============================================================
17. LEADER OF ORANGE REVOLUTION COMING TO WASHINGTON
Orange Revolution Rally, Shevchenko Monument
Banquet in Washington, D.C. on April 6, 2005

MUST PURCHASE BANQUET TICKETS AND HAVE FUNDS
DELIVERED BEFORE FRIDAY, APRIL 1

THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, March 29, 2005

WASHINGTON - Tickets to the banquet being held in honor of
Viktor Yushchenko, the new President of Ukraine, on Wednesday
evening, April 6, in Washington, D.C, can now be purchased
on-line through the website of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation,
www.usukraine.org or http://www.usukraine.org./banquet.shtml.

The large banquet will be held in the Omni Shoreham Hotel
ballroom in Washington. A reception will begin at 6:30 p.m
and the banquet will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 6. Tickets
are available to the public for the banquet. President Yushchenko
will speak at the banquet. The first lady of Ukraine, Kateryna
Chumachenko Yushchenko, will be with the President at
the banquet. Details for the banquet as follows:

Where: Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
2500 Calvert Street, N.W. (at Connecticut Ave)
When: Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Reception: 6:30 p.m.; Dinner: 7:30 p.m.
Dress: Black Tie Optional
Attendance: Tickets for the banquet are now on sale to the
public for $200.00 each. One can purchase a ticket by check
or on-line at http://www.usukraine.org or click on the link directly
to the exact page: http://www.usukraine.org./banquet.shtml

Seating is limited and the space available will be sold on the
basis of the time tickets were purchased. The banquet is
expected to be sold out in a very short period of time. All
tickets must be purchased and funds in by Friday, April 1.

Checks should be made out to the 'Yushchenko Banquet
Committee' and mailed [with complete contact information]
immediately to the: Ukrainian Washington Credit Union,
P.O. Box 19228, Alexandria, Virginia 22320-1228.

Financial sponsors are needed for the two events. Special
sponsor tables (seating ten people) are available for the
Yushchenko banquet for $2,500.00 each. If you want to buy
a sponsor table for $2,500 please call the U.S.-Ukraine
Foundation at 202 347 4264 and they can process your
credit card.

Sponsor tables have already been purchased by Coca-Cola,
Deere & Co, SIgmaBleyzer Investment Banking Group, PBN
Company, Eurasia Foundation, Alex & Helen Woskob, Zenia
Chernyk, Ukrainian Federation of America, Ukrainian Self
Reliance Federal Credit Union, Case New Holland, and many
other organizations, companies and individuals.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PURCHASE TICKETS ON-LINE
STEP 1. Go to the US-Ukraine Foundation (USUF) Website:
Click On: http://www.usukraine.org or click on the link directly
to the exact page: http://www.usukraine.org./banquet.shtml
STEP 2. Then click on the following message in the lower
left part of the home page:
"BUY TICKETS to Yushchenko banquet."
STEP 3. Then Scroll down the page that gives information about
the visit of President Yushchenko to Washington and find where
it says: To Pay By Credit Card and click on the button below
that says: ADD TO CART.
STEP 4. Then fill out completely all of the information required
to purchase the Yushchenko banquet tickets. This service is
open to everyone through PAYPAL and one does NOT have
to be have a PAYPAL account to purchase tickets.

A purchaser has the choice of using their PAYPAL account
or not doing this. All persons can use this process. You do
not need to have a PAYPAL account to purchase tickets.
The dollar limit one can purchase this way is $2,000.00.
If you want to buy a sponsor table for $2,500 please call the
U.S.-Ukraine Foundation at 202 347 4264 and they can
process your credit card.

Because of the short time remaining before the Banquet there
will not tickets. The Committee will keep track of all those
who have paid and will have the complete list at the door
the evening of the banquet, Wednesday, April 6, 2005.
All tickets purchased on-line will be confirmed by e-mail.

ORANGE REVOLUTION RALLY IN WASHINGTON
There will also be a rally in celebration of the victory of the
Orange Revolution at the Taras Shevchenko Monument in
Washington, D.C. beginning at NOON on Wednesday,
April 6. President Yushchenko will lay a wreath at the
monument to the most famous Ukrainian, Taras Shevchenko
(1814-1861), an honored poet, writer, artist and fighter for
personal liberty and national independence. The Ukrainian
president will also speak at the rally.

The two events in Washington during President Yushchenko's
first 'official' visit to Washington since becoming president are
being sponsored by President Yushchenko's Welcome Committee.
For additional information about the events call :
1. U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, 202 347 4264
2. Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, 202 547 0018
3. Ukrainian American Coordinating Council,
Ihor Gawdiak, President, 410 884 9025
4. The Washington Group,
Ihor Kotlarchuk, President, 703 548 8534
5. Ukrainian National Women's League of America
Motria Slonewska, 703 536 7795
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Your editor is a member of the finance committee of
President Yushchenko's Welcome Committee. If you need
further information please send an e-mail at morganw@patriot.net
or call me at 202 437 4707.
===========================================================
16. SPECIAL SEMINAR ON BUSINESS EDUCATION IN UKRAINE
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Wednesday, March 30, 2005

The Center for Nations in Transition (CNT)
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Friday, March 25, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS - The Center for Nations in Transition (CNT) Invites
you to a SPECIAL SEMINAR ON BUSINESS EDUCATION IN
UKRAINE: "Enhancement of Education Process based on the
Business Environment Research"

Nataliya Gusakova and Tetyana Pasechnyk
from Odessa State Economic University
March 30, 2005 at 1:00 p.m.
Stassen Room, #170 Humphrey Center.

CNT has been involved in reforming Ukrainian business and management
education since January 1999 within two large USAID sponsored projects -
Ukrainian Business Strengthening Activity (1999-2002) and Business
Management Education in Ukraine (2002-2007).

Both these projects are focusing on curricula reforms of undergraduate,
graduate and executive education programs, faculty development,
strengthening administrative capacities of Ukrainian universities and
business schools and on building sustainable organizational capacities
for continuing improvement of the quality education and partnership
building among Ukrainian, American and Polish universities.

Professors Gusakova and Pasechnyk are a part of five person internship
group visiting US universities for 5 weeks under the current Business
Management Education in Ukraine project.

During the seminar, they will present impacts of the three University
of Minnesota projects on their university, including a 3-year project
Improving Higher Education-to-Work Transitions in Ukraine delivered by
the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) in 2001-2004
with a cross-cutting purpose to build and extend productive professional
and personal relationships between faculty and administrators at the
University of Minnesota, The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Poland, and OSEU.

The primary goal of the CEHD project was to improve the ability of the
OSEU, serving the Odessa region of the Ukraine, to support the move
to a market based economy by:
(a) building the ability of academic staff to assess the knowledge and
skill requirements needed by graduates,
(b) designing curriculum to meet those needs,
(c) delivering instruction in a manner that fosters the analytic and
critical thinking skills needed to support a democratic, market-based
society, and
(d) developing the administrative commitment within the institution
to institutionalize this approach to improving the relevance of
instruction.

University of Minnesota faculty, Dr. David Chapman, Professor of
College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and Randal
Zimmermann, Director of International Programs at the Carlson School
of Management will deliver their comments to the initial presentations.
Please come and welcome them. Refreshments will be served.

Dr. Zbigniew Bochniarz
Director, Center for Nations in Transition
301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455
phone:612-625-5527; fax: 612-626-9860
zbig@hhh.umn.edu

John Radzilowski, Ph.D.
Center for Nations in Transition
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Tel.: 612-625-5581; Fax: 612-626-9860
Email: jradzilowski@hhh.umn.edu
===========================================================
17. A HOME IN UKRAINE - FORMER TIMES-NEWS JOURNALIST
WITNESSES ORANGE REVOLUTION AS PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER

By Lorraine Cavener, Times-News correspondent
The Times-News, Magicvalley.com
Twin Falls, Idaho, Sunday, March 27, 2005

TWIN FALLS -- When the revolution began, Ruth Streeter watched
many of her colleagues go on strike.

But the former reporter and editor at The Times-News wasn't witnessing
a newsroom mutiny. Streeter, a Peace Corps volunteer, now teaches
English to young students in Ukraine, where she had a first-row seat
to the so-called "Orange Revolution."

"I saw groups of little old ladies standing on the side of the highway
waving their orange -- women who would otherwise be selling their
sunflower seeds for pennies a pound on a street corner," Streeter said
in an e-mail. "It's been amazing and inspiring to be witness to all that."

Through a widespread popular movement, Western-leaning Viktor
Yuschenko was elected president in December after first being
declared the loser a month earlier in an election marred by corruption.

Streeter said Peace Corps volunteers have been instructed to remain
completely apolitical, so she chose her words carefully when asked by
her former employer to comment on what she witnessed.

"Whenever anyone asks which side the U.S. supports, I say that the
U.S. supports democracy," she said. "To me it's been wonderful to
see Ukrainian people -- people who everyone thinks are passive and
pessimistic -- stand up for their country's future."

Streeter left The Times-News in July 2003 after about four years with
the paper and headed for Ukraine soon after. For the past year she
has worked in Radekhiv, near the Polish border and about 70 miles
north of the Ukrainian city of Lviv.

"I live in the western part of the country that is pro-Yuschenko, so
there is orange everywhere," she said in her e-mail. "People wearing
armbands, orange hats and scarves, coats."

Until Streeter joined the Peace Corps she had not had any teaching
experience. She spent three months in training in a small town outside
of the capital Kiev. She lived with a host family and taught some
English classes at a local school, learned the basics of teaching, and
learned Ukrainian with three other American volunteers.

"Ruth is one of our special volunteers," said Bohdan Yarema, a Peace
Corps manager who oversees many the organization's activities in
Ukraine. "About 15 months ago she was assigned to serve in a small
town, where Peace Corps had never been represented before. Since
then she's been not only instructing kids on English and journalism, but
also creating a very favorable image of the organization (and America
at large) in the community of Radekhiv."

Streeter teaches conversational English, U.S. Country Studies -- which
is akin to social studies -- and American literature to high school
students. She teaches 18 hours a week and has between 10 and 20
students in her classes. Her school specializes in English, so
children begin learning the language from the age of 6.

"So in addition to teaching language, I'm also able to teach kids
critical thinking, debate, civic education, more than just the
language itself," she said.

Streeter said she loves her job because she gathers the feeling that
the children are gaining knowledge in a way they hadn't known before.
Students in Ukraine are taught in methods that are different than in
the U.S.

"The system of education in Ukraine is based heavily on memorization
-- especially with English," Streeter said. "Kids are great at
memorizing entire texts of English, but ask them to think about the
meaning of what they've just read, and it's only the most brilliant
students who can do so." Some Ukraine educators are realizing
the disadvantages of such methodologies, she said.

"And luckily, my school is quite progressive, so some of the teachers
are already trying to get students to think independently," Streeter
said. "So it's great for me to be part of the move away from those
educational traditions that are not particularly beneficial."

Streeter said one thing that sometimes makes her job difficult is the
mentality that education isn't important because money buys everything.

"Corruption strikes at all levels, and buyoffs are a form of
survival," she said. "And it's hard to make kids realize the
importance of their education (i.e. the importance of not cheating)
when the adults believe that it's money that matters."

Streeter misses her friends, family and weekend snowboarding trips,
plus mountain-biking. But she hasn't been lonely in Ukraine.

"I have been able to make some wonderful friends here," she said. "I
am the only American in my town of 10,000. But many of the teachers
speak great English, and I've become good friends with them."
She has some Ukrainian friends who speak no English, too.

"Ukraine is such a relationship-oriented country, that friends always
make time for each other," she said. "When Ukrainians have days off,
they spend them with friends and family. People are rarely alone.
Families don't only consist of parents and children, but grandparents.
Married couples often live with their parents. People think I must be
terribly lonely and sad because I live alone."

Streeter said her small school has become a family to her. "I love
my students and my colleagues. I am rarely lonely and never
bored." she said. Her students and colleagues like her, too.

"Every time I visit her site, or talk to Ruth's colleagues on the
phone I hear nothing but praise and admiration," Yarema said. "Both
students and colleagues like and respect Ruth."

When Streeter comes back to the United States in December, she will
have been in Ukraine for 27 months. But she said she's considering
staying another year. -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Times-News correspondent Lorraine Cavener can be reached at (208)
438-8446 or lcavener@pmt.org.

Ukrainian pen pals
Peace Corps volunteer Ruth Streeter is interested in linking up with a
ninth- or 10th-grade teacher from the Magic Valley who would enjoy
having his students be pen pals with one of her classes in Ukraine.
The correspondence would be in English. If you're interested, you
can contact Streeter through Night City Editor Troy Foster at
735-3204 or by e-mail at tfoster@magicvalley.com.

About the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when Sen. John
F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve
their country in the cause of peace by living and working in
developing countries.

From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted
to world peace and friendship. Since that time, more than 178,000
Peace Corps volunteers have been invited by 138 host countries to work
on issues ranging from AIDS education, information technology, and
environmental preservation. For more information on the Peace Corps
go to: www.peacecorps.gov. -30-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/localstate/index.asp?StoryID=14705
===========================================================
18. PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO AND HIS SPOUSE MIX WITH
PARTICIPANTS IN AND GUESTS OF FOLKLORE THEATRICALS
Ivan Honchar Museum Center of Folk Culture in Kyiv

Ukrinform, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, March 28, 2005

KYIV - On Sunday, March 27 President Viktor Yushchenko and his
spouse Kateryna communicated with participants in and guests of
pre-Easter folklore theatricals at the Ivan Honchar Museum Center
of Folk Culture in Kyiv.

As the theatricals demanded Ukrainian folk dresses the President and
his spouse were wearing folk attires, same as their daughters Krystyna,
Sofiika and two-year-old son Taras.

The festivities were also attended by the Georgian President's spouse
Sandra Saakashvili, Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Grigol Katamadze,
other foreign diplomats, Minister for Culture and Arts Oksana Bilozir,
and several known Ukrainian artists, business figures and patrons of
the arts. The festival involved the folklore groups Volodar, Bozhychi,
Gutropravtsi, Buttia, Khreschaty Yar. -30-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: The Ivan Honchar Museum Center of Folk Culture has
recently undergone extensive remodeling and expansion. The
museum has an extensive folk art collection. I never miss the
opportunity to spend some time here on trips to Ukraine. Be sure
and visit this museum on your next visit to Ukraine. [Editor]
===========================================================
"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"
ARTICLES ARE FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY
Articles are Distributed For Information, Research, Education
Discussion and Personal Purposes Only
============================================================
UKRAINE INFORMATION WEBSITE: http://www.ArtUkraine.com
============================================================
UKRAINIAN MAGAZINES: For information on how to subscribe to the
"Welcome to Ukraine" magazine in English, published four times a year
and/or to the Ukrainian Folk Art magazine "Narodne Mystetstvo" in
Ukrainian, published two times a year, please send an e-mail to:
ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net.
============================================================
"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" - SPONSORS
"Working to Secure Ukraine's Future"

1. THE BLEYZER FOUNDATION, Dr. Edilberto Segura, Chairman;
Victor Gekker, Executive Director, Kyiv, Ukraine; Washington, D.C.,
http://www.bleyzerfoundation.com.
2. BAHRIANY FOUNDATION, INC., Dr. Anatol Lysyj, Chairman,
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
3. KIEV-ATLANTIC GROUP, David and Tamara Sweere, Daniel
Sweere, Kyiv and Myronivka, Ukraine, 380 44 295 7275 in Kyiv.
4. ODUM- Association of American Youth of Ukrainian Descent,
Minnesota Chapter, Natalia Yarr, Chairperson.
5. ACTION UKRAINE COALITION: Washington, D.C.,
A. UKRAINIAN FEDERATION OF AMERICA (UFA),
Zenia Chernyk, Chairperson; Vera M. Andryczyk, President;
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.
B. UKRAINIAN AMERICAN COORDINATING COUNCIL,
(UACC), Ihor Gawdiak, President, Washington, D.C., New York, NY
C. U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION (USUF), Nadia Komarnyckyj
McConnell, President; John Kun, Vice President/COO, Washington,
D.C.; Markian Bilynskyj, VP/Director of Field Operations; Kyiv,
Ukraine. Web: http://www.USUkraine.org
6. UKRAINE-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL, Washington, D.C., Van
Yeutter, Cargill Inc., Interim President; Jack Reed, ADM, Interim
Vice President; Morgan Williams, SigmaBleyzer, Interim Secretary-
Treasurer
7. ESTRON CORPORATION, Grain Export Terminal Facility &
Oilseed Crushing Plant, Ilvichevsk, Ukraine
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"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" is an in-depth news and
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the www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service and The Action Ukraine
Report Monitoring Service The report is distributed around the world
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PUBLISHER AND EDITOR
Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Director, Government Affairs
Washington Office, SigmaBleyzer Investment Banking Group
P.O. Box 2607, Washington, D.C. 20013, Tel: 202 437 4707
mwilliams@SigmaBleyzer.com; www.SigmaBleyzer.com
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Senior Advisor; Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA)
Coordinator, Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC)
Senior Advisor, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF)
Interim Secretary-Treasurer, Ukraine-U.S. Business Council
Publisher, Ukraine Information Website, www.ArtUkraine.com
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