Focus on Ukraine, November 17-23, 2008
Overview of political events of the week
November 17
President Viktor Yushchenko held the first round of talks with
the leaders of political forces in the parliament concerning the
appointment of a new speaker.
Presidential Spokesperson Iryna Vannikova informed that
representatives of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc did not participate in
these talks. She pointed out that the probability of a second round
of talks will depend on the climate in the Verkhovna Rada.
At the same time, YTB deputy Andriy Portnov announced live on
Channel 5 that members of the YTB were not invited to participate
in these talks.
November 18
Members of parliament failed to agree on one candidate for the
position of VR speaker.
Not a single one of the candidates garnered the required number of
votes as each faction is attempting to push through their own
candidate.
There are currently five such candidates. Vyacheslav Kyrylenko was
added to list of candidates, joining Volodymyr Lytvyn, Ivan
Pliusch, Oleksandr Lavrynenko and Adam Martyniuk in the race.
The people’s deputies took a recess until Thursday to hold
consultations. At this point, reviewing any other issues in the
parliament makes no sense. Recall that normative acts adopted by
the Verkhovna Rada take effect only after they are signed by the
speaker.
November 19
President Viktor Yushchenko told
European newspapers in an interview that the government is to blame
for the current economic crisis in Ukraine.
The president stressed that the myopic social policy of the Cabinet
of Ministers has become the foundation for a steady unfolding of
the crisis.
Today inflation has reached the level of 24% and could hit 26% by
the year’s end. The president feels the government should have
reviewed its budget policy.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated in Valencia,
Spain that NATO will continue its enlargement policy regardless of
Russia’s position.
He said the Alliance will continue to cooperate with all countries
that are aspiring to join NATO. He further noted that the Alliance
will not make a choice between further enlargement and good
relations with Russia.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Secretariat agrees that the Ukraine’s
chances of joining the Membership Action Plan in December a
waning.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat Andriy Honcharuk says
it is not worth making this into a tragedy as Ukraine is
successfully working within the yearly timetable for gaining NATO
membership.
Next year unemployment in Ukraine could reach 7–8 %, which is
three times higher than at the start of 2007 and almost the same
level it was during the crisis at the beginning of the 1990s.
The State Employment Service made such a forecast. The service also
forecast that Ukrainian are anticipating a delay in wage and
pension payouts. Major downsizing of personnel
is anticipated in the chemical, mining and smelting, construction
and banking sectors.
November 20
Premier Yulia Tymoshenko
announced at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers that a united
anti-crisis coalition may be formed in the coming two
weeks.
The premier said this will be forced harmonization precipitated by
the financial crisis, which will “give all factions of parliament a
kick-start to work in normal conditions”.
Besides that, Tymoshenko stressed that her political force is ready
for reformatting of the government on condition that a united
anti-crisis coalition is formed.
November 22
This week Ukraine is
commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor.
In the years 1932-33 nearly 10 million people died as a result of
the artificially organized famine by the Stalin regime.
Today funeral processions and prayers for the dead and nationwide
act “Light a Candle” were held in all oblasts throughout the
country.
The presidents of six countries traveled to Ukraine to pay respect
to the victims of the famines. President Viktor Yushchenko unveiled
the first memorial complex in Kyiv commemorating the victims of the
famines in Ukraine.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev turned down an invitation to Kyiv
for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor and
called on Ukraine to formulate compatible approaches to this
tragedy.
In his communiqué to the president of Ukraine he stated that the
subject of the famine in Ukraine is aimed at separating nations. He
pointed out the Kyiv is exploiting the tragic events of the 1930s
to achieve certain political aims.
President Viktor Yushchenko
urged the world and Russia, first and foremost, to recognized the
Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine.
In his address during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of
Holodomor by the Candle of Remembrance Memorial, the president
stressed that the famin in Ukraine was chosen as a method of
suppression of the Ukrainian nation.
Yushchenko expressed his gratitude on behalf of Ukraine to the 13
countries that officially recognized the famine in Ukraine as
genocide and to international organizations that approved a number
of decisions that condemn the famine as a crime against
humanity.
The day before Yushchenko commented on Medvedev’s unwillingness to
travel to Kyiv to take part in the ceremony dedicated to the 75th
anniversary of the Holodomor saying such an attitude “belittles
millions of innocently killed people that rested in eternal
sleep”.
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