Focus on Ukraine, November 17-23, 2008

November 24, 2008
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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 communiqu? 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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