Ukraine pm tells russian pm all gas debts settled

Published in Reuters

Ukraine has paid off its debts to Russia for its gas imports, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on Monday at a meeting with her Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov.

A row over Ukraine's gas debts caused Russia's export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) to briefly cut supplies in early March, threatening deliveries to European Union states.

"We have sent the last payment, which completely settles the accumulated debt for natural gas. Right now, one can say that Ukraine has completely accounted for its obligations," Tymoshenko said at a meeting with Zubkov.

Zubkov said settling the debts opened the door for talks on a longer-term supply contracts, but did not give any details. Neither prime ministers said how much the debt amounted to.

The EU gets almost of a quarter of its gas needs from Russia via Ukraine and watches closely any disputes between the two countries.
Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz and Gazprom signed a 2008 supply contract earlier this month, setting the price at $179.5 per 1,000 cubic metres for volumes of 50 billion cubic metres over the course of the year.

(Reporting by Natalya Zinets, writing by Sabina Zawadzki)

President’s decrees block government activities - turchynov

Published in UNIAN

Top Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksander Turchynov claims that decrees of President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko block the government activities.
He claimed this to a press conference in UNIAN today.

“Unfortunately, the recent decrees of the President do not correspond to the authorities that he has in line with the Constitution. Moreover, these decrees not only block the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers, but, in my opinion, they do a serious harm to the reputation of our state, as well as to the Ukrainian economics”, O.Turhynov said.

According to him, the matter concerns several presidential decrees, with which he “absolutely blocked the attempts to stop corruption in the sphere of privatization, and the government’s move to launch a transparent scheme of privatization”, O.Turchynov said, adding that the matter concerns the Odessa Pre-Port Plant.

O.Turchynov noted he has at his disposal the letter of Victor Yushchenko to ex-Prime Minister Victor Yanukovych about the expediency of the privatization of this plant.

“Nothing has change in the investment policy in Ukraine, but the government changed.

As a result, the President makes decisions, contrary to that he declared being a presidential candidate, and as a President. The President’s stance cannot change depending on with who he plans to compete at the presidential election”, O.Turchynov said.

The future of the orange coalition will be decided in may

Published in Eurasia Daily Monitor
By Taras Kuzio


Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s April 14 speech to the Parliamentary Council of Europe (PACE), where she outlined her support for constitutional reforms that would transform Ukraine into a parliamentary republic modeled on Germany, is both a sign of the growing frustration inside the orange coalition and a warning shot at President Viktor Yushchenko.

The month of May will see mayoral elections in Kyiv and Kharkiv that the BYuT is likely to win. In Kharkiv and Kyiv the Party of Regions and pro-Yushchenko mayors respectively were removed from power on charges of corruption.

Relations between Tymoshenko and Yushchenko have never been good, and their alliance has always been a matter of convenience rather than one of ideology. Yushchenko was the archetypal establishment official, who faithfully served President Leonid Kuchma for seven of his 10 years in office. Tymoshenko was the self-made businesswoman outsider who was brought into Yushchenko’s 2000-2001 government to deal with energy.

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Ukraine’s prime minister yulia tymoshenko to pay three-day official visit to azerbaijan

Published in APA

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko will pay three-day official visit to Baku on May 12, Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers told APA. The delegation that will accompany Yulia Tymoshenko during the visit includes Energy and Finance Minister and heads of a number of government agencies. Yulia Tymoshenko will meet with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and have meetings in Economic Development Ministry, Industry and Energy Ministry and Finance Ministry. The talks will mainly focus on “White Stream” gas pipeline.

World bank compliments tymoshenko

Published in UNIAN

Managing Director of the World Bank, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala positively assessed the work of the Ukrainian government. She claimed this at a meeting with PM of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko in Kyiv today.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, she congratulated the Ukrainian Prime Minister on her successful work and wished her success in further activities.
Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that the fiscal policy in Ukraine is conducted at a proper level.

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Constitutional changes inevitable

Published in Inform issue #68
See the full issue here.

The tension between the President’s office and that of parliament has mounted steadily with each passing week. Presidential advisers such as Viktor Baloha, appear intent on destabilising the Orange Coalition and directing their energies to scoring political points against the government of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko rather than working together to implement the social and economic reforms the nation needs.

Many observers believe this point scoring is the playing out of a phony presidential election campaign, designed to strengthen the president’s hand at the expense of Ms Tymoshenko, who, if she ran for president, is likely to win by a landslide.

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Yulia tymoshenko: ukraine intends to continue its european integration

movies alt Click icon to watch Yulia Tymoshenko speak at the Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe.

Click here to see original article on PACE website.

Published by Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe
Spring session: 14-18 April 2008


Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly on 16 April, the Ukrainian Prime Minister emphasised her country's commitment to continue its constitutional reforms, introducing in particular an independent judicial system and a parliamentary system of government, and to advance along the path of democracy and the rule of law. Yulia Tymoshenko also pointed to the special role of the Council of Europe, not only in the upholding of European values and in European integration, but also in the reform process in Ukraine.

The fight against corruption, security of energy supplies, freedom of movement for citizens, and the combating of trafficking and smuggling were among her government's priorities. Replying to a question about Ukraine's accession to NATO, put by a member of the Assembly, she expressed a wish for Russian support for the strategic development of her country, which she regarded as a reliable partner. She also reiterated Ukraine's desire to join the European Union.

Tymoshenko calls on to launch of dialogue between ukraine and schengen states

Published in UNIAN

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko views important the launch of dialogue between Ukraine and Schengen states on possibility to introduce non-visa regime.

According to the government’s press-office, the Head of Ukrainian Government stated during her speech at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Yulia Tymoshenko told that beginning of such dialogue is envisaged by the Action Plan between Ukraine and the European Union. “We know that negotiations won’t be rapid but it is important that we have launched it as we’ll know now what demands to be made of Ukraine and how these demands our state should ensure”.

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Ukraine should work to join eu tymoshenko

Published in Interfax

Ukraine should do everything to make sure that, when the European Union feels the need for its next wave of enlargement, the country is ready for it, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko insisted on Wednesday.

"Seventy percent of Ukrainians identify themselves as part of the European community, and we will step by step traverse the path to being a member of the European family," Tymoshenko said at a session in Strasbourg of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

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Prime minister of ukraine yulia tymoshenko pays visit to strasbourg

Published in UNIAN

On April 15-16 Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will pay a two-days’ visit to Strasbourg where she is to partake at a session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

On April 16 the Head of Ukrainian Government will deliver an address from the rostrum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and respond to the questions of Europarliamentarians. 

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Entry secured

Published in the Economist
By: The Economist Intelligence Unit ViewsWire


Ukraine is set to join the WTO in May

Ukraine’s parliament has ratified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession protocol, so the country will become the 152nd member of the pre-eminent world trade body in May. Ratification underlines that, despite the often-chaotic nature of post-Orange Revolution politics, there is a consensus on the need for deeper integration with the global economy, regardless of narrow sectoral interests. Trade flows will increase upon accession, with steel and agricultural producers the main beneficiaries and automotive producers and small enterprises the main losers. WTO accession will also give Ukraine an opportunity to negotiate better access to its two biggest markets, the EU and Russia.

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Yulia tymoshenko will be an honored guest at the spring pace session

Published in LindaBusinessInform

Premier Yulia Tymoshenko will be an honored guest at the spring session of PACE, which will be held in Strasbourg on April 14-18.

Other honored guests will include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Slovak President Ivan Gašparovic and French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner.

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Tymoshenko calls upon people’s deputies to adopt “ukrainian breakthrough”

Published in ForUm

The main task of the government is to start strategic reforms. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko has stated in her speech in the Verkhovna Rada.

Tymoshenko has noted that the Cabinet determines five priorities of work for every Minister, then it approves the conception of work and then adopts necessary acts. “The aim of the government is to demonstrate to the society how order in every sphere of life must be established,” she emphasized.

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Tymoshenko proposes candidacy of turchynov for kyiv mayor

Published in UNIAN

BYuT leader, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko has proposed her political force to support the candidacy of first Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Turchynov for the Kyiv Mayor post.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, she claimed this during the interparty conference of the BYuT Kyiv city organization today.

Proposing the candidacy of O. Turchynov, Y.Tymoshenko noted that BYUT “gives Kyiv the best we have”.

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Verkhovna rada ratified protocol on ukraine’s wto accession

Published in UNIAN

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has ratified the Protocol on Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, 411 lawmakers, registered in the chamber, have voted for this.

In particular, the protocol was supported by 72 MPs of OU-PSD faction, 155 – of BYuT faction, 20 MPs from the Lytvyn’s Bloc, 164 MPs of the Party of Regions. Communist faction MPs abstained from voting.

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Ukraine, saudi arabia to step up economic cooperation

Published in Interfax

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are planning to step up economic cooperation by creating joint ventures and increasing trade, Ukrainian First Deputy Premier Oleksandr Turchynov and Saudi Arabian Transport Minister Jubarah Suraisry have said.

They were speaking during the opening of the third meeting of the Ukrainian-Saudi Arabian intergovernmental commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation in Riyadh on Tuesday.

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First vice prime minister oleksandr turchynov started working visit to saudi arabia

Published in NRCU

He will take part in the third meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental committee for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation there.

In keeping with the programme of the visit, Mr Turchynov will meet with Saudi Arabian foreign and transport ministers. On April 9, the two countries will sign a number of documents, particularly, a protocol of the committee meeting, and an intergovernmental agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments. The foreign ministries will sign a protocol on political consultations. Besides, Saudi Arabia's Abdulatif Al-Isa Automotive and Ukraine's holding company AvtoKrAZ will sign a distribution agreement.

Is the party of regions sliding into crisis?

Published in The Eurasia Daily Monitor
By: Taras Kuzio

The Party of Regions (Regions) should be riding high in Ukrainian polls as opposition parties traditionally have golden opportunities to increase their popularity. Instead, Regions and its leader and former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych have been declining in popularity and are in a crisis. On March 6 Regions lost 6 mayoral elections in eastern Ukraine to local independents and the Yuliya Tymoshenko bloc (BYuT).

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Tymoshenko: parliament not to halt reforms

Published in Unian

“I’d like to believe that the Parliament will at last resume its operation and will not pose a halt on the way of carrying out actual reforms in Ukraine,” Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko emphasized during the briefing, according to the government’s press-office.

The Head of Government hopes that the following week Verkhovna Rada will commence working in a system way and the coalition will vote unanimously. Yulia Tymoshenko reminded that the Cabinet of Ministers had submitted for approval by the parliament the Government Action Program “Ukrainian Breakthrough” and dozens of system draft laws, called to change peoples’ lives.

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Tymoshenko promises to follow activity of investors

Published in ForUm

The government of Tymoshenko is open for cooperation. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko stated at a meeting with investors on Thursday.

Tymoshenko addressed investors with the proposition to write together with their strong juridical, economic and financial departments the main changes and amendments to the acting laws.

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Yulia tymoshenko to address pace spring session

Published in UNIAN

Slovak President Ivan Gašparovic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner are among the leading personalities to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during its spring session in Strasbourg (14-18 April 2008).

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Bush, tymoshenko discuss diversification of gas supplies and economic cooperation

Published in Interfax

U.S. President George W. Bush and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko discussed during their meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday the diversification of gas supplies, Ukraine's joining NATO, the fight against corruption in Ukraine, and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the United States, First Vice Premier Oleksandr Turchynov told the press after a meeting of the delegations of the two countries.

It was an interesting talk. It addressed energy issues, and the politics of the region," he said.

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Prime minister of ukraine yulia tymoshenko met with us president george bush

Published in ForUm

During today’s meeting Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko and US President George Bush discussed perspectives of formation of the free trade zone between the USA and Ukraine. First vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Olexander Turchynov informed.

“Negotiations on free trade zone formation can be carried out simultaneously with negotiations on free trade zone formation between Ukraine and the European Union,” Turchynov said.

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Yulia tymoshenko and george w. bush to meet in the cabinet of ministers club

Published in ForUm

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko will meet with President of the United States of America George W. Bush in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Club after 1 p.m.

Then Yulia Tymoshenko will hold a tête-à-tête meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers informs.

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