Jun 2008
Warm reception in brussels
24 June 2008
Published in
Inform
issue #75
See the full issue here.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko received a warm and sympathetic reception from European leaders and EU officials during her visit to Brussels last week.
Whilst in the Belgian capital, the premier met with Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy. Although concerned by the political turmoil in Ukraine, Mr Solano praised the efforts of Ms Tymoshenko’s government in tackling inflation.
According to Mr Solana, Ukraine’s economic policy was moving extremely positively and the country displaying strong economic growth, while inflation was coming under control.
Mr Solano expressed his desire to see greater political stability which he believes will further improve the economic situation.
In response, Ms Tymoshenko said, "Ukraine has excellent potential and is developing positively.” Recognising the need for greater political unity with President Viktor Yushchenko, she said, “from my side as head of the government, I will do my best to work in this direction."
Ms Tymoshenko reiterated the importance of controlling inflation and said that the economy would benefit from a bumper harvest this year. High food prices have had a significant impact on inflation as more than 50 percent of Ukraine’s consumer price index is related to food staples.
The 2008 harvest is expected to be twice that of 2007, due in part to better financing of the agricultural sector – by 40 percent this year – and improved management and practices. Ms Tymoshenko told European leaders of her desire for Ukraine to regain its status as the breadbasket of Europe.
Vice President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen, said, “I admit that Ms Tymoshenko has achieved significant progress from the point of view of Ukraine’s economic development.” He noted and welcomed the planned structural reforms to bring Ukraine in line with European principles and underlined the EU’s commitment to a comprehensive free trade agreement. “We will deepen our cooperation for the strengthening of European prospects in Ukraine,” he said.
Mr Verheugen also endorsed Ukraine joining the European Charter for small enterprises, expressing a desire for closer collaboration in this area.
“This was a fruitful visit,” said Hryhoriy Nemyria, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for European Integration. “Although our EU partners are rightly concerned about the volatility of domestic politics in Ukraine, there is a general consensus on economic progress and closer links.”
In September, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will host an EU-Ukraine summit which is expected to bring about closer ties and edge Ukraine nearer to its long-term goal of EU membership.
Read More...
See the full issue here.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko received a warm and sympathetic reception from European leaders and EU officials during her visit to Brussels last week.
Whilst in the Belgian capital, the premier met with Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy. Although concerned by the political turmoil in Ukraine, Mr Solano praised the efforts of Ms Tymoshenko’s government in tackling inflation.
According to Mr Solana, Ukraine’s economic policy was moving extremely positively and the country displaying strong economic growth, while inflation was coming under control.
Mr Solano expressed his desire to see greater political stability which he believes will further improve the economic situation.
In response, Ms Tymoshenko said, "Ukraine has excellent potential and is developing positively.” Recognising the need for greater political unity with President Viktor Yushchenko, she said, “from my side as head of the government, I will do my best to work in this direction."
Ms Tymoshenko reiterated the importance of controlling inflation and said that the economy would benefit from a bumper harvest this year. High food prices have had a significant impact on inflation as more than 50 percent of Ukraine’s consumer price index is related to food staples.
The 2008 harvest is expected to be twice that of 2007, due in part to better financing of the agricultural sector – by 40 percent this year – and improved management and practices. Ms Tymoshenko told European leaders of her desire for Ukraine to regain its status as the breadbasket of Europe.
Vice President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen, said, “I admit that Ms Tymoshenko has achieved significant progress from the point of view of Ukraine’s economic development.” He noted and welcomed the planned structural reforms to bring Ukraine in line with European principles and underlined the EU’s commitment to a comprehensive free trade agreement. “We will deepen our cooperation for the strengthening of European prospects in Ukraine,” he said.
Mr Verheugen also endorsed Ukraine joining the European Charter for small enterprises, expressing a desire for closer collaboration in this area.
“This was a fruitful visit,” said Hryhoriy Nemyria, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for European Integration. “Although our EU partners are rightly concerned about the volatility of domestic politics in Ukraine, there is a general consensus on economic progress and closer links.”
In September, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will host an EU-Ukraine summit which is expected to bring about closer ties and edge Ukraine nearer to its long-term goal of EU membership.
Read More...
Yushchenko returns to kuchma era tactics against his opponents
23 June 2008
Published in Ukraine Analyst
The daily attacks on the Yulia Tymoshenko government are bringing a sense of de ja vu to Ukrainian politics. The attacks increasingly resemble those undertaken in 2000-2001 against the then Viktor Yushchenko government whose deputy prime minister for energy was Yulia Tymoshenko.
The twin parallels are not only within the realm of policies and methods used by the Leonid Kuchma regime and that of the Yushchenko administration. The same neo-Soviet vitriolic rhetoric has again been revived to denounce the government as was used eight years ago to denounce the Yushchenko government.
Recent attacks on the Tymoshenko government accusing it of ‘fascism’ and ‘populism’ are a direct copy of the rhetoric used in the infamous February 2001 open letter signed by Kuchma, Prime Minister Yushchenko and parliamentary speaker Ivan Pliushch against the anti-Kuchma protests led by Tymoshenko. Pliushch, elected in 2007 within President Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine-Self Defence bloc, has always refused to sign the orange coalition accord. Pliushch has also refused to apologize for the 2001 infamous open letter arguing it was correct to denounce the anti-regime protests.
Today’s Pliushch is presidential secretariat head Viktor Baloga who has hurled insults against the Tymoshenko government reminiscent of the 2001 open letter. As many Ukrainian commentators and politicians, including from within the orange coalition, have stated the presidential secretariat is increasingly resembling Kuchma’s presidential administration not only in policies and rhetoric but also in the use of selective law enforcement against its opponents, this time Yuriy Lutsenko and Davyd Zhvannia.
Another analogy with the regime’s tactics used eight years ago is the use of the National Security and Defence Council (NRBO) against its domestic opponents. During the 2000-2001 Yushchenko government the NRBO was used to undermine the Yushchenko-Tymoshenko government, particularly over its anti-corruption policies in the energy sector.
Read More...
The daily attacks on the Yulia Tymoshenko government are bringing a sense of de ja vu to Ukrainian politics. The attacks increasingly resemble those undertaken in 2000-2001 against the then Viktor Yushchenko government whose deputy prime minister for energy was Yulia Tymoshenko.
The twin parallels are not only within the realm of policies and methods used by the Leonid Kuchma regime and that of the Yushchenko administration. The same neo-Soviet vitriolic rhetoric has again been revived to denounce the government as was used eight years ago to denounce the Yushchenko government.
Recent attacks on the Tymoshenko government accusing it of ‘fascism’ and ‘populism’ are a direct copy of the rhetoric used in the infamous February 2001 open letter signed by Kuchma, Prime Minister Yushchenko and parliamentary speaker Ivan Pliushch against the anti-Kuchma protests led by Tymoshenko. Pliushch, elected in 2007 within President Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine-Self Defence bloc, has always refused to sign the orange coalition accord. Pliushch has also refused to apologize for the 2001 infamous open letter arguing it was correct to denounce the anti-regime protests.
Today’s Pliushch is presidential secretariat head Viktor Baloga who has hurled insults against the Tymoshenko government reminiscent of the 2001 open letter. As many Ukrainian commentators and politicians, including from within the orange coalition, have stated the presidential secretariat is increasingly resembling Kuchma’s presidential administration not only in policies and rhetoric but also in the use of selective law enforcement against its opponents, this time Yuriy Lutsenko and Davyd Zhvannia.
Another analogy with the regime’s tactics used eight years ago is the use of the National Security and Defence Council (NRBO) against its domestic opponents. During the 2000-2001 Yushchenko government the NRBO was used to undermine the Yushchenko-Tymoshenko government, particularly over its anti-corruption policies in the energy sector.
Read More...
Where now?
23 June 2008
Published in Business Ukraine (16 June 2008)
By: Taras Kuzio
In-fighting scuppers coalition but leaves Mr. Yushchenko and his allies short of options
The departure of two deputies, one each from the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc (BYUT) and Our Ukraine-Self Defence (NU-NS), has created an unworkable coalition with fewer than the required 225 deputies. By undermining the Orange coalition President Viktor Yushchenko appears to have accomplished his immediate objective, but the options now open to him and the country are unclear at best.
A collapse long anticipated
The demise of a second Orange coalition (the first having fallen in 2005 when Mr. Yushchenko removed Prime Minister Tymoshenko, a step he could undertake under the 1996 constitution) should come as no surprise. Ever since the new Orange government took power in November-December 2007 the President and his administrative body, the Presidential Secretariat, have been working to obstruct and block its work. In reality the coalition was stymied from the beginning by a combination of factors, most of them artificially created.
Many analysts claim that the coalition was already undermined long before the September elections even happened. Mr. Yushchenko is widely alleged to have entered into an unofficial agreement last May with the Party of Regions. This deal is credited with ending the crisis created by the President’s April 2007 dissolution of parliament and permitted the holding of pre-term elections on September 30. In return, the President is alleged to have promised the Party of Regions a grand coalition after the elections linking his own party Our Ukraine with the Party of Regions. The only problem appears to be the fact that he forgot to tell the members of Our Ukraine.
Read More...
By: Taras Kuzio
In-fighting scuppers coalition but leaves Mr. Yushchenko and his allies short of options
The departure of two deputies, one each from the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc (BYUT) and Our Ukraine-Self Defence (NU-NS), has created an unworkable coalition with fewer than the required 225 deputies. By undermining the Orange coalition President Viktor Yushchenko appears to have accomplished his immediate objective, but the options now open to him and the country are unclear at best.
A collapse long anticipated
The demise of a second Orange coalition (the first having fallen in 2005 when Mr. Yushchenko removed Prime Minister Tymoshenko, a step he could undertake under the 1996 constitution) should come as no surprise. Ever since the new Orange government took power in November-December 2007 the President and his administrative body, the Presidential Secretariat, have been working to obstruct and block its work. In reality the coalition was stymied from the beginning by a combination of factors, most of them artificially created.
Many analysts claim that the coalition was already undermined long before the September elections even happened. Mr. Yushchenko is widely alleged to have entered into an unofficial agreement last May with the Party of Regions. This deal is credited with ending the crisis created by the President’s April 2007 dissolution of parliament and permitted the holding of pre-term elections on September 30. In return, the President is alleged to have promised the Party of Regions a grand coalition after the elections linking his own party Our Ukraine with the Party of Regions. The only problem appears to be the fact that he forgot to tell the members of Our Ukraine.
Read More...
Eurocommission gives a compliment to tymoshenko
19 June 2008
Published in ForUm
Vice President of Eurocommission Günter Verheugen admits that Yulia Tymoshenko has made a significant progress in the economics. Vice President of the European Commission said at a briefing in Brussels on the results of the meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, as the Cabinet’s press service reports.
Günter Verheugen stressed that Ukraine is an exceedingly important partner for the European Union in terms of economic cooperation. “We are concerned in future development of our relations and I admit that Ms Tymoshenko has achieved significant progress from the point of view of Ukraine’s economy development,” he noted.
According to Günter Verheugen, European Union recognizes perspective structure reforms in Ukraine which correspond to European principles. Moreover, he informed that Ukraine appears a priority partner for EU in the issues of collaboration in trade area and development of small and middle businesses.
Read More...
Vice President of Eurocommission Günter Verheugen admits that Yulia Tymoshenko has made a significant progress in the economics. Vice President of the European Commission said at a briefing in Brussels on the results of the meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, as the Cabinet’s press service reports.
Günter Verheugen stressed that Ukraine is an exceedingly important partner for the European Union in terms of economic cooperation. “We are concerned in future development of our relations and I admit that Ms Tymoshenko has achieved significant progress from the point of view of Ukraine’s economy development,” he noted.
According to Günter Verheugen, European Union recognizes perspective structure reforms in Ukraine which correspond to European principles. Moreover, he informed that Ukraine appears a priority partner for EU in the issues of collaboration in trade area and development of small and middle businesses.
Read More...
Solana, tymoshenko meet in brussels
19 June 2008
Published in UNIAN
Secretary General of the Council of European Union, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana congratulates the Government of Ukraine with an effective work on curbing inflation. He announced in an interview for the journalists on the outcomes of a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko which took place in Brussels, according to the government’s press-office.
According to Javier Solana in the issues of economic policy Ukraine is moving extremely positively while the Government demonstrates rather high showings of economic growth. In his opinion, such a phenomenon as inflation is under control in Ukraine.
At the same time Javier Solana noted that the European Union would like to see a more stable political situation in Ukraine. He considers that the political stability will facilitate to improvement of economic situation.
Read More...
Secretary General of the Council of European Union, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana congratulates the Government of Ukraine with an effective work on curbing inflation. He announced in an interview for the journalists on the outcomes of a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko which took place in Brussels, according to the government’s press-office.
According to Javier Solana in the issues of economic policy Ukraine is moving extremely positively while the Government demonstrates rather high showings of economic growth. In his opinion, such a phenomenon as inflation is under control in Ukraine.
At the same time Javier Solana noted that the European Union would like to see a more stable political situation in Ukraine. He considers that the political stability will facilitate to improvement of economic situation.
Read More...
Yulia tymoshenko: ukraine’s entry into nato will be decided solely by the people
17 June 2008
Material from the Cabinet of Ministers Press
Service and Ukrayinska Pravda
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is convinced that Ukraine’s entry into NATO is possible solely based on the results of a nationwide referendum.
She stated this following her meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer.
“Ukraine’s entry into NATO can happen only through a nationwide referendum and without the people’s decisions no politician can make such a crucial and strategic decision,” stated Yulia Tymoshenko. She added that she will carry out whatever decision the Ukrainian people make on this issue.
Tymoshenko does not support the initiative by Party of Regions representatives to hold a separate referendum on Ukraine’s joining MAP and considers this provocation.
The leader of the government reminded that in the Universal of National Unity, which was then signed by Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych, it states that a referendum should be held only on the issue of Ukraine joining NATO.
Read More...
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is convinced that Ukraine’s entry into NATO is possible solely based on the results of a nationwide referendum.
She stated this following her meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer.
“Ukraine’s entry into NATO can happen only through a nationwide referendum and without the people’s decisions no politician can make such a crucial and strategic decision,” stated Yulia Tymoshenko. She added that she will carry out whatever decision the Ukrainian people make on this issue.
Tymoshenko does not support the initiative by Party of Regions representatives to hold a separate referendum on Ukraine’s joining MAP and considers this provocation.
The leader of the government reminded that in the Universal of National Unity, which was then signed by Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych, it states that a referendum should be held only on the issue of Ukraine joining NATO.
Read More...
Nato trying to gauge readiness of ukraine to join
17 June 2008
Published in International Herald Tribune
NATO's secretary general, accompanied by top envoys from all 26 countries in the alliance, is trying to get a sense of whether Ukraine, the largest former Soviet republic so far to seek membership in the organization, is making progress with preparations to join and in resolving its disputes with Russia.
The secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and NATO ambassadors are holding talks in Kiev this week with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and with top members of Ukraine's three main political factions to try to evaluate the extent of change in the Ukrainian military. They are also trying to measure the gravity of a fresh warning from Russia, which says that it will never allow Ukraine to join the Atlantic alliance.
To understand attitudes across Ukraine toward NATO, the alliance is sending the delegation to the pro-European city of Lviv, in west Ukraine, and to the more pro-Russian cities of Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv in the east.
Alliance members promised at a meeting in Bucharest in April to hold talks with Ukraine and the former Soviet republic of Georgia on a Membership Action Plan, the preparatory stage for full membership.
But Europeans, particularly in France and Germany, are skeptical about the suitability of Ukrainian membership. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are split over whether membership is desirable, and there are widespread misperceptions about what membership would entail.
Read More...
NATO's secretary general, accompanied by top envoys from all 26 countries in the alliance, is trying to get a sense of whether Ukraine, the largest former Soviet republic so far to seek membership in the organization, is making progress with preparations to join and in resolving its disputes with Russia.
The secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and NATO ambassadors are holding talks in Kiev this week with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and with top members of Ukraine's three main political factions to try to evaluate the extent of change in the Ukrainian military. They are also trying to measure the gravity of a fresh warning from Russia, which says that it will never allow Ukraine to join the Atlantic alliance.
To understand attitudes across Ukraine toward NATO, the alliance is sending the delegation to the pro-European city of Lviv, in west Ukraine, and to the more pro-Russian cities of Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv in the east.
Alliance members promised at a meeting in Bucharest in April to hold talks with Ukraine and the former Soviet republic of Georgia on a Membership Action Plan, the preparatory stage for full membership.
But Europeans, particularly in France and Germany, are skeptical about the suitability of Ukrainian membership. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are split over whether membership is desirable, and there are widespread misperceptions about what membership would entail.
Read More...
S&P rating questioned
17 June 2008
Published in
Inform
issue #75
See the full issue here.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Rating Services has lowered Ukraine’s sovereign rating from BB- to B+.
"The downgrade reflects the failure of authorities to put into place adequate policy measures to counter rising inflation in Ukraine's overheating economy," said Frank Gill, S&P credit analyst in a statement.
The rating has caused more than a few raised eyebrows amongst analysts that follow Ukraine.
Millennium Capital said it saw S&P’s “reaction as being quite premature.” On its website, analyst Viktoriya Bezverkha says, “Besides, we consider that the real economy is not overheated, as the agency states, as Ukrainian producers have high potential, spurring real output growth in five months 2008.”
The World Bank announced it would wait for the six monthly June and July inflation figures before making any adjustments to its forecasts.
The expected good harvest is likely to have a substantial impact on the figure. “Therefore, in case of a rich harvest and restrained government spending we expect that S&P will react with a rating upgrade with the same speed as they did for the downgrade,” opined Ms Bezverkha.
Read More...
See the full issue here.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Rating Services has lowered Ukraine’s sovereign rating from BB- to B+.
"The downgrade reflects the failure of authorities to put into place adequate policy measures to counter rising inflation in Ukraine's overheating economy," said Frank Gill, S&P credit analyst in a statement.
The rating has caused more than a few raised eyebrows amongst analysts that follow Ukraine.
Millennium Capital said it saw S&P’s “reaction as being quite premature.” On its website, analyst Viktoriya Bezverkha says, “Besides, we consider that the real economy is not overheated, as the agency states, as Ukrainian producers have high potential, spurring real output growth in five months 2008.”
The World Bank announced it would wait for the six monthly June and July inflation figures before making any adjustments to its forecasts.
The expected good harvest is likely to have a substantial impact on the figure. “Therefore, in case of a rich harvest and restrained government spending we expect that S&P will react with a rating upgrade with the same speed as they did for the downgrade,” opined Ms Bezverkha.
Read More...
Turchynov held session of government committee on economic policy
13 June 2008
Published in UNIAN
A session of the Government Committee on economic policy chaired by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov was held on Thursday, according to the government’s press-office.
The session has approved draft resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine submitted for consideration of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine: on amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on giving long-term credits to individual dwelling builders in a village and on interdepartmental coordinating commission on issues concerning support of individual dwelling building in a village. These resolutions shall regulate issues on giving credits for providing villagers with dwelling.
On the Ukrainian Economic Ministry’s initiative the draft resolution on liquidation of the Commission for assistance to prejudicial regulation of disputes between investors and government authorities or local government authorities has been considered. The Commission shall be liquidated, as not wanted, as since its establishment sessions were not held.
The draft resolution on approval of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia on customs cooperation has been endorsed.
The State Property Fund of Ukraine proposed for consideration of the Government Committee the draft resolution on amendments to the estimation Procedure of rent objects. This procedure follows from independent calculation of the cost of state property rent and shall increase revenues from these operations.
A session of the Government Committee on economic policy chaired by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov was held on Thursday, according to the government’s press-office.
The session has approved draft resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine submitted for consideration of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine: on amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on giving long-term credits to individual dwelling builders in a village and on interdepartmental coordinating commission on issues concerning support of individual dwelling building in a village. These resolutions shall regulate issues on giving credits for providing villagers with dwelling.
On the Ukrainian Economic Ministry’s initiative the draft resolution on liquidation of the Commission for assistance to prejudicial regulation of disputes between investors and government authorities or local government authorities has been considered. The Commission shall be liquidated, as not wanted, as since its establishment sessions were not held.
The draft resolution on approval of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia on customs cooperation has been endorsed.
The State Property Fund of Ukraine proposed for consideration of the Government Committee the draft resolution on amendments to the estimation Procedure of rent objects. This procedure follows from independent calculation of the cost of state property rent and shall increase revenues from these operations.
Government approved action plan on adaptation of ukrainian legislation to wto
12 June 2008
Published in UNIAN
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an Action Plan on adaptation of the Ukrainian legislation to the WTO requirements, according to the government’s press-office. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko disclosed this at a press conference summing up the Government sitting.
“After Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization all economic spheres need adaptation to the WTO,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine noted. According to her, the action plan sets out the list of problems which can be faced by every sphere of Ukraine from agriculture to machine-building.
Moreover, Yulia Tymoshenko told that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine draws special attention to adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the European Union laws. According to her, today the Government sitting adopted four decisions aimed at solving this issue. “If our country can adapt rules of living and its legislation to the norms of the European Union then we can say that it is ready for Eurointegration,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine stressed.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an Action Plan on adaptation of the Ukrainian legislation to the WTO requirements, according to the government’s press-office. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko disclosed this at a press conference summing up the Government sitting.
“After Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization all economic spheres need adaptation to the WTO,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine noted. According to her, the action plan sets out the list of problems which can be faced by every sphere of Ukraine from agriculture to machine-building.
Moreover, Yulia Tymoshenko told that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine draws special attention to adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the European Union laws. According to her, today the Government sitting adopted four decisions aimed at solving this issue. “If our country can adapt rules of living and its legislation to the norms of the European Union then we can say that it is ready for Eurointegration,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine stressed.
Eurointegration policy complies with interests both of ukraine and its eastern neighbors, hryhoriy nemyria states
12 June 2008
Published in NRCU
Integration policy, development of relations and openness with the European Union complies with interests of both Ukraine and its eastern neighbors, including the Russian Federation, Vice Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria told journalists after a meeting with Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic Alexandr Vondra.
At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine is attentive to an approach of the Russian Federation to the issues of Kyiv's Eurointegration. "At the same time we have a full authority for our own view on the national security", H. Nemyria stated.
Integration policy, development of relations and openness with the European Union complies with interests of both Ukraine and its eastern neighbors, including the Russian Federation, Vice Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria told journalists after a meeting with Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic Alexandr Vondra.
At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine is attentive to an approach of the Russian Federation to the issues of Kyiv's Eurointegration. "At the same time we have a full authority for our own view on the national security", H. Nemyria stated.
Defectors put pressure on coalition
10 June 2008
Published in
Inform
issue #74
See the full issue here.
Last Friday the democratic coalition lost its slender majority in Ukraine’s 450-seat Verkhovna Rada (parliament) when two lawmakers gave notice to quit the coalition. The departure of Ihor Rybakov of the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) and Yury But from the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defence (OU-PSD) bloc puts the democratic coalition at 225 seats.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, spoke for many by saying, “a kind of treason has taken place."
Some political pundits suggest the defections could be a prelude to the break-up of the governing coalition, with the Party of Regions entering as power-broker in a new coalition. One of the first acts of such a coalition would be to replace Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Such a scenario has been debated for several months in Kyiv’s cafes, as President Viktor Yushchenko and his premier clashed repeatedly over issues ranging from privatisation to constitutional reform.
It is widely believed that the head of the president’s secretariat, Viktor Baloha, has been plotting to topple the Cabinet of Ministers and inveigle himself as prime minister of a coalition involving the rump of the pro-presidential OU-PSD and the Party of Regions. The refusal of Yuriy Lutsenko, leader of the People’s Self-Defence faction, to back the scheme resulted in trumped up charges levelled against him and another of his bloc’s leaders, Davyd Zhavnia (see page 3 article: ‘Lutsenko Charges Declared Illegal’).
Interestingly, the two defectors only gave notice to quit the coalition and not their respective blocs. Had they done the latter, they would be replaced by members positioned lower on their respective bloc’s lists, and the democratic majority would resume.
Read More...
See the full issue here.
Last Friday the democratic coalition lost its slender majority in Ukraine’s 450-seat Verkhovna Rada (parliament) when two lawmakers gave notice to quit the coalition. The departure of Ihor Rybakov of the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) and Yury But from the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defence (OU-PSD) bloc puts the democratic coalition at 225 seats.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, spoke for many by saying, “a kind of treason has taken place."
Some political pundits suggest the defections could be a prelude to the break-up of the governing coalition, with the Party of Regions entering as power-broker in a new coalition. One of the first acts of such a coalition would be to replace Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Such a scenario has been debated for several months in Kyiv’s cafes, as President Viktor Yushchenko and his premier clashed repeatedly over issues ranging from privatisation to constitutional reform.
It is widely believed that the head of the president’s secretariat, Viktor Baloha, has been plotting to topple the Cabinet of Ministers and inveigle himself as prime minister of a coalition involving the rump of the pro-presidential OU-PSD and the Party of Regions. The refusal of Yuriy Lutsenko, leader of the People’s Self-Defence faction, to back the scheme resulted in trumped up charges levelled against him and another of his bloc’s leaders, Davyd Zhavnia (see page 3 article: ‘Lutsenko Charges Declared Illegal’).
Interestingly, the two defectors only gave notice to quit the coalition and not their respective blocs. Had they done the latter, they would be replaced by members positioned lower on their respective bloc’s lists, and the democratic majority would resume.
Read More...
Vice prime minister of ukraine hryhoriy nemyrya met with un deputy secretary general ad melkert
09 June 2008
Published in ForUm
On June 8, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and International Integration Hryhoriy Nemyrya met with UN Deputy Secretary General Ad Melkert, Cabinet’s press service reports.
During the meeting an issue on Ukraine’s cooperation with UN Development Programme (UNDP) was discussed.
Ad Melkert expressed confidence in successful realization of Ukraine’s European choice, noting that taking into consideration this factor Ukraine’s cooperation with UNDP has to be developed.
Read More...
On June 8, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and International Integration Hryhoriy Nemyrya met with UN Deputy Secretary General Ad Melkert, Cabinet’s press service reports.
During the meeting an issue on Ukraine’s cooperation with UN Development Programme (UNDP) was discussed.
Ad Melkert expressed confidence in successful realization of Ukraine’s European choice, noting that taking into consideration this factor Ukraine’s cooperation with UNDP has to be developed.
Read More...
Parliament closes major 2008 budget gap
04 June 2008
Published in the Ukrainian Journal
Parliament on Tuesday voted to support a bill closing a major gap in the 2008 budget, averting a scenario under which the government would have been forced to drastically cut spending.
The bill, which was quickly signed into law by President Viktor Yushchenko, re-confirms much of the forecast revenue this year, two weeks after the revenue had been put into question by a Constitutional Court ruling.
The court, citing the constitution, suspended legislation detailing much of the 2008 budget revenue, arguing the legislation must be approved by a separate bill. The legislation was originally approved as part of the 2008 budget vote in December 2007, something that the court had declared illegal.
The vote allows effectively closing the budget gap, estimated by the government at 141 billion hryvnias, which compares with Ukraine’s originally approved 2008 budget deficit of 18.5 billion hryvnias, or 2.1% of GDP.
“We restored the budget,” Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said after the vote in Parliament.
Read More...
Parliament on Tuesday voted to support a bill closing a major gap in the 2008 budget, averting a scenario under which the government would have been forced to drastically cut spending.
The bill, which was quickly signed into law by President Viktor Yushchenko, re-confirms much of the forecast revenue this year, two weeks after the revenue had been put into question by a Constitutional Court ruling.
The court, citing the constitution, suspended legislation detailing much of the 2008 budget revenue, arguing the legislation must be approved by a separate bill. The legislation was originally approved as part of the 2008 budget vote in December 2007, something that the court had declared illegal.
The vote allows effectively closing the budget gap, estimated by the government at 141 billion hryvnias, which compares with Ukraine’s originally approved 2008 budget deficit of 18.5 billion hryvnias, or 2.1% of GDP.
“We restored the budget,” Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said after the vote in Parliament.
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Tymoshenko stands firm
04 June 2008
Published in
Inform
issue #73
See the full issue here.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has ruled out any notion that she will resign on her own initiative. The premier made this clear on the TRK Ukrayina TV channel when commenting on the political tension that exists between the Cabinet of Ministers and the office of President Viktor Yushchenko.
Ms Tymoshenko made the point to scotch rumours that she was about to resign. “There are accusations going around that Tymoshenko is looking for the perfect moment to find an excuse, slam the door and leave… I will never allow myself to do this. I will continue to carry the responsibility of government,” said the premier.
Speculation over the resignation of the premier and dismissal of the government is rife given the rift between the president’s secretariat and the Cabinet of Ministers.
For months, the president has criticised his coalition partner at every turn, pouring scorn on her policy to repay Soviet-era lost bank savings while thwarting privatisation plans which would pay for the scheme. He has publicly lambasted her for the state of the economy, blaming her for the country’s inflation rate, which nearly topped 30 percent, while he blocks badly needed anti-inflation laws and budget revisions. According to Ms Tymoshenko, some 40 anti-inflation measures have been blocked by his office.
The respected economist Anders Aslund, was reported in The Economist as saying that Mr Yushchenko “seems more interested in harming [Ms Tymoshenko] politically than in capping inflation.”
Read More...
See the full issue here.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has ruled out any notion that she will resign on her own initiative. The premier made this clear on the TRK Ukrayina TV channel when commenting on the political tension that exists between the Cabinet of Ministers and the office of President Viktor Yushchenko.
Ms Tymoshenko made the point to scotch rumours that she was about to resign. “There are accusations going around that Tymoshenko is looking for the perfect moment to find an excuse, slam the door and leave… I will never allow myself to do this. I will continue to carry the responsibility of government,” said the premier.
Speculation over the resignation of the premier and dismissal of the government is rife given the rift between the president’s secretariat and the Cabinet of Ministers.
For months, the president has criticised his coalition partner at every turn, pouring scorn on her policy to repay Soviet-era lost bank savings while thwarting privatisation plans which would pay for the scheme. He has publicly lambasted her for the state of the economy, blaming her for the country’s inflation rate, which nearly topped 30 percent, while he blocks badly needed anti-inflation laws and budget revisions. According to Ms Tymoshenko, some 40 anti-inflation measures have been blocked by his office.
The respected economist Anders Aslund, was reported in The Economist as saying that Mr Yushchenko “seems more interested in harming [Ms Tymoshenko] politically than in capping inflation.”
Read More...