UN information fair to be held in Kyiv

News / 31 October 2006 | 17:24

An information fair of UN publications will be held in the Verkhovna Rada lobby, “Cabinet’s press office” reported.

The United Nations agencies will offer their publications about cooperation between UN and Ukraine in 2006 to 2010.

The fair will present the report “Doing Business in Ukraine 2006″ by the World Bank and the International Financial Corporation, the new collection of international treaties of Ukraine on legal assistance in criminal proceedings issued by the International Organization for Migration in cooperation with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General Office and a series of publications by UNICEF into “The State of Children and Women in Ukraine”, information materials by the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Experts of the United Nations Development Program will familiarize the visitors with a report on human development in 2005 and the analytical report “Humanitarian Effects of the Chornobyl Accident. Revival Strategy”.

ForUm

Ukraine’s PM: Relations between Ukraine and China are a priority

News / 31 October 2006 | 16:14

Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych emphasizes the relations between Ukraine and China as a priority, “Cabinet’s press office” reported. The Head of Ukrainian Government disclosed this during his meeting with the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of the People’s Republic of China Jia Qinglin.

The relations with China are a priority for Ukraine. It is important for our country to deepen the political dialogue and cooperation with the PRC in the international arena, Viktor Yanukovych noted.

“We really appreciate Ukraine-China relations and consider that a long-standing friendship between the Chinese and Ukrainian people is a good basis for deepening trade and economic relations between our states”, the Prime Minister stressed.

Viktor Yanukovych is confident that fulfillment of common projects of two countries still before. In particular, the Ukrainian Prime Minister supports intensification of cooperation in the transport sphere and aircraft construction.

ForUm

OU MP Katerynchuk on the VR approval of the draft budget-2007

News / 31 October 2006 | 15:55

“Today regions are assuring that they have withdrawn all items restricting people’s social welfare from the draft budget. However, they forgot to mention that these items had been inserted in it by themselves and it was the opposition forces which forced to cancel such screaming standards,” stated OU MP Katerynchuk commenting on the VR approval of the draft budget-2007.

“Azarov should realise that if he does not withdraw these items from the budget we will appeal to the Constitution Court and abolish it in legal form. We may abolish the whole budget as non-constitutional one as well,” stressed Katerynchuk.

“It should be mentioned that attempts to reduce pensions of working pensioners will strike firstly miners and military officials. These people are very good specialists, they retire on a pension aged 45, but they have a opportunity to work and to share their experience with freshmen,” opined Mykola Katerynchuk.

Katerynchuk outlined that instead of introducing changes into the tax legislation the budget must be based upon it.

“It is ridiculous to speak about budget transparency as we were given conclusions of the committee in 20 minutes instead of two days. And moreover, they say we can get a clue of it… Of course, be sure, we will do get a clue of it. We will look into it and we will not tolerate the free economic areas’ standards, pressure on entrepreneurs and reduction of the social payments,” concluded Katerynchuk.

ForUm

Ukraine’s Rada gave the bill on state budget its first reading

News / 31 October 2006 | 15:36

Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada gave the bill on state budget its first reading. 256 deputies voted for the document, ForUm’s correspondent reported.

VR speaker informed that the text of the bill provides for that the VR recommends the Cabinet to start work on the state budget 2007 and to prepare it for its second reading.

Deputies also recommend the Cabinet to take into account all proposition on this document.

Moroz noted that a corresponding parliamentary working group, formed by special resolution of the VR, would take part in the project.

Cabinet of Ministers must finish preparation and submit the document to its second reading before November 20.

 

ForUm

Ukraine’s representative to UN urges international community to aid Ukraine in Chornobyl issues

News / 31 October 2006 | 15:03

“Securing highest standards of using nuclear power is among topmost priorities of the Ukrainian Government’s activities and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Ukraine’s acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations Viktor Kryzhanivskyi stated, speaking at the plenary session of the UN GA 61st session, “Cabinet’s press office” reported.

Ukraine implements an important practical contribution to IAEA efforts in securing radiation safety and storing radioactive wastes, taking steps to withdraw the Chornobyl NPP from exploitation and to transform the “Shelter” facility into ecologically safe system. According to Kryzhanivsky, though the Ukrainian Government allocates many funds to this end, the final settlement of the Chornobyl issue is impossible without the international community’s aid.

As the Ukrainian diplomat stressed, nuclear energy is an important element of energy independence of Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine possesses much capability in atomic technologies and supports the activities of the Agency in strengthening scientific-technical cooperation among nations in this domain.

Viktor Kryzhanivsky noted the need to enhance the role of the Agency in tightening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and ensuring the peaceful use of the atomic power. According to him, Ukraine, realizing the danger of nuclear terrorism, comprehensively supports the IAEA activities in strengthening security of storing nuclear and radiation substances, counteracting their illegal trafficking and enhancing safety of these and takes all the necessary moves to this effect at the national level.

ForUm

Tymoshenko: Ukraine to fall in debtor’s prison

News / 31 October 2006 | 14:49

Speaking in the parliament, BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko explained what budget deficit at the level of 2.6% means.

“First of all, it is debtor’s prison for Ukraine for the nearest five years. Budget deficit of 2.6% gives additional state debt in the amount of 8.6 milliard hryvnias,” Tymoshenko said.

According to her, the government has preserved shady economic zones in the budget. “It means that tax free zones will be created for some enterprises of Party of Regions,” BYuT leader underlined.

Tymoshenko declared that “the very Azarov epoch”, against which middle and small business has been fighting for a long time, starts in the country.

ForUm

Russian Foreign Minister to visit Ukraine

News / 31 October 2006 | 14:33

RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Ukraine on November 7-8, RF Embassy to Ukraine told Tuesday.

In the margins of the visit scheduled session of Ukrainian-Russian Sub-Committee on International Cooperation attached to the Yushchenko-Putin Intergovernmental Commission will be held.

In the course of the meeting the participants will focus their attention on reports of the heads of the sub-commissions on border issues, Azov-Kerch settlement, cooperation within the international organisations, counter the new challenges and threats, regional conflicts settlement and consular collaboration.

ForUm

The OU MPs initiate formation of an investigative commission on Ukraine’s gas import

News / 31 October 2006 | 13:52

Oleksiy Ivchenko and Anatoliy Kinakh initiate formation of a temporary commission aimed at investigation of the issues related to the gas import to Ukraine, the OU Bloc pres office informs.

Presently, there is non-transparent negotiation process regarding the gas import underway, Ivchenko says. Naftogaz was debarred from the talks, and the agreement on 55 milliard cu m gas import was concluded solely between two commercial structures – UkrGazEnergo and RosUkrEnergo. It threatens energy safety of Ukraine, Ivchenko opines.

Neither the Cabinet nor Naftogaz influence the current situation. It is still only initiative to form the temporary committee and currently the initiators discuss its possible staff, Ivchenko concludes.

Earlier, BYuT propounded to form such investigative committee aimed at clarifying the situation with middlemen of the gas market.

ForUm

Ukraine’s President offers to conclude a political treaty with China

News / 31 October 2006 | 13:30

Victor Yushchenko has met with Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), president’s press office reported.

The President said “Ukraine is trying to strengthen political and diplomatic ties with China today,” characterizing our relations as “strategic partnership.” He praised economic cooperation between Ukraine and China, urging the two countries to build closer ties in space science, aviation and other high-tech areas. Yushchenko also suggested that Ukraine and China formulate a political agreement on the principles of bilateral relations and cooperation in the 21st century. 

They discussed preparations for a November 2007 meeting of the intergovernmental economic commission.  

The President asked Mr. Qinglin to give Chinese leader Hu Jintao his best regards and invited him to Ukraine.

Deputy Speaker Adam Martynyuk, Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Oleksandr Chalyy and Ukraine’s Ambassador to China Serhiy Kamyshev attended the meeting. 

ForUm

BYuT blocked the parliamentary tribune

News / 31 October 2006 | 13:05

Representatives of the BYuT faction blocked the tribune of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, ForUm’s correspondent reported.

The cause of the blockade is that BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko was refused 10-minute speech, having set a time of three minutes. Her speech was devoted to the draft bill on state budget 2007.

Having run off the time Tymoshenko asked for additional minutes, but VR speaker Moroz refused, having stated that BYuT leader can continue her speech after all representatives of the faction have performed.

Such answer did not satisfy Tymoshenko and she refused to leave the tribune. Representatives of her faction immediately came to her.

After five-minute discussion Tymoshenko was allowed to continue expressing her thoughts.

ForUm