Russian PO called guilty in Kerch catastrophe

News / 29 November 2007 | 17:55

Russian Prosecutor Office considers that captain of seaport “Kavkaz” is one of the main guilty persons in catastrophe in Kerch channel. According to Russian Prosecutor Office, the captain neglected orders of coming and stay of ships in the port near Kerch channel.

The captain of “Kavkaz”, despite changes of meteorological conditions, did not take a decision of removal of ships from dangerous area including those ships that had not right to be in sea area.

 

Other reasons of catastrophe in Kerch channel, according to Russian PO are insufficient characteristics of ships, in particular tankers “Volganeft -139″ and “Volganeft-123″ and non-fulfillment of duties on security of ships by captains.

As a reminder, on November 11 the heavy storm became a reason for accident in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov: about twenty ships were shipwrecked. As a result of catastrophe, about 2 thousand tons of black oil leaked in to the sea and about 7 thousand of sulphur are underwater in sank ship.

ForUm

Lutsenko: If Yatsenyuk is ready, he will become speaker on Tuesday

News / 29 November 2007 | 17:33

Vyacheslav Kyrylenko made brave civil deed, choosing state interests instead of his personal aspirations. One of the OU-PSD leaders Yuriy Lutsenko stated in an interview with parliamentary journalists on Thursday, ForUm’s correspondent reports.

Lutsenko has expressed his regrets that Kyrylenko will not become the head of the parliament. At the same time, he has assured that if Arseniy Yatsenyuk is ready to hold the position of speaker and effectively realize his knowledge at this position, there will be no remarks from the side of any political group of the “People’s -Self-Defense” bloc.

“Every political force from our bloc doesn’t have negative attitude towards the candidacy of Yatsenyuk, unlike other names which were proposed. We have no claims to Mr. Yatsenyuk,” Lutsenko assured. He has noted that the People’s deputies just want to be sure whether Yatsenyuk understands all responsibility, which he bears as the head of the VRU. “If he is ready, then I think on Tuesday we will have new head of the VRU,” the parliamentarian noted.

ForUm

14 480 HIV-infected are registered in Ukraine

News / 29 November 2007 | 17:00

As of January-October 2007, new 14480 HIV-infected citizens of Ukraine, including 18 foreigners are registered in Ukraine officially. The Health Ministry informed.

In particular, new 1563 HIV-infected persons are registered in October, including 325 children under 14 years old.

During January-October 2007, 2 thousand 33 persons died from AIDS, including 15 children under 14 years old. In October 2007, 194 persons died from AIDS in Ukraine.

According to data of European bureau of world health organization, now there are in total about 400 thousand of HIV-positive persons in Ukraine.

ForUm

EU simplified visa regime for Ukrainians

News / 29 November 2007 | 16:40

Council of Ministers of the European Union approved agreement on simplification of visa regime and on readmission. Deputy spokesman of Portugal Maria Rui said that today.

In such a way, European side approved documents on visa regime simplification and now only must inform Ukraine.

According to Rui, decision on both agreements was taken unanimously.

Earlier, on November 28 committee of representatives of states-members of the EU adopted a resolution to approve Ukraine-EU agreements on simplification of visa regime and on readmission and to submit them for ratification of the EU council.

In order these documents to come into force from January 1, 2008, the VRU must ratify them.

ForUm

Communists will not support Yatsenyuk on principle

News / 29 November 2007 | 16:20

The Communist party of Ukraine doesn’t intend to support the candidacy of Arseniy Yatsenyuk to the post of the VRU speaker. Member of the CPU faction Leonid Grach stated at a press conference on Thursday in Kyiv, answering the journalists’ questions.

“Despite I opened the way to policy for Arseniy Yatsenyuk, he chose his political force – the “Our Ukraine,” Grach said.

He has stressed that the CPU will not vote for any representative from the OU-PSD to any post. “This is a question of principle,” Grach said.

ForUm

Members of coalition bear no grudge against opponents

News / 29 November 2007 | 15:59

The coalition of democratic forces is ready to do all necessary in order the minority feels like a full member of the political process. One of the OU-PSD leaders Vyacheslav Kyrylenko stated in an interview with journalists, ForUm’s correspondent reports.

Kyrylenko has noted that the People’s deputies who have not entered the coalition, will be the parliamentary opposition, but “with all rights,” as the parliamentary opposition “of real democratic country, that our Ukraine tends to become.”

The parliamentarian is sure that new stage of mutual respect and cooperation can start. “We bear no grudge against our opponents, but we have some principal disagreements in the vision of our country’s future,” he stressed.

Kyrylenko has noted that representatives of coalition will insist that the future of Ukraine is principally transparent, democratic and prosperous.

ForUm

Tymoshenko would like to see Lytvyn in coalition

News / 29 November 2007 | 15:29

BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko would like to see the bloc of Lytvyn in the composition of the democratic coalition. She stated in an interview with parliamentary journalists, ForUm’s correspondent reports.

“I want the democratic coalition to become stronger due to the participation of the Lytvyn’s bloc. I think it will give the parliament one more chance to work more stable,” Tymoshenko said.

Earlier, the leader of the bloc of Lytvyn stated that his faction wouldn’t join the coalition. “It reminds me, when the rich have finished their dinner and then they invite others,” he noted.

ForUm

Lytvyn considers that there is no coalition

News / 29 November 2007 | 15:15

The coalition is proclaimed formally but in fact it doesn’t exist. Volodymyr Lytvyn, leader of the bloc of Lytvyn stated in an interview with journalists.

He has noted: “I think that for today the coalition doesn’t exist.” “Formally the coalition was proclaimed, but in fact, it doesn’t exist. Because if it had been existed, we would have considered the staff questions,” he added.

Answering the journalists’ question, whether he works in the opposition, and whether it is a constructive opposition, Lytvyn has answered that he is strongly against to do such definitions.

He has also informed that he will work as the People’s deputy of Ukraine in the committee on education and science.

Answering the question, whether the Lytvyn’s bloc votes for the candidacy of Yatsenyuk to the post of the VRU speaker, he has noted that his faction will take part in voting, “but the question is whether this decision is positive, or negative one.”

ForUm

Kyrylenko admits critical number of votes

News / 29 November 2007 | 14:59

All difficulties concerning coalition agreement between BYuT and OU-PSD, all personal and staff complications are already solved. The OU-PSD faction leader Vyacheslav Kyrylenko said that today in an interview with parliamentary journalists, the ForUm’s correspondent informs.

According to Kyrylenko, “oranges” did everything possible to form democratic coalition.

Kyrylenko admitted that 227 votes are critical number. At the same time he noted that discipline in both factions and readiness of BYuT and OU-PSD People’s deputies to carry out constructive work must prevail.

Kyrylenko also expressed opinion that after appointment of VRU speaker, PM, democratic government, the number of coalition supporters would be increased and voting in the parliament would be consolidated.

As a reminder, Ivan Plyushch did not sign coalition agreement with BYuT despite significant talks with the President. So now there are 227 People’s deputies in the democratic coalition instead of 228 as it was considered.

ForUm

Tymoshenko promises to consult with PR

News / 29 November 2007 | 14:38

BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko and her political force still stand for adoption law on opposition. She said that today in the parliament, the ForUm’s correspondent informs.

“Our team and I personally adhere to adoption of opposition law that will give opposition the profound rights in order not only criticize actions of power but to control it,” she said.

Tymoshenko promised that in case representatives of democratic coalition forms the Cabinet, the draft bill on opposition will be agreed with the Party of Regions. “We will do it in such a way to give them right to fulfill functions of the opposition in full volume,” she noted.

ForUm