Ukraine Tells Albright It Will Not Sell Turbines for Nuclear Project in Iran

INSIDE:• Town hall meetings target youth vote in Ukraine — page 4. • Manor Junior College marks 50th anniversary — page 6. • A look at Crimea’s Tatar minority — page 10. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVI HE No.KRAINIAN 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1998 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine UkraineT tells Albright UClinton pledges to fight internationalW trafficking of women it will not sell turbines for nuclear project in Iran by Roman Woronowycz Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV — A week after signing a long- term economic trade agreement with Russia, Ukraine continued to successful- ly play its multi-vectored foreign policy game by heeding U.S. demands that it not sell Russia turbines for a nuclear reactor project in Iran. “Ukraine has decided to refrain from nuclear cooperation with Iran, including the supply of turbines to the Bushehr Project,” said Foreign Minister Hennadii Udovenko on March 6. Mr. Udovenko made the statement after he and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright had signed a series of agreements on nuclear and satellite technology cooperation. Ms. Albright was in Kyiv for a seven-hour visit on the first leg of a tour of European capitals. Last year Kyiv had said it would sell Moscow a $45 million turbine needed for the completion of the Bushehr Yaro Bihun nuclear reactor project in Iran, which President Clinton announces his administration’s measures against the abuse and trafficking of women as First Lady Hillary Russia has contracted to finish at a cost Rodham Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno look on. of $800 million. Then Ukraine became entangled in a by Yaro Bihun emony on March 11, marking First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, controversy between Russia, on which it Special to The Ukrainian Weekly International Women’s Day (March 8), Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, depends for most of its nuclear fuel as the president outlined his plan of action, Attorney General Janet Reno, U.N. WASHINGTON — President Bill well as gas and oil, and the U.S., whose which includes an expansion of U.S. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Clinton has announced a series of meas- Senate is currently considering whether Advisor to the Prime Minister of ures his administration will take to curb efforts on behalf of women at home and Ukraine should receive the second half Thailand Saisuree Chutikul. the abuse of women worldwide and espe- overseas, and the convening of an inter- of a $225 million foreign aid package Secretary Albright, who had just cially the international trafficking of national conference to develop new that was appropriated for this year. returned from an international trip that women, a problem that has plagued strategies to combat the international The U.S. does not want Russia to fin- began in Kyiv, said the government of Ukraine and some of the other states of trafficking of women. ish the Bushehr nuclear reactor, which Ukraine asked, and the United States that region. Adding their voices on behalf of has been in development since the late Addressing a special White House cer- women’s rights at the ceremony were: (Continued on page 3) 1970s, because it believes Iran will use the plant to develop nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Russia has refused to cancel the deal, stating that it is not a dangerous Duma Committee hears calls for Ukraine’s reunion with Russia project because Iran is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and by Roman Woronowycz Verkhovna Rada on the invitation of the reviewing the Ukraine-Russia treaty. Mr. subject to international inspections. Kyiv Press Bureau Russian Duma. Tikhonov is a member of the The U.S. had exerted increasingly Since February, the Russian legisla- Narodovladia (Popular Power) faction of KYIV — Pro-nationalists and more intense pressure on Ukraine not to ture has been reviewing the “big treaty” the Russian State Duma headed by the Communists turned a Russian Duma sell the turbine, after the U.S. had failed between Ukraine and Russia, which was former chairman of the USSR Council legislative committee hearing on ratifi- to convince Russia to discontinue the signed in May 1997. It has been unable of Ministers, Nikolai Ryzhkov. project. Washington had offered Kyiv a cation of the Treaty on Friendship, The hearing was attended by some Cooperation and Partnership between to approve it chiefly because pro-nation- series of financial and technological aid alist and Communist forces have contin- 100 people, including members of the packages, and the prospect of access to Ukraine and Russia into a political cir- ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic cus on March 3 when they transformed uously disrupted debate over the emo- U.S. nuclear fuel supplies as an incen- tional issue of the status of Sevastopol, Party headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, tive, but had also warned that if Ukraine it into a spectacle calling for the reunion the Communist Party of Russia and for- of Ukraine with Russia. which many in Russia feel should be did sell the turbines, the U.S. would not handed over to Russia. mer members of the Supreme Soviet of sign an accord on peaceful nuclear coop- The hearing was disrupted numerous the Soviet Union, many of whom were times by hooting and foot-stomping by National Deputy Bohdan Horyn, a eration. member of the Ukrainian delegation to invited by Mr. Tikhonov, according to Russia had offered its own carrots for guests in response to demands by com- Mr. Horyn. Moscow, said the circus atmosphere of Ukraine to go through with the deal, mittee members for the return of the Besides the official Ukrainian delega- the committee hearing was a premeditat- most recently in the form of a memoran- Ukrainian city of Sevastopol to Russia tion, CIS Committee Chairman ed “provocation” against the Ukrainian dum of intent to supply a $200 million and for the enforcement of Russian Tikhonov also invited members of the technology loan to help Ukraine com- minority rights in Ukraine. delegation orchestrated by Georgi Parliament of Ukraine’s Autonomous plete two nuclear reactor complexes, one The committee hearing was all the Tikhonov, chairman of the Russian State Republic of Crimea and Ivan in the city of Rivne and the other in more a show because it was attended by Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and a an official delegation of the Ukrainian member of the special committee (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1998 No. 11 COMPARATIVE STUDY NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Ukraine and Belarus in the post-Soviet era Duma in no hurry on treaty with Ukraine participated in the talks. Ukraine owes by David R. Marples the dynamic elements in political life: the about $1.2 billion to Gazprom. (RFE/RL Communist and then proto-Communist MOSCOW — At the Russia State Newsline) The post-Soviet period has been one of political leadership symbolized by Prime Duma’s hearings on March 3, most deputies dramatic change in the three Slavic Minister Vyachaslau Kebich; and the spoke out against rapid ratification of the Poland wants to keep visa-free regime republics that were part of the USSR until democrats, symbolized by the Belarusian Russia-Ukraine friendship treaty, which WARSAW — Polish Foreign Minister December 1991. Comparisons between Popular Front and the increasingly isolated was signed in May 1997, Interfax reported. Bronislaw Geremek said Warsaw will tight- Ukraine and Russia have been frequent, but Parliament chairman, Stanislau A group of deputies proposed delaying rati- en security on its eastern border but wants such analogies are not comparing like with Shushkevich. Simply put: no middle ground fication until after the new Ukrainian to continue visa-free travel for Ukrainian like. Russia was by far the most powerful could be found in Belarusian political life. Verkhovna Rada ratifies agreements on citizens, Reuters reported on February 25. republic within the Soviet Union, and The BPF under the leadership of Zyanon dividing the Black Sea Fleet. President Speaking after a meeting in London with remains a giant country, well endowed with Paznyak was widely seen as extremist and Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine recently said he British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Mr. natural resources. Russophobic. Whereas Ukraine neglected hopes Russia will ratify the treaty before the Geremek said Kyiv is willing to take back It seems pertinent to compare instead economic reform and consolidated inde- Ukrainian parliamentary elections sched- illegal immigrants who are refused passage Ukraine and Belarus, two middle-ranking pendence, Belarus was unable to accom- uled for March 29. Russia’s First Vice into Poland. Both Russia and Belarus have powers, both involved in the process of plish either task. By the summer of 1994, Minister for Foreign Affairs Boris refused to take that step, which Poland nation-building since their independence in the former leaders and Mr. Paznyak were Pastukhov urged Duma deputies to ratify 1991. Despite the fact that Ukraine’s popu- swept aside in the presidential election by the treaty as soon as possible, as did requires before allowing a visa-free regime lation is five times larger than that of its Parliament Deputy Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Vladimir Yatsenko, the head of the with a neighboring country. Mr. Geremek northern neighbor, there are many points for a man in his late 30s, whose mediocre Ukrainian parliamentary delegation at the also said Poland will lose up to $3 billion in comparison, of which this paper will select career to that point had been highlighted hearings. Mr. Yatsenko promised that the “gray zone” trade because of increased a handful: nation-building; economic only by his chairmanship of a parliamentary Verkhovna Rada “will never make a choice restrictions on Belarusians and Russians reform; demographic indices (including commission on corruption.

Load more