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Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXX HE No.KRAINIAN 49 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2002 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine Ukraine’sT journalistsU threaten strike, New CabinetW of Ministers reflects opposition schedules new protests composition of parliamentary majority by Maryna Makhnonos told to present a news story that tainted by Roman Woronowycz centrate on bringing Ukraine’s economy Special to The Ukrainian Weekly the opposition, which was then preparing Kyiv Press Bureau closer to Europe. for its first mass demonstrations under the “I am optimistic about tomorrow, and I KYIV – Ukrainian journalists called for slogan “Arise, Ukraine.” The story came KYIV – Ukraine’s tough chief tax col- have reason to be,” said an uncharacteristi- an end to intimidation tactics and censor- from “suggestions”offered in a fax lector became the No. 2 man in the new cally upbeat President Kuchma, who has ship in news reporting and warned on received from the presidential administra- government of Prime Minister Viktor been plagued by scandal for much of his December 4 that they are ready to call a tion detailing what to highlight and what Yanukovych when he was appointed first second term. nationwide strike if their demands are not to ignore in the daily news cycle. vice prime minister on November 30. Ukraine’s new Cabinet of Ministers in met. Mr. Shevchenko spoke before the The appointment of Mykola Azarov sup- many ways reflects the coalition govern- Speaking before the Verkhovna Rada Verkhovna Rada after Vice Prime Minister ports the intention voiced by Prime ment the president said he would allow a during a special parliamentary hearing on for Humanitarian Affairs Dmytro Minister Yanukovych, who was ratified by parliamentary majority to form. Seven of freedom of the press, Andrii Shevchenko, Tabachnyk claimed before the Parliament the Verkhovna Rada on November 21, to the nine parliamentary factions that make leader of the newly formed Independent that “de jure censorship doesn’t exist in put a heavy emphasis on completing eco- up the new majority are represented in the Media Union, declared that his organiza- Ukraine.” Mr. Tabachnyk said the state nomic reforms, and increasing foreign government. More importantly, to a large tion – which unites most of the capital owns only 5.2 percent of media outlets, investment and trade. extent the leaders of those factions them- city’s media, including top journalists – and argued that, therefore, direct govern- Mr. Azarov, 54, who formerly ran the selves determined which caucuses would would arrange a large-scale media strike ment influence on media coverage is State Tax Administration – where he was get what posts and then offered nominees, to protest government pressure on the impossible. both criticized and praised for his uncom- among which Mr. Kuchma chose his press and was ready to go further, He did not mention that most of promising and even ruthless pursuit of tax appointees. although he did not specify how, if the sit- Ukraine’s major media outlets are held by evaders – was one of 15 ministers and three The Social Democratic United faction, uation didn’t improve. business oligarchs who are aligned with vice prime ministers named by President headed by Viktor Medvedchuk, who is also Some 500 journalists have signed a pro-presidential forces. Leonid Kuchma. Mr. Yanukovych had not President Kuchma’s chief of staff, received manifesto issued on October 3 against “Maybe we don’t have censorship de hid the fact that he would leave the appoint- the most posts – four – including the all- censorship and intimidation of the press, jure, but it certainly exists de facto,” ment of his Cabinet of Ministers to Mr. important position of vice prime minister of which also announced the formation of responded Mr. Shevchenko, who followed Kuchma, while submitting only recommen- fuel and energy, which was given to Vitalii the strike committee. Mr.Tabachnyk to the parliamentary podi- dations. Haiduk. Mr. Shevchenko, who was the evening um. At a joint press conference with The Agrarian faction received the post of news anchor on one of Ukraine’s most The first reports about directives from President Rudolf Schuster of Slovakia, Mr. vice prime minister of agriculture, which popular television channels, Novyi Kanal, Kuchma said he was satisfied with the new was handed to Ivan Kyrylenko, who had quit his job on September 13 after he was (Continued on page 17) government and expected that it would con- earlier served in government as minister of agriculture. Dmytro Tabachnyk, a member of the Labor Ukraine faction who was President Kuchma’s first chief of staff back Unique mosaic in Donetsk, feared to be slated for destruction, is saved in 1994, was appointed vice prime minister ArtUkraine Information Service had any intention to harm or destroy the had a firm commitment and agreement for humanitarian affairs. mosaic. McDonald’s said it and its part- with the owners. The YUG company The other major factions in the coalition, KYIV – The unique monumental ner have been working closely from the has sent to the Donetsk regional admin- Regions of Ukraine and European Choice, mosaic “Woman-Bird,” designed and beginning to protect the mosaic and to istration an official letter confirming received one seat each, the posts of prime constructed by Alla Horska, H. Synitsia incorporate the mosaic into their new that the mosaic will be kept safe.” minister and the first vice prime minister, and Victor Zaretsky in 1965 in a jewel- building. The spokesman for McDonald’s respectively. Because the National ry store in Donetsk, will be saved – and McDonald’s Ukraine stated: “From said, “We understand the contribution Democratic faction and the People’s Power not destroyed as originally reported by the very beginning of the premises’ of Alla Horska to Ukrainian culture and factions did not place individuals in the the UNIAN news service. reconstruction, McDonald’s requested place a high value on the artwork. The leadership posts, they were given two An October 17 UNIAN article had Cabinet seats each. that the mosaic be saved. McDonald’s (Continued on page 17) quoted a letter from Lyudmyla Ohneva, President Kuchma, who had retained for director of the Donetsk Oblast Union of himself the right to appoint the so-called Ukrainian Women, which noted that the “power posts,” kept the four current minis- new private owners of the building ters: Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii where the Horska mosaic was located Smyrnov, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Donetsk had announced their inten- Anatolii Zlenko, Minister of Justice tion to destroy the historic mosaic as Oleksander Lavrynovych and Minister of part of a reconstruction of the area and Defense Volodymyr Shkidchenko. the building of a new McDonald’s Four other ministers also were re- restaurant. appointed: Yurii Bohutskyi of the National The Donetsk Oblast Union of Democratic Party retained his portfolio as Ukrainian Women and the Donetsk mnister of culture; Vasyl Kremin of the Oblast National Union of Artists of Social Democratic Party stayed on as min- Ukraine demanded in their letter to ister of education and science; Serhii Yurii Bohutsky, Ukraine’s minister of Ryzhyk of the Agrarian faction remained in culture, that national interests be his post as minister of agriculture; and defended by preserving this unique Hryhorii Kyrpa, Social Democratic Party- monument of Ukrainian monumental United, remained minister of transportation. art. The only new appointee who was not A spokesman for McDonald’s currently a lawmaker in the Verkhovna Ukraine has confirmed to ArtUkraine Rada is Serhii Yermilov, who was given the Information Service that neither post of minister of fuel and energy.Two McDonald’s nor the owners of the factions, Democratic Initiatives and the property in Donetsk, Firm YUG, ever A crew films Alla Horska’s mosaic “Woman-Bird” located in Donetsk. Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – (Continued on page 17) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2002 No. 49 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Kuchma replaces prime minister, NEWSBRIEFS President approves new Cabinet an agreement establishing the forum prior to an official dinner in honor of the and appoints a possible successor KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma has visit. In subsequent talks with Prime issued decrees appointing a new govern- Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, Mr. by Taras Kuzio ment and a large dose of disappointment ment headed by Prime Minister Viktor Lytvyn discussed domestic- and foreign- RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report with the turn of events in the last few Yanukovych and dismissing the old one policy issues, as well as ongoing years [in Ukraine].” headed by Anatolii Kinakh, UNIAN reforms. He expressed dissatisfaction On November 21, 234 deputies com- The model that Mr. Yanukovych reported on December 1, quoting presi- with Ukraine’s imminent status as an EU prising the pro-presidential parliamentary brings from Donbas is of a “socially reg- dential spokeswoman Olena neighbor, noting that his country will majority from the eight factions that ulated market economy” combined with Hromnytska. The new Cabinet of seek to become an associate member of grew out of the For a United Ukraine political authoritarianism. This model, Ministers consists of First Vice Prime the European Union. On December 4 Mr. election bloc and the Social Democratic- according to Freedom House’s annual Minister and Finance Minister Mykola Lytvyn was to meet with President party United (SDPU) voted to support survey “Nations in Transit,” has become Azarov; Vice Prime Ministers Ivan Valdas Adamkus and Vilnius Mayor President Leonid Kuchma’s candidate, the norm in the Commonwealth of Kyrylenko, Dmytro Tabachnyk and Arturas Zuokas before flying to the Viktor Yanukovych, as Ukraine’s 10th Independent States, including in Russia.