The Ukrainian Weekly 2001, No.44

www.ukrweekly.com 1NS1DE: " European Youth Parliament prepares future leaders - page 3. ^ New book analyzes Ukraine-Russia relations - page 6. 9 Chersonesos on World Monuments Watch List - centerfold. THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association inc., a fraternal non-profit association vol. LXIX NO. 44 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4,2001 S1^2 in Ukraine Prime Minister Kinakh of Ukraine verkhovna Rada approves new land code on first visit to the United States despite heavy opposition of leftist factions by Yaro Bihun Rudolph Giuliani and United Nations by Roman Woronowycz said Mr. Kuchma, according to lnterfax- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Secretary General Kofi Anan. Kyiv Press Bureau Ukraine. "Ukraine views this as a crime against The controversial land code, which WASHINGTON - Anatoin Kinakh mankind and human civilization," he KYiv - Amid much chaos and vitriol, experienced dozens of changes after mace his first visit here as Ukraine's said, adding that Ukraine is cooperating Ukraine's Parliament marked a historic more than 100 were proposed during a prime minister, seeking improvements in closely with the United States and the moment on October 25 when it approved lengthy first reading, will legitimize the the trade relationship with the United international coalition in combating a new land code for the country, which privatization of land that has taken place States, more private investment and con- international terrorism by sharing intelli- will privatize land immediately and will since President Leonid Kuchma issued tinued credits from the international gence and allowing overflights by U.S. make it a commodity in a little over three an executive order ordering the restruc- financial institutions headquartered in the military transport planes. Mr. Kinakh years. turing of the agricultural sector in U.S. capital. said that he and vice-President Cheney The "land constitution," as some December 1999 and set the tempo for the During his two-day stay here on agreed to broaden this cooperation to politicians are calling the document, was fully private ownership of land in October 30-31, he had talks with vice- include investigations of illegal money- approved with more than a little acrimo- Ukraine. President Richard Cheney, Secretary of laundering activities. ny, fisticuffs and underhanded moves as it will gradually lead to a fully mar- Stats Colin Powell and other Cabinet While the discussion of international members of the Communist faction in ket-oriented land policy, but only over members and senior officials responsible terrorism was on the agenda of his meet- the verkhovna Rada used all means at the course of a decade. While Ukrainians for U.S. economic and trade relations ings with U.S. officials, as with similar their disposal - ethical and not - to block will now have the right to own land, with with Ukraine. previous visits by his predecessors viktor a vote on the bill, it was passed only all associated rights of investiture, the He also met with the leaders of the Yuschenko and Уаіегіу Pustovoitenko, after an unusual and controversial signa- ability to sell and purchase parcels will World Bank, the international Monetary economics predominated. ture vote, during which 232 national be severely restricted until January 2005, Fund and the U.S. Export-import Bank. One Ukrainian energy project in which deputies supported the bill. The when land becomes a full-fledged commodity. Even then, however, for a period While Prime Minister Kinakh met the United States has shown an interest in Communist and Socialist factions, and a of 10 years, the purchase of land will be with Secretary Powell and other officials the past - a pipeline that would carry good portion of the Batkivschyna fac- limited to 100 hectares. in person, his "meeting" with the vice- Caspian oil through Ukraine to Europe - tion, did not register for the polling. Other limits will remain, as well. president was conducted by way of a now is being described in strategic terms "This is indeed a historic event," said Foreigners, unless they are registered as video-conference. Following the Justice following the events of September 11. vice Prime Minister Leonid legal entities in Ukraine, will not be able Department's warning on October 29 "Ukraine and the United States now Kozachenko, who has championed the about the possibility of another terrorist land code. "This document has more to purchase the new commodity. Also, see the Odesa-Brody-Gdansk oil pipeline the land code envisions the development attack, Mr. Cheney had been moved to an as a crucial element in the energy securi- than merely economic meaning, it does undisclosed secure location. more than simply weigh on the develop- of a Land Bank within five years, to pro- ty of Europe and the World," Mr. Kinakh vide mortgages and credits, which.most Mr. Kinakh told reporters following said. ment of that sector; it has extraordinary his first full day of talks that he had con- political and societal ramifications inas- specialists believe could happen as soon U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual, who as next year. veyed Ukraine's "deep and sincere con- participated in the Washington talks, told much as it resolves the problem of social dolences" for the tragedy America suf- justice, the division of land - the most "This is a document that was devel- The Ukrainian Weekly that the United oped as a result of much compromise. fered on September 11. Before coming to States has always considered the Odesa- valuable tool of production for the popu- lace." No other document has gone through as Washington, he had spent a day in New Brody pipeline an important project and York City, where he visited the ruins of President Leonid Kuchma, in applaud- much critique as this one has," comment- has cooperated with the Ukrainian gov- ed Kateryna vaschuk, chairman of the the World Trade Center, attended a ernment on getting it built. ing passage of the act, was more succinct memorial service at St. George Ukrainian in his remarks. Agricultural Committee that prepared the Catholic Church and met with Mayor (Continued on page 9) "The land will now have a master," bill for the second reading. The subsequent approval of the second and third readings of the bill, after an initial effort the previous Thursday had failed, looked at first to be going the Prime minister's delegation lays wreath at ground zero same way. A large contingent from the by Andrew Nynka Communist faction surrounded the speaker's podium and the leadership dais NEW YORK - visiting the site of last fully an hour before the daily session month's terrorist attack on New York City, was to begin and did not let vice- Ukrainian Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh Chairman viktor Medvedchuk introduce on October 29 reaffirmed Ukraine's com- the bill or allow a final debate before the mitment to fighting international terrorism vote. and paid tribute to its victims during serv- With banners that they had strung up ices held in the Ukrainian East village at the front of the session hall proclaim- and a wreath-laying at ground zero. ing "Sell land, sell the Fatherland" and Mr. Kinakh first traveled to St. George "The sale of land is the death of Ukrainian Catholic Church, located on Ukraine," Communists wrestled micro- Seventh street and Taras Shevchenko phones from national deputies attempt- Place, for a memorial service held in ing to speak, jeered and chanted honor of those who lost t'Leir lives on "Shame," as the legislative body September 11 and offered prayers for attempted to move the bill to a vote. America's leadership during its war on While the proponents of the land act terrorism. presented 226 signatures of national Flanked by Ukraine's ambassador to deputies they had gathered as evidence the United States, Kostyantyn that there was sufficient support for the Grysnchenko, Ukraine's Consul General І Andrew Nynka measure, Communist leader Petro in New York Serhiy Pohoreltzev, and Symonenko insisted there could be no Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Ukrainian military officers place a wreath at ground zero, where the World second reading because he alleged fraud- Trade Center чтсе stood, as Ukraine's Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh and his continued on page 4) (Continued on page 4) delegation look on. THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4,2001 No. 44 ANALYSIS Caucasus conflicts are eclipsedElection bill signed, with objections that it could impose sanctions over Kyiv's inability to curb the piracy of by world focus on Afghanistan KY1 v - President Leonid Kuchma has intellectual property. (RFE7RL Newsline) signed into law a bill on parliamentary by Richard Giragosian for intervening, in perhaps the most seri- elections that was passed by the Horbulin calls for civilian minister RFEfRLNewline ous confrontation between Moscow and Parliament earlier this month. According Tbilisi in several years, this Abkhaz cri- to interfax, presidential spokesman ihor KYiv - volodymyr Horbulin, the Overshadowed by ongoing U.S.-led sis poses a serious test of the firmness of Storozhuk told journalists that Mr. chairman of the State Commission for military anti-terrorist strikes against the newly revised Russian foreign policy Kuchma simultaneously asked the the Military-industrial Complex, said on Afghanistan and the intense diplomatic and may test the very survival of the verkhovna Rada "to urgently introduce a October 30 that he is ready to assume the consultations on cooperation between Georgian government. number of amendments" to the bill in post of defense minister, following last world powers to counter global terror- Although as of October 18 the fighting order to hold next year's parliamentary week's dismissal of Gen. Oleksander ism, rising tensions in the South appeared to have abated, a Georgian mil- election "with full observance of Kuzmuk over the accidental downing of Caucasus threaten to create yet another itary contingent remains in the upper Ukraine's Constitution and legislation." a Russian passenger plane.

Load more