(4)"Today" Tuesday 25 May PEOPLE AND REGIME (political section: tel 457-24-10)
"KYIV" TO BECOME A DISNEYLAND - Aircraft carrier sold for scrap will bring profit to Chinese businessmen. (picture)
o ABROAD: The Nikolaevskiy-buit aircraft carrier "Kyiv" became the main attraction in the huge Chinese "military Disneyland", while Ukrainian and Chinese entrepreneurs agreed to build a "Ukrainian street" in the amusement park.
In 2000 the vessel was sold to China for scrap, according to various sources, for $8-16 million. Now the businessmen over there aren't just meeting expenses, but even making a profit.
The former aircraft carrier, already 32 years old, was docked in the Yellow Sea by the city of Tyan'tsin' (10 million inhabitants) and doesn't resemble in the slightest its registered description. The Chinese completely reconstructed the decks (the military equipment was removed before sale) and placed there four jet fighters from that period. In all, the investors spent about $300 million, but now they will use the monies they receive to build a kind of "military Disneyland", the center of which will be the Kyiv. Five hectares are planned with BTRs, anti-aircraft weapons, and other vehicles. There will also be a waterpark and other amusement complexes.
For now the only thing visible is the Yellow Sea (named for its color), the aircraft carrier, some big bill-boards, and a lot of junk. But there's no doubt that the Chinese will build everything as planned. During a tour of Peking our guide proudly showed us a nice nine-story building and said: "This is the oldest building in the city center, it's already 13 years old." Of course, he didn't mean historical places, but the speed with which the Chinese think, work, generate ideas upon which they can make money - for which they can be rightly proud.
The head of the investment company which owns the amusement park, Chzhen Zheyfu, didn't hide the fact the the project was practically paid off and was turning a profit. Now his company is getting ready to sell land (that same five hectares) for various park structures. There will be a "Ukrainian street" with souveniers and quite likely a Ukrainian restaurant. While the local authorities promised to to build a highway from Peking straight to the "Happy Port" (as the Chinese have named the future complex). A trip from the capital would take about two hours. Of course, Ukrainians would have to fly nine hours to get to Peking, for $580 round trip.
It could be a bit quicker if there weren't such problems in Ukrainian and Russian airline cooperation. "Today" has already written about how the Unified Economic Area (EEhP) between our countries would be more advantageous to the Ukraine, and so many Russian companies and their lobbyists are against it. In our case the airline Aerosvit must fly to China via Turkey, the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea, and Kazakhstan, instead of flying direct over Russia. According to unofficial sources, the Russian airline Aeroflot sees a serious competitor in the Ukrainian airline and demands huge sums for using their routes. Now our companies are trying to ward off the Russians through similar discriminatory practices, contrary to the agreement in the EEhP. Aeroflot is persisting. We'll see what will happen later.
Three pieces of advice from "Today"
If you're getting ready to go to China, remember: 1: From 11 PM to 7 AM almost nothing is open in Peking. The Chinese sleep, even the airport Duty Free is closed, so buy your souveniers early. 2: Changing your money to Yuans is usually possible in the airport or most hotels, but changing your money back is almost impossible, so exchange only as much as you will be spending. 3: Beer is often sold warm in China, don't bother asking for it to be chilled, because they'll just toss ice in the mug. Aleksey GAZUBEY "Today"
If this is communism, I'm confused.