Posted on 12/21/2004 8:23:29 AM PST by anonymoussierra
By MARA D. BELLABY, Associated Press Writer
KIEV, Ukraine - Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), who openly backed Viktor Yushchenko's rival for president of the Ukraine, said Tuesday he could work with an administration headed by the pro-Western candidate.
"We have worked with him already and the cooperation was not bad," Putin said during a visit to Germany. "If he wins, I don't see any problems."
Yushchenko was prime minister from 1999 to 2001, and before that he headed the Central Bank for six years.
Putin irritated the West had quickly congratulating Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the Moscow-backed candidate, after last month's presidential runoff against Yushchenko, only to see his purported victory canceled because of vote-rigging. A new runoff will take place Sunday.
In eastern Ukraine, a pro-Yushchenko convoy of about 50 vehicles — dubbed the "friendship journey" — was turned back by supporters of Yanukovych after it reached the outskirts of Donetsk, a city that is the prime minister's base. The convoy then headed to Kharkiv, another eastern city.
The presidential campaign has split Ukraine, with the west and Ukraine's cosmopolitan capital backing the reformist, Western-leaning Yushchenko, while the Kremlin-backed Yanukovych has received strong support from the industrial east, which favors closer ties with Russia.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who spoke with Putin at a news conference in the northern German town of Schleswig, said he and Putin agreed that "nobody has the right to meddle and that the result of the Dec. 26 vote will have to be respected."
Ukraine's Supreme Court ordered the revote after annulling the fraud-marred Nov. 21 runoff. Mass opposition protests in Kiev preceded the court's decision.
Yushchenko would like to nudge the country of 48 million people toward the European Union (news - web sites) and NATO (news - web sites). Ukraine has a brigade of troops in Iraq (news - web sites), has lost nine soldiers killed in the conflict, and is one of the top recipients of U.S. aid.
Yanukovych on Tuesday pledged Tuesday to fight any attempt to split Ukraine, speaking a day after a bruising televised debate with his presidential rival where both candidates acknowledged the urgent need for unity in this divided nation.
"I do not intend to not put up with attempts to divide Ukraine, to split Ukraine territorially, linguistically or religiously," Yanukovych said at a meeting with foreign diplomats in the Ukrainian capital.
In the debate, Yushchenko accused his rival of stealing millions of votes in last month's runoff while Yanukovych warned that Yushchenko would never win over Ukraine's Russian-speaking east, and called on his opponent to work together to heal the wounds exposed by the bitter race.
Both candidates have moved to win support beyond their traditional bases, and Yushchenko convoy was an attempt to win over some of Yushchenko's toughest critics.
About 300 cars adorned with blue-and-white banners and flags — Yanukovych's campaign colors — waited for the convoy of Yushchenko supporters outside the Donetsk city limits. In the city, up to 3,000 youths rallied and chanted, "We are for Yanukovych." They burned an effigy of Yushchenko.
Yanukovych, meanwhile, has moved to distance himself from outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, while also reaching out to Yushchenko with conciliatory calls to form a unity government after the vote.
"We, regardless, will search for compromises and will find them," he said during the debate. "After the election, despite whoever wins, I think we should hold a forum of national accord."
Yanukovych also urged whoever loses Sunday's rerun to accept defeat.
Ukraine/Ukraina
I am sorry :}} Thank you
Any insights from you about why this change has occurred? You are much closer to the situation than we are my friend.
The low life is beginning to sound a lot like kethcup boy.
Thank you. Putin do know that Ukraincy persons want be free!
I do not like Putin he talk comunist like good talk Putin is Germany now this is old KGB talk be strong 26 December 2004 Ukraine persons will again vote I want Ukraine country persons be what Ukraine persons want Thank you
Bush May Take Tougher Line With Putin:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041221/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_russia_5
Guess he had a chat with Bush, maybe Condi already.
thank you
"Guess he had a chat with Bush, maybe Condi already."
I think it is we that owe you the thanks.
Merry Christmas to you. And may the New Year bring you bright horizons.
That is good!!!! I write again read America good persons read what Putin comunist KGB write talk Thank you
"Putin echoed Soviet-era rhetoric when he said U.S. influence abroad amounts to a "dictatorship." He also colorfully likened the United States to a "strict uncle in a pith helmet."
"I think the president is probably surprised, disappointed and alarmed," said Rep. Curt Weldon (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., a close student of Russia."
hehehehehehehehehe :}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Thank you :}}}}}
First time Putin has made sense in a month. He has to get over the old resentment and revenge syndrome and work with what he has. That's what's best for Russia.
The same is true of Iraq. Recently he visited the country, insulted the interim head of state, and said that America get out. That's resentment and revenge. What he needs to do is work with the situation as it is. The cushy oil-for-arms bribery arrangements he had with Saddam are dead. Time to get on with life and do what's best for Russia now.
What does it profit Russia to go around insulting her natural allies?
"First time Putin has made sense in a month. He has to get over the old resentment and revenge syndrome and work with what he has. That's what's best for Russia.
The same is true of Iraq. Recently he visited the country, insulted the interim head of state, and said that America get out. That's resentment and revenge. What he needs to do is work with the situation as it is. The cushy oil-for-arms bribery arrangements he had with Saddam are dead. Time to get on with life and do what's best for Russia now.
What does it profit Russia to go around insulting her natural allies?"Thank you that is truth what you write be strong America good country! Putin is Putin comunist KGB comunist is evil! Thank you
Although Putin is a stable pragmatic force he IS a commie. (you can not take the KGB out of a KGB man)
Nearly worked, but for the fact that the rest of the world was watching.
"Although Putin is a stable pragmatic force he IS a commie. (you can not take the KGB out of a KGB man)"Thank you
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