Ukraine: Yushchenko Has Strong Words For Would-Be Separatists In Eastern Ukraine

Ukraine News Information ^ | Ukraine News Information

[anonymoussierra]

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/2/43A54F60-D72A-4FF6-A8F2-5C2B2434834D.html

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has threatened to take legal action against politicians in eastern Ukraine who are calling for the Russian-speaking part of the country to secede. Yushchenko, speaking yesterday in the eastern city of Donetsk, said all of the country is Ukrainian and that those supporting separatism are "sick." Yushchenko also demanded an end to corruption, the “shadow” economy and business clans.

Prague, 11 February 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko issued a stern warning to politicians in Ukraine's industrial east yesterday: Give up any idea of splitting from the rest of the country, or get ready for a fight.

The main purpose of the president's trip was to present the new regional governor, Vadim Chuprun. But Yushchenko did more than that.

On a visit to the mainly Russian-speaking city of Donetsk, he described pro-separatism politicians as "sick" and said they would answer in court for what he called "the nonsense they have been spreading."

The Ukrainian leader also called for an end to corruption, business clans and the shadowy economic activities characteristic of that part of the country.

"I do not want to see corrupt authorities," he said. "I do not want to know the price for [obtaining the position of] Donetsk regional police chief because nobody will pay that price. There will be a police chief who will serve several million people here, people who are currently dispirited."

Donetsk and other the Russian-speaking parts of eastern Ukraine broadly backed Yushchenko's pro-Russian opponent Viktor Yanukovych in the presidential contest late last year. Several Russian-speaking regions threatened in December to organize a referendum on partition if Yushchenko became president, but later backed down.

Serhiy Harmash is publisher of "Ostrov," an independent Internet magazine in Donetsk. He tells RFE/RL that local officials were surprised by the harsh tone of Yushchenko's two-hour address.

"The local elite was shocked. Everybody hoped that the president, as a politician, would come to seek some kind of compromise with Donetsk," Harmash says. "But it was just the opposite -- Yushchenko came not to look for a compromise but to put forward his own conditions."

But, Harmash says, such tough tactics might just work. He said the officials attending Yushchenko's speech appeared intimidated by his threat that they would no longer be able to dictate their own rules to the rest of the country

[snip]

During the meeting, Yushchenko also openly questioned the legality of a number of privatization deals in the Donetsk region, and indicated that if local business clans refuse to answer to Kyiv, they might be stripped of both their power and their money.

Harmash says Yushchenko left the local functionaries with few options.

"Yushchenko stated very clearly, and even said openly, that he would take strong measures to prevent any kind of separatism," Harmash says. "And not only separatism, but also any moves toward the federalization [of Ukraine]. Legal actions will be taken against such moves. So no one is going to dare encourage separatist feelings. Appealing to coal miners will also not work. You have some grounds for doing something like that. The president said yesterday that the money the state allocates for coal miners find its way into the pockets of local mining officials. So, [Yushchenko]] has his own capacity for appealing to coal miners."

Oleksandr Lytvynenko, an analyst with the Rozumkov Center, an independent think thank in Kyiv, agrees that the general population in eastern Ukraine is tired of the political dealings of local officials. He says there is no inherent civil conflict between eastern Ukraine and Kyiv. Recent tensions, he says, are only a result of the presidential election.

"What we have is not a civil conflict; just elections. The new president (Yushchenko) was elected, and the elections were recognized as being legitimate," Lytvynenko says. "And it is difficult to believe that supporters of former [candidate] Yanukovych and even his compatriots from Donetsk would choose to stay in the opposition only on principle."

Even Yanukovich himself, Lytvynenko says, has recently taken a more conciliatory attitude toward Yushchenko, and has suggested he is willing to cooperate with the new administration.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you http://postup.brama.com/dinamic/i_pub/usual.php?what=36821

[anonymoussierra]

Ukraine ping

[anonymoussierra]

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/2/43A54F60-D72A-4FF6-A8F2-5C2B2434834D.html

http://postup.brama.com/dinamic/i_pub/usual.php?what=36821

[7.62 x 51mm]

And he thought dioxin poisoning was bad; just wait 'til 'Pooty-Poot' orders a long distance, .50cal hit and he gets some serious lead poisoning.

[MeekOneGOP]

Ukraine: Yushchenko Has Strong Words For
Would-Be Separatists In Eastern Ukraine

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Yushchenko vs. Yanukovych/Ukraine election ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Malesherbes]

I have great sympathy for the Ukrainians. Their independence has been a long time coming. ("Sche ne umerla Ukraina.") However, Moscow has a strangle hold on them by controling the country's energy imports, and the eastern part of the country has more in common with Moscow than with Kiev of Lviv.

[Happy2BMe]

Thanks for the ping and I can only hope and pray that Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko survives the Putin spies still lurking in the shasows and that democracy will flourish and bloom in the Ukraine (Putin's terror).

(I'm not posting much right now with all the 'fireworks' going on around here.)

[rodguy911]

Yuschenko is definitely kicking ass and taking names. I too hope he has a good security staff like our Secret Service, he will need it. He is probably stepping on some big toes. He's a brave guy and an apparent strong leader. If he is successful in bringing Democracy to the Ukraine it would mean a lot for that part of the world.

[anonymoussierra]

Today is today, I will write again I do not want war in Ukraine this is different I write East Ukraine West Ukraine is Ukraine country Putin is Putin Moskwa do not want strong Ukraine this is truth!!! I do know why Juszenko write this Thank you

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep!

bump! bump! bump!

[GarySpFc]

Yuschenko is definitely kicking ass and taking names. I too hope he has a good security staff like our Secret Service, he will need it. He is probably stepping on some big toes. He's a brave guy and an apparent strong leader. If he is successful in bringing Democracy to the Ukraine it would mean a lot for that part of the world.

Yushchenko sounds more like a two bit dictator than a believer in democracy, but then I forgot we have lots of Democrats on this list who believe in him...at all costs.

[anonymoussierra]

"Yushchenko sounds more like a two bit dictator than a believer in democracy, but then I forgot we have lots of Democrats on this list who believe in him...at all costs.""Two bit dictator" do you want war in Ukraine? Yes NO I do want know Thank you

[PhilDragoo]

Yuschenko has been firm and forthright.

Bush, Kwasniewski, McCain, Clinton, Lieberman all are giving matters close attention.

In the continued srutiny Ukraine is getting any overt violent act by Yuschenko enemies would be extremely foolish.

[Lukasz]

Yushchenko sounds more like a two bit dictator than a believer in democracy, but then I forgot we have lots of Democrats on this list who believe in him...at all costs.

Of course if you would be a president, you would ignore extreme separatist’s statements.

[GarySpFc]

Of course if you would be a president, you would ignore extreme separatist’s statements.

It's called "Freedom of Speech," but then you wouldn't know anything about that. You appear to have forgotten Yushchenko stated after that if he did not win the final election they would overthrow the government.

[Lukasz]

It's called "Freedom of Speech”

Funny because I’m somehow sure that if prominent politicians in some US states would want to independence without consultation with American government or president, Bush reaction would be similar. This case have nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You appear to have forgotten Yushchenko stated after that if he did not win the final election they would overthrow the government.

Yes because he knew that every polls gave him victory and he knew about dirty plans of Kuchma, Russians and Ukrainian clans. If you maybe remember the first vote was rigged and it was very possible that Yanukovich team will try to do the same.

[GarySpFc]

Funny because I’m somehow sure that if prominent politicians in some US states would want to independence without consultation with American government or president, Bush reaction would be similar. This case have nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You exhibit little knowledge of American history or the right to freedom of speech, but that's understandable since you live under a communist government. In America there were many debates and calls for the right of seccession prior to the Civil War. There still to this day are debates on the subject, and every now and then a politican calls for it. The subject is moot, since the right to secession was settled by Lincoln.

You appear to have forgotten Yushchenko stated after that if he did not win the final election they would overthrow the government.

Yes because he knew that every polls gave him victory and he knew about dirty plans of Kuchma, Russians and Ukrainian clans. If you maybe remember the first vote was rigged and it was very possible that Yanukovich team will try to do the same.

Once again you are ignoring the facts. The exit polls were "all" taken in Yushchenko territory, which would be similiar to taking exit polls for the American election in Boston. Yushchenko was predicted to win the final election by 20+ points, but with all the negativity against Yanukovich he only won by 5 points. It's clear to me the second election was likely the right results, but then you do not care about right and wrong.

[GarySpFc]

Once again, your two bit dictator won.

[jb6]

The main purpose of the president's trip was to present the new regional governor, Vadim Chuprun.

Funny, they didn't have an election in that area....gads do you mean to tell me this governor was appointed? Why that's just like what Putin is doing in Russia...well no, Putin's candidates still have to pass election in the local Oblast (state) parliment, Yushchenko is just appointing as he goes. But thank God he's not dictatorial about it. /sarcasm

[Happy2BMe]

Much rather have Yushchenko where necessary 'appoint' at least until the time the KGB moles are removed from the power blocks.