Posted on 08/02/2006 2:32:58 PM PDT by A. Pole
KIEV, Ukraine —
After four months of wrangling, Ukraine's pro-Western president faced a midnight deadline Wednesday to decide whether to accept his chief political rival as the country's next prime minister.
President Viktor Yushchenko can also dissolve parliament and call new elections, but doing so would prolong the political turmoil that has seized this ex-Soviet republic since March's indecisive parliamentary election.
A return to power for Viktor Yanukovych, a former prime minister, would complete a startling comeback. His attempt to win the presidency in the 2004 election was marred by fraud and triggered the mass protests known as the Orange Revolution that brought Yushchenko to power.
Yanukovych's nomination as premier by the pro-Russian parliamentary majority earlier this month was an embarrassing setback for Yushchenko, whose popular support has suffered amid infighting and allegations of corruption and incompetence against his government.
Yushchenko summoned parliamentary faction leaders to his office Wednesday afternoon for a meeting that fulfills a constitutional requirement for talks before parliament can be dissolved.
In televised footage, he sounded pessimistic about a breakthrough, saying the political parties had "failed to find understanding in key priorities of national development." The meeting ended without any announcement.
A third option, which could create even more uncertainty, would be to just reject Yanukovych's nomination to the premiership.
Yushchenko planned to address the nation later Wednesday, his office said.
The president's spokeswoman, Iryna Gerashchenko, earlier said Yushchenko still hoped for a last-minute compromise with Yanukovych's parliamentary coalition. The Ukrainian president hopes a unity accord with his rivals would preserve his pro-Western and reformist policies even with the premiership in the hands of Yanukovych, who favors close ties with Russia.
The agreement would commit the former Soviet republic to work toward joining NATO, the European Union and the World Trade Organization, and would safeguard Ukrainian as the sole national language.
After the March parliamentary vote, the three parties that were key to the Orange Revolution pooled their seats and formed a majority coalition. However, the Socialists defected last month and teamed up with Yanukovych's party and the Communists, and they nominated Yanukovych to be premier.
Earlier Wednesday, Yanukovych called on Yushchenko to accept him as prime minister, suggesting that would help end divisions in Ukraine. He tried to appeal to his foes by praising the Orange Revolution ideals and the protesters who gathered in Kiev's central square in 2004 to call for change.
"We understand that the people who went to Independence Square and other squares, went with a big wish to make life better," Yanukovych said in a speech before thousands of flag-waving supporters outside parliament.
Efforts to forge a unity accord have hit one road block after another. Yanukovych's Party of Regions has accused Yushchenko of trying to force them to disavow their election promises: opposition to NATO membership, calling for closer ties with Russia and promoting Russian as a second state language.
"this organization you have described as "heroic".
Keep telling the Big Lie (Yawn)
Just trying to help your credibility here - you have lauded these nationalist Ukrainian organizations - called them heros fighting against the Soviets, but remain silent when the same organizations call for Ukrainian troops to kill American troops in Iraq. If your loyalties were in the right place you would condemn such statements. You've had plenty of opportunity to do so, but remain, as always, loyal to Ukraine - even when it means being at odds with the US.
"but remain silent when the same organizations call for Ukrainian troops to kill American troops in Iraq."
Earth to Romanov! Earth to Romanov!
UKRAINE AND POLAND are fighting side by side with our boys in the Middle East - NOT RUSSIA. I won't go down your absurd road that proposes that one fanatic group represents the whole countyr.
You Russophiles were predicting that Yushchenko would bomb East Ukraine and start goose stepping to Germany
Never happened - never will.
Earth to Spanalot! Earth to Spanalot!
1.) Ukraine has pulled its troops - one of Yushie's first acts.
2.) You have been supportive of UNA/UNSO - called them heros, but refuse to condemn their statements. Now you try to sidestep this issue. Whatsamatta? Will you lose membership in the Stateside chapter (the same org that ran sabotage ops on US soil during WWII).
3.) Yushenko is no democrat.
4.) When are you going to support the US and US troops in Iraq by condemning Ukrainian nationalists calling for their demise?
What do you expect from a guy whose claim to "conservatism" is he "wrote" in Ronald Reagan for President (I wonder if this was before or after spannie paid homage to the Soviets by becoming a hard-currency tourist?) in the '70s. Then, he claims he joined FR to support Yushenko?!?! Wow! A confession he's a tool of a foreign government. And where are those conservative values when he ignores the socialist aspects of Yushenko's economic, domestic, and foreign policies.
In short, he's just another example of foreign entities trying to influence (or disrupt) the American conservative movement.
"and I have had several Special Ops types confirm that on Free Republic."
BWAHAHAHAHHA - Gary , don't you relaize that nobody on FR believes any of this ?
You have nme confused for someone else.
I'm born and raised in the USA and I dont spend my time kissin up to a KGB thug like Putin.
Born in the USA but loyal to the Ukraine - Why do you refuse to condemn the very group you lauded as "anti-Soviet" heros? This same group - UNA/UNSO, a fascist organization that was involved in anti-Jewish and anti-Polish pogroms prior to and during WWII sided with the Nazis. The American branch of UNA/UNSO ran sabotage operations in the US during WWII (killed Americans).
Recently UNA/UNSO leaders called for Ukrainians to kill American troops in Iraq. (your refusal to condemn this organization's statements and positions vis-a-vis US troops has been noted repeatedly).
But yet - you REFUSE to condemn them. American? In name only. You even admitted you joined FR to help Yushenko. Funny - most Americans join FR to further the aims and goals of the Republican Party and Conservative movement. You joined to further the goals of a foreign leader with dubious "pro-American" credentials (so pro-American he YANKED the Ukrainian troops out of Iraq). You are backing a quasi-socialist who is renationalizing industries, making markets less free, and has kissed up to the Oligarchs.
It's only natural a pathological liar like yourself would assume others would engage in falsehoods and lies on
FR. Unfortunately for you - Gary speaks the truth.
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