Report: Ukraine Opposition Leader Takes Oath ("Ukraine is on the threshold of a civil conflict")

AP ^ | Tue, Nov 23, 2004 | By ALEKSANDAR VASOVIC

[pierrem15]

Grzegorz: what is Poland's position regarding the election? As ironic as it might be, what if Yushchenko appeals to Poland for support?

[cripplecreek]

This is what we narrowly avoided in the US. I'm really glad that John Kerry didn't make good on his threat to declare himself president.

[Grzegorz 246]

It's a very difficult situation. Almost everyone in Poland support Yushchenko, but government can't give him clear support. We have a few politicians in Kiev - mostly members of Euro Parliament including former PM and they support Yushchenko, but now government can't do anything.

[Grzegorz 246]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1286558/posts

[AdmSmith]

Thanks for posting this, there are a lot of pictures here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1286558/posts

[shekkian]

These are very interesting events to watch.
My girlfriend is Ukrainian (but lives in Moldova), so I have a personal stake in the outcome.

[Grzegorz 246]

I hope that any real civil war in Ukraine won't happen, because we would have to step in.

[BlueNgold]

But several exit polls had found Yushchenko the winner.

Not this again ...
Michael Moore should investigate!
Soros should fund a recount!

Oh, that's right, the socialist was declared the winner. The libs won't touch this with a 10ft pole.

[Guna]

Thank goodness Lugar was there. Imagine if Jimmy Carter went there to meddle during the elections.

[Lukasz]

FREE UKRAINE!! Kuchma, Yanukovych and Putin go to hell!!!!!!

[Agog]

Amazing how many commies are on Free Republic today. Yanukovich, besides being a commie and Russian stooge, got his start in politics by holding a high position in the mob before even the end of the Soviet Union. The only way he could have done that without getting a bullet in his neck back then would have been by being a KGB tool. Moreover, he was convicted once of rape, once of ripping earrings off of women while the earrings were still in their ears. The KBG hushed up two other of his convictions. His mob nickname has "Ham", which is a Russian used to refer to a completely uncultured lout.

Reports now that Russia is sending troops to Ukraine, including Spetznaz, according to Ukrainian newspaper Korrespondent. Also reports that the Ukrainian diplomatic corps in US have repudiated Yanukovich and the fraud that supposedly elected him.


http://www.korrespondent.net/main/107452 regarding Spetznaz

http://www.maidan.org.ua/static/news/1101187142.html regarding diplomat corps.

[TapTheSource]

I don't trust either one of these candidates. Could be a deliberate provocation designed to give the Soviets/Russians the excuse to intervene, it could be that Yushchenko is playing both sides of the fence to ensure the "opposition" movement doesn't go too far or get out of control, and it could also be that his function is to steer the "opposition" movement over to the pro-Russian camp via a series of compromises. It could just be just coincidence, but the following interview with Yushchenko sounds like he is speaking in code (key words, "Trust", "Final Phase", "political accord"=coalition government...even though he knows those who want real--as opposed to phony--reform represent the vast majority of Ukrainians...read the whole interview...very eye opening, if you know what to look for):

Q: What would need to happen for Our Ukraine to stop being in opposition and to declare that it has achieved its goals?

A: The formation of a democratic majority in the Parliament and the formation of a government of national trust would do it. The final phase would occur with the signing of a political accord between a democratic parliamentary majority, a new government and the president on political, economic and social reform in Ukraine.

http://www.ukrweekly.com/Archive/2002/400209.shtml

[Lukasz]

I hope that Ukrainians in Kiev have enough eggs to throw. This is Yanukovych weak point haha! If you know what I mean.
I know all that fact what you referring, I watched situation in the Ukraine very carefully last time.
“Ham”, believe me, we in Poland know what is mean.
Yes I noted that number of the commies in Free Republic it is scandal. Conservative forum should be anti-communistic completely.
Btw. They are going to the Kuchma’s president house! Fresh news.

[TapTheSource]

Yushchenko's bio is mixed. He was definable favored by the Communists before the "collapse" of the Soviet Union, but it also sounds like he helped bring free market reforms to the Ukraine. Does anyone have access to any useful information on this guy that will help us better understand where he is coming from and who he is beholden to?

---

Viktor Andriyovych YUSHCHENKO

Viktor A. Yushchenko was born on February 23, 1954 in Khoruzhivka, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine into a family of teachers. In 1975, Mr. Yushchenko graduated from the Ternopil Finance and Economics Institute and returned in 1976 to Sumy, where he worked as an economist and department chief at the regional affiliate of the USSR State Bank.

In 1984, Mr. Yushchenko obtained his graduate degree in Finance and Credit from the Ukrainian Institute of Economics and Agricultural Management. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Kyiv and was appointed Deputy Director for Agricultural Crediting at the Ukrainian Republican Office of the USSR State Bank, a position he held from 1985-1987. Moving to the Ukrainian Agro-Industrial Bank, Mr. Yushchenko served first as Department Director (1987-1991), and later as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors (1991-1993). At that time, he was also First Deputy Chairman of the Board at Bank Ukrayina.

In 1993-1999, Mr. Yushchenko was Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). As head of one of Europe’s newest central banks, Mr. Yushchenko played a key role in developing that institution’s monetary, fiscal and credit policies. Mr. Yushchenko helped establish the underpinnings of a solid banking system in newly independent Ukraine. Under his tutelage, an effective system of payments was established, as were the Ukrainian Banknote Factory and the Ukrainian Mint. He also oversaw introduction of the Hryvnia, Ukraine’s national currency, in 1996, and promulgated policies that substantially mitigated the impact of the 1998 Russian Ruble Crash upon the Hryvnia and Ukraine’s economy as a whole.

Mr. Yushchenko is best known within the international community for his record as Prime Minister of Ukraine. Confirmed by Parliament in December 1999, he served through April 2001 and, in 16 months in office, oversaw a series of key economic reforms that brought rudimentary order to help turn around Ukraine’s then-struggling economy. As Prime Minister, Mr. Yushchenko restored a measure of public trust in government by cementing fiscal discipline; paying off enormous pension, wage and other social arrears; eliminating unjustified state subsidies; improving conditions for foreign and domestic investment; and implementing land reform that yielded an impressive rise in output and the beginnings of affordable, market-based agriculture financing. He also brought a welcome measure of openness and forthrightness in governance, and pursued administrative and tax reform throughout his term.

In January 2002 Viktor Yushchenko united a broad range of democratic parties and groups to create “Our Ukraine,” an electoral coalition that was the hands down winner at the Parliament elections that year, gaining a quarter of all votes cast in party list voting and forming the largest parliamentary faction with 99 MPs in the 450-seat legislature.

In 1997, Mr. Yushchenko received the prestigious Global Finance Award as the one of the world top 5 central bankers. He is an Academic at the National Academy of Economic Sciences of Ukraine and the Academy of Economic Cybernetics, in addition to holding honorary doctorates from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the Ostroh Academy.

Married, with three daughters and two sons, Mr. Yushchenko is a benefactor of music and the arts. In his spare time he raises bees, collects antiques from Ukrainian village life, skis, paints landscapes, works with wood, and sculpts.

Links:

http://hotline.net.ua/eng/content/view/1349/108/

[Grzegorz 246]

Yushchenko isn't excellent, but the choice is simple considering fact that the other guy is just a criminal.

[MTOrlando]

I don't trust either one of these candidates.
Me neither.

Could be a deliberate provocation designed to give the Soviets/Russians the excuse to intervene,

What would be the point?

It could just be just coincidence, but the following interview with Yushchenko sounds like he is speaking in code

The article doesn't say what language the interview was conducted in, or if translators were used. Given that, looking for hidden meanings and codewords is useless, since those kinds of things almost certainly would be lost in translation.



This looks to me like a proxy power struggle between Russia and the major powers in western Europe - definitely Germany, and probably France behind the scenes.

I would also venture to guess that it has more to do with oil and natural gas supplies than politics. Ukraine is a major path for Russian natural gas to western europe - read this. Both sides want the advantage of having a friendly government control the pipelines.

All things being equal, I trust the Russians more than the Germans, but an ex-commie and disciple of Kuchma is almost as unpalatable a choice for a leader as is a German stooge.