How Putin has remade the media to suit his needs
Posted on 07/07/2006 12:56:19 PM PDT by lizol
Pro-Russian parties form new governing coalition in Ukraine
by Yana Dlugy
KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine's pro-Russian parties formed a new governing coalition in a stunning move that promises to slow the pro-Western course taken by the ex-Soviet nation after the "orange revolution."
In front of reporters in parliament, the Regions Party and the Communists signed a coalition agreement with the Socialists, who in a surprise move had defected from the pro-Western "orange" camp the previous day.
The coalition said it was open to other parties.
"We're not closing the doors," said Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of Regions. "They are open for other parties or groups of deputies."
The trio, which controls 240 seats in the 450-member Upper Rada legislature, said it would nominate as its prime minister Yanukovych, who lost the bitterly-contested "orange revolution" election contest to President Viktor Yushchenko in late 2004.
The coalition said it would forward Yanukovych's nomination to the president later on Friday, after which Yushchenko will have 15 days to submit it to parliament for confirmation, and would move quickly to form a new cabinet.
It was not clear whether Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party would join the new union to form a so-called "wide coalition" that would unite both pro-Western and pro-Russian forces.
Analysts say a wide coalition would slow Kiev's aim to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO), but would not affect the drive toward membership of the European Union (EU) and would provide stability to push through economic reforms.
In a televised interview, Yushchenko said that he did not see Our Ukraine in the role of the opposition, saying its absence from power would "lead to a serious revision of policies."
In earlier remarks to reporters, Yushchenko said a wide coalition would be the best option, but admitted that a new majority could exclude his party.
"It's not out of the question that we could have a situation where the courses of the president and the parliamentary majority differ," a gloomy Yushchenko told reporters.
"I would really like to avoid such a scenario," he said.
The third member of the "orange" coalition, Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc, has ruled out joining a coalition that includes Regions, warning that it would lead to a return of the widespread corruption that marked the regime swept aside by the "orange revolution."
"A wide coalition is a wide grave for democracy and Ukraine's sovereignty," she said in a late-night political talk show.
"We will either be in opposition or, if the constitution allows... we'll support the holding of new elections," she said.
Yushchenko warned that if a new government is not formed by the end of July he could dissolve government and call new elections.
The "orange" coalition was sent into a tailspin late Thursday ballot that in a surprise move saw its smallest faction, the Socialists, join with pro-Russian parties to elect its leader Olexander Moroz as speaker.
Moroz said he decided to switch sides because the "orange" team's choices for top government posts were political rivals and that the union was bound to be short-lived.
Critics said Moroz made the move in order to grab the speakership.
The March 26 parliamentary election did not hand any one party enough seats in the legislature to form a government alone.
At present, Regions has 186 seats, Tymoshenko's bloc 129 seats, Our Ukraine 81 seats, the Socialists 33 seats and the Communists 21 seats.
Is Yanukovych a Muslim? Anyway, it is strange time when the cause of USA nationalism is fought for in the remote steppes of the Ukraine while the southern border is kept open.
Ukrainian troops were sent there by Kuchma/Yanukovych team BEFORE Orange revolution.
Kuchma only did so to save face after getting caught shipping military equipment to Saddam. His government was also heavily implicated in the UN Oil for Food scam. I for one will continue to support Ukraine against revanchist Russian aggression even if I don't support their leader. I won't condemn the Ukrainians to imperialist Russian slavery just because a pro-Russian is in charge. I will simply oppose Yanukovych's attempts to serve a foreign agenda at his own coutry's expense.
Do you give credit to the Orange side what the pro-Russian side did "to save face after getting caught"? Hmm.
Soldiers do not make such decisions they obey orders or perhaps they volunteer when offered lucrative (in their economic situation) bonuses.
Decisions are made by the governments and governments deserves credit or blame.
Exactly. I won't blame them if their leaders are crooks in the pay of muslims who serve foreign interests against their own country.
Here is the newest Russian TV clip showing angry pretty Julia:
Just remember that Yanukovych has a majority -- just so long as he enjoys the support of all the communists and socialists in Ukraine.
Yulia has more class than all the Regionals, Socialists and Russian katsap commentators put combined.
One thing for sure, she is prettier than all of them together. And she is richer than Teresa Heinz Kerry :)
"what a nightmare. Geez"
Relax - the Kremlin does not have enough money to buy the votes needed to pass the Constitutional Court legislation AND nominate a PM before the deadline.
Yushchenko will be in control come August.
This is his revenge for the fast one Kuchma pulled .
How Putin has remade the media to suit his needs
The objectives are named in the coalition agreement of the Party of Regions, the Communists and the Socialist party published on Friday.
A decision on NATO accession would be made only after a nation-wide referendum, the agreement says.
The coalition is determined to promote the advancement of relations of equality and neighborliness with Russia and other nearby countries.
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