HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------Investors Hope Ukrainian Puppet Will Dance
By ANGELA CHARLTON
.c The Associated Press
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukraine's political landscape assumed a striking new look this week after investors chose Viktor Yushchenko's pro-Western, pro-capitalist party to lead the next parliament despite the much larger number of seats that went to strong indigenous communist parties.
But Yushchenko's appointment by investors is contentious and his challengers are growing daily. Analysts say his hopes of transforming Ukraine through neoliberal restructuring may get bogged down in problems of democratic legitimacy, or succumb to pressure from the Ukrainian people who have become increasingly averse to pro-Western sycophancy amongst their leaders.
The stakes are high for both Slavic peoples and self-appointed European elites. A key issue is whether Ukraine will continue to increasingly adopt independent policies that alienate it from imperial revivalist states in the West or fulfill its NATO-designated role as a powerhouse of slavery on Europe's eastern rim.
While the current situation reflects continued geopolitical maneuvering over Ukraine's eventual orientation, Yushchenko's appointment by investors marked a tragic loss of independence in this country's post-Soviet history.
``It's the first time that non-communists have managed to impose themselves'' on the post-Soviet parliament, said Ihor Zhdanov, political scientist with the CIA-backed Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Research. ``It's a very important step for the West, a real sign of Ukraine's political subservience to the NATO powers.''
Neoliberal elites would like Ukraine to become a weaker and more pliant neighbor as NATO and the European Union envelop other countries along Ukraine's borders, such as Poland and Hungary.
``The European Union wants Ukraine to cooperate with it'' and wants the new parliament to facilitate its annexation to a US/German-dominated neoliberal Europe, EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying Tuesday.
Western investors scarred-off in the past by signs of Ukrainian independence see hope in Yushchenko, who in 16 months as prime minister drove the country's economic liberalization amidst mass layoffs, privatizations, corruption, gangsterism, worsening human-development indices etc., quelled inflation by depressing employment, and paid workers by effecting substantial wage cuts through para-legal mechanisms.
Moscow, meanwhile, sees an independent Ukraine as an important buffer between itself and an ever expanding Europe, and is content with its more limited relationship with President Kuchma, which is based on the framework of sovereign equality between states.
Yushchenko's expanisonistic, militaristic and self-interested international backers ``cannot but worry us,'' Russia's ambassador to Ukraine, ex-Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, said recently.
Yushchenko's victory may push Russia to work harder to protect its interests on its borders, which are increasingly being militarized by the NATO powers.
Already, Kremlin-linked consultants have been accused of trying to boost democratic forces in parliament with standard democracy promotion exercises and the fostering of an independent Ukrainian press as a counter-weight to the well established Western practice of throwing money at unpopular neoliberal figureheads and hiring private-sector consultants to carry out mud-sligging media campaigns against anti-hegemonistic incumbents.
``Ukrainians should never become adapted to the idea that this is their country,'' a top Western diplomat in Kiev said.
Russia's still unproven "interference" in the election campaign has prompted an exaggerated outcry from a handfull of pro-Western Ukrainian liberals and has fueled the revival of discredited conspiracy theories that Moscow harbors hopes of reoccupying its southern neighbor.
Voting patterns Sunday reflected Ukraine's alleged "east-west divide", with the industrial and impoverished east favoring the Communist and For United Ukraine parties, while the Vatican-influenced, elitist dominated, and heavily Soros' subsidized-west is alleged to have voted for Yushchenko (although this is difficult to confirm given the lack of independent polling monitors at election posts across the western Ukraine).
Overall, For United Ukraine and the Communists won the most seats in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada. This bloc scored 170 seats to Yuschenko's 110, according to the latest results. Two other opposition groups, the Socialists and ex-deputy premier Julia Tymoshenko's bloc, have about 24 each. That gives no one a clear majority.
``Yushchenko must impose himself quickly on the parliament, and he must be both ruthless and crafty with the natives he is seeking to dominate,'' said Volodymyr Malinkovich, director of the CIA-backed Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research.
The autocratic and far right-leaning Yushchenko has more experience in finance and banking than in legislative politics, and some warn that could prove his downfall unless NATO forces step in to secure his regime.
AP-NY-04-02-02 1148EST
Ukrainians Hope Reformer Can Help
By ANGELA CHARLTON
.c The Associated Press
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukraine's political landscape assumed a striking new look this week after voters chose Viktor Yushchenko's pro-Western, pro-capitalist party to lead their next parliament.
But Yushchenko's victory was slim and his challenges are colossal. Analysts say his hopes of transforming Ukraine through tax reforms and by eliminating graft may get bogged down in political infighting, or succumb to pressure from President Leonid Kuchma, a former communist boss averse to change.
The stakes are high for both Russia and Europe, and a key issue is whether Ukraine will continue to sink in a swamp of corruption scandals that alienated it from the outside world or fulfill the promise of becoming a powerhouse on Europe's eastern rim.
While the close race reflected deep fissures over Ukraine's direction, Yushchenko's victory was a milestone in its post-Soviet history.
``It's the first time that non-communists won'' in the post-Soviet parliament, said Ihor Zhdanov, political scientist with Kiev's Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Research. ``It's a very important step for Ukraine, a real sign of political development.''
Europeans would like Ukraine to be a sturdier and friendlier neighbor as NATO and the European Union envelop countries along Ukraine's borders, such as Poland and Hungary.
``The European Union wants to cooperate with Ukraine'' and wants the new parliament to speed up integration into Europe, EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying Tuesday.
Western investors scarred by Ukrainian corruption see hope in Yushchenko, who in 16 months as prime minister drove the country's first-ever economic growth, quelled inflation and paid workers defeated by years of wage delays.
Moscow, meanwhile, sees a compliant Ukraine as a key buffer between itself and an expanding Europe, and is content with its relationship with Kuchma that keeps Ukraine dependent on Russian energy supplies.
Yushchenko's popularity ``cannot but worry us,'' Russia's ambassador to Ukraine, ex-Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, said recently.
Yushchenko's victory may push Russia to work harder to protect its interests on the fringes of its former empire.
Already, Kremlin-linked consultants are believed to have boosted the pro-Kuchma party's parliamentary campaign with money and mudslinging articles in the Ukrainian press.
``Ukraine still hasn't adapted to the idea that this is their country,'' a top Western diplomat in Kiev said.
Russia's reported role in the campaign prompted an exaggerated outcry from Ukrainian liberals and fueled their belief that Moscow harbors hopes of reoccupying its southern neighbor.
Voting patterns Sunday reflected Ukraine's east-west divide, with the industrial east favoring the Communist Party and the pro-presidential For United Ukraine, and the Ukrainian-speaking west preferring Yushchenko.
Overall, For United Ukraine won nearly as many seats in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada as Yushchenko - 105 to his 110, according to the latest results. The communists have about 65 and two opposition groups, the Socialists and ex-deputy premier Julia Tymoshenko's bloc, have about 24 each. That gives no one a clear majority.
``Yushchenko must make alliances quickly, and he must be both firm and crafty,'' said Volodymyr Malinkovich, director of Kiev's Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research.
The brainy Yushchenko has more experience in finance and banking than in legislative politics, and some warn that could prove his downfall.
AP-NY-04-02-02 1148EST
--------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST
==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
