Putin's Ukraine visit raises eyebrows
12.11.2004 - 17:14 CET | By Andrew Beatty EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - News of Friday's arrival of Vladimir Putin to Ukraine ahead of the second round of presidential elections has been coolly received in Brussels. With pro-western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko marginally ahead in the first round of voting, Mr Putin's visit is being seen as an attempt to shore up Viktor Yanukovich who many regard as the pro- Moscow candidate. Mr Putin is carrying out his second visit to Ukraine in as many weeks during elections which many believe will determine the country's geopolitical orientation. The second round of voting is scheduled to take place on 21 November. "I think it [Mr Putin's visit] shows how far Russia is willing to go to achieve a favourable outcome", said Dr Kataryna Wolczuk, author of a recently published Centre for European Reform paper on the elections. "Russia wants to ensure it has no hostile Presidents in its 'near abroad'", said Ms Wolczuck. In Brussels there was a cool reaction to the news of Mr Putin's visit. Asked if any Commissioners would be travelling to Kiev before the elections a Commission spokesperson on Friday said: "We do not believe in interfering with the democratic process". However Polish Foreign Minister and Council of Europe chair Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz was also set to visit the country on Friday to encourage free and fair elections. The Council of Europe heads up a team of international election monitors which includes representatives from the European Parliament. This as 'Our Ukraine' party leader Mr Yushchenko on Friday accused his adversary of rigging the first round of elections by falsifying 12% of the votes. Poland has been among the EU's most vocal members calling for Ukraine's further integration in the EU. Mr Putin is reported to have met with current President Leonid Kuchma in the southern Crimea region, which overwhelmingly backed Mr Yanukovich in the first round of voting. http://euobserver.com/?aid=17744&rk=1 ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/RR.olB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> EuroAtlantic Club: http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/ *** Birou de traduceri autorizate. Oana Gheorghiu - tel/fax: 252.8681 / [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romania_eu_list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
