Ukraine's leaders trade threats, crisis deepens

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Ukraine's leaders trade threats, crisis deepens

By Natalya Zinets
1 hour, 33 minutes ago

KIEV (Reuters) - A standoff between Ukraine's president and prime
minister deepened on Thursday with both men refusing to compromise
over a new election and trading threats of prosecution in an
increasingly tense battle for power.

President Viktor Yushchenko has issued a decree to dissolve parliament
and stage a new election, in what is seen as a last-ditch bid to reassert
his authority. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich has refused to take part
in the poll.

-snip-

"I stress one more time that it is obligatory to implement the decree of
Ukraine's president. Any refusal to implement it will result in criminal
proceedings," Yushchenko told a meeting of Ukraine's Security Council,
where he sat next to Yanukovich.

"I will not take a single step towards rescinding the decree."

Yanukovich responded by saying Ukraine should wait for the Constitutional
Court to rule on whether parliament's dissolution was legal. A ruling is
expected to take more than a month.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070405/wl_nm/ukraine_dc

[Eugene]

1. Ukraine seeks foreign help to end political crisis

Source: Agence France-Presse

Ukraine seeks foreign help to end political crisis

by Dario Thuburn
1 hour, 7 minutes ago

KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine looked abroad for a breakthrough in its deepening
political crisis on Thursday as Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych asked
Austria's chancellor to help resolve a power struggle in his country.

The pro-Russian prime minister has been locked in political battle with
President Viktor Yushchenko, his pro-Western rival, who is standing by
his order to dissolve parliament.

-snip-

"I have taken a decision to bring in international mediators: the Austrian
chancellor -- Austria is a neutral country -- and well-known European
legal experts," Yanukovych said.

If implementation of the president's order begins, "then we will turn to
the presidents of neighbouring countries, including Russia and Poland,"
Yanukovych said.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070405/wl_afp/ukrainepolitics_070405174458

[Amused Musings]

2. I know that some (or many)

people on this forum look at Yushchenko with suspicion because his wife is a former state department official who has worked with Republican administrations. But look, he is the best hope for Ukraine integrating with the EU and the rest of the world. When I look back at the Orange Revolution I see the hope in all those young Ukrainians- hope that inspired so many people after the collapse of the Soviet Union. When I talked to young Ukrainians in my travels they see it as a promise to become a "healthy" country. Muc of the aid that the US and NGO's like Human RIghts Watch provided was to ensure that fair elections were in place, not actually funneling money to the yushchenko campaign- which wouldn't have been such a bad idea anyway given the brutal and vicious tactics employed by Yanukovych's men and the Russian "technologists" lent by Putin.

What Yanukovych is doing in Parliament really is usurping power from the presidency in order to keep Ukraine within Putin's sphere of influence. Just look at the recent dubious measures by Russia and the Regions to allow Russia to "lease" the Sevastopol Naval base. Yanukovych represents the Oligarchs that robbed their country blind in the nineties. It is no wonder they need a thug like Yanukovych.