Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

Ukraine Radio 29-01-2008 18:04 Lytvyn's bloc faction in parliament supports idea of holding referendum on Ukraine's accession to NATO This was stated by the bloc's MP Mykhailo Syrota while on a trip to Donetsk. He noted that in case such a referendum is held his political force will support Ukraine's neutrality. Mr. Syrota also believes that the Party of Regions and the president have the same position on Ukraine's NATO membership, which is confirmed by the party member Rayisa Bohatyriova's joining the president's team as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

A recent article published in the EU Observer indicates that Europe wants political stability in Ukraine before they embrace Ukraine ad offer membership. The best way forward for Ukraine to establish political stability is for Ukraine to complete its transition from a Presidential 'rule by decree' dictatorship to a full Europe Parliamentary 'rule of law' democracy. Ukraine must look to Europe for its political and Constitutional reforms ad ot the USA if it wants to become a part of the EU. EU wants 'political stability' in Ukraine before closer ties 29.01.2008 - 09:19 CET By Elitsa Vucheva EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukraine needs to show political stability, as well as more political and economic reforms, in order for the country to win closer relations with the EU, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Monday (28 January). "To achieve progress, we need political stability, we need a Ukraine that is really committed to political and econo...

Ukraine must not make heroes out of those that supported the NAZI invasion and extermination of Ukrainian Jewish families in shameful racist pogroms. The rise of neo-NAZIs supported by US extremists whose tools of trade are threats,. abuse and intimidation is of growing concern. Their hidden agenda is not support for Ukraine or its economic or democratic development but their desire to spread their false ideology of hatred and violence. BRUSSELS (EJP)---European Jewish Congress President, Moshe Kantor, has warned against the rising number of neo-Nazis in Europe. Speaking at a special commemoration organized Monday evening in the European Parliament on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Kantor said : "There are more neo-Nazis than Jews today in Europe." Kantor, who lost half of his family in the Shoah or Holocaust in Ukraine, deplored the " trivialization" of the neo-Nazi phenomenon and warned that "lessons of history have not been learn...

Ukrainian Journal has reported another reminder of the fragility of the relationship between Yulia Tymoshenko and The President, Viktor Yushchenko. Both Yulia and Yushchenko continue to fire warning shots across each others bow. The warning shot was fired from Brussels during the prime-minister's visit. Yulia once again reminded Yushchenko that if he does not tow the line she will stand against him in the next Presidential election, ending Yushchenko's hopes for a second term. Viktor Yushchenko's political party "Our Ukraine", in spite the takeover of the People's Self Defence party, only managed to received 14% of the popular vote during the September 30 snap poll. The same percentage of vote "Our Ukraine" received in the March 2006 election. The combined support for Yulia Tymoshenko and Our Ukraine is less the 45%. None of this does any good in shoring up confidence in Ukraine's political stability. There is ongoing concern that once the Yushc...

The Christmas break is over and the honeymoon is coming to an end - Now it's down to real politics. Politics is the art of compromise and policy formation is part of the compromise. The proposal to hold simultaneous Presidential and Parliamentary elections put forward by Party Regions is a policy worth supporting. In order to make it work it will require some changes to the current electoral system. changes such as fixed dates for elections and the introduction of Preferential Instant run-off ballots. Any decision by a head of state to dismiss a parliament without the support of a majority of the Parliamentary representatives should automatically trigger a simultaneous election. The President should be required to seek renewal of his or her mandate at the same time as the elected mandate. The term of office would need to be fixed to expire on a set date such as September 30. These are technical issues that can readily be addressed. Party of Regions by signalling this policy is stat...

DOES THIS APPLY TO THE PRESIDENT'S DECREES ALSO? Source: UNIAN The government’s decree, allowing not to fulfill illegal court rulings, may cause anarchy in the state, Party of Regions lawmaker Mykola Azarov believes. “The current authorities keep on creating terrible precedents for the state. The regular decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, allowing state power bodies not to fulfill court rulings, may cause legal impunity in the state. In my opinion, the Prosecutors’ Office, the Supreme Court, and the President, must give an assessment to this decision of the government”, M.Azarov claimed. He is convinced that nobody has a right to neglect court rulings. “Court rulings are obligatory to fulfill. It concerns not only citizens, but also different organizations, first of all, state agencies, which must serve as an example of law-abiding”, he stressed. M.Azarov emphasized that if anybody does not agree with a ruling, he may appeal against it. “But, not to fulfill court rulings is nons...

As Ukraine begins its fifth review of its Constitution it is worth taking a look at Finland's Constitution adopted in 1999. Finland is a good example of an European Parliamentary democracy. both Countries border Russia and other EU states and Finland' s constitution would make a good model for Ukraine to consider. If Ukraine sincerely wishes to be integrated and possible become a full member of then European Union then it must look to Europe and not the United States for its constitutional governance. Most, if not all, the political crisis and struggles facing Ukraine have been as a direct result of the ongoing power struggle between the Office of the President and the elected Parliament. Ukraine has only been a democracy for less then two years, and none months of that time was suspended as a result of the President's action designed to undermined Ukraine's democratic development. The parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in April 21007 recommended that Ukra...

There is no rush for this new law to be passed. It can and should be deferred pending the review of the Courts and recommendations for proposed constitutional reform The proposed new law on the Cabinet of Ministers, as outline in the article below , clearly is in breach of the constitution in that the President is seeking to usurp power and authority of the parliament by making the office of the president the sole authority to appoint the Prime-Minster, Defence Minister and Foreign affairs Minster. "The provisions that stipulate that proposals on a candidate for the post of Prime Minister can be submitted by a coalition of parliamentary factions is withdrawn. This right remains exclusively with the President, as stipulated in the Constitution,» Shlapak said. Moreover, according to him, the draft law clearly stipulates the reasons for which the President can reject a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. " The statement above is false and misleading as the authority of app...

News / 12 January 2007 16:05 Tymoshenko: “Our Ukraine” shames Ukraine world over BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko blamed “Our Ukraine” faction for block of the parliamentary tribune, standing up not for people’s interests but for interests of separate persons. The ForUm’s correspondent informs. “I would like to focus your attention on the fact that “Our Ukraine” blocked tribunes not for pension or living wage raise, not to throw out “RosUkrEnergo” from Ukraine or to cut the tariffs on housing and municipal services. They blocked tribune for their own posts; to keep state administration under their power,” she said. On behalf of the whole BYuT faction, Tymoshenko stressed that voting for adoption of law on the Cabinet without consideration President’s amendments, “we conscientiously liquidate conflict that destroys the State, the conflict among the President, speaker and PM; it is our aim to make order in the country and not to shame it by home policy scandals.” Moreover Tymoshenko said “Ou...