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| Crisis Eases As Ukraine's Rivals Set Date for Vote |
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Ukraine's rival president and prime minister agreed Sunday to hold a parliamentary election on September 30 under a compromise intended to resolve a long-running political crisis. Pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko announced the date after talks with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich which stretched deep into Saturday night. A battle between Yushchenko and Yanukovich, who is closer to Moscow in outlook, over division of powers had plunged the former Soviet republic of 47 million people deep into crisis. Yushchenko, who was swept to power after weeks of "Orange Revolution" street rallies in 2004, called a snap election last month to try to end the stand-off but failed to set a date as disagreements and the power struggle with Yanukovich continued. The president said Sunday parliament would this week consider the legislation required to hold the poll. "We have produced an agreement that, in order to resolve the political crisis, an early parliamentary election is to be held on September 30," Yushchenko said. "Ukraine emerges much stronger from this crisis than it was before April... It is very gratifying for me to see that by this Ukraine is demonstrating the development of its democracy. This is truly a wonderful result." Yanukovich said the agreement reflected a will on all sides to hold an honest and fair election, respect the law and keep from interfering in the judicial process. "I believe the experience we have acquired from this crisis shows that we have learned certain lessons," he said. The president then thanked Yanukovich and Parliament Speaker Oleksander Moroz for a successful conclusion to the talks and the three joined hands. Yushchenko's rivalry with Yanukovich has been intense since he defeated Yanukovich in a re-run of the presidential election in December 2004, held after the initial vote was rigged. Ukraine has been torn since then between centuries of links with Russia and Yushchenko's drive towards NATO and European Union membership. It borders Russia to the east but also has borders with EU members Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Even 16 years after Ukraine became independent, its economy remains in need of major reforms and it depends heavily on energy imports, mostly from Russia. Tension rose after Yanukovich became prime minister a year ago, when his Regions Party came first in a parliamentary election and Yushchenko's allies failed to form a government. Yushchenko and Yanukovich had been in talks since the president issued the first of two decrees dissolving parliament on April 2. He had accused Yanukovich of poaching his allies in parliament to expand the ruling coalition and enable the prime minister to change the constitution. Yanukovich initially resisted the dissolution order but later agreed to an election. They remained at odds over a date, with the president seeking an election as quickly as possible and the prime minister saying none could be held before autumn. Weeks of turmoil boiled over on Friday when the head of state said he was taking control of Interior Ministry troops and ordered them to Kiev on Saturday. But most remained blocked outside the city and there was no repeat of the mass protest rallies of 2004. Most Ukrainians no longer have the stomach for such an undertaking. Moroz told reporters he still opposed an early election, but had agreed with the date to pull the country out of crisis. Recent opinion polls show parties backing the two rivals in a virtual dead heat, each with about 40 percent support. (China Daily via agencies May 28, 2007) |
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