UKRINFORM NEWS AGENCY

  NEWS FROM UKRAINE

Celebrations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War were concluded with a festive concert, artillery salute and fireworks on Monday, May 9.

President Viktor Yushchenko arrived on Maidan Nezalezhosti on Monday night to once again congratulate the veterans of war and the Ukrainian people on Day of the Victory. As the Ukrainian Head of State said in his speech, the anniversary is a historical event for the Ukrainian nation, as the Ukrainians paid more than 10 million lives of their best sons and daughters for it. The President stated his strong conviction that all the veterans cherished the only feeling to see their land free and their people rich. Addressing the youth, the President noted that "we have a strange generation of fathers and grandfathers", the generation "who happened to go through the October Revolution, the Civil War, the collectivization, the famine of 1932 -1933, the 1937 repression and the 1941-1945 World War II". There aren't many witnesses of the second World War and we must take care about this unique generation.

Addressing the WWII veterans and warriors of the Ukrainian Rebellious Army, President Yushchenko expressed his strong conviction that "we can't take the load of the past to the future. It obstacles our progress". "Dear our parents! It's time to stretch hands to each other, forgive each other and to have a good health", Viktor Yushchenko said.

In the honor of those, who rescued the world from the fascism, peaceful sky over Kyiv was lighted up with all colors of fireworks and festive salute.

***

Vice Prime Minister Mykola Tomenko believes that the present celebration of the Victory Day for the first time became a "Holiday with a human face". Honoring of war veterans by the people, which was staged not only in Kyiv, but in other cities and villages of Ukraine was what we strove for. May 9 was indeed a holiday with a human face, where war veterans felt not a standard official support on the part of the power, but warm and respective attitude towards them", he stated on Tuesday by way of commenting on celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Vice Prime Minister 's press service told Ukrinform.

Mykola Tomenko noted that the new power wanted that it was a true honoring of war veterans by the people, and it managed to arrange that, although it "was too democratic and sometimes too risky". He noted that in 2005 for the first time in Ukraine dozens of thousands of the people, having no special invitations and without any control on the part of  the police and the guard, could congratulate war veterans and be close to the President. Although, sometimes, a wish to communicate with the President was too active, the main thing is that it was sincere.

Vice Prime Minister also underscored that he was impressed with a large number of young people, who congratulated war veterans with the Victory Day and presented them with flowers. Those emotions, according to him, are more important than ordered military parades, for which  power authorities usually selected  veterans and spent much money from the State Budget.

Mykola Tomenko also promised that the new power would do everything possible so that the war veterans feel themselves confidently not only on May 9, but each day following this holiday.

***

On the Day of the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory Ambassadors of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan laid wreaths at the Memorial to Soviet Soldiers at the military cemetery in the Dutch City of Amersfoort (The Netherlands), Ukrainian Embassy sources to the Netherlands told Ukrinform.

Memory of Soviet soldiers, killed on the territory of the Netherlands, was revered by Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, leaders of the Dutch Utrecht Province, heads of diplomatic missions of countries of the former anti-Hitler Coalition, war veterans from Ukraine and Russia and relatives of Ukrainian warriors, buried at the military cemetery.

As many as 865 Soviet soldiers are buried at the Amersfoort cemetery, who were taken as prisoners by Nazi Germans during the first days of the Great Patriotic War and were tortured to death by them at a concentration camp during The Netherlands' occupation in 1940-1945.

Speaking at a memorial meeting, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot noted that the peoples of Ukraine, Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union paid the largest price for freedom of Europe and the world and gave over 26 million of lives for the sake of victory.

***

"Ukraine took statements by Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov, aired in an interview to the magazine "Strategy of Russia", in which he estimates the change of authority in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan as "non-constitutional", with surprise", the commentary by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service said.

As the Foreign Ministry's press service reminded, the world community gave high assessments to the level of the 2004 elections and stated them as meeting democratic standards.

Expressing his personal assessment, the Russian top-place official should have known that the victory of democracy in the Ukrainian elections resulted from realization of the right to free will expression, which is regarded one of the basic principles of democracy", the commentary noted.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reminded the Russian Security Council Secretary that he should have taken the decisions by the constitutional establishments of the neighbor state with respect. In particular, the commentary stated, the Supreme Court of Ukraine at its December 3, 2004 open session resolved that "the violations of the principles of the electoral law", "the principles of the electoral process" caused the impossibility "to establish outcomes of the true will for sure" in the second round of the election. That's why the Supreme Court resolved to hold the repeated vote of the second round of the election. On January 20, 2005 the same Supreme Court recognized that the repeated vote was held within the framework of the Constitution and Ukraine's laws.

***

A Lithuanian military delegation, led by Lithuanian National Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, arrived on a three-day official visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service told Ukrinform.

The visiting program provides for Gediminas Kirkilas's meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko and negotiations between the two countries' delegations.

The negotiations are supposed to touch on the state of affairs and prospects for bipartite cooperation, Ukraine's cooperation with NATO, to share experience of reforming the two states' Armed Forces and to outline prospects of establishment of a joint Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian peacekeeping battalion "UkrPolLitbat".

The Lithuanian National Defense Minister will also meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for national security and defense Georgi Kriuchkov. The Lithuanian military delegation will tour the National Academy of Defense of Ukraine and the 410th Works of the Civil Aviation.

***

Head of Supreme Court Vasyl Maliarenko held a meeting with President of the European Court of Human Rights Luzius Wildhaber, who is in Kyiv on an unofficial visit, the Constitutional Court press service told Ukrinform.

During a conversation the parties discussed urgent problems, which emerge in the European Court of Human Rights in relation to Ukraine. Among the reasons, bringing to misunderstanding, Luzius Wildhaber mentioned, in particular, shortcomings of the Ukrainian legislation. The majority of problem issues, which are subject to consideration of the European Court of Human Rights, should have been considered at the national level, he noted. Luzius Wildhaber cited the following data: since 1997 close to 14,000 cases came to the European Court of Human Rights from Ukraine, over 6,000 of them were turned down and close to 8,000 claims are waiting to be checked. Complaints, which come from the European Court, most often concern improper conditions of maintenance for prisoners and lack of medical services for them, as well as use of force by law-enforcement bodies against them.

President of the European Court of Human Rights drew attention to a procedure of disaffirming a final ruling on a case. Cases should not be reconsidered, if they indeed are submitted to the Supreme Court, having passed all instances, except for cases, where new facts were revealed, Luzius Wildhaber said. The designated problems, according to him, exist not only in Ukraine, but in other states too, in particular, in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

During the meeting Head of the Supreme Court Vasyl Maliarenko emphasized that the Supreme Court makes maximum efforts in order that the European Court received less complaints against Ukraine, by trying to solve them at the national level. "We are regularly studying and analyzing rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, publishing them in legal editions and informing executive power authorities about them. Besides, recently a general conclusion on the judicial practice was carried out, at present a resolution by a Supreme Court Plenary Meeting is being prepared with the aim of explaining legislation, which should be used in the context of the European Court's cases". Therefore, soon the courts will receive official recommendations with regard to the designated direction, Vasyl Maliarenko noted.

***

Chief of General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Col Gen Serhi Kyrychenko is supposed to take part in sessions of the military committees Ukraine-NATO and Euro-Atlantic Partnership, which will be held in Brussels on May 10 and 12. Serhi Kyrychenko and his counterparts are expected to discuss the modern state of affairs and prospects for development of the system of defense planning of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The sides will also analyze the process of fulfillment of the working plan of the Ukraine-NATO Military Committee over 2005's four months, consider initiatives and programs of partnership within the framework of implementation of decisions of the NATO Istanbul Summit.

During his trip to Brussels Col Gen Serhi Kyrychenko will meet with Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Gen Herald Kujat, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen James Jones and Assistant Secretary General-Defense Policies and Planning John Colston.

After the NATO Istanbul Summit Ukraine has significantly intensified its dialogue with NATO. On the eve of May holidays Verkhovna Rada speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn spoke up for facilitation of information work on NATO in the Ukrainian society.

At the same time Ukraine is realistic with regard to it Euro-Atlantic perspectives. As Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko stated, "nobody can presently name concrete dates of Ukraine's accession to NATO". As he said, "we need to attain the Alliance standards in the sphere of the economy, internal policies, legislation and law. If the military aspects were determinative, we would speak about three-year perspectives of joining NATO".

***

An opening day of paintings by Ukrainian artists, dubbed "Hymn to Nature",  was staged in the premises of the Cultural Center in one of Southern regions of Attika, Greece, Paleo Faliro. The exhibition, organized by the Ukrainian Embassy to Greece through cooperation of  the Paleo Faliro City Hall, presented works by Ukrainian masters, such as Valeri Franchuk, Zoya Pylypenko, Mykhailo Popov, Maryna Sokolova, Viktor and Vira Chursins, Hennady Lisnychy, Olena Borysova, Oleksandr Moshyn and others.

Consul General of the Ukrainian Embassy Volodymyr Kovalenko reminded during opening of the exhibition that Creek citizens, like the people from other European countries, may visit Ukraine without visas in the course of four months.

Ambassadors, representatives of the Ukrainian diplomatic corps in Greece,  headed by Ambassador Viktor Kalnyk, diplomatic corps of Russia, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan participated in a ceremony of laying wreaths at cemeteries on May 9, where killed Soviet soldiers and soldiers of the alley countries are buried.

***

The Ministry of culture and tourism summed up results of a  competition of scripts for youth short films "Short Story about...", which included 46 scripts by young Ukrainian authors, the Ministry's  press service told Ukrinform.

According to results of the competition the following scripts won,  with the following including them into a Program for production and distribution of films, made to state orders for 2005-2006: "Philosophy" (Olena Ursaki), "Fireflies" (Nadia Koshman), "Wishes Come True" (Yevhen Kovalenko) and two films from a cycle "Transformation", such as "Transformation" and "Stairs" (Volodymyr Knyr)

***

There were no rough violations of the public order during festive events on Day of the Victory, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry sources told Ukrinform.

All-in-all 9,596 mass festive actions, in which more than 3.8 million people participated, were held in Ukraine. As much as 32,000 police officers were attracted to ensure the public order and security.

***

President Viktor Yushchenko instructed Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to resume the work of the governmental commission on investigation of OUN-UPA activity before July 1, 2005.

The commission must focus on speeding up drafting historical and juridical conclusions, with a view of defining an official position with regard to the activity of the OUN-UPA, establishing concord in the Ukrainian society and reaching mutual understanding and reconciliation among participants in the World War II, Deputy Secretary of State Markian Lubkivsky told Ukrinform.

The President of Ukraine instructed the Head of Government to stage an international scientific-practical conference on the Ukrainian people's participation in the WWII before October 1, 2005.

According to him, one of the important pledges of reconciliation among the WWII participants, as well as of the society's tolerant attitude toward complicated pages of the Ukrainian history, is "unbiased and objective informing the Ukrainian society about events of the past".

As Markian Lubkivsky stated, the power will maximally promote the common Ukrainian dialogue, meant for consolidating and shaping the strong system of common state values.

***

As President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland told journalists during the Program III of the Polish National Radio, the reason of coolness in relations with Russia is Poland's participation in settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine, which developed as a result of falsification of the presidential elections, and not the Poles' multiple-valued interpretation of celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II.

As Aleksander Kwasniewski said, the political crisis in Ukraine has turned for Russian into a situation, when realization of important strategic plans of this state was threatened. According to the Polish President, the cause for it lies in EU participation in the negotiations between the conflicting parties.

"I'd like my, without a doubt, strategic decision to attract Solana and Adamkus in settlement of the Ukrainian affairs, with view of it became a European initiative, was properly assessed", Aleksander Kwasniewski said. Now, it is time to "pay off scores", he was quoted as saying.

As the Polish President told chiefs of some Asian republics in Moscow, Poland didn't struggle for winning over Ukraine to any of the sides, but strove for adhering democratic standards, which would ensure fair elections. He denied talks on Poland's realization of an American-European strategy, which Russia can't agree with.

According to the Polish Head of State, every effort must be exerted for coolness in the relations between Poland and Russia wasn't lingering.

***

In order to organize non-visa and free movement of Russian citizens in EU countries it is necessary to do much in the Russian Federation itself, President Vladimir Putin of Russia believes.

 "We cannot make excessive demands of our partners until we solve frontier issues with our neighbors, until we solve all problems on the so-called readmission, which are brought up by our European partners", he said at a press conference on Tuesday dedicated to results of the Russia-EU summit.

According to him, development of frontiers requires large capital investments and large scope of diplomatic work with CIS neighbors. "But we intend to do it and we will be actively doing that", he underscored.

***

Chairperson of the Parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn expressed doubts with regard to finding an ample number of voices in the future in the Parliament to revise already approved amendments to the Constitution. At the same time, Volodymyr Lytvyn does not rule out a possibility that a group of people's deputies files a statement with the Constitutional Court about correctness of a way of adopting a decision by  the Verkhovna Rada on making amendments to the Main Law. The matter concerns the Law, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 8, 2004, on making amendments to the Constitution, which is more known in political circles as the "bill 4180".

As it is known, the aforementioned Law was adopted by the Parliament in the height of a political crisis in Ukraine, related to the presidential elections. The Law, according to a compromise, found by deputies, was voted in a "package" with decisions about non-recognition of the second round-off returns and about appointing a repeated vote.

At the same time, Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, while speaking about prospects of the political reform, drew attention to the fact that a mechanism  of the package voting was adopted by the Parliament prior to  voting amendments to the Constitution. The Speaker underscored that the mechanism of considering issues is the Parliament's internal procedure, and it should not be included into a range of issues to be considered by the Constitutional Court.

On Sunday May 8 in an interview to one of Ukrainian leading TV channels "1 + 1" President Viktor Yushchenko stated that the "Constitutional reform is worth being reviewed by the public", starting from the initiative and ending with a decision, adopted by the Parliament. The President called the December compromise the only possible decision at that time, adopted on the background of the crisis apogee and in the face of the danger of the civil war. "This was a price, which we paid, and it was worth it", he underscored and said that in the perspective he sees making amendments to the Constitution as a transparent and an open process with putting  this issue to the All-Ukrainian referendum.

***

It is time to develop serious economic projects with the G8 and the EU. The Government of Ukraine has already grasped the internal policy's first priorities and arranged basic spheres of the internal life. Systematic and deep cooperation with foreign partners in the economic sphere and realization of joint projects are on the agenda, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told foreign diplomats, the G8 representatives in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to Ms Tymoshenko, while reforming the Ukrainian economic system, several extremely important projects in construction, development of motor roads and Ukraine's transit capabilities have been outlined. As the Prime Minister noted, the Ukrainian Govt is actively working in establishment of energy independence of Ukraine, Ukrainian officials see great prospects in development of the agricultural-industrial area. As she added, both the Ukrainian Head of State and the Government want to see an absolutely new direction of the airplane construction industry in Ukraine, based on cooperation with European partners. Cooperation in the sphere of information systems and communication needs systematic approach, too.

The Prime Minister's meeting with G8 diplomats primarily focused on construction of the "Shelter" facility at the Chornobyl NPP. According to Ms Tymoshenko, "we need to establish new cooperation here".

***

"We wish to carry on the construction of the "Shelter" facility at the Chornobyl NPP with close cooperation with the Ukrainian Government", British Ambassador to Ukraine Robert Brinkley stated, by way of describing the donor-states' position on the matter. On a request by G8 countries their representatives met with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to H.E. Robert Brinkley, the total sum of money, needed for the completion of the construction of the facility, has been almost collected. This work will be finally completed in London on May 12 during a meeting among representatives of the donor-states. Mr Brinkley aired the position of the G8 countries, who want to hear elucidation by the Ukrainian Government on its contribution to the construction of the "Shelter" facility at the Chornobyl NPP, at the Tuesday meeting in Kyiv. According to him, the donor-states are concerned over the likelihood of slowing down works at the facility in connection with transferring relevant authorities from the Fuels and Energy Ministry to the Emergencies Ministry.

As the British envoy reminded, since 1986 the international community has made a significant contribution to relieving the situation at the Chornobyl NPP, as well as at other nuclear power stations of Ukraine. As Robert Brinkley believes, this contribution by the international community should be acknowledged.

***

Chairman of the Constitutional Court Mykola Selyvon met on Tuesday with President of the European Court of  Human Rights Luzius Wildhaber, who is on an unofficial visit in Ukraine.

As the Constitutional Court press service told Ukrinform, during a conversation the matter concerned mutual relations between the European Court of Human Rights and National Constitutional Courts, in particular, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, about examination of Ukrainian citizens' complaints by the European Court, mechanisms of realizing a Convention on protection of human rights and main freedoms, use of practice of the European Court of Human Rights by Ukrainian courts.

Mykola Selyvon informed the guest that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe supported an initiative by the Ukrainian Constitutional Court with regard to holding an International Conference "Influence of Practice of the European Court of Human Rights on National Constitutional Legal Proceedings" in October 2005 in Kyiv  and invited the Chairman of the European Court of Human Rights to participate in this Conference. Luzius Wildhaber accepted this invitation with gratitude.

Participating in the meeting was also Head of the Constitutional Court Secretariat Volodymyr Dubrovsky.

***

Secretary of the National Defense and Security Council of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with EU Special Representative for Moldova Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged , the NDSC press service told Ukrinform.

Petro Poroshenko informed Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged about basic provisions of a plan of the Transdniestrian settlement, which was proposed by President Viktor Yushchenko during the GUUAM Summit in Chisinau.

As the NDSC Secretary noted, the Ukrainian side highly assesses the participation of the European Union in the process of peaceful settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict. Mr Poroshenko expressed his strong conviction that introduction of the position of the EU Special Representative for Moldova will promote the constructive impact on the settlement process.

He stated Ukraine's readiness for active and fruitful interaction with the European Union in settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict. However, such cooperation must be based on parity and regular exchange of information and intense bipartite dialogue with the EU on this issue, Secretary Poroshenko stressed.

***

"The level and quality of my education allow me to occupy a position of Justice Minister", Justice Minister Roman Zvaryzh stated at a press conference on Tuesday. A scandal around his name emerged due to the fact that the Ukrainian media "unearthed" that Zvarych, who was born in the USA and received the Ukrainian citizenship in 1995, allegedly was not a holder of a master's degree of the Columbia University (USA).

Roman Zvarych told about a visit to the USA, made at his own expense, where he restored documents about his education. In particular, he brought a letter by Professor of the New York University Ron Reini, which proves that a Professor title was preserved after a position of a lecturer, occupied by Zvarych. This letter, alongside with a diploma, received at the Manhattan College, and documents about taking programs at the Columbia University, was submitted by Roman Zvaryzh to the Cabinet, so that his present employers could appraise  the level of his qualification.

"Judge about me by my deeds", Roman Zvarych suggested, reminding that a number of   court cases were won thanks to his participation, which had an important meaning for victory of the "orange" revolution, as well as about his experience, received in the Parliament, where he was a deputy prior to his appointment to the Ministry's position.

"I never fought for power and a position of the Justice Minister. The main thing for me is to serve Ukraine. I took an oath while being a 15-year teenager, either to build independent Ukraine or  to die for it", Roman Zvarych said.

The Minister also underscored that he is not going to dismiss professionals from office to please some politicians and regional officials and he will not allow bringing pressure to bear upon them. Until he holds a position, he will not allow turning the Justice Ministry into an instrument for solving  clan's property problems or for redistributing property under the  guise of "state interests" and through violating the law.

Roman Zvarych, touching on a resonance theme with regard to turning down registration of the PORA political Party, underscored that "This Party should not be registered until it submits documents in strict compliance with the Law". According to Zvarych "The Ministry of Justice does not indulge for participation in the revolution. It is a state body, which is guided exclusively by Law in its activities. Application of the Law requirements does not envisage advantages to veterans of the "orange revolution".

***

Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Maura Harty will visit Ukraine on May 13, the final stop on a five-day, five-country trip, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine told Ukrinform on Tuesday.

The U.S. Government's top consular official will inaugurate expanded U.S. immigrant visa processing in Ukraine, officially open the U.S. Embassy's newly renovated consular building, and meet with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 Assistant Secretary Harty will launch expanded immigrant visa processing in Ukraine.  Previously, Ukrainian immigrant visa applicants had to travel to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw to complete the immigrant visa process. Refugee applications will continue to be processed in Moscow.

 Assistant Secretary Harty will meet with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss consular matters and explore ways to strengthen ties between the United States and Ukraine.  They will discuss ways to facilitate legitimate travel between the U.S. and Ukraine.

***

Members of the All-Ukrainian Youth Public Organization "National Alliance", which have recently returned from the Belarussian imprisonment, informed journalists about their organization's plans for future activities during a press conference on Tuesday.

Active members of this organization, such as  Ihor Hudz, Oleksandr Mashlai, Andri Bokoch, Andri Hrymaliuk and Oleksi Panasiuk noted that cooperation between patriotic forces of Ukraine and Belarus will continue in the future. According to them, in the near future a meeting is supposed to be held with Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk, the aim of which will be "gratitude for the Foreign Ministry's principal position with regard to detained Ukrainians and discussion of ways of disaffirming a ban for them to enter Belarus".

Also, according to Alliance members, at present negotiations are under way with Belarussian organizations with regard to creation of the Ukrainian-Belarussian Center for cooperation between youth grass roots, which will coordinate work of Ukrainian and Belarussian patriotic groups. On May 14-16 in Warsaw, Poland, an agreement is supposed to be signed between the "National Alliance" with participation of the "Youth Front" and  one or several Polish right-centrist organizations.

By way of continuing their activities in arranging cooperation with Belarussian youth grass roots, another delegation of the "National Alliance" is supposed to visit Belarus in 2005. Besides, organization members informed the journalists that in the near future representatives of the "Young Front" from Belarus will visit Ukraine with the aim of "developing detailed plans of cooperation and for holding a number of meetings with representatives of other Ukrainian organizations".

***

The Academy of Ukrainian Press made returns of the content-analysis of media materials on the current format of relations between the authority and the media in Ukraine over first three months of cooperation public on Tuesday. As President of the Academy Valeriy Ivanov told the press conference "The mass media and the authority: first 100 days of cooperation", the returns of the survey, which was held during three months of the new power, have shown the loyalty in relations between them.

As Valeriy Ivanov noted, according to the survey returns, over the past three months the mass media started covering the events differently, some media, while informing about the activity of the new power, began giving several viewpoints, journalist commentaries, which before were rare.

As Natalia Kostenko, an expert with the Academy of Ukrainian Press, in her turn told the press conference, the research proved that the volumes of internal political news remain maximal, news without referring to an information origin decreased, the number of news reports with several viewpoints increased, the conflict ground of discussion of events enhanced and the level of informing the society grew.

On the whole, Valeriy Ivanov stated, after the 2004 elections, all the channels began demonstrating their positive attitude toward the authority, what the opposition channels is concerned the situation is vice versa, which testifies to the lack of "the level of balance", which is the lever for democratic journalism.

***

A traditional parade of medals, during which UN peacekeeping missions' personnel is awarded medals "For Service for Peace" at the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent within  the Interim UN Force in South Lebanon, was timed to the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. 

As the Foreign Ministry press service told Ukrinform, the ceremony of awarding medals and congratulating personnel of the 3rd Detached Engineer Battalion on  the Victory Day was attended by Ukrainian Ambassador to Lebanon Valeri Rylach, Commander of the UN Interim Force in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) French General Allan Pellegrini, Russian and Armenian diplomats, representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in Lebanon and local power bodies.

Within the framework of marking this date a monument  to "Soldiers Sappers" was ceremoniously opened on the territory of the Engineer Battalion. The monument was erected by personnel of the Ukrainian contingent.

For exemplary fulfillment of duties and on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Victory servicemen of the 3rd Detached Engineer Battalion were awarded gifts, diplomas and valuable gifts.

Also, Ukrainian peacekeepers performed a concert program, singing songs of the times of the Great Patriotic War and prepared a photo exhibition with war time photos.

***

Work started on delivering cameras and camera equipment, necessary for broadcasting the Eurovision-2005 song constest, to the Kyiv Palace of Sports, where the jubilee song contest will be held.

In 2005 numerous technical innovations will be used for broadcasting.

In compliance with a decision of the European Broadcasting Union, which is an organizer of the Eurovision contest, the present broadcast of the contest will be in the new format 9х16, which will replace the 3х4 format, i.e. the TV picture will be wider. Owners of wide format TV sets, which become more and more popular in the whole world, will take advantage of this opportunity.

The Swedish Company Prisma, which was a partner of the Greek National TV Company during broadcasting of the Olympic Games in Athens, will be a partner of the National TV Company of Ukraine in broadcasting the Eurovision song contest.

The Ukrainian partner in broadcasting will be the "Film Plus" Company, which cooperated with the National TV Company in broadcasting the European Championship on calisthenics and heavy athletics, as well as  President Viktor Yushchenko's inauguration.  The "Film Plus" Company will provide direct broadcasting from Maidan Nezalezhnosti during the song contest.

***

As many as 10 nuclear reactors out of 15 are functioning at Ukrainian NPPs.

According to the EnergoAtom Company information, at the largest Ukrainian NPP,  the Zaporizhia NPP, four out of six nuclear reactors are functioning. Nuclear reactor No. 6 is switched off the network due to operator's generation restrictions, and planned maintenance work continues at reactor No. 1 of the Zaporizhia NPP.

Planned maintenance work continues also at nuclear reactor No. 1 at the Rivne NPP. Preparation is under way for hydraulic testing of the first circuit.

Planned maintenance work is also continued at nuclear reactor No. 2 of the South-Ukrainian NPP.

Also maintenance work is continued at nuclear reactor No. 1 of the Khmelnytsky NPP.

Radiation, fire-prevention and environmental situation at NPPs is within normal parameters.

***

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Oleh Shamshur met with the mayor of the Canadian city of Toronto, David Miller, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday.

Mr. Miller is in Ukraine at the invitation of Kyiv’s Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko.

According to information from the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Miller said that the people of Toronto welcomed the victory of democratic forces in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential elections.

The particular role of cooperation between local self-government organs in the process of development of Ukrainian-Canadian relations was stressed.

Mr. Shamshur informed Mr. Miller about new opportunities for cooperation in the trade, economic, and investment areas, as well as in development of ties between the people of the two countries.

In this context, Mr. Shamshur stressed the importance of the Ukrainian-Canadian business forum that will take place at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on May 11 with the participation of representatives of the Kyiv and Toronto business communities.

They agreed that Mr. Miller’s visit to Kyiv will provide a new impetus to the deepening of the ties between Kyiv and Toronto and between the business communities of the two cities and that it will also facilitate practical development of Ukrainian-Canadian relations.

***

A new stage of relations between Ukraine and the Czech Republic is starting, Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasiuk said at a joint press conference with the Czech Republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister Cyril Svoboda on Tuesday.

According to Mr. Tarasiuk, he and Mr. Svoboda discussed issues involving expansion of the dialogue between the two countries in all spheres.

In this context, he said that preparation for the forthcoming visit to Ukraine by the Czech Republic’s President Vaclav Klaus was the focus of his talks with Mr. Svoboda.

He further said that he and the Czech foreign affairs minister also discussed liberalization of their visa regimes.

Mr. Tarasiuk thanked his counterpart for the Czech Republic’s decision to introduce free entry visas for Ukrainian citizens. According to him, this was a concrete step toward Ukraine’s bid for integration into Europe.

The two men also discussed the possibility of cooperation between the Vyshegrad Group and the GUUAM organization.

They also discussed possible Czech assistance for Ukraine’s bid for integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic communities. In particular, Mr. Tarasiuk said Ukraine considered the Czech Republic’s experience in cooperation with Great Britain through creation of annual plans interesting.

Mr. Svoboda stressed that Ukraine has taken the route of democratization and said that Ukraine’s future is in Europe and that the country has the support of the not only the European Union as a whole, but also the support of its individual member-countries, including the Czech Republic.

In this context, he said that Mr. Klaus’ visit to Ukraine, which is scheduled for June, would provide a new impetus to new relations between the two countries.

Mr. Svoboda stressed that the Czech Republic aims to broaden its relations with Ukraine and make them more effective at all levels, including the governmental and non-governmental levels.

In response to journalists’ questions regarding the possibility of legalization of Ukrainian citizens working the Czech Republic, Mr. Svoboda said that the Czech Republic was interested in resolving this issue as soon as possible. He expressed confidence that Ukraine and the Czech Republic can find a common language on the issue.

Mr. Tarasiuk said that the two sides agreed to exchange expert groups on the status of Ukrainian migrants in the Czech Republic.

***

The state-owned Naftohaz Ukrainy company and Shell Exploration Company B.V. have signed an agreement on cooperation in the area of technical research leading to exploration for and extraction of hydrocarbons in the Dniprovsko-Donetska Depression.

Ass Naftohaz Ukrainy representatives told Ukrinform, the agreement stipulates that Naftohaz Ukrainy and Shell will start joint exploration in their area of common interest (which has an area of over 30,000 square meters).

According to information from Naftohaz Ukrainy, results of geological exploration in the Dniprovsko-Donetska Depression indicate that there are significant reserves of natural gas, development of which requires application of the most modern achievements of science and technology.

According to Mathias Bichsel, the head of Shell Exploration, the agreement with Naftohaz Ukrainy marks the start of the company’s operations in the Ukrainian gas industry.

“We believe that combination of the geological knowledge and production capacities of Naftohaz Ukrainy with the technologies of the Shell company and its experience in the exploration of similar facilities will facilitate the opening of new, significant deposits and an increase in the extraction of natural gas in the Dniprovsko-Donetska Depression. The southeastern part of Ukraine is located near important regional gas markets; therefore, we expect long years of mutually beneficial cooperation with Naftohaz Ukrainy,” Bichsel said.

Shell started operations in Ukraine in 1992, focusing on the sale of lubricants, chemicals, and aviation fuel.