EUobserver / Ukraine chief seeks friends in EU capital

EUobserver / Ukraine chief seeks friends in EU capital:

Ukraine chief seeks friends in EU capital

ANDREW RETTMAN

29.10.2010 @ 17:53 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukraine's new administration is pulling out the stops to win a better name for itself in the EU capital ahead of Sunday's (31 October) local elections and the EU-Ukraine summit in November.

Rattled by what they see as a stream of hostile articles against President Viktor Yanukovych in the best-respected media in Brussels, such as the Financial Times, the new authorities are putting together a constellation of various supporters.

Yanukovych is a relatively frequent visitor to the EU capital (Photo: consilium.europa.eu)

Public relations consultancy Glocal Communications is helping to organise off-the-record press meetings with high-level members of Mr Yanukovych's circle when they pass through Brussels. The little-known firm is based well-away from the EU district in the city. It has not signed up to the European Commission's lobbyist register and refused to disclose its list of clients when asked by this website.
Meanwhile, PR giant Burston Marsteller is working for Rinat Akhmetov, an energy-and-steel-sector billionaire who is also an MP for the president's Party of the Regions.

EUobserver / [Comment] Ukraine's new leader should be judged by his actions

EUobserver / [Comment] Ukraine's new leader should be judged by his actions

Ukraine's new leader should be judged by his actions

LEONID KOZHARA

Today @ 09:35 CET

EUOBSERVER / COMMENT

Local government elections are not usually regarded as matters of international importance, but the ones being held in Ukraine at the end of the month have managed to attract unprecedented attention. They take place against a background of siren claims that democracy in Ukraine is being rolled back and that the new government elected earlier this year is in the process of turning the country into a one-party state.

EUobserver / [Comment] Strange bedfellows - EU Socialists and Yanukovych

EUobserver / [Comment] Strange bedfellows - EU Socialists and Yanukovych

Strange bedfellows - EU Socialists and Yanukovych

TARAS KUZIO

Today @ 09:27 CET

EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - The Socialist group in the European Parliament has signed a new co-operation agreement with the Party of Regions in Ukraine that looks as if its sole purpose is to derail criticism of Ukraine's new leader in Brussels.

October was an unusual month for the European Parliament's relationship with Ukraine.

Ukrainian minister defends "consolidation, not monopolisation" by his government

Ukrainian minister defends "consolidation, not monopolisation" by his government

External relations − 27-10-2010 - 10:17
Committee: Foreign Affairs

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In a discussion on Tuesday with Ukrainian foreign minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, MEPs voiced concern about transparency and fairness in the upcoming local elections, the recent restrictive law reforms and the growing lack of media freedom in the country.

"With the recent law reforms we have achieved a new political stabilisation and the consolidation of power. And let me stress that we are talking of 'consolidation' of power, not 'monopolisation' of power", said Mr Gryshchenko. The minister was addressing the EP Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday in an endeavour to soothe concerns expressed recently by many MEPs about the apparent erosion of democracy in the country ahead of the local elections on 31 October. The minister also urged MEPs to move forward on talks for a free trade agreement and called for a full visa liberalisation accord with his country.

Russia poses no threat to Ukrainian economy - Yanukovych | World | RIA Novosti

Russia poses no threat to Ukrainian economy - Yanukovych

Russia poses no threat to Ukrainian economy - Yanukovych

The Ukrainian opposition claims that the country's new leadership does not defend properly Ukraine's national interests in relations with Russia.

06:43 09/10/2010

© RIA Novosti. Sergey Guneyev

Russia will not "swallow up" the Ukrainian economy as a result of the blossoming relationship between Moscow and Kiev, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said.
Relations between Russia and Ukraine, which sunk to post-Soviet lows in the past five years during the presidency of pro-western Viktor Yushchenko, have improved significantly since Yanukovych's election in February.

Commentary on the Constitutional Court Judgment of 30 September 2010 :: khpg.org:

Commentary on the Constitutional Court Judgment of 30 September 2010

02.10.10 | Vsevolod Rechytsky, KHPG Constitutional Expert

Political-legal Commentary to the Judgment of Ukraine’s Constitutional Court on the constitutional submission from 252 National Deputies regarding compliance with the Constitution (constitutionality) of the Law of Ukraine “On amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine” from 8 December 2004 No. 2222-IV (the case on observance of procedure for making amendments to the Constitution) from 30 September 2010 No. 2 – pn/2010.

EUobserver / EU trade pact not at risk, Ukraine ambassador says

EUobserver / EU trade pact not at risk, Ukraine ambassador says

EU trade pact not at risk, Ukraine ambassador says

04.10. 2010 ANDREW RETTMAN

EUOBSERVER/ BRUSSELS - Ukraine's ambassador to the EU has said that Kiev remains keen on closer trade and political ties with the Union, following controversial remarks by both sides in recent days.

Speaking to EUobserver in Brussels on Monday (4 October), Mr Kostiantyn Yelisieiev said that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's recent criticism of a proposed EU-Ukraine trade pact should be seen as part of ongoing negotiations rather than a break in the process.

"The DCFTA [Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement] is one of the core elements of our planned Association Agreement. We are very much determined to negotiate it because it is important for the future of Ukraine. The DCFTA should be considered as a vital instrument for Ukraine's integration into the EU market, but should at the same time take into account the interests of Ukrainian producers and exporters," he said.

Громадська акція проти нецивілізованих дій Служби Безпеки України

Чи збирає СБУ про мене інформацію?

28 вересня 2010 | Київ

У середу, 29 вересня, о 13:45 журналісти, громадські діячі та бажаючі громадяни вишикуються в чергу до громадської приймальні Служби Безпеки України (вул. Малопідвальна, 16 – нова адреса громадської приймальної, за рогом, від старої - 150 метрів) з метою подати інформаційний запит, щоб дізнатися «чи збирала протягом останнього року щодо мене Служба Безпеки України будь-які дані, проводила оперативні заходи, прослуховувала мої телефони, організовувала стеження?» Акція є реакцією на безпідставний збір інформації представників СБУ по відношенню до громадських діячів та журналістів. Зокрема, нещодавно СБУ разом із податковою навідалися додому до директора Інституту масової інформації Вікторії Сюмар
http://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/sumar/4c9c4a97306e0/, яка займає активну громадську позицію щодо відстоювання свободи слова, і в тому числі є членом руху «Стоп Цензурі!»

Без консультацій з громадськістю не буде грошей від ЄС на екологію | Україна | Deutsche Welle | 28.09.2010

Без консультацій з громадськістю не буде грошей від ЄС на екологію | Україна | Deutsche Welle | 28.09.2010

Без консультацій з громадськістю не буде грошей від ЄС на екологію

Україна | 28.09.2010 | Ольга Веснянка

Якщо український уряд не буде відкритим до думки громадськості, то Єврокомісія не надасть Україні фінансову допомогу обсягом 35 мільйонів євро на державні проекти із захисту довкілля. Про це Deutsche Welle розповів Давід Стулік, координатор програм преси та інформації Представництва Європейської Комісії в Україні. За його словами, у Європейській Комісії знають про дискусію щодо недостатніх громадських консультацій задля вироблення Національної екологічної стратегії України. Саме на це нарікають українські екологічні організації.
«Стратегія має призводити до позитивних зрушень у країні. Існуюча ж екологічна стратегія має чимало недоліків. А міністр екології України навіть не приховує, що через гроші документ поспішали ухвалити, не беручи до уваги рекомендації експертів», - пояснює координатор співпраці мережі «CEE Bankwatch Network» й співробітник Національного екоцентру України Олексій Пасюк.
ЄС наполягає на прозорості

Ухвалення стратегії до кінця року має ключову роль для отримання Україною від ЄС фінансової підтримки  за екологічним напрямом. У Єврокомісії наголошують – консультування з організаціями громадянського суспільства є однією з умов фінансової допомоги. Давід Стулік каже, що Єврокомісія вже обговорила це питання з українцями, й наполягає, що стратегію мають розробляти відкрито, прозоро, з урахуванням думок зацікавлених сторін.

Ukraine President Pursues EU Membership - WSJ.com

Ukraine President Pursues EU Membership - WSJ.com

Ukraine Aims to Join European Union

By GORDON FAIRCLOUGH and ALIX M. FREEDMAN

NEW YORK—Ukraine's president said Kiev is determined to join the European Union, but also needs to maintain strong ties with Moscow to ensure his country can serve as a dependable conduit for Russian energy supplies to the West.

 

President Viktor Yanukovych, in New York on Wednesday.

President Viktor Yanukovych, who has devoted considerable effort since his election earlier this year to mending Ukraine's badly frayed relations with Moscow, said Wednesday that Kiev is "already playing the role of a reliable bridge" between Europe and Russia.
"Ukraine is moving steadfastly along the road of European integration," Mr. Yanukovych told The Wall Street Journal in an interview ahead of this week's United Nations General Assembly meetings. But, he said, "we don't want to insult anyone as we take that road."
Given Ukraine's location and its desire to profit from Russian energy shipments to the EU, "we are doomed to keep a good balance," he said.
Mr. Yanukovych has met with EU leaders to discuss the initial steps toward membership in the regional bloc. A summit between the two sides is set for November. Ukraine is also negotiating a free-trade agreement with the EU. Mr. Yanukovych said Russia isn't opposed to EU membership for Ukraine.
After Ukraine's Orange Revolution in 2004, which brought outspokenly pro-Western politicians to power in Kiev, relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated sharply. Spats between Kiev and Moscow led to serious disruptions in gas flows to Western Europe.

Poles' View of Russia Turns Negative Again | News | The Moscow Times

Poles' View of Russia Turns Negative Again | News | The Moscow Times

Poles' View of Russia Turns Negative Again

27 September 2010

Gleb Garanich / Reuters
Relatives looking at a wall with the names of the Katyn dead during a ceremony in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday.

WARSAW — Poles' view of Russia-Poland relations have turned negative again after a thaw following the airplane crash that killed Poland's president and 95 others in Smolensk in April, a survey showed Friday.
The death of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria and 94 others, mostly senior state officials, in Smolensk sparked a wave of sympathy in Poland and Russia.
Warsaw's efforts to improve relations — traditionally strained over history, energy and security issues — with its communist-era overlord Moscow have gathered pace since.
But a series of hiccups has reversed the trend, and a new CBOS poll showed 28 percent of Poles are now negative about Warsaw-Moscow ties, while 26 are positive. The remainder said they could not say either way.
A CBOS survey in May showed that twice as many Poles assessed Polish-Russian ties as positive than held the opposite view.
"The actions of the Russian side aimed at establishing the reason of the plane crash are viewed negatively by more than half of Poles (56 percent), compared with less than one-third (31 percent) who think they are good," CBOS said in a statement.

Ukranian News - State Special Communications Service To Start Up 'Electronic Ukraine' System In Q111

Ukranian News - State Special Communications Service To Start Up 'Electronic Ukraine' System In Q111

State Special Communications Service To Start Up 'Electronic Ukraine' System In Q111

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The State Special Communications and Information Protection Service has plans to start up the integrated protected system of electronic document flow, Electronic Ukraine, in the first quarter of 2011, deputy chairman of the Special Communications Service Petro Yatsuk has announced at a news conference.
In his words, the Electronic Ukraine is a platform for the electronic government turnover made in the form of a web portal, designed for running on any operating system.
Ukrainian Special Systems, a state-owned enterprise, was engaged in development of this system.

Enterprise deputy director-general Oleksii Yaremenko says the entire work flow in the Electronic Ukraine system is built on identity authentication, any operation with documents demands digital signature.
At the moment technical specifications of the system are being reconciled with the Justice Ministry.
They suppose to start a test run of the system in October.

Ukraine President Tangles With Communist-Era Famine | Epoch Times Mobile

Ukraine President Tangles With Communist-Era Famine | Epoch Times Mobile

Ukraine President Tangles With Communist-Era Famine

By Andrey Volkov/Epoch Times Staff

• 
  
  
  Ukrainian Congress Committee of America hols a demonstration in front of the Ukraine's mission to the U.N. in New York on Wednesday, September 22, to protest against the government's actions towards press freedom and historical memory of the country. (Andrey Volkov/The Epoch Times)
  
  

NEW YORK—Russian-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych this week assured the Ukrainian Diaspora in the United States that he does not deny the existence of the communist-era famine that killed millions of people in Ukraine in 1932-33, adding that he would even order the famine documents to be declassified. Yanukovich, however, would not recognize the famine as genocide as many other countries and Ukrainian leaders have.

The famine statement comes strategically before his visit to the United States to take part in the United Nations Global Summit. His visit will likely be used to seek more dialogue with the Ukrainian Diaspora abroad.

Official estimates say that from 7 to 10 million people died during the famine, known as the Holodomor, in Ukraine.

“I am told that I deny the famine somehow [so] I am initiating the declassification of famine’s archive documents,” he said.

ITAR-TASS: CSTO ready to give special status to Ukraine, consider its entry

ITAR-TASS: CSTO ready to give special status to Ukraine, consider its entry

CSTO ready to give special status to Ukraine, consider its entry

23.09.2010, 13.03

NEW YORK, September 23 (Itar-Tass) - The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) is ready to grant a special status to Ukraine and consider, if need be, the issue of its admission to the organisation, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told Itar-Tass in an interview.

“We are ready to more closely cooperate with Ukraine on security matters,” he noted. “Moreover, if the Ukrainian side is ready we can decide on granting it a special status in the CSTO.” “This is useful, and I believe that it is an objective necessity, because states located in the post-Soviet space are facing one and the same problems,” the CSTO secretary general explained. “In order to settle them we can together take corresponding measures, even without speaking about Ukraine’s admission to the CSTO,” he said.

Розкол команди Януковича: "Донецькі" проти групи "РосУкрЕнерго" | Українська правда

Розкол команди Януковича: "Донецькі" проти групи "РосУкрЕнерго" | Українська правда

Розкол команди Януковича: "Донецькі" проти групи "РосУкрЕнерго"

Сергій Лещенко, УП _ П'ятниця, 24 вересня 2010, 11:00

Фото прес-служби Партії регіонів

Тріщина всередині владної команди Віктора Януковича стає дедалі глибшою.
По різні боки опинилися дві найпотужніші групи: так звані "Донецькі", уособленням яких є Рінат Ахметов, Борис Колесніков, Андрій Клюєв, і так звана група "РосУкрЕнерго", представлена Дмитром Фірташем, Сергієм Льовочкіним і Валерієм Хорошковським.
Після приходу Януковича до влади боротьба між цими групами розгорнулася одразу на кількох майданчиках - за політичний вплив, за розбудову бізнесу, та за самого Януковича.

Якби подібні конфлікти спливли на поверхню в часи Віктора Ющенка, країна давно би вже стала свідком корупційного скандалу №2 - з викривальними прес-конференціями у прямому ефірі, звільненнями чиновників та закликом до акцій непокори.
Однак поки бере гору природа Партії регіонів - тримати сміття в собі, а не виносити з хати. Чи надовго їх вистачить?

EUobserver / Ukraine's environment strategy worrying Brussels

EUobserver / Ukraine's environment strategy worrying Brussels

Ukraine's environment strategy worrying Brussels

Ukraine's CO2 emission levels are 50% lower than in 1990 (Photo: DerGuy82)

VALENTINA POP

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – No EU money can flow to Ukraine's state programmes for the environment unless the government opens up to input from civil society, the European Commission said on Friday (24 September), while separately welcoming Kiev's new commitment to adapt its energy legislation to EU law.According to Bankwatch, an umbrella network of enviromental NGOs working in central and eastern Europe, Ukraine's environment strategy is being drafted in an undemocratic way and is "deceptive," because it allows an actual increase in CO2 emissions by 2020. By pledging to respect the EU target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared to the 1990 levels, Ukraine can actually afford an increase of its current levels, as due to its industrial downturn, it currently emits less than half the CO2 it did in 1990.

Ukraine's New Direction - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Ukraine's New Direction - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Ukraine's New Direction

John Hewko Q&A, September 21, 2010

Since Viktor Yanukovych was elected president in February, observers have been looking for signs of whether Ukraine would move closer to Russia or continue integrating with Europe. The return of Yanukovych, who was swept from office by the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution, sparked fears among some that the momentum of Ukraine’s domestic political and economic reforms would be lost.
In a Q&A, John Hewko assesses Yanukovych’s first 200 days in office and how the United States and Europe should respond. Hewko argues that “it is critical that the United States and Europe continue to engage Ukraine” and outlines five steps Western policy makers should take to strengthen democracy in the country and build strong long-term relations.

ЗВЕРНЕННЯ Народного Руху України до усіх, кому не байдужа доля української мови | Українська правда - Блоги

ЗВЕРНЕННЯ Народного Руху України до усіх, кому не байдужа доля української мови

21.09.2010 16:43  Борис Тарасюк

Борис Тарасюк Голова Комітету з питань європейської інтеграції Верновної Ради України

Про автора докладно

Україну на 20-ому році відновленої державності антидержавні сили вперто штовхають наступити на ті самі граблі, що всіювали впродовж століть дорогу національно-визвольних змагань. Дух Валуєвського циркуляру, Ємського указу та ще з двох десятків схожих актів імперських загарбників відродився у черговому "творінні" антиукраїнських сил. Законопроект "Про мови в Україні", зареєстрований представниками антиукраїнської коаліції, несе реальну загрозу українському суспільству. Йде повномасштабний наступ на глибинні пласти духовного життя народу, його історичної пам'яті, найціннішого надбання віків – української мови.

Yanukovych to report on democracy in Ukraine at UN General Assembly | World | RIA Novosti

Yanukovych to report on democracy in Ukraine at UN General Assembly | World | RIA Novosti

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Yanukovych to report on democracy in Ukraine at UN General Assembly

21/09/2010
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will deliver a speech on Ukraine's democratic path at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly during his visit to New York on September 21-24.
This will be Yanukovych's second trip to the United States. The Ukrainian president, who took office in February, first visited the country in April for a nuclear security summit in Washington.
The Ukrainian president is expected to address the General Assembly with a statement concerning the freedom of expression in his country.

The First And Second Murders Of Heorhiy Gongadze - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2010

The First And Second Murders Of Heorhiy Gongadze - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2010

The First And Second Murders Of Heorhiy Gongadze 

September 18, 2010 By Serhiy Hrabovsky

Heorhiy Gongadze was murdered in 2000.

An entire epoch has passed since the disappearance and murder 10 years ago of Ukrainian journalist Heorhiy Gongadze. The age of former President Leonid Kuchma, which gave rise to secret units of Interior Ministry officers (the so-called “Kravchenko eagles” who dealt with opponents of the regime in illegal and often lethal ways) too has passed.
Kuchmaism began in Ukraine in 1994. Then, under mysterious circumstances, the chairman of the Ukrainian Barristers Union went missing. Enigmatic deaths that remain unanswered to this day followed: former National Bank Chairman Vadym Hetman, opposition leader Vyacheslav Chornovil, businessman and parliament Deputy Yevhen Shcherban, and many others. Prominent politicians, parliamentarians, journalists -- some died in strange road accidents, others were assassinated, and others seemingly took their own lives.

EUobserver / Ashton designates six new 'strategic partners'

EUobserver / Ashton designates six new 'strategic partners'

Ashton designates six new 'strategic partners'

Ms Ashton talking with the Spanish (c) and French foreign ministers at the summit (Photo: consilium.europa.eu)

ANDREW RETTMAN

16.09.2010 @ 19:37 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has indicated that Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ukraine and South Korea could join the EU's existing list of privileged or "strategic" partners.
Ms Ashton put forward the new names in a powerpoint presentation at a meeting of EU leaders and foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday (16 September). The roll-call of six countries ended with a "..." to indicate that the club remains open to other up-and-coming powers, an EU diplomatic source said.

Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust - Ukraine - Helsinki Union demands investigation of the assault on a colleague from Kherson (VIDEO)

Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust - Ukraine - Helsinki Union demands investigation of the assault on a colleague from Kherson (VIDEO)

Helsinki Union demands investigation of the assault on a colleague from Kherson (VIDEO)

15.09.2010 | Kyiv Post

Dementiy Bily, journalist and Head of the Kherson Regional Branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (which is a member of UHHRU).khersonsnews.org.ua

 The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union has today called on the Prosecutor General and the Minister of Internal Affairs to ensure a swift, independent and efficient investigation of this assault Dementiy Bily, journalist and Head of the Kherson Regional Branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (which is a member of UHHRU).

Sept. 14, the City Mayor Volodomyr Saldo, who is standing for re-election for the third time from the Party of the Regions, was giving his report in the Kherson Theatre. There had been no announcement of the event either in the media or on the City Council’s website. There were rumours that invitations were being issued to those specially chosen, and leaders of civic organizations were not among them.

There were two burly guys at the doors allowing in only those who had invitations. Dementiy Bily first endeavoured to enter simply as a citizen and voter, then as journalist from the publication “Politichna Khersonshchyna” [about events etc in the Kherson region], for which he had the relevant journalist ID. Neither he nor other civic leaders were allowed in, with Saldo’s Deputy overseeing this process. It was only when the Deputy Head of the Regional Administration intervened that they were able to enter.

Ukraine, EU seek closer ties

Ukraine, EU seek closer ties

2010-09-14 00:15:59
BRUSSELS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych paid a visit to the European Union on Monday, seeking ways to strengthen relations between the two sides in view of the upcoming Ukraine-EU summit, which is scheduled for November this year.

"We would like to have a free trade area agreement that would suggest the gradual integration of the Ukrainian economy into the European Union," Yanukovych said at a joint news conference with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.


In relation with the introduction of a visa-free regime, Yanukovych said that the works on the action plan have already started and that the process should be completed by the time of the next Ukraine-EU summit. "And we have a join vision of the process."

EUobserver / Ukraine leader gives Barroso a football

EUobserver / Ukraine leader gives Barroso a football

Ukraine leader gives Barroso a football

ANDREW RETTMAN

13.09.2010 @ 18:48 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych gave EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso a football while visiting Brussels on Monday (13 September). But the EU-Ukraine feel-good factor is being undermined by accusations of creeping authoritarianism in the former Soviet country.

Mr Yanukovych handed over the white, black and yellow Euro 2012 ball at a press conference in the EU commission headquarters following lunch with Mr Barroso and an earlier meeting with EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

"This is a reminder that this is a joint project with the European Commission," he said, referring to the Euro 2012 finals, which are due to be played in Poland and Ukraine. A smiling Mr Barroso said: "Football and sport, when they are played with fair play, can give a great contribution for communication among people."
The diplomatic gift is highly symbolic: Mr Yanukovych needs to ensure economic and political stability in Ukraine, in line with EU demands, if he is to build the roads and stadiums needed to host the football championship in time. Ukraine also hopes by 2012 to clinch a trade pact and a political "association" treaty with the EU so that it can use the positive atmosphere around the football event to file an EU membership application.

EUobserver / Bad smell precedes Yanukovych trip to Brussels

Bad smell precedes Yanukovych trip to Brussels

ANDREW RETTMAN

Today @ 17:38 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A shake-down of leading NGOs and journalists by the Ukrainian security service in recent months has damaged President Viktor Yanukovych's pro-EU credentials ahead of his visit to Brussels on Monday (13 September).
Nico Lange, the director of the Kiev office of the German foundation the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung told EUobserver that the Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny (SBU) has created a "climate of fear" in the NGO and media community since Mr Yanukovych came to power in February. Mr Lange himself was declared persona non grata and detained at Kiev airport for 11 hours in June when he tried to re-enter the country. He believes the ban was ordered by the SBU because of his work to help co-ordinate the activities of opposition parties and because he published a Yanukovych-critical report.
The German pro-democracy activist, who has links to the highest level of government in Berlin, says his phone is still bugged.

Missing, presumed dead: disappearance of Ukrainian journalist deepens media fears | World news | The Guardian

Missing, presumed dead: disappearance of Ukrainian journalist deepens media fears

Watchdog warns of official hostility towards journalists amid loss of TV station licences and mystery over fate of investigative reporter

• Luke Harding in Kharkiv
  
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 8 September 2010 18.27 BST
It was 8.55am when the investigative journalist Vasyl Klymentyev set off from his home in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city. As editor-in-chief of Kharkiv's Novy Stil (New Style) newspaper – a small publication known for unearthing juicy scandals about corrupt local officials – Klymentyev had many enemies and was rather cautious. He set the burglar alarm. read more:

Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust - Ukraine - Is She Next?

Is She Next?

Several Yulia Tymoshenko allies are in jail, wanted or facing criminal probes.

7 September | Svitlana Tuchynska

President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration says law enforcers are finally cracking down on corruption. But the main targets are people close to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who claims political persecution. She will lead an opposition rally on Sept. 7 outside of parliament.
Several former high-ranking officials under ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, this year’s losing presidential candidate, are either behind bars or on the run.
And now many in the embattled opposition are wondering who will be next.
President Viktor Yanukovych and top officials say the sudden legal troubles of Tymoshenko associates are not politically motivated.

Berlin Prods Kiev Over Free Media | News | The Moscow Times

Berlin Prods Kiev Over Free Media | News | The Moscow Times:

Berlin Prods Kiev Over Free Media

31 August 2010

The Associated Press

Gero Breloer / AP

Angela Merkel, second left, welcoming Viktor Yanukovych, third left, with military honors in Berlin on Monday.

BERLIN — Germany's chancellor urged Ukraine's president on Monday to strengthen media freedoms in his country, while stressing the potential for further cooperation between the two nations on energy issues.
Germany sees unanswered questions regarding some democratic processes in Ukraine, "in particular in the area of press freedom and the freedom of expression," Chancellor Angela Merkel told visiting President Viktor Yanukovych.
Merkel said both sides agreed to openly and frankly discuss those issues in the future, if critical questions arise.

EUobserver / 'Map of southeast Europe is finished,' Germany tells Serbia

EUobserver / 'Map of southeast Europe is finished,' Germany tells Serbia

'Map of southeast Europe is finished,' Germany tells Serbia

ANDREW RETTMAN 27.08.2010 @ 09:26

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Germany has made the strongest public link so far between Serbia's acceptance of Kosovo independence and its EU membership bid, amid speculation that a final deal will involve a new status for the Serb-dominated northern part of Kosovo.

German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle on a visit to Serbia on Thursday (26 August) told students at a speech in Belgrade University that the country has to "face reality" on Kosovo secession."A day will come for representatives of Belgrade and Pristina to sit at the same table and speak about the EU. It may now seem like a utopia for you, but it can be achieved. Reconciliation can succeed if you face reality. Independent Kosovo is a reality and the opinion of the International Court of Justice has uniquely confirmed it," he said.

EUobserver / Ukraine president pledges alliegance to both EU and Russia

Ukraine president pledges alliegance to both EU and Russia

VALENTINA POP

24.08.2010 @ 17:44 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Ukraine's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday (24 August) gave assurances of his commitment to EU integration, while claiming that his rapprochement with Moscow is not hindering, but contributing to the process.

"European integration remains a priority for our foreign policy," Mr Yanukovych said in an address marking the 19th anniversary of the country's independence from the Soviet Union. In the same breath, he added that: "normalising our relations with Russia does not only not hinder our EU integration but on the contrary contributes to it."

Mr Yanukovych was speaking to some 2,000 people gathered in the central square of Kiev, known as the Maidan, where his pro-Western opponents in 2004 staged the "Orange Revolution" which ousted him from power amid allegations of electoral fraud.