December 2007 Archives
December 21, 2007 marks the end of overland border and seaport checks between many former communist states in Eastern Europe and their Western neighbors. This is a symbolic event similar to, but not as grandiose as, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.
The Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia join 15 other countries already participating in the "Schengen" free travel zone (Malta also joins on December 21). Citizens of Schengen-participating states are only required to carry a common "Schengen visa" instead of specific visas for each country they visit.
It is great to see the people of Eastern Europe gain new freedoms, as yet another barrier falls in part of the old Eastern Bloc.
On November 18, 2007, the Ukrainian Parliament approved the nomination of Yulia Tymoshenko as the country's next Prime Minister. The vote came one week after Tymoshenko failed to win approval by one vote.
Today's vote, by a show of hands, one member at a time, was 226-0, the absolute minimum required. All pro-Russian opposition members boycotted the vote, and one "Orange" coalition member abstained.
Lawmakers stood up and applauded the announcement, and Tymoshenko was presented with a large bouquet of white roses.
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced that Ukraine’s Parliament will vote on Yulia Tymoshenko’s candidacy for Prime Minister on Tuesday, December 18.
Due to the controversy surrounding the December 11 vote, “Orange” coalition members plan to vote by a show of hands. Tymoshenko previously came up one vote short of the required majority to become Prime Minister.
Yatsenyuk informed all MPs that the Parliament’s agenda for December 18 includes:
- Electing a new Prime Minister
- Dismissing Viktor Yanukovych from his current position as Prime Minister
- Dismissing the current government
- Forming the composition of a new government
- Electing Vice Speakers of Parliament
- Adopting a resolution for Verkhovna Radad committees
Earlier this week, Vladimir Putin announced that First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is his preferred successor as Russian President.
Besides being a Deputy Prime Minister, Medvedev, 42, is also chairman of state gas giant Gazprom’s board of directors. Medvedev is one of Putin’s most loyal lieutenants with no political power base of his own.
Putin, finishing his second term in office, will leave following March’s upcoming presidential election. This announcement fuels speculation that Putin will be setting policy and running the country from behind the scenes.
Medvedev has now publicly requested that Putin be his Prime Minister. In typical style, Putin has not committed either way. Some people believe Putin has truly not decided, while others believe that every move he makes is calculated, and that he will accept the position.
During a Tuesday evening session of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, Yulia Tymoshenko distributed a draft resolution outlining her choices for a possible Cabinet if she is appointed Prime Minister.
The document was distributed the same day that Tymoshenko failed to become Prime Minister by one vote, under very questionable circumstances.
Tymoshenko’s choices are:
- First Deputy Prime Minister - Oleksandr Turchynov
- Deputy Prime Minister - Ivan Vasyunyk
- Deputy Prime Minister - Yosyp Vinsky
- Deputy Prime Minister - Hryhory Nemyrya
- Defense Minister - Yury Yekhanurov
- Economy Minister - Bohdan Danilishin
- Finance Minister - Viktor Pynzenyk
- Foreign Minister - Volodymyr Ohryzko
- Fuel and Energy Minister - Yury Prodan
- Interior Minister - Yury Lutsenko
The Verkhovna Rada will meet again at 10:00 AM Wednesday. There is a strong possibility that another vote on Tymoshenko’s candidacy will occur at that time. The Party of Regions has promised not to block a second vote.
On December 11, 2007, Yulia Tymoshenko's bid to become Ukraine's next Prime Minister fell one vote short of success. Tymoshenko received only 225 votes in the Verkhovna Rada, one short of the required majority. Parliament Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk called for a vote to reconsider the motion, but that also failed and a recess was called. During the recess, members of the Party of Regions blockaded the Parliament's rostrum, attempting to prevent the session from reconvening.
In spring 2008, Chernobyl Children's Project International (CCPI) is sponsoring four trips to Ukraine for American medical teams to operate on children with very serious heart conditions. Since the 1986 Chernobyl accident, medical personnel have seen a dramatic increase in genetic defects, such as these heart conditions, in children living in the “Chernobyl affected areas.” Without an operation, each of these children will die.
CCPI has a long-standing history of providing aid to children in Belarus. In the past, American surgical teams have traveled to Belarus, performing similar operations and training local physicians. CCPI's new fund raising campaign seeks support to assist in the expansion of this medical program into Ukraine.
By raising $1,500, I can help cover the costs of one of these life saving operations. To help with this effort, I have added a Charity Badge to this site, located on the right just below the feed subscription area. Please consider donating to this important program.
You can learn more at Chernobyl Children’s Project International’s Website/Blog
As Ukraine's government begins to take shape, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk declared that on Tuesday, December 11, Parliament will vote on the candidacy of Yulia Tymoshenko for Prime Minister. The Party of Regions has stated they will support Tymoshenko as Prime Minister if she garners enough votes to win the position. Yatsenyuk also said that voting on a new cabinet can also take place on Tuesday, if the nominations are submitted by that time.
Also of interest, Tymoshenko announced that the Lytvyn Bloc and Communist Party will be given first choice of committees, without competition. The Party of Regions will also be given an opportunity to select committees. Tymoshenko also proposed bilateral talks between all political groups to coordinate the candidacy of the Rada's First Deputy Chairman. It appears that the "Orange" forces favor Adam Martynyuk, but Tymoshenko said they would vote for whoever is nominated by the minority.
It is nice to see that Tymoshenko is allowing all factions to participate in the government. It should be noted however, that she did not want opposition members in positions of great authority. Of course, right now most of this is just talk, but I am very pleased to see Ukraine's government come together and have all sides apparently working together.
On December 6, 2007, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko sent a letter to Parliament nominating ally Yulia Tymoshenko to be the country's next Prime Minister. Newly elected Speaker Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk acknowledged Yushchenko's letter during the day's Parliamentary session and indicated the vote to endorse Tymoshenko must take place within five days. Yatsenyuk was scheduled to meet with Yushchenko later in the day to discuss a possible timetable.
photo courtesy of Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a 33-year old trusted confidant of President Viktor Yushchenko, has been selected as Ukraine’s new Verkhovna Rada Speaker. Yatsenyuk received 227 votes, one more than the 226 necessaary for approval of his nomination.
Yatsenyuk previously worked as Ukraine’s Central Bank chief, and more recently was Ukraine’s Economic Minister (September 2005 - August 2006) and Foreign Minister since March 2007.
The results are in from the December 2, 2007 Russian Parliamentary election and there are no surprises. United Russia easily won, gaining an additional 16 seats in the Duma as compared to the last election. 63% of eligible voters turned out to vote for one of the 11 competing political parties.
The structure of the new, incoming Duma is (party with number of seats):
- United Russia - 315
- Communist Party of the Russian Federation - 57
- Liberal Democratic Party of Russia - 40
- A Just Russia Party (pro-Kremlin) - 38
I guess it's time to get ready for Prime Minister Putin.
