The statements our Speaker Oleksandr Tkachenko made in Moscow, as far
as one can trust the electronic mass media, were distinguished by a comprehensive
approach towards in-depth cooperation: this concerned with a positive attitude
of Oleksandr Tkachenko to the united Black Sea Fleet, military and political
union, common economic and informational space, and prospects for a joint
currency.
Probably, this was exactly why the Popular Movement of Ukraine has all
of a sudden "became aware" and come to the Parliament rostrum to clear
up who appointed the delegation and why it had not included a Rukh representative.
But since the Speaker had not returned yet, nobody could answer that one.
Representative of the President Roman Bezsmertny, to whom the press
turned for comments, seemed to be picking his words with utmost pain: "I
am very sorry, that such matters may become the subject of serious discussion
between the President and, in this particular case, I fear, Parliament,
and not with an individual only. If one even superficially read the fundamentals
of domestic policy adopted on June 2, 1992, he would not find such kind
of theses or such a concept.
"And, in general, if one does not differentiate Russia's 210% inflation
rate from Ukraine's 30%, and fails to hear that the stars atop the Kremlin
towers are already crowing like eagles, then one could accept the initiation
of processes that could lead to a transfusion of inflation, further social
deterioration, etc. One should be aware that Ukraine is not only East but
also West. In terms of the election campaign, the West has fewer votes,
but it is more active. If Tkachenko's visit is a private one and is a discussion
of his candidacy, then anything can be allowed, but there are powers of
the head of Parliament and a position that should not be formed on a basis
of personal or party programs. To me, this is a very painful symptom which
is very difficult to understand, even from the perspective of relations
between the President and Speaker of Verkhovna Rada. In a word, I still
cannot formulate my position and am lost in contemplation of the situation
that has arisen, because all this is worrying from the point of view of
the upcoming presidential campaign, the position of individual candidates
and some statements about the lack of a desire to run."
"May I help you?" asked The Day's correspondent. "Let us formulate
it like this: as expected, Oleksandr Tkachenko will smother Leonid Kuchma
in his arms."
Roman Bezsmertny replied, "No, I rather think Oleksandr Mykolayevych
(Tkachenko) will die in the arms of his Russian colleagues".
Independent Deputy Mykola Syrota did not disguise his irony when commenting
on the excessive optimism of the speaker: "I completely support the idea
of the necessity to join a military and political union. Ukraine should
access NATO as soon as possible, for no NATO official has ever threatened
Ukraine in any way. And Russian politicians very often threaten to use
their armed forces. No NATO member makes any territorial claims against
Ukraine. And Russian Deputies do so daily. And, finally, all the agreements
which Ukraine prepared with NATO members and NATO itself, have been ratified
by their parliaments. While the Russian Parliament has failed to ratify
the Grand Treaty between Russia and Ukraine. Thus, NATO would be exactly
the entity that would really protect both Ukraine's political and economic
rights."
And on the whole, the view expressed by Oleksandr Yelyashkevych has
been widely circulating in lobbies: "The statements made by Oleksandr Tkachenko
in Moscow show that he has plainly started his pre-election campaign".
To this, Mr. Yelyashkevych added a less popular idea: "Now it becomes obvious
what a strategic mistake the President made last summer when he failed
to notice who most dangerous opponent was and waged war on Oleksandr Moroz.
Oleksandr Tkachenko, having thrown the President off his guard, is now
maneuvering to stand a good chance in the presidential elections."
The Day's correspondent asked Serhiy Dovhan: "Do you think that
Tkachenko has worked in Moscow like Lukashenka?"
"Well, he did the right thing. He acts the way he says, and all this
makes sense," said the peasants' leader with conviction.






