PRESIDENT DISPLEASED WITH THE WEST, MARCHUK, PARLIAMENT, AND BLAMES HIMSELF, JUST A LITTLE

After the conference, asked by a journalist why there were a lot of initiatives in the Eastern direction and nothing to the West after the NATO Charter, Mr. Kuchma laughed and said one should wait for the Foreign Minister’s replacement. Probably he had in mind Ukraine’s much touted «multi-vector policy.» The President declared that analysts who saw the latest events as an end to that policy and the European choice were wrong.

One could tell that the Chief Executive was displeased with the West. Talking of Mrs. Albright's planned visit and possible issues they would discuss, Mr. Kuchma said: "As regards intermediate range missiles, Ukraine will have them despite anyone's opinion within or outside this country." When it came to investments, the President even raised his voice: "They just keep promising, and only if our reforms are begun. But no reforms will begin without investments. It's a vicious circle... Thus, I am positive that the breakthrough in Ukrainian-Russian relations will give us millions of jobs. Doesn't this serve Ukraine's interests? Or should we continue waiting for the West to lend us a hand?" About NATO: "Is there anyone saying welcome? If they met us halfway, things would be different. I am not one of those content with exchanging declarations... But we will continue to cooperate most closely within the charter framework. That's why we signed the agreement. What else can they expect from us?"

However, the President did not enlarge on the kind of treaty he had signed. Instead, he was outraged by People's Deputy Serhiy Teriokhin demanding that the treaty be published, submitted for ratification to the Verkhovna Rada, and mentioning the possibility of impeachment. The President quoted from the declaration published by the Reforms and Order and exclaimed: "But the man has never seen the document! Making such statements is downright cynical." He made no mention of the fact that the people hadn't seen the document, either, and that this document had been signed with a neighbor who still dislikes the sound of independent Ukraine. Instead, he condemned ex-Premier Marchuk who had failed to appreciate the President's pro-Russian efforts, and went on in the same vein, at times sounding almost rude and causing sharp retorts from the audience. In a word, Mr. Kuchma confirmed that Yevhen Marchuk was now a key target in the eyes of people in the Presidential Administration. It is also true, however, that keeping such key targets under pressure does not always yield the results expected; rather to contrary, as was the case with Hromada leader and ex-Premier Lazarenko.

And of course the President could not avoid the accursed issue of Parliament. Word had reached him that Verkhovna Rada wants the Central Elections Committee to strike Premier Pustovoitenko from the party list. "Now what is this if not a political equivalent to the brig in the military?" he said, hardly able to control himself. "Is this how Parliament and its leaders led by Moroz want to keep the country stable? Who is he working for? This is my main question. I understand only too well: every subject is broached the way Moroz wants it." Mr. Kuchma called parliament the main factor "slowing down the economy," the "biggest problem in Ukraine," and blamed himself for not having solved the "Parliament issue" so far, stressing, however, that he did not mean its dissolution. In his words, hiss main shortcoming was that he had failed to find a "mechanism of cooperation" with Parliament. He sounded so genuinely distressed that The Day's reporter thought it necessary to approach him after the news conference: "Considering your obvious dissatisfaction with the current Parliament and allowing for the possibility of a similar attitude toward its future shape, wouldn't it be logical to ask how far are you prepared to go in your desire to learn from Mr. Yeltsin's experience?" His reply was notable: "You mean shoot this one, so the next one will know better? I already answered that one."