Putin Visits Ukraine Again Before Crucial Election

http://www.truthnews.net/daily/2004110128.htm

Bill Gasperini, Voice of America, November 13, 2004

Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrapped up a visit to neighboring
Ukraine where he met with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich just over a week
before the crucial second round of a presidential election. The Kremlin has
made no secret that it favors Mr. Yanukovich in a vote that has become a
kind of tug-of-war between Russia and the West.

The official reason for President Putin's second trip to Ukraine in as many
weeks was to meet President Leonid Kuchma to discuss transport links between
the two countries.

But Mr. Putin also briefly met Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich,
who is running neck-and-neck with opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko in
the decisive second round runoff vote for president in just over a week.

The Russian leader wished Mr. Yanukovich well, although he was more guarded
in his praise than on his previous visit just before the first round of
voting two weeks ago.

Mr. Yushchenko criticized Mr. Putin for that earlier visit, saying it was
clear interference in Ukraine's internal affairs. The Russian leader took
part in a call-in show on television and appeared with Mr. Yanukovich at a
highly-publicized military parade.

Most television channels have given Mr. Yanukovich widespread coverage while
ignoring Mr. Yushchenko, who says he wants to move Ukraine closer to the
West.

By contrast, Mr. Yanukovich wants to increase links with Russia, and has
even backed a proposal to make Russian an official second language.

The Ukrainian election is considered a key test of the former Soviet
republic's commitment to democratic reforms, especially after international
observers said the first round was marred by irregularities.

After 10 days of counting, election officials announced that Mr. Yushchenko
came out slightly ahead in that round, which was contested by more than a
dozen candidates.
The run-off will be held because neither of the two leading contenders
reached 50 percent in the first round.

In another move reflecting the political split in the country, both
President Kuchma and Mr. Yanukovich chose to meet Mr. Putin and skipped a
visit by Poland's Foreign Minister to assess the situation prior to the
second round of voting.

The Polish minister came to Ukraine's capital, Kiev, with the watchdog
organization known as the Council of Europe to discuss the second round of
voting.

He did meet with Mr. Yushchenko as well as top election officials, warning
them against a repeat of the irregularities that occurred in the first
round.

Ivan Lozowy is a Ukrainian political analyst who says the long delay in
announcing first round results is a sign more problems lie ahead in the
final round.

"I think the only chance for improvement in terms of the central election
commission, which is the single key government body engaged in counting and
election results, is mass public pressure," Mr. Lozowy said.

The United States and other Western countries have warned Ukraine that there
could be consequences if the election is seen as not being fair.