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INTEGRAL UKRAINE PARTY JOINS YULIYA TYMOSHENKO BLOC


KYIV, December 1 /Sviatoslav Khalus - Ukrinform/. As former leader of the Integral Ukraine Party Bohdan Hubskyi told a Thursday press conference, he left the party for it joined the Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc.

Mr Hubskyi has not yet become a member of the Batkivshchyna Party ("Fatherland") but, presently, he works as Deputy Chief of the Yuliya Tymoshenko Election Bloc. According to him, the time of small parties has passed and now, big, serious political forces, who are able to struggle for their ideals, must be created. According to him, the upcoming elections will not be elections of deputies but of a Prime Minister. As he believes, Yuliya Tymoshenko as Premier is able to unite the country to a greater extent, than Viktor Yanukovych can. This is the reason for the Integral Ukraine Party to support Mrs Tymoshenko, he said.




SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT JANEZ DRNOVSEK ARRIVES ON TWO-DAY VISIT TO UKRAINE


KYIV, December 1 /Yaroslav Dovhopol - Ukrinform/. President Janez Drnovsek of the Slovenian Republic arrived on a two-day visit to Ukraine on Thursday for participation in the Forum of the Democratic Choice Commonwealth.

As Ukrinform reported, the international Forum will focus on outlining ways of settlement of social - economic issues of the Black Sea, Baltic and the Caspian regions, as well as of the GUAM states.



9TH UKRAINE - EU SUMMIT WILL BE POTENT IMPETUS TO DEVELOP UKRAINE - EU RELATIONS, TONY BLAIR SAYS


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. The 9th Ukraine - EU Summit, which Kyiv hosted today, will be a potent impetus to promote Ukraine - EU relations, British Prime Minister Tony Blair emphatically stressed at a Thursday follow-up press conference after the EU delegation's meeting with President Viktor Yushchenko.

I hope, Mr Blair said, that the Summit will prove the most efficient one in the history of Ukraine - EU relations.

As Mr Blair reassured the journalists, Britain and other EU nations are Ukraine's reliable partners on Ukraine's Eurointegration road.

As the British Premier stressed, a number of agreements were signed on December 1 between the EU and Ukraine, including the EU's key political decision to grant Ukraine the market economy nation status.

According to Mr Blair, the parties keep discussing such matters as implementation of the EU - Ukraine Action Plan, simplified visa procedures for Ukrainian travellers to EU member-nations.

Tony Blair also articulated his hope that shortly Ukraine will make yet another step toward the European family of nations through accedence to the World Trade Organisaiton.

We expect Ukraine to join the WTO in early 2006, Mr Blair noted.

As the EU leader believes, the Summit's most important political gain was that it showed new symbolic, profound relations between the European Union and Ukraine.

These relations are now based on common goals, values, dedication to democracy, and they will keep strengthening, Tony Blair stressed.



PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR MEET IN KYIV


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. Within the framework of the Ukraine - EU December 1 Summit in Kyiv President Viktor Yushchenko held a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

On the host side the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, Economics Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, First Deputy Fuel & Energy Minister, NaftoGaz Ukrainy Chairman Oleksiy Ivchenko.

The British party was represent by Chief-of-Staff Jonathan Powell, Kim Darroch, EU adviser to the Prime Minister, Mr Blair's Private Secretary Anthony Phillipson, British Ambassador to Ukraine Robert Brinkley.

After the meeting a ceremony was held to sign an agreement between the national company NaftoGaz Ukrainy and the company Shell Exploration and Production on cooperation in prospecting for, development, extraction and marketing of carbohydrate fuels.

The document was inked by NaftoGaz Ukrainy chairman Oleksiy Ivchenko and Malcolm Brinded, Shell's Executive Director for Exploration and Production.



PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO RETURN BUDGET BILL TO GOVERNMENT FOR POLISHING AND ADJUSTING WITH VR APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE


KYIV, December 1 /Tetiana Vesna - Ukrinform/. On Thursday, December 1 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolved to return the budget bill to the Government for week-long polishing and adjusting to the Parliament's recommendations.

In particular, the lawmakers insist on additional allocation of 5 bn, UAH to finance local budgets.

The resolution was supported by 274 deputies.



FINANCE MINISTER VIKTOR PYNZENYK STATES GOVT'S SUPPORT FOR LAWMAKERS' PROPOSAL TO POSTPONE BUDGET BILL'S SECOND READING TO NEXT WEEK


KYIV, December 1 /Oleksandr Khorolskiy, Tetiana Vesna - Ukrinform/. Speaking from the Parliament's rostrum in Thursday hearings, Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk stated the Government's support for the lawmakers' proposal to postpone the 2006 budget bill's second reading to next week.

According to the Finance Minister, between the bill's first and second reading the Government took into account the bulk of people's deputies' proposals.

So, the draft budget's revenues were increased from 120.3 bn. UAH to 125.8 bn. UAH, outlays were increased from 130.2 bn. UAH to 138.7 bn. UAH, which raised the budget's deficit from 9.9 bn. UAH to 12.9 bn. UAH.

In Viktor Pynzenyuk's opinion, further increasing the budget's deficit is inadmissible, in view of lacking means to cover it, which will further increase the State's debts.



SPEAKER PREDICTS THAT BUDGET ORDEAL WILL END TOWARS NEW YEAR


KYIV, December 1 /Tetiana Vesna, Oleksandr Khorolskiy - Ukrinform/. Speaking to journalists in Kyiv Thursday, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn said that the draft 2006 budget may pass through the second reading only during next week's plenary sittings, that is, on December 12 or 13, and the bill's adoption will likely occur on the New Year's eve.

As the Speaker contended, the Parliament did all it could to establish cooperation with the Government.

In this connection Mr Lytvyn called upon the Government to directly cooperate with the Verkhovna Rada, not via the mass communication media.

Volodymyr Lytvyn articulated his concern over what he called the Government's attempts to conceal suspension is social benefit payments to certain categories, such as Chornobyl eliminaitons, veterans, children, through the budget's provisions.

If he Government wishes to nullify these social benefits it must publicly suggest a bill to this end Mr Lytvyn said.

Replying to the journalists' question about the likelihood of the Government's resignation, Mr Lytvyn said this will not happen as nobody will wish to assume the responsibility for such a move.



PRIME MINISTER'S ACCOUNT TRIGGERS NO PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTIONS


KYIV, December 1 /Tetiana Vesna, Oleksandr Khorolskiy - Ukrinform/. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine failed to pass any resolutions on Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov's Thursday account about the Government's plans of the economy's development in 2006.

Two draft resolutions were moved, one of these suggested to take the Premier's report into account, the other resolution, motioned by deputy Mykola Rudkovskyi, contained a provision to recommend that the Government take prompt steps to regulate energy problems and sack NaftoGaz Ukrainy chairman Oleksiy Ivchenko.

The Communists suggest to regard the Government's performance as unsatisfactory. None of these proposals succeeded in mustering enough yeas in its support.

The session decided to once again address this issue after discussing the draft 2006 budget.



PRIME MINISTER SAYS "INVESTMENT PAUSE" IS OVER


KYIV, December 1 /Oleksandr Khorolskiy - Ukrinform/. As Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov told the Verkhovna Rada's December 1 plenary session, the "investment pause" in Ukraine is over.

According to Mr Yekhanurov, in 2005's Q2 direct foreign capital investments shrank by 28 percent, but the third quarter witnessed a 2.3 percent increment versus 2004's Q3.

The Government is drafting new strategies to solve social problems, Mr Yekhanurov told the lawmakers, including pensions.

As the Head of Government told the deputies in his account, the Cabinet has also started drawing out a set of measures to legalize wages, encourage the population's economic activities, narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.

With a view of preventing the Ukrainian society's further polarization with regard to incomes, the Government is drafting legislation to introduce the minimal per hour wage, reduce the load on the Labor Remuneration Fund through redistribution of taxes.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government has drafted a presidential decree, which has been submitted to the Head of State and which deals with a new strategy of social payments to the population.

The Government is also drawing out strategies to reform the pension system, the Prime Minister told the lawmakers.

In Yuriy Yekhanurov's opinion, the new Government's work has been rather successful. There are no gasoline, meat or other crises looming on the horizon, however regrettable this may be to someone, he said.

The Government has succeeded in making orderly management of state property, in deregulating entrepreneurial activity and legalizing wages, Yuriy Yekhanurov went on.

According to the Head of Government, the Ukrainian economy has calmed down and shows manifestations of revivification. There has been registered a 2.8 percent cumulative growth in GDP, though earlier it dropped by 0.5 percent every month.

The economy is experiencing effects of overcoming the consequences of conjuncture-related increments in foreign trade turnover, Yuriy Yekhanurov noted.

As he said, untaxed sources for budgetary revenues keep growing, as well, which facilitates the economy's structural reformation.

According to Yuriy Yekhanurov, the national budget's reformance is encouraging, and in November budgetary revenues corresponded to the target figure.

As the Prime Minister stressed, the new Government's two months of work are not exactly the proper period for delivering an account to the Parliament.

Yet, I am ready to make reports, if need be, every week, Thursdays, about the Government's every decision, yet I would like to reach an agreement with you on regarding the Government's accounts as a working procedure, practised in many parliaments, rather than a contest for selecting the Government's harshest critic.

In his account Yuriy Yekhanurov confirmed the Government's forecasts with regard to the economy's expected performance.

The Government, he said, expects Ukraine's GDP to grow by 9 percent in 2006, the population's real incomes to increase by 9.8 percent, and real wages by 11.9 percent.

The economy's production output is expected to increase by 9.5 percent in 2006, Mr Yekhanurov said.

According to Yuriy Yekhanurov, the labor market is sure to show better performance as Ukraine's labor force will reach 21.8 million workers. Our citizens will shortly feel improvements in their living standard, the Head of Government reassured the lawmakers.

The Government's pro-active steps will restore the population's and investors' trust to Ukraine's policies, talks will be stepped up with some nations toward lifting trade restrictions and limitations, toward boosting Ukraine's exports and recognizing Ukraine a market economy, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov stressed.



UKRAINE WILL NEVER IMPEDE REGULAR AND GUARANTEED SUPPLIES OF RUSSIAN GAS TO EU, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, who participated in opening the EU Mission on frontier matters in Ukraine and Moldova in Odesa on Wednesday, noted, he is not dramatizing the process of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian Governments on supplies of gas and its transit through Ukraine. Ukraine has never been an obstacle on the way to regular and guaranteed supplies of Russian gas to European Union countries, Borys Tarasyuk said.



UKRAINE WILL NEVER IMPEDE REGULAR AND GUARANTEED SUPPLIES OF RUSSIAN GAS TO EU, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, who participated in opening the EU Mission on frontier matters in Ukraine and Moldova in Odesa on Wednesday, noted, he is not dramatizing the process of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian Governments on supplies of gas and its transit through Ukraine. Ukraine has never been an obstacle on the way to regular and guaranteed supplies of Russian gas to European Union countries, Borys Tarasyuk said.



EU MISSION ON UKRAINIAN - MOLDOVAN BORDERLINE LAUNCHED


KYIV, December 1 /Volodymyr Novak - Ukrinform/. The Mission of the European Union, which central office was officially opened in Odesa by leaders of the Ukrainian and Moldovan Foreign Ministries and the EU, began functioning on Thursday.

Experts from 16 EU states will assist in combating contraband, trafficking in human beings and custom frauds through holding consultations and training for the Ukrainian and Moldovan Borderguard Services.

As EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said in his welcome speech on Wednesday, the Mission was established in response to the Ukrainian and Moldovan Presidents' request and it will play an important role in creating prerequisites for finding solutions on custom settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict.

As EU Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said, the current Mission will help the Moldovan Government to maintain effective control, decrease the risks of criminal activity and bring real economic advantages to this country, as well as to Ukraine.

Touching on elections in Transdniestria, which are slated for December 11, Ukrainian and Moldovan Foreign Ministers Borys Tarasyuk and Andrei Stratan were unanimous that the elections are not legitimate. According to them, the Mission is aimed at ensuring trust and strengthening transborder cooperation and information exchange between the two countries.



KYIV HOSTS PUBLIC FORUM OF DEMOCRATIC CHOICE COMMONWEALTH


KYIV, December 1/Olena Bylim - Ukrinform/. On the eve of the Democratic Choice Commonwealth Forum Kyiv hosted the public forum of the DCC, in which Baltic - Black Sea -Caspian NGOs took part. As President of the Ukrainian Foreign Policy Community Yuriy Kochubei said at the beginning of the forum, the forum united NGO representatives, who stand up for democracy, rule of law and human rights protection.

The forum was divided into three thematic sessions "Democracy", "Stability" and "Development". The sessions focused on the role of the Orange Revolution in the process of changes, which are happening in the region among the Baltic, Black and the Caspian seas, the matter of disappearance of "grey zone" between the EU and NATO, on one side, and the post-Soviet space, on another.

The public forum was attended by representative of the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Integration Serhiy Yevtushenko, chief of the Project on Transitional Democracies Bruce Jackson (USA), a member of the European Parliament Michal Kaminski (Poland) and others.

The Forum was organized by the Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Institute, the Center for Peace, Conversion and Foreign Policy, the Razumkov Center, the Democratic Initiative Fund with support of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine, the International REBIRTH Foundation and the International Republican Institute.



BULGARIAN VICE PRESIDENT ANGEL MARIN ARRIVES IN KYIV FOR PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRATIC CHOICE COMMONWEALTH FORUM


KYIV, December 1 /Yaroslav Dovhopol - Ukrinform/. Vice President Algel Marin of Bulgaria arrived in Kyiv for participation in the Democratic Choice Commonwealth Forum.

As he said in a talk to journalists, Bulgaria appreciates its participation in the Forum, which will be staged in Ukraine, as the two states have strategic ties.



AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER ELMAR MAMMADYAROV ARRIVES IN UKRAINE ON TWO-DAY VISIT


KYIV, December 1 /Yaroslav Dovhopol - Ukrinform/. Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan arrived in Ukraine on a two-day visit on Thursday, with a view of participating in the Forum of the Democratic Choice Commonwealth.

The Azeri Foreign Minister's visiting agenda provides for his meetings with other participants in the Forum.

According to him, the Commonwealth includes a rather wide range of states of the Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian basins. We should determine, which level will the Commonwealth reach in the future.



UKRAINE'S FUTURE IS IN WITH EUROPE, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL BARROSO SAYS


KYIV, December 1 /Vitaliy Fedianin - Ukrinform/. Ukraine's future is with Europe and we will build this future through concrete projects, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a joint press conference, which followed the Ukraine - EU Summit on Thursday.

Today, Ukraine got the market economy nation status, soon it will join the WTO and sign a free trade agreement, he said.

"British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Viktor Yushchenko and me have signed concrete agreements, covering a number of matters from energy to aviation", Mr Barroso stressed. Such a pragmatic implementation of the political course testifies to Ukraine being a strong partner of Europe", the European Commission President said.



PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO VIEWS UKRAINE - EU SUMMIT AS MOST SUCCESSFUL OF ALL NINE PREVIOUS MEETINGS


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. As President Viktor Yushchenko believes, the ninth Ukraine - EU Summit, which wound up in Kyiv on December 1, was the most successful of all nine previous meetings. As the President told a joint follow-up press conference, the Summit resulted in signing a series of concrete agreements and passing political decisions, symbolic for bilateral relations. According to Viktor Yushchenko, "Ukraine and the EU have proceeded to a very important stage in their relations".

As the President reiterated, Ukraine's strategic aim is integration with the European Union and Ukraine won't spare an effort for the European community, and first of all EU citizens, take Ukrainian membership not as additional problems, but as new advantages.

According to Viktor Yushchenko, during the Summit the parties noted efficiency of fulfillment of the Action Plan in its all six parts. A particular success was noted in the economics, security, justice and interior spheres.

As the President stressed, an important conclusion of the Summit was Ukraine's meeting five technical criteria on being recognized as a market economy nation.

As Viktor Yushchenko said, it was symbolic for Ukraine to get a positive signal from the EU on launching negotiations on the visa matters and expressed his hope for they would be fruitful. According to him, the parties have close positions in regulation of this important issue.

During the Summit the EU representatives hailed strengthening of Ukraine's role as an important contributor to ensuring peace and security in the world. According to the President, the meeting dealt with realization of the plan of the Transdniestrian settlement in the "5+2" enlarged mode and also with new initiatives.

Viktor Yushchenko noted the Ukrainian side's progress in preparing for joining the World Trade Organization, despite the Ukrainian Parliament has failed to pass a series of important documents promoting Ukraine's accession to the WTO. As President Yushchenko noted, "at least, today, we are confident about the EU's positive statement on the matter in Hong Kong".



UKRAINE AND EU SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN CIVIL SATELLITE NAVIGATION


KYIV, December 1 /Uliana Kozhukh - Ukrinform/. In the aftermath of the Ukraine - EU Summit in Kyiv on December 1 an Agreement on cooperation in the Galileo satellite navigation system between the EU, its member states and Ukraine was signed. Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso signed the Agreement.

The Agreement provides for Ukraine's direct participation in the Galileo project and involvement in realization of the fist EU Space Program, which will be made public in late 2005, as well as Ukraine's membership in the European Space Agency.



EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS HOPE THAT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN UKRAINE WILL MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS


KYIV, December 1 /Uliana Kozhukh - Ukrinform/. As a joint statement, signed by Ukraine and EU leaders in the aftermath of the Ukraine - EU Summit in Kyiv, said, European Union leaders hope that the parliamentary elections in Ukraine will meet international standards.

According to the statement, the EU leaders hail President Viktor Yushchenko's invitation of the OSCE and the Council of Europe to send their observation missions to the 2006 parliamentary elections in Ukraine. As the statement stressed, Ukraine's adherence to democracy and reforms opened new prospects for Ukraine and its relations with the European Union.



MAIN RESULT OF UKRAINE - EU SUMMIT IS RECOGNIZING UKRAINE AS MARKET ECONOMY NATION, VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO BELIEVES


KYIV, December 1 /Vitaliy Fedianin - Ukrinform/. The main result of the Ukraine - EU Summit is adoption of an important political decision on recognition of Ukraine as a market economy nation, Viktor Yushchenko said, answering questions by journalists on Thursday.

Providing Ukraine with a new status will promote changes in relations with the European Union, including in the politics of antidumping investigation and custom tariffs, the President of Ukraine noted.

According to him, the way of realization of the political statement into formal decisions may take one to two months.



UKRAINE AND EU SIGN AGREEMENT ON SOME ASPECTS OF AIR TRANSPORT


KYIV, December 1 /Uliana Kozhukh - Ukrinform/. Ukraine and the European Union signed an Agreement on some aspects of air transport on Thursday. The Agreement was signed in the aftermath of the Ukraine - EU Summit, which Kyiv hosted on December 1.

On the part of Ukraine the Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and on the part of the European Union European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso signed it.

The Agreement is a necessary prerequisite for further development of cooperation in the transport area between Ukraine and the EU, in particular, in the context of forming a single air space, and for concluding an agreement on deep cooperation in aviation. Taking into consideration Ukraine's developed aviation industry, further facilitation of cooperation with the European Union must promote its active development and strengthening Ukrainian planes' competitiveness on the world market.



UKRAINE AND EU SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN COOPERATION IN ENERGY SPHERE


KYIV, December 1 /Uliana Kozhukh - Ukrinform/. On results of the Ukraine - EU Summit Ukraine and the European Union signed a Memorandum of understanding in cooperation in the energy sphere on Thursday. On the part of Ukraine the Memorandum was signed by President Viktor Yushchenko and on the part of the European Union it was inked by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Under the Memorandum, Ukraine is ready to develop cooperation with the European Union in such domains as nuclear safety, integration of markets of electric power and gas, enhancing energy supply security and hydrocarbon transit, structural reform, safety and natural environment protection in the coal branch and energy efficacy.

Signing the Memorandum is another concrete result of fulfillment of the President's task in establishing a high-level dialogue between Ukraine and the EU, with a view of ensuring energy security of the two sides and diversifying supplies of hydrocarbon sources.




PLENARY SESSION TO TACKLE BUDGETARY BILL IN SECOND READING STARTS IN VERKHOVNA RADA


KYIV, December 1 /Tetiana Vesna, Oleksandr Khorolskyi - Ukrinform/. A plenary session to tackle the draft national budget 2006 in second reading started in the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday. At the beginning of the session 402 of 450 people's deputies registered in the session hall. The Government members, led by Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, are also present at the session hall.

According to the Thursday agenda, the Verkhovna Rada will at first consider technical matters on appointment of members of the High Council of Justice and election of deputies to relevant parliamentary committees. The Verkhovna Rada were supposed to listen to Premier Yuriy Yekhanurov's report on challenging issues of Ukraine's social-economic development in 2005 and forecasting the development in 2006.

As Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said, by way of opening the morning session, non-faction deputies Yevhen Sihal joined the Integral Ukraine Party faction and Volodymyr Sivkovych joined the Regions of Ukraine Party faction.


INAUGURATION SESSION OF PUBLIC FORUM OF DEMOCRATIC CHOICE COMMONWEALTH HELD IN KYIV


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. Representatives of Baltic - Black Sea - Caspian NGOs and public organizations form other countries, including the USA, Great Britain and Spain, took part in an inauguration session of the public forum of the Democratic Choice Commonwealth, which was held in Kyiv on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry's press service told Ukrinform.

By way of addressing the participants in the session, Justice Minister Serhiy Holovatyi stressed on the need of NGOs' acquiring a new role in the process of expansion and development of democracy in Eastern part of the European continent. In this context the Minister noted the potential of the Democratic Choice Commonwealth in creating necessary conditions for the development of humanitarian relations among the countries, which are engaged in this process on the grounds of friendship, partnership and adhering to common democratic values.



UKRAINE - EU SUMMIT UNDERWAY IN KYIV


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. The Ukraine - EU Summit started in Kyiv on December 1, under chairmanship of President Viktor Yushchenko and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The EU delegation are represented by Secretary General of the Council of the European Union Javier Solana, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Peter Mandelson. The Summit is also attended by Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk.

This is the ninth meeting at the highest level between Ukraine and the EU and the first meeting, since Viktor Yushchenko has been elected the President of Ukraine.


ACTION OF SOLIDARITY WITH HIV-INFECTED PEOPLE HELD IN 42 UKRAINIAN CITIES ON DECEMBER 1


KYIV, December 1 /Ukrinform/. On December 1, World Day of AIDS Fighting, the action "Understanding is Real Actions" will be held in 42 Ukrainian cities as an action of solidarity with HIV-infected people, one of organizers of the action, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of the Ukrainian network of people, living with HIV/AIDS Volodymyr Zhovtiak told a press conference on Wednesday.

On Thursday the organization activists were supposed to held an information campaign on AIDS, visit HIV-infected children and AIDS cases, stage thematic parties, concerts, sport events and juvenile performances. The action participants were to hand out carnations with red ribbons, which is a symbol of the disease and solidarity with cases and infected people. An official ceremony and public prayer was expected to be held near the Red Ribbon memorial in Kyiv.

As Ukrainian Minister for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs Yuriy Pavlenko noted, the Thursday events are an important step for creating a positive attitude toward AIDS infected people. According to him, with a view of fighting the epidemic, the State has to draft a policy of overcoming the public discrimination toward the AIDS-infected people.

World Day of AIDS Fighting is being marked under UN auspices since 1988.


BORYS TARASYUK: OPENING SUBSIDIARY EU FRONTIER MISSION ON UKRAINIAN - MOLDOVAN BORDERLINE SECTION IS WITH NO EXAGGERATION SIGNIFICANT EVENT


ODESA, December 1 /Oleksandr Novak - Ukrinform/. As Ukrainian Foreign Minister said, by way of greeting a delegation of the European Union, opening an EU Mission in Odesa is with no exaggeration a significant event. The EU Mission will be engaged in assisting in issues of the Ukrainian - Moldovan borderline. Quite recently, Borys Tarasyuk said, the Memorandum of understanding among the Ukrainian and the Moldovan Governments and the European Commission on the Mission organization was signed, which launched it official office on Wednesday and started functioning on December 1.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister aired his hope that the Mission will do well in Ukraine and will have all the necessary conditions for full-fledged implementation of its functions. He said he hopes the Mission will not only monitor the borderline, but also assist in making the borderline's infrastructure orderly and will practically advise Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities on transborder, customs and taxation matters. "We believe that professional cooperation of the Mission's experts with Ukrainian and Moldovan partners, which will last for two years, will give good results, which will be useful not only for Ukraine and Moldova, but also for the whole European cooperation. As the Mission is unique and has no analogues", Foreign Minister Tarasyuk said.

The Mission's opening is aimed at realizing the initiative by President Viktor Yushchenko on settlement of the Transdniestrian issue "to regulation through democracy". The Ukrainian Foreign Minister was glad to note that launching the Mission coincided with holding the Ukraine - EU Summit. According to him, all important decisions, which this important forum is to pass, will become another step toward practical realization of political priorities of the Ukraine - EU Action Plan and reaching Ukraine's Eurointegration aim.