Svetlana Dorosh, UNIAN
Main topics in mass media last week were: just adopted by the government program of structure reconstruction of Ukrainian economy before year 2015; international information -- visits of high level officials of Ukraine, visits of representatives of foreign countries to Ukraine; elections to Ukrainian Parliament, to which newspapers have devoted special issues and whole pages; just formed confrontation between legislative power and the president of Crimea, first steps of the Prime Minister of Crimea.
The program of structure reconstruction of Ukrainian economy, that was adopted at last sitting of Minister Cabinet under the presidency of Leonid Kravchuk, was attracting attention of all periodical papers last week. "Nezavisimost'" (10.03.94, p. 1) sneers: the next generation will live in the developed society, but, it adds, that "the source of such certainty is unknown." The "Khreshchatyk" paper doubts that the present government can carry out such a program (16.03.94, p. 2). "Molod' Ukrainy" accounts the program "more than a general one, a program estimated for several dozens of years" (18.03.94, p. 1). "Demokratychna Ukraina" has called it "a new skeleton" (17.03.94, p. 1). "Ukraina Moloda" has reminded that Ukrainian ministers have expressed their opinions against submission of the program to foreign experts (18.03.94, p. 2). Thus, no journalist has expressed more or less optimistic prognosis. That was too strange, because without realizing the program details (may be, even without reading it at all, be
cause there was only a press conference) they followed their habit to criticize the government.
"Uriadovy Kurier" (17.03.94, p. 1), "Demokratychna Ukraina" (17.03.94, p. 1) and "Golos Ukrainy" (17.03.94, p. 1) have paid attention to the visit of the president of Estonia Lennart Meri to Ukraine, during which documents were signed on the level of MFA. But unfortunately, that information was exceptionally official.
"Rabochaja Gazeta Ukrainy" (17.03.94, p. 1) has told about representatives of European Union in Ukraine. The most important themes during the meeting with the president and the government were questions of political and economic collaboration of Ukraine and EU.
"Golos Ukrainy" (17.03.94, p. 6) has informed about the visit of Anatoli Zlenko to Chechia. That newspaper has returned its attention to the visit of Leonid Kravchuk to USA, speaking of his press conference for Ukrainian and foreign journalists. "USA now unconditionally supports the aspiration of our country to affirmation of its political and economic independence,"-- regards Leonid Kravchuk. The "Post-Postup" newspaper (10-16.03.94, p. 2) has also returned to results of negotiations of Leonid Kravchuk and Bill Clinton and has realized not joyful details of the visit: Ukraine will not see soon the promised 700 million dollars, because the procedure of delivery of such a sum of money is long enough in USA, and American press has paid more attention to Oksana Bayul, but not to Leonid Kravchuk.
Another visit has appeared in newspapers -- the visit of ex-president of USA Richard Nickson to Ukraine. He has expressed his satisfaction with the visit and, according to opinion of observers, his reception by Leonid Kravchuk will strengthen the authority of Ukrainian president among Americans ("Nezavisimost'", 18.03.94, p. 1).
Every newspaper has considered it to be its duty to represent candidate people's deputies who were close in their persuasions to the newspapers themselves. "Nezavisimost'" (16.03.94, sequel) has represented a dozen of candidates and told details of their lives. There are Viacheslav Chornovil, Les' Taniuk, Ivan Salij, Vitali Karpenko, Vladimir Lanovoi among them. The same newspaper (18.03.94) has devoted two pages to Vitali Karpenko, the editor of "Vecherni Kiev". The "Vecherni Kiev" newspaper, at its turn, has published compromising information about one of the most rich men of Ukraine, the chairman of consumers' society "Mercury" Semion Yufa.
By the way, some words about rich ones. No doubt one of the most interesting publications of the week (or even of last months) was a presumable list of 25 most rich people of Ukraine and a history of formation of rich ("Moloda Gazeta", March, No. 1, pp. 4-5). To the point, there are many candidates to the Parliament among them.
Socialists and so called "red directors" are advertised by "Rabochaya Gazeta", "Khreshchatyk", "Demokratychna Ukraina", "Pravda Ukrainy" newspapers. "Molod' Ukrainy" (18.03.94, p. 2), "Ukrainska Gazeta" (17-30.03.94, pp. 1-3, 8) provide much room to national democrats. "Ukraina Moloda" represents new candidates (18.03.94, pp. 4-6). The same newspaper in a week before elections creates an attractive enough image of UNA-UNSD in a huge interview with the leader of that nationalist half-military organization (18.03.94, p. 10). But it's a pity that the journalist has forgotten what such revelations have led to on the eve of elections in Russia with LDPR and Vladimir Zhirinovski.
Mentioned above "Moloda Gazeta" has published also a version of disappear of communist party's money (March, p. 3).
First steps of the new President of Crimea have evoked a reaction of the President of Ukraine who has recognized the Decree on inquiry among citizens of Crimea an illegal and contradictory with the Constitution of Ukraine ("Rabochaya Gazeta", 17.03.94, p. 1). The newspaper declares that the question of inquiry remains unsolved (15.03.94, p. 1), moreover, that a confrontation begins to form between the President and the Central Election Committee of Crimean parliament deputies ("Pravda Ukrainy", 17.03.94, p. 1).
"Pravda Ukrainy", while informing about the press conference of the Prime Minister of Crimea Yevgeni Saburov, notes, that the political stability is required for reforms in Crimea and that Saburov has already planned first urgent measures (15.03.94, p. 1). Replies of politicians of Ukraine and Crimea on the possible inquiry among citizens on bilingualism and independence of Crimea were published by "Nezavisimost'" (18.03.94, p. 1).
The opinion of representatives of public organization "Crimea With Ukraine" on the situation in Crimea and on the attitude of official Kiev to its problems was published in "Ukrainska Gazeta" (17-30.03.94, p. 1). According to that opinion, rights of Ukrainians are restrained in every way, there are even cases of persecution of Ukrainian journalists and politicians. Representatives of Ukrainians of Crimea are afflicted and surprised by the "observing" position of Leonid Kravchuk and of the Ministry of Nationalities' Affairs and Immigration of Ukraine.
Kiev, March 22, 1994.
